Cricket-New Zealand 121 all out v South Africa

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 13 (Reuters) - New Zealand were bowled out for 121 in their first innings before lunch on the third day of the second test against South Africa at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
Scores
South Africa first innings 525 for eight declared (Graeme Smith 54, Hashim Amla 110, AB de Villiers 51, Faf du Plessis 137, Dean Elgar 103 not out)
New Zealand first innings 121 all out (BJ Watling 63; Dale Steyn five for 17) (Jason Humphries in Durban; Editing by Alastair Himmer)

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Cricket-New Zealand three without loss v South Africa - lunch

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 13 (Reuters) - New Zealand reached three without loss in their second innings at lunch on the third day of the second test against South Africa at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
Scores
South Africa first innings 525 for eight declared (Graeme Smith 54, Hashim Amla 110, AB de Villiers 51, Faf du Plessis 137, Dean Elgar 103 not out)
New Zealand first innings 121 all out (BJ Watling 63; Dale Steyn five for 17)

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Cricket-South Africa v New Zealand - second test lunch

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Scoreboard at lunch on the third day of the second test South Africa and New Zealand at St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth on Sunday.
South Africa won the toss and elected to bat
South Africa first innings 525 for eight declared (F. Du Plessis 137, H. Amla 110, D. Elgar 103 not out) New Zealand first innings 121 all out (BJ Watling 63; D. Steyn five for 17)
New Zealand innings M. Guptill not out 1 B. McCullum not out 1
Extras (lb 1) 1 Total (for no wickets; 4 overs) 3
Still to bat: K. Williamson, D. Brownlie, D. Flynn, BJ Watling, C. Munro, D. Bracewell, N. Wagner, J. Patel, T. Boult.

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AP source: Eagles interview Notre Dame's Kelly

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles interviewed Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly for their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press.
Kelly was the third college coach Philadelphia interviewed since firing Andy Reid on Dec. 31. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information, said the Eagles met with Kelly on Tuesday.
Penn State's Bill O'Brien and Oregon's Chip Kelly interviewed with the Eagles last week, but chose to stay at their schools.
The Eagles have interviewed six candidates and plan to meet with four others.
Kelly recently called coaching Notre Dame his "dream job," but he wouldn't be the first to explore his options, perhaps even to get a raise to stay put.
News of the interview comes just two days after Notre Dame lost to Alabama in the BCS national championship game, a 42-14 Tide blowout that was a sour ending to the Fighting Irish season.
Notre Dame had won its first 12 games, raising hope among its fervent fans that the program was back among the elite after years of mediocrity.
Just a year ago, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick gave Kelly a two-year contract extension to keep him with the Fighting Irish through the 2016 season. Terms have not been released.
Kelly was hired in December 2009, getting a five-year deal. He left an undefeated Cincinnati team that was ranked No. 4 at the time. Fans liked his approach and his resume, which included improved records at Division II Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and Cincinnati.
He has done the same thing in South Bend, begging the question of whether he is ready so soon to make a fresh move, this time to the NFL, or is perhaps trying to parlay a better contract out of Notre Dame.
It wouldn't be the first time that's happened to the Eagles during this search.
Regardless of any candidate's intentions, the Eagles have proceeded slowly.
General manager Howie Roseman, owner Jeffrey Lurie and president Don Smolenski plan to meet with former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith on Thursday.
"Jeffrey has been very adamant with us that the key is getting the right guy," Roseman said in an interview on the team's Web site. "The key isn't getting the right guy as quickly as possible, so that's what we're going to do."
They met Denver offensive coordinator Mike McCoy on Sunday and plan to interview Indianapolis offensive coordinator Bruce Arians, Seattle defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and Cincinnati offensive coordinator Jay Gruden.
Two other candidates dropped out of consideration. Atlanta offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter signed a contract extension to stay with the Falcons. Syracuse coach Doug Marrone replaced Chan Gailey in Buffalo.
"This whole organization is built to support a head coach and they know that — not only in actions but in words — and all they have to do is call Andy Reid," Roseman said. "It's been a positive experience."
The interview with Chip Kelly last Saturday lasted for several hours, fueling speculation that he was going to take the job. But Kelly, who also was pursued by Cleveland, opted for the second straight year to pass up the NFL. He turned down Tampa Bay last year.
What do they discuss in meetings with candidates?
"Everything, every aspect of the organization, how they run meetings, how they run training camp, what they're looking for in players, what they're looking for in coaches," Roseman said. "You have to have a plan and know what you are doing in every area."
This is the third time Lurie is hiring a new coach since he bought the team from Norman Braman in 1994. He hired Ray Rhodes on Feb. 2, 1995, after a long, exhaustive search that included a flirtation with former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil. Lurie needed less time to hire Reid, giving him the job on Jan. 11, 1999.

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Person familiar with meeting: Eagles interview Notre Dame's Brian Kelly for coaching vacancy

PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles interviewed Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly for their coaching vacancy, a person familiar with the meeting told The Associated Press.
Kelly was the third college coach Philadelphia interviewed since firing Andy Reid on Dec. 31. The person, speaking on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information, said the Eagles met with Kelly on Tuesday.
Penn State's Bill O'Brien and Oregon's Chip Kelly interviewed with the Eagles last week, but chose to stay at their schools.
The Eagles have interviewed six candidates and plan to meet with four others.
Kelly recently called coaching Notre Dame his "dream job," but he wouldn't be the first to explore his options, perhaps even to get a raise to stay put.
News of the interview comes just two days after Notre Dame lost to Alabama in the BCS national championship game, a 42-14 Tide blowout that was a sour ending to the Fighting Irish season.
Notre Dame had won its first 12 games, raising hope among its fervent fans that the program was back among the elite after years of mediocrity.
Just a year ago, Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick gave Kelly a two-year contract extension to keep him with the Fighting Irish through the 2016 season. Terms have not been released.
Kelly was hired in December 2009, getting a five-year deal. He left an undefeated Cincinnati team that was ranked No. 4 at the time. Fans liked his approach and his resume, which included improved records at Division II Grand Valley State, Central Michigan and Cincinnati.
He has done the same thing in South Bend, begging the question of whether he is ready so soon to make a fresh move, this time to the NFL, or is perhaps trying to parlay a better contract out of Notre Dame.
It wouldn't be the first time that's happened to the Eagles during this search.
Regardless of any candidate's intentions, the Eagles have proceeded slowly.
General manager Howie Roseman, owner Jeffrey Lurie and president Don Smolenski plan to meet with former Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith on Thursday.
"Jeffrey has been very adamant with us that the key is getting the right guy," Roseman said in an interview on the team's Web site. "The key isn't getting the right guy as quickly as possible, so that's what we're going to do."
They met Denver offensive co-ordinator Mike McCoy on Sunday and plan to interview Indianapolis offensive co-ordinator Bruce Arians, Seattle defensive co-ordinator Gus Bradley and Cincinnati offensive co-ordinator Jay Gruden.
Two other candidates dropped out of consideration. Atlanta offensive co-ordinator Dirk Koetter signed a contract extension to stay with the Falcons. Syracuse coach Doug Marrone replaced Chan Gailey in Buffalo.
"This whole organization is built to support a head coach and they know that — not only in actions but in words — and all they have to do is call Andy Reid," Roseman said. "It's been a positive experience."
The interview with Chip Kelly last Saturday lasted for several hours, fueling speculation that he was going to take the job. But Kelly, who also was pursued by Cleveland, opted for the second straight year to pass up the NFL. He turned down Tampa Bay last year.
What do they discuss in meetings with candidates?
"Everything, every aspect of the organization, how they run meetings, how they run training camp, what they're looking for in players, what they're looking for in coaches," Roseman said. "You have to have a plan and know what you are doing in every area."
This is the third time Lurie is hiring a new coach since he bought the team from Norman Braman in 1994. He hired Ray Rhodes on Feb. 2, 1995, after a long, exhaustive search that included a flirtation with former Eagles coach Dick Vermeil. Lurie needed less time to hire Reid, giving him the job on Jan. 11, 1999.

