Taking A Spin With Joyride, Which Aims To Liven Up Your Commute With Its Android App

Last month, a startup called Joyride came out of stealth mode and announced that it has raised $1 million in funding. Since the company is building a platform for creating entertaining drivetime experiences, we decided that the best place to see the Joyride app in action was on the road. Co-founder and CEO Jeff Chen described Joyride as an attempt to "make drive times more fun and more interesting" ? instead of just listening to the same songs on the same radio stations, you could say, "Hey, let's play a game together." Or, "Pull up the latest comedy clips." Or, "Teach me a new language." It's an application that you'll eventually be able to install on your smartphone, which you then connect to your car stereo and control with your voice.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/VfjXOrBl0p4/

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Survey shows most of you opt to pay for your security -

By the title above I did not mean to imply that people are pirating their anti-virus software. While some likely do, there is probably not much that could be worse than running a pirated copy of a program that is designed to protect you and actually trusting it to do so. No in fact, what I meant is that a recent survey shows that most people opt for paid solutions over free ones.

The margin of difference, however, was quite small. The 2013 Security Survey, produced by the?independent AV-Comparatives?organization shows that?39.6 percent of people worldwide use a paid security suite solution. 37.5 percent opt for one of the free anti-virus programs on the market versus 15.6 percent who purchase stand-alone AV software. Free security suites garnered just 4.4 percent of the results and just 3 percent of us choose to run without security.

Results also varied by region, with Microsoft's free Security Essentials being the most popular program in North America, while Europe and Asia prefer paid security suites. While the Redmond-based software company had the most popular program in North America, Avast took the title in both Europe and South America, with Kaspersky taking the crown in Asia.

The survey also looked at variables such as operating system, preferred web browser, mobile platform and where the person taking the survey was located. The majority, 43.8 percent of respondents, were from Europe.

Results of those variable showed Firefox edging Chrome as the most popular browser, with Internet Explorer falling far behind both. Not?surprisingly, Windows 7 64-bit was far and away the most popular operating system and Android crushed all competitors on the mobile side.

What Do You Use?

Given that Ghacks has a more techie audience than those that made up the majority of the likely respondents in this survey, I am curious to hear what all of you use. I, for one, have not used an anti-virus program in some time, though given that I run Windows 8 on all of my computers, I suppose that is not entirely true since the operating system comes with Windows Defender built-in.

Enjoyed the article?: Then sign-up for our free newsletter or RSS feed to kick off your day with the latest technology news and tips, or share the article with your friends and contacts on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ using the icons below.

---

About the Author:Alan is an avid fan of all things technology, including Microsoft, Android, Google, and more. When not writing about or using gadgets and software, he can be found on the trails hiking or mountain biking. More of his work can be read at Making Windows Easy.

Source: http://www.ghacks.net/2013/03/24/survey-shows-most-of-you-opt-to-pay-for-your-security/

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Same-sex marriage's big day in court: What's at stake?

J. David Ake / AP

Bundled against the cold in Washington, people wait in line Friday so they can get into the Supreme Court for oral arguments next week on challenges to the Defense of Marriage Act and California's Proposition 8.

By Miranda Leitsinger, Staff Writer, NBC News

It's going to be a big week for the Supreme Court as justices hear two landmark same-sex marriage cases on consecutive days.

One is a challenge to the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (more commonly known as DOMA), which bars federal?recognition of same-sex marriages. The other is a challenge of California's Proposition 8, a ban on same-sex marriage that was approved by voters in 2008.

Here are answers to some of the key questions being asked about these cases -- which could have huge implications for hundreds of thousands of gay families, dozens of state laws and even the national political landscape.

---

Why is the Supreme Court hearing these cases now?

The Prop. 8 case and several different challenges to DOMA have slowly wound through lower courts over the years. Observers predicted justices would take one of the DOMA challenges but they didn't expect them to grab the Prop. 8 case, too. The thinking is that the justices feel it?s time to address the question of same-sex marriage, so they now have a state and a federal challenge (interestingly, the DOMA case they selected, United States v. Windsor, was the newest of the bunch).

Why are they being heard so close together?

The cases are related because they both address whether gays and lesbians have the right to wed. The federal case is more focused on the benefits that same-sex couples are denied under the Defense of Marriage Act, while Prop. 8 centers around the right to marry. Ultimately, though, gay marriage supporters say they are both about whether gays and lesbians are treated differently because of their sexual orientation.

Could the Supreme Court legalize gay marriage everywhere?

Paul Katami and Jeff Zarrillo, one of two gay couples fighting to strike down California's ban on gay marriage will have their case heard Tuesday at the Supreme Court.

The court can go many ways in its ruling in the California case. It could maintain the narrow focus that a federal court had in overturning Prop. 8, when it ruled that a fundamental right like marriage can't be granted and then taken away (couples were briefly allowed to wed in 2008 in the Golden State before voters approved Prop. 8, ending the practice).

Alternatively, the high court could say state prohibitions of same-sex marriage are unconstitutional,?opening the door for gays and lesbians to wed in states where that's banned. Another possibility is that the justices could overturn the lower court's decision and reinstate the ban on gay marriage. They could also say the group bringing the challenge doesn?t have standing. Yeah, that?s a lot of possibilities.

In the DOMA case, the justices also could address the constitutionality of gay marriage or they could find that the federal government should not be in the marriage business at all and instead leave that up to states to regulate.

If I?m a married gay couple, should I be worried that one of these rulings could affect my marriage?

Edie Windsor describes her 44-year relationship with same-sex spouse Thea Spyer, and how Spyer's death inspired her to fight for gay marriage rights in a case that will be heard in the Supreme Court Wednesday.

No. It's highly unlikely the Supreme Court would make any ruling that negatively affects laws permitting same-sex marriage in the nine states plus the District of Columbia that allow gays and lesbians to wed. There?s mostly just upsides for already-wed couples.

