Timbuktu manuscripts mostly safe, university says

JOHANNESBURG -- A limited number of manuscripts in Timbuktu in Mali were damaged or stolen by Islamist extremists last week before they fled the fabled desert city, a South African university said Wednesday.

People in the north Malian city who have knowledge of the documents reported that there was no malicious destruction of any library or collection, said the University of Cape Town, which helped fund a state-of-the-art library to house manuscripts.

"The custodians of the libraries worked quietly throughout the rebel occupation of Timbuktu to ensure the safety of their materials," said the university. Islamist rebels have been in control of Timbuktu for nearly 10 months.

The university said that a report from Britain's Sky News that 25,000 manuscripts had been burned was false. Other news reports quoted the city mayor, who wasn't in the city, saying manuscripts had been destroyed, the university said.

With its Islamic treasures and centuries-old mud-walled buildings including an iconic mosque, Timbuktu is a U.N.-designated World Heritage Site.

Most of the manuscripts, which are as many as 900 years old, were gathered between the 1980s and 2000 from all over Mali for the Ahmad Baba Institute for Higher Learning and Islamic Research, which moved into its new home in 2009.

Media reports said that the Ahmad Baba Institute had been ransacked by the militants. But the university said a senior researcher at the institute, Mohamed Diagayete, said the majority of the manuscripts were stored in an older building elsewhere in the city.

The manuscripts cover subjects from science, astrology and medicine to history, theology, grammar and geography. They date back to the late 12th century, the start of a 300-year golden age for Timbuktu as a spiritual and intellectual capital for the propagation of Islam.

Islamist extremists decimated tourism in 2011 when three Europeans were taken hostage from a Timbuktu restaurant in November that year. In April 2012, Tuareg nationalist rebels seized control of Timbuktu from government troops. A day later Islamist insurgents moved into the city. They banned music, insisted women cover themselves and began carrying out public executions.

On Tuesday, Timbuktu was in control of French and Malian troops, including some 250 French paratroopers dropped from the sky. The extremists melted into the desert without firing a shot. Townspeople were jubilant at the city's liberation from intolerant Islamist extremists.

"The protection of the cultural and intellectual heritage of this region needs to be enhanced and promoted," the university said. "The abandonment of the security of Timbuktu nine months ago, the flight of archivists and researchers, and the closure of libraries should not be repeated."

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/01/30/3208294/timbuktu-manuscripts-mostly-safe.html

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Australian floods peaking; thousands in shelters

BRISBANE, Australia (AP) ? Rescuers helped drivers escape swift floodwaters and used helicopters to pluck stranded people from rooftops in northeast Australia on Tuesday after torrential rains flooded thousands of homes and businesses, killed four and forced thousands to huddle in shelters.

Floodwaters peaked in most of the worst-hit areas by evening. Some communities that were initially expected to be inundated appeared to have escaped major damage, with levees holding back the muddy water in one city that was in the high danger zone. But officials were still urging caution, as fast-moving floodwaters in New South Wales prompted 50 rescues, most involving drivers stuck in cars swept away by the current.

In the hardest-hit city of Bundaberg in Queensland, 385 kilometers (240 miles) north of Brisbane, rescue crews plucked 1,000 people to safety after the river that runs through town broke its banks, sending murky water pouring into streets and homes. Several people had to be rescued from the roofs of their waterlogged houses, while hospital patients were airlifted to Brisbane as a precaution.

"Listen to the roar of the water ? that's not helicopters," Queensland Premier Campbell Newman said. "You see a lot of locations where there are literally sort of rapids. There's white water out there, so it is very dangerous."

Between 2,500 and 3,000 homes and 200 to 300 businesses were inundated with water, Bundaberg Mayor Mal Forman said. Around 1,500 residents were hunkered down in evacuation centers as they waited for the waters to recede.

Queensland residents and officials were being particularly cautious, after floodwaters from heavy rain in late 2010 and early 2011 left much of the state under water in the worst flooding Australia had seen in decades. The 2010-2011 floods killed 35 people, damaged or destroyed 30,000 homes and businesses and left Brisbane, Australia's third-largest city, under water for days.

The current flood crisis was not as severe, though some areas in northern New South Wales were hit by more than half a meter (about 20 inches) of rain, State Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Steve Pearce said. Four people have died, including a 3-year-old boy who was hit by a falling tree in Brisbane.

In the New South Wales city of Grafton, 600 kilometers (370 miles) north of Sydney, the river peaked just below the top of the levee wall, prompting relief among officials who had ordered an evacuation affecting 2,500 residents.

"It does appear as though the worst of it is over," New South Wales Premier Barry O'Farrell said.

The flooding was caused by the remnants of a tropical cyclone that sparked tornadoes and created sea foam that came ashore on the Queensland coast. The foam covered roads in places, causing traffic to be diverted. Elsewhere, beach-goers waded into the bubbles to pose for photographs. The storm system was moving offshore Tuesday evening.

Australia has been suffering through a summer of weather extremes, with blistering temperatures and dry conditions igniting hundreds of wildfires across the southern half of the country.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/australian-floods-peaking-thousands-shelters-072709642.html

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Canon EOS 6D

Prior to the announcement of the Canon EOS 6D ($2,099 direct, body only) and the Nikon D600, shooters who wanted a full-frame camera?one with an image sensor the same size as a 35mm film frame?were faced with a small number of choices at $3,000 and up. Both companies cut about $1,000 off the price of entry to full-frame with new models that sacrifice some features that pro shooters are used to, but are packaged in smaller bodies that are similar in design to the top-end APS-C cameras. The 20-megapixel 6D also adds some enthusiast-friendly features?notably an integrated GPS receiver and Wi-Fi capability?which, along with fantastic image quality, earn it an almost-perfect rating and our Editors' Choice award. The $6,000 full-frame Nikon D4 is still a better choice for anyone who relies on photography to put food on the table, but most folks simply don't need that much camera in their bag.

Design and Features
While it's bigger than entry-level cameras with smaller APS-C image sensors, the 6D is compact for a full-frame D-SLR. It measures 4.4 by 5.7 by 2.8 inches (HWD) and weighs just under 1.7 pounds without a lens. Compare this with the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, a more traditional full-frame camera that measures 4.6 by 6 by 3 inches and weighs about 2.1 pounds. If you currently shoot with an APS-C Canon camera like the EOS Rebel T4i or EOS 7D and are considering an upgrade to full-frame be aware that while you can mount any EF lens to any Canon D-SLR, Canon's line of EF-S lenses are designed only for use with APS-C cameras and can't be used with the 6D, 5D Mark III, or EOS-1D X cameras. This is in contrast to Nikon's approach, which allows its APS-C DX lens lineup to be used on the D600, the D800, and D4 in a special crop mode. Like Canon's other full-frame offerings there is no flash built into the 6D?you'll need to use an external one. This isn't atypical for a full-frame camera?Nikon does include a pop-up flash on the D600 and D800, but omits it on the D4, and Sony does not include a flash in its full-frame bodies.