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Dalhousie University women's hockey team feels 'betrayed' after alleged hazing

HALIFAX - Members of Dalhousie University's women's hockey team say they feel betrayed by the Halifax school after an alleged hazing ritual that cost them the rest of their season.
The university suspended all but first-year players from the team last week after an investigation into the September incident, which the school said involved excessive drinking, intimidation and humiliation.
Dalhousie University spokesman Charles Crosby has said no one was physically hurt during the private house party, but that many players were "put in harm's way" both physically and psychologically.
The team has issued a statement saying it held a party to welcome new players that included drinking games among other activities, but did not force anyone to drink alcohol.
It also says first-year players dressed up in "odd clothing," and were asked to eat sardines, hot peppers and whipped cream, but none of the activities was mandatory.
The team apologizes "for any mistakes" made during the party, but lambastes the university for its handling of the situation, saying school officials aggressively and unfairly interrogated players and depicted them as criminals.
Team members have also appealed in a letter to Dalhousie University president Tom Traves to reverse the suspension, saying they are willing to take the matter to court if necessary.

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New law makes it illegal for employers in California and Illinois to demand Facebook passwords

New laws that took effect on January 1st, 2013 make it illegal for employers to demand access to their workers’ password-protected Facebook (FB) accounts. After some high-profile instances of companies requiring access to employees’ accounts, Congress was asked to consider a law making such demands illegal on the grounds that they constitute an invasion of privacy. Congress blocked the law, however its decision had no bearing on laws being considered at the state level. Now, California and Illinois have become the first two states to make it expressly illegal for employers to make such demands, Reuters reports. The new laws also apply to other similar social networks and are not limited to just Facebook.

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Fake John le Carré Twitter Account Fakes J.K. Rowling's Fake Twitter Death

We've seen "Cormac McCarthy" Tweet apocalyptic non sequiturs. "Philip Roth" promised us a bite-sized short story. Now a fake Twitter account for British spy novelist John le Carré is spreading bizarre death rumors about J.K. Rowling. After a few days of Tweeting harmless missives, the week-old handle @JLecarre dropped this would-be bombshell on its nearly 2,500 followers Wednesday morning:
A terrible news. My publisher phones me announcing that J.K. Rowling dies by accident. Few minutes ago. No words!
— John le Carré (@JLecarre) January 2, 2013
OK, there are at least three dead-giveaways that this is a fake account. One: If J.K. Rowling had died, does anyone credibly think John le Carré would be the one breaking the news? Rowling and le Carré don't even share a publisher—he's with Penguin and she's printed by Little, Brown and Company—making this story even more implausible. Two: As noted by le Carré's literary agent Jonny Geller, the "L" in the author's name shouldn't be capitalized, as it is in the handle of this hoax account. Three: Phrases like "a terrible news" and "my publisher phones me" sound more like snippets from an ESL workbook than lines from an author praised for his chilly, controlled prose style. This could again be the work of Italian media troll Tommaso De Benedetti, who copped to creating a fake Philip Roth account recently. "Twitter works well for deaths," he told The Guardian's Tom Kington, describing his M.O. for spreading misinformation about the deaths of public figures like Fidel Castro and Pedro Almodóvar.

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Kicked Off Facebook, Kid Creates Own Social Network

If you can't join it, create your own.
That's the attitude one Florida preteen ran with after his parents banned him from using Facebook. Instead of begging or slamming doors when his account was deactivated, the 11-year-old launched his own social network tailored specifically to children.
Grom Social founder Zachary Marks had a Facebook account for roughly a week despite being two years too young to join the site, having lied about his age to create an account. And when his parents discovered that he may have been engaging in risky online activities, they pulled the plug.
"I spent all my time on the computer chatting with friends. Then, I made mistakes," Marks explained on the Grom Social About page. "One of my adult friends cursed and posted something inappropriate, and I cursed back. Also, I friend-requested grownups who I did not know. About a day later, my dad found out. He was really mad. I had to deactivate my account."
Marks said he wasn't interested in any existing, kid-friendly, social networks — "They were all childish," he said — so he set out to create one for "Groms," a slang term for young surfers that he repurposed to mean something close to "precocious kid."
In order to keep kid members safe, only parents and parent-approved adults can join Grom Social. Parents of kid members are kept up to date on their youngster's online activities via email. The site also has a built-in language filter to keep the expletives from flying straight into kids' virgin eyes.
Grom Social is also compliant with COPPA, the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act, a controversial law aimed at keeping kids safe online that some argue is ineffective and unconstitutionally limits children's First Amendment rights.
Under COPPA, websites, apps and plug-ins are not allowed to collect information from children less than 13 years old without their parent's express consent. The burden of verification, however, simply isn't worth it to most mainstream social networks, including Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr and Foursquare, so they ban members under 13.
To date, Grom Social has almost 7,000 members and is open to users under 15 in the United States and Canada.
This story was provided by TechNewsDaily, a sister site to LiveScience.
10 Ways to Protect Yourself on Social Media Websites
Parents Flock to Social Media to Keep Tabs on Kids
10 Best Parental Software Monitoring Products
Copyright 2013 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Reverse Phone Number Lookup Plans Now Discounted at CellPhoneRegistry.com

Reverse phone number lookup plans are now discounted online at the CellPhoneRegistry.com website. The single search and annual plan now provide discounted pricing to help those performing in-depth phone lookups to save money during the research process.

San Francisco, California (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
Reverse phone number lookups are one popular way that phone caller information can be verified or located quickly and easily. The CellPhoneRegistry.com company now holds the largest database online for cell and landline phone numbers and is offering discounted pricing. The pricing for single number and unlimited search records has been reduced to help those searching for U.S. based numbers to save money.
Unlisted phone numbers pose a problem for searchers depending on Caller ID services. The unpublished and unlisted numbers now total into the millions in the United States according to telecom data. The lack of information that is provided for these numbers is one reason that a brand new unlisted search tool is now offered online. Over 218 million unlisted numbers are now searchable to help someone locate more information about a caller.
Prank phone calls can be considered criminal activity in some U.S. states although without verification of a name and identify of a caller it can be difficult to seek prosecution. The process of the reverse phone search tools that are now offered online are helping to provide one extra level of security for users. Nearly any U.S. number can be searched entirely online and records can be pulled from the database.
The new pricing that is applied to the search plans includes the unlimited search plan that was added this year. This new plan provides 365 days of unlimited usage for any adult accessing the search system through the secure online interface. Since multiple databases are used to acquire data, searchers of the system can lookup unlimited numbers to provide the accuracy of information already known or to locate new information.
The CellPhoneRegistry.com company updates its database information on a regular basis. Over a half a billion records now exist and this information is obtained from private and public information sources. The records that can be accessed apply to all states in the U.S. Since the service is guaranteed, a person that does not find a match is eligible for a second search at no charge if he or she uses the single number search plans online.
About Cell Phone Registry
The Cell Phone Registry company is one of the first of its kind operating online that provides immediate access to a half a billion phone records. These records are checked for accuracy and are added or subtracted when necessary to keep all information updated. This company provides dual levels of search plans to make it simple for men and women to find the information that is requested. The Cell Phone Registry company offers guarantees of all of its searched data and provides one of the only unlimited phone number search systems currently found online.

