Economic jitters compete with Obama agenda

FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks in Las Vegas. Just as President Barack Obama is pushing new initiatives on gun control and immigration, the gloomy old problem of a sluggish economy is shoving its way back into prominence. That could imperil his focus on other issues, just as he is shaping a second-term agenda. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, File)

FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2013 file photo, President Barack Obama gestures as he speaks in Las Vegas. Just as President Barack Obama is pushing new initiatives on gun control and immigration, the gloomy old problem of a sluggish economy is shoving its way back into prominence. That could imperil his focus on other issues, just as he is shaping a second-term agenda. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Just as President Barack Obama is pushing new initiatives on gun control and immigration, the gloomy old problem of a sluggish economy is elbowing its way back into prominence. Consumer confidence is falling, the economy is contracting and large automatic spending cuts are threatening to hit the Pentagon and other programs, with uncertain consequences.

These troubles arise as Obama's public approval is improving and as he begins to use his sway to promote the key features of his second-term agenda. The White House, the Federal Reserve and independent economists attributed the shrinkage in gross domestic product and the drop in consumer confidence to one-time events and said underlying economic factors were still showing encouraging signs.

But in politics, power resides in the moment. Any immediate economic setback ? or the perception of one ? could weaken Obama's clout or at least distract him as he carefully tries to put his imprint on initiatives dealing with immigration and gun violence.

At the White House, there was no evidence of a course alteration. And White House officials expressed confidence in consumption and investment trends that showed evidence of strength.

But the Commerce Department announcement Wednesday that the economy shrank at an annual rate of 0.1 percent came a day after the Conference Board reported a sharp decline in consumer confidence in January. That drop, together with one in December, erased consumer confidence that had built up in 2012.

What's more, the new data comes just two days before the government releases the January unemployment report, which economists believe will stay at the still-high rate of 7.8 percent, where it has held for two months.

"What's most critical to consumer confidence is employment," said Lynn Franco, director of economic indicators at the Conference Board. "We've had spurts where we've had strong job growth and we've seen a rebound in confidence, and then suddenly you have a pullback in employment and you get a pullback in confidence. So we need a convincing story, and that's going to take several months of jobs growth."

Analysts said the economy is still on track to grow steadily if modestly at a roughly 2 percent pace, as long as the housing and auto industries continue to recover.

The Commerce Department attributed the economic contraction mainly to companies restocking at a slower rate and to reductions in government spending on defense. While companies will ultimately have to rebuild their inventories, the cuts in defense spending could offer a hint of things to come.

The administration argued that the 22 percent reduction in defense spending was partly in anticipation of automatic spending cuts that were going to take effect at the beginning of the year. Obama and congressional Republicans averted that so-called fiscal cliff by extending Bush-era tax rates to all but the wealthiest Americans.

But the deal simply delayed the automatic cuts until March 1. At that point, the Pentagon faces across-the-board cuts of 7 percent, while domestic programs will have to shrink by 5 percent. Some analysts believe that if those cuts are allowed to occur, as some Republicans are now suggesting, the economy could lose a half a percentage point of growth.

Some in the business community hope the experience in the last quarter will alert lawmakers to the potential economic damage the automatic cuts could create.

"I don't think any time you see a reduction in economic growth that it's good news," White House press secretary Jay Carney conceded Wednesday.

But he cautioned, "We need to make sure that in Washington we are not taking actions that undercut that progress that we have been making and can continue to make and will continue to make."

Carney said letting the automatic cuts take effect is a "sort of political brinksmanship of the kind that results in one primary victim, and that's American taxpayers, the American middle class."

Still, the White House insists the only alternative to those cuts is a mix of savings and new tax revenue. Republicans say the $600 billion in revenue they already gave Obama as part of the New Year's fiscal cliff deal is enough. They insist that if he wants different spending cuts than those due to start on March 1, he should submit a new plan.

But the White House has been eager to move away from fiscal and budget fights, ready to use the president's re-election and the uptick in his popularity to push his noneconomic agenda.

