Apple, Google in secret patent settlement talks?

Behind the scenes, Google and Apple CEOs Larry Page and Tim Cook have been in talks over the two companies' patent disputes, according to reports.

The two chief executives are reported to have spoken about a wide range of intellectual property issues. Patent use and infringement is likely to be high on the agenda, against Apple's recent victory over Samsung, who uses Google's Android OS in their mobile devices.

First reported by Reuters, sister site CNET later confirmed that at least one conversation has occurred between the two chief executives. Cook and Page talked before a verdict was reached in the high-profile Apple v. Samsung case, and according to sources, will talk again in a few weeks -- although no firm date has been set.

Reuters also reports that ongoing discussions are taking place between lower-level officials of both firms.

A jury awarded Apple $1.05 billion in damages last week, and there is the possible of sales bans on particular Samsung products -- but in the same breath, a Japanese court found Apple guilty of infringing several Samsung patents. Google, however, distanced itself from Samsung's defeat; immediately declaring that most of the disputed patents "don't relate to the core Android operating system."

Competition is increasing the stakes between the two rival firms as the 'PC era' dwindles and mobile devices take the helm. Late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs believed Google's Android OS was a "stolen product" which has become embroiled in a number of patent disputes across the globe, but it has become Apple's iOS rival and remains installed on hardware from vendors including Samsung.

Tim Cook has been CEO of Apple for roughly a year, whereas Larry Page stepped in at Google a scant few months beforehand, taking over from Eric Schmidt.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/zdnet/BTL/~3/UWAjqvGt_cY/

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SmartBrief Partners with the Lance Armstrong Foundation to Deliver Vital News to Cancer Survivors and Health Care Communities

WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--SmartBrief, Inc. launched a weekly digital media news service today in partnership with the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

?Our partnership with SmartBrief will benefit Foundation constituents and the industry as a whole by providing a weekly summary of timely news, trends and policy issues important to strengthening the Foundation?s ability to effectively communicate with those in the cancer community.?

The Lance Armstrong Foundation, the global non-profit organization founded by the champion cyclist and cancer survivor, serves people affected by cancer and empowers communities to take action against the world?s leading cause of death. The LIVESTRONG? SmartBrief will contain daily industry news for Foundation constituents dedicated to improving the lives of people affected by cancer. The SmartBrief will keep them informed of industry developments by delivering ?must-read? news directly to their inboxes.

SmartBrief is an online media publishing company that gives readers a competitive edge by providing relevant, timely and reliable content as efficiently as possible. SmartBrief filters thousands of sources daily to create customized e-mail publications in partnership with more than 200 trade associations, professional societies, non-profits and companies. The most relevant industry news is chosen by SmartBrief?s editorial staff and summarized. SmartBrief distributes the news via its e-mail newsletters, the SmartBrief website and the SmartBrief Android and iPhone apps.

Lance Armstrong Foundation Executive Vice President of Operations, Andy Miller, said, ?Our partnership with SmartBrief will benefit Foundation constituents and the industry as a whole by providing a weekly summary of timely news, trends and policy issues important to strengthening the Foundation?s ability to effectively communicate with those in the cancer community.?

Rick Stamberger, CEO of SmartBrief, Inc. added, ?We are honored to be a part of the Lance Armstrong Foundation?s work in improving the lives of people affected by cancer. SmartBrief staff will be dedicated to providing this health care community with a valuable tool to save them time and allow them to focus on their main objective, to address both the common and unique problems cancer survivors are facing around the world.?

To subscribe to LIVESTRONG SmartBrief, and stay on top of the most relevant news affecting the cancer and health care communities, please visit http://www.smartbrief.com/livestrong:pr_launch_2012. For more information about the Lance Armstrong Foundation, please visit LIVESTRONG.org.

If you are interested in learning how a partnership with SmartBrief can benefit your organization, visit http://corp.SmartBrief.com/services or email partnerwithSB@smartbrief.com to learn more.

