Monday, March 24, 2014

Best Buy scores exclusive launch rights for the All New HTC One in gold

If you're into gold phones and want the All New , you'll have to grab it from Deal Today. According to EVleaks, the electronics retailer has apparently managed to score exclusive launch rights for the sexy smartphone and at this point we're not sure how long their exclusivity will last. Chances are we're talking about a month but you never know.

Again, HTC will unveil its latest flagship device on Tuesday, March 25th. The All New One will keep the aluminum unibody design [of the original HTC One], while adding a bigger 5-inch screen with on-screen buttons and second Ultrapixel camera on the back to the mix. This super-phone will also sport faster processor under the hood, along with many other top-end components that will make it one of the best (if not the best) Android devices ever. Who's in?

About The Author

Dusan Belic

Dusan has been using smartphones since their introduction and is now following the latest trends in the industry. The "convergence" is what he's most excited about, and writing about it is the next logical thing to do. He thinks that using a smartphone is what everyone who cares about their time should do. In addition to his interests in mobile phones, Dusan also loves to experiment with the latest web and mobile 2.0 services. The idea of accessing and managing your information from any device no matter where you are simply amazes him. Whether it's an online to-do list, note taking service or a video sharing social network, he's there to try it out. He admits though, he's still searching for the ultimate web-based organizational tool, which "sings" perfectly with the mobile PIM application. Dusan used to run Symbian Watch which later became part of IntoMobile. He lives in Serbia, South-East Europe, from where he edits the site on a daily basis.

Sell Your Old Cell Phone for Cash

Buy a New Cell Phone

Saturday, March 22, 2014

Car Companies Offer Aggressive March Discounts

Car companies continue to have high levels of vehicles in inventory, particularly at their dealer locations. This, as well as worry that the economic recovery may have lost steam, have led to a series of discounts, even on top-selling cars, SUVs and pickups. The price cutting trend has continued into March, and some of the offers are shockingly good, for buyers if not the manufacturers.

Kelley Blue Book (KBB.com) examined the On Sales-new-car-deals?printable">10 most aggressive deals for March and broke them into three categories: leases, cash back and financing deals, most of which involve very low rates on loans. Its editors commented:

The extreme winter weather conditions much of the country has experienced in February resulted in fewer shoppers on dealership lots. Consequently, March is a time for automotive brands to catch up on sales lost last month by offering a variety of new-car deals.

Zero percent financing, particularly over several years, is an enticement because payments are almost exactly the same, in sum, as if the buyer paid cash. Unfortunately for the manufacturer, it takes the risk that interest rates may rise over the next several years. KBB identified the Toyota Motor Corp. (NYSE: TM) Camry Hybrid LE Sedan at the top of the list with zero percent financing over 60 months - five years.

Ford Motor Co. (NYSE: F) had the two best cash back deals, according to KBB. Both the Mustang six-cylinder coupe and Focus SE Sedan are being offered with $3,000 cash back. Notably, each is an inexpensive car. The base price for the Mustang is $23,335. For the Focus, it is $19,440.

The balance of the 10 best deals are on leases. General Motors Co.'s (NYSE: GM) Chevy Volt topped the list, a sign that the struggling electric car has not caught on after years on the market. The Nissan Altima 2.5 S Sedan and Toyota Venza LE Wagon each require less than $2,000 down at signing. The Ram 1500 Quad Cab is the only pickup to make KBB's 10 best deals. So did the four-wheel drive Nissan Pathfinder S and the Ford Flex SEL, both SUVs, as well as the Acura ILX 2.0L Sedan.

Matters could get worse for the car companies as the year drags on. The bad weather may have ended, but the struggling economy may continue to falter.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

CVS best sales and deals with coupons and Extra Care card beginning Sunday

CVS is a not only a place to get your prescriptions filled, purchase your over the counter medications or health and beauty aids. You can also find great sales at CVS on groceries, household needs, diapers, laundry and cleaning products. All you need to do is clip coupons, use the CVS Extra Care card and watch the weekly ad that comes in your Sunday paper.

CVS lets you stack manufacturer's coupons with their store coupons, and according to a post on Coupon-deals-sales.html">March 13 by Spend Less, Shop More, you can save on laundry detergent, Sally Hansen cosmetics, Swiffer products and more. If you are not familiar with how to shop with manufacturer's coupons and the CVS Extra Care card, check out the CVS section on the Spend Less, Shop More website.

Some of the deals you can grab up beginning on Sunday, March 16 at CVS include the 6-pack of Scott Choose-A-Sheet paper towels. The Scott 6-pack is on sale for $5.49 but when you will receive $5 back in Extra Bucks using your CVS Extra Care card with your purchase of $20 or more. You can save money just buying the Scott Choose-A-Size paper towels at CVS this week. If you buy four 6-packs, use four of the 75¢ coupons in the Sunday, March 16 Smartsource coupon insert. If you use the deal with the CVS Extra Care card and the four 75¢ coupons you will pay approximately $3.49 per 6-pack. Check out the Spend Less, Shop More website for more details.

You can also pick up Progress soup, Cascadian Farm organic cereal and milk to go along with your cereal. Just stop at the check-out before you start your shopping and ask the cashier for a free CVS Extra Care Card. Visit the Spend Less, Shop More website to get more information how to save using the CVS Extra Care card and manufacturer's coupons. You can also find the links to printable coupons you will need to in order to grab the sales and deals at CVS beginning Sunday, March 16.

©Rachael Monaco All Rights Reserved. No part of this article may be reproduced without prior permissions from the author. The first two sentences may be reposted with a link back to the original article.

Saturday, March 15, 2014

Missing Malaysia Airlines plane: What we know and don't know - CNN.com

(cnn weather) -- As the search for a missing Malaysia Airlines jet entered a sixth day Thursday, investigators remained uncertain about its whereabouts.

Here's a summary of what we know and what we don't know about Flight 370, which was carrying 239 people when it disappeared from radar screens over Southeast Asia.

THE FLIGHT PATH

What we know: The Boeing 777-200ER took off from Kuala Lumpur, the Malaysian capital, at 12:41 a.m. Saturday (12:41 p.m. Friday ET). It was scheduled to arrive in Beijing at 6:30 a.m. the same day, after a roughly 2,700-mile (4,350-kilometer) journey. But around 1:30 a.m., air traffic controllers in Subang, outside Kuala Lumpur, lost contact with the plane over the sea between Malaysia and Vietnam.

Quest: They have 'no idea where plane is' Do stolen passports indicate terrorism? A deeper look at Boeing 777s

What we don't know: What happened next. The pilots did not indicate any problem to the tower, and no distress signal was issued. Malaysian military officials cite radar data as suggesting the plane might have changed course. But the pilots didn't tell air traffic control that they were doing so.

Malaysian officials say they are still trying to determine if a radar blip detected heading west soon after the plane lost contact was in fact the missing jet. If it was, the plane would have been hundreds of miles off its original flight path and headed in the wrong direction. Malaysian officials say they have asked U.S. experts to help them analyze the radar data.

We don't know why the plane would have turned around. While one expert tells CNN the plane's possible deviation could mean someone deliberately turned the plane around, another expert says power failure could have disrupted the main transponder and its backup, and the plane could have flown for more than an hour.

Adding to the puzzle, the Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that the plane may have kept flying for a further four hours after its last reported contact. The newspaper attributed the information to two unidentified people who were citing data automatically transmitted to the ground from the passenger jet's engines. CNN has so far been unable to confirm the report.

'We have to find the aircraft'THE PASSENGERS

What we know: There were 239 people on board: 227 passengers and 12 crew members. Five of the passengers were younger than 5 years old. Those on board included a number of painters and calligraphers, as well as employees of an American semiconductor company.

According to the airline, the passengers' 14 nationalities spanned the Asia-Pacific region, Europe and North America. Passengers from China or Taiwan numbered 154, followed by Malaysians, at 38. There were three U.S. citizens on the plane. Four passengers had valid booking to travel but did not show up for the flight, according to the airline. "As such, the issue of off-loading unaccompanied baggage did not arise," it added Tuesday in a prepared statement.

What we don't know: Whether any of the passengers had anything to do with the plane's disappearance.

Friends tell of fears as hopes dim for passengersTHE PASSPORT MYSTERY

What we know: Two passengers boarded the plane using stolen passports. Authorities have identified them as Pouri Nourmohammadi, 18, and Delavar Seyed Mohammad Reza, 29, both Iranians. Malaysian police believe Nourmohammadi was trying to emigrate to Germany using the stolen Austrian passport. The men entered Malaysia on February 28 using valid Iranian passports, according to Interpol.

The use of the stolen passports had raised concern that the people who used them might be involved in the plane's disappearance. But officials have said they think it is unlikely the Iranian men had links to terrorist groups. Malaysian police said Nourmohammadi's mother contacted them after her son didn't arrive in Frankfurt as expected.

"The more information we get, the more we're inclined to conclude that it was not a terrorist incident," Ronald Noble, the secretary general of the international police organization Interpol, said Tuesday.

What we don't know: More details about the two men, particularly Reza. Malaysian officials and Interpol also gave slightly different information for Nourmohammadi's name and age. It was unclear what caused the discrepancy. Would-be immigrants have used fake passports to try to enter Western countries in the past. And Southeast Asia is known as a booming market for stolen passports.