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Mother Publishes Story of Her Daughter’s Battle Against Cancer in New Book

Author Rebecca Rozelle Burt returns with a nonfiction work which traces a journey that transformed her life and may also transform the lives of others.

Anniston, AL (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
From Rebecca Rozelle Burt, author of Facing Bulls—a powerful fiction about death, grief and coping—comes I Had a Daughter, a newly-published, evocative work of non-fiction, that tackles the same life-changing themes as her novel.
Burt recounts in raw detail the story of her 13-month journey with her daughter, Rozelle Burt Lentjes, as she battled a lethal form of cancer. It is a remarkable story that deals with relationships and suffering, courage and perseverance, humility and grace, faith and love.
I Had A Daughter is a memoir as well as a spiritual diary. Written by a mother who becomes a primary caregiver for her beloved 46-year-old daughter, the book is composed of a chronological narrative interspersed with pertinent e-mails, inner monologues, and medical data. No component of the author’s experience is omitted. The author does, however, recognize her limitations. “I tell Rozelle’s story only as I could perceive it within the space allowed to those we love, the borders of our private inner worlds. I admit to the subjectivity of my perceptions and memories,” Burt writes.
The book allows readers to experience from the inside what the author calls “cancer world.” Including details of their medical journey, Burt reveals the complications and frustrations involved in finding the right doctors and the best treatment. She describes how the best doctors relate to the patient and not just the disease. She also emphasizes the necessity of informed patient participation in the process of treatment.
Ultimately the story becomes a spiritual diary. During bad times and good, the author is surprised by changes and discoveries in her understanding of what life brings.
This book will provide insights for any reader who has faced adversity and survived. It will also be of interest to anyone who has wondered about the mysterious ways in which we incorporate suffering and loss into our lives without falling into despair.
For more information on this book, interestesd parties may log on to xxx.Xlibris.coma
About the Author

Rebecca Rozelle Burt was born and grew up in Talladega, Alabama. She attended Auburn University, married, and later graduated from the University of Alabama at Huntsville. When her two children were young, she earned an MA degree from Jacksonville State University. After teaching English in junior high and high schools in various northeastern Alabama locations, she spent the last several years of her career in the English Department of Jacksonville State University. She is the author of a novel, Facing Bulls, published in 2010 and is currently working on another novel, Because I Live Here, and editing Recollections: My Folks and Fields, her late father’s cultural history of life in rural Clay County, Alabama. She lives in Anniston, Alabama, with her husband, Mack. They share their home with Woodrow the Wonder Dog, a border collie mix rescued from a local shelter.uas
I Had A Daughter * by Rebecca Rozelle Burt

Publication Date: 11/27/2012

Trade Paperback; $15.99; 337pages; 978-1-4797-1313-4

Trade Hardback; $22.99; 337pages; 978-1-4797-1314-1

eBook; $1.99; 978-1-4797-1315-8

Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.
For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit http://www.Xlibris.com. To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.

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New Book Reveals a Family’s Life Amidst Religious Fundamentalism and Zealotry

Author Duane Keown revisits his past as a non-believer in Mormon-dominated Utah

Wyoming (PRWEB) January 10, 2013
In “Thirteenth Year in Zion,” author Duane Keown gives an exposition of Mormon culture during his time in Utah from the late 1950s to the mid 1970s. He recalls his experiences as an educator in an environment steeped in religious fundamentalism, and the difficulties of raising a family with views different from that of the Mormon majority. He also details the anachronistic beliefs of the Mormon religion, and how they contradict the scientific and cultural developments of the modern world.
Keown points out the absurdity of the controversial Mormon belief that God cursed the Africans and Native Americans with their skin color because of the sins of their ancestors. The prejudicial treatment against Africans and Native Americans included African Americans prohibition from holding leadership positions in the Mormon Church. This discriminatory policy lasted until the late 1970s, when criticism from civil rights movement forced the Church to revise its holy teachings. According to their Holy Book of Mormon, Native Americans descended from a lost tribe of Israelites, when genetic research shows that they are more related to people from northern Asia. Keown also criticizes how the religious fundamentalists force their faith on those with different beliefs, mistakenly thinking that their religion is the only true path and that all other beliefs are wrong.
“Thirteenth Year in Zion” is an earnest warning against the folly of fundamentalism, and how science, modernism and multiculturalism can challenge these intolerant beliefs. Keown’s work is an informative portrayal of the interplay of culture, society and faith in America in these changing times.
For more information on this book, interested parties may log on to http://www.Xlibris.com.
About the Author

Duane Keown began his education career at the Hideout Mine School in the San Juan County of Utah in 1960. Later, he taught biology and other sciences at the Monticello High School in Monticello. For three years, he was the principal of the San Juan Junior High School in Blanding. In 1975, he became a professor of science education at the University of Wyoming. Dr. Keown is best known in Wyoming for his work with teachers in conservation/environmental education workshops. In UW’s Science and Math Teaching Center, he worked with teachers from more than 30 school districts during the summers of 1995–98 to write environmental education activity manuals. The manual, “Wild Wonderful Wyoming: Choices for the Future”, went to one-third of the state’s K-12 teachers. He has authored numerous professional articles in journals on science education, environmental education, and religion. Professor Keown was honored at the Annual Conference of the North American Association for Environmental Education in Portland, Oregon when he received the distinguished Outstanding Service to Environmental Education by an Individual Award for 2009.
Thirteenth Year in Zion * by Duane Keown

Mormons Confront the Twenty-First Century

Publication Date: 10/30/2012

Trade Paperback; $ 19.99; 205pages; 978-1-4797-2106-1

Trade Hardback; $ 29.99; 205pages; 978-1-4797-2107-8

eBook; $ 3.99; 978-1-4797-2108-5
Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.

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Soccer-Russia's Kuban Krasnodar installs Kuchuk as coach

MOSCOW, Jan 9 (Reuters) - Russian Premier League club Kuban Krasnodar moved quickly to replace sacked coach Yuri Krasnozhan, naming Belarussian Leonid Kuchuk as their new boss on Wednesday.
Krasnozhan was fired on Tuesday following what Kuban said were "strategic" disagreements with club officials, despite leading the modest side to fourth place midway through the season - their best position in Russia's top flight.
Kuban becomes the fourth top flight club to change coaches since the start of a long winter break last month, joining Premier League strugglers Mordovia Saransk, Volga Nizhny Novgorod and Krylya Sovietov Samara.