Source: http://feeds.businesswire.com/click.phdo?i=6e5293402fbf20c1c8c9f8b0cebda001

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Overnight Music: Ry Cooder, John Lee Hooker for President (Little green footballs)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/244516190?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Daniel Bryan Jobs To Zack Ryder

Why couldn't this happen on tv?

Good news for the IWC is that house show results don't matter and never translate to tv, but of course there's gonna be people that think this is like Triple H Pedigreeing someone off camera, it's some huge deal even though nobody sees it.

Source: http://www.wrestlingforum.com/raw/633986-daniel-bryan-jobs-zack-ryder.html

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I love my new Galaxy S III phone . . . but

I?ve been looking forward to upgrade time for my cell phone for a while ? my Droid X served me well but was becoming a bit long in the tooth.? I thought about getting an iPhone this time around, but I do like Android and I opted for the Samsung Galaxy S III instead.

By all accounts the S3 has been a major success for Samsung, and it is easy to see why.? The phone features a gorgeous, mini tablet-sized 4.8-inch Super AMOLED display.? That might sound like more than you would want to carry around in your pocket, but the S3 is very thin and light and more comfortable to hold and use than you would expect from a device with a screen this large.

Other notable features include an 8MP camera, great battery life and a snappy processor that gives the phone good performance and responsiveness and, when combined with a 4G connection, makes for a very good web browsing experience.?? If your friends also have S3 phones, Samsung has added a number of proprietary features that will make sharing with them very easy.? Samsung has packed a ton of features into this phone, many of which I?ll probably never get around to using.

However, one thing I?m finding that the Galaxy S3 may not be so well suited for is reading ebooks.? The version of the AMOLED display that Samsung chose to use on the S3 is not quite as sharp and bright as the displays of many other smartphones, including the Super AMOLED+ screen used in last year?s Galaxy S II.

I do find reading ebooks on the S3 less comfortable than on my old Droid X.? The problem becomes worse the more tired I and my eyes are.? Most likely this will not be an issue for many people ? my eyes are light sensitive and I can have problems if I read for extended periods of time on a backlit screen, although the small screen of a smartphone generally causes me less grief than that of a tablet.

Since I only tend to read ebooks on my phone when I?m on the road and have time to kill between appointments ? something that doesn?t happen all that often ? this is not a deal killer for me; I still love this phone.? I also carry a tablet I can switch to if need be.? But if you do read a lot of ebooks on your phone you may want to check out your favorite ereading app on an S3 demo unit to make sure you are okay with it before you buy one.

I?ve been looking at the Kindle app on other phones over the past couple of weeks and trying to make a photographic comparison, but the problem does not photograph well.? The photo above shows two different Kindle books on the Samsung Galaxy S III (left) and the Motorola Droid X.? The font on the S3 looks a little thinner, lighter and less contrasty and this is no doubt much of the problem.? I?m thinking that just perhaps this is something that could be addressed to some extent if some optimizations for the S3 were included in future reading app updates ? the popularity of the S III may justify that.

Possibly Related Posts:

Source: http://findebookreaders.com/blog/2012/08/i-love-my-new-galaxy-s-iii-phone-but/

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Syrian activists say rebels shot down warplane

Syrian men rest on the rubble of a shop destroyed form Syrian government forces shelling, while waiting their turn to buy bread from a bakery shop, in the Syrian town of Azaz, on the outskirts of Aleppo, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Syrian men rest on the rubble of a shop destroyed form Syrian government forces shelling, while waiting their turn to buy bread from a bakery shop, in the Syrian town of Azaz, on the outskirts of Aleppo, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Syrians, who fled their homes, due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, collect water from a tanker, as they take refuge at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Syrian women, who fled their homes in Aleppo, due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, hang their laundry in a field facing the Turkish border, as they take refuge at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Syrians, who fled their homes due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, take refuge at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

Syrians, who fled their homes due to fighting between the Syrian army and the rebels, take refuge at the Bab Al-Salameh border crossing, in hopes of entering one of the refugee camps in Turkey, near the Syrian town of Azaz, Thursday, Aug. 30, 2012. (AP Photo/Muhammed Muheisen)

BEIRUT (AP) ? Syrian activists said rebels shot down a government warplane over the northern province of Idlib on Thursday, the second time in a week that opposition fighters claimed to have brought down an aircraft in the escalating civil war.