On Tuesday, he traveled to Las Vegas to push for an overhaul in immigration. On Monday, he is traveling to Minneapolis to promote his proposals to reduce gun violence.

The issues are not simple ones for Obama. The economy and the nation's debt still rank higher than immigration and guns as issues in the mind of the public. Moreover, Obama has to navigate gingerly with Congress on immigration, where a fragile coalition of Democrats and Republicans is assembling legislation that, among other things, could provide a path to citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants in the U.S.

Obama has vowed to use his bully pulpit to build public support for his new agenda. Defending his economic stewardship was not supposed to be part of the playbook.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-01-31-Obama-Economy/id-429164b1b09740c997d6ead947c070c8

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Apple Accessories: Designing for the iPad

Wed, Jan 30 2013

Never has a device exploded onto the market quite like the digital tablet. While the iPhone has had 7 years to expand its market presence, the iPad has captured a third of Apple?s net sales in less than 3, reshaping the spectrum of everyday electronics. The sudden glut caused the accessory market to explode as a result, producing a wide variety of ?gadgets that range from?genius to?comical. With such an assortment of accessories on the market, it can be hard for new inventors to innovate in this space, especially without stepping into the realm of the superfluous. So how is an Apple enthusiast to make a splash in such a large pool? Simply put, by taking a step back to examine the facts. To offer a little framework, here is a breakdown of the iPad tablets in Apple?s current lineup, along with an overview of their accessory markets.

iPad 2, iPad 3, and iPad with Retina Display

While the iPad with Retina Display may be the latest tablet in Apple?s repertoire, both the iPad 2 and the iPad 3 have a strong enough presence to merit a spot in the ?conversation. Since the basic form factor of these tablets hasn?t changed since 2010, their joint accessory market has had a while to mature, so the wisest approach for a prospective inventor is to reject the status quo. Protective cases, docks, kickstands and reading stands have been sold and refined for years now, so your best bet at finding innovation is to ignore the product?s core use cases entirely: web-browsing in bed, typing, readin on the train, etc. This isn?t to say that new products can?t emerge in this space, but your concept will be competing with a host of major product companies, who have had years to develop their product lines. That?s quite a tall order.

Instead, try to focus your attention on more specific applications, which may not have been touched by mass market brands. Your own areas of expertise are a great place to start: if you love to cook, examine uses for the iPad while you?re in the kitchen; if you?re a frequent flyer, consider how you could improve it for travel. Assess the ideal uses and features of a tablet in that setting (splashproof in the kitchen, shatterproof while hiking, etc.), then examine the current accessory market to see what?s out there, and identify those problems that have still not been addressed. Quirky?s Roadshow and Prep Step (above)?are two products that do this quite well, despite being relatively low tech. Each combines a clever set of features to optimize the iPad for a certain setting, resulting in a unique product with an innovative function. You can?t define ?invention? much better than that.

iPad Mini

In contrast to the flagship line of iPads, the iPad Mini is relatively new to the scene, having been released in late 2012. As a result, its accessory market is somewhat less developed, with more room for products that target a mass market audience. You can read this past article for a more in-depth look at designing for the Mini, but the most important thing to remember is to target the form factor. Don?t think of the Mini as a counterpart to the Kindle Fire or Nexus, because you?re in Apple?s marketplace now. Instead, think of it as a smaller, thinner, lighter iPad, and play to these advantages. Obviously, its reduced size makes it easier to transport and hold, but it also makes it easier for the Mini to interface with other objects, and serve roles that were once exclusive to smart phones. For example, mounting an original iPad on a dashboard would be nigh on ludicrous, but a Mini?s smaller size makes it far less intrusive. To sum things up? Don?t constrain yourself by thinking of this as an iPad. Consider it an entirely new device, and clever new applications will start popping up like daisies.

More In This Series:
Apple Accessories: Designing for the Mac
Monday Design Tip: If You?re Designing For Apple, Design Like Apple

Source: http://aquirkyblog.com/2013/01/apple-accessories-designing-for-the-ipad/

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Laser Focus On Your Target Audience With Ppc Advertising | THMG ...

