Business Networking With Dr. Ivan Misner ? Business Networking ...

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A few years ago my company was in the midst of one of the largest projects in the history of our organization.? The project involved many people?it was very complex and financially challenging.? It was also in trouble.? I needed to select a key player for the project team.? The man I chose had incredibly strong tec...

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For those of you who think the referral process is the safest form of doing business, here?s some information that may surprise you . . . the referral process is, in reality, the least safe form of doing business yet it is well worth the risk if you do it right and it can significantly enhance your reputation and c...

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Strategy is often talked about in business schools, in fact it?s a primary focus.? Culture however, is less understood.? Culture involves a variety of contributing factors including a blend of attitudes, beliefs, mission, philosophy, and momentum that help to create and sustain a successful brand. ?It represents the...

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In this video, I talk to bestselling author Stewart Emery about his concept ?Who?s in Your Room?? which prompts people to practice discernment in regard to those they let into their life. Just imagine you are going to have to live your entire life in one room with an entrance door but no exit door?...

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Nielsen recently did a survey regarding people?s ?trust? in various forms of advertising (see the graph below). Remarkably, the two top categories of trust involved word of mouth!? All other forms of advertising were substantially lower than the top two (word-of-mouth approaches).? Furthermore, 82% of...

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I recorded this video a few years back for an organization interested in learning about business networking and when I ran across it last week, I thought it would be good information to share here as what I discuss is still just as important as ever. If you don?t know what a Contact Sphere is, I urge you to watch t...

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This week marks the 7th annual celebration of International Networking Week which is recognized each year by thousands of people around the world. International Networking Week is about celebrating the key role that networking plays in the development and success of business around the world.? It is about creating an aw...

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At a recent Referral Institute Conference, I was interviewed by Tiffanie Kellog (Trainer for the Referral Institute in Tampa, Florida) about the most crucial component for referral success.? Before you watch this short video where I give Tiffanie my answer, try to come up with a couple of possibilities for what my answe...

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Most people are involved in at least two types of formal networking groups.? The first is intraprofessional networking, or ?Knowledge Networking,? as Megatrends author John Naisbitt calls it.? Knowledge Networks foster self-help, information exchange, improved productivity and work life, and shared resource...

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Professionals in business are truly professionals because they?re great at their chosen career, but they often don?t look forward to getting out of the workplace and networking.? In this brief video, I talk to Sarah Owen, referral marketing expert and Master Franchisee for the Referral Institute in the UK, a...

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International Networking Week?? 2013 is almost here and with it comes tremendous opportunity for? businesspeople across the globe to grow business through the development? of powerful new connections! International Networking Week?? is an initiative of BNI? and its focus is to?celebrate the key role that networki...

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In this extremely brief video,? I talk to Roger Green of Applied Transformation, Inc. about the amazing opportunities we have at our fingertips when it comes to communicating through technology. Not too long ago, it was almost unheard of to be able to connect directly with executives of companies if you didn?t alr...

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If you?re having a hard time building your network because you?re concerned people can?t seem to understand or relate to your business, it?s helpful to remember that before you can begin to network effectively, you need to find a way to explain your business in a way that people will easily understand...

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Last October, I posted a video I did with referral marketing expert Eddie Esposito on emotionally-charged connections (CLICK HERE to view that video).? On a recent vacation in Bali, I had the opportunity to do this new, five-minute video with movie producer Barnet Bain (producer of the Academy Award winning film ?...

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Source: http://businessnetworking.com/

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Samsung Announces an iPad Mini-Sized Galaxy Note

Samsung

I?m not at the massive Mobile World Congress conference in Barcelona, but I?m monitoring news from the show ? and there?s going to be a lot of it over the next few days.

One of the first major announcements is Samsung?s Galaxy Note 8.0 tablet. Its arrival makes clear that the company?s Note line is, indeed a line: with its 8? screen, the Note 8.0 sits between the Galaxy Note II, a 5.5? mega-phone, and the Galaxy Note 10.1, a full-sized tablet. The new model?s screen size also makes it possibly the most direct competitor to Apple?s iPad Mini, which has a display that?s just a skosh smaller at 7.9?. (The Note?s resolution of 1280-by-800 beats the Mini?s 1024-by-768.)

As with the other Notes, the Note 8.0 emphasizes productivity. It?s got a pressure-sensitive pen based on Wacom?s technology, software which takes advantage of it (including both Samsung apps such as the S Note notetaker and a custom version of Flipboard) and other Android tweaks such as Samsung?s unique two-apps-at-once feature.

What Samsung is showing in Barcelona as an international version, with HSPA+ wireless, which can also be used as a ridiculously large phone; it?s due in the second quarter of this year. There will be wi-fi-only and LTE versions for the U.S.; no details yet on how much they?ll cost or which carriers will have the LTE variant.

Engadget?s Joseph Volpe, who is at Mobile World Congress, has a hands-on look with more details.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/timeblogs/nerd_world/~3/xtOrJoX9ivw/

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Defense officials: U.S. troops in Niger to set up drone base

WASHINGTON President Barack Obama said Friday that about 100 American troops have been deployed to the African nation of Niger. Two U.S. defense officials said the troops would be setting up a base for unarmed drones to conduct surveillance.

Obama announced the deployment in a letter to Congress, saying that the forces "will provide support for intelligence collection and will also facilitate intelligence sharing with French forces conducting operations in Mali, and with other partners in the region."

The move marks a deepening of U.S. efforts to stem the spread of al Qaeda and its affiliates in the volatile region. It also underscores Obama's desire to fight extremism without involving large numbers of U.S. ground forces.

The drone base will allow the U.S. to give France more intelligence on the militants its forces have been fighting in Mali, which neighbors Niger. Over time, it could extend the reach not only of American intelligence-gathering but also U.S. special operations missions to strengthen Niger's own security forces.

One of the two U.S. defense officials who discussed the development confirmed the American troops would fly drones and other surveillance platforms from Niger military airstrips, tracking militant and refugee movement inside Mali and around the border. The U.S. will share that intelligence with Niger's military, the official said.

Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly discuss the project.

The drones at the Niger base will be unarmed and used for surveillance, not airstrikes. Still, the development of a base in Niger raises the possibility that it could eventually be used for launching strikes.

Obama said in his letter to Congress that the U.S. forces have been deployed with the consent of Niger's government. The forces were also deployed with weapons "for their own force protection and security," the president said.