Two activist groups, The Local Coordination Committees and the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the plane was seen crashing near the Abu Zuhour air base. Idlib-based activist Alaa al-Din said rebels shot it down with heavy machine guns.

A video broadcast on the pan-Arab satellite station Al-Arabiya shows what appears to be a person parachuting and rebels cheering and claiming he was the pilot. The video's authenticity could not be verified.

The government had no immediate comment, and the report couldn't be independently confirmed.

Over the past month, President Bashar Assad's regime has been relying much more heavily on air power, escalating the fight with rebels as its ground forces have been stretched thin fighting on many fronts including Syria's two largest cities ? Damascus and Aleppo. The military has conducted air raids on the northern regions of Idlib and Aleppo near Turkey as well as the eastern province of Deir el-Zour.

The increased use of air power is likely a factor in the high daily death tolls, which activists say have been averaging 100-250 lately.

This was the third time this month the rebels claimed to have brought down a government aircraft.

Earlier this week, the opposition fighters said they shot down a helicopter in the Damascus neighborhood of Jobar while the government confirmed a chopper crashed in nearby area of al-Qaboun. On Aug. 13, rebels claimed to have shot down a regime MiG-23 warplane and captured the pilot in Deir el-Zour. Syria says the pilot ejected after a technical malfunction in the fighter jet.

If the rebel claims are confirmed, it would be another blow to Assad's regime, which has been struggling to put down rebel challenges around the country even though its firepower is far superior to the opposition's.

Rebels appear to be targeting air bases with increasing frequency.

Earlier in the day, the Observatory reported explosions inside the Abu Zuhour air base in Idlib, near where the plane was reported to have been shot down. It added that rebels have captured parts of the compound.

On Wednesday, state news agency SANA reported that government forces repulsed a major rebel attack on a helicopter military base of Taftanaz, also in Idlib province.

Idlib, which borders Turkey, has been one of the major rebel strongholds since last year. Although government troops control the provincial capital, which carries the same name as the province, rebels move freely in towns and villages in the district.

In Iran, Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi described the Syrian regime as "oppressive" and called for it to transfer power to a democratic system. He was speaking at the opening of a summit of the 120-member Nonaligned Movement in Tehran.

Morsi's comments angered the Syrian delegation, which walked out in protest, according to Syria's state-run media.

Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem, who is also in Tehran, was quoted by the state-owned Al-Ikhbariya TV as saying: "Morsi's comments violated the traditions of the summit and are considered interference in Syrian internal affairs." He also accused Morsi of "instigating blood shedding in Syria."

Iran is Syria's closest ally in the Middle East.

Morsi is an Islamist from the Muslim Brotherhood, the most powerful political force to emerge from last year's uprising that ousted longtime authoritarian leader Hosni Mubarak. The Sunni fundamentalist group opposes Shiite Iran's staunch backing of the Syrian regime and its lethal crackdown on the largely Sunni opposition. Assad belongs to the minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiite Islam.

Assad, speaking in a rare TV interview broadcast on Wednesday, said his armed forces will need time to defeat the rebels ? an acknowledgement of the difficulties the military is facing in winning the civil war.

A member of Syria's main opposition group said his comments aimed to explain his security forces' failure in putting down the rebellion. British-based opposition activist Ausama Monajed, who is a member of the Syrian National Council, said in a telephone interview that Assad's statements tried to "justify the failure of the security solution."

"He is trying to boost the morale of his supporters. He is trying to justify the failure of the military solution that has been going on for months," Monajed said. "His comments were addressed to his constituency."

Activists estimate more than 20,000 people have been killed since the uprising against Assad's began more than 17 months ago.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-08-30-Syria/id-276ba8154b134c3d88e63189b9dfab52

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Facebook is mishandling its crisis, experts say

Jim Urquhart / Reuters

Here I am! Wall Street is wondering where Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg is as its stock languishes at half its debut price. PR experts say he needs to show leadership or find someone who will.