THE SECURITY SCREENING

What we know: Interpol says the passports were listed as stolen in its database. But they had not been checked from the time they were entered into the database and the time the plane departed. Noble said it was "clearly of great concern" that passengers had been able to board an international flight using passports listed as stolen in the agency's database.

What we don't know: Whether the passports had been used to travel previously. Interpol says it's "unable to determine on how many other occasions these passports were used to board flights or cross borders." Malaysian authorities are investigating the security process at the airport in Kuala Lumpur, but have insisted it meets international standards.

How does a jet go missing?THE CREW

What we know: The crew members are Malaysian. The pilot is Capt. Zaharie Ahmad Shah, a 53-year-old veteran with 18,365 flying hours who joined Malaysia Airlines in 1981. The first officer, Fariq Ab Hamid, has 2,763 flying hours. Fariq, 27, started at the airline in 2007. He had been flying another jet and was transitioning to the Boeing 777-200 after having completed training in a flight simulator.

What we don't know: What went on in the cockpit around the time the plane lost contact with air traffic controllers. The passenger jet was in what is considered the safest part of a flight, the cruise portion, when it disappeared. The weather conditions were reported to be good. Aviation experts say it's particularly puzzling that the pilots didn't report any kind of problems before contact was lost.

THE SEARCHAuthorities 'puzzled' by missing flight Search area for missing plane widens Are flight recorders 'antiquated?'

What we know: Dozens of ships and planes from various countries have been scouring the South China Sea near where the plane was last detected. Debris spotted in the area has turned out to be unrelated to the plane. Similarly, an oil slick in the search area was determined to be from fuel oil typically used in cargo ships, not from the plane. Vietnamese searchers found no trace Thursday of "suspected floating objects" detected in Chinese satellite imagery near the plane's last confirmed loc ation.

What we don't know: Whether the search is concentrating on the right place. Authorities initially focused their efforts around the mouth of the Gulf of Thailand, near the plane's last known position. But they have expanded efforts westward, off the other coast of the Malay Peninsula, and northward into the Andaman Sea, part of the Indian Ocean.

On Wednesday, authorities announced that they'd widened the search area to nearly 27,000 square nautical miles (35,000 square miles).

Jet was 'at safest point' in flightTHE CAUSE

What we know: Nothing. "For the aircraft to go missing just like that ... as far as we are concerned, we are equally puzzled as well," Azharuddin Abdul Rahman, director general of the Malaysian Civil Aviation Department, said this week. The aircraft model in question, the Boeing 777-200ER, has an excellent safety record.

What we don't know: Until searchers find the plane and its voice and data recorders, it may be difficult to figure out what happened. CNN national security analyst Peter Bergen says the range of possible reasons behind the disappearance can be divided into three categories: mechanical failure, pilot actions and terrorism. But all we have are theories.

THE PRECEDENT

What we know: It's rare, but not unprecedented, for a commercial airliner to disappear in midflight. In June 2009, Air France Flight 447 was en route from Rio de Janeiro to Paris when communications ended suddenly from the Airbus A330, another state-of-the-art aircraft, with 228 people on board. It took five days to locate the first piece of debris from that plane -- and nearly two years to find the bulk of Flight 447's wreckage and most of the bodies in a mountain range deep in the Atlantic Ocean. It took even longer to establish the cause of the disaster.

What we don't know: Whether what happened to the missing Malaysia Airlines plane is similar to what happened to the Air France flight. Investigators attributed the Flight 447 crash to a series of errors by the pilots and their failure to react effectively to technical problems.

How traffic control keeps you safe

CNN's Tom Watkins and Steven Jiang contributed to this report.

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

Tipbit Raises $4M from Ignition for Personal Search in E-mail

Tipbit is going after a wicked problem that seems to get worse as each new cloud service spreads our digital work farther afield, making key information at once more accessible and harder to find.

The Bellevue, WA-based startup's solution is in the form of an e-mail application for iPhones, but "the heart of what we do is personal search," says founder and CEO Gord Mangione. Tipbit is designed to present smartphone users with relevant information that's hidden away in their e-mail accounts, social networking feeds, or business applications without them having to jump back and forth between different apps.

The company said Wednesday it has raised $4 million in a Series A round led by Ignition Partners to hire staff and build versions of its app for other mobile operating systems.

Mangione previously worked on the hypervisor server virtualization technology at XenSource and Citrix that is a key part of today's cloud computing infrastructure. Before that, he spent 14 years at Microsoft, working on products including SQL Server and Exchange, which, beginning in the late 1990s, helped put "e-mail on every business desktop," he says.

"In many ways, I started Tipbit to help tame the monster that I helped create in the '90s," says Mangione, who began the company in 2011, financing it with a combination of personal investment and venture capital, including a $1.95 million seed round last year from Ignition and Andreessen Horowitz.

We do more and more of our e-mail on mobile devices, but Mangione argues that we're actually putting off the real, important work that happens over e-mail until we get back to our desks. Things like making an introduction, researching a new business prospect, and scheduling a meeting are harder to do on smartphones, with their smaller screens, inability to display multiple windows simultaneously, cumbersome copy-and-paste procedures, and limited input capabilities.

"The key is we're going to have to be able to do things on our phone in ways that are different than what we do on a more full-fledged form factor," Mangione says.

Tipbit is a mobile e-mail client that indexes information within multiple e-mail accounts-including Gmail, Yahoo, and Exchange (which Magione describes as the "oxygen companies run their business on")-contacts lists, calendars, cloud-storage services and apps, and social media such as Twitter and LinkedIn. It then presents pieces of information relevant to the task at hand: If you're reading an e-mail from a key partner, it might present things like your last meeting with that person, passages from documents in your dropbox help that mention her name or organization, and her latest Tweets.

The result, Mangione says, resembles the background reports Microsoft field personnel would prepare for him when he was a corporate vice president calling on large customers.

"In some ways, we're trying to build that corporate backgrounder for you five minutes before you go into the meeting, on the device you have in your hand," he says.

Tipbit has plenty of potential competitors. Refresh, for example, draws on a user's LinkedIn connections and other cloud data to help prepare for meetings. Several new mobile apps try to integrate e-mail, social networking, and Web browsing, such as CloudMagic, iQtell, and even Mailbox, the slick iOS app that appeared in early 2013 and was quickly acquired by Dropbox.

Mangione says Tipbit separates itself by offering "a complete solution," with support for a wide range of e-mail accounts, including Microsoft Exchange. "There are over 360 million paying Exchange mailbox customers which are being underserved by the market," he says in an e-mail, adding that Tipbit understands this better than others thanks to his past experience with Exchange.

Mangione says Tipbit's credo is "no creepiness," meaning no ads, no selling personal information, no spamming your friends. The business model will look a lot like Evernote's, with a free basic product (everything Tipbit offers presently will remain free) and a set of premium add-ons that users will, in theory, be willing to pay for. He thinks businesses will be the bigger source of revenue, paying for services like integration with line-of-business software tools and features allowing companies to set policies, perform audits, and grant and revoke access to corporate data sources.

"To win in this space you need to be able to deliver great user experiences for consumers but also build solutions for enterprises to manage and protect their confidential information," he says.

The company just released a new version of its iPhone app, including integration with services such as Dropbox, Evernote, and Salesforce. Mangione declines to disclose how many times it has been downloaded. Plans include a dedicated iPad version and an Android app.

Mangione says the company has six full-time employees working remotely in West Seattle, Silicon Valley and San Francisco, Boston, and elsewhere. He hopes to have about 20 people on board by the end of the year.

Not surprisingly given his background, he relies on Amazon Web Services and other cloud services, as well as open-source software for just about everything the startup needs. "I don't want to buy a single server until I order in a quantity of 10,000," he says.

Benjamin Romano is editor of Xconomy Seattle. Email him at bromano [at] xconomy.com. Follow @bromano

Sunday, March 9, 2014

It's not always what you think

Editor's note: The following guest column originally appeared on stancrader.com. Stan Crader is the son of the late Don Crader, who died Feb. 23.

By Stan Crader

A couple of weeks ago I bought a black suit -- it was the first suit I'd purchased in maybe two decades. I also bought a new white shirt, tie and dress socks but stopped short of new shoes. I'm funny about shoes, one of those rare people that still get them resoled. The new suit, shirt, tie and socks were for a special event to which Debbie and I had been invited -- or so I thought.

We'd been invited to attend the New York Stock Exchange Congressional Medal of Honor Gala. It would be our first trip to New York. We weren't particularly looking forward to New York City but felt honored to have been invited to a most prestigious event.

Since we were sure this would be our first and last trip to NYC, we arrived a day early and planned to make a weekend of it, taking in all of the famous sites. We awoke our first day to the winter storm that paralyzed the eastern half of the country Valentine's Day week. Having watched the weather forecast days before, we'd taken the right clothes. There's no such thing as bad weather, I always say, just bad gear.