The control layout is familiar to anyone who has handled a Canon SLR before. There's a standard mode dial on top left side with an integrated On/Off lever. To the right of the viewfinder you'll find a control wheel, the shutter release, and buttons to adjust the AF Mode, Drive Mode, ISO, Metering Mode, and to activate the backlight on the monochrome information LCD, also located on the top of the camera. The rear controls are compressed when compared with the 5D Mark III, but you'll still have access to a rear control wheel with an integrated four-way controller, an Info button that controls what is displayed on the rear LCD, the Menu button, a control switch to activate Live View and movie recording, image playback controls, and buttons to engage the autofocus system, activate Exposure Lock, and select the active autofocus point. There's also a physical lock switch that prevents the rear control from adjusting settings when turned?that wheel controls exposure compensation in most shooting modes.

First seen on the Rebel series of APS-C cameras, the Q button allows you to change settings via the rear LCD. Hit it and you'll be able to adjust lens aperture, ISO, Exposure Compensation, Flash Compensation, JPG output, White Balance, and other common shooting settings?the rear control pad is used to navigate from item to item and the control wheel scrolls through the available settings.

The camera's large optical viewfinder trumps even the best APS-C models in terms of size and brightness?but it doesn't offer a full 100 percent field of view. Instead Canon opted to include a 97 percent viewfinder?the camera will capture a little bit of extra information around the edges of the frame, and the slightly smaller viewfinder makes it possible to change the focus screen?a feature that was omitted from the higher-end 5D Mark III. This is a boon to Canon shooters who use the rare manual focus Canon lens like the TS-E 90mm f/2.8, or any of the manual focus Carl Zeiss lenses available for Canon cameras like the Makro-Planar T* 2/100, as Canon's EG-S focus screen is ideally suited for accurate manual focus with faster lenses.

The resolution of the 3-inch rear LCD tops one million dots. It's extremely sharp, allowing you to confirm critical focus when reviewing shots or shooting in Live View mode. It's fixed?the Sony Alpha 99 is the only full-frame D-SLR with an articulating display?and isn't quite as large as the 3.2-inch screen on Nikon's D600, but it is sharper.

The 6D is the first SLR with integrated Wi-Fi connectivity, and overall, it's a good implementation. There are a number of ways to use the wireless features, and some are more useful than others. Canon gives you the ability to share photos directly with another Canon Wi-Fi camera and to print directly to a Wi-Fi-enabled printer. So you'll have to be out shooting with a partner who also has a Wi-Fi-equipped Canon camera to take advantage of the former, and the latter assumes that you'll be printing your photos without cropping, retouching, or other post-production work. You also have the option of viewing your photos on a DLNA device, like a Wi-Fi HDTV or set-top box.

The more useful functions involve sharing your photos online, and taking control of the 6D via your smartphone. You can send photos and videos directly to Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube via the Canon Image Gateway service. To set this up you'll need to install the EOS Utility application on your PC or Mac and create an account on the Canon Image Gateway service. From there you can link your social networking accounts. Connecting the 6D to your computer pairs it with your Canon account, and will let you send JPG images and videos directly to the service of your choice. You'll need to be connected to a Wi-Fi network, and the EOS 6D can store the SSID and login information for up to three networks at a time.

Photos and videos can also be directly sent to your iOS or Android device. You can connect to a phone when it, and the 6D, are on the same Wi-Fi network. Or the 6D can act as a hotspot for direct connection?and you can save presets for either configuration in one of the five slots dedicated to this mode. Once connected, you can transfer images and videos directly to your phone via the EOS Remote app; it's available for free in both the Apple and Android app stores. Raw transfer is supported?because photos are sized down to 2-megapixel JPG images in order to speed up transfers. You can also use your phone to control the camera wirelessly. A live feed of the camera's Live View mode shows up on your phone's screen, and you can select a focus point via touch, change shooting settings, and fire the shutter. There's noticeable lag in the video feed?it's not as speedy as the USB tethered computer connection that is possible via the included EOS Utility software for Mac or Windows?but it's useable in the field, whereas traditional tethered shooting is more useful in a studio setting.

You also get integrated GPS. It's a powerful receiver?it only took about 40 seconds to lock on to my location on initial setup?and you can adjust how often it polls for a new location. By default it checks for your location every 15 seconds, but you can go as fast as once a second or as slow as every five minutes. Using the GPS definitely puts a strain on the camera's battery. I was out shooting on a cold morning and went from a full charge to two battery bars in only a few hours. And the GPS will continue to check for your location even when the camera is turned off. The photos I took were, without exception, accurately geotagged, appearing on Lightroom's map at the exact locations from which I shot them. If you want to add location data to your photos, you'll likely want to set the camera to check with the GPS satellites less often to extend the battery life, and disable the GPS before you turn the camera off. If that's an unacceptable compromise, tote an extra battery. There is an optional battery grip available?it plugs into the bottom of the camera and holds two cells, doubling the operation time.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/yR8DYE19DMM/0,2817,2414619,00.asp

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Engineers use evolution to improve solar cell design

11 hrs.

TechNewsDaily

Scientists are using principles of natural selection to evolve a more efficient solar cell.

Engineers at Northwestern University wrote a computer program that "mates" design elements and assesses the fitness of their "offspring" to come up with the most efficient possible organic solar cell. Organic solar cells are made with the so-called organic elements ? carbon, oxygen and nitrogen ? and are cheaper to make, lighter and more flexible than the traditional silicon cells available in solar panels today.

Organic cells aren't as efficient at turning the sun's energy into electricity as silicon cells, however. Many research groups are working to improve organic solar cells' efficiency. If they work well, such cells could go into? electricity-producing windows ?or clothes.

In their work, the Northwestern researchers focused on the top layer of an organic solar cell, called the scattering layer, which traps photons from sunlight. They wanted a scattering layer that would hold photos for a greater amount of time.

"We wanted to determine the geometry for the scattering layer that would give us optimal performance," Cheng Sun, a mechanical engineer and one of the creators of the new organic solar cell,? said in a statement. "But with so many possibilities, it's difficult to know where to start, so we looked to laws of natural selection to guide us."

Sun and his colleagues' program simulated more than 20 generations of matings to come up with their final design. The program also mimicked the biological processes of mutation and an exchange of traits called crossing over.