Last month, the U.S. and Niger signed a status-of-forces-agreement spelling out legal protections and obligations of American forces that might operate in Niger in the future.

Africa is increasingly a focus of U.S. counterterrorism efforts, even as al Qaeda remains a threat in Pakistan, Yemen and elsewhere. Last month's terrorist attack on a natural gas complex in Algeria, in which at least 37 hostages and 29 militants were killed, illustrated the threat posed by extremists who have asserted power propelled by long-simmering ethnic tensions in Mali and the revolution in Libya.

A number of al Qaeda-linked Islamic extremist groups operate in Mali and elsewhere in the Sahara, including a group known as al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, or AQIM, which originated in Algeria and is active in northern Mali. Last month, French forces intervened to stop the extremists' move toward Mali's capital, and Washington has grown more involved by providing a variety of military support to French troops.

France has said it will eventually pull out of its Mali operation so that African forces can help stabilize the West African country.

Source: http://feeds.cbsnews.com/~r/cbsnews/feed/~3/e8plf9ctntk/

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Strasburg gives up early HR, Mets beat Nats 5-3

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (AP) ? Stephen Strasburg had a rocky return to the mound in his first outing since the Washington Nationals shut him down last September to protect his arm.

Strasburg gave up a single and a full-count homer to the first two batters he faced Saturday, and the New York Mets beat Washington 5-3 in a spring training opener.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis led off the Mets' first inning with a single and Ruben Tejada followed with a two-run shot that the wind carried over the left-center fence.

"It was a little bit of a debacle the first inning, but that's just what happens for me every spring training," Strasburg said. "It's just going to take a little while for me to get a little comfortable, a better rhythm out there. I was just glad I was able to get back feeling right in the second inning."

The right-hander rebounded with a 1-2-3 second inning. He was pitching in a game for the first time since Sept. 7 when the NL East champions shut him down for the season, rather than push his innings total.

Mets newcomer Shaun Marcum gave up four hits and three runs in two innings. Top prospect Zack Wheeler pitched two shutout innings.

Strasburg also gave up a two-out double to Marlon Byrd in the first but ended a 29-pitch inning by striking out Lucas Duda.

Strasburg allowed three hits in two innings. He struck out two, walked none and threw 24 of 42 pitches for strikes.

"I threw a couple good breaking balls in the second inning, and my fastball command got better and the sinker seemed to be working well," Strasburg said. "It was a good first outing."

Strasburg also gave up a home run in his 2012 spring training debut, to Chris Snyder, his batterymate Saturday.

"He settled down a little the second inning, dropped his pitches in, was effective and we'll go from there," Snyder said. "He's got good stuff. It's hard. The two-seamer has good stuff to it, and the curveball and changeup are both putaway pitches."

The Mets are similarly excited about Wheeler, who was impressive in relief of Marcum.

After Marcum gave up a two-run homer to Snyder in the second, Wheeler allowed just one hit and one walk while throwing 19 of 30 pitches for strikes.

"He's got a great arm," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "I was impressed with his breaking ball. I'm sure he was a little geeked up going out there. The second inning he pounded the strike zone. That was great to see."

Wheeler had to work himself out of an early jam, though. After walking his first batter, he threw a wild pitch to Bryce Harper but got him on a groundout and then struck out the next two batters to strand a runner on third.

"It wasn't really nerves. I just was a little pumped up getting out there," said Wheeler, expected to begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas. "After the first couple batters, I think everything went well. I was getting underneath my slider a little bit. It was backing up, but I still got some swings and misses from it."

NOTES: With the score tied at 3, Collin Cowgill hit an RBI double in the sixth inning to drive in the go-ahead run for the Mets. Bobby Parnell closed the game with a shutout inning. ... Mets reliever Pedro Feliciano has been diagnosed with a small hole in the exterior of his heart, but upon returning to camp Saturday morning, he said it is not life-threatening. The left-hander underwent an MRI in New York, where he was sent after an irregular heartbeat was discovered in his pre-camp physical. Feliciano will wear a heart monitor for a few days and has not been cleared to pitch. ... Nationals pitcher Christian Garcia received a second opinion on his strained forearm, but the diagnosis remained the same. Manager Davey Johnson said he still doesn't believe the injury is severe.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/strasburg-gives-early-hr-mets-beat-nats-5-204929122--mlb.html

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Microsoft Says It Suffered Same Hack Attack as Apple, Facebook

Add Microsoft to the list of companies experiencing hacker attacks.

The company said in a blog post on Friday afternoon that it suffered the same security breach that Facebook and Apple have recently been dealing with.?

Malware-infected websites contaminated some of Microsoft's computers, it said, adding that no customer data was compromised. Microsoft did not say when they discovered the breach.

"During our investigation, we found a small number of computers, including some in our Mac business unit, that were infected by malicious software using techniques similar to those documented by other organizations," Matt Thomlinson, the general manager of Microsoft's security unit, said in the post.

The tech giant said it refrained from making a public statement during its initial investigation.

Also read: Twitter, Tumblr, Pinterest Hacked; Email Addresses Compromised

"This type of cyber attack is no surprise to Microsoft and other companies that must grapple with determined and persistent adversaries," Thomlinson said, adding that the company will "re-evaluate" its security strategy.

Earlier this month Twitter said 250,000 accounts were compromised when its system was breached. Then, Facebook said last Friday that it was the victim of a "sophisticated attack."

A New York Times report in January detailing apparent Chinese hackers infiltrating its internal systems prompted a sudden uptick in hacking, or at least in companies admitting to being hacked.

NBC.com was hacked in a malware attack on Thursday, potentially infecting any viewers that clicked over to the network's site.

On Tuesday, Apple said its systems were hacked, but no user data was compromised.

And earlier on Friday, a cyber attack on the customer support service Zendesk left Twitter, Tumblr and Pinterest scrambling to alert users whose email addresses were stolen.

Related Wrap Stories

Source: http://www.thewrap.com/tv/media/column-post/microsoft-says-it-suffered-same-hack-apple-facebook-78911

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Hitler on Indian ballot? Frankenstein, Hitler among those running for election in Indian state

Hitler on Indian ballot:?This 54-year-old father of three has won three elections to the state assembly with little controversy over being named after the Nazi dictator.

By Wasbir Hussain,?Associated Press / February 22, 2013

Adolf?Hitler?is running for election in?India. So is Frankenstein.