By Roland Jones, NBC News

?Where is Mark Zuckerberg?

The question was posed rather forcefully by CNBC host Jim Cramer last week as the social network?s share price continued to plunge and news broke that an early Facebook investor, Peter Thiel, had sold $400 million worth of stock in the company.

The drop in the value of Facebook since May has caused huge concern about the company on Wall Street, and media outlets have even called for the resignation of the company?s founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg. Facebook shares were trading at around $19 recently, about half?their $38 price when they went public on May 18.

Cramer?s query echoes a broader feeling on Wall Street about the problems now bedeviling the popular social networking company: With the value of its shares down over 50 percent since its highly anticipated IPO, is the company making a hash of the public relations disaster it is now facing; and, just as important,?why has Zuckerberg remained quiet about the state of the company?

Facebook is in crisis, and in a crisis a company?s CEO should be front and center, acknowledging the key issues, apologizing to those affected and giving a commitment to not letting an incident happen again, said Larry Chiagouris, a marketing professor at Pace University?s Lubin School of Business.

?The company needs to make the investment community comfortable that it has people at the top that are serious and determined to make profits,? he said.

?The wonderful thing about the stock market is, in the final analysis, the price of something tends to move toward its real value, so if there really is value in Facebook beyond its current price, the management team has failed to communicate that to investors effectively,? Chiagouris added.

Increasingly, investors are asking if Facebook?s problems are more profound than simply a swooning stock price.

Technical glitches marred Facebook?s first day of trading on the Nasdaq stock market in May, leading to complaints of slow order confirmations and too many shares offered at too high a price. Lawsuits against Facebook and its underwriting banks followed, and Facebook?s share price hasn?t traded anywhere near its $38 offering price since then.

Facebook?s IPO was expected to be one of the biggest stock offerings to ever hit Wall Street, and the company?s offer price?valued the company at $104.2 billion, making it the largest company to go public in the U.S. by market capitalization.

Investors? love for Facebook drove interest in its IPO to extreme levels, and the same herd mentality is now working in reverse, said Chiagouris.

?[Facebook?s stock price] will eventually get to a point where its valuation is unrealistic,? he said. ?To turn that decline around, Facebook has to do a major move -- one would be to replace top management.?

While Mark Zuckerberg is clearly inventive, no one will ever say that he is an effective businessman, Chiagouris said. The company needs to turn the reins over to people who are ?adult? and not beholden to Zuckerberg, he added.

?Facebook has one thing that people want: The largest community in the world. That?s a wonderful asset, but they?re sitting on that asset and they haven?t figured out how to monetize it yet,? Chiagouris said. ?Facebook needs people who are savvy at monetizing an asset, and that would probably not include most of the top managers who are there now.?

Facebook?s Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg has long been seen on Wall Street as Facebook?s ?adult? executive, having spent years as a senior executive at Google. But Sandberg has yet to demonstrate any independence at the company, Chiagouris said, and despite her appointment to Facebook's seven-person board last June the company?s stock price has continued to slide.

When it comes to handling a crisis, Facebook?s management team has done a poor job, public relations experts say.

As a social media company, Facebook?s image is its most vital asset, said Mario Almonte is a partner at a New York-based Herman & Almonte Public Relations.

?Once MySpace lost its image, it lost its cool factor,? Almonte said. In the same way, Facebook is having an image problem, and this time it?s with Wall Street investors.

The main problem is Zuckerberg, Almonte said.

?He?s locking himself in a room somewhere and refusing to talk to anyone,? he said. ?I think he needs to swallow his pride and bring in experienced people who understand Wall Street and understand the nature of investing and the politics of Wall Street, because a lot of this is about perception.?

?Zuckerberg needs to step up to the microphone and assure them he is working on a strategy to make Facebook profitable for them - and then he must bring in better financial and marketing experts than himself to develop a clear strategy for transforming Facebook into a profitable enterprise,? he added.

Investors have grown skeptical of the company?s ability to communicate its plan to reverse slowing revenue growth and make money from mobile devices -- a channel of strong user growth.