The resulting design traps photons for three times as long as the Yablonovitch Limit, which describes how long a photon is likely to stay in a semiconducting material. Researchers have only been able to reach and break the Yablonovitch Limit in the last few years.?

The engineers? published their work ?Jan. 3 in the journal Scientific Reports.

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Copyright 2013 TechNewsDaily, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/futureoftech/engineersscientists-evolve-super-efficient-solar-cell-1C8124835

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Chuck Schumer Promises Democrats Will Pass a Budget This Year

Sen. Chuck Schumer promised the Senate would pass a budget that includes tax reforms this year on NBC's?Meet the Press. "First, it?s not true that we haven?t had budget control in effect the last several years. The budget control act of 2011 put in rigid spending cuts," Schumer said, defending their track record.. (Republicans like to claim Democrats haven't passed a budget in years.) "We're going to do a budget this year, and it's going to have revenues in it," Schumer promised. "And our Republican colleagues better get used to that fact." Schumer said he's spoken with the top Senate Democratic leaders, and he's promising their budget will take on?sequestration and tax reform. "It?s going to be a great opportunity for us because in our budget that we will pass, we will have tax reform?It?s going to include revenues," Schumer said.

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White House senior adviser David Plouffe gave a preview of the President's Inaugural address during his appearances on the Sunday shows. On Fox News Sunday, Plouffe said Obama's speech will stress the need for "common ground" with Republicans. "I do think he?s going to talk about how our founding values and vision can still provide us with a guiding pathway in a changing world," Plouffe said. "He?s going to talk about how our political system doesn?t require us to talk about all of our differences and political disputes, but it does require us to seek common ground when it can and should exist. He?s going to make that point very strongly." He did also say Republicans were to blame for Congress' lack of progress. ?"The barrier to progress here is not the president. We need to see more Republicans in Congress willing to compromise, even on revenues," Plouffe said.?

RELATED: David Plouffe Calls GOP Primaries a 'Clown Show'; A Paul Ryan VP Run?

On CNN's State of the Union, Plouffe said the Inaugural address will be "hopeful," and it will lay out a clear image of his second term. "What he is going to do, I think, is remind the country that our founding principles and values can guide us in a modern, changing world," Plouffe said. But Plouffe, who is leaving the White House shortly, explained the administration sees a much easier path to completion for immigration reform than gun control. "I think there is a huge consensus [on immigration], business community, Republicans around the country, the faith community, so obviously the legislative process those work its way through," Plouffe said. "But this is the moment. The stars seem to be aligned to finally get comprehensive immigration reform. So we would expect that." The outlook on guns: not so sunny. "I think on gun safety we have a very good opportunity," he said, but "it is going to be a hard battle." Plouffe said the?administration?is "confident and that's one reason we want to stay in communication with the American people because I think they're going to demand action here."

RELATED: Aides Fight Over Who Is More Confident in Ohio

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Missouri Sen. Roy Blunt had some advice during Fox News Sunday for President Obama on the first day of his second term: be realistic. Blunt wants the President to "legislate realistically" during his second term. "He doesn?t seem to have a specific agenda. He speaks in general terms. He likes the executive order approach a lot more than the legislative approach," Blunt said. "You?ve got to legislate, and you?ve got to legislate realistically. You don?t control the entire congress. It takes three entities to get a bill passed into law and you?ve got to come up with something that can pass a democratic senate, a republican house, and the white house can at the end of the day be for," he said. Are you listening, Mr. President?

Sen. John Barrasso told CNN's State of the Union host Candy Crowley he doesn't expect the more comprehensive gun rights proposals will pass. "I don't think it will," Barrasso said. He apparently didn't get the memo that the debt ceiling fight's been delayed for three months, because he argued that the economy is more important than gun rights. "The major issues that face American families, which are jobs and the economy and the debt and spending," he said. "That's where people are focused. That's the big anxiety in this country." Barrasso thinks passing gun control laws will likely negatively effect Democrats in the long run. "He has six Democrats up for election in two years in states where the president received fewer than 42 percent of the votes. And he doesn't want his Democrats to have to choose between their own constituents and the president's positions," Barrasso said. He also accused the President of not addressing mental health. "As a doctor,?can tell you the president essentially ignored the issues of mental health and violence in society in the media and video games, and he has focused so much on what may be happening at gun shows or gun shelves and gun stores that I think he is failing to try to find a solution to the problem of the tragedy of Newtown."

Sen. Ted Cruz refused to tell NBC's Meet the Press host David Gregory whether or not he thinks the NRA's latest ad that featured the President's daughters "crossed a line." Cruz would tell him he thinks the President is using Newtown to push a liberal agenda, though. "There is a fundamental point of hypocrisy when it comes to gun control," Cruz said. "Many of the proponents of gun control are very wealthy," Cruz explained. "They live communities where they can outsource police protection... If you are talking to a single woman living in Anacostia, who has the misfortune of living next to a crack house, to tell her she doesn?t have a constitutional right to keep and bear arms, I think is fundamentally wrong." When pressed, Cruz again turned his scorn towards the President. "What I don?t think is constructive is what the president is doing right now," Cruz said. "Within minutes of that horrible tragedy in Newtown, the president began trying to exploit that tragedy, to push a gun control agenda that is designed to appeal to partisans." Cruz sees the Presdient as an opportunist more than anything. "This isn?t designed to solve violent crime," Cruz?said. "This is designed to assuage liberal partisans."

Presidential?adviser David Axelrod spoke in much broader terms than usual about Obama's plans for his second term on Meet the Press. "There?s a larger priority... which is how do you create an economy ? rebuild an economy in which the American dream, the American compact is fresh," Axelrod said. "That?s not just dealing with the fiscal crisis; it?s about education; it?s about research and development; it?s about controlling our energy future. All of these are part of the equation, and we can?t just do one piece of it." Axelrod stressed not letting the ever-changing fiscal deadline disasters get in the way of working on more substantial planning. "We can?t let that piece become a smoke screen for not acting on the others," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/chuck-schumer-promises-democrats-pass-budget-202701239.html

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Michelle Obama wears bangs, Krakoff to swearing-in

President Barack Obama is officially sworn-in by Chief Justice John Roberts, not pictured, in the Blue Room of the White House during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, as first lady Michelle Obama, holds the Robinson Family Bible, and daughter Malia watches. (AP Photo/Larry Downing, Pool)

President Barack Obama is officially sworn-in by Chief Justice John Roberts, not pictured, in the Blue Room of the White House during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013, as first lady Michelle Obama, holds the Robinson Family Bible, and daughter Malia watches. (AP Photo/Larry Downing, Pool)

President Barack Obama hugs daughter Malia as first lady Michelle Obama and daughter Malia watch after Obama was officially sworn-in by Chief Justice John Roberts, not pictured, in the Blue Room of the White House during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, Sunday, Jan. 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Larry Downing, Pool)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Michelle Obama showed off her new bangs and a royal blue dress by American designer Reed Krakoff at Sunday's swearing-in ceremony.