For example, if the court decides DOMA is unconstitutional, couples would then receive all of the benefits that have been denied to them under that federal law, such as the right to file joint taxes, the protections of the Family Medical and Leave Act, and the ability of surviving spouses to access veterans? benefits. Edie Windsor, the DOMA plaintiff, said she had to pay some $363,000 in federal estate taxes after her wife died, a bill that she wouldn't have had if they were a heterosexual couple.

Could ministers be forced to preside over gay weddings?

It does not seem so. At this point, most of the laws allowing same-sex marriages or civil unions provide exceptions for religious institutions that object to the ceremonies (New Jersey's civil unions bill does not have such a provision but the state's attorney general has given a clear opinion that such groups would be). This is a key area of concern often expressed by opponents of same-sex marriage laws.?

What about civil unions? Why can't states just have those instead of same-sex marriages?

Well, six states do, and other states, like California, allow for domestic partnerships (these often guarantee the same rights and responsibilities as marriage). The Obama administration, in a legal argument it submitted calling for the end of Prop. 8, said creating such a parallel system was only meant to deny the ?marriage? label and was therefore discriminatory against gays and lesbians. Opponents say these kinds of legal arrangements help preserve traditional marriage while giving gays and lesbians a path to be legally recognized as a couple.

I'm confused: civil unions, domestic partnerships, same-sex marriages?

Yes, a patchwork of state laws and constitutional amendments govern marriage across the country.?

What does the anti-gay marriage camp argue?

They say the tradition of marriage is thousands of years old and defines a male-female union. They also argue that the state has an interest in promoting traditional families, and that procreation can only happen between a man and a woman. Finally, they say decisions about who can marry should be left up to the voters, not judges or lawmakers.

When are we going to hear from the justices?

In June, stay tuned.

I feel like a lot has been going on around these issues the last month or so. Is that right?

Yes, with the Supreme Court deadlines to file legal briefs in the cases, dozens of businesses, scholars, health experts, religious groups, gay and lesbian advocacy organizations, NFL players and the Obama administration have weighed in.

More than 131 Republicans, almost all out of office and some who once opposed same-sex marriage, submitted their argument on why gays and lesbians should be allowed to wed. Former President Bill Clinton recently penned an op-ed saying DOMA, which he signed into law, was unconstitutional and should be repealed. Days later, Hillary Clinton publicly announced her support for gay marriage, with some observers suggesting this may signal her presidential ambitions for the 2016 campaign.

Any idea how the justices will go?

Nothing is for sure (look at last year's health care decision), though pundits believe Justice Anthony Kennedy could be the swing vote. Some observers think DOMA's days as federal law could be over, but what the justices decide to do with Proposition 8 -- the California gay marriage ban -- is impossible to predict.

Related:

Rush to the altar: Public figures proclaim support for gay marriage before Supreme Court arguments

Once 'inconceivable,' Republican leaders sign pro-gay marriage brief

Even before Supreme Court rules, gay marriage battles rage in the states

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North Dakota energy workers find shelter in "man camps"

Williston, North Dakota (Reuters) - North Dakota's booming oil business quickly ran up against a serious shortage - housing for the thousands of workers who poured into the state.

The solution: temporary housing complexes that resemble military barracks and come with rules that might make a drill sergeant smile.

Workers pay about $120 a night to stay at these so-called man camps. The amenities they get include a gym, sauna and 24-hour cafeteria. But the rules are strict, chief among them that no alcohol is allowed and don't even think about wearing your muddy work boots inside.

Reuters correspondent Ernest Scheyder, as part of his month-long examination of the boom, toured one called Target Logistics Bear Paw Lodge in Williston, North Dakota, where nearly 500 residents live while they work in the oil fields.

(Reporting By Ernest Scheyder)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/north-dakota-energy-workers-shelter-man-camps-130605178.html

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American Idol Results: Who's Out? Who's in the Top 8?

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Top seed Louisville rolls to 79-48 rout of NC A&T

Louisville guard Peyton Siva (3) drives to the basket as North Carolina A&T forward DaMetrius Upchurch (4) defends during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Louisville guard Peyton Siva (3) drives to the basket as North Carolina A&T forward DaMetrius Upchurch (4) defends during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Louisville guard Russ Smith (2) is fouled by North Carolina A&T forward Lawrence Smith (0) as he drives to the basket during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino watches during the first half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament against North Carolina A&T, Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Louisville's Luke Hancock (11) and Tim Henderson (15) celebrate during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament against the North Carolina A&T Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Lexington, Ky. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Louisville guard Peyton Siva (3) scoops the ball up after stealing it from North Carolina A&T forward DaMetrius Upchurch (4) during the second half of a second-round game in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Lexington, Ky. Louisville won 79-48. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) ? Louisville coach Rick Pitino rattled off Russ Smith's stats, one more impressive than the next.

Then he paused and peered over his glasses.

"But he came up lame without a rebound. So we're very disappointed with that. We're going to do drills in the ballroom with Russ rebounding tonight," Pitino said before he gave up, letting a smile cross his face.

"Russ is a really special player," the coach continued. "He said he was like a blender tonight, just moved around and moved around."

Pay attention, No. 1s. This is how it's done.

Smith scored 23 points and had eight of Louisville's NCAA tournament-record 20 steals, and the Cardinals had 67 deflections as they demolished North Carolina A&T 79-48 on Thursday night. Peyton Siva added eight assists, four steals and six points for top-seeded Louisville, which limited the Aggies to 42 percent shooting and harassed them into 27 turnovers.

"I told Rick that I'm pulling for him to win the national championship," A&T coach Cy Alexander said. "He's got a Final Four-quality team. They made shots and they're as good as anybody in the country when they're going."

And the Big East champions (30-5) sure had it going Thursday night.

