Crusader celebrates 40 years, honors Spirit of Caring winners | The ...

Staff Report

Crusader Community Health celebrated its 40th anniversary year at its annual fund-raiser, ?4 Decades of Ahhs ? Heart, Brains, Courage,? Oct. 19 at Giovanni?s. The event was attended by 500 people.

Crusader announced the winners of the annual ?Spirit of Caring? awards as part of its 40th anniversary event. The awards were initiated in 1992 to honor special individuals and organizations in the community who have demonstrated outstanding efforts in caring for others.

This year, 15 individuals and 10 organizations were nominated for the award by family and friends in recognition of their care and concern for others.

Pastor Troy Hedrick

Crusader Community Health presented the 21st Annual ?Spirit of Caring? awards to Pastor Troy Hedrick, Charlotte Hackin and Robert McLaughlin. The organization award went to Barbara Olson Center of Hope. A special ?On the Bus? award went to the Rockford Fire Department for performing an invaluable service to the community mobilizing ambulance service and paramedic support to the emergently ill.

Pastor Troy Hedrick

Ordained as Pastor of the Lutheran Church in 1963, Pastor Troy Hedrick began his ministry in Decatur, Ill., where he also began his work with creating opportunity for people with developmental disabilities. With roles in the development of numerous community organizations and community health initiatives throughout the region, Pastor Hedrick retired in 1999 and served Crusader Community Health Board of Directors and was chairman of the board for two years. Hedrick also served as president of the board of directors for Rockford Lutheran School.

Charlotte Hackin

As stated by retired Rockford Park District Executive Director Webbs Norman: ?Charlotte (Hackin) brings people of all walks of life together in ways that help them discover their own skills and use them to build a better life and community. The level of her caring for children and adults cannot be overstated.?

Hackin is 93 years young ? an artist, teacher, dedicated commissioner to the Rockford Park District and board of directors member to Crusader Community Health Foundation. It has been stated that ?Charlotte is a role model for living a life filled with health, caring, happiness and

Charlotte Hackin

joy.?

Robert McLaughlin

Devoted to his family, his faith and his community, Robert McLaughlin is one of those ?retired? people who are busier than ever.

Always ready to ask difficult questions to inspire necessary and positive change, McLaughlin has become an essential component to many organizations locally and internationally, including the Family Counseling Services Board of Directors, Carpenters Place, Hope for Haitians Board of Directors and the Rockford Diocese.

It has been stated that McLaughlin?s life is a daily song of gratitude to God and ?what better way to thank God for giving you the gift of another day than to bless each day with a generous act toward someone else??

Barbara Olson Center of Hope

Robert McLaughlin (Photo courtesy of Jim Orlando Photography)

Barbara Olson Center of Hope is committed to helping the community, as evidenced by their 65 years of service to the community. The center has taken on challenges no one else would have dreamt of taking on, including program development that is needed to help keep family members with disabilities in their homes and community.

Crusader?s founders

Crusader was born from a series of ?well baby? clinics created in the mid-1960s primarily for low-income families by Dr. John McHugh and Barbara Roman, two of Crusader?s original founders. They soon realized the monthly clinics weren?t enough for Rockford?s growing population and that adults lacked access to care, too.

Crusader Clinic was formed through their remarkable vision, dedication and courage. They were honored at the Oct. 19 event for using their experience, expertise and leadership to establish Crusader Clinic in the 1970s and for their substantial contribution to improving health care to the community that now reaches more than 45,000 area residents through four Crusader Community Health locations.

To quote Dr. John McHugh: ??when we use the term ?health,? we don?t mean merely medical care for the sick. We mean the broad-based services that influence health, be it housing, legal problems, counseling, social services, dental services, etc. In this setting, the family would be exposed to much more in the line of educational services toward health maintenance. ?? Crusader holds this premise to be of paramount importance to its past, present and future plans.

Barbara Olson Center of Hope

After 40 years of delivering health care services to those in need, the founders? guiding principles remain solidly in place.

A special portrait of Dr. McHugh and Roman by artist Gail Faber will be displayed at the Crusader Community Health on West State Street to honor their dedication to establishing Crusader.

Proceeds will benefit improvements made at the Crusader Community Health West State Street, Crusader?s first clinic established in 1972, and other needs as designated by the Crusader Community Health Foundation Board of Directors.

For the past 40 years, Crusader has strived to ensure that all people in the community have access to quality, affordable primary health care. During the past 12 months, the clinic served the health care needs of nearly 45,000 individual patients.

Crusader Community Health is a community-based, not-for-profit, Illinois corporation whose mission is to serve the Rock River Valley area with quality, primary health care for people in need. Services are available on a sliding discount basis.

Crusader Community Health has four locations: Crusader Community Health on West State Street, 1200 W. State St.; Crusader Community Health on Broadway-Uram Building, Broadway and Seventh Street; Crusader Community Health Belvidere, 1050 Logan Ave., Belvidere, Ill.; and Crusader Community Health Loves Park, 6115 N. Second St., Loves Park, Ill.

For more information, contact the Crusader Community Health Foundation office at (815) 490-1620 or visit www.crusaderhealth.org.

From the Oct. 31-Nov. 6, 2012, issue

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Source: http://rockrivertimes.com/2012/10/31/crusader-celebrates-40-years-honors-spirit-of-caring-winners/

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Samsung Galaxy Note 2 starts shipping in Canada

Samsung is now shipping out the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 across Canadian retailers and will be available to buy at most stores in the next two weeks. Last we heard, TELUS, WIND, and Mobilicity would be offering the phone, and since then Bell and Rogers have confirmed that they'll have it. In fact, Rogers and Bell are already taking orders online for $199 on a three-year contract. To celebrate the launch, Samsung has Psy of Gangnam Style fame performing in Toronto tonight.

You can get a deep-dive with the Samsung Galaxy Note 2 in our hands-on video, but here's a quick run-down.