Wednesday, January 30th, 2013

Advertising in online media has some definite advantages over offline media in terms of cost, reach, interactivity, targeting the right markets and measuring responses. This is why internet advertising is now becoming hot property for marketers!

Of all advertising (telemarketing, magazine advertising, newspapers, radio, TV, banner ads, email marketing, etc.), PPC advertising provides the most qualified leads and is proven to have the highest sales conversion rate. This is because, unlike other forms of advertising, your ad is only displayed when your prospective customer is searching for your products or services. This is why nearly 40% of all online advertisements are now pay per click campaigns.

The trend of advertisements within the online medium is fast changing too. While search engine optimisation is becoming vital for making your website emerge above competition, pay per click advertising is providing a very cost effective means to reach your target audience.

According to The Kelsey Group and ConStat, Inc, small-business PPC advertisers currently allocate on average 23% of their total advertising budget to PPC activities. Of these, 54% expect to increase their PPC spending the next year. Paid search has undoubtedly become the hottest means of online advertising.

What is a PPC Ad
Pay per click campaigns (PPC) are defined as the guaranteed placement of a small ?ad? on the search results page for a specific keyword or keywords. Your PPC ads are displayed when a user searches for your services/products. This means PPC ads are targeting those customers who

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Source: http://www.thmg.com/ppc-tips/laser-focus-on-your-target-audience-with-ppc-advertising/

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At least three shot at Arizona business complex

PHOENIX (Reuters) - At least three people were shot on Wednesday at a business complex in Phoenix, and one was in an extremely critical condition, police said.

Phoenix Police Department Sergeant Tommy Thompson said, "initial indications are that this is not a random act." The building is in a mixed-used office block at a busy intersection.

He said a suspect had gone to the building at about 10:30 am, argued with someone inside, and opened fire.

Two other people were taken to hospital for "stress related symptoms," he said.

The shooting comes at a time of heightened fear in the United States over gun violence since a gunman shot and killed 20 children and six adults at a Connecticut school in December.

Frank Kirby, a financial planner who works in a nearby office, said he was outside his building immediately after the incident.

"We hear a gunshot and then immediately we hear a car come roaring down that street. We look up and it's coming backward down that road," Kirby said in a phone interview.

"He actually comes backwards, northbound on 16th street," he said. "He gets beyond my building just about even, spins around and takes off now going the proper direction."

Kirby said he did not witness the shooting at the office but saw two people being carried from the building on stretchers.

Ambulances and dozens of police vehicles were at the office complex. Police said they were searching for a white man in his sixties with gray hair.

"Some say he left the building in a vehicle, and some say that he was still inside, so that's kind of where we are at," police spokesman Holmes said.

Police evacuated the offices in central Phoenix.

(Reporting by David Schwartz in Phoenix, Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles. Writing by Tim Gaynor; Editing by Cynthia Johnston and Nick Zieminski)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/shooting-reported-phoenix-workplace-reports-four-shot-182718485.html

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'First time' may predict lifelong sexual satisfaction

Jan. 28, 2013 ? Research conducted by Matthew Shaffer, a doctoral psychology student at UT and C. Veronica Smith, an assistant psychology professor at the University of Mississippi, reveals that the first sexual experience can set the tone for the rest of one's sexual life.

The study is published in the Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy and is the first to look at whether the circumstances of losing one's virginity have lasting consequences.

"The loss of virginity is often viewed as an important milestone in human development, signifying a transition to adulthood," said Shaffer. "However, it has not been studied in this capacity. We wanted to see the influence it may have related to emotional and physical development."

The researchers examined how first-time sexual satisfaction impacts long-term sexual function as well as how first-time physical and emotional responses affect long-term sexual experiences. They found that positive first-time experiences were predictive of physical and emotional satisfaction. Specifically, those who felt loved and respected by their partner found later encounters more emotionally satisfying.

The researchers asked 331 young men and women about how they lost their virginity. The anonymous participants ranked the experience according to emotions related to anxiety, contentment and regret. They also answered questions about their sex life using scales measuring sense of control, satisfaction and well-being. Finally, the participants filled out a diary for two weeks describing each sexual experience.