Debbie and I braced ourselves and stepped out of the warm hotel lobby into a cold wintry NYC. "Need a cab?" The bellman asked. "Nope, we're walking." He gave us one of those looks. As it turned out the cabs were of little use -- the snow was already several inches deep. We made our way to the subway and miraculously got on the right train that took us to Grand Central Terminal. I need to mention we asked directions several times during the day and found everyone to be most gracious. In four days, we never encountered a rude person. It wasn't what we expected.

After gawking around Grand Central Terminal we asked, twice, how to get out. We finally found the clearly marked exit and headed toward Times Square. On our way to Times Square we stopped at what looked to be an Irish Pub and in fact it was. Everyone spoke with an accent difficult to decipher. We both had a Rueben.

By the time we finished our sandwiches and listened multiple times to directions from a guy who could have been in the Irish Spring commercial, we got on our way. The idyllic snow had become a wind-driven, skin-piercing sleet. The snow-covered streets had become rivers of slush. We splashed our way to Times Square, did a Chevy Chase 360 and asked directions to 34th Street and macy's shoes, our primary destination, made famous by "Miracle on 34th Street," and "A Christmas Story." The Christmas display was long gone. We rode the rickety wooden escalators all of the way to the top floor -- Macy's is a huge store, even bigger than a Wal-Mart.

From Macy's we jumped a subway train for Central park but ended up in Harlem. Again, the people were friendly and helped us find our way back to Central Park, which due to the weather, we had to ourselves. Central Park is more than 500 acres of serenity in a sea of chaos. We raced around the park for over an hour and then after asking directions, jumped a subway train that took us within two blocks of our hotel.

New York boasts the biggest sub system in the world. And it brags about being the greenest city in the world. I'm not sure of the metric used, but more than 5 million people ride the sub system on an average day, so there's some sort of efficiency thing going on. And since the subways are electric, the smoke-belching power producing plant is miles away, out of sight, and NYC is green, so to speak. Sorry about that, New Jersey.

With only minutes to spare, Debbie and I got ready for the gala. I got my tie tied on the first try -- a harbinger of good things to come. Once through security, we were ushered to the New York Stock Exchange floor where, along with several others, were greeted by 34 Congressional Medal of Honor recipients -- one World War II, three Korea, 25 Vietnam and five Iraq/Afghanistan. This was not what we expected.

The Medal of Honor Society is relatively new. There's not much information available on omniscient Google. So, Debbie and I weren't sure what to expect. We were sure one or two Medal of Honor recipients would be present, but not a room full of heroes in tuxes, adorned with their gallantry and humbly receiving us onto the floor as if we were long-lost friends and deserving of the honor. It was a spine-tingling, surreal evening. Because of our support of veterans through book sales proceeds, Robert Simanek, a Korean War veteran, presented me with his challenge coin. It was a chin-quivering moment.

During the banquet each table was honored with a hero. Don Ballard, a Vietnam-era recipient and a user of Stihl products, was seated at ours. Don shared with us the events that resulted in him being awarded the Medal of Honor. During dinner, I asked the others seated whether they had ever been in a room with a more distinguished group of people. None could say they had. I was sure I hadn't and furthermore would never again be in the presence of such a moving group of people. I would be proven wrong again, and too soon.

One week after Debbie and I returned to Missouri, my father passed away unexpectedly. On the day of his Victory, he and Saundra, his wife of 17 years, had attended church, where he played the piano to everyone's worshipful delight. After worship service they'd gone to lunch at Jer's, famous for fried chicken, with friends. That afternoon, he worked in his yard, sat down on a bench that sits between two towering trees, and fell asleep for the last time. He passed peacefully from this world into that of our Heavenly Father. Jesus promised he was going to prepare a place for us. And now Dad is there. But I'm stuck here with the rest of my family. Ever wish you were in two places at the same time?

An endless stream of well-wishers and mourners waited hours in line to share their personal Don Crader story at his visitation and funeral. My knees never hurt so good while I stood with my family for more than six hours shaking more hands than a politician on Election Day. Against my will, I spoke a few words at the funeral. While standing at the podium and looking out at a sea of friends and family, I realized two things. The reason I'd purchased a new black suit wasn't for the previous week's gala event; it had been for Dad's funeral, but God hadn't taken him yet. And the most important group of people I'd ever have the privilege to be in the presence of weren't those assembled at the Medal of Honor banquet -- they were in that sanctuary.

It's not always what you think.

Stan Crader is a Jackson resident, lecturer and author of "The Bridge" (2007), "Paperboy" (2010) and "The Longest Year" (2012).

Sunday Insert Round Up

There are also coupons and offers available from these retailers:

* Extra 15% off clothing and accessories or an extra 10% off lingerie, mattresses, recliners, Shaw Rug Gallery, and upholstered furniture

* Extra 15% off apparel, shoes, accessories, fine jewelry and home, or an extra 10% off watches, furniture, mattresses, and custom blinds/shades

* 40% off any regular priced item

* 40% off entire regular priced purchase of artist acrylics, watercolors, oil paints, brushes, pencils, pastels and markers

* 50% off entire regular priced purchase of Martha Stewart Crafts paper crafting

* 20% off total regular and sale priced purchase

* 60% off + 10% off custom framing

* 40% off any regular priced item

Rack Room Shoes

* $10 off a purchase of $60 or more

CVS is having a beauty sale this week and many brands are buy one, get one half off, including Revlon, Covergirl, Neutrogena and Aveeno.

Easter candy is on sale once again this week, and there are candy coupons in the kiosk as well.

You can earn $10 in ExtraBucks this week with a purchase of $30 or more of select baby products, like Huggies, Avent accessories, Enfamil and more.

Walgreens has a new coupon offering 5,000 Balance Rewards Points (a $5 reward) with the purchase of $25 or more.

Like CVS, Walgreens also has candy deals. There are in-store coupons and Balance Rewards Points up for grab on Easter deals. Almay, Neutrogena and L'Oreal products are also buy one, get one half off.

Kohl's is offering shoppers Kohl's Cash once again this week with every $50 purchase. Kohl's Charge holders can also save an extra 15%, 20% or 30% off purchases. Stop in today for doorbuster deals, or Friday through Tuesday for bonus buys.

Target has a new coupon offering $15 off up & up purchase of $40 or more.

And there's a second coupon offering a free $10 Target gift card with a home decor purchase of $50 or more.

Loads of freebies with purchase up for grabs, like a 12-pack of Diet Coke when you buy any three Coke 12-packs, free Tresemme hairspray with the purchase of any two Tresemme haircare products, free Pop Secret popcorn with the purchase of "Catching Fire," and more.

Remember, all of these ads may not appear in your paper. However, many retailers post their ads and coupons online, so always check there if you're interested in finding out more details. You can also get Super Sale at these websites: SmartSource , , Coupon Network , and Coupons.com.

Saturday, March 8, 2014

Coupons.com (COUP) IPO Surges Higher

The IPO for Coupons.com (NYSE: COUP) is open for trading. Shares opened at $27.15 after pricing 10,500,000 shares of common stock at $16 per share, above the expected $12-$14 range. Coupons.com has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 1,575,000 shares.

Goldman, Sachs & Co., Allen & Company LLC, BofA Merrill Lynch, and RBC Capital Markets, LLC are acting as bookrunners.

Coupons.com Incorporated operates a leading digital promotion platform that connects great brands and retailers with consumers, offering digital Review, digital paperless coupons, coupon codes and other promotions. Founded in 1998, the company is based in Mountain View, CA.

In 2012, Coupons.com generated revenues of $112.1 million, representing 23% growth over 2011, a net loss of $59.2 million, representing an increase of 158% over 2011, and an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $47.3 million, representing an increase of 233% over 2011. During 2013, Coupons.com generated revenues of $167.9 million, representing 50% growth over 2012, a net loss of $11.2 million, representing a decrease of 81% over 2012, and Adjusted EBITDA of $1.7 million, as compared to an Adjusted EBITDA loss of $47.3 million in 2012.


Sunday, March 2, 2014

The Emerging Radioshack/Netflix Debacle

On Sunday, February 23rd, Radioshack began a promotion to make it possible for anyone who bought a laptop, tablet, or cellphone to receive a code good for 6 months of Netflix online streaming service. The deal can be found on their website. However, not all is well in promotion land. Since the promotion period began there have been cancelled orders, widespread theft, and generally more questions than answers. To fully explain, it will help to start at the beginning.

Radioshack announced this deal last week, and it was to begin Sunday that any online or in store purchase of a laptop, tablet, or phone would result in a code being emailed or printed on receipt. That code would be entered at another redemption site, which would then generate a code that could be redeemed on Netflix for 6 months of services (around a $48 value). The issues all began with the first redemption process.

Initially the redemption site, The On Sales Card, had to send out notices that Netflix codes would be sent out within two days. This would be fine except that some savvy (or scummy, depending on your interpretation) internet users found a way to manipulate the redemption process.

Users on slickdeals, a deal finding and sometimes deal exploiting website, found that the URL of the redemption website could be changed upon trying to enter a code, resulting in a valid Netflix subscription code being generated. Within hours, many of Netflix codes that were allocated to this promotion were stolen and some were redeemed or put up for sale on Ebay.