• Network: 3G: HSPA+ 21Mbps (HSDPA 21Mbps / HSUPA 5.76Mbps); 4G LTE: 100Mbps/ 50Mbps
• Processor: 1.6 GHz quad-core processor
• Display: 5.5” HD Super AMOLED (1,280 x 720)
• OS: Android 4.1 (Jelly Bean)
• Camera: Main(Rear): 8 Megapixel Auto Focus Camera with LED Flash, BSI; Sub(Front): 1.9 Megapixel VT Camera, BSI; Best Photo, Best Faces, Low light shot
• GPS: A-GPS; Glonass
• Connectivity: Bluetooth® v 4.0 (Apt-X Codec support) LE; USB 2.0 Host; WiFi 802.11 a/b/g/n (2.4 & 5 GHz), Wi-Fi HT40; Wi-Fi Direct; mHL; NFC
• Memory: 16/32/64GB User memory + 2GB (RAM); microSD (up to 64GB)
• Battery: Standard battery, Li-ion 3,100mAh

It's a monster of a device, and no doubt many Canadians are itching to get one of these. Who's buying? What are you digging most about the GNote 2? 

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/04lqNJNUsCU/story01.htm

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That man Quilts?: OMG, what have I done?

Hi, my name is Lane.? This is my daughter Sydney.

She?s a freshman.? My personal goal for basketball this year is to do things I?ve never done.? My favorite basketball memory is watching Sydney walk out to the car in her practice uniform and cowboy boots.? She blamed this crime against fashion on Rob, who told her not to wear her new, expensive basketball shoes outside the gym.

Last night was the mandatory parent meeting for girls basketball and that?s the kind of introduction each of the girls had to give about themselves.? If they didn?t want to share a goal or memory, the could share an appropriate quote.? Some did and the quotes were very appropriate.?

I don?t remember much of what Sydney said.? She introduced herself and pointed us out and said ?and those are my two Daddies back there.?? and a Mom yelled ?where?.? and Sydney pointed again and said ?back there? and Rob and I waved.? And, I don?t remember much of what happened after that.

Now, before you get all misty eyed, yes that was a wonderful thing for her to do and I am so proud of her for doing it.? But, I?m from an old school and while I was busting my buttons with pride, not just that she pointed us out, but that she did it so proudly, I was also trying to crawl between two floor tiles because I guess it is always going to be uncomfortable to be ?outed? in a crowd of strangers.?

Ya wanna know sumpin?? I?ll live with that, if the next generation can be prouder than my generation was.? That?s progress.

Anyway, after a while, it got to be time for parents to sign up to volunteer.? Before I left the table, I gave Sydney one of my very hard looks and when she said ?what?? I replied, I?m just not sure you know what you?re getting yourself into.

So, what did I sign up for, you ask?? Not food, that?s for sure.? They were looking for people to volunteer to feed 45 people a main course, a side and a drink.? And, Coach did not describe that as sandwiches and chips.

I volunteered to?

Keep the score sheet, keep the clock, and work the gate.? All on different nights.? Each one on three different occasions.?

That is so much NOT like me.? I guess I got caught up in the fervor.? I don?t think Rob approved, and that?s all right.? He?s the one that?s going to have to hear me moan and gripe about ?what did I do?? How did I let myself sign up for this?? I can?t do this.? I?m going to have to talk to people.? What have I done??

But, you know what?? I signed up for the things that interested me the most out of what was presented.?? And, right now, I?m feeling VERY comfortable with what I have volunteered to do.?

Of course, I will be reading up on the game of basketball, because, like I told the coach before I signed up, I?ll volunteer, but I?m going to need training.? I don?t have any idea how to do these things.? And, coach said it didn?t matter.

There were only about 10 of us, signing up for about 60 volunteer opportunities.? So, I don?t feel bad about signing up to work at 9 home games.? Lots of folks didn?t volunteer for anything.?

Another thing that surprised me, and went right along with Sydney not being ashamed that she had two dads, was the fact that so many of these girls were there with a guardian.? Generally a relative.? Half the girls there are being raised by a grandparent or an older sibling.? Unconventional families are all the rage now, I guess, so we?re going to fit right in.?

Keep me in your thoughts.? I don?t always have the confidence I had last night.? I will second guess myself.? I will berate myself.? But, there?s something else about myself.? Even though I?ll be uncomfortable, I?ll be there for every single one of those volunteer opportunities?early.? And, like my Dad taught me, I?ll stay until they don?t need me anymore.

That?s me, too.

Be well and have a great Thursday.? I?m trying to take tomorrow off to do some things that I am not finding time in my regular life for.? Unfortunately, that isn?t just quilting.

And, my Mom told me to tell you all thanks for the good thoughts and prayers during her surgery last week.? She?s doing well and walking on her new knee with little pain.?

Lane

Source: http://quiltfool.blogspot.com/2012/10/omg-what-have-i-done.html

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Toronto property taxes could rise as home values ... - Financial Post

Forget condos, REITs are where you'll find sky-high returns

That?s the conclusion of Michael Smith, a real estate analyst with Macquarie, in the fourth annual installment of his study comparing a REIT investment to a condo investment. Read more

TORONTO ? The average value of Toronto homes has risen 22.8% since 2008 and property taxes could rise as a result, according to the latest assessment by Ontario?s property appraisers.

The report released Friday by Ontario?s Municipal Property Assessment Corp. said property owners will see an average assessment increase of 5.5% in each year for the next four years as it phases in the increases.

?Residential property values have increased by an average of approximately 22.8% in the City of Toronto since 2008 when the last assessment update was delivered,? said Joe Regina, municipal relations account manager in MPAC?s Toronto office.

?Our values reflect the local real estate market and confirm that most homeowners in the area have seen an increase in the value of their property over the past four years,? Regina said.

Any tax increase based on the new assessments could squeeze some owners at a time when many Canadians are cutting back to meet mortgage payments and household debt sits at 163% of disposable income, about the level reached in the United States before the housing crash of 2007-08.

However, an increase in a home?s value doesn?t necessarily mean property taxes will rise. If the assessed value of a home has risen by the same percentage as the average in a given municipality, there may not be an increase in taxes, said MPAC, which is funded and operated by the province?s municipalities.

MPAC is in the process of mailing property assessment notices to more than 727,000 area property owners. Homeowners can check the accuracy of the assessment at www.aboutmyproperty.ca which allows owners to compare values in their neighbourhood.

?Property owners should ask themselves if they could have sold their property for its assessed value on January 1, 2012. If the answer is yes, then their assessment is accurate. If not, we are committed to working with them to get it right,? Regina said.

MPAC assesses properties across the province based on current values. The most recent assessment is based on valuations on Jan. 1, 2012. The previous report was based on values on Jan. 1, 2008.