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The tiny northeast Indian state of Meghalaya has a special fascination for interesting and sometimes controversial names, and the ballot for state elections Saturday is proof.

Among the 345 contestants running for the state assembly are Frankenstein Momin, Billykid Sangma, Field Marshal Mawphniang and Romeo Rani. Some, like Kenedy Marak, Kennedy Cornelius Khyriem and Jhim Carter Sangma, are clearly hoping for the electoral success of their namesake American presidents.

Then there is?Hitler.

This 54-year-old father of three has won three elections to the state assembly with little controversy over being named after the Nazi dictator.

His father had worked with the British army, but apparently developed enough of a fascination with Great Britain's archenemy to name his son Adolf?Hitler?? though he also gave him the middle name Lu,?Hitler?said.

"I am aware at one point of time Adolf?Hitler?was the most hated person on Earth for the genocide of the Jews. But my father added 'Lu' in between, naming me Adolf Lu?Hitler, and that's why I am different,"?Hitler?told The Associated Press from the small village of Mansingre, 200 kilometers (125 miles) west of Gauhati, the capital of the nearby state of Assam.

Hitler?said his name has not stopped him from traveling the world, including to the United States and Germany.

"I never had problems obtaining a visa but I was asked many times during immigration as to why I should have such a name. I told the immigration staff I possibly didn't have a role in my naming," he said.

India?played little role in World War II, and many Indians view?Hitler?not as the personification of evil but as a figure of fascination.?Hitler's?book "Mein Kampf" is prominently displayed at many Indian bookstores. The owner of a menswear shop named his store "Hitler," then expressed puzzlement last year after Israel complained.

Musfika Haq, a teacher in Meghalaya's capital, Shillong, said such names are common in the state.

"Parents obviously get fascinated by names of well-known or great leaders, but must be unaware that some of them, like?Hitler, had been highly controversial," he said.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/PIN077nV7ac/Hitler-on-Indian-ballot-Frankenstein-Hitler-among-those-running-for-election-in-Indian-state

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Tsunami-wracked Japan city receives gold gifts

A Japanese city devastated by the 2011 tsunami disaster remains mystified more than two weeks after receiving anonymous gifts of gold bars worth over $300,000.

A fish market in Ishinomaki, some 350 kilometres (220 miles) northeast of Tokyo, received a parcel containing gold bars weighing a total of two kilograms (4.4 pounds) in early February, about a month ahead of the disaster's second anniversary on March 11.

Kunio Sunow, president of the Ishinomaki Fish Market which was destroyed in the disaster, said he casually opened the mystery parcel addressed to him.

"I was stunned because... in there was 24-carat gold in two plates," he told AFP on Friday.

"We don't have to identify this person of goodwill... but we want to let them know we are grateful. If possible, I want to invite him or her to the completion of a new market" set for early 2015, he added.

More gold bars were sent to other area organisations. They were mailed from Nagano, northwest of Tokyo, in packages which contained only the word "assistance" on the inside.

"We couldn't be more grateful," said Seitaro Omori, who works for Manbow, a pubic-private company helping rebuild Ishinomaki.

Omori said handwriting on all the parcels appeared to be the same, suggesting one good Samaritan was behind the gifts. Some of the bars were wrapped in pages from a health magazine for seniors, he added.

Over at the Ishinomaki Revival Support Network, the shiny gift sparked disbelief.

"I opened the mail half-worried as it was heavy... and then everybody in the room said 'Wow!'," said Yoshie Kaneko, who heads the non-profit group.

Ishinomaki was devastated by the 9.0 earthquake and massive tsunami it generated on March 11, 2011.

The disaster killed nearly 19,000 people, including more than 3,000 in Ishinomaki, and sparked the world's worst nuclear accident in a generation.

At current market prices, the total of six kilograms of gold bars could be worth more than $300,000.

?

?

Source: http://www.emirates247.com/offbeat/crazy-world/tsunami-wracked-japan-city-receives-gold-gifts-2013-02-22-1.496043

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Pistorius granted bail pending murder trial

Photographers take photos of Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius as he stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The fourth and likely final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing opened on Friday, with the magistrate then to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he has to remain in custody over the shooting death of his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Photographers take photos of Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius as he stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The fourth and likely final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing opened on Friday, with the magistrate then to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he has to remain in custody over the shooting death of his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The fourth and likely final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing opened on Friday, with the magistrate then to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he has to remain in custody over the shooting death of his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius' father Henke Pistorius, right, with his children Carl, center,, and Aimee, left, watch as Oscar Pistorius walks in during his bail hearing at the magistrate court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Graphic shows the layout of Oscar Pistorius??? apartment

Olympic athlete Oscar Pistorius stands in the dock during his bail hearing at the magistrates court in Pretoria, South Africa, Friday, Feb. 22, 2013. The fourth and likely final day of Oscar Pistorius' bail hearing opened on Friday, with the magistrate then to rule if the double-amputee athlete can be freed before trial or if he has to remain in custody over the shooting death of his girlfriend. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

PRETORIA, South Africa (AP) ? A South African magistrate allowed Oscar Pistorius to go free on bail Friday, capping hearings that foreshadow a dramatic trial in the Valentine's Day killing of the star athlete's girlfriend.

Pistorius' family members and supporters shouted "Yes!" when Chief Magistrate Desmond Nair made his decision after a more than 1 hour and 45 minute explanation of his ruling to a packed courtroom.

Radio stations and a TV news network in South Africa broadcast the audio of the decision live, and even international channels like the BBC and CNN went live with it, underscoring the huge global interest in the case.

Nair set the bail at 1 million rand ($113,000), with $11,300 in cash up front and proof that the rest is available. The magistrate said Pistorius must hand over his passports and also turn in any other guns that he owns. Pistorius also cannot leave the district of Pretoria, South Africa's capital, without the permission of his probation officer, Nair said, nor can he take drugs or drink alcohol.

The double-amputee Olympian's next court appearance was set for June 4. He left the courthouse in a silver Land Rover, sitting in the rear, just over an hour after the magistrate imposed the bail conditions. The vehicle, tailed by a motorcycle with a TV cameraman aboard, later pulled into the home of Pistorius' uncle.

The magistrate ruled that Pistorius could not return to his upscale home in a gated community in the eastern suburbs of Pretoria, where the killing of Reeva Steenkamp took place.