The first lady and daughter Malia matched President Barack Obama's blue suit, while younger daughter Sasha wore a lacy pink dress with a wide belt in a style her mother helped popularize.

It's not the first time Mrs. Obama chose a design by Krakoff, who in recent years started his own label after designing for Coach.

Her hairdo, however, is a change ? and it has been the subject of online chatter since its debut on Thursday in a photo taken at the White House.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/89ae8247abe8493fae24405546e9a1aa/Article_2013-01-20-Inauguration-Fashion/id-92f4a353313c43a9a024d59125b9cacb

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PM Note: The Obama Collective

Read the Speech Here - http://abcn.ws/11LUB1R

Watch This Moment - Obama's pause to look back at 1 million people who came to see him - http://abcn.ws/Xty6Id

7 1/2 Other 'Moments' - Including running Joe Biden gets in there with the people - http://abcn.ws/WRO7am

A full recap of the entire day lives on at our Live Blog - Everything from our policy analysis to Obama's Blackberry (who emails that guy on inauguration day?) and his gum (Nicorette?) - http://abcn.ws/10ytirv

The Obama Collective - It was an inaugural address that sounded a defense of the American government's contribution to social fabric and made the argument that the social fabric binds this country together.

It was a pre-emptive strike in the coming battle over those programs.

Obama - "?preserving our individual freedoms ultimately requires collective action?"

"The commitments we make to each other - through Medicare, and Medicaid, and Social Security - these things do not sap our initiative; they strengthen us. They do not make us a nation of takers; they free us to take the risks that make this country great."

"Progress does not compel us to settle centuries-long debates about the role of government for all time - but it does require us to act in our time?"

He made a strong pitch for a progressive government even as he encouraged a more reasoned discourse.

"We cannot mistake absolutism for principle, or substitute spectacle for politics, or treat name-calling as reasoned debate," he said.

Rick Klein: "This was no centrist conciliator. It was the speech of a committed, unapologetic progressive, an Obama doctrine for domestic policy that included concrete commitments in areas he made little progress on over his first four years. Above all, he was speaking to a changing America - the nation that propelled him to a second term, and whose voices he will need to channel to be effective over the next four years." http://abcn.ws/Tbd99y

Here is Devin Dwyer's Wrap of the Day - "The address, lasting a little less than 20 minutes, laid out in broad terms Obama's vision for the next four years, alluding to looming policy debates on the war in Afghanistan, deficit reduction, immigration, and overhaul of Social Security and Medicare.

"Obama also became the first president, at least in recent inaugural history, to make explicit mention of equality for gay and lesbian Americans. He made repeated mentions of "climate change," something no president has said from such a platform before." http://abcn.ws/13WWYP0

More on each of those subjects below:

Obama Digs at 'Name Calling,' Partisanship-In his inaugural address, President Obama called on Washington to act - something it hasn't done much of lately. http://abcn.ws/10A15k6 (Chris Good)

Obama Makes History By Citing Gay Rights in Inaugural Address - President Obama made history in his inaugural address today mentioning the word "gay" and the issue of gay rights for the first time in a speech at the presidential swearing in. http://abcn.ws/UMkKbH (Shushannah Walshe). Climate Change: Obama Pledges Action in Inaugural - President Obama's inauguration speech was broad, as such addresses tend to be, but he got specific when it came to climate change. http://abcn.ws/VVFwaI (Chris Good)

Pledges Action on Climate Change - http://abcn.ws/Vlakjh

Obama's Inaugural Pitch for Immigration Reform - http://abcn.ws/WB0oS7 (Jordan Fabian at Univision)

Who Got on the Stage for Obama's Speech? Our Interactive Guide - http://abcn.ws/WRJWv3

And for Tonight - the Inaugural Cake - http://abcn.ws/V2t1GG

The Day in Trends - http://abcn.ws/XReuQg Panetta: U.S. Assistance to French in Mali Could Serve as Model - In his second inaugural address, President Obama said, "We, the people still believe that enduring security and lasting peace do not require perpetual war." http://abcn.ws/WbmBrX (Luis Martinez)

Timing Is Curious for Christie's Announcements - During the very same hour of President Obama's second inauguration, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who is often mentioned as a potential 2016 Republican presidential contender, sent out two separate announcements. http://abcn.ws/WRxsUu (Michael Falcone)

Paul Ryan Tweets Congratulations To Obama - No word from Mitt Romney, but his running mate, Rep. Paul Ryan sent out congrats to President Obama. http://abcn.ws/Wi7Roa (Elizabeth Hartfield)

First Family Of Fashion Dresses For Inauguration-The first family of fashion showed up for President Barack Obama's second Inauguration in style. http://abcn.ws/Vg8eVy (Jilian Fama) Inauguration Party-Crashing Advice From Extraordinaire Fred Karger- Inauguration Day is about pomp, and with pomp comes parties. http://abcn.ws/Vg6eN4 (Chris Good)

Colin Powell Slams 'Idiot Presentations' By Some Republicans, Urges GOP Leaders To 'Speak Out'- In an interview with ABC's Diane Sawyer and George Stephanopoulos during ABC's special inauguration day coverage this morning, former Secretary of State Colin Powell lashed out at people in the Republican Party who spent the last four years spreading "birther nonsense" and other "things that demonize the presid ent," calling on GOP leaders to denounce such talk - publicly. http://abcn.ws/YiLeGk (Michael Falcone) Top Historical Inaugural Gaffes- At Sunday's official inaugural ceremony, President Obama recited his oath without a hitch. Unfortunately, other presidents were not so successful at their inaugurations. http://abcn.ws/VjSTzx (Alisa Wiersema)

A 'Fiasco' Creates Pre-Inaugural Uproar - Rapper Lupe Fiasco was not feeling the inaugural love on Sunday night when he was supposedly thrown offstage and escorted from the premises of a Washington, D.C. concert hall during a pre-inauguration concert. http://abcn.ws/11LCE3q (Jilian Fama)

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pm-note-obama-collective-231405131--abc-news-politics.html

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Single Women Don't Need Weddings ? Here's Why

What is it about the unmarrieds these days, and particularly unwed women pining for wedding-like f?tes of their own?