The four-year time frame for assessments means owners could be paying taxes based on values in January 2012, when the market was still robust, until 2016.

Canadians who could face the biggest strain on finances are those who have piled on debt to get into the market while interest rates are low. Officials have repeatedly told Canadians to reduce record debt loads and warned some could find themselves in trouble when rates rise.

A BMO survey released earlier this week suggests many Canadian homeowners have made cutbacks in the past year to make mortgage payments and three-quarters would feel a significant squeeze in their finances from even a modest rise in mortgage payments.

It found one-third of those surveyed say they?ve already cut back on spending, while one-quarter have reduced the amount they?re saving and 17% have dipped into savings to meet mortgage obligations.

And 72% of respondents say they would feel significant strain from a modest increase in their monthly mortgage payments, such as from an increase in interest rates.

Economists have noted that the central bank rate ? which forms the basis for the prime lending rates of commercial banks ? has contributed to an unsustainable run-up in home prices and risky levels of household debt.

Meanwhile, Canada?s real estate market is showing signs of cooling off following the post-recession boom sparked by the move to ultra-low interest rates, which the Bank of Canada opted to keep on hold at one% earlier this week.

The latest report from the Canadian Real Estate Association found that home sales in September fell 15.1% from a year ago. But the national average home price was up 1.1% to $355,777 in September from a year earlier.

Source: http://business.financialpost.com/2012/10/26/toronto-homeowners-face-property-tax-hike-after-home-values-gain-22-8/

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My actions were not fraudulent, says UBS "rogue trader"

LONDON (Reuters) - Former UBS trader Kweku Adoboli wept on Friday as he told a jury that his "off-book trades" were done for the benefit of a bank that meant everything to him.

Addressing the court for the first time since his trial started six weeks ago, Adoboli said he believed his behaviour was not fraudulent and he had worked incredibly hard for years to generate profits.

"UBS was my family and every single thing I did, every single bit of effort I put into that organisation, was for the benefit of the bank," said Adoboli, his voice breaking as he wept and thumped the witness box with his hand.

"That is everything I lived for ... To find yourself in Wandsworth Prison for nine months because all you did was worked so hard for this bank," he said through tears.

The 32-year-old British-educated Ghanaian was arrested on September 15, 2011, and blamed for losses of $2.3 billion (1.4 billion pounds). He was in custody until he was granted bail in June 2012.

He has pleaded not guilty to two counts of fraud and four of false accounting, covering the period between October 2008 and September 2011.

The prosecution say Adoboli traded far in excess of his authorised risk limits, concealed his unhedged positions by booking fictitious hedges, and lied to the back office when asked questions about his accounts.

Adoboli told the court that he had begun making what he called "off-book trades" in late 2008 after realising that the Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) desk where he worked faced mounting costs that would reduce any profits it could make.

Asked about his so-called trading "umbrella", which has been the subject of intense scrutiny during the trial, Adoboli described it as an accounting mechanism that had an legitimate purpose.

He said it consisted of holding some trades off-book for a period of time to try to generate a profit. Then those profits would be leaked back into the profit and loss account to offset costs incurred by the ETFs desk such as funding costs.

"The umbrella was one of the mechanisms we used. Ultimately everybody knew about it," he said, becoming passionate as he explained that it took a lot of hard work to generate the profits kept in the umbrella.

Adoboli described the ETFs desk as over-stretched and under-resourced. He referred to himself and John Hughes, the only two traders on the desk initially, as "babies" and "kids" dealing with a "massive" book.

He said that everything he did was to "make this book work".

CONFIDENT

The courtroom was packed as Adoboli entered the witness box, wearing a dark suit and dark red tie. Most of the time he appeared confident, speaking loudly and clearly as he answered questions from his lawyer.

But on several occasions Adoboli became emotional.

He cried when his lawyer mentioned that his father had come from Ghana and been present in the courtroom throughout the long-running trial.

He cried again when talking about Mike Foster, who was in charge of the ETFs desk when Adoboli joined it in 2006 and later left UBS. Foster has been sitting next to Adoboli and advising him and his lawyers for free throughout the trial.

"He wanted to make sure we could build something we could all be proud of," Adoboli said, his voice choked with emotion, after a long pause during which tears welled up and he was unable to speak.

Describing how hard he had worked during the financial crisis in 2008, when he said he had feared for the survival of UBS, Adoboli cried again as he recalled that he had missed his grandmother's funeral because of work commitments.

Prosecutors have portrayed Adoboli as a greedy, out-of-control rogue trader who recklessly gambled away UBS's money because he wanted to be a star of the trading floor and earn bigger bonuses.

He said he had felt great loyalty towards UBS, where he worked as an intern during his last summer as a university student in 2002 and then started as a graduate trainee in 2003. He spoke of pride and a sense of belonging and of the respect and friendship he felt for many of his colleagues.

He said he had learned early in life a sense of responsibility as he was oldest child and only son of a Ghanian U.N. official who was often away on business, leaving him to "look after" his mother and three sisters.

He grew up in Ghana, Israel and Syria, and from a young age had acquired an early understanding of geopolitics, while his education at a Quaker boarding school in northern England had taught him "a lot of great values" about community, he said.

The trial continues.

(Editing by Alison Williams)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/actions-were-not-fraudulent-says-ubs-rogue-trader-103341352--sector.html

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Mobile Personal Training Melbourne Kills Excuses not to Exercise ...

Mobile personal training Melbourne options kill the majority of the most common excuses people use not to exercise. Such as being too busy, hate exercising, can?t stay motivated or don?t know how. Our fitness instructors remove all of these obstacles.

Mobile personal training Melbourne instructors kill the majority of the most common excuses people use not to exercise. Although almost everyone wants to feel better, they don?t begin an exercise plan because they let other things get in the way.? Such as, they?re too busy to work out, hate it because exercising is boring, or they don?t know how to do it correctly, can?t stay hyped about working out so they lose interest, or don?t see results and give up.

Mobile personal training Melbourne options take care of all of these excuses:

Too busy to work out : With mobile personal training Melbourne instructors, your personal trainer comes directly to you. It is the most versatile way to increase your physical fitness for your optimal health and well-being, without inconveniencing yourself.? Being mobile, means that our personal trainers come directly to where you are. You just name the place, and we will come. The most fantastic part is that it can be anywhere you want, inside or outside: Your home, office, workplace, favorite park, beach, etc. As well, you don?t have the hassle of stopping what you?re doing to pack up, get in your car, and drive to a gym.