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Soccer-France Hoarau signs for China's Dalian Aerbin from PSG

PARIS, Jan 9 (Reuters) - France striker Guillaume Hoarau has joined Chinese Super League soccer club Dalian Aerbin from Paris St Germain, the player said on Wednesday.
The 28-year-old Hoarau, who has five caps for France, signed a three-year deal with the club, according to media reports.
"Here we go," Hoarau wrote on his official Twitter account underneath a picture of him displaying a Dalian Aerbin scarf.
Hoarau played only 118 minutes in six league games, scoring one goal, as coach Carlo Ancelotti preferred Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Kevin Gameiro and even winger Jeremy Menez at the front.
The towering striker joined PSG in 2008 from second division Le Havre, and scored 38 goals in 114 appearances for the capital club. He last featured with the national side in a friendly in Poland in June 2011.

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Manziel first freshman to win Heisman Trophy

(Reuters) - Texas A&M quarterback Johnny Manziel was awarded the Heisman Trophy on Saturday, making him the first 'freshman' to win college football's top honor.
Manziel, nicknamed "Johnny Football", beat out Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o and Kansas State quarterback Collin Klein at the swanky ceremony in New York.
"This is a moment I've dreamed about since I was a kid running around the backyard pretending I was Doug Flute throwing 'hail marys' to my dad," the first-year player Manziel said.
"To be invited into this fraternity, what a pleasure it really is.
"I wish my whole team could be up here with me tonight especially my whole offensive line."
The Texan Manziel finished the regular season with 3,419 passing yards and 1,181 rushing yards to set a new total offense record for the Southeastern Conference (SEC) in 12 games.
Manziel, who is not eligible for the NFL draft for at least another year, also broke the 1969 record held by Archie Manning, father of Peyton and Eli Manning, for total offense in a game with 557 yards against Arkansas.
He later bettered that with 567 yards against Louisiana Tech.
Marqise Lee from USC was fourth and Braxton Miller from Ohio State was fifth.

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Super Bowl Party at Via Brasil Steakhouse this 2013

Via Brasil Steakhouse is the place to be on February 3rd 2013. This Las Vegas Brazilian Steakhouse is showing the game in a main dining room on 150" Screen with their Rodizio dinner and happy hour specials

Las Vegas ,Nevada (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
Super Bowl Package Options
Option 1 $36.99 Rodizio Dinner with 18 Meats,16 Side Dishes and Gourmet Salad Bar with 35 Hot and Cold Dishes AYCE” in a Dining room
Option 2 $18,99 Salad Bar AYCE with 35 Super Bowl style appetizers
Option 3 $3-$8 Happy Hour Cocktail and Appetizers Specials-at the Bar and Dining room
Option 4 $35 Open Bar /person
Children 5 years old and under Rodizio Dinner is Free and Children 6-12 years old Rodizio Dinner is $14,99
About Via Brasil Steakhouse:

Via Brasil Steakhouse is located at 1225 S. Fort Apache Road, on the southwest corner of Charleston Boulevard and Fort Apache Road. Open seven days a week, Via Brasil Steakhouse is open for Dinner service from 5pm Monday through Friday, 3pm Saturday and 4pm Sunday. Brunch is Served Sundays Only from 10:00am - 2pm. Reservations are encouraged. For reservations or more information, please call 702-804-1400 or visit http://www.viabrasilsteakhouse.com. Also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @viabrasilsteakh

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Start Up Company, Kinks the Ad Minx, Compares itself to Santa Clause

New business start up is comparing itself to Santa in a bid to attract trust in its venture.

London, UK (PRWEB UK) 8 January 2013
A new ‘gimmicky’ style start up is comparing itself with Santa Claus in the hope to attract the attention and trust of potential investors. Kinks the Ad Minx is the concept of a 27 year old from the UK who is planning on travelling across the USA for 8 weeks this summer. The idea is that the car, Kinks, will sell small sections of space on the car and place logo’s and adverts across the car in a montage style. This enables the car to display multiple adverts, whilst offering a low cost option to advertisers. The adverts will also be displayed on the website. The owner, Kerry, is currently a field based Sales Consultant and came up with the idea whilst driving up and down the UK constantly for work. ‘I was travelling around extensively in the run up to Christmas’ states Kerry ‘and I couldn’t help but think what a shame it was that my company had never utilized the space on my car for their logo, or an advert, as it had the potential to reach a wide audience. That is where the idea for Kinks came in. If I am driving across the USA anyway, I may as well try to make a little extra cash by using my car as an advertising board’. Although Kinks is intended to be a different concept to the norm in car advertising, Kerry hopes that the low cost outlay will attract marketing executives to try her idea out. ‘I think that the look of the car will be so unique it will attract interest and people will take the time to look at it, and even Google it. Especially when the car is stationary, parked or in traffic, it will be attention catching’ claims Kerry. The website states that ‘it may be the next Santa Claus’ and the question they are asking is ‘Would you invest in Santa Claus?’ Kerry, and Kinks the Ad Minx, are certainly hoping you would.

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JustWalkers.com Releases Tip Sheet on Safely Using Mobility Aids in Winter

With winter in full swing, JustWalkers.com is offering a new tip sheet on Safely Using Your Mobility Aid in the Winter.

Fulton, Md. (PRWEB) January 08, 2013
Though winter can be a fun and joyous time, it brings with it a certain set of dangers—extreme cold, snow, and icy paths. These can be particularly troublesome for the elderly, especially those who rely on a mobility aid such as a cane or rollator to get around. That’s why JustWalkers.com has released a new tip sheet on Safely Using Your Mobility Aid in the Winter.
The guide covers everything from important but well-known tips such as avoiding icy pathways to often forgotten tips such as wearing sunscreen. “People don’t worry about sunburns when it’s cold,” said JustWalkers.com’s Bryan Mercer, a licensed pharmacist for over 30 years. “But snow is great reflector. The white surface will shine sunlight right at you and can cause sunburns.”
The tip sheet also covers products that can help mobility aid users get through the winter season. For example, attaching an ice grip to the bottom of one’s cane can increase traction and lower the risk of falls. Or if one finds their rollator or walker handles are getting cold, they can pull a warm fleece cover over the handles.
Power outages are another major winter concern, often caused by heavy snow storms. Limited light makes getting around even trickier for those with limited mobility. “One of the more unique products we carry is the See 4 Safety Mobility Light,” said Mercer. “It has a motion sensor which lets it know when to switch on or off. That way once it’s installed, you don’t have to mess with any switches or worry about leaving it on and draining the battery.”
About JustWalkers.com

Just Walkers provides premium walking aids throughout the United States for people of all ages looking for the best mobility products at the lowest price. They understand the importance of choosing the perfect mobility device to fit your needs. With this in mind, they offer only the best products, parts, and accessories including detailed information about each product and numerous user reviews to help you with your decision. They are proud to serve those who seek information and assistance in determining which walking aid works best for them. With a wide assortment of walking aids at affordable prices, JustWalkers.com is determined to make your shopping experience worthwhile.