Pistorius' uncle, Arnold Pistorius said: "We are relieved at the fact that Oscar got bail today but at the same time we are in mourning for the death of Reeva with her family. As a family, we know Oscar's version of what happened on that tragic night and we know that that is the truth and that will prevail in the coming court case."

Nair made the ruling after four days of arguments from prosecution and defense in Pistorius' bail hearing. During Friday's long session in Pretoria Magistrate's Court, Pistorius alternately wept and appeared solemn and more composed, especially toward the end as Nair criticized police procedures in the case and as a judgment in Pistorius' favor appeared imminent.

Nair had banned cameras from Friday's dramatic bail hearing and complained about cameras constantly "flashing" in Pistorius' face the previous three days of hearings, saying the spectacle made the athlete look like "some kind of species the world has never seen before."

Nair said Pistorius' sworn statement, in which he gave his version of the events of the shooting during the predawn hours of Feb. 14 in a sworn statement, had helped his application for bail.

"I come to the conclusion that the accused has made a case to be released on bail," Nair said.

Pistorius said in the sworn statement that he shot his girlfriend ? a model and budding reality TV contestant ? accidentally, believing she was an intruder in his house.

Prosecutors say he intended to kill Steenkamp and charged him with premeditated murder, saying the shooting followed a loud argument between the two.

Sharon Steenkamp, Reeva's cousin, had said earlier that the family wouldn't be watching the bail decision and hadn't been following the hearing in Pretoria.

"It doesn't make any difference to the fact that we are without Reeva," she told The Associated Press.

Despite the bail decision, prosecution spokesman Medupe Simasiku said: "We're still confident in our case," outside court.

Pistorius faced the sternest bail requirements in South Africa because of the seriousness of the charge, and his defense lawyers had to prove that he would not flee the country, would not interfere with witnesses or the case, and his release would not cause public unrest.

Nair questioned whether Pistorius would be a flight risk and be prepared to go "ducking and diving" around the world when he stood to lose a fortune in cash, cars, property and other assets. Nair also said that while it had been shown that Pistorius had aggressive tendencies, he did not have a prior record of offenses for violent acts.

He criticized Hilton Botha, the previous lead investigator in the case, for not doing more to uncover evidence that the Olympian had violent tendencies.

"There is ample room and ample time to do that by looking at the background of the accused," he said.

But while Nair leveled harsh criticism at former lead investigator Botha for "errors" and "blunders," he said one man does not represent the state's case and that the state could not be expected to put all the pieces of its puzzle together in such a short time.

Anticipating the shape of the state's case at trial, he said he had serious questions about Pistorius' account: Why he didn't try to locate his girlfriend on fearing an intruder was in the house, why he didn't try to determine who was in the toilet and why he would venture into perceived "danger" - the bathroom area - when he could have taken other steps to ensure his safety.

"There are improbabilities which need to be explored," Nair said, adding that Pistorius could clarify these matters by testifying under oath at trial.

___

AP Sports Writer Gerald Imray and AP writer Carley Petesch contributed to this report from Johannesburg.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-02-22-Pistorius-Shooting/id-5388135900e24791b80154535782eaa4

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Wayne State University professor selected for prestigious Sloan Research Fellowship

Public release date: 22-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Julie O'Connor
julie.oconnor@gmail.com
313-577-8845
Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research

DETROIT Wen Li, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry in Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was one of 126 researchers selected to receive a $50,000 Sloan Research Fellowship for 2013 from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The fellowships, awarded annually since 1955, are given to early-career scientists and scholars whose achievements and potential identify them as rising stars the next generation of scientific leaders.

Li's research focuses on the most exquisite details of chemical reactions. "Many things in everyday life come down to chemical reactions," said Li. "In my lab, we study the motion of nuclei and electrons during such reactions. While people have been studying the nuclear motion of chemical reactions for a while, we are focusing on electrons, which for a long time people considered too fast to study. To date, no technique has been developed to track down their motions in real time, and this is what my research program aims to do in the next few years. This ultimately could help control chemical reactions."

"The Sloan Research Fellows are among the best of the best of young scientists," said Hilary Ratner, vice president for research at Wayne State University. "Dr. Li is most deserving of this award along with the many other accolades he has received in his young career."

In late 2012, Li received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), which is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government to science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Li will receive a $1 million grant for that achievement, which will aid his Department of Defense research in providing a dynamic picture of how lasers interact with matter.

###

For more information about the Sloan Research Fellowship, visit http://www.sloan.org/fileadmin/media/files/press_releases/2013_SRF_Press_Release_vf.pdf

Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.

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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: 22-Feb-2013
[ | E-mail | Share ]

Contact: Julie O'Connor
julie.oconnor@gmail.com
313-577-8845
Wayne State University - Office of the Vice President for Research

DETROIT Wen Li, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry in Wayne State University's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, was one of 126 researchers selected to receive a $50,000 Sloan Research Fellowship for 2013 from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. The fellowships, awarded annually since 1955, are given to early-career scientists and scholars whose achievements and potential identify them as rising stars the next generation of scientific leaders.

Li's research focuses on the most exquisite details of chemical reactions. "Many things in everyday life come down to chemical reactions," said Li. "In my lab, we study the motion of nuclei and electrons during such reactions. While people have been studying the nuclear motion of chemical reactions for a while, we are focusing on electrons, which for a long time people considered too fast to study. To date, no technique has been developed to track down their motions in real time, and this is what my research program aims to do in the next few years. This ultimately could help control chemical reactions."

"The Sloan Research Fellows are among the best of the best of young scientists," said Hilary Ratner, vice president for research at Wayne State University. "Dr. Li is most deserving of this award along with the many other accolades he has received in his young career."

In late 2012, Li received a Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), which is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government to science and engineering professionals in the early stages of their independent research careers. Li will receive a $1 million grant for that achievement, which will aid his Department of Defense research in providing a dynamic picture of how lasers interact with matter.

###

For more information about the Sloan Research Fellowship, visit http://www.sloan.org/fileadmin/media/files/press_releases/2013_SRF_Press_Release_vf.pdf

Wayne State University is one of the nation's pre-eminent public research universities in an urban setting. Through its multidisciplinary approach to research and education, and its ongoing collaboration with government, industry and other institutions, the university seeks to enhance economic growth and improve the quality of life in the city of Detroit, state of Michigan and throughout the world. For more information about research at Wayne State University, visit http://www.research.wayne.edu.