No 16th seed has ever beaten a No. 1 and, unlike that Southern-Gonzaga squeaker that ended shortly before the Aggies and Cardinals tipped off, this one was never even a contest.

Oh, the Cardinals let A&T (20-17) hang around for a few minutes, giving the small handful of Aggies fans enough time to take photos of the scoreboard while the margin was still respectable. (OK, it was 6-4. Considering the Aggies had never even won an NCAA tournament game until Tuesday night, it was as good as a lead.)

Once Louisville stepped on the gas, however, this one was done. It was the 11th straight win for the Cardinals, who will play the winner of Colorado State-Missouri on Saturday for a spot in the Midwest Regional semifinals.

"We just tried to get after it," Siva said.

Amped up at seeing Rupp Arena ? home of archrival Kentucky ? awash in red, the Cardinals silenced whatever questions there might have been about them deserving the No. 1 overall seed with a performance as impressive as it was unrelenting.

Louisville shot better than 57 percent, and the only players who didn't score were the benchwarmers who came in at the end of the game. The Cardinals scored on oh, so sweet finger rolls and rim-rattling dunks. They scored on layups and knocked down short jumpers. They hit from 3-point range and converted three-point plays.

And where to even begin with those guards.

"Russ and Peyton, they had so many deflections it was ridiculous," said Stephan Van Treese, who led the Cardinals with seven rebounds. "They played great."

Siva and Smith are arguably the best backcourt tandem in the country and, if they continue playing this way, Louisville will have a good shot at improving on last year's trip to the Final Four.

With the game already out of hand, Siva and Smith combined for a 13-0 run that put Louisville up 67-37. Smith scored the first two baskets, Siva answered with two of his own and then Smith drilled a 3 from the corner. They finished it off with Siva scooping up a loose ball at halfcourt and dishing to Smith.

In the first half, they may as well have been playing keep-away for as much as they let the Aggies have the ball.

Gorgui Dieng blocked a jumper by Bruce Beckford, and Louisville got the rebound. Luke Hancock made a 3 at the other end, and North Carolina A&T didn't even have time to set its offense before the Cardinals harassed Jeremy Underwood into a turnover. After a quick layup by Smith, the Aggies had the ball for just a couple of seconds before Siva snatched it away from Jean Louisme. Underwood quickly fouled Montrezl Harrell, who made the second of two shots.

Siva let the Aggies get near halfcourt before pouncing again for another steal. Smith missed the layup, and the Aggies managed to hold onto the ball long enough to not only take a shot, but get a 3-pointer from Adrian Powell.

Had Pitino let them play longer ? he pulled them with about seven minutes left ? the score would have been even more lopsided.

"The second half of the season, Coach has been on me about scouting reports, and that's the only thing I was waiting for," Smith said. "What do I have to do to contribute to the team? What's the team goals? What do we have to do to get to the next round? That's it. ... To go out there and get a win in the first round is all we cared about. Survive and advance."

Now, Louisville might make plenty of other teams look silly before the tournament is over. But the Aggies didn't help themselves much, either. They were whistled for 10-second and shot-clock violations, and had to call a timeout because they were being smothered by Cardinals. They threw the ball away and took shots that had no prayer of going in.

And that was just in the first 10 minutes of the game. By the second half, the A&T pep band broke into a rousing rendition of Tupac's "Keep Ya Head Up."

"We just didn't execute," said Beckford, who led the Aggies with 12 points. "Their press caused turnovers and that's how they won the game."

Still, even this end was better than the Aggies could have hoped for when a loss to Norfolk State in the regular-season finale dropped them to 15-16. But North Carolina A&T roared through the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference tournament to clinch an automatic bid, then beat Liberty on Tuesday night for its first NCAA tournament win in 10 tries.

"I'm going to think about the loss because I'm a competitor and I hate losing," Powell said. "But at the end of the day, we accomplished something that nobody has done. ... Nobody expected us to make it that far in our conference. We shocked everybody and proved everybody wrong."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-03-21-BKC-NCAA-North-Carolina-AandT-Louisville/id-ada3f4d13dda40509c76fb2760668af3

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Louisiana Guns Law Barring Felons From Owning Firearms Rejected

NEW ORLEANS ? A New Orleans judge says a state law forbidding certain felons from possessing firearms is unconstitutional in light of an amendment passed last year that makes the right to bear arms a "fundamental right" in Louisiana.

District Judge Darryl Derbigny's ruling Thursday sends the issue straight to the Louisiana Supreme Court, which must decide whether the statute infringes on Louisiana citizens' now-enhanced right to gun possession.

The Times-Picayune reports ( ) the Orleans Parish public defenders' office challenged the constitutionality of the statute on behalf of a half-dozen clients, all charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. http://bit.ly/162MTjJ

If the Supreme Court sides with Derbigny, the law will be scrapped and the Legislature forced to rewrite it.

___

Information from: The Times-Picayune, http://www.nola.com

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/22/louisiana-guns-law_n_2929626.html

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Pre-Viking tunic found on glacier as warming aids archaeology

Reuters
OSLO -- A pre-Viking woolen tunic found beside a thawing glacier in south Norway shows how global warming is proving something of a boon for archaeology, scientists said on Thursday.

The greenish-brown, loose-fitting outer clothing - suitable for a person up to about 5 feet, 9 inches tall (176 cms) - was found 6,560 feet (2,000 meters) above sea level on what may have been a Roman-era trade route in south Norway.

Carbon dating showed it was made around 300 A.D.

"It's worrying that glaciers are melting but it's exciting for us archaeologists," Lars Piloe, a Danish archaeologist who works on Norway's glaciers, said at the first public showing of the tunic, which has been studied since it was found in 2011.

A Viking mitten dating from 800 A.D. and an ornate walking stick, a Bronze age leather shoe, ancient bows, and arrowheads used to hunt reindeer are also among 1,600 finds in Norway's southern mountains since thaws accelerated in 2006.