Google is an example of a technology company that got its advertising business right, Almonte said, because ?the advertising is there, all around the user, but it never gets in the way of the clean, efficient user experience.??

?

"If people had known that [Peter] Thiel would be unloading stock, obviously they wouldn't be buying stock," says Jim Cramer. "Where's the outrage?"

{"contentId":"13460329","totalVotes":"11842"}

How often do you use Facebook?

Source: http://marketday.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/08/24/13460329-facebook-mishandling-its-crisis-experts-say?lite

Romney launches pushback on Bain attacks

Romney (Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)TAMPA?After weeks of negative attacks from President Barack Obama and his Democratic allies, Mitt Romney's campaign has signaled that it is ready to launch a major pushback on criticism of Romney's record at Bain Capital.

On Thursday, the campaign unveiled a new website?SterlingBusinessCareer.com?which redirects to a page on Romney's campaign website that talks up what it describes as the candidate's "success in the private sector." It features testimonials from people who worked with Romney while he was at Bain, most of them employees of companies the firm invested in.

The site name is an obvious reference to former President Bill Clinton's defense of Romney in the wake of the Obama campaign's attacks on Bain. In May, Clinton told CNN in an interview that Romney has had a "sterling business career [that] crosses the qualification threshold" for the presidency.

The site was unveiled at the same time that a major portion of the schedule at the Republican National Convention on Thursday has been dedicated to a defense of Romney's time as a venture capitalist at Bain. Bob White, a longtime Romney friend and adviser who worked with him at Bain, will talk about Romney's time there. Another speaker will be Tom Stemberg, the founder of Staples, which was founded with seed money from Bain.

The candidate himself is expected to speak about his time at Bain?though aides would not indicate how much. Romney has struggled to answer attacks on his record at Bain?in part because of his own reluctance to discuss his history there.

But there have been signs that the Romney campaign is changing its strategy. Last week, on the eve of the convention, Romney authored an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal talking about the lessons he learned while he was at Bain.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/romney-launches-pushback-bain-attacks-191209019--election.html

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?Where's Twiggy? ? Fresh from Florida Plant Industry

August 29, 2012

While you and your kids may be playing ?Where?s Waldo,? we at the Division of Plant Industry are playing ?Where?s Twiggy.? Twiggy is our beautiful red kneed tarantula who happens to be an escape artist. We have ordered the Amber Alert for arthropods and placed Missing fliers around the building, but to no avail. We care about Twiggy and hope we?ll find her soon. However, if she did escape the building it is not cause for panic. In general, spiders including tarantulas are beneficial arthropods, and fortunately, Twiggy is not an invasive species, she is classified as an exotic pet. However, this presents a good opportunity to discuss the difference between exotic and invasive exotics animals and the ways invasive exotic pets have been introduced into Florida. For instance, the red rump tarantula is classified as an invasive exotic because it was released by an irresponsible pet owner and has now become established in Florida. Dr. G.B. Edwards, DPI?s resident ?internationally recognized spider expert warns of the threat released exotic pets create for the existence of native animals and plants in Florida. He offers simple alternatives to releasing exotic pets into the environment. ?His advice Includes returning exotic pets to local pet stores or finding them a good home ? for a look at a giant red rump tarantula and more information from Dr. Edwards, check out this video http://bit.ly/Ny9DNE.

You may be asking yourself what is the difference between native, exotic and invasive exotic pets, species, or pests. First we must define what a native species is. Native species are animals or other organisms that were here prior to European colonization in the early 16^th century. ?

Exotic species are not native to Florida and are typically introduced by human activity. They are brought in intentionally, accidentally, as hitchhikers that arrive at airport, seaports or through the mail. And please, Don?t Pack a Pest ? http://bit.ly/NCFlJz. Florida?s original European settlers brought plants and animals from their homelands including wheat, oranges, cattle and horses.? Species have always moved around the globe, and the majority are not problematic. It is today?s unprecedented volume of global trade and travel that provides an opportunity for species to invade. One third of all plant species in Florida are now exotic.