Hate exercising : Mobile personal training Melbourne instructors fix your exercising woes with workouts you will actually look forward to. Our personal trainers are highly-experienced in all aspects of working out, and they come fully prepared with all the work out equipment you will need. Once they know what areas you want to work on, they will prepare a detailed plan to give you a targeted workout to reach your fitness goals. They also know proper exercise techniques to ensure your safety, and they will guide you to simplify your exercise routine. As well, their fitness plans are engaging and high energy. You will enjoy yourself so much that you will forget that you ever hated exercising.

Can?t stay hyped about working out : Our mobile personal training Melbourne program is designed to motivate you and keep you hyped about increasing your fitness level. Our personal trainers give you the confidence and incentive you need to do your best and push yourself. They also give you feedback on how you?re doing, and what you can do to make your exercise routine most beneficial. Since your personal trainer comes to wherever you are, when they show up you won?t have the opportunity to talk yourself out of exercising.

Don?t see results : The best part about mobile personal training Melbourne is that it is a client-based work out system.? This means that while you are with your personal trainer, you will have their complete undivided attention. They will be totally focused on you and your goals. This does not only include your physical fitness goals, but your diet and eating habits, as well. They want you to reach your optimal potential, so they will do everything they can to help you.? They will be able to point out your results such as increased stamina and higher level of fitness long before you notice you have dropped a size or two. ?

Mobile personal training Melbourne options get rid off all your excuses not to work out.? Our fitness instructors are waiting to come to you and help you realize your personal fitness goals. Our facility is by appointment only, so contact us today to get started.

Source: http://www.revolutionpersonaltraining.com.au/blog/personal-training/mobile-personal-training-melbourne-kills-excuses-not-to-exercise/

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3,200 African troops needed to fight Mali rebels

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) ? The African Union on Wednesday pledged to mobilize an African military force to battle al-Qaida-affiliated groups controlling northern Mali.

African foreign ministers meeting at the African Union headquarters in Ethiopia agreed to write a final operational plan for the African-led force by the end of the month, as well as calling for arms and equipment to be provided for Mali's army from members and international partners.

Kadre Desire Ouedraogo, the president of the Economic Community of West African States, told The Associated Press after Wednesday's closed-door meeting that roughly 3,200 troops would be needed.

Western officials have said the planned African-led military offensive is unlikely to begin before next year ? despite growing concern about the terrorist threat militants there pose to the continent and the rest of the world.

The United Nations Security Council passed a resolution earlier this month giving Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon 45 days to help Mali develop a plan to recover the occupied territory. The United States, France and Britain have said they will offer logistical support, but the invasion needs to be led by African troops.

Mali was once considered one of the only stable democracies in West Africa, but it has since plunged into chaos. Islamist groups, including al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, are the de facto rulers of the north.

Ramtane Lamamra, the head of the African Union's Peace and Security Council, said the AU is willing to hold talks with armed groups in Mali if they unequivocally denounce links with terrorists and are willing to forgo their separatist agenda.

Separately, the AU council gave Sudan and South Sudan to reach an agreement on the contested region of Abyei and two weeks on the disputed border areas. South Sudan peacefully broke away from Sudan last year.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/3-200-african-troops-needed-fight-mali-rebels-221412630.html

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Budget carrier easyJet wins London to Moscow route

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Studio Foxhoven: Feathers and Wings

There are wings on the floor, dozens of them. I grab the broom and sweep them, quickly and?unceremoniously, out the door. The miller moth migration had come through our house and garden and?my studio. I never really mind that they choose to pay us a visit during their journey. Like thunderstorm?season and the season of hot dry days and grape popsicles, miller moth season was a regular part of my?childhood.

I enjoyed catching the moths in my cupped hands, letting them crawl around in the small cave I had?created for them out of my fingers, and feeling their wings as they tried to fly away. Out of all the?insects I loved, these were my favorites. Daddy-long-legs might be easier to catch and Lady bugs were?prettier by far, but when the miller moths came through, there were hundreds of them, thousands of?them! They were everywhere!

Not all my family shares my enthusiasm for the insect world. In some cases, I agree with them. I've had?a few run ins with stink bugs and earwigs make me cringe. I was relaxing in the bath one evening when?I thought I saw something out of the corner of my eye. It was a beetle, dog paddling towards my right ear. It's amazing how quickly one can go from being totally relaxed to jumping up, as stiff as a board,?out of the water. I can't imagine how the beetle felt.

One thing we all enjoy are spider webs. Most years we will have a cat's head spider build a beautifully?designed orb web in our shed. One year, the web was over a foot in diameter. Every morning and?evening we would go and check on the web. ?He's got a wasp,? my son would report. Catching a meal?often left gaping holes in the spider's handiwork. We would be in awe the next morning when we found?the web repaired as if nothing had happened.

Lately, we've inadvertently provided an entire spider habitat. Our daughter left her winter boots on the?front patio and there is now a lovely funnel web going down into one of them. As far as I can tell, it's a?little brown barn spider in there. He'll have to move out before winter, but for now, it's a cozy place to?live.

Fortunately, I'm not bothered by all our insect visitors because my studio seems to be one of their?favorite places to hang out. The miller moths especially loved it, evidenced by the number of wings left?on the floor. Perhaps some of them were partying a little too much?

As I sweep the wings out the door and into the yard which already has chicken feathers and goose?feathers strewn about, I startle my geese and they fly off the stumps that serve as the studio's front?porch. My geese often keep me company while I'm in the studio. Barnyard geese cannot fly. They think?they can, however, and they sometimes even get airborne for as much as six or seven feet, though never?more than a foot off the ground. The younger ones try now and then, running as fast as they can?downhill, and flapping their wings. I haven't the heart to tell them it won't work.

When I was younger, you see, I knew how to fly. For some reason, it had to be a secret, although I'm?not sure why. Perhaps because others wouldn't understand. I never went too high. It was more like?hovering, really. I would go along, about six inches above the ground, never thinking anything about it. When I was older, I realized it had only been a dream, but as a young child, dreams are just as real as?anything we do while we're awake, and I knew, quietly and confidently, I could fly anytime I wanted. ?The studio is swept and the broom hanging on the nail by the door. I walk back to the house, walking?on tattered wings and feathers shed by molting geese. Miller moth season is over and soon again will?start the season of visits from our grandchildren. Someday, I'll have to teach them how to catch moths?in their hands and make caves for them with their fingers. We'll find the spider webs and see if we can?see the funny cat's head spider, hiding in the corner. They'll find lady bugs, roly-polys, caterpillars, and?probably a few stink bugs, too.