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Indonesian anti-terror squad criticized for deaths

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's U.S.-funded police anti-terror squad has killed seven suspected militants recently, reviving allegations that the force is not trying to take suspects alive — a trend that appears to be fueling the very extremism the predominantly Muslim country is trying to counter.
Police spokesman Brig. Gen. Boy Rafli Amar said Sunday that no shots were fired against officers during three related raids Friday and Saturday in eastern Indonesia, but that the suspects in at least one of the locations had explosives that were "ready" to be detonated. He said that officers from the anti-terror squad, known as Densus 88, had followed procedures because the suspects were endangering their lives, but gave few details.
Haris Azhar, chairman of the Commission for Missing Persons and Victims of Violence, an independent human rights group, said it appeared that the suspected militants were victims of "extrajudicial killings" and called for an independent investigation. He said Densus 88's tactics were driving militancy because they added to feelings among some Muslims that they were under siege.
"I'm worried about the deteriorating public sympathy for police who continue to use violence," he said, alleging that some suspects in the past have been shot in front of their children. "There has never been any evaluation of Densus' actions. It seems the police brutality has contributed to the growing of terrorism."
Indonesia has struggled against militants seeking a Muslim state since its independence from Dutch colonial rule in 1945.
In the 1990s and early 2000s, some of the militants came under the influence of al-Qaida while waging jihad in Afghanistan. On their return to Indonesia, they carried out four major bombings against foreign targets between 2002 and 2009.
Densus 88 was established after the first of those attacks — the 2002 bombings on the resort island of Bali that killed 202 people, mostly foreign tourists — with American and Australian financial and technical assistance, which it still receives. It has been instrumental in the arrests of hundreds of militants over the last 10 years and is credited with reducing the threat of further attacks on Western interests in the country. Small groups of militants, however, have continued to attack police officers and Christians.
Since the squad's establishment, Densus officers have killed more than 70 suspects. Like in other countries, some Indonesian militants have blown themselves up when police officers have approached them and show a willingness to go down fighting, making apprehending them especially dangerous. Police figures show that militants killed 10 officers in 2012 around the country.
"They are different to conventional criminals," Amar said. "We can't take any risks because they will show no hesitation to kill law enforcers."
Taufik Andrie, research director for the Institute for International Peace Building, said it appeared that police officers hunting down militants suspected of being involved in the murder of their colleagues were not interested in taking prisoners.
"It is a cycle of violence, with each side looking for revenge," Andrie said. "There is a suspicion that some policemen are of the mind that the best kind of de-radicalization is through killing people."
Indonesia has won praise for arresting and convicting terrorists through its legal system. It executed three militants convicted in the Bali bombings and sentenced many others to long prison sentences. But there has been a high level of recidivism, and the country's counter-extremism and de-radicalization programs have been patchily carried out with limited success.
The way in which the killings by Densus 88 are used to rally support for extremism was on display Sunday at a public meeting of radicals in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital. While those present didn't need fresh reasons to despise or distrust the state, speakers held up the killings of the seven suspects as just the latest example of police brutality.
"Oh, Allah, they have killed your servants, so destroy them," said Son Hadi, from Jama'ah Ansharut Tauhid, a radical group whose members have been accused of supporting terrorism but remain free to organize. "Beware of this war on Islam."

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Police among 13 suspects slain in Philippine clash

ATIMONAN, Philippines (AP) — At least three police personnel were among 13 suspected criminals who were gunned down in a shootout with Philippine security forces at a highway checkpoint, officials said Monday.
Gunmen riding in three black SUVs opened fire on more than 50 army and police troopers who flagged down the vehicles late Sunday in the coastal town of Atimonan in Quezon province, about 140 kilometers (90 miles) southeast of Manila.
Eleven suspects died on the spot, including a police colonel who was a regional commander and two other officers, said police spokesman Erwin Obal. Authorities were checking the identities of two other victims on suspicion they were either former or current members of the intelligence service of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, Obal said.
Two gunmen jumped out of one of the cars and fired from a roadside canal, said Lt. Col. Monico Abang, who led an army platoon in the clash. The rest stayed in two vehicles, which troops raked with gunfire on a sparsely populated stretch of the highway.
More gunmen fired from a third vehicle, which turned around and fled, Abang said. Authorities didn't say how many suspects were believed to have escaped.
Security personnel sometimes collude with criminal syndicates to rob banks or traffic narcotics in an underworld that often includes corrupt politicians. Abang said an initial investigation showed that the gunmen were likely members of a gun-for-hire group operating in provinces south of Manila.
"They rolled down their windows and started firing, so we had to retaliate," Abang said by cellphone from the scene of the clash. "They were clearly outnumbered and outgunned."
On the side of the security forces, a police colonel was shot in the hand and foot and taken to a hospital.
Abang said the army and police had set up the checkpoint after an informant told police that gunmen involved in illegal drugs, gambling and kidnapping for ransom would pass through Atimonan in mountainous Quezon, where communist guerrillas have a presence.
The latest violence followed two other deadly shootings that have revived calls for tighter gun control in the Philippines, where there are more than half a million unlicensed firearms, according to police estimates.
A man who reportedly was drunk and high on drugs killed eight people before being gunned down by police on Friday in Kawit town in Cavite province, 16 kilometers (10 miles) south of Manila.
A 7-year-old girl died a day after being hit in the head by a stray bullet while watching fireworks with her family on New Year's Eve outside their home in Caloocan city, near Manila, despite a high-profile government campaign against powerful firecrackers and celebratory gunfire by Filipinos to welcome 2013.
Earlier Sunday, before the shootout, presidential spokeswoman Abigail Valte told reporters that President Benigno Aquino III, a known gun enthusiast, would study gun-control proposals with other officials. Among the proposals is a call by anti-gun groups to ban the carrying of firearms by civilians outside their homes.
The proliferation of firearms has long fueled crime, political violence and Muslim and communist rebellions that have raged for decades in parts of the Philippines. Previous attempts by authorities to clamp down on unregistered weapons have yielded few results in a country where several politically powerful clans and families control private armed groups in provincial strongholds outside Manila.

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Officials search for casualties in Australia fires

HOBART, Australia (AP) — Officials are searching for bodies among the charred ruins of more than 100 homes and other buildings destroyed by wildfires in the island state of Tasmania.
Acting Police Commissioner Scott Tilyard said Monday no casualties had yet been reported. But it would take time before officials were certain that no one had died in the blazes that have razed 20,000 hectares (50,000 acres) of forests and farmland across southern Tasmania since Friday.
Police have concerns for about 100 people reported missing. Tilyard said 11 teams were searching ruins in places including the small town of Dunalley, east of the state capital of Hobart, where around 70 homes were destroyed.
"Until we've had the opportunity to do all the screening that we need to do at each of those premises, we can't say for certain that there hasn't been a human life or more than one human life lost as a result of these fires," Tilyard told reporters.
Three fires continued to burn out of control in southern Tasmania and in the northwest Monday.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard, who flew to Tasmania on Monday, warned that New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, was about to move into a period of extreme heat Tuesday when the wildfire risk would be high.
"We live in a country that is hot and dry and where we sustain very destructive fire periodically," Gillard told reporters. "Whilst you would not put any one event down to climate change ... we do know over time that as a result of climate change we are going to see more extreme weather events and conditions."
New South Wales Rural Fire Service Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said more than 90 wildfires were blazing across the state Monday and warned that conditions would worsen on Tuesday. No homes were currently under threat.
"It is going to be very hot and very dry. Couple that with the dryness of the vegetation, the grassland fuels, the forest fuels and those strong winds that are expected tomorrow," he said.
The temperate across much the state was expected to reach 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) while winds were expected as high as 80 kilometers an hour ( 50 miles an hour).
Wildfires are common during the Australian summer. In February 2009, hundreds of fires across Victoria state killed 173 people and destroyed more than 2,000 homes.