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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/2013-02/wsu--wsu022213.php

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Judge Sides With Greenlight, Blocks Apple From Holding Shareholder Vote On Proposal Over Preferred Stock

The "silly sideshow" around Greenlight Capital and Apple issuing preferred stock, as Apple CEO Tim Cook put it, will go on according to a ruling today by U.S. District Judge Richard Sullivan in NYC today. Sullivan sided with Greenlight Capital manager David Einhorn, blocking Apple from being able to proceed with a shareholder vote on whether or not the company can issue preferred stock.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/dn2s98mlIoA/

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Red sues Sony over patents, wants offending F-series cameras 'destroyed'

We reported that Sony was going "Red hunting" with it's new F-series pro camcorders, but it looks like Red has flipped that scenario. It's suing Sony for allegedly violating two of its patents -- asking for an injunction to stop sales plus an award for damages, and even that that the F5, F55 and F65 models in question be "delivered up and destroyed." The Hobbit camera-maker claims the video cams have "resulted in lost sales, reduced the business and profit of Red, and greatly injured the general reputation of Red." The disputed patents involve Red's implementation of RAW video, but no details were given as to how it thinks those processes were infringed. Anyway, you can now add high-end video cameras to the growing playbill of patent follies.

Filed under: Cameras, HD, Sony

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Via: Sony Alpha Rumors

Source: Scribd.com

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/02/14/red-sues-sony-over-patents-wants-offending-f-series-cameras-de/

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Lady Gaga Cancels Tour Due to Hip Injury, Surgery

Source:

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7 Social Media DOs and DON'Ts for Small Businesses | Social ...

Due to the large number of people on social media, public profiles, and the vast information that is available to all of us via the Internet, businesses should be wary of mal-informed posts and miscommunications for fear of appearing unprofessional, looking like a spambot, or worse, having a social campaign backfire. Here are our 7 DOs and DON'Ts for Small Businesses on social media:

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1. DO?double-check your grammar

While it may appear obvious, do remember that business profiles on social media are the face of your small business to the world in a public medium (and we really cannot stress that enough). Many out there believe that if you cannot spell or use proper grammar, you are being careless and thus should be shunned from appealing to your target audience. If you overlook your grammar, someone will correct you and strip you of your credibility and professionalism, making a bad impression to the very audience you are trying to market to. Double-check: it takes very little time and is much better than learning the hard way.

2. DO?search for popular Hashtags to use

Searching for popular Hashtags to use is a smart move for two reasons: 1. Hashtagging too much seems desperate, and 2. You run the risk of accidentally Tweeting under a Hashtag being used for something else. Many would argue that using more than two Hashtags in a Tweet already seems desperate, so be efficient and choose wisely. You can do this by simply going to Twitter and typing in possible Hashtags you would use to see which are being used most often. Before using a Hashtag, go ahead and read what is being said to make sure that it is being used the way you think it is. Do not be like Celeb Boutique and Hashtag #Aurora without knowing about the location of the mass shooting in Aurora, Colorado, just hours after the incident happened:

Celeb Boutique got a whole lot of hate mail and terrible media attention for this, especially when they later admitted that it was a PR agency outside of the US who was handling their social media accounts. Be smart about how you use Hashtags and you will avoid this.

3. DO?participate in and with your social media community

Social media is not all about you, and it?s not a once-and-done strategy. If you want to be successful on social media, you must participate. Participation means being active: post media that you know your target audience would like and/or benefit from, and respond to any and all posts on your Facebook page, be they complaints or appraisals. At this point, social media is so advanced and personalized that people expect you to respond to them almost immediately, and even if you cannot get to it right away, you must not ignore them. If you ignore your community, your community will start ignoring you, and eventually you will have no community at all. So thank all compliments, deal with complaints accordingly (more on this later), and share media that isn?t yours but that your audience will enjoy and interact with. It is also a good strategy to also participate with other, relevant business pages, too.?

4. DON?T?plagiarize

We stated in #3 that you should share media that isn?t necessarily yours but that your audience will enjoy and interact with. This stands true, but be sure to give credit where it?s due and do NOT call yours anything that isn?t. This applies mostly to visual media, since it is the easiest form of media to plagiarize, but the repercussions are similar for written works. Even if you don?t go to court, chances are someone will call you out publicly, so just avoid it at all costs.

5. DON?T?offend anyone or post negative comments

The last thing you want to do is insult someone in your social media community, or anyone for that matter. Negative reputation echoes faster than positive reputation, so steer away from being mean or unprofessional.

6. DON?T?post if in doubt

This rule is easy to follow: when in doubt over the possibility of a text, image, or any kind of media being accidentally perceived as unprofessional, rude, or offensive, don?t post it. If you find yourself in this situation, it is best to refrain from posting the media in question and look for other options.

7. DON?T?take a political stance

You are free to express your personal beliefs however you wish, but your personal social accounts are probably a better place for your ideals than your business? social media page. We recommend not affiliating your business brand with a specific party, ideal, or stance on any politically charged issue publicly on social media. We reiterate that the goal of having social profiles for your business is to increase awareness, supplement your marketing, and in the end, increase sales. Note that ?political campaigning? is not on that list.

Are there any other Do?s and Don?ts for small businesses that you would add to this list?

Source: http://socialmediatoday.com/ajsoltero/1243256/7-social-media-dos-and-donts-small-businesses

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Hedo Turkoglu suspended 20 games for violating NBA's Anti-Drug Program

Written by Philip Rossman-Reich on Wednesday, 13 February 2013 20:34.

The NBA has suspended Hedo Turkoglu for 20 games for violating the terms of the NBA and NBPA's Anti-Drug Program. The NBA reports Turkoglu tested positive for methenolone, an anabolic steroid.

He will begin serving his suspension tonight in Orlando's game against Atlanta and will not be eligible to play again until March 27 when Orlando travels to Charlotte. There will be only 11 games remaining in the season when Turkoglu is eligible to return.

"Hedo unknowingly took a banned substance," Rob Hennigan said in a statement the Magic released. "There are more than 125 banned substances on the NBA List, and we spend a lot of time educating our players on the contents of that list and will certainly continue to do so moving forward. We believe this was an honest mistake."

Turkoglu will be made available to the media before tonight's game against the Hawks. Check back here for links from that press conference.