This means that those with legally obtained codes could either be receiving an already redeemed code, or they might not receive a code at all. To make matters worse, Radioshack has declined to respond as of Tuesday afternoon. The only change has been an update to the terms of service, requiring a higher purchase amount, for receiving a Netflix code that has likely already been used.

Who is to blame for this issue? Radioshack certainly could have benefited from employing a more sound delivery system for the promotional codes. Utilizing a shell of a website that initially cracked under traffic, then was so easily manipulated, while making the goods so easy to steal, certainly doesn't bode well for their online marketing decision making.

Plenty of blame can also fall on the redemption website designers. Getting the trust of a large company such as Radioshack usually means that the job will be taken seriously, rather than having a major promotion be handle by as they put it "a website design in process".

Some blame can be put on the Slickdeals users who decided to exploit the website error. By trying to exploit the deal, exploiting it, and then sharing the exploit with others in the name of building their online reputation, they likely ruined a good promotion that others could have benefited from. I am a fan of deal websites, but when scoring a good deal becomes an exercise in manipulation and theft, it is no longer what I would consider a slick deal.

Radioshack has not addressed these issues yet. A press release to give some indication if the thousands of customers who tried to correctly participate in this promotion will be receiving what they were promised will hopefully be coming soon. Until then, I am back to paying 8 bucks a month for my online streaming needs.

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Report: Texas to begin beer sales at athletics events

The decision would launch a trial period for football season.

Tuesday evening will mark the start of beer sales at Texas Longhorns sporting events, according to a report from Orangebloods.

The women's basketball basketball game against the TCU Horned Frogs at the Erwin Center will be the first chance for Texas fans to buy beer at a game and will then expand to men's basketball, baseball, and softball, said a source close to the situation.

If it does happen, Wednesday will present the first opportunity for the purchase of beer at a men's basketball game when the Longhorns take Amazon Deal the Baylor Bears, with sales expanding to football games in the fall if the trial period this spring produces the desired results without any dire consequences.

The first hint that such a decision could eventually happen at Texas came last spring, when former athletic director DeLoss Dodds told the Daily Texan that it was something discussed often in the administration:

We talk about it constantly. If we ever did it, we'd probably start with baseball. There's something about it that doesn't quite feel right, but there's people telling me that it might be safer to serve it than not serve it. It's an issue. I guarantee you we talk about it at almost every other staff meeting.

But since there were many more significant changes that needed to be made around Bellmont that never happened, it was hardly any surprise that Dodds ended his tenure at Texas without ever implementing beer sales at Texas athletics events.

Two schools in the Big 12 already allow alcohol sales at athletics events -- West Virginia and Iowa State. Perhaps because of the connections between athletic director Oliver Luck and Texas, the Mountaineers have always received more publicity surrounding alcohol sales.

In 2012, West Virginia made $520,000 from alcohol sales at their events, a number that could perhaps double for the Longhorns since there would be other sports involved and the fact that Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium has a significantly larger capacity.

The bigger concerns surround post-game drunk driving and the possibility for high levels of intoxication, especially at football games, where some sections of the stadium are known for having a consistently high level of intoxicated fans who are disruptive and have to leave the game, some times because they need medical attention.

And researchers at Virginia Tech found that during pre-game tailgating festivities before football games, one-third of those who intended to drive after the game were already legally intoxicated.

A poll last spring when Dodds' comments came out revealed that 63% of BON readers supported the sale of alcohol at games and doing so at football games could get fans into their seats earlier because they wouldn't have to drink that last beer out at tailgates and get them back in their seats more quickly following halftime because there wouldn't be a need to hit up the University of Texas Club in the stadium.

When Dodds brought up the subject last spring, he said it was a "do-the-right-thing" issue and not about money. But if it's not about money and there are dangers associated with the practice, then what's the reasoning?

Monday, February 24, 2014

Ad of the Day: Old Navy Just Made Its Best TV Commercial in a Long Time

old navy had a long and largely fruitful relationship with Crispin Porter + Bogusky. But the retailer seems reinvigorated creatively since splitting from CP+B last summer.

Part of the problem was that the CP+B work was so fully realized-and in such a particular style-that it became limiting. The ads, from the SuperModelquins to the Funnovations, were always recognizable and well crafted, but they became a bit suffocating.

Lately, though, freed from those constraints, Old Navy has done some irresistible commercials. First, Melissa McCarthy hilariously hammed her way through a game-show parody for Black Friday-in an ad by Chandelier in New York and director Roman Coppola.

Now, the same agency and director have teamed up for a spring 2014 spot starring another comic, Debra Wilson, who plays a TSA agent bowled over by a passenger's $19 Old Navy jeans.

Wilson, an original MADtv cast member, is hilarious in the role. And Coppola again displays a deft touch for comedy-and for madcap scenes of pandemonium. As the passengers absurdly flee for the exits in this ad, falling over each other in the process, it recalls one of Coppola's other recent outings-the Windows Phone ad with the melee between Apple and Samsung users at a wedding.

It's helpful for any clothing retailer to have a range of styles, in its clothes and its advertising. And Chandelier is certainly giving Old Navy new looks.

The spot will also run as a :30. A Spanish-language version will star actress Dascha Polanco, aka Daya from Orange Is the New Black.

CREDITS
Client: Old Navy

Agency: Chandelier Creative
Creative Director: Richard Christiansen
Associate Creative Director: Lena Kuffner
Managing Director: Sara Fisher
Art Director: Michael Scanlon
Producer: Jill Andresevic

Production Company: The Director's Bureau
Director: Roman Coppola
Executive Producers: Lisa Margulis, Elizabeth Minzes
Line Producer: Eric Sedorovitz
DP: Matthew Libatique

Editorial: Rock Paper Scissors
Editor: Carlos Arias
Assistant Editor: Lauren Dellara
Executive Producer: Eve Kornblum & Carol Lynn Weaver
Head of Production: Justin Kumpata & Angela Dorian
Post Producer: Lisa Barnable & Shada Shariatzadeh

Telecine: Company 3 LA
Colorist: Sean Coleman

Music Supervisor: John Bissell, Mothlight Music
Mixer: Rohan Young at Lime Studios
Assistant Mixer: Jeff Malen

Post Production
Design Studio: Elastic
Art Director: Lisha Tan
Designer(s): Lyn Cho
Producer: Michelle Machado
Executive Producer: Jennifer Sofio Hall

VFX Studio: A52
2D VFX Artist(s): Dan Ellis, Matt Sousa, Gabe Sanchez
Producer: Michelle Machado
Executive Producer: Megan Meloth

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Famous Smoke Shop Releases New Cigar Promo Codes

Easton, PA (PRWEB) February 03, 2014

Famous Smoke Shop is the nation's #1 discount retailer of online cigars, providing smokers with the web's best cigar selection, expert customer service, competitive pricing, and a wide variety of special offers and ways to buy cigars. The company has just published their latest batch of cigar promo codes that provide a wide variety of special offers to their customers.

There were two cash back promo codes introduced this week, one giving customers $15 in cash back from their $150 purchase, and the other providing $30 in cash back for orders over $300. There is also a new Price Compare that provides free shipping on orders over $50 that will be active for the entire month of February.

In addition to the cash back coupons, there are a variety of other codes providing free cigars and cigar accessories with purchases of varying dollar totals. The highest-value offer released is one that allows customers to select a no-charge box of Plasencia Reserva Organica Toro cigars with a $500+ purchase from Famous Smoke Shop. Other bonus item coupons include a code for a 10-pack of The Judge by J. Fuego cigars with a $200+ purchase, a code for a Cuban Heritage #2 6-Pack Cigar Sampler with a $150+ purchase, and a code that provides a bonus Carlos Torano Signature Robusto 5-pack with $75+ purchases.

All the cigar promo codes released today are valid through February 17. The company has a variety of other cigar promo codes available with new ones being added consistently. The codes do carry some restrictions, as certain items are ineligible due to manufacturer restrictions. Restricted brands are clearly stated on the company's website, as well as in the shopping cart if the order does not qualify for the shopper's selected promo code.

People interested in learning more about Famous Smoke Shop or their promo code program should visit Famous-Smoke.com or call 1-800-564-2486.

About Famous Smoke Shop
Famous Smoke Shop is the nation's #1 discount retailer of premium cigars online, offering one of the largest selections of handmade cigars, machine-made cigars, cigar humidors and accessories. Famous offers the web's lowest prices on a wide selection of cigar brands including Acid, Davidoff, Macanudo, Romeo y Julieta, Ashton, Padron, Oliva and Perdomo cigars, and many more. Famous offers their customers the best prices on all premium cigars as well as friendly and knowledgeable customer service.


Monday, February 3, 2014

NFL to review train station mess after SB

By Jane McManus | ESPNNewYork.com

NEW YORK -- After all the anticipation of a mass transit Super Bowl, thousands of Super Bowl attendees were stuck waiting for New Jersey Transit trains for hours after Sunday's game ended.

The New York/New Jersey Host Committee underestimated by half the number of riders who would use the train to get to the game, and those 28,000 strained capacity and set a new record for single-day traffic on the line.

"We've got a couple of things that we will Amazon Deal and obviously try to improve on," NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said before he introduced Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll at Monday morning's press conference, alluding to the challenges.

[+] Enlarge

NFL executive vice president Eric Grubman addressed specific questions after the press conference.