I ask this as a woman who's spouse-less for the foreseeable future and also loves the notion of a party thrown in her honor that involves cake. What I'm not understanding is a seemingly growing need among some singles to be cheered on in their singledom like newlyweds dashing toward a shaving cream-streaked car amid a shower of bird seed.

Having reached my late 20's, I can empathize with the exhaustion of the friends and family wedding circuit, schlepping gifts of blenders and karaoke machines hither, thither and yon. Personalized wedding websites tend to tickle my gag reflex, and the Facebook glut of updates and engagement outtakes counting down to that Very Special Day can be trying (although not as trying as the new parents who trade out profile pictures of themselves to ones of their admittedly adorable babies). And apparently, these nuptial blitzes drove Millie Kerr over at The Atlantic to such hair-pulling frustration that she made a public plea for single people weddings.

After discussing the rise of adults living alone and remaining unmarried for longer and in greater numbers than ever before, Kerr comes to this conclusion:

"While it's clear that some companies are capitalizing on increasingly single demographics, singletons wanting to feel celebrated will have to initiate festivities themselves."

I initiated such a festivity recently ? it was called my birthday.

I'm not trying to play snark police against Kerr's desire for a world in which "you're nobody till somebody loves you." It isn't so depressingly true in many ways. It's a valid demand, reminiscent of that made by childless-by-choice couples to not be eyed warily and scrutinized. But if the ultimate goal is to chip away at the wedding industrial complex that now goads the average couple into shelling out $27,000 to say "I do" and knock marriage off its institutional pedestal as the end-all ideal of what everyone should strive for, requesting a similar event ? Kerr offered a "destination birthday" that her parents helped fund as an example ? only feeds the same celebratory consumerism cycle (right-handed diamond rings, anyone?).

Yearning to have one's single relationship status formally validated in the manner of friends dressing up and buying you gifts (again, hello, birthdays) also hints at an underlying discomfort that perhaps we'll remain single forever. That maybe we're waiting so long to settle down these days that we're forgetting how to do it. That once our own wedding rolls around, it somehow won't matter as much because we're the last in the line to do so. Confession: as the only unmarried child left in my extended family with no sights set toward the aisle/courthouse/Bermudan beach/French chalet, such thoughts have crossed my mind. Then I talk to girlfriends who are already married or in the process of planning weddings and remember that there are pros and cons on both sides of the threshold. In more dire straits, I simply volunteer to babysit my wonderfully rambunctious nephews. These are also the same boys who once fretfully approached my sister with their concerns I'm well on the road to becoming "a cat lady," despite me not owning a single feline.

I suspect it's the social media-powered visibility of modern marriage that's largely attributing to singles wanting more "likes" for their life decisions. Case in point: Anna North over at Buzzfeed recently reported on writer Jenn Levya's Facebook project to publicly congratulate pals for going solo and thriving as a way to combat the empirically documented spikes of insecurity that come with scrolling through people's status updates. Moreover, Levya personally opposes the institution of marriage and also challenges the astronomical cultural value heaped on romance and relationships. North wrote:

Leyva would also like to see more challenges to "the ways in which marriage is related to adulthood" ? the idea that once you're married, "now you're a real adult." She sees a lavish 30th birthday as one way to commemorate adulthood outside of a relationship, and suggests that it could even include toasts. "When does anyone toast you outside of a wedding?"

Yet isn't toasting someone largely based on their relationship status, albeit single, nevertheless centering worth around romance? I'm all about ladies supporting ladies, but why the need for visible, Facebook-likeable singlehood affirmation? It reminds me of kids' sports teams handing out participation trophies to everyone, just to make sure nobody feels undervalued. I agree that marriage shouldn't be seen as the signpost of official adulthood, but I also believe that being a certified grownup comes with forging on with or without gold stars and pats on the back. It's ignoring peer pressure and following through fearlessly as though no one is watching and judging. And unfortunately, sometimes, it's blocking out the nagging questions from friends, co-workers and even 8-year-old nephews as to when you're going to get around finding that special somebody already.

Undoubtedly, we're in the midst of a major cultural shift that is upending the traditional, heteronormative path toward wedding bells and homemaking, which is a good thing. Even still, the 21st-century relationship landscape ranging from single-by-choice to polyamorous favors the bicycle-built-for-two marital structure for now. But fancy singlehood celebrations that only hearken what we're weary of aren't the great equalizers ? and besides, there are more than enough budget-breaking weddings to go around as it is.

This piece originally appeared on HuffPost Women. Republished with permission. Follow Cristen Conger on Twitter: @CristenConger.

Source: http://jezebel.com/5976752/single-women-dont-need-weddings--heres-why

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Coordinator - HigherEdJobs

Job Description: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform each essential duty listed below. Reasonable accommodations will be made for disabled persons covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act, in accordance with its requirements.

1. Functionally supervises Safety & Security Specialists. Participates in hiring and training new personnel, evaluations, and field training staff. Assists supervisors with daily operations and oversight of Security Specialists. Gathers, completes, and maintains documentation appropriate to the position. Assists other Public Safety personnel as directed by supervisors.
2. Coordinates shift scheduling for Columbus and Delaware campuses, in conjunction with shift Supervisors. Serves as a liaison for the Delaware campus, coordinating safety and security functions.
3. Serves student body, faculty, staff, and general public. Patrols campus property by foot, bicycle, or vehicle. Coordinates and provides general non-police assistance and escorts individuals to vehicles and buildings; assists in vehicle, classroom, and building lockouts, jump starts vehicles, and secures campus buildings and property. Assists other College department and personnel during peak times and special events that serve a College purpose. Assists with event security pre-planning. Assist persons with mobility or other disabilities.
4. Engages in public contact via telephone, radio, email, and/or face-to-face communication in order to take non-police complaints, answer inquiries, and provides direction and assistance to students, faculty, staff and general public.
5. Coordinates safety/security inspections and threat assessments of buildings and grounds according to OSHA, EPA, and other federal, state and local regulations and security standards. Takes the appropriate corrective actions to prevent loss of life and property. Serves as liaison to Physical Plant department for emergency and/or call in matters.
6. Monitors and coordinates response to out of place or unusual occurrences, alarms, crimes, emergencies, violations, safety or traffic hazards, security conditions and other situations, and reports actions and findings to the appropriate personnel. Refers potential criminal information to Community Policing Supervisor(s) for further investigation.
7. Maintains thorough working knowledge of all emergency management procedures as described in Department and College policies and procedures. In collaboration with the emergency management coordinator and supervisors, develops additional emergency management and other Departmental procedures as needed, and safety and security system operational protocols; trains Public Safety and College personnel accordingly in the proper use of operational protocols to assure staff proficiency and performance standards.
8. Assists Department and other College personnel in the operation and maintenance of the central monitoring systems, the emergency operation center, communication center, phone system, access control, alarms, fire suppression equipment, and the mass communication systems, and customer service. Serves as initial responder for medical emergencies. Administers CPR, performs first aid, operates Automated Electronic Defibrillator (AED), and secures ambulance services.
9. Safeguards against criminal behavior and hazards, enforces state laws campus policy, procedures, rules and regulations by engaging the proper authority. Enforces parking regulations, regulates traffic flow and monitors for suspicious behavior. In absence of other personnel, may issue college citations for parking violations in accordance with campus parking regulations.
10. Keeps accurate records. Completes and maintains required documentation including daily log, alarm reports, and calls for service information. Completes incident reports as required.