Turkoglu said in a statement that he unknowingly took the banned substance while he was rehabbing his shoulder in Turkey this offseason.

"While I was back home in Turkey this past summer, I was given a medication by my trainer to help recover more quickly from a shoulder injury. I didn't know that this was a banned substance and didn't check before taking it.

"I take full responsibility for anything that goes into my body. This was a complete error in judgment on my part and I apologize to the Orlando Magic organization, the league, my teammates, and the Magic fans. I know I have let down a lot of people and I am truly sorry for my mistake."

This just continues an odd and disappointing season for the Magic forward.

Turkoglu is averaging only 2.9 points per game and has made only 1 of his 24 3-point attempts in 11 appearances this season. Turkoglu injured his hand in the first game of the season and missed about five weeks. He tried to come back in late December, but his conditioning and his strength were not completely back and he was forced to sit out again to rehab.

He has not played for the Magic since Feb. 4 in the loss at Philadelphia.

This suspension certainly kills whatever little trade value Turkoglu might have had for this year's trade deadline. Turkoglu has another year on his deal that is reportedly partially guaranteed. There is no telling what Orlando might do this summer in regards to that decision.

What this means immediately is that the Magic will rely heavily on Maurice Harkless, Arron Afflalo, Josh McRoberts and DeQuan Jones to fill the small forward spot like they have all season.

Source: http://www.orlandomagicdaily.com/2013-articles/february/hedo-turkoglu-suspended-021313.html

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German, French economies contract in fourth quarter

BERLIN/PARIS (Reuters) - Europe's two largest economies, Germany and France, both shrunk markedly in the last three months of 2012, suggesting the euro zone has slipped deeper into recession and throwing a first quarter recovery for the bloc into doubt.

The German economy contracted by 0.6 percent on the quarter, official data showed on Thursday, marking its worst performance since the global financial crisis was raging in 2009.

France's 0.3 percent fall was also a touch worse than expectations.

Worryingly for Berlin, it was export performance -- the motor of its economy -- that did most of the damage.

"In the final quarter of 2012 exports of goods declined significantly more than imports of goods," the German Statistics Office said in a statement.

Back revisions to the French figures showed its output fell by 0.1 percent in each of the first and second quarters of 2012, meaning the country has already experienced one bout of recession in the last twelve months.

While the European Central Bank's pledge to do whatever it takes to save the euro has taken the heat out of the bloc's debt crisis, even its stronger members are gripped by an economic malaise that could push debt-cutting drives off track.

French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault acknowledged for the first time on Wednesday that weak growth was putting his government's deficit goal for 2013 out of reach.

Figures for the whole euro zone are due at 1000 GMT and forecast to show a 0.4 percent fall on the quarter, pushing it deeper into recession.

Economists say it may also shrink in the first quarter of 2013 although resilient Germany is expected to bounce back.

"The chances that the (German) economy will return to growth at the beginning of this year are very good. The early indicators are all pointing upwards," said Andreas Rees, chief German economist at Unicredit.

"The question is how strong the first quarter will be. We expect growth of 0.3 percent but it could be more."

WEAK PERIPHERY

For the more embattled members of the currency bloc, matters are of course worse.

Spain, the euro zone's fourth largest economy, released figures two weeks ago which showed it remained deep in recession after a 0.7 percent contraction in the fourth quarter.

Madrid is pressing on with harsh austerity measures to cut its debt but may be given more time to meet its deficit targets by the European Commission if its economy worsens further.

There are signs that countries like Spain are starting to benefit from harsh internal devaluations -- marked by wage falls and job losses -- in terms of international competitiveness.

The ECB predicts the euro zone will pick up more markedly later in the year although its currency, if it keeps strengthening, could quickly snuff out hard-won competitive advantages for its high debt members.

More recent data for January have already suggested some upturn in the first months of 2013, in the bloc's stronger members at least, and if improvement comes it is likely to be seen in Germany first.

"The debt crisis has ebbed significantly and the global economy has turned up," said Joerg Kraemer at Commerzbank. "Therefore all the important early indicators for Germany are pointing upwards. I expect noticeable economic growth again in the first quarter."

The pain is not confined to Europe. Japan, under some pressure over its aggressive monetary and fiscal policies which are driving down the yen, came up with an unwanted riposte earlier on Thursday -- its GDP shrank 0.1 percent in the fourth quarter, leaving it in recession and crushing expectations of a modest return to growth.

(Writing by Mike Peacock/editing by Chris Pizzey, London MPG Desk, +44 (0)207 542-4441)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/german-french-economies-contract-fourth-quarter-081306816--business.html

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Jobless claims tumble in latest week

The Associated Press , Staff ? ? ? 8 hrs.

The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell by 27,000 last week, an indication that hiring could improve.

The Labor Department says weekly applications dropped to a seasonally adjusted 341,000, the lowest level in three weeks. The four-week average, a less volatile measure, rose to 352,500, after reaching a five-year low two weeks ago.

The huge snowstorm that hit the Northeast this weekend seems to have had little impact on the data. The report covers the week ended Feb. 9, before the storm hit.

A department spokesman said Connecticut was unable to report data to the federal government earlier this week because state offices were closed after the storm. Illinois also didn't provide data, so both states' figures were estimated by the Labor Department.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/economywatch/jobless-claims-tumble-latest-week-1C8374530

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Feb 14: Study Abroad in South Africa

Source: http://www.howard.edu/calendar/main.php?view=event&calendarid=default&eventid=1358276580422-0010

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Bruce Willis Only Wants 'Die Hard' To Make Daughters Laugh

Action star tells MTV News that onscreen father-son relationship is 'a lot like real life.'
By Kevin P. Sullivan, with reporting by Kara Warner

Bruce Willis in "A Good Day To Die Hard"
Photo: 20th Century Fox

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1701976/bruce-willis-good-day-die-hard-parenting.jhtml

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Emmett Till's family reacts to Lil Wayne lyric

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2012 file photo, recording artist Lil Wayne speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in New Orleans. Epic Records is going to "great efforts" to take down a new Future remix leaked over the weekend with a vulgar lyric by Lil Wayne that has offended the family of Emmett Till. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

FILE - In this Sept. 26, 2012 file photo, recording artist Lil Wayne speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in New Orleans. Epic Records is going to "great efforts" to take down a new Future remix leaked over the weekend with a vulgar lyric by Lil Wayne that has offended the family of Emmett Till. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

FILE - This undated file photo shows Emmett Till, a black 14-year-old Chicago boy, who was brutally murdered near Money, Mississippi, Aug. 31, 1955, after whistling at a white woman. Epic Records is going to "great efforts" to take down a new Future remix leaked over the weekend with a vulgar lyric by Lil Wayne that has offended the family of Emmett Till. (AP Photo/File)

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) ? A cousin of the late Emmett Till wonders if Lil Wayne understands just how damaging it was when he rapped a vulgar reference to the black U.S. teen whose death in 1955 became a significant moment in the civil rights movement.