"When something is done for the first time, you don't really know what's going to happen," he said.

Grubman provided the same kind of postgame comments after the blackout in New Orleans and a construction fiasco that meant seats weren't installed in Dallas.

"For the people who were inconvenienced and delayed, it was no doubt very frustrating," Grubman said. "Probably there was anxiety because people's dreams are to get to the Super Bowl when they want to get to the Super Bowl and how they want to get to the Super Bowl.

"But if you look at the big picture of the NY/NJ presentation, I think it is one part among a very big picture that was terrific."

Early last week, the host committee was asked about the Secaucus Junction. It has faced crowding before and after regular-season games, but double-decker buses were brought to accommodate the extra capacity needed.

It turns out the NFL expected many more people to arrive by charter buses. The league had 11,000 parking passes for cars and had another 12,000 arrive via pre-sold Fan Express shuttles. With 1,100 bus permits sold, Grubman said the numbers added up to the 80,000 fans expected on Sunday.

"When I do the math, with the number of permits and passes that were sold to vehicles that could accommodate multiple people -- really rough numbers 1,100 buses, those buses are of different sizes -- if they hold between 40 and 50 people and they're fully occupied, do the math," Grubman said. "So 50,000-plus in a bus expected."

Not all the train riders bought tickets ahead of time, but with no other way of getting to the stadium -- cabs were not permitted and no one could access the stadium on foot -- the train was the only way for remaining fans to arrive and, more importantly, leave.

After the game, NJT spokesperson William Smith said extra buses were dispatched from Secaucus to MetLife, which then transported fans to the Port Authority bus station in Manhattan. Grubman said there had been 100 such buses stationed in Secaucus in the eventuality they were needed to get people to the game, but they ended up being used instead for the return trip.

The last train left MetLife station at 12:45 a.m. ET, Grubman said.

There was a brief but intense delay that kept early riders from getting to trains right away, and a few patrons passed out waiting in a hot Secaucaus corridor. Grubman explained that more people arrived for the early train than they anticipated.

"There was no service until that first train and people left Penn Station much earlier than they needed to," Grubman said. "So you had a queue forming that filled up the lobby of Seacaucus. That's my understanding. Then when people who were on the trains from Penn Station and other places in New Jersey arrived in New Jersey anticipating that they'd get that first train, they ran into a wall of people so that created the first unpleasant anxiety-filled wait."

Grubman said they would evaluate the situation in order to prevent similar incidents at future Super Bowls.

As snow fell outside the building Monday, Goodell alluded to the fact that the last part of Super Bowl travel could be more difficult for the fans who came to New York and New Jersey.

"Obviously our work continues today as we work to get our fans back out of town and back home," Goodell said.

ESPNNewYork.com

Thursday, January 23, 2014

MLB

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The MLB offseason's best signings and trades don't always include the biggest names.

So, apologies to Clayton Kershaw and Robinson Cano, who are both undeniably among the best players in all of baseball. However, Kershaw's $215 million haul and Cano's $240 million payday are simply too exorbitant to be described as the Amazon Deal Online of the offseason.

The list does include some top-tier free agents who scored payouts well above $100 million. There's also room in the rankings for an array of lower-profile players who could prove to be absolute bargains.

With those considerations in mind, here's a power ranking of the MLB offseason's 25 best signings and trades.

Note: Stats via Baseball Reference.com unless otherwise noted. All salary information via Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Book News: Amazon Wants To Ship Products Before You Even Buy Them

  • amazon books has patented "anticipatory package shipping," a system that ships products before customers have actually bought them - based on what it predicts they will buy. The Verge explains: "Amazon plans to box and ship products it expects customers to buy preemptively, based on previous searches and purchases, wish lists, and how long the user's cursor hovers over an item online. The company may even go so far as to load products onto trucks and have them 'speculatively shipped to a physical address' without having a full addressee."
  • E. L. Doctorow tells The New York Timesabout his reading habits: "Sometimes I put books down that are good but that I see too well what the author is up to. As you practice your craft, you lose your innocence as a reader. That's the one sad thing about this work."
  • Biologist and author Lewis Wolpert has admitted using other writers' work without attribution in two of his books. In a statement quoted in The Observer, Wolpert said: "I acknowledge that I have been guilty of including some unattributed material in my last book to be published, You're Looking Very Well (2011) and in the initial version of my yet unpublished book Why Can't a Woman Be More Like a Man?. This lack of attribution was totally inadvertent and due to carelessness on my part. It in no way reflects on my publishers, Faber and Faber, and I take full responsibility. When downloading material from the internet as part of my research, and coming back to it after a gap of maybe weeks or sometimes months, I simply did not recall that I had not written these passages myself." Wolpert added that he "would never ever knowingly claim someone else's material as my own."
The Best Books Coming Out This Week:

  • Richard Powers' Orfeo holds some of the most beautiful music writing you'll ever encounter. In the book, Peter Elds, a composer who spends his evenings playing with DNA in his home lab, is suspected of bioterrorism and goes on the run. He wants "only one thing before he dies: to break free of time and hear the future." Powers is the king of the elegantly unexpected adjective: a stillborn smile, a curt ratatouille, stark raving mod. The finale of Mozart's Jupiter "spills out into the world like one of those African antelopes that fall from the womb, still wet with afterbirth but already running." Powers spoke to NPR's Audie Cornish last week: "The great beauty of being a novelist is that you can spend three or four or five years vicariously pursuing those imaginary Walter Mitty-like lives that you never got to pursue in the real world. I do have a stack of youthful compositions sitting on the bottom of my closet, so it was a great pleasure to spend these years working on this book - not just rediscovering the 20th century and this avant-garde tradition, but also to imagine myself into the life of somebody who sees and hears and feels the world through sound."
  • The Poetry of Derek Walcott 1948-2013 spans the Nobel laureate's long career, from 25 Poems, which he published as a teenager, to his latest collection, White Egrets. The collection is edited by the poet Glyn Maxwell, who once wrote of Walcott's poetry: "The verse is constantly trembling with a sense of the body in time, the self slung across metre, whether metre is steps, or nights, or breath, whether lines are days, or years, or tides." Walcott is at his greatest when he writes about the sea - which he does constantly - as in a section from The Prodigal:

"When we were boys coming home from the beach,

it used to be such a thing! The body would be singing

with salt, the sunlight hummed through the skin

and a fierce thirst made iced water

a gasping benediction, and in the plated heat,

stones scorched the soles, and the cored dove hid

in the heat-limp leaves, and we left the sand

to its mutterings, and the long, cool canoes."

Sunday, January 19, 2014

5 Cheap Ways to Buy Global Growth in 2014

Jeff Reeves, Editor of InvestorPlace.com

There's a lot of talk about how U.S. stocks have run up a lot in 2013, and that valuations are getting a bit stretched.

Right now the S&P 500 trades for a current P/E of about 19.9 and a forward P/E of 16.3 based on data from Finviz.com. And investors should easily be able to name a few stocks that trade for tremendous earnings multiples - Amazon ( AMZN), Twitter ( TWTR) and Tesla ( TSLA) being the prime examples.

So will the run continue for these stocks? Maybe. After all, multiple expansion is the hallmark of a bull market and its not necessarily a sign of disaster to see high-growth companies trading at big valuations. I mean, AMZN stock is up 44% in the last year and 600% since 2009 with barely a downtick despite trading at a steep premium to earnings.

But if you're an investor who wants to look for some value investments as well as some growth investments, you may have to look overseas for companies trading at deep discounts to earnings, sales or book value.

Here are 5 cheap countries to consider, and the ETFs and stocks that will let you play them - without making a single trade on foreign stock exchanges:

Article printed from InvestorPlace Media, http://investorplace.com/2014/01/5-cheap-ways-Promotional Code-global-growth-2014/.

©2014 InvestorPlace Media, LLC

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Transaero Airlines started Discount Class


Jan 18, 2014

Transaero Airlines started to offer a new low-cost product called Deal Today Class.
Discount class is offered on certain Transaero flights from Moscow Domodedovo airport on a number of popular domestic and international routes including those to London, Berlin, Vienna, Barcelona, Rome, Milan, Tel Aviv, Vilnius, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Kaliningrad, Kemerovo, Krasnodar, Mineralnye Vody, Novosibirsk, Novy Urengoy, Omsk, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Saint Petersburg, Sochi, Stavropol, Ufa, Khanty-Mansiysk, Kiev, Donetsk, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa, Astana, Almaty, Karaganda, Yerevan, Antalya.

During the first day of the service launch, the airline carried about 5,000 passengers on 54 Discount Class flights on Boeing 737 and Tu-214 aircraft.

All seats on specified flights are sold according to Discount Class rules. The ticket fares include, in accordance with the Russian Federal Aviation Rules, free drinks and food or meals depending on flight length. Passengers are also offered a choice of newspapers and an opportunity to buy duty-free goods onboard. However, Discount Class passengers won't be able to order special meals. Passengers on these flights can carry 10, 15 or 20 kilos of luggage, depending on tariff of the purchased ticket.

Members of the Transaero Privilege frequent flyer programme may earn points travelling in Discount Class at a 50% rate. They can also get reward tickets for these flights.