Maybe someday, I'll even tell them about flying.

Source: http://studiofoxhoven.blogspot.com/2012/10/feathers-and-wings.html

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Spaceships will follow Dragon's trail

SpaceX

SpaceX's scorched Dragon capsule sits on its American Marine recovery ship after being fished out of the Pacific Ocean on Thursday.

By Alan Boyle

SpaceX's scorched Dragon cargo capsule is on a ship making its way back to Los Angeles after Thursday's?historic descent from orbit.

The California-based company reported that the 14.4-foot-high (4.4-meter-high) spacecraft and its more than 1,300 pounds (620 kilograms) of cargo were in good shape, despite its plunge from the International Space Station. On the way down, the Dragon weathered re-entry temperatures in excess of 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius). At a height of 40,000 feet, the Dragon started deploying its parachutes and drifted into the Pacific, about 560 miles west of Baja California. A recovery team got to the craft, towed it to the ship and used a crane to hoist it aboard, as planned.

---

SpaceX spokeswoman Kirstin Brost Grantham told me that a few items will be delivered to NASA officials with a 48-hour turnaround, as a demonstration of the procedure for returning time-sensitive cargo from orbit. But the Dragon itself and most of its payload will be taking a slower ride to the port of Los Angeles. Arrival is expected around June 6, depending on weather.

From California, the craft and cargo will be trucked to SpaceX's rocket test facility in MacGregor, Texas, for postflight processing. Then the cargo will be turned over to NASA.

The handover of the Dragon's contents will be the last item to check off on NASA's list of requirements. That should clear the way for a $1.6 billion series of 12 Dragon cargo flights, with the first launch probably scheduled sometime in September.

NASA and SpaceX released a slew of awesome pictures and video documenting the Dragon's return, via SpaceX's Zenfolio gallery as well as NASA's Flickr and YouTube accounts. Here's a selection:?

NASA

SpaceX's Dragon cargo craft begins its descent on Thursday after its release by the International Space Station's Canadarm2 robotic arm, visible at top center.

During the re-entry of SpaceX's Dragon capsule, NASA and the United States Navy flew a P-3 Orion Cast Glance aircraft to capture airborne views of the spacecraft's descent. The aircraft, based at the Navy's VX-30 squadron at the Naval Air Station Point Mugu, Calif., was able to record Dragon's re-entry, parachute chute deployment and the capsule in the water.

NASA / U.S. Navy

A wind-filled parachute pulls the SpaceX Dragon capsule through the water after Thursday's Pacific splashdown.

SpaceX / U.S. Navy

A dive team secures the Dragon spacecraft for towing to its recovery barge.

NASA / U.S. Navy

The Dragon capsule nears American Marine's recovery ship, which is equipped with a crane to take the spacecraft on board.

Eventually, SpaceX is aiming for extensive reusability of its spaceship components, including a first stage that can fly itself back to the launch pad and a "Dragon 2.0" spacecraft that can do propulsive soft landings.

"That's how spaceships land in sci-fi movies," SpaceX's billionaire founder, Elon Musk, told me during a post-splashdown news conference. "And that's what also enables landing in other parts of the solar system. ... It's the way spacecraft ought to land."

But NASA won't be using this particular Dragon again. The space agency is buying a fresh spaceship for each of the 12 cargo supply missions. Musk speculated that SpaceX might send the scarred spacecraft on "a little tour of the country and show it to people around the country, [to] get students excited about space." In the future, Dragons could be refurbished for return trips to space.

Meanwhile, SpaceX is working to make the Dragon suitable for carrying astronauts as well as cargo. The development of the SuperDraco thruster system is a key part of that plan, because it fits into the propulsive-landing strategy as well as the launch escape system that NASA will require for safe human spaceflight. Musk said the system could go into operation in three years if the development effort goes well, "maybe four or five if we encounter some challenges along the way."

Other spaceship companies are making strides as well, with advice and financial support from NASA. Here's a quick progress report:

Orbital Sciences Corp., like SpaceX, has been receiving hundreds of millions of dollars to support the development of an unmanned cargo resupply system. Orbital is developing a new rocket called the Antares as well as its Cygnus cargo capsule to do the job. Last month, Orbital, Aerojet and NASA oversaw a full-duration hot-fire test of the AJ26 engine that will be used on the Antares. The first test launch from the Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport in Virginia is planned sometime in the next few months, and if all goes according to plan, cargo flights to the space station could begin by early next year under the terms of a $1.9 billion contract.

Blue Origin, the company founded by Amazon.com billionaire Jeff Bezos, is working on a spacecraft that could carry astronauts to the space station, with United Launch Alliance's Atlas 5 rocket to be used as the launch vehicle. On Thursday, Blue Origin reported that it successfully completed a systems requirement review of its orbital Space Vehicle. Blue Origin's president and program manager, Rob Meyerson, said in a statement that the review "paves the way to finalize our Space Vehicle design." Representatives from NASA and the Federal Aviation Administration took part in the review.

The Boeing Co. is developing its CST-100 capsule for NASA's potential use as a taxi for space station astronauts, to be launched by the Atlas 5. The company carried out drop tests in April and May to check the workability of its parachute-plus-airbag landing system. The most recent test involved dropping a CST-100 test vehicle from a helicopter, 14,000 feet above Nevada's Delamar Dry Lake Bed. Boeing's John Mulholland said the test validated the landing system design. Further ground tests of CST-100 components lie ahead, and test flights could begin in 2015-2016, Boeing says.

Video traces a parachute drop test of Boeing's CST-100 space taxi in the Nevada desert.

Sierra Nevada Corp. is developing a mini-shuttle known as the Dream Chaser, to be launched atop an Atlas 5 as a taxi for space station astronauts. This week, Sierra Nevada put the Dream Chaser through its first full-scale, captive-carry flight test. For this test, the space plane was suspended by cables beneath a heavy-lift helicopter. The first free-gliding drop tests are planned for later this year, and Sierra Nevada says the Dream Chaser could be operational by 2016.?