"This is only the start," Piloe said, predicting many more finds.

One ancient wooden arrow had a tiny shard from a seashell as a sharp tip in an intricate bit of craftsmanship.

Receding glaciers
The 1991 discovery of Otzi, a prehistoric man who roamed the Alps 5,300 years ago between Austria and Italy, is the best known glacier find. In recent years, other finds have been made from Alaska to the Andes, many because glaciers are receding.

The shrinkage is blamed on climate change, stoked by man-made emissions of greenhouse gases from burning fossil fuels.

The archaeologists said the tunic showed that Norway's Lendbreen glacier, where it was found, had not been so small since 300 A.D. When exposed to air, untreated ancient fabrics can disintegrate in weeks because of insect and bacteria attacks.

"The tunic was well used - it was repaired several times," said Marianne Vedeler, a conservation expert at Norway's Museum of Cultural History.

The tunic is made of lamb's wool with a diamond pattern that had darkened with time. Only a handful of similar tunics have survived so long in Europe.

The warming climate is having an impact elsewhere.

Patrick Hunt, a Stanford University expert who is trying to find the forgotten route that Hannibal took over the Alps with elephants in a failed invasion of Italy in 218 B.C., said the Alps were unusually clear of snow at 2,500 meters last summer.

Receding snows are making searching easier.

"I favour the Clapier-Savine Coche route (over the Alps) after having been on foot over at least 25 passes including all the other major candidates," he told Reuters by e-mail.

The experts in Oslo said one puzzle was why anyone would take off a warm tunic by a glacier.

One possibility was that the owner was suffering from cold in a snowstorm and grew confused with hypothermia, which sometimes makes suffers take off clothing because they wrongly feel hot.?

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Fore! Super Stickman Golf 2 is here

Super Stickman Golf 2 combines a fun golf theme with challenging aspects of side-scrolling puzzle games, and the end result is a great game that's hard to put down. As a worthy follow-up to the original game, not only do you get a chance to play through dozens of great courses, but there are also many ways to customize your gameplay and character.

Hang around after the break and see what Super Stickman Golf 2 is all about.

read more

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Chicago teachers get notice of school closings

William Penn Elementary School Council Representative Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson speaks at a news conference held by the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools, Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Chicago. The city of Chicago has begun informing teachers about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. Chicago Public Schools hasn't said how many schools or students will be affected, but administrators identified up to 129 schools that could be shuttered, saying many serve too few students to justify remaining open. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

William Penn Elementary School Council Representative Rev. Dr. Brian Henderson speaks at a news conference held by the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools, Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Chicago. The city of Chicago has begun informing teachers about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. Chicago Public Schools hasn't said how many schools or students will be affected, but administrators identified up to 129 schools that could be shuttered, saying many serve too few students to justify remaining open. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Parents protest outside the home of Chicago's Board of Education President David Vitale?s house Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Chicago. Teachers say the city of Chicago has begun informing teachers, principals and local officials about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. Chicago Public Schools hasn't said how many schools or students will be affected, but administrators identified up to 129 schools that could be shuttered, saying many serve too few students to justify remaining open. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

Evlar Hatchett, who's 13-year-old nephew's school is in jeopardy of closing, speaks after a news conference held by the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Chicago. The city of Chicago has begun informing teachers about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. Chicago Public Schools hasn't said how many schools or students will be affected, but administrators identified up to 129 schools that could be shuttered, saying many serve too few students to justify remaining open. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

CHICAGO (AP) ? Chicago teachers, students and parents began learning Thursday whether their schools are among those the city plans to close as part of a cost-cutting plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority children.

Chicago Public Schools, the nation's third-largest school district, hasn't said how many schools or students will be affected. Administrators identified up to 129 schools that could be shuttered, although the total number is expected to fall short of that number.

The district says many of those schools don't serve enough students to justify remaining open, and that the closures will help it deal with a $1 billion budget shortfall and better allocate its resources to students.

The pending closures have been the subject of highly charged community meetings all over the city. Critics say that, among other things, the closures will threaten the safety of students who may have to cross gang boundaries if their schools are closed and that they will cause major inconveniences for families.

Chicago is among several major U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, Washington and Detroit, among others, to use mass school closures to reduce costs and offset declining enrollment.

The issue has led to yet another clash between Mayor Rahm Emanuel and the Chicago Teachers Union over the direction of the city's schools. A strike by the union's 26,000 teachers last fall idled roughly 350,000 students for seven days, and Emanuel has clashed with the union over his push to lengthen the school day.

At Lafayette Elementary, a school in the Humboldt Park neighborhood where 95 percent of its 483 students come from low-income families, the principal read teachers a letter from the district Thursday saying the school is among those it plans to close, said teacher Rosemary Maurello.

Sandra Leon, who was picking up her two grandchildren from kindergarten at Lafayette, wept as she spoke to a reporter about the plans, which she heard about from their teacher in a tearful phone call.

"It's been so good for our kids. This school is everything," said Sandra Leon, whose children also attended the school.

The message read to Lafayette teachers said a final decision would be made in May after more community meetings are held and budget plans are reviewed. But Maurello said letters and information packets were already being sent to parents, and the district's message to teachers included a mention of specific plans to move the Lafayette students to another school about 10 blocks away.

"It sounds like a done deal to me," Maurello said.

Like many teachers, she is worried about where her students will end up. As a tenured teacher, the contract allows her to follow her students to their new school, but she wonders if some of them will opt to go to other schools instead.

The district has plans for community organizations to help students get to their new locations safely, but Maurello wonders how long that will last.

"I truly believe that it's going to be chaos," she said.

Many of the schools targeted for possible closure are in parts of south and west Chicago that are beset by gang violence and that have the highest homicide rates, leading to concerns for the safety of students who might have to enter areas farther from home to get to their new schools. Chicago registered more than 500 homicides last year for the first time since 2008.