Invasive exotic species are not constrained by the natural factors that existed in their native habitats, namely other native species, diseases, and predators. The main concern Florida faces is the rapid growth and spread of invasive species. This rapid growth has the potential of altering what remains of Florida?s natural areas, resulting in economic or environmental harm or harm to human health and well being. The good news is that most exotic species are not invasive. The main concern is with invasive exotic species.

We will keep you posted on the search for Twiggy via our Facebook and Twiiter. Look for live updates until we find her.?

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fresh-from-Florida-Plant-Industry/131709210239129?ref=hl

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FLPlantIndustry

Remember you can help stop the spread of invasive exotic species in Florida. Be responsible and be careful with your exotic pets.

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Source: http://fldpi.wordpress.com/2012/08/29/wheres-twiggy/

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Wall Decals Are A Beautiful And Inviting Addition To Any Residence Or

The power to place any amusing quote or beautiful inspiration is affordable and simple to display- vinyl wall decals can be applied to any wall within minutes, including wood, concrete, glass, metal, or any other smooth surface. Many companies will suggest horizontal or vertical lines on the intended wall in order to perfectly align every decal; walls should also be clean from dirt and dust and completely dried. When owners decide to change rooms, alter designs, or move, these vinyl signs are easy to remove but not intended for repositioning. Decals are a wonderful addition to any home or business for a more inviting d?cor and enhanced character.

Wall decals can be customized and placed in any room, such as offices, bathrooms, kitchens, or a child's bedroom- the edge of a credit card or similar object may be used to smooth wrinkles and eliminate air bubbles for the most professional look possible. Bathrooms are an excellent area for decals, as businesses may place a quote to instruct individuals to 'wash your hands', often seen with fancy lettering and swags or flowers although any picture can be utilized to match the interior; rub a dub, dub with a small duckling could encourage a small child to enjoy baths more often within a home. A catchy quote instructing clients to seize the day upon entering a corporate building can create a classy and friendly environment.

Pictures and memories are greatly enhanced when a heartwarming phrase has been placed around an arrangement of frames. Famous quotes, common quotes, or even customized phrases can be a wonderful addition to any living room, allowing owners and visitors to see why there truly is no place like home. Religious excerpts and passages are popular with many customers, along with love and friendship as well, definitely since home is where the heart is.

Restaurants and home owners alike will relish kitchen decals for humor and advertisement, as many in existence today comment on delicious coffee, how Mom's Kitchen is Open Twenty Four Hours a Day, or a catchy way for a new wife to let her husband know saying 'I do' did not include dishes. Holiday specific decals are well-liked as well, for the seasonal spirit they portray and the easy removal to prepare for the next celebration. Many walls possess the proud definition of a family name for honor, sports for a young boy, or a pledge to a young girl's favorite singer.

Wall decals are an excellent addition to any residence or commerce. A sundry of fonts, sizes, and designs are available for consumers to build their perfect phrase. Although a picture is worth a thousand words, these low-cost decals can be equally valued.

You can read more about this type of Wall Decals at sites like www.decalsforthewall.com.

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/wall-decals-are-a-beautiful-and-inviting-addition-to-any-residence-or-business-290978

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Angola rebel bastion is key battlefield in vote

Once the stronghold of the feared Unita rebels, Angola's second city Huambo has emerged as a key battlefield in Friday's general elections as the party struggles in politics to regain its territory.

"This year the battle is going to be competitive. The ruling party is no longer certain of easy victory, and its historic rival needs to prove that it can still mobilise" its supporters, said Alicerces Mango, a local official with the new Casa opposition party.

Huambo resonates with symbolism from the 27-year civil war. As the stronghold of the Union for the Total Independence of Angola (Unita), the city of 400,000 people suffered some of the war's most crushing battles.

The southern city infamously lived under siege for 50 days. After the war, Huambo was left devastated.

It finally fell to President Jose Eduardo dos Santos and the ruling MPLA in 2008 elections, when the People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola won the province's five seats in parliament.

That victory more than anything exposed the frailty of Unita as an opposition party, without its notorious leader Jonas Savimbi who was killed by the army in 2002. Unita took only 10 percent of the ballots in 2008.