SpaceX, Blue Origin, Boeing and Sierra Nevada, along with other aerospace players such as ATK, Lockheed Martin and Astrium, are expected to compete for further funding from NASA later this year. Which means it's not likely to be a slow summer in the aerospace business. Has the successful Dragon mission made SpaceX the far-and-away frontrunner, or is the commercial space race up in the air? When will U.S. astronauts be flying once again on U.S.-made spaceships? Watch a panel of space commentators, including yours truly, discuss these and other questions?? and feel free to weigh in with your comments below.

Watch space commentators discuss the week's developments, including the return of the Dragon from orbit.

More about the commercial space race:

---

Alan Boyle is msnbc.com's science editor. Connect with the?Cosmic Log?community by "liking" the log's?Facebook page, following?@b0yle on Twitter?or adding?Cosmic Log's Google+ page?to your circle. You can also check out?"The Case for Pluto,"?my book about the controversial dwarf planet and the search for other worlds.

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Record NM blaze will test forest management

A firefighter works an area along the northwest perimeter of a massive blaze in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico in this photo made on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, and released by the U.S. Forest Service Friday. More than 1,200 firefighters are battling the fire that has burned nearly 217,000 acres in an isolated mountainous area of southwestern New Mexico. (AP Photo/U.S. Forest Service, Alan Sinclair)

A firefighter works an area along the northwest perimeter of a massive blaze in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico in this photo made on Wednesday, May 30, 2012, and released by the U.S. Forest Service Friday. More than 1,200 firefighters are battling the fire that has burned nearly 217,000 acres in an isolated mountainous area of southwestern New Mexico. (AP Photo/U.S. Forest Service, Alan Sinclair)

Firefighters work an area along the northwest perimeter of a massive blaze in the Gila National Forest in New Mexico in this photo made on Monday, May 28, 2012, and provided by the U.S. Forest Service Friday. More than 1,200 firefighters are battling the fire that has burned nearly 217,000 acres in an isolated mountainous area of southwestern New Mexico. (AP Photo/U.S. Forest Service, John Roads)

In a Thursday, May 31, 2012 photo, New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez talks to reporters during a tour and briefing at a fire base camp near Reserve, N.M. Fire officials said Friday that the massive blaze in the Gila National Forest scorched an additional 39 square miles in the past day. The fire has burned nearly 217,000 acres in an isolated mountainous area of southwestern New Mexico. (AP Photo/U.S. Forest Service, Tara Ross)

This photo provided by the U.S. Forest Service shows a burned through section at the Gila National Forest blaze, on Friday June 1, 2012. Fire officials said Friday, that the massive Gila Wilderness blaze is now nearly 217,000 acres. That?s more than 25,000 acres larger than than the day before. (AP Photo/U.S. Forest Service, Brandon Oberhardt)

This photo provided by the U.S. Forest Service shows a hotshot during burnout operations at the Gila National Forest blaze, Friday June 1, 2012. Fire officials said Friday, that the massive Gila Wilderness blaze is now nearly 217,000 acres. That?s more than 25,000 acres larger than than the day before. (AP Photo/U.S. Forest Service Gila National Forest, Brandon Oberhardt)

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) ? A wall of smoke advances across a vast swath of rugged country in southwestern New Mexico where the nation's wilderness movement was born nearly a century ago.

From the air, the smoke stretches as far as the eye can see. On the ground, firefighters talk about the steep canyons that keep them from directly attacking what has become the largest wildfire in New Mexico's recorded history and the largest currently burning in the country.

Sure, things might look bad. But to land managers and scientists, the record-setting blaze represents a true test of decades of work aimed at returning fire to its natural role on the landscape ? a test that comes as many Western states grapple with overgrown forests, worsening drought and a growing prospect for more megafires.

The Whitewater-Baldy fire has destroyed a dozen cabins while marching across more than 354 square miles of the Gila National Forest. A pair of lightning-sparked fires grew together to form the massive blaze.

Unlike last year's megafires in New Mexico and Arizona, this blaze is burning in territory that has been frequently blackened under the watchful eye of the Gila's fire managers.

Starting in the early 1970s, the Gila has been leading the way when it comes to implementing such an active fire management strategy. Instead of immediately dousing flames in the wilderness, forest managers have let them burn as long as conditions are favorable.

The question that the Whitewater-Baldy fire is expected to answer is whether that strategy will pay off with more natural, less intense fires.

"There's a great opportunity here to study a fire like this," said Matthew Rollins, the wildland fire science coordinator with the U.S. Geological Survey's National Center in Virginia.

"The opportunity exists to look at how this fire has behaved differently in terms of vegetation mortality, effects on wildlife and fish habitat and water quality," Rollins said. "We can study how it burned in the wilderness relative to areas with other types of fire management strategies and other types of ignition patterns."

So far, the word from the fire lines is that the majority of the 227,000-acre blaze has burned with low to moderate intensity, not the kind of near-nuclear strength that was exhibited last year with the Las Conchas blaze in northern New Mexico. In that case, entire mountainsides were vaporized, leaving nothing behind but the white ashy skeletons of what used to be trees.

And as for those unburned pockets within the fire's boundaries, Rollins said he believes many of those spots have experienced low-intensity fire numerous times over the last century to make them more resilient.

Previously burned areas have also helped slow the flames on the fire's eastern flank.

"The fact that this is wilderness and the wilderness of the Gila has seen a lot of fires, we are comfortable with allowing it to burn. What we do is monitor it and help steer it around to keep some of the impacts lower than they would otherwise be on their own," said Danny Montoya, an operations section chief with the Southwest Incident Management Team.

Montoya said the rugged terrain has forced firefighters to attack the flames indirectly by starving the fire of fuels along its perimeter.

The smoke also has prevented direct attack from the air. Several helicopters and small planes are helping ground crews with backburn operations.

While a burn severity map has yet to be released, members of the incident management team are estimating that only 20 percent of the fire has burned at high intensity.

Last week, the fire made a 60,000-acre run in one day, scorching mixed conifer at high elevations as the flames were pushed by gusts of up to 60 mph.

That kind of fire can be devastating, experts said.