Airickca Gordon-Taylor says Till's family would like an apology from Lil Wayne for the brief but disturbing lyric on Future's "Karate Chop" remix. But more than that, she'd like the platinum-selling New Orleans rapper to understand how his comparison of a sex act to the 14-year-old Chicago native's torture death in Mississippi is hurtful to the black community.

"It was a heinous murder," Gordon-Taylor said in a phone interview Thursday from Chicago. "He was brutally beaten and tortured, and he was shot, wrapped in barbed wire and tossed in the Tallahatchie River. The images that we're fortunate to have (of his open casket) that 'Jet' published, they demonstrate the ugliness of racism. So to compare a woman's anatomy ? the gateway of life ? to the ugly face of death, it just destroyed me. And then I had to call the elders in my family and explain to them before they heard it from some another source."

The Future remix with Weezy guesting was leaked on the internet over the weekend. Epic Records said Wednesday it regretted the unauthorized remix version and that it was employing "great efforts" to pull it down. The brief reference ? just seven words ? will be stricken from the song when it's officially released later.

The rapper made a crude reference to rough sex and used an obscenity. He indicated he wanted to do as much damage as had been done to Till.

Gordon-Taylor says Epic Chairman and CEO LA Reid personally reached out to her on a conference call Wednesday evening that included the Rev. Jesse Jackson to explain and apologize. Jackson said in a phone interview Thursday that Reid said on the call that Future and Lil Wayne were cooperative.

"Once he got the point he realized this was beyond the zone and he immediately pulled it," Jackson said. "And he talked with both artists, who agreed."

Weezy has made no comment, nor has he addressed the issue on his Twitter account. Gordon-Taylor says there's been no attempt to apologize so far.

Till was in Mississippi visiting family when he was killed for flirting with a white woman. He was beaten, had his eyes gouged out and was shot in the head before his assailants tied a cotton gin fan to his body with barbed wire and tossed his body into the Tallahatchie River. Two white men, including the woman's husband, were acquitted of the killing by an all-white jury.

Till's body was recovered and returned to Chicago where his mother, Mamie Till, insisted on having an open casket at his funeral. The pictures of his battered body helped push civil rights into the cultural conversation in the U.S. Bob Dylan even wrote a song about it: "The Death of Emmett Till."

Gordon-Taylor, founding director of the Mamie Till Mobley Memorial Foundation, said Lil Wayne's lyric was devastating to her family. Simeon Wright, Till's cousin who shared a bed with his relative the night he was taken by the killers, heard the lyric for the first time Wednesday night.

"And he said the Ku Klux Klan would be very proud of Lil Wayne," Gordon-Taylor said. "And as tough a man as he is, I could see the hurt and the anger in his eyes. It just demonstrates to our family just how lost are our youth."

Both Gordon-Taylor and Jackson believe the 30-year-old rapper could help with that problem if he chose. Jackson says he's met Wayne, whose real name is Dwayne Carter, before and that he "respects his art."

Jackson says the issue of a negative portrayal of the black community comes up from time to time, citing The Rolling Stones' "Some Girls," for instance: "We just felt they could make their point without grossly insulting people."

Music also has the power to uplift, he noted. Harry Belafonte opened eyes to conditions in Africa and the Caribbean, for instance. Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On" helped Americans see the war in Vietnam in a new light. And Stevie Wonder's "Happy Birthday" helped clear the way for a national holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

"We want artists who have considerable power to use their power to uplift and redirect," Jackson said. "It's not a matter of free speech, it's also speech that matters. ... These artists have culturally transforming power. Either they hurt or they help."

___

Online:

http://epicrecords.com

___

Follow AP Music Writer Chris Talbott: http://twitter.com/Chris_Talbott

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-02-14-People-Lil%20Wayne/id-7f56cca9fe6a47c39eb1404834280061

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Sexy Eats & Food Gifts for Valentine's Day: Did Someone Say ...

What?s on the menu for Valentine?s Day? This year, it?s all about salt, sugar, bacon and beer. And chocolate, of course, in every way from molten to heart-shaped. From sexy lollipops to wine for a cause, feed your sweetie(s) or your own fine self with a pick from our list of delectable local treats.

Recchiuti Hearts in Motion. Photo by Tom Seawell.

Work in the City? Skip the lines at See?s and nip down to the Ferry Building instead to take your pick of Recchiuti Confections? dark and luscious Valentine?s Day boxes, made in Dogpatch by owner Michael Recchiuti. Our favorite? Hearts in Motion, a 9-piece box of Recchiuti?s signature burnt-caramel truffles, decorated with squiggly hearts on wheels. Perfect for your favorite Bike Coalition activist! There?s also the XO Box of raspberry-Framboise and heart-shaped dark chocolate truffles in a deep crimson box. Or, of course, there?s always a blindfold and the Sauce Duo, a jar each of the divine Extra-Bitter Chocolate Sauce and Burnt Caramel Sauce. Who needs dinner?

But if you do, Recchiuti?s new Chocolate Lab, in Dogpatch, is offering a full prix-fixe dinner menu for Valentine?s Day, with champagne sorbet, shellfish ceviche, rack of lamb, with, of course, a lavish chocolate dessert to finish.

Aphrodite?s Delight Valentine?s Truffles from Socola Chocolatier. Photo courtesy of Socola.

There?s more burnt caramel and raspberry awaiting your pleasure at Socola Chocolatier, where the Aphrodite?s Delight selection comes in 4-, 12-, and 24-piece boxes, enough to satisfy even the polyamorous among us. This year?s box includes Hot Lava, a raspberry pate de fruit layered with champagne ganache and enrobed in dark chocolate stamped with the word ?love? in many languages, paired with Burnt Baby Burnt, a dark chocolate truffle filled with burnt caramel chocolate ganache and topped with Hawaiian red sea salt. Both pieces are made with local E. Guittard dark chocolate and Straus Creamery organic butter and cream.