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Golf-Europe should recall a former Ryder Cup captain - Clarke

 Europe may need to recall a former captain to compete with the United States in the 2014 Ryder Cup after the Americans "put down a statement" by calling on Tom Watson, says 2011 British Open winner Darren Clarke.
A winner of eight majors, Watson's presence as captain for the match at Gleneagles shows how determined the U.S. are to reclain the trophy and Clarke said Europe should respond with a big-name appointment, while distancing himself from the role.
Europe never ask a former captain to return but Clarke says that stance should change, offering the possibility of a return to the role for Colin Montgomerie who steered Europe to victory at Celtic Manor in 2010.
"We seriously need the right man for the job," Clarke told the BBC. "We do have an (unwritten) rule where we don't ask anybody to do it again, but we might have to look at that."
Europe are expected to name their captain early in the New Year when the tournament committee meet in Abu Dhabi.
"I think it could well affect who is appointed," said Clarke. "A lot of people, myself included, were surprised when Tom Watson was appointed.
"It's a big statement and brilliant for the event. There are few more iconic figures in golf, he's adored in Scotland and it sends out a statement that they are very serious about winning the trophy back.

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Europe should recall a former Ryder Cup captain: Clarke

 Europe may need to recall a former captain to compete with the United States in the 2014 Ryder Cup after the Americans "put down a statement" by calling on Tom Watson, says 2011 British Open winner Darren Clarke.
A winner of eight majors, Watson's presence as captain for the match at Gleneagles shows how determined the U.S. are to reclaim the trophy and Clarke said Europe should respond with a big-name appointment, while distancing himself from the role.
Europe never ask a former captain to return but Clarke says that stance should change, offering the possibility of a return to the role for Colin Montgomerie who steered Europe to victory at Celtic Manor in 2010.
"We seriously need the right man for the job," Clarke told the BBC. "We do have an (unwritten) rule where we don't ask anybody to do it again, but we might have to look at that."
Europe are expected to name their captain early in the New Year when the tournament committee meet in Abu Dhabi.
"I think it could well affect who is appointed," said Clarke. "A lot of people, myself included, were surprised when Tom Watson was appointed.
"It's a big statement and brilliant for the event. There are few more iconic figures in golf, he's adored in Scotland and it sends out a statement that they are very serious about winning the trophy back."
Watson will captain his country for a second time having also led the team to victory in 1993, the last time the U.S. won on foreign soil.

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On the back roads of golf, tales from the tour

Dave Kindred, a preeminent American sports writer who has worked his trade for the better part of four decades, was walking down the right side of the first fairway at Kiawah Island with the final group at the PGA Championship when he mentioned he had been teaching a writing class to college students.
Like most great columnists, Kindred's strength is his power of observation, and he has tried to pass that along.
"The one thing I tell them," he said, "is that if you really pay attention to what you're covering, you'll see something you've never seen before."
He stopped and kneeled to watch Carl Pettersson, playing in the last group that Sunday with Rory McIlroy, hit his approach to the green. Pettersson was just inside the red hazard line, so he was careful not to ground his club. Brushing the top of the grass was OK.
Moments after his shot, he was approached by PGA rules official Brad Gregory and told there might be a problem.
In a bizarre development, Pettersson's club nicked a leaf on the way back, a violation of Rule 13-4c for moving a loose impediment in a hazard. After an exhaustive video review, Pettersson was given the bad news — a two-stroke penalty — on the fourth hole.
Pay attention and you never know what you'll see.
That much was true in a wild year of golf. Phil Mickelson lost his bid at the Masters by hitting two shots right-handed. Rory McIlroy was confused by the time zone and needed a police escort to get to the final day of the Ryder Cup on time. Tiger Woods never found his golf ball, was not penalized and still missed the cut.
Those have been well-documented. What follows is the 2012 edition of "Tales from the Tour," the obscure moments that keep golf so interesting and entertaining.
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Kyle Stanley is a quiet man. This was a quiet celebration.
One week after he made triple bogey on the 18th hole at Torrey Pines and then lost in a playoff, he rallied from eight shots behind on the final day with a 65 in the Phoenix Open to win his first PGA Tour event. It was a remarkable turnaround. One week he faced the media after his meltdown and fought back tears. The next week he was a winner.
Stanley was invited to a Super Bowl party that night at the home of Jim Mackay, the longtime caddie of Phil Mickelson. He was late to the party because of the media obligations that come with winning. When he finally arrived, Stanley knocked and then walked in the door holding the oversized winner's check over his head.
He quietly placed it above the TV, and then sat down to watch the game, a player at peace.
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No other golfer spends more time with the media after every round than Ryo Ishikawa, who is treated like a rock star in Japan. When he signs his card, even when it's late in the day, it's not unusual for the 21-year-old to spend close to an hour fulfilling his media obligations.
That's where "The Chair" comes in.
His handlers have a white folding chair for Ishikawa as he endures two interviews with different television stations. A dozen or so reporters form a semi-circle around him as they wait and listen, occasionally jotting down notes. Then, it's their turn. They spent close to 15 minutes with Ishikawa after his round at Innisbrook, going over the clubs he used and shots he hit on just about every hole — this after a 73 that left him 12 shots out of the lead.
Finally, he was finished. He got up from the chair and walked around the clubhouse toward the parking lot. The Japanese reporters followed him, walking in a group about 20 yards behind. One of them was asked where they were going.
"Now we wave goodbye," the reporter explained.
Indeed, they stood on a sidewalk and waved as Ishikawa's car drove by them.
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Butch Harmon was talking retirement in the spring. He turned 69 this year. A Vietnam War vet, he has been teaching most of his life, working for Sky Sports and traveling the world, which is starting to take its toll. He worries about the day when his attention span is short or he doesn't care as much as he once did.
"It's not there, but it's coming," he said. "I will never step away. I'll always teach. I love to teach."
The next morning, he was on the range at Quail Hollow waiting for Phil Mickelson to arrive. Gary Christian , a 40-year-old PGA Tour rookie from England, walked over and introduced himself. Christian said he was fascinated to watch so many Americans use the leading edge of the club on wedge shots. They chatted for a few minutes and after Christian walked away, Harmon said, "Who was that?"
Harmon nodded when told about Christian's back story, how he came to America on a college scholarship, supported himself by selling steak knives and toiled in the minor leagues for 15 years before finally making it to the big leagues.
Still no sign of Mickelson.
A few minutes later, Harmon walked over to Christian. He spent a few minutes observing, and then pulled a wedge from the bag and gave an impromptu lesson.
He'll always teach. He loves to teach.
___
You've seen the sign at the baggage claim to check your luggage because some bags may look alike. That goes for golf travel bags, too.
Nick Watney and Angel Cabrera arrived in San Francisco for the U.S. Open about the same time, on different flights. Cabrera kept waiting at oversized luggage for his bag to come out, and he began to think the airlines had lost it. There was only one golf bag there, and it belonged to Watney.
That's when the light came on.
Cabrera's agent called the person in charge of U.S. Open courtesy cars and asked them to stop Watney on his way out.
Sure enough, Cabrera's golf bag was in his trunk.
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The relationship three-time major champion Padraig Harrington has with reporters is unlike that of any other player, especially the Irish media.
He was giving an interview to Greg Allen of Irish radio station RTE, and after they finished, Harrington began making small talk. He asked Allen, "I heard you lost your sunglasses?" Allen's shoulders slumped as he told Harrington he had misplaced his glasses and didn't know where to look for them.
Harrington didn't commiserate. He smiled.
"They're in my locker," he said. "You left them behind the other day."
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Sung Kang received elite training in South Korea's national program that is producing more and more top players, but he worked equally hard on his English and speaks beautifully for someone who has played the PGA Tour only the last few years.
Turns out he has been coming to America twice a year since 2002 to work on his golf, and he devoted just as much effort to the language.
In Florida? California?
"Dallas," Kang said. "I went to the Hank Haney schools, so I would work with Haney and learned English there in Texas."
Some things, however, still get lost in translation. Kang was asked if he ever bought cowboy boots from all that time spent in Dallas.
"No," he said. "I don't really like the NFL. I'm more of a Lakers fan."
___
The British Open has a massive scoreboard in the press center where a group of volunteers, most of them women in their early 20s, move ladders on rails from side to side as they post the score of every hole for every player.
Press officers often check to see which players they should bring in for interviews the first two rounds as the leaderboard is taking shape. In the second round, Adam Scott had a 67 to get within one shot of the lead with several players still on the course.
The announcement over the intercom: "Can we see a show of hands for Adam Scott?"
Six young women posting scores all raised their hands.
___
About two dozen fans waiting for autographs behind the ninth green on the Magnolia Course at Disney got more than they expected. Brian Harman emerged from the scoring trailer after the final PGA Tour event of the year and said, "Who's left-handed?"
One man came forward, and it turned out to be his lucky day.
Harman went over to his bag, removed all the irons and handed them to the fan. Turns out Harman wanted to try something different at Disney, so he used irons with graphite shafts. He described it as the worst ball-striking week he had all year.
"I just wanted to try some different stuff," Harman said. "And now I know what was not the answer."
No other sports organization comes close to the amount of charity produced by the PGA Tour. Harman took it to a new level.