The new product by Transaero Airlines guarantees a reasonable balance of comfort and affordable ticket prices.

Transaero Airlines is the second-largest passenger airline in Russia. Transaero launched its services in November, 1991. Transaero has the largest long-haul fleet in Russia, CIS and Eastern Europe. Transaero's fleet consists of 98 predominantly Boeing aircraft. It is the only commercial carrier in Russia that placed orders for Airbus A380, Boeing 747-8 Intercontinental, Airbus A-320neo aircraft. According to the German JACDEC, Transaero ranks among the top 30 safest carriers in the world. Transaero serves more than 200 routes in Russia, Europe, Asia, Africa and the Americas.

Transaero has been named the World's Most Improved Airline at the Skytrax 2013 Awards. Transaero was voted the Best Airline in EMEA by Frequent Business Traveler, US online publication.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Uncle; The Great Sport Relief Bake Off - TV review

<Deal Nowimg src="http://static.guim.co.uk/sys-images/Guardian/Pix/pictures/2014/1/13/1389616164853/Uncle-011.jpg">

Nephews. I've got a few of them myself, as it happens. When are their birthdays? You've got me there. I know one's is exactly one week after mine. Or exactly one week before, one week away from mine ... Basically I know when my own birthday is. As for their middle names? Hmm ... Sam maybe? After me?

Am I as hopeless as hopeless Andy here in Uncle (BBC3), who's picking up his sister's dweeby son Errol from school for the first time? (I've never done that, I'm afraid). Neither Andy nor Errol is over the moon about the arrangement, but they turn out to be quite good for each other. Well, to start with, Errol saves Andy from killing himself. (Indirectly, and to be honest, Andy's chosen method - battery-operated radio dropped into the bath - would have ended in failure, like everything Andy does. The radio would have died, that's all.) And Andy shows Errol a few things about the world. Like how to drink and drive, and crash a car, and bunk off football to go to a strip club. Plus what love means. Basically it - love - is like walking on water, until you realise you're not walking on water, you're drowning, and then a shark bites your foot, and another bites your testicles ... and it goes on like that until somehow you eventually end up being pooed out by a hyena, love is just a steaming pile of hyena droppings. Ha!

The idea - two unlikely people thrown together against their will - may not be an especially surprising one. Nor is it hard to see where it's going (I'm thinking Andy and Errol might start to get on less badly, perhaps even feel some sort of reluctant affection). The situations they find themselves in aren't always the most original either. Like competitive dads at football practice, abusive to the ref and to other kids - again, not a seam untouched by the comedy writer's pick. But here Andy, not a dad but an uncle of course, is so ashamed by Errol's puniness he disowns him ("What's this, ask-a-stranger-for-water day, get your own water"). He claims another kid, the best footballer, as his, before taking the dad he's trying to impress off to the car to get stoned.

Ha! Again. Uncle doesn't hold back. It's written - by Oliver Refson (who also directs) - with big cojones and imagination. There are loads of good lines. Like: "My dad says that 'musician' is just another word for unemployed." And: "Mummy, Uncle Andy touched my special equipment." As well as lines that make you wince and cross your legs: "I will cut your dick off with a spoon" (Ouch! #DickSpoon).

The two protagonists are great characters, both over the top and a little familiar. We all know Andys and Errols, no? Fabulous, believable performances from comedian/singer/songwriter Nick Helm and young Elliot Spencer-Gillot. Also from Daisy Haggard as Andy and Errol's shambolic sister/mum (love her "shush" to the other people in the library where she's trying to make a phone call). Oh, and Helm breaks into song from time to time, adding a lovely musical madness to proceedings.

Uncle manages to be warm as well as dark and rude. And hilarious. It could well be the thing to fill the (good) comedy void since Him & Her and Toast of London ended. Actually the pilot was on Channel 4, but the former Channel 4 head of comedy took it with him when he moved to the BBC. Better than nicking the stapler.

And it's got me thinking about my own role, as uncle. I need to be more active. So maybe not birthdays and middle names, but at least I can do the odd school pick-up, football practice and maybe an ice-cream. By which I obviously mean "football practice" and "maybe an ice-cream".

Only one of the contestants - former cricketer Michael Vaughan - in The Great Sport Relief Bake Off (BBC2) has anything to do with sport. The others are a couple of actors (Bonnie Wright and Samantha Bond) and a radio DJ (Johnny Vaughan). It doesn't really matter, it's about charity of course. Self-raising money, for Africa.

Vaughan is on lol duty. He has the oven on the wrong setting, the grill setting, for most of the competition. He grills his biscuits and his tarte tatin, and only realises for the final task, his showstopper Stamford Bridge cake.

"This is called Bake Off rather than Grill Off," says Paul Hollywood, getting into the comedy spirit. I don't know, I'm all baked out. Maybe The Great Sport Relief Grill Off isn't such a bad idea. Get Foreman involved - George - he's a sportsman.

Sunday, January 12, 2014

80% off GoDaddy Promo Code 2014 - Get Coupon Code & Deals

Newark, DE -- ( SBWIRE) -- 01/10/2014 -- A Changing Era of Web Domains: The Usefulness of GoDaddy Coupon

Today in this vast globalizing world the web communication has emerged as the most important mode of communication as well as promotion. This paved the way for the uprising domain hosting corps like Godaddy which were developed at end of the 20th century.

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This phase of web domain hosting has been increasing since the last decade. Today each and every irrespective of small house or big house corporates today every one require a certified web domain with basic facilities of hosting and security. With development of such demands the affordability and ease of setting up websites increased in a large scale. Today even the day has come when the web hosting registrar like Godaddy has started providing the Godaddy Coupons facilities. These coupons have specific discount or codes embedded in it which provides the purchaser of the domain name some offer to be cooperated with.

Significance of The GoDaddy Promo Code
There is another facility provided by such web registrar like Godaddy promo code this is a uniquely identified code which determine the web domain of a customer .Furthermore rather than just providing the such technically complexed codes these registrars promote their sites by including providing star publishers to their jobs recently WWE superstar Candice Michelle was included in the go daddy for the promotion of certain web domains. This is just the present scenario these web registrars can emerge as certain web giants. They can indulge with certain other corporates and develop a new so called structure of web technologies. In addition to this these corporates can also include new innovative ideas I developing the websites like along with providing certain domain names one can they can add new developing graphics options in the websites which will provide the user a complete package for the development of a fully furnished website with no any other accessories to be added to it. Along with just making advertisements these should make a database of the users accessing their web domain purchase this will make them aware of the fact which king of people are likely to purchase which kind of web domain. Concluding this we could say these kind of web developer registrar are just in the first phase of their development thus commenting on their future would be totally injustice and improper judgement for them. These corporate can be the future giants or not it will be decided by the time passes.

Saturday, January 11, 2014

Ex-worker in Beatrice abuse case reaches plea deal

- A former Beatrice State Developmental Center worker charged with abusing developmentally disabled adults has reached a plea Review.

Beatrice radio station KWBE reports the state and attorneys for Matthew Pangborn reached an agreement Friday. Details of the deal have not been released.

Pangborn was convicted in July 2012 of four counts of abusing a vulnerable adult and several other charges. He was sentenced to 15 to 23 years in prison.

The Nebraska Supreme Court later ordered a new trial after it determined a chart of Pangborn's alleged abuses should not have been presented to jurors.

Pangborn will be in Gage County District Court Tuesday for re-arraignment.

Sixteen center employees were fired or suspended following an investigation into the alleged abuses. Five were charged, but most entered pleas to reduced charges.

Information from: KWBE-AM.

Friday, January 10, 2014

Critics question Genting, Gulfstream deal

Gambling giant Genting, Gulfstream Park and the horse industry may have mapped out a slot-machines happy ending, but the Promo Code faces hurdles before the one-armed bandits start rolling in downtown Miami.

Under the proposal, Resorts World Omni, a division of Malaysian-based Genting Group, would operate 2,000 slot machines and a poker room at a hotel on Biscayne Bay. The slots machine license would be associated with a permit owned by a non-profit linked to Gulfstream, where the horse races would continue to run.

But the deal, first reported by The News Service of Florida on Tuesday, would also cost the state a portion of the gambling revenues it receives from the Seminole Indians, according to one of the crafters of the agreement with the tribe.

"Notwithstanding the legal hurdles to accomplish what's being proposed, if that were to occur that would impact the exclusivity provisions of the compact in Dade and Broward," said state Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, who helped write the 2009 agreement with the Seminoles.

The agreement allows the tribe to have Las Vegas-style slot machines at each of its seven locations and gives it the exclusive rights to run banked card games such as blackjack at five facilities. In exchange, the tribe agreed to pay the state $1 billion over five years. The card-game portion of the deal, called a compact, expires in 2015 unless lawmakers and the governor renew it.

The agreement allows the Seminoles to stop paying if slot machines exist anywhere outside of Broward or Miami-Dade counties, except on tribal lands. But the compact also allows the tribe to reduce its payments to the state if slot machines are allowed at any facilities that weren't already operating in Broward or Miami-Dade, except for Hialeah Race Track, when the deal was inked in 2010.