That violence has hit areas like North Lawndale, where 59-year-old Eular Hatchett walks her 13-year-old nephew, DaVontay Horace, to school to ensure he gets there safely.

"Our parents know about this area," she said. "They don't know about those other areas. If they send him way north or way south, I'm not going to do that. It's too dangerous."

When she dropped her nephew off at Henson Elementary on Thursday, teachers were coming out of a meeting looking distraught and with their heads down, leading her to suspect that it's among those that will close. The teachers told her and others that they weren't permitted to talk about it.

For some of the affected children, it would be the second time in recent years that they've been displaced. When Chicago closed many of its public housing high-rises in recent years, school closings followed.

Many teachers and parents expressed anger and frustration at how the news of the school closures trickled out, leaving some to agonize over rumor and conjecture, instead learning the list of schools in one official announcement.

"In a word, the approach was brutal. It's certainly not deserved by these parents and these kids," said Mary Visconti, the director of the Better Boys Foundation, a youth organization in Lawndale.

A member of the City Council who represents the area, Michael Chandler, told a community gathering that he was informed Wednesday night of two Lawndale schools that will be closing, but he didn't name them.

Chicago Public Schools has until March 31 to announce which of the 129 schools it will close.

After published reports late Wednesday said the announcement would occur Thursday, a CPS spokeswoman said she could not confirm that information. The district released a one paragraph statement from CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett that reiterated that the announcement would be soon.

"For too long children in certain parts of Chicago have been cheated out of the resources they need to succeed in the classroom because they are in underutilized, under resourced schools," Byrd-Bennett said in the statement.

The district did not respond to requests for comment Thursday.

The list will not be final until the Chicago Board of Education votes on it in late May.

The Chicago Teachers Union, which has vigorously fought the closure plans, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-21-Chicago-School%20Closings/id-c34881685cc4421283dccafdfba90ec8

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Chicago to close 54 schools to address $1B deficit

Evlar Hatchett, who's 13-year-old nephew's school is in jeopardy of closing, speaks after a news conference held by the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Chicago. The city of Chicago has begun informing teachers about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. Chicago Public Schools hasn't said how many schools or students will be affected, but administrators identified up to 129 schools that could be shuttered, saying many serve too few students to justify remaining open. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Evlar Hatchett, who's 13-year-old nephew's school is in jeopardy of closing, speaks after a news conference held by the Committee to Save North Lawndale Schools Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Chicago. The city of Chicago has begun informing teachers about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. Chicago Public Schools hasn't said how many schools or students will be affected, but administrators identified up to 129 schools that could be shuttered, saying many serve too few students to justify remaining open. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks outside the Mahalia Jackson Elementary School in Chicago, Thursday, March 21, 2013, about the planned closing of public schools. The city of Chicago began informing teachers, principals and local officials Thursday about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks outside the Mahalia Jackson Elementary School in Chicago, Thursday, March 21, 2013, about the planned closing of public schools. The city of Chicago began informing teachers, principals and local officials Thursday about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Deviyea Dean, an eighth grader at Mahalia Jackson Elementary School in Chicago listens as Chicago Teachers Union President Karen Lewis speaks outside the soon to be shuttered school, Thursday, March 21, 2013, about the planned closing of public schools. The city of Chicago began informing teachers, principals and local officials Thursday about which public schools it intends to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green)

Students board a bus at the Lafayette Elementary School in Chicago after school on Thursday, March 21, 2013, in Chicago. At Lafayette, a school in the Humboldt Park neighborhood where 95 percent of its 483 students come from low-income families, the principal read teachers a letter from the district Thursday saying the school is among those it plans to close under a contentious plan that opponents say will disproportionately affect minority students in the nation's third largest school district. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

CHICAGO (AP) ? Tens of thousands of Chicago students, parents and teachers learned Thursday their schools were on a long-feared list of 54 the city plans to close in an effort to stabilize an educational system facing a huge budget shortfall.

Mayor Rahm Emanuel says the closures are necessary because too many Chicago Public School buildings are half-empty, with 403,000 students in a system that has seats for more than 500,000. But opponents say the closures will further erode troubled neighborhoods and endanger students who may have to cross gang boundaries to attend school. The schools slated for closure are all elementary schools and are overwhelmingly black and in low-income neighborhoods.

CPS officials say money being spent to keep underutilized schools open could be better used to educate students elsewhere as the district deals with a $1 billion budget deficit. About 30,000 students will be affected by the plan, with about half that number moving into new schools.

"Every child in every neighborhood in Chicago deserves access to a high quality education that prepares them to succeed in life, but for too long children in certain parts of Chicago have been cheated out of the resources they need to succeed because they are in underutilized, under-resourced schools," said district CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. "As a former teacher and a principal, I've lived through school closings and I know that this will not be easy, but I also know that in the end this will benefit our children."

As word of the closures trickled out, parents and teachers reacted with anger and shock, some even crying. Sandra Leon said she got a tearful call from her grandchildren's kindergarten teacher saying the school was on the list to be closed. Her two grown children also attended the school, and Leon wiped her eyes as she waited outside for her grandchildren.

"It's been so good for our kids," Leon said. "This school is everything."

Chicago officials have moved to close schools in the past, but never anywhere near the number designated at one time by the Emanuel administration. Former Mayor Richard M. Daley's administration spread school closings over a number of years. CPS, the nation's third-largest school district, now has 681 schools.

Chicago is among several major U.S. cities, including Philadelphia, Washington and Detroit to use mass school closures to reduce costs and offset declining enrollment. Detroit has closed more than 130 schools since 2005, including more than 40 in 2010 alone.

The issue has again pitted Emanuel against the Chicago Teachers Union, whose 26,000 members went on strike early in the school year, idling students for seven days. It has also put Emanuel and Byrd-Bennett at odds with parents, civic leaders and lawmakers, who have blasted the pair during highly charged community meetings throughout the city and at a legislative hearing earlier this week.