Required Education/Experience: An appropriate combination of education, training, course work and experience may qualify an applicant to demonstrate required knowledge, skills, and abilities. Minimum qualifications for this position are: Associate's Degree in a closely related field, with 1 to 3 years progressively responsible experience and all necessary certifications.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities: Knowledge of: safety, security, and emergency management procedures and requirements; federal, state, and local laws; environmental health and safety regulations and precautions, as applied to public institutions; computer software, programs, safety and security systems and applications.

Skilled in: organizing resources and establishing priorities, planning and implementation; strong verbal, written, and interpersonal communications; preparing written reports, operating job related equipment; software programs; coordinating program functions job analysis, problem solving and conflict resolution.

Ability to: exercise sound judgment in dealing with emergency or stressful situations; comprehend job protocols, develop and implement standard operating procedures and response protocols, work independently demonstrating initiative; develop and maintain effective working relationships with associates, supervisors, job contacts, and general public; maintain confidential and sensitive information; maintain accurate and complete work records; assess and react appropriately to emergencies; function in adverse conditions and maintain self-control; develop or implement training programs.

Training/Certifications Required: State Motor Vehicle Operator's License or demonstrable ability to gain access to worksite(s); and job-related certifications intended to demonstrate competency and proficiency.

Certification in CPR, First Aid, and AED can be obtained and maintained post-employment.

Columbus State Community College is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

Source: http://www.higheredjobs.com/details.cfm?JobCode=175711653

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CSN's key matchups: 49ers-Falcons? |? Ravens-Pats

Insider Matt Maiocco details the marquee matchups featured in Sunday's NFC Championship showdown between the 49ers and Falcons:

?

Key Matchup No. 5

Justin Smith vs. Justin Blalock

Now that there's no question Justin Smith should be able to function over the course of an entire game, the 49ers can expect him to be a significant factor in the NFC title game on Sunday.

?

Key Matchup No. 4

Patrick Willis vs. Tony Gonzalez

Tony Gonzalez is "95-percent sure" he'll retire after the season. The 49ers are 100-percent sure this won't be his last game if he's not covered well.

?

Key Matchup No. 3

Greg Roman vs. Mike Nolan

Can Falcons defensive coordinator, and former 49ers head coach, Mike Nolan, slow down Greg Roman's offense Sunday?

?

Key Matchup No. 2

Colin Kaepernick vs. Thomas DeCoud

The man in Atlanta's secondary that will be watching Colin Kaepernick the closest is free safety Thomas DeCoud, who led the Falcons with six interceptions during the regular season.

?

Key Matchup No. 1

49ers CBs vs. Falcons WRs

Falcons WR's Roddy White and Julio Jones both caught for over 1,000 yards this season, and should provide a challenge for Carlos Rogers and his fellow CBs.

?

?

Source: http://www.csnbayarea.com/article/49ers-falcons-five-key-matchups

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ESPN interviewing Te'o about dead girlfriend hoax

SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) ? Manti Te'o gave an interview to ESPN in which the network says he answered questions about the dead girlfriend hoax that exposed the feel-good story of the college football season as a bizarre fabrication, and left many wondering if Notre Dame's Heisman Trophy runner-up participated in the scam.

ESPN announced Friday night it was interviewing the All-American linebacker off camera and that audio clips of the session would be available on the network later.

Earlier, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick said during the taping of his weekly radio show that Te'o has to explain exactly how he was duped into an online relationship with a fictitious woman whose "death" was then faked by perpetrators of the scheme.

Skeptics have questioned the versions of events laid out by Te'o and Notre Dame, wondering why Te'o never said his relationship was with someone online and why he waited almost three weeks to tell the school about being duped.

According to Notre Dame, Te'o received a call on Dec. 6 from the girl he had only been in contact with by telephone and online, and who he thought had died in September. After telling his family what happened while he was home in Hawaii for Christmas, he informed Notre Dame coaches on Dec. 26.

Notre Dame said it hired investigators to look into Te'o's claims and their findings showed he was the victim of an elaborate hoax.

Te'o released a statement on Wednesday, soon after Deadspin.com broke news of the scam with a lengthy story, saying he had been humiliated and hurt by the "sick joke." But he has laid low since.

ESPN officials posted a photo on Twitter late Friday night of reporter Jeremy Schapp with Te'o and his attorney. Te'o has been working out at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla., as he prepares for the NFL combine and draft.

Swarbrick said earlier in the day that he believed Te'o would ultimately speak publicly.

"We are certainly encouraging it to happen," he said. "We think it's important and we'd like to see it happen sooner rather than later."

He said that before the Deadspin story, Te'o and his family had planned to go public with the story Monday.

"Sometimes the best laid plans don't quite work, and this was an example of that. Because the family lost the opportunity in some ways to control the story," he said. "It is in the Te'o family's court. We are very much encouraging them."

Former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who mentored Michael Vick when he returned to the NFL after doing prison time, had similar advice.

"I don't know the whole case but I always advise people to face up to it and just talk to people and say what happened," Dungy said while attending the NCAA convention in Dallas on Friday. "The truth is the best liberator, so that's what I would do. And he's going to get questioned a lot about it."

Te'o led a lightly regarded Fighting Irish team to a 12-0 regular season and the BCS title game, where they were routed 42-14 by Alabama and Te'o played poorly.

Dungy said Te'o could face the toughest questions from NFL teams.

"If I was still coaching and we're thinking about taking this guy in the first round, you want to know not exactly what happened but what is going on with this young man and is it going to be a deterrent to him surviving in the NFL and is it going to stop him from being a star," Dungy said. "So just tell the truth about what happened and this is why, I think, that's the best thing."