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Samsung’s New Smart TV Software Development Kit Supports Linux and Mac O/S

Samsung Electronics announced that it will be releasing the Smart TV SDK (Software Development Kit) 4.0 at the 2013 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) from January 8^th to 11^th, 2013. The Smart TV SDK will allow Smart TV software development on Linux and Mac, in addition to Windows O/S.

Up till now, Samsung's Smart TV software development only supported Windows O/S. However, the new SDK 4.0 allows for the development of Smart TV software on Linux and Mac systems. This is expected to lead to active development of Smart TV software in some areas where non-Windows O/S are widely used.

Samsung is the first in the TV industry to provide a local cloud development environment. This environment enables the development of content based on connection between web services by utilizing an open API (Application Programming Interface).

Moreover, Smart TV SDK 4.0 provides a local cloud development environment that allows developers who use the Mac O/S to team up with other developers who use Windows O/S. As a result, many developers can engage in a team effort, resulting in greater software development efficiency and reduced costs.

By expanding and supporting HTML5 in the Smart TV SDK 4.0, a standard programming language, Samsung has laid the foundation for many software developers to easily take part in development of Smart TV applications.

With HTML5, Samsung has been able to build an integrated environment that supports the development of convergence applications. This enables Samsung's Smart TVs to interact and communicate with external devices.

And to promote the active development of Smart TV software through Samsung's Smart Interaction function, the company strengthened the voice and gesture recognition functions on its Smart TVs.

Please visit our booth to experience this future technology firsthand. Samsung's product line will be displayed from January 8^th to 11^th at booth #12004 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center.

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"Ubuntu for Phones" Turns Smartphones into Desktop PCs

Millions of people have tried out Ubuntu, a free operating system for desktop and notebook PCs. Like Android, Ubuntu is open-source and based on Linux, and while it's mostly seen as an OS for hobbyists here in the U.S., hardware manufacturers like Dell and HP make Ubuntu PCs for markets like mainland China.
Now Canonical, the startup which drives Ubuntu's partly community-based development, has announced a version of Ubuntu that's made for smartphones. The company previously showed off an experimental version of desktop Ubuntu that hobbyists could install on their Nexus 7 tablets. But the version Canonical demoed Wednesday was tailor-made for smartphones.
What makes Ubuntu different?
The smartphone version of Ubuntu bears little resemblance to the desktop version, aside from its graphical style. Its interface is based around gestures and swipes; instead of a back button, for instance, you swipe from the right-hand edge of the screen to return to a previous app. Swiping up from the bottom, meanwhile, reveals an app's menu, which remains off-screen until then.
Tech expect John Gruber was critical of the Ubuntu phone interface, noting that "gestures are the touchscreen equivalent of keyboard shortcuts" because they need to be explained to someone before they can use them. The Ubuntu phone site itself calls the experience "immersive," because it allows more room for the apps themselves.
What will Ubuntu fans recognize?
First, the apps. The same Ubuntu apps which are currently available in the Software Center (Ubuntu's equivalent of the App Store) will run on an Ubuntu phone, provided the developers write new screens designed for phones -- much less work than writing a new app from scratch. Ubuntu web apps, already integrated into its version of Firefox, will also work in the phone version.
Second, the dash and the app launcher. Ubuntu's universal search feature is easily accessible, and swiping in partway from the left edge of the screen reveals the familiar row of app icons.
What unique features does it have over other smartphone OSes?
Besides the gesture-based design, higher-end Ubuntu smartphones will be able to plug into an HDTV or monitor, and become a complete Ubuntu desktop PC. Just add a keyboard and mouse. This feature was originally announced for Android smartphones (using advertising which insults grandmothers), and Android phones featuring Ubuntu are expected before full Ubuntu phones launch.

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Acer and Asus to Stop Making Netbooks

The last two major netbook manufacturers, Acer and Asus, are closing the doors on these mini-laptops. According to Digitimes' Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai, Acer "has no plans to release more netbook products" such as its Aspire One, while Asus has already ended its Eee PC line.
Other netbook manufacturers, such as Samsung, have long since abandoned the market.
Why netbooks failed to catch on
Netbooks were "still enjoying strong sales" as late as 2010, according to an optimistic report by ABI Research. But the growth trend which it predicted flattened out and declined, thanks to four factors pointed out by the Guardian's Charles Arthur.
Not worth it for many, compared to notebooks
One is that the original, Linux-based netbooks failed to catch on, as they had trouble running Windows PC software. But Microsoft charged between $30 and $50 for each netbook's Windows license, and insisted that the new crop of Windows netbooks be larger and more expensive than the original Linux-based models. This placed them in close competition with low-end laptops, the prices of which were going down instead of up.
The rise of the iPad
The other biggest factor is that the iPad and Android tablets took the place of netbooks for many buyers. While Apple's iPad was the price of a full-sized laptop, the company soon introduced discounted or refurbished versions ... as well as the smaller, $329 iPad Mini, which doesn't cost much more than most netbooks. Besides that, the whole iPad line was even lighter than netbooks and had longer battery life, besides being more responsive and having more popular apps.
Meanwhile, companies like Amazon and Barnes and Noble made $199 Kindle and Nook tablets, which beat out even the original $249 Linux-based Asus Eee's price tag.
A little bit bigger, a lot better
During the netbook's heyday, many called for Apple to make one of its own. As Apple tech expert John Gruber pointed out, however, netbooks were "cheaper, not better," which contradicted Apple's business model of selling high-margin, premium products.
When Apple did release a small laptop computer, it was the $999 11-inch MacBook Air, which went on to be a best-seller. Other PC manufacturers tried to follow in Apple's footsteps with Intel's "Ultrabook" specification, which is basically a recipe for MacBook Air clones that run Windows, but so far have failed to make a dent in the market.
Taking the place of netbooks
Besides Ultrabooks, the other notable netbook-like computers on the market right now are Chromebooks, ultralight laptops which start at $199 and run a slimmed-down OS based on Google's Chrome web browser. Former netbook manufacturers Samsung and Acer are both making Chromebooks, while Asus manufactured Google's popular Nexus 7 tablet.