Union President Karen Lewis criticized Emanuel, who is out of town with his family, for being on vacation on the day of the announcement. She called the closings "an abomination."

"This is cowardly and it is the ultimate bullying job," Lewis said. "Our mayor should be ashamed of himself."

The vast majority of the 54 schools are in overwhelmingly black neighborhoods that have lost residents in recent years. Chicago's black population dropped 17 percent in the last census as African-Americans moved out to the suburbs and elsewhere. The other few schools are majority Hispanic or mixed black and Hispanic. Overall, 91 percent of Chicago public school students are minorities.

Many of the schools identified for closure are in high-crime areas where gang violence contributed to a marked increase in Chicago's homicide rate last year. The district plans to have community groups help students get to their new locations safely.

Among the critics is Eular Hatchett, who lives in the violence-plagued neighborhood of North Lawndale and walks her 13-year-old nephew DaVontay Horace to school.

"Our parents know about this area," she said. "They don't know about those other areas. If they send him way north or way south, I'm not going to do that. It's too dangerous."

Because some schools have more than one building, a total of 61 structures will be closed. In addition to the closures, students at 11 other schools will be "co-located" with existing schools. Six schools have been targeted for academic interventions known as "turnaround."

CPS says the plan will save the district $560 million over 10 years in capital costs and an additional $43 million per year in operating costs.

The district plans to invest $233 million into what it calls the "welcoming" schools, or the buildings that students in closed schools will be moving to. Those funds will be used for air conditioning, upgraded technology and security and to ensure every school has a library.

District officials said they couldn't calculate how many teachers will be laid off as a result of the cuts because school leaders will make decisions about their own budgets.

Many teachers and parents expressed anger and frustration at how the news of the closures trickled out, leaving some to agonize over rumor and conjecture.

"In a word, the approach was brutal. It's certainly not deserved by these parents and these kids," said Mary Visconti, the director of the Better Boys Foundation, a youth organization in the Lawndale neighborhood.

At Lafayette Elementary, where 95 percent of its 483 students come from low-income families, teacher Rosemary Maurello said the principal read teachers a letter from the district Thursday morning saying the school is among those it plans to close. The letter said a final decision would be made in May after more community meetings are held and budget plans are reviewed.

But Maurello said letters and information packets were already being sent to parents and the district's message to teachers included a mention of specific plans to move the Lafayette students to another school about 10 blocks away.

"It sounds like a done deal to me," Maurello said.

---

Associated Press reporter Herb McCann contributed to this report.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-03-21-Chicago-School%20Closings/id-cf8b33d78f1642e5bbd260278ba1556b

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Stocks wobble on Cyprus bailout vote

Stocks were mixed Tuesday after lawmakers in Cyprus rejected the terms of a highly unpopular bailout plan that would have called for raiding the bank accounts of ordinary Cypriots.?The euro zone's debt crisis has shown it still has the power to impact stocks worldwide.

By Steve Rothwell,?AP Business Writer / March 19, 2013

A trader works on the floor at the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday. Europe's debt drama offset stock gains made on good news from the US housing market.

Brendan McDermid/Reuters

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The latest twists in Europe's debt drama weighed down the stock market Tuesday, offsetting more good news on the U.S. housing market.

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The Dow Jones industrial average managed a gain of just four points, while other indexes closed slightly lower. Investors were focused on Cyprus, where the Mediterranean country's lawmakers voted against a proposed bailout plan for banks that would have called for raiding the savings accounts of ordinary citizens, setting a new precedent in Europe's ongoing debt crisis.

The plan was rejected ? with zero votes in favor ? even after being changed to lessen the burden on savers with lower balances. The vote leaves the Cyprus's bailout from international lenders in question, and without external funds the country's banks could face collapse and the government could wind up having to leave Europe's joint currency.

Many investors are betting the worst-case scenarios won't come to pass, however, especially since Europe's powerful central banker, European Central Bank President Mario Draghi, has vowed to take any steps necessary to preserve the 17-nation currency union.

"The concern in the market is that they could default or they could be forced out of the euro zone and that would create a precedent," said Alec Young, a global equity strategist with S&P Capital IQ. "The selling, though, is fairly contained, and that tells you most people think there will be some kind of compromise reached."

The Dow and other U.S. indexes started higher following a report of a surprisingly large increase in new home construction in February. The index gained as much as 62 points in morning trading.

It turned lower at midday as Cyprus' parliament began debating the contentious plan demanded by the country's lenders to seize as much as 10 percent of the funds in savings accounts. The market steadied in the afternoon after the vote occurred and a move to delay it was turned down.

The euro zone's debt crisis still has the power to captivate stock global markets, but investors worry about it less these days after Draghi pledged last year to do "whatever it takes" to preserve the euro.

The Dow's biggest wobble this year came Feb. 26, when it lost 1.6 percent after the results of Italian elections left the country in political turmoil, endangering crucial economic reforms. Even that was a less dramatic response than sell-offs a year ago when borrowing rates spiked for Spain and Italy as investors lost confidence in the ability of those countries to service their debt.

On Tuesday the Dow rose 3.76 points, or 0.03 percent, to close at 14,455.82.

Other major market indexes fell slightly. The Standard & Poor's 500 fell 3.76 points, or 0.2 percent, to 1,548.34. The Nasdaq composite fell 8.50 points, or 0.3 percent, to 3,229.10.

Markets declined Monday, with the Dow giving up 62 points, following a weekend of drama as Cyprus' leaders acceded to the demands from European lenders to seize depositors' funds, which were met with outrage. While the reaction Tuesday was more muted, investors were still watching closely to see if the situation takes a turn for the worse.

"The situation in Cyprus is keeping everyone glued to their TVs," Joseph Tanious, global market strategist at J.P. Morgan Funds, said before the vote.