Under the compact, the tribe would have to show that revenues at its Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Broward declined after the new slots began operating. Then, the tribe could cut its payments to the state by half of the amount the Seminoles pay based on revenues earned at the Broward casino, Galvano said. The amount at stake is estimated to be at least $40 million, based on an analysis of revenue projections by state economists.

Tuesday, January 7, 2014

Expect chilly, cloudy afternoon with gusty winds | Photos | Radar


The rest of the day along the Treasure Coast will be mostly cloudy and chilly.

Gusty winds out of the northwest will become more northeasterly, but continue to make it feel cooler than the actual temperatures. Highs will only make it into the mid to upper 50s and low 60s under skies featuring more clouds than sun. Isolated rainfall is possible throughout the day.

Tonight will be mostly cloudy with isolated rainfall possible. Lows in the 40s inland and along the Treasure Coast with breezy winds out of the northeast.

Sunset today is at 5:42 p.m.

Warmth like Monday's won't be seen until Thursday, yet temperatures will be moderating day by day.

Wednesday's early morning low is to be 49, rising to 72 by the afternoon.

Friday's high should be around 80 degrees, according to the National weather com radar Service in Melbourne.

And for the foreseeable future, no other cold weather appears to be headed toward the Treasure Coast.

A weak front is expected to move toward the nation's Southeast during the weekend, but it is not expected to penetrate into South Florida.

There could be some showers during this week's warm-up.

Rain chances are 50 percent Wednesday and Thursday, and 30 percent on Friday.

3-DAY EXTENDED FORECAST

Wednesday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Partly sunny, with a high near 72. Northeast wind around 10 mph.

Wednesday Night: A 50 percent chance of showers, mainly after 1 a.m. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind around 10 mph.

Thursday: A 50 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 79. East northeast wind 5 to 10 mph.

Thursday Night: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 67. East wind 5 to 15 mph.

Friday: A 30 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 81. East wind 10 to 15 mph.

Friday Night: A 20 percent chance of showers. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 70. East wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 20 mph.

MARINE FORECAST Source: National Weather Service

A small craft advisory is in effect through late tonight.

Today: North winds 20 to 25 knots diminishing to 15 to 20 knots late in the afternoon. Seas 7 to 10 feet with a dominant period 8 seconds. Rough on the intracoastal waters. Slight chance of showers in the afternoon.

Tonight: North winds 15 to 20 knots becoming northeast 10 to 15 knots after midnight. Seas 6 to 9 feet with a dominant period 7 seconds. Choppy on the intracoastal waters. Slight chance of showers.

Gulf Stream hazards: Strong northwest to north winds of 25 to 30 knots gusting to gale force. Seas building to 10 to 12 feet in the Gulf Stream late tonight.

Sunday, January 5, 2014

AAP-Cong deal now obvious BJP | The Asian Age

<Online Dealsp>The BJP on Saturday alleged the "match-fixing" between Congress and Aam Admi Party is becoming obvious with each passing day and the ruling party at the Centre is using it's B-team to take on Narendra Modi as it does not have the capacity to face him.
"The Congress does not have the capacity to take on Modi and reply to his arguments. Hence, it has struck an alliance with Aam Admi Party," BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain said. BJP, which is reportedly concerned about the growing popularity of AAP across the country, dismissed Mr Kejriwal's party as one of elites and not the common people. The party claimed AAP and Congress are not a threat.
"They know Narendra Modi will unfurl the tricolour at Red Fort this Independence day," Mr Hussain said.
Dismissing AAP, he added "people are fast losing their trust in AAP. Their views have changed not in days but in hours."
He recalled that while earlier AAP had promised to put Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit in "handcuffs" for her alleged involvement for corruption charges against her government soon after coming to power, they have done nothing. "Congress too has failed to carry out its threats against AAP", he added.
"Home minister Sushil Kumar Shinde had announced that the government will probe the source of foreign funding of AAP but is now silent," Mr Hussain said.
In reply to a question on AAP leader Yogendra Yadav's remarks that his party wants to see Mr Kejriwal as Prime Minister, the BJP leader said "the Indian Constitution has given the right to everybody to become the Prime Minister. Every supporter sees his leader as a prospective PM."

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Friday, January 3, 2014

Circling the Square: A resolution to get in shape and get organized

Ah, a new year, a new calendar and a new chance to get it all right in 2014. Doesn't that all sound great? Oh, whom am I kidding? Even if I subscribe to all the things I promised myself to do or change, I know that I will probably make the same mistakes all over again. That's just human nature.

***

However, I did promise to get back in shape. Instead of running around doing everything, like I do now, I'm going to try to be more selective and not get so frazzled. These last few weeks between Christmas and New Year's have been unbelievable hectic. I've misplaced things and actually lost a $25 gift certificate to McDonald's I bought for someone. When I couldn't find it, I sent an SOS out to St. Anthony, who managed to recreate the scenario in my mind that let me know I dropped it when I was getting into the car. The problem was caused by multi-tasking, multi-carrying and not stopping to get organized before taking off. And, the worst part of it is that I didn't listen to my inner voice telling me to slow down.

***

I've become so disorganized and overwhelmed that I realize I can't repeat this kind of behavior another year. I also realize that I'm getting bogged down with STUFF, things that really aren't important or that I haven't used for a long time. I've promised to pack them up and give away what can be used and chuck the rest. And that sounds good to me.

***

I've even promised myself that I will eat as well as my dog. No, I don't mean that I'm planning to eat dog food even if some of it looks great. Heck, she doesn't even like most of the stuff, but she sure likes what I eat. Instead, I'll plan ahead and not settle for cookies and chocolate in a pinch.

***

What I won't give up though are my vitamins. I know that probably sounds strange but it blew my mind several weeks ago when one of the big news items was on vitamins and why most of them are worthless. Maybe that's true if you are a nutrition expert and you eat all the right foods but that isn't true for most of us. They also discouraged the use of Vitamin D supplements. Many years ago, a physician friend, who happened to specialize in osteoporosis in his later years, did a Vitamin D test on me and he told me I was Vitamin D deficient. On his recommendation, I started to take a D capsule each day. So, when I was referred to an endocrinologist for thyroid problems, the endocrinologist wanted to know why I was taking Vitamin D. Actually she was upset with me and she just about ordered me to stop. Three months later at a follow-up appointment, she discovered my leg bones hurt when she pressed them. The reason: Vitamin D deficiency. So, she ordered me to take them again. It's so typical. Every time researchers push something, a few years later they contradict it. It's almost like New England weather: If you don't like it, just wait a minute." Admittedly the opinions don't change that rapidly but eventually they will. Bottom line; I'm still going to take a multivitamin, Vitamin D and calcium supplements because sooner or later they will reverse their decision anyway.

Ah, a new year, a new calendar and a new chance to get it all right in 2014. Doesn't that all sound great? Oh, whom am I kidding? Even if I subscribe to all the things I promised myself to do or change, I know that I will probably make the same mistakes all over again. That's just human nature.

***

However, I did promise to get back in shape. Instead of running around doing everything, like I do now, I'm going to try to be more selective and not get so frazzled. These last few weeks between Christmas and New Year's have been unbelievable hectic. I've misplaced things and actually lost a $25 gift certificate to McDonald's I bought for someone. When I couldn't find it, I sent an SOS out to St. Anthony, who managed to recreate the scenario in my mind that let me know I dropped it when I was getting into the car. The problem was caused by multi-tasking, multi-carrying and not stopping to get organized before taking off. And, the worst part of it is that I didn't listen to my inner voice telling me to slow down.

***

I've become so disorganized and overwhelmed that I realize I can't repeat this kind of behavior another year. I also realize that I'm getting bogged down with STUFF, things that really aren't important or that I haven't used for a long time. I've promised to pack them up and give away what can be used and chuck the rest. And that sounds good to me.

***

I've even promised myself that I will eat as well as my dog. No, I don't mean that I'm planning to eat dog food even if some of it looks great. Heck, she doesn't even like most of the stuff, but she sure likes what I eat. Instead, I'll plan ahead and not settle for cookies and chocolate in a pinch.

***

What I won't give up though are my vitamins. I know that probably sounds strange but it blew my mind several weeks ago when one of the big news items was on vitamins and why most of them are worthless. Maybe that's true if you are a nutrition expert and you eat all the right foods but that isn't true for most of us. They also discouraged the use of Vitamin D supplements. Many years ago, a physician friend, who happened to specialize in osteoporosis in his later years, did a Vitamin D test on me and he told me I was Vitamin D deficient. On his recommendation, I started to take a D capsule each day. So, when I was referred to an endocrinologist for thyroid problems, the endocrinologist wanted to know why I was taking Vitamin D. Actually she was upset with me and she just about ordered me to stop. Three months later at a follow-up appointment, she discovered my leg bones hurt when she pressed them. The reason: Vitamin D deficiency. So, she ordered me to take them again. It's so typical. Every time researchers push something, a few years later they contradict it. It's almost like New England weather: If you don't like it, just wait a minute." Admittedly the opinions don't change that rapidly but eventually they will. Bottom line; I'm still going to take a multivitamin, Vitamin D and calcium supplements because sooner or later they will reverse their decision anyway.