With fire behavior ranging from active to extreme, it will be some time before the scientists can get on the ground to see how the Gila has fared. Until then, they are working on gathering the decades of research done on the Gila, which is home to the world's first designated wilderness. It was the father of the wilderness movement, forester and conservationist Aldo Leopold, who pushed for the formation of the Gila Wilderness in 1924.

Tree ring data that dates back to the 1500s tells of the forest's fire history and the age of its trees. The perimeters of the Gila's fires along with information about their severity and vegetation mortality for the last century have also been compiled by the U.S. Forest Service.

There's also more ecological data from the federal Joint Fire Science program that can be used for comparisons.

"I think it's going to be a success story for the use of fire for managing forests," Rollins said. "It might not look like it on TV right now, but we haven't had any fatalities or dramatic housing loss like we see in Southern California or it burning so dramatically close to communities like last year's Las Conchas fire."

Experts agree that the Gila will see changes regardless of the severity of the fire. In the worst spots, aspens and other shrubs are expected to take over.

"When we're punching multi-thousand-acre holes in areas of ponderosa pine and drier mixed conifer types with no seed sources surviving, it's very difficult for those conifers to be re-established," said Craig Allen, a USGS ecologist based at Bandelier National Monument in northern New Mexico.

Fire managers are also expecting flooding. As the Las Conchas fire showed, steep denuded areas resulted in walls of water washing down canyons during the rainy season.

Residents in Glenwood are already worried about the prospect of flooding, and federal wildlife managers are concerned about what sediment and ash in the waterways could mean for the native Gila trout.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is also monitoring two packs of endangered Mexican gray wolves that are situated to the north and east of the fire. Last year, wolves in Arizona were able to escape the massive Wallow fire with their pups, but it's unclear how mobile the packs in New Mexico are since their pups are much younger.

The fire is about 15 percent contained, which much of that being on the fire's northern and northwestern flanks.

On Saturday, the more than 1,200 firefighters who are battling the fire continued to build lines to corral the flames before more threatening winds and dry conditions developed.

"We're going to continue fighting this fire aggressively without putting our firefighters in danger," fire information officer Lee Bentley said. "We're getting as much of a black line as we can around this fire."

___

Follow Susan Montoya Bryan on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/susanmbryanNM

Associated Press

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Business Coach and Founder of Clutch Consulting, Nathan R Mitchell

Posted by : partner | On : June 2, 2012

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 18, 2012

Clutch Consulting, a business consulting and coaching company dedicated to Growing Businesses and Empowering People, announces the launch of an aggressive affiliate program in an effort to help change more businesses and more lives.

Trusted Business Advisor, Nathan R Mitchell, announces this on the heels of bringing The Winning Mindset Series, to market. The Winning Mindset Series is a monthly subscription-based membership program designed to help existing business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs acquire the knowledge, tools, and resources they need to succeed.

Many businesses dont understand the importance of joint ventures and affiliate marketing, says Mitchell. Affiliate programs and joint ventures are absolutely necessary in this economy if businesses are looking to extend their market reach.

And thats exactly what Mitchell and his company, Clutch Consulting, are looking to do.

I want to help as many people as possible achieve their goals and dreams in the wonderful world of free enterprise, says Mitchell. Our monthly subscription-based membership program The Winning Mindset Series is one of the ways we are looking to do that moving forward.

The good news is Mitchell and Clutch Consulting have put together an aggressive affiliate program to help spread the word and compensate others in the process.

We are looking to partner with people whose mission is in alignment with our own organizational vision and objectives, says Mitchell. Obviously, we wont work with just anyone. Our affiliate program requires an application and approval process, but for those we do accept into the program, its a great opportunity to create a long-term mutually beneficial relationship.

Subscribers to The Winning Mindset Series receive

1)

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Gamer Escape ? Gaming Community featuring News, Wikis ...

I have a feeling that when I trade this item to the Runic Gate it?s not going to take me to a place I am familiar with?

It seems that there will be an announcement at VanaFest related to Nyzul Isle Assault. But what could it be? Head over the the official forums and join the discussion!

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Seven dead, 30 wounded in north Lebanon clashes

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Training cells to perform Boolean functions? It's logical

Thursday, May 31, 2012

Johns Hopkins scientists have engineered cells that behave like AND and OR Boolean logic gates, producing an output based on one or more unique inputs. This feat, published in the May issue of Nature Chemical Biology, could eventually help researchers create computers that use cells as tiny circuits.

Study leader Takanari Inoue, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Cell Biology and member of the Institute of Basic Biomedical Sciences' Center for Cell Dynamics at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, explains that many researchers are striving to mimic devices in everyday use by engineering new qualities into biological materials, including biomolecules and cells. Several of those engaged in this relatively new field, known as synthetic biology, have tried to create biological computers.

At the heart of both the biological and the more everyday silicon-based variety of computers are Boolean logic gates, which produce responses that vary depending on what type and how many inputs they receive. For example, AND gates need two unique inputs to generate an output. In contrast, OR gates generate an output based on whether they receive one input, or another, or both.

Inoue says that previous research has shown some success in generating logic gates based on biomolecules in test tubes or petri dishes. However, he adds, developing logic gates using whole cells has proven significantly trickier. Most previous efforts have taken advantage of cells' transcriptional machinery ? the cellular processes that read genes to create proteins ? to generate an output signal. But transcription can be a slow process, taking from minutes to days to produce the desired response.

"People like to have speedy computation," Inoue says. "We were hoping to achieve computation in cells on the order of seconds, which is significantly faster than what people have achieved thus far."

To accomplish their goal, the researchers used a technique called chemically inducible dimerization, or CID. This tool takes advantage of natural biological mechanisms that bring together two proteins into a complex in the presence of a chemical.

Since AND and OR gates generate a response based on two different inputs, either together or separately, the researchers needed two different CID systems that didn't compete or overlap with each other. They relied on one system that's been studied for years, which brings two proteins, called FRB and FKBP, together in the presence of a drug called rapamycin. Rapamycin comes from bacteria, and FRB and FKBP come from animals.

In addition, they used a second CID system that brings together two other proteins, known as GID1 and GAI, in the presence of a plant hormone called gibberellin. Since this system is native to plants, the gibberellin-based system doesn't compete with the rapamycin-based one, Inoue explains.

The researchers engineered mammalian cells that produce all four of the requisite proteins, as well as a response when the right two proteins came together. When either FRB and FKBP or GID1 and GAI linked up, the cell's membrane developed ruffles easily visible under a microscope.