In the mood to break out the bubbly? Forget the champagne: this year, it?s all about the beer (and the chocolate). On Feb 14, from 3pm-8pm, as part of SF Beer Week, the brand-new Hunters Point brewpub for Speakeasy Ales & Lagers will be tapping four of its limited-release beers, complemented by specially chosen Socola chocolates. Both Rosamunde Sausage Grill in the Mission and Steep Brew in Potrero Hill will also be offering beer and chocolate pairings, while Blackbird on Market Street will be pouring a beer-based cocktail to pair with three different made-in-Dogpatch Barbary Brix caramels, including everyone?s favorites, the Salty Dog (Balinese sea salt) and the Morning Glory (maple and bacon). Check out the listings at SF Beer Week for details.

And speaking of salted caramels, San Francisco?s Poco Dolce, known for its sleek, stylish, salt-topped chocolate tiles, is expanding its brand this year with a luxurious Valentine?s Day chocolate basket filled with handmade marshmallows, rich bittersweet drinking chocolate, and a box each of sea salt caramels and ganache-filled chocolate hearts.

?Love to Give? from Stark Wine and Sonoma Chocolatier.
Photo courtesy of Stark Wine.

Up in Healdsburg, musician-turned-winemaker Christian Stark and his wife and business partner Jen are doing good while making good wine. Their boutique winery, Stark Wine, is partnering with Sonoma Chocolatiers to create this year?s special Love to Give gift pack, featuring a bottle of Stark Wild red wine (an ?untamed? 2011 blend of Zinfandel, Grenache, and Petit Syrah) and four different salty, nutty chocolate and caramel indulgences: cinnamon-dusted chocolate-covered organic almonds, salted caramels, smoked sea-salt bites, and a dark chocolate Sonoma Bar, studded with nuts and raisins, in the shape of a bunch of grapes. Available only on their website, the box?s $49 price includes shipping within California. 10% of the profits on this (and all other Stark wines) goes directly to WaterAid, a non-profit organization that supports and funds clean water and sanitation projects in developing countries.

Cowgirl Creamery?s Valentine Collection.
Photo by Michael Woolsey.

If your honey?s taste is more salty than sweet, try Marin?s Cowgirl Creamery?s Valentine Collection, featuring their limited-edition Heart?s Desire cheese, Blue Chair Fruit marmalade, Rustic Bakery chocolate cocoa-nib shortbread (with a hint of sea salt), and cheese knives and a bamboo cheese board, all perfect for promising many Pacific Coast picnics to come. It?s almost sold out for this year, so grab it while you can! Cowgirl fans might recognize the buttery-rich deliciousness of this cheese. Named after West Marin?s Heart?s Desire Beach overlooking tranquil Tomales Bay, it?s a heart-shaped version of the creamery?s much-loved triple-cream Mt. Tam.

Bacon Crack from Nosh This. Photo by Pinckney Templeton.

And while it?s smart to fill the fridge with plenty of fresh-squeezed juice and bacon for the morning after, be sure you?ll make it to breakfast by picking up some Bacon Salted Caramels, Bacon Crack, and Bourbon Bacon Rocky Road by everyone?s favorite local baconiste, Kai Kronfield of Nosh This. You can turn those three little piggy treats into four even happier pigs by adding a jar of Kronfield?s new Bacon Salted Caramel Sauce. And because nothing?s better with bacon than beer (and chocolate!) Kronfield will be on hand selling his sweet bacony goodness at SoMa?s City Beer Store at 6pm on Feb 14 during their Midnight Sun Brewing Company?s Alaskan beer tasting.

Pandora Pops. Photo courtesy of Pandora Pops.

An aphrodisiac in a lollipop? That?s the promise of Pandora?s Pops, made with all-natural infusions of va-va-voom herbs and spices. Owner Jena Chambers cooked up her first batches of sexy lollipops on a houseboat in Sausalito. Now, she?s got a full ?Boudoir Collection? of sweet, heart-shaped licks. The pops come in flavors like rose and cardamom, cinnamon spice, ginger and cocoa, jasmine and cardamom, and, yes, even Fifty Shades of Earl Grey, with bergamot and black tea.

Still need a little more inspiration? Meesha Halm offers an ultimate Valentine?s Day dining guide to Bay Area restaurants, while on Tablehopper, Marcia Gagliardi tracks down some fun pop-ups and more for the day.

Related posts

Tags: featured, kai kronfield, michael recchiuti, nosh this, poco dolce, recchiuti chocolate, san francisco beer week, SF Beer Week, socola chocolates, sonoma chocolatiers, stark wine, Valentine's Day

Category: baking and bakeries, bay area, beer, dessert and chocolate, food and drink, holidays and traditions, local food businesses, online marketplaces and food sites, san francisco, wine

Source: http://blogs.kqed.org/bayareabites/2013/02/12/sexy-eats-food-gifts-for-valentines-day-did-someone-say-chocolate/

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Syrian rebels capture military airport near Aleppo: opposition

AMMAN (Reuters) - Syrian opposition fighters captured a military airport near the northern city of Aleppo on Tuesday, an opposition organization said.

The airport is the latest military facility in the region between Syria's industrial and commercial center and its oil and wheat producing heartland to the east to fall under rebel control.

The Jarrah air base, 46 kms (28 miles) east of Aleppo, came under the control of rebel units who have been surrounding it for weeks and the highway linking Aleppo to the east of the country is in opposition hands, the Sham News Network said.

Video footage showed fighters from the Islamic Free Sham Movement inspecting the airport. Several fighter jets were shown on the ground at the airport and in concrete shelters.

The video footage could not be independently verified.

Abu Abdallah Minbig, one of the opposition commanders at the airport, told Reuters by phone that two operational MiG jets and some ammunition were found intact at the base.

"The airport was being used to bomb northern and eastern rural Aleppo. By capturing it, we have cut the regime's supply line from Aleppo to the east," Minbig said.

He said the Syrian army would struggle to send reinforcements to stop a rebel advance in the adjacent Raqqa province, where rebels captured the country's largest hydro-electric dam this week.

(Reporting by Khaled Yacoub Oweis, Amman newsroom; Editing by Janet Lawrence)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/syrian-rebels-capture-military-airport-near-aleppo-opposition-094518470.html

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