"Today we are better organised," said Liberty Chiyaka, Unita's provincial secretary. "We have visited all the villages to explain that their vote is secret. We will have two party representatives at each polling station, and will do our own compilation of the results."

"Unlike in 2008, we can monitor the vote, and we will do everything to minimise the impact of fraud," he said.

Unita has used its campaign to underscore worries about the election, from the integrity of the voter roll to the MPLA's use of public resources -- especially the broadcast media -- in its campaign.

The party faces other challenges from within. Top Unita leader Abel Chivukuvuku split away in April to form the new Casa party with a top MPLA figure and a clutch of smaller opposition parties.

Born not far from the city, Chivukuvuku could also pull votes from Unita.

Faced with an energetic if small opposition, Dos Santos came to Huambo to lead a rally and to inaugurate the Gove dam, a $279 million project that will bring electricity to Huambo province and neighbouring Bie.

Fierce campaigning sometimes sparked clashes between MPLA and Unita supporters, despite repeated calls for peace from both parties.

"The population is still traumatised by the resumption of fighting after the 1992 elections. In the countryside, for many people, voting is still synonomous with war," said Jose Maria Katiavala, a sociologist and local official in a rural development programme.

"This electorate, rural and with little education, was won over by MPLA when the opposition was busy wooing the urban vote, which is young and skilled. Political consciousness is starting to develop but remains small across the country," he said.

"I'm going to vote for Casa because the country needs change," said Tiago Jay Chimico, 22, outside the party's local headquarters. Support for the new party is one more sign of how far removed the young generation is from the famous two combatants in the civil war.

More than half of Angolans are under 18, and the youth vote is hugely important. But how they will vote, and how the broader public will respond to pressing social concerns like jobs, water and housing are the great unknowns in this election.

"Despite the government's efforts, there's a lot of public frustration with unemployment and the lack of opportunity for the youth," said Huambo Archbishop Dom Jose Queiros Alves.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/angola-rebel-bastion-key-battlefield-vote-150415911.html

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Colorado shooting victims' families blast fundraising charities

AURORA, Colorado (Reuters) - Families of people killed and wounded in a shooting rampage inside a Colorado movie theater in July said on Tuesday they were being denied a voice in how $5 million in donations raised to help them was being dispersed.

Tom Teves, whose son Alex was killed, said the first disbursement of funds went to various charities instead of victims and that a committee charged with distributing the money does not have any victims or their families on it.

"We are certain that everyone who donated their hard-earned wages intended for 100 percent of their donations to go directly to the victims," Teves said. "Unfortunately, it does not seem to be the case."

In an emotional news conference, 18 people representing families of the 12 who were killed and 58 who were wounded in the shooting accused some charities of soliciting funds by using victims' photographs without permission.

The Community First Foundation said $350,000 had been given directly to the victims or their families. The foundation, which manages the Aurora Victim Relief Fund, said it was dispersing money through smaller local charities that are responsible for distributing it to victims and their families.

Teves said $5,000 was given to each of the 70 victims' families only after they threatened to make public their concerns.

"The victims of 9/11 had similar issues with non-profit organizations keeping the donations from directly going to the victims until a handful of families put a stop to it," Teves said.

Community First's Executive Vice President Cheryl Haggstrom said, "We don't have direct communication with the families, but have been relying on professionals from police to the district attorney's office and victim advocates for them to tell us when it's the best time to include them."

She said the foundation was in the process of arranging a meeting with victims to get their input.

Former University of Colorado graduate student James Holmes, 24, is accused of opening fire inside the theater in Aurora on July 20 during a midnight screening of the Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises". He is being held in solitary confinement and without bond in the Arapahoe County jail.

U.S. Navy veteran Josh Nowlan, 32, who was severely wounded in the shooting, said he was slowly recovering but added that he knows families of those who died were suffering. "If I was a millionaire, I would give every dollar of it to them," he said.

(Editing by Mary Slosson)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/colorado-shooting-victims-families-blast-fundraising-charities-002418504.html

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