A series of analyses revealed those who were most emotionally and physically satisfied the first time found their sex lives the most fulfilling. Those who reported higher levels of anxiety and negativity with the first time reported lower overall sexual functioning.

"While this study doesn't prove that a better first time makes for a better sex life in general, a person's experience of losing their virginity may set the pattern for years to come," said Shaffer.

Shaffer suggests that a first-time sexual experience may create a general pattern of thought and behavior that guides sexual experiences and understanding of information concerning sexuality.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by University of Tennessee at Knoxville, via EurekAlert!, a service of AAAS.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. C. Veronica Smith, Matthew J. Shaffer. Gone But Not Forgotten: Virginity Loss and Current Sexual Satisfaction. Journal of Sex & Marital Therapy, 2013; 39 (2): 96 DOI: 10.1080/0092623X.2012.675023

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/L5jWJFwKgz0/130128104732.htm

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Online social networking at work can improve morale and reduce employee turnover

Jan. 29, 2013 ? By allowing employees to participate in a work-sponsored internal social networking site, a company can improve morale and reduce turnover, according to a Baylor University case study published in the European Journal of Information Systems.

The study, which looked at a financial institution's efforts to acclimate new employees into the organization, also found that participation led to a greater sense of well-being and organizational commitment and better employee engagement.

"For millennials, mixing their work life and their social life via an online social networking created positive emotions for the employees who use the system," said Hope Koch, Ph.D., Baylor University associate professor of information systems in the Hankamer School of Business and study co-author. "These emotions led to more social networking and ultimately helped the employees build personal resources like social capital and organizational learning."

SNSs can have a positive impact on IT employees and their workplace, especially when the new employees are relocating to unfamiliar areas and need to build a network, assume highly technical jobs and become integrated into a large organization where it may be difficult to know where to go for help, according to Koch.

The study centered on a financial institution's efforts to reduce IT employee turnover by starting a social and work-related online networking site. Under the supervision of executives, the IT new hires developed and managed the site's content. Since most new hires had moved hundreds of miles to start their new jobs with the institution, they initially used the social pages as an introduction to the community. After a year or so with the organization, the more senior new hires began using the system to acclimate and mentor incoming new hires.

All study respondents worked in the institution's IT department and included new hires, middle managers and executives. With less than three years of experience, most new hires and interns were men between 21 and 27 years old. The middle managers and executives were baby boomers or members of generation X.

The internal social networking site helped the new hires build social capital in several ways, according to Koch.

"It gave them access to people who could provide useful information and new perspectives and allowed them to meet more senior new hires and executives. These relationships set the new hires at ease during work meetings, helped them understand where to go for help and increased their commitment to the financial institution's mission," she said.

Ironically, middle managers, even though they wanted freedom from mentoring new hires, developed a negative attitude toward online social networking when they realized that the new hires had managed to accrue social capital and social experiences with senior executives that they had not had access to in their many years of work.

The SNS system also helped the new hires maintain relationships with one another, thus facilitating a network of acquaintances that can do small favors and help build emotionally close friendships. Finally, by allowing the new hires to access information on the SNS, meet other new hires and develop and maintain relationships with their peer group, the financial institution was able to shift some of the burden of acclimating the new hires away from middle managers and human resources.

Despite the good outcome of this institution's experience, the study data suggest that organizations should move cautiously when implementing SNSs, Koch said. "While the new hires enjoyed using the system, the middle managers experienced frustration, isolation and envy, and the senior executives were somewhat circumspect.

"Before beginning an internal social networking initiative, organizations should consider analyzing how the system may impact both its users and non-users, paying particular attention to potential isolation of non-users and the negative stigma associated with SNS in the workplace," Koch said.