Deadspin reported that friends and relatives of Ronaiah Tuiasosopo, a 22-year-old who lives in California, believe he created Kekua. The website also reported Te'o and Tuiasosopo knew each other ? which has led to questions about Te'o's involvement in the hoax.

Swarbrick understands why there are questions.

"They have every right to say that," Swarbrick said "Now I have some more information than they have. But they have every right to say that. ... I just ask those people to apply the same skepticism to everything about this. I have no doubt the perpetrators have a story they will yet spin about what went on here. I hope skepticism also greets that when they're articulating what that is."

____

AP sports writers Tim Reynolds, Stephen Hawkins and Ralph D. Russo contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/espn-interviewing-teo-dead-girlfriend-hoax-034737477--spt.html

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The Wedge stand also keeps your screen clean

The Wedge from ToddyGear is a multipurpose gadget. ?It’s a microfiber screen cleaner – plush on one side to clean your screen and silky on the other side to polish the screen. ?It even has a antimicrobial agent to prevent growth of mold and mildew. ?This little beanbag can also serve as a stand for [...]

Source: http://the-gadgeteer.com/2013/01/18/the-wedge-stand-also-keeps-your-screen-clean/

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Beware of the Prophets Family Tree - Follow ?Audio-Islam.com?

[Alternative Video Link]

Beware of the ?Prophets? Family Tree?
By Shaykh Uthaymeen (rahimahullaah)

?And the author; may Allah have mercy upon him, brings the benefit in his statement: ?From Nuh to Muhammad?, that Adam was not a Messenger. And that which has been mentioned that Idris is the grandfather of Nuh is a lie, because Idris did not come before Nuh. Idris came after him. And what is apparent, and Allah knows best, is he was from the children of Israel.

Thus whoever alleges that Idris was the grandfather of Nuh has lied and opposed the Quran and the Sunnah.

?????? ???????? ?????? ??? ???????? ????? ???? ???????????? ???? ??????? ? ??????:163

Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the Prophets after him.
(Soorah An Nisa 4:163)

And beware of the tree, the family tree of the Prophets, it is written, and sometimes it is sold, and it is wide spread. It is written (on this tree) that Idris is before Nuh. This is a lie and it is obligatory upon the one who sees this to tear it because it will cause the Aqeedah of the Muslims to take a dangerous turn. It will alter the Aqeedah of the Muslims to believe that Nuh was preceded by a Messenger. And this is a lie. And in the Quran (the verse appears)

Indeed, We have revealed to you, [O Muhammad], as We revealed to Noah and the Prophets after him.
(Soorah An Nisa 4:163)

And in the Quran also:

?????? ???????? ????? ??????????? ??????? ??? ???????????? ???????? ??????????[ ??????:26]

And indeed, We sent Nuh and Ibrahim, and placed in their offspring Prophethood and Scripture
(Soorah Al Hadid 57:26)

In their offspring, thus it is not possible that there exist Prophethood and Scripture before Nuh. And in the Sunnah; the people will come to Nuh on the Day of Judgment and say to him: You are the first Messenger that Allah sent.

Translated by Rasheed ibn Estes Barbee
Presented to you by Markaz Tawheed was-Sunnah in Durham, NC
http://mtws.posterous.com

Share this, Baarakallaah Feekum:

Source: http://audio-islam.com/2013/01/18/beware-of-the-prophets-family-tree-shaykh-al-uthaymeen-videoar-en/

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Finance Flows but Step By Step is the Best Way Forward | Mortgage ...

Bank finance is flowing, interest rates are at an all-time low, property prices are climbing and in some areas taking off, but it?s important to avoid the hype. ?Take a deep breath and look at the bigger picture, as there will always be bargains out there.? Rushing a decision to buy a house can be catastrophic and as a Mortgage Advisor I have seen many people who?ve felt the backlash of rushed decisions. ?That doesn?t mean sit around either; the best deal can come up 1st or 50th and a good Real Estate Agent will not push clients into quick decisions; as rushed property deals can hurt buyers, agents and sellers alike.

The buying process is one area the industry have tightened up on and buyers have a lot more rights than they did a decade ago, also agents are better qualified and trained. ?The reality is there are many properties out there; sure they are not all on the market and listings are low but at some point all properties get bought and sold. ?The best approach is to discuss the finance aspects first, and as an experienced Mortgage Advisor I?m your perfect starting point.

Whether you?re planning to buy, sell or hold, a first time buyer or an experienced investor having a central point for your finance matters helps immensely. ?Our team at Mortgage Express offers services in Mortgages, Insurance, Commercial Finance and Personal Loans. ?The New Year is the perfect time to address your finance matters and discuss new strategies for your circumstances, so contact me now before making your 2013 financial decisions.

Source: http://www.mortgage-express.co.nz/finance-flows-but-step-by-step-is-the-best-way-forward/

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Sponsored By:

We were unable to forward you to the advertisement you clicked on.

The likely cause for this is that your browser, feed reader, or email application is configured to not accept cookies, or your reader may launch an external browser to view links without sharing cookies.

• If you're using Internet Explorer, make sure your privacy setting is at medium or below.
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Source: http://ads.pheedo.com/click.phdo?s=91a5bb93df0d6e24d5066b1cf27563e0&p=4

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Discussion: Google Drive Update + Jan 15

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:40PM

We?ve heard you, and we've met with Google and are working with them to refine the implementation which we believe will address some of the concerns raised over the past several days--including copyright ownership.

Implementation aside, our goal is to do the best deals for Getty Images, iStockphoto and our contributors for the more than one million customers we service on an annual basis.

We want to stress that we realize the importance of copyright law, compliance and enforcement to our collective futures. Getty Images is a leader within our industry in advancing these ideas - including active participation in the legislative and government regulatory processes with numerous governing bodies around copyright issues. We also acquired and continue to invest aggressively in the PicScout ImageIRC platform to provide technical solutions for copyright compliance and we look forward to sharing new developments with you as this evolves.

To ensure everyone understands the arrangement, we wanted to re-state the basics of this deal:

• This is a license arranged with Google through Getty Images; this is not a "free" promotional arrangement like the 2007 MS deal also being discussed recently.
• There was a pool of several thousand images licensed from Getty and iStock RF collections that are on the Getty Images platform.
• No RM content was included in this pool or deal.
• Royalties for these images were paid through Getty Images and were processed in October and November of 2012.
• Of images licensed, just under 700 are from a group of about 490 iStock contributors.
• Just under 100 of those contributors have multiple files within the pool, the rest have a single file.
• License information: Under the agreement, Google has a bespoke EULA to allow these images to be used by Google users through the Google Drive platform. Users of this platform are granted rights to place this imagery in content created using Google Docs, Google Sites, and Google Presentations and these end uses can be for commercial purposes; however, users are not granted rights to use this imagery outside of Google Drive created content and Google users have no rights to redistribute image files outside of the context in which they?re used.