To create the OR gate, FRB and GAI were bound together at the cell membrane, while FKBP and GID1 were bound together floating freely in the cell. Adding either rapamycin, gibberellin, or both to cells brought the freely floating complex to the one at the cellular membrane, linking up the matching proteins and triggering the output signal.

To create the AND gate, the researchers placed just GAI at the cell membrane, with just FRB and complexes of FKBP and GID1 free-floating in the cell. This system required all four proteins to link up to produce membrane ruffling, which wouldn't occur without both input chemicals.

Tests showed that each of the engineered cellular logic gates produced the desired response reliably, in a matter of seconds. Additionally, as a second proof of principle, the researchers generated similar logic gates that used fluorescence as an output, which worked just as well and quickly.

Eventually, Inoue notes, researchers might use similar cellular logic gates to build larger, more complex circuits that could form the basis for computers that use cells as basic units. In the meantime, these individual cellular circuits could be engineered to produce specific outputs in the presence of chemicals, making them useful detectors or diagnostic agents. He adds that researchers might also use synthetic logic gate systems like this one to study how cells naturally produce outputs to keep bodily functions running smoothly.

###

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org

Thanks to Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions for this article.

This press release was posted to serve as a topic for discussion. Please comment below. We try our best to only post press releases that are associated with peer reviewed scientific literature. Critical discussions of the research are appreciated. If you need help finding a link to the original article, please contact us on twitter or via e-mail.

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Rowdy news conference pumps up presidential campaign (CNN)

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VIA ARTiGO A1200 lets you roll your own miniscule, fanless PC

Most ultra-compact, fanless PCs are intended for the embedded market -- that is, not for the proletariat to tinker with directly. VIA's no stranger to serving that crowd, but it's making a point of addressing home users who want this class of PC for DIY projects, like home media servers, with the ARTiGO A1200. The new design is still using the dual-core, 1GHz Eden X2 of VIA's usual embedded PCs at its heart, but it comes wrapped in a smaller, more eye-catching package with HDMI video out and support for Windows 7. That's not to say that the A1200 represents a softening, inside or out. The PC can still survive temperatures between 32F and 113F with dust resistance in the bargain, and there's an array of ports you're still less likely to find on an everyday computer, such as a CFast slot (for storage) and dual gigabit Ethernet jacks. The $320 it costs to buy the new ARTiGO today won't get you an OS, RAM or a hard drive, but its ability to survive for years in a hot, dusty closet just might be worth the cost.

Continue reading VIA ARTiGO A1200 lets you roll your own miniscule, fanless PC

VIA ARTiGO A1200 lets you roll your own miniscule, fanless PC originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 31 May 2012 09:42:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Get Radar Detectors ? Blog Archive ? Social Marketing

16:36 Social Media social marketing The Facebook IPO has failed even in the social network because nobody talks about it: the conversation is on Twitter. In spite of much talk of social networks and users, not much data about the real situation of women and their full extent. The Cocktail Analysis IV presented the wave of social networking Observatory. In this study we can observe several points, the general trend of users in the use of social networks since its inception to the present. 91% of Internet users have an active account and the average is 2.3 accounts. In the field of mobile, 55% of Internet users access this device from the same social networks. Plasma is also how social networks are an established reality, and that 92% of users leave a social network that is maintained in others. Due to the proliferation of platforms more and more offers and more options. So, the question is where are the Internet. Facebook has had a slight increase, reaching 85%. But more importantly, has become universal, with some users of 30.5 years on average. Tuenti is shown standing, with no growth, with younger users (25.5 years on average). Regarding Twitter, is booming, its use is increasing and has doubled its penetration from the previous study with 32%. As for the performance of brands in social networks, although the comments on the same purchase aroused the interest of consumers, are not priority areas to search for information on products. Social networks should not overshadow the other channels, as the websites and search engines are presented as the most important spaces for information when there is intent to purchase. The official website is still the option that most weight, being also important the search engines, forums and blogs in the case of mobile operators and technology, and less fashionable. A new bottle of red summer There are many brands for which the results they get from their online presence is clearly inadequate, more than 84% according to a report by BaseKit. Of all the brands with corporate portals, 1 in 6 is satisfied and 25% think your competition delivers better quality. For 75% of SMEs as com online presence, the website is still synonymous with influence and trust, although the data show 11% of companies whose Web site is detrimental to their reputation online. It is obvious from reading the report, SMEs feel somewhat at a disadvantage compared to the younger generation, seeking a road map for quality not found, not in vain for a 7% disagreement reflects the "technical assistance" and need a way to delve into a universe that requires resources ? but do not have them, which means that the chip change imposed on us by the penetration of social media in our lives, has not yet completed and is ? adapt our rhythms dizzy appearance of new technologies, tools and applications, we are not proving easy. We will be the first digital generation in history ? digital dinosaurs as the study says, that beyond an analysis of the obstacles faced by SMEs, should be taken as an important source of information for professionals focused on providing services to small and medium enterprises. SMEs know they are losing opportunities to stay out of the mobile Web and Social Media but still are very lost in the new way to build a business and grow from the emotions. I leave the report ? gives me lots of information to identify needs of others, is in them that we need to focus not it? Tell me what you think. We strive to properly manage our social networks. We are looking for or create interesting content. We interact with our fans, sparking conversations, answering their questions and complaints. Create contests, we ask questions We have already said once that social media equal opportunities for promotion of large multinational companies and small and medium enterprises. Democratize marketing and make it more accessible, both from the economic standpoint, and from the coach. In fact, some experts go further and suggest that small businesses can take much more than large social networks. Small business, personal brands and bloggers can benefit most from social media. On the Web Social Mouths, Francisco Rosales explains the reasons why small businesses have an advantage over large when using social media as marketing tool. This, despite the huge budgets and unlimited resources at their disposal the latter. For a marketing campaign in social media to succeed you need a marketing strategy. In this sense, small firms have an advantage: flexibility. It is necessary to develop an endless document explaining the plan of that strategy. Is sufficient (but on the other hand, it is essential, lest we forget) have clear objectives and be familiar with the area in which the activity occurs in the company. From there, you can make changes on the fly, something unthinkable for large multinationals. In big companies, bureaucracy can be endless: documents to make every little decision, inform many employees, sometimes in different countries, with an appropriate tone

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