Co-authors of the study were Dorothy Leidner, Ph.D., Ferguson Professor of Information Systems at Baylor; and Ester Gonzalez from Washington State University.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Baylor University, via Newswise.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

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Journal Reference:

1. Hope Koch, Ester Gonzalez, Dorothy Leidner. Bridging the work/social divide: the emotional response to organizational social networking sites. European Journal of Information Systems, 2012; 21 (6): 699 DOI: 10.1057/ejis.2012.18

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/most_popular/~3/ajPsITaSz-0/130129171339.htm

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Girl saves mom suffering diabetic attack

A fast thinking 9-year-old Illinois girl was able to help guide her mother to safety after the woman suffered a diabetic attack while driving at speeds of up to 70 mph.

Jennifer Sheridan, 42, was driving her daughter Aleksandra to McDonald's in Frankfort, Ill., after the two had attended a high school basketball game on the evening of Jan. 18. Sheridan, who has type 2 diabetes, had a diabetic attack when her blood sugar suddenly dropped. She told ABCNews.com that she was not aware of what was happening.

"I was still conscious, and talking, my daughter said. I don't remember any of that," Sheridan said. "We went through, she says, a red light, and then I know I kept saying, 'We have to stop.' That was in my mind, but it wasn't clicking."

Sheridan said that they passed her house and the McDonald's. Aleksandra was screaming and crying during the wayward drive, which she says must have lasted 15 to 20 minutes, but kept talking to her mother.

"She says she kept telling me different things, that I was going too fast, or too slow," Sheridan said.

While the car was still moving, Sheridan's husband called. She said that Aleksandra was on phone screaming that they were going off the road.

Her car eventually veered to the right, through a small ditch and a group of trees. At that point Aleksandra turned the car off, preventing the still moving car from hitting a tree.

Luckily, both mother and daughter were unharmed. Once the car was off, Aleksandra slowly fed her mother a chocolate bar that was in the car's cup holder.

"Once we were stopped and she could focus, she fed me," Sheridan said. "She said, 'I kept just giving little pieces so you wouldn't choke.'"

Police and the fire department were called to the scene by a passerby who saw the incident. The story also caught local media attention from WBBM-TV and Fox News.

Sheridan says the next thing she actually remembers was being in the ambulance. Police who arrived on the scene congratulated Aleksandra, and even gave her a yellow duck toy, which they call the "Golden Duck Award for Heroes."

This is not the first time Aleksandra has come to her mom's aid when she had a diabetic attack. Two years ago, while they were in their home, the girl called 911 when she found her mother on the kitchen floor.

Sheridan said that she is now using an insulin pump, which is designed to eliminate lows in blood sugar in diabetics. She said that she will soon be on the list for a new pancreas. With a daughter and a 16-year-old son with cerebral palsy, she says she needs to be in top form. For now, she's happy that both she and Aleksandra are unscathed.

"Every day, I wake up and think, 'Yes!'" she said.

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Source: http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/girl-9-saves-mom-diabetic-attack-while-driving-155739348--abc-news-topstories.html

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Report: Pentagon to boost cybersecurity force fivefold

10 hrs.

Reuters

The Pentagon has approved a major expansion of its cybersecurity force to counter a growing threat of hacking and to conduct offensive operations against foreign foes, the Washington Post reported on Sunday, citing U.S. officials.

The officials, who were not named because the plan is not yet public, said the move would increase the cybersecurity force fivefold, from 900 personnel to a total of 4,900 troops and civilians.

It said senior Pentagon officials made the decision late last year amid a string of attacks, including one that wiped out more than 30,000 computers at a Saudi Arabian state oil company.

The increase in personnel was requested by the head of the Defense Department's Cyber Command.

A Pentagon spokesman had no immediate comment, but said he was aware of the report in the Washington Post.

The plan, the paper said, calls for creating three types of force under the Cyber Command.

"National mission forces," would protect computer systems that undergird electrical grids and other kinds of infrastructure. "Combat mission forces," would help commanders abroad execute attacks or other offensive operations, while "cyber protection forces," would focus on protecting the Defense Department's own systems.

(Reporting by Sarah Lynch; Editing by David Brunnstrom)

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/report-pentagon-boost-cybersecurity-force-fivefold-1C8135108