Tanious says investors shouldn't immediately overreact to the news coming out of Europe, but instead take a step back and remember Draghi's pledge. "Do not underestimate the power of the ECB," said Tanious.

U.S. markets have been on a roll this year. The Dow is up 10.3 percent and broke through its previous all-time high on March 5, driven by strength in housing and a pickup in hiring. Strong company earnings and continuing stimulus from the Federal Reserve is also helping boost demand for stocks.

The S&P 500 is up 8.6 percent in 2013 and is 1.1 percent away from its record close of 1,565.15 reached October 2007.

The Federal Reserve opened its second policy meeting of the year Tuesday. On Wednesday, it will issue a policy statement and update its economic forecasts. Economists and investors don't expect the Fed to let up in its drive to keep stimulating the economy by keeping interest rates at historic lows.

"The Fed has clearly been a big push in this market, no question," said Maury Fertig, chief investment officer at Relative Value Partners. "What the Fed has done has really helped the market recover....they're not going to pull away prematurely."

Investors are increasingly putting more money to stocks, according to a Bank of America Merrill Lynch survey, published Tuesday. The survey of fund managers showed that 57 percent of investors favored allocating money to stocks, the highest percentage in more than two years.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury note, which moves inversely to its price, fell to 1.91 percent from 1.96 percent. That's a signal investors were moving money into low-risk assets.

Among other stocks making big moves:

? Lululemon fell $1.82, or 2.8 percent, to $64.08 after the company yanked its popular black yoga pants from store shelves after it found that the sheer material used was too revealing.

? Electronic Arts fell $1.56, or 8.3 percent, to $17.15 after the video game maker said its adjusted revenue fell 28 percent to $1.18 billion for the last three months of 2012. The figure was below?Wall?Street'sexpectations. The company also said its CEO, John Riccitiello, will step down on March 30.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/tEOQoKjxjxU/Stocks-wobble-on-Cyprus-bailout-vote

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Lenovo's war-torn ThinkPad Terminator edition hands-on: it's not for sale... yet

During my discussions with Lenovo's team about the research involved in reshaping the ThinkPad line, they clued me in on the beast you see above. That, friends, is cutely referred to as the ThinkPad Terminator edition within Lenovo's walls, and it's essentially a prototype T431s that's stripped of its retail garb. The lid's paint is torn back in order to expose the edges that enable wireless radio transmissions to be sent and received, while the bottom has been left in its rawest form. Think of this as the space shuttle before its paint job, or Mr. Schwarzenegger before his green room appearance.

The goal here was to showcase the underlying rigidity of the machine, without the retail coat of paint covering up the magic within. Obviously, Lenovo has no immediate plans to actually ship this thing, but I can assure you I'm begging the team to reconsider. Looking to join the cause? Go ahead and give 'em an idea of the premium you'd pay in comments if these were released in limited quantities. Or, just enjoy the gallery below.

Follow all of Engadget's Expand coverage live from San Francisco right here!

Gallery: Lenovo ThinkPad Terminator Edition (T431s prototype)

Filed under: Laptops, Lenovo

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Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/42_BfIFcSr8/

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Source: http://www.carpages.ca/used/2004/Ford/Explorer_Sport_Trac/Scarborough/Ontario/1179853

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Why IT Certifications Are Increasingly Important | All In News

The field of information and computing technology (IT) is one of the fastest-growing sectors in today?s economy, and with more and more people pursuing careers in the IT field, competition for jobs is becoming increasingly steep. A college degree will no longer guarantee you a competitive resume. IT employers are looking for candidates who are qualified to work with specific systems, and so, specialized IT certifications are becoming more and more an important indication of a candidate?s abilities. Freelance contractors and computer support specialists who have the latest certifications in their field have a competitive advantage over their peers.

Certification Means Hands-On Knowledge

It used to be that IT certifications were looked down upon by hiring managers. This was because certifications didn?t necessarily translate into real-world experience. In recent years, however, companies that give IT certifications include hands-on, real-world simulations in their tests. The increase in the quality and rigorousness of IT certification programs has made certifications more respectable in the eyes of IT employers, who now look for certification as a primary indicator of a candidate?s ability to successfully perform his or her job.

In-Depth Knowledge

A college education may give a person a broad understanding of the IT field, but certifications, which focus on much more specific areas of expertise, are better at demonstrating an IT professional?s ability to understand and work with a specific program or computing system. Increasingly, companies hiring IT workers are looking for this kind of in-depth knowledge.

Other Advantages

One of the biggest advantages of IT certifications is that they take a relatively short amount of time to acquire. In a competitive economy, they are a great way for an IT professional to boost his or her resume quickly and meaningfully without having to spend semester after semester in a college classroom.

Furthermore, having certifications from companies like Microsoft gives an IT pro?s resume added value. This is because companies like Microsoft develop much of the software that?s being used by tech companies today. Having ?Microsoft Certified Professional? in your list of credentials means you?ve received training and knowledge from the company that developed the systems that many of today?s businesses are working with.

Lastly, it goes without saying that the information and computing technology field is changing all the time. Certifications are a way to show that you are keeping up with the latest system technologies and industry trends. Keeping your education up to date is essential for maintaining your edge as an IT professional.

Source: http://www.allinnews.org/career/why-it-certifications-are-increasingly-important/

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93% Amour

February 25, 2013:

RT's Oscar Picks 2013 - Results
We at Rotten Tomatoes freely admit we're not the world's greatest Oscar prognosticators. Still, we...

February 24, 2013:

2013 Academy Awards Winners
The 85th Academy Awards are scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 24th in Los Angeles, and if...

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/771307454/

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Corgnelius The Corgi Really Wants To Be Chased (VIDEO)

Have we never introduced you to Corgnelius aka the cutest corgi in the world? He has his own YouTube channel and is something of a celeb.

Totally not cool that we forgot.