***

I've received enough invitations to baby showers to know that parents-to-be now go through the lengthy process of filling out a baby registry with all the things needed to bring a baby home from the hospital cause without it, the baby can't come home. Who knew it when we had our children? But truly, I can understand that. I'm also familiar with bridal registries but this one blew my mind - a Toys R Us registry for children's gifts. When I first heard it, I was shocked. Does that mean that if someone's kids are invited to a friend's birthday party invitations are going to come with Little Johnny is registered at Toys R Us as well? When I mentioned it to some folks, they actually thought it was a good idea. I guess it might be a help to grandparents, although in the past, their toy registry used to be the child's parents who would either tell them what the kids would like or they would buy the gifts for them to give. Maybe Pet Smart and Petco are missing something. Perhaps they should come up with a puppy registry with items expectant puppy parents will need. Why not? Everyone else is doing it.

***

I do hope you all enjoyed your Christmas. For me, it seemed to zoom by. I can't recall a Christmas season that I really didn't enjoy that much; it was just too short and too fast. However, I did get to share some special times with friends. I love stopping in at Kevin and LeeAnn Lyons' home. It's fun seeing LeeAnn's daughter, Kate Jackson, and Emma and Grace Brinkley, daughters of Amanda and Steve Brinkley and granddaughters of Diane and Bob Brinkley and LeeAnn and Kevin. Gosh those little girls have grown up so quickly and lovely. It doesn't seem possible that they are so mature.

***

After that I stopped by my house to take Misty for a walk since she had already eaten. Then it was off to Ralph and Karen Kane's house. Although it's now just a family party (plus me), when there are 8-year old twins (Alison and Brett Kane), 9-year old Camille Kamisky and 7-year old, Jackson Kamisky, you have a full house. All four are at imaginative ages and they interpreted "'Twas the Night Before Christmas" in dance and movement while Christina Kane Kamisky read the story.

***

Then it was back home again to take Misty out once more, before my Christmas Eve finale with my neighbors Lorraine McGuinness, Leslie, Pete, Alana and Meredith Tremblay, and young Lorraine McGuinness, now of Somerville, whose husband Jason wasn't able to come. Soon it was time for Lorraine and Leslie to leave for St. Mary's where the two were to sing several songs with the choir from 11:30 to midnight when they were to sing at Midnight Mass.

***

The next morning I skipped a brunch; I was just too tired. I finally pulled myself together, showered and dressed and managed to become rejuvenated enough to enjoy another tradition, Christmas at Richard and Ethel Trask's house. That's always a lot of fun. Richard does an amazing job of handing out the gifts. He keeps up a running repartee that's funny and clever. It's also mind-boggling to see how grown up Richard and Ethel's grandchildren are. Zach and Grace are the children of Elizabeth (Trask) and Brad Peterson. It's a busy day for them, getting gifts, playing with their cousins and joining us all for Christmas carols. It's fascinating to me that when I first began joining the Trasks for Christmas dinner, Gardner and Trish Trask's kids were young and in school from elementary to middle and high school. Gardner (or Gardie) has already graduated from Northeastern University and is an engineer; Lisa graduated from Bridgewater State University and works as a teacher/mentor and substitute teacher at the high school; and Julie is a double major student at Johnson and Wales. She will receive a Bachelor of Science degree for Culinary Nutrition as well as a Bachelor of Science degree for Baking and Pastry Arts. Lisa also has three concentrations in Food Science Nutrition, Dietary Nutrition and Sommelier. She hopes to graduate in 2015. Julie's culinary interests go way back. She has always loved to bake, so she certainly is heading in the right direction. The sommelier kind of threw me, though. I don't know how that suddenly popped up but it's probably a smart thing to do; a good sommelier is hard to find. Then again, I'm not sure they're of much benefit in the $8 to $10 category.

**

But I digress; it's back to the Trasks. In addition to the wonderful Christmas dinner for which we thank Ethel, we seriously sang Christmas carols under the direction of daughter Elizabeth who has education and music degrees and teaches in the Amesbury school system. It was a wonderful day made even more special with people, including Aunt Theresa Brundage, formerly of Danvers and now of Brooksby Village, and Ethel's brother Greg Bogohsian, a former DHS graduate and his wife, Donna, as well as Boghosian offspring.

***

My biggest surprise was from Ethel and Richard Trask - a special plaque for my house. A few months ago, I was at the Archives talking to Richard, who happens to be the archivist. Somehow we got on the subject of plaques honoring the original owner of a house but most of the properties date back to a few from the 17th century but more from the 18th and 19th centuries and even early 20th. I recall telling Richard that since we had our house build in 1965, I felt kind of bad that I didn't live in an older home so I could buy a plaque. At the time, Richard told me that any home could have a plaque for the $45 dollar fee, which actually benefits the library. I then said to Richard, "What should I say, Myrna Fearer, Journalist, 1965?" That's when he told me that the plaque is usually in the male owner's name. Ordinarily I might have called that sexist but since I loved my husband dearly - and still do - I decided that was really the way to go. But, I just never got around to it.

***

I was overwhelmed and thrilled that my gift from Ethel and Richard was a plaque that says, "Nathan H. Fearer, Physician 1965." I couldn't be happier. Gardner kindly offered to put my plaque up but I really want the honor to go to my son, Matthew.

***

This was the year of the plaque because Richard Trask commissioned one for his nephew Gardner for his house that was once owned by Richard's mom and dad, Gardner's grandparents. Since Selectman Gardner now lives there with his wife and children, it keeps it in the family. Their plaque says: Gardner Trask Sr., Assistant Treasurer 1952. The reference is to Gardner Sr.'s position at State Street Bank in Boston.

***

So it doesn't matter if your house dates back to the Witchcraft Delusion or was built in the 21st century, for $45 you, too, can own a plaque and be proud of it. And if you have an older house and you need help with its provenance, see Archivist Richard Trask; you will be happy you did.

***

Do you still have a Christmas sweater? For years I had planned to buy one when they were marked down at the end of the season. But by that time, I was no longer interested. And then one year, there were no marked down sweaters because they never showed up before Christmas. Gone was the Christmas sweater craze but not forgotten. There are still some diehards who insist on pulling them out each year. At the last Danvers Garden Club meeting, President Sue Robertson not only wore hers, but she had any and all wearers join her for a picture. Looks like Gardner Trask thinks they are fashionable enough to wear to one of his gigs, though he at least named his picture correctly: Ugly Christmas sweater.

***

I may be one of the few people who still likes to receive Christmas letters with family pictures. Some folks put them in the same category as the Christmas fruitcake but I actually like hearing what the children are up to and I really enjoy the pictures. But the one that cracks me up each year is the Christmas card from Nicole and Jason Allain that features their large boxed christmas cards on sale Ring Ding. Either Ring Ding lost some of his girth or the firedog outfit he's wearing is oversized and slimming.

***

I have to thank Sue Nickerson for sending me the recipe for Black Dog Ginger Cookies from Martha's Vineyard after I mentioned buying some at the Garden Club Greens Sale. Sue sent it along with a page of all kinds of tips and hints about how to save some of the dough rather than trying to make all the cookies at one time. Am I glad since, as she says, the recipe makes 8 dozen cookies and that's a lot of dough!

***

Friday night, some cousins of mine from Marblehead asked me to join them for dinner at Turner's in Salem. What a happening place! We had a wonderful time and their fish is phenomenal, however I was sad that Salem's gain is our loss. The owners were originally planning to open their restaurant near BJ's and Hollywood Hits in Danvers but something transpired that soured the deal and when the Lyceum was for sale, they jumped on it. Perhaps with a few more liquor licenses that kind of thing won't happen and we'll be able to attract more terrific eateries in the near future.

***

I've been a big proponent of the Post Office and I love buying interesting stamps to put on my cards and letters. Even though they raised the price of stamps one cent at a time each year I still bought them. Now they're going to make it 3 cents and that's a big jump. I know they say they are operating at a loss and have to make up the deficit but what they don't seem to realize is as postage goes up, usage goes down. Rather than pay 49 cents to mail a first class letter, people will be corresponding by email even more. I'm already anticipating fewer Christmas cards next year.

***

I've been telling you to save certain dates for quite a while and now they are almost here. Jan. 20 the Danvers Committee for Diversity will be honoring three individuals as Drum Majors for Justice. They include retired police Capt. Carole Germano, Donald Preston, an activist for Habitat for Humanity, and Rabbi Emily Mathis, rabbi at Temple Beth Shalom in West Peabody and keynote speaker. The event is at the Danversport Yacht Club. Tickets, which include dinner, are $35 per person. You can purchase them from Susan Fletcher at the Planning Dept.

***

I know you will all want to attend the event honoring Endicott Park Rangers David and Joan Townley on Thursday, Jan. 28, also at the Danversport Yacht Club. The longtime (40 years) caretakers of the park and all it entails will be moving to New Hampshire but not without a proper sendoff hosted by Danvers Kiwanis. The club will be presenting the Townleys with the fourth Lifetime Achievement award and the evening promises to be a worthy tribute for a special couple. Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at Hartnett's Auto Body or Danvers Recreation at Town Hall.

***

Since this is only the second day of the New Year, we can still wish all our readers a very Happy and Healthy 2014. May it be a good one.