Again, we acknowledge and understand your concerns about this specific situation and appreciate your continued patience while we work with Google.

Original Discussion

(Edited on 2013-01-15 21:21:25 by Lobo)

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:49PM

what about deleting the metadata info from the images? the images are now orphans?
what about letting the artist/owners of the image to opt out to these kind of deals?
Is this thing going to be a "on going project"?

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:51PM

Working with Google now, on copyright ownership, well after these images have all been released into the wild hardly inspires me with confidence that istock has the contributors best interest at heart. And there are no constraints in the EULA on inappropriate use of model released images mentioned. Anyone who has looked at Google knows that the very wide conditions of use are so fine print that it isn't funny-even if they find them, the average Google user will go "whoopee, stock images I can use how I like" - the average user is totally clueless about copyright etc.

It also worries me that despite the timeframe of the deal, Istock management were totally unaware of the implications for their contributors. What other "specific situations" are there waiting to come out of the woodwork, now and in the future?

(Edited on 2013-01-15 17:54:08 by Susan_Stewart)

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:52PM

Thanks for the update, still to many questions for my comfort on this.

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:52PM

This is basically a copy and paste of what you wrote four day ago. ?So in other words, no new info, new answers to the questions raised since then

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:54PM

Thanks for the update - glad to hear you are working with Google to "refine". Gonna be tough at this point, but I hope those discussions will be able to address all of the valid issues raised.

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:55PM

Posted By karenhermann:
This is basically a copy and paste of what you wrote four day ago. ?So in other words, no new info, new answers to the questions raised since then

The bullet points are essentially the same. As mr_erin indicates in his post he wanted to re-state the basic points of the deal.

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:56PM

No, lots of copy and paste but new info on the restrictions to within Google Docs and info on working with Google. Still lots of questions but some new info.

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:56PM

Posted By karenhermann:
This is basically a copy and paste of what you wrote four day ago. ?So in other words, no new info, new answers to the questions raised since then

At least it's something, I guess. Thanks for the update.

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:58PM

I agree, i do not detect any new information. Not a single concern of the contributors have been addressed.

You are just confirming everyone?s fear, that getty believes that once our content is on their plattforum getty has teh righ to do with our IP whatever they want. the number of imges involved is irrelevant.

You do not own our content.

You have no right to hand it out for free?12 dollar?redistribution deals without requesting our express consent. You have no right to chose our bestsellers whenever you like and set them free on the internet.

(you, means getty of course, not you mr.erin, but I am sure you know that)

Looks like there is nothing for us to do but pull files or upload elsewhere

So depressing.

(Edited on 2013-01-15 17:59:26 by cobalt)

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:59PM

Posted By SteveDF:
No, lots of copy and paste but new info on the restrictions to within Google Docs and info on working with Google. Still lots of questions but some new info.

The only new info is that there is some attempt to shut the stable door after the horse is bolted, but no reaasurance that deals like this will not be done in future (or haven't already been done)

Posted Tue Jan 15 5:59PM

Posted Tue Jan 15 6:06PM

I think is a legitimate question

"is there any plans to give away my images to another web site and delete all metadata from the file converting it in an orphan file?"

I think I have the right to know

Posted Tue Jan 15 6:09PM

Oh and don't run away now, start talking in these forums and try to answer some of the concerns raised already!

Posted Tue Jan 15 6:09PM

It is good to know that the details of this deal may be somewhat fluid.? I take it that when you say you will address the concerns over copyright ownership, that you mean copyright notices will be returned to the metadata.? If that were to happen, it would be a good START.?

But our concerns about copyrights aren't just about attribution.? They are about obtaining permission for each of our images that is added to these sorts of outside deals, and fair and adequate monetary compensation for those usages.? This will efectively kill future saleability of the images included, and as such, we, the copyright owners, need to expressly agree to this and be reimbursed what we think is fair (which most likely be considerably more than $12).? Nobody's pictures should be included without specific, image-by-image permission.

Posted Tue Jan 15 6:10PM

/
/A lot of words, but nothing new...

First of all there should be an option to opt-out from "deals" like this.

Secondly... our images are not selling, exlusive content is excluded from the search results, so I really don't see any reason to give away our images for nearly free...

Posted Tue Jan 15 6:26PM

Thanks for the update, You haven't answered any of the questions I need answers to posted here. Waiting.

Posted Tue Jan 15 6:34PM

Posted By Lobo:?

Posted By karenhermann:
This is basically a copy and paste of what you wrote four day ago. ?So in other words, no new info, new answers to the questions raised since then

The bullet points are essentially the same. As mr_erin indicates in his post he wanted to re-state the basic points of the deal.

Okay, I get that. ?But the point remains that there were a lot of very valid and important (and time-sensitive) concerns brought up by contributors whose images were released, and I would have though that Getty et al would have anticipated these issues and had answers to them prior to this. ?In which case, they'd be able to share them here. ?The fact that they didn't, and have to scurry and delay to come up with them now, just shows that there was no thought given to the consequences of these actions, or the contributors. ?Which is scary as hell to those that have entrusted their work to them. ?

(Edited on 2013-01-15 18:54:22 by karenhermann)

Posted Tue Jan 15 6:38PM

We know this wasn't a free 'promotion' like the shockingly bad revised MS deal.

However being compensated $12 for Google to then be allowed to give away our most valuable work (VETTA and E+) for FREE with no copyright details and absolutely no link back our file or portfolio let alone iStock is pretty much the same thing.?

You said you wouldn't do the MS deal again today but this looks similar if not worse to me (at least some contribs got an EL payment and iStock got a link back to a landing page). So how come this is such a good deal?

(Edited on 2013-01-15 19:06:16 by PeskyMonkey)

Posted Tue Jan 15 6:40PM

"We want to stress that we realize the importance of copyright law" - great to hear you realize the importance of copyright law, how about enforcing it and stop giving our images away for free. sure you paid us an insulting $12 for what equats to a buy-out fee and literally eliminates any further value on that image, but what about the millions of downloads that are being freely downloaded for commercial usage? you have in effect stripped us of our copyright. let me ask you a personal question mr_erin, if this was your work, would you be defending these decisions as you are or would you be upset that your work has been in effect stolen and given away for free. if you choose that you would defend these decisions then may i suggest you work for free for getty as you seem like this is reasonable.

Source: http://www.istockphoto.com/forum_messages.php?threadid=350613&messageid=6823003&source=rssforums

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