By way of apology, though, we're offering you this ridiculously cute video of the ridiculously cute Corgnelius trying his damnest to be chased by a German Shepherd.

Won't you forgive us?

H/T: BuzzFeed

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Justin Bieber Slams Critics& Fans In Online Rant

Justin Bieber Slams Critics& Fans In Online Rant

Is Justin Bieber headed for a meltdown? The 19-year-old singer seems to be cracking under pressure and lashed out in a post on Instagram, which he later removed, bragging about his wealth, saying he doesn’t care if fans believe in him, and bashing Lindsay Lohan. Bieber ranted on his Instagram.com page, writing, “Everyone in my ...

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Source: http://stupidcelebrities.net/2013/03/justin-bieber-slams-critics-fans-in-online-rant/

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Car Hire Sydney A Complete Travel Solution

By: arik The city of Sydney is the largest city in the country of Australia. The urbanized cosmopolitan is a bright and beautiful city which is well known for its diversity and fascinating attractions. The beaches are also a highlight attracting a number of visitors to Sydney. Some of the major attractions in Sydney are the Blue Mountains, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Botanical Gardens and Sydney Tower. One can find almost every cuisine served to them in this city of Australia. The city being a major part of the Australian region has a very rich, diversified and scrumptious cuisine consisting of various local and delectable delicacies. Some fine restaurants and eateries give you some great options to eat.

There are a number of local delicacies which play a major part in the cuisine of Sydney. Some of the delicacies have been talked about below. The emu or the kangaroo meat is hot favorite of the locals. Widely available at the supermarkets and butcher shops the meat is also used in burgers, sandwiches and other fast foods available in the city. The meat requires some perfect cooking skills to make a great Australian kangaroo dish. The meat pie is one of the native Australian dishes. These pies are heavily stuffed with meat and are usually served with tomato ketchup or mayonnaise.

The barramundi is a popular local fish and should be definitely tried while you visit the city. The vegemite is a yeast based spread which has a salty flavor and is widely used in this region of Australia. The spread is also used with a number of meats and other dishes of the Australian cuisine. Malfoufs are delicious cabbage rolls stuffed with tomatoes, rice, chickpeas, parsley and other herbs. The pavlova is a popular local desert consisting of chocolate flakes, fresh fruits and cream. The outer shell of the desert is made of crispy menriques. Lamingtons are square shaped cakes coated with melted coconut chocolate. The sweet delicacy was named after the governor of Queensland.

With a wide variety of car rental options one can be sure of having a great time trying out these local cuisine and delicacies without worrying much about transportation and conveyance facilities. For the food aficionados who travel in search of some great culinary destinations, car hire Sydney is the option to choose. Choose from a fleet of well-maintained cars ranging from SUVs, hatchbacks or sedans and grab the keys to comfort while in a region not very familiar to you. Visit the many attractions of Sydney in a car rental Sydney and break the barriers of time as you explore the city expediently and handily. All you need to ensure is to carry your international drivers license with you due to the strict traffic rules prevailing in the city. Car rental Sydney is indeed one of the smartest choices while on a vacation in the city to have a memorable time.

---

About the Author:
Hertz is a leading car rental company in Australia providing Commercial, Prestige cars and resilient rental-car solutions with discount rates and deals. Get an useful Guide about Hertz Vehicle choices. By Sandeep Dahiya.

Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com

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Curiosity hits 'pay dirt': Mars was habitable, evidence suggests

The Mars rover Curiosity analyzed the inside of a rock it drilled and found that the sample was likely formed in standing water 'so benign' you likely could have drunk it, researchers say.

By Pete Spotts,?Staff writer / March 12, 2013

This image released by NASA shows the Curiosity rover holding a scoop of powdered rock on Mars. The rover recently drilled into a Martian rock for the first time and transferred a pinch of powder to its instruments to analyze the chemical makeup.

NASA/AP

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The verdict is in: Mars's Gale Crater was habitable in its distant past, perhaps during the same period in which microbial life was establishing itself on Earth between 3 billion and 4 billion years ago.

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That is the conclusion scientists have reached after NASA's Mars rover Curiosity analyzed the first sample ever culled from deep in a rock on another planet.?Curiosity used a first-of-its-kind drill to extract the sample.

Now, only seven months into its mission ? a period set aside primarily for testing the rover's various instruments ? Curiosity has already given researchers the answer to the broad, basic question they set out to answer: Did Mars ever host environments suitable for life?

The issue of habitability is "in the bag," said John Grotzinger, a planetary geologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif., and the mission's lead scientist, during a press briefing announcing the results on Tuesday.

The minerals in the tiny, gray, ground-rock sample exposed by Curiosity's drill speak of abundant standing water, conditions neither too acidic or too alkaline for life, and the minerals that would have provided a ready energy source for microbes, if any had been there.

The patch of Gale Crater Curiosity is exploring would have been "so benign and supportive of life that probably if this water was around and you had been on the planet, you would have been able to drink it," he said.

The drill is crucial to Curiosity's mission because Mars's oxidizing atmosphere changes the chemical qualities of the exterior of rocks. To see the fuller story of the planet's geologic history, scientists need to drill past the surface.

With the first test of the rover's drill system, it turns out, the research team "hit pay dirt," added David Blake, a scientist at NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, Calif. He's the lead scientist for CheMin, one of two mini-labs inside Curiosity's chassis that analyze the mineral and chemical compositions of rock and soil samples.

Even before Curiosity arrived, evidence from orbit suggested that the floor of Gale Crater would be an excellent choice to test the proposition of habitability. The crater sits on the border between the Martian highlands and lowlands, forming a catch basin for any water flowing downhill.

From orbit, the landing site centered on what looked like the downhill edge of an alluvial fan ? eroded sediment that spread out, fan-like, from summits along the crater rim.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/Jx4hOMxia58/Curiosity-hits-pay-dirt-Mars-was-habitable-evidence-suggests

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