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"GameStick" Will Be the Size of a USB Memory Stick, Plug into Your TV

When the Ouya game console (scheduled to launch in April) made headlines last year, it was for three reasons. One, its size and price -- the $99 box, which plugs into a TV, is the size of a Rubik's cube. Two, its choice of operating system -- it runs the same Android OS which powers smartphones and tablets. And three -- its rise to fame on Kickstarter, where it shattered records and received millions of dollars in funding not from venture capitalists, but from gamers who wanted to see it made.
Now GameStick, "The Most Portable TV Games Console Ever Created," is preparing to make a name for itself in exactly the same ways. Except that in some of them, it surpasses the Ouya.
Not even a set-top box
Up to this point, pretty much all home game consoles have been a box that sits on your shelf and plugs in to your TV. (Some PCs even do this these days.)
The GameStick, on the other hand, is about the size of a USB memory stick or a tube of lip balm. It plugs into a TV's HDMI port, and connects to a wireless controller (or even a mouse and keyboard) via Bluetooth. It "works with any Bluetooth controller supporting HID," and will come with its own small gamepad, which features twin analog sticks and a slot to put the GameStick itself inside when not in use.
Do we know if it works yet?
GameStick's creators showed off pictures of a nonworking "Mark 1 Prototype Model," and posted video of a "Reference Board" actually playing games while plugged into a television. This was a roughly USB-stick-sized circuit board, which lacked an outer case.
The reference unit had wires coming out of it, but the GameStick FAQ explains that on new, "MHL compliant TVs" it can draw power straight from the HDMI port, in much the same way that many USB devices are powered by a USB connection. A USB connector cable will be supplied with GameStick just in case, and "there will also be a power adapter."
What about the games?
The GameStick reference unit was playing an Android game called Shadowgun, an over-the-shoulder third-person shooter which is considered technically demanding by Android device standards.
GameStick's creators say "We have some great games lined up already," and AFP Relax confirms that it has roughly the same internal specs as the Ouya, plus a lineup at launch of about a dozen games including several AAA Android titles.
How much will it cost, and when will it be out?
GameStick is available for preorder now from its Kickstarter page for $79. (The price includes the controller as well.) It has an estimated delivery date of April if the project is fully funded -- and with 28 days to go, it had more than reached its $100,000 goal.

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5 Predictions for Mobile Tech in 2013

If denial isn't just a river in Egypt, then mobile isn't just a city in Alabama. And if 2012 proved one thing, it's that there's no denying mobile is the present and future of technology.
Sales figures for mobile devices reached new heights in 2012. Market research firm Gartner predicted tablet sales would near 120 million, about doubling the total sold in 2011.
[More from Mashable: Would You Make Your Kid Sign a Contract to Use an iPhone?]
In addition, the number of active smartphones eclipsed 1 billion during the past year. That's one for every seven people on the planet. And while it took almost two decades to reach 1 billion active smartphones, research firm Strategy Analytics projects there will be 2 billion by 2015, fueled by growth in developing economies in China, India and Africa.
It's not just phones and tablets though. All sorts of smart mobile technology flourished in 2012, from watches and wristbands to glasses that can project video on the inside of the lenses. Speaking of glasses, in April, Google sent the tech world into a tizzy when it unveiled plans for a futuristic headset called Project Glass.
[More from Mashable: ‘Offensive Combat’ Brings Hardcore Gaming to Facebook]
Well, if you think mobile came a long way in 2012, this year could be even better. Here's an outline of where we think mobile technology is headed in 2013.
Brand Wars Will Drive Innovation
In terms of smartphones, mobile in 2013 will be like an evening of boxing. For the main event, heavyweights Apple and Samsung will square off to see which can produce the world's most popular device.
The Samsung Galaxy III recently dethroned the iPhone for that honor. While Apple went conservative with new features on the iPhone 5, Samsung went bold, equipping the Galaxy S III with an enormous 4.8-inch display, near field communication (NFC) technology (more on this later), a burst-shooting camera and a voice-enabled assistent akin to the iPhone's Siri.
Apparently, Apple is preparing to counter-punch. There are already rumors that Apple is testing its next iPhone, identified as "iPhone 6.1" which runs iOS 7.
Behind the iPhone and Galaxy a host of capable contenders are hungry for a shot at the belt, including devices from Motorola, HTC and Nokia.
There might even be some new players in the game. It seems likely that Amazon will debut a Kindle Phone sometime in 2013. There was even talk that Facebook was working on its own smartphone, but CEO and founder Mark Zuckerberg squelched those rumors in September.
What does this all this mean for us? It means better phones. Competition drives innovation. Look for these brands to consistently try to one-up one another with faster processors, better cameras and more innovative features.
That's not the only battle that will play out in 2013. Another one to watch will be the fight for third place in mobile operating systems. Android is the undisputed number one with nearly 75% global market share. While Apple's iOS is miles behind Android, it is still firmly entrenched at number two.
In 2013, the top two contenders for third place will be Windows Phone 8 and BlackBerry 10, which is expected to launch in the coming months.
A few dark horses are running in this race for third. Mozilla plans to launch a Firefox OS sometime during 2013. Then, there is Tizen, a Linux-based mobile OS. Samsung recently revealed plans to release Tizen-based devices in 2013.
Both Firefox and Tizen are open source mobile operating systems, but they won't be the only ones. There are two other open source mobile operating systems to watch going forward. Jolla expects to release smartphones and possibly tablets running its Sailfish OS in 2013; and Ubuntu-based smartphones should hit the market by early 2014.
No NFC Mobile Payment, Yet
Before leaving the house, most will check to make sure they have three things: keys, wallet and cellphone. Well, thanks to NFC technology, cellphones might soon lighten the load by essentially replacing wallets with an "e-wallet."
It seems like we have been talking about NFC for years now. Basically, it enables two devices to make a very short-range and secure connection through radio technology. If a smartphone is equipped with NFC, as are most newer-model Androids, and if a retailer has an NFC terminal, one could make a purchase by simply tapping the phone on the terminal.
NFC technology also has other applications, such as data transfer between phones, but mobile payments is the feature most often discussed.
Services like Isis and Google Wallet are already in place. They secure one's payment information within a device.
The reason why mobile payment through NFC has not yet hit the mainstream is that device penetration is not at the point where it has prompted retailers to update their technology. Basically, not enough smartphones have the technology. Androids have started to adapt, but unlike iPhones, Android hardware is not uniform across the various devices.
While the wheels have been in motion for some time, they're really spinning now that most new Androids, including the Galaxy S III, come with NFC. If Apple releases a new iPhone during 2013, and if Apple decides to include NFC this time around, it will probably tip the scales in favor of rapid adoption of mobile payment.
Even if all that does happen, however, there probably won't be a new iPhone until later in the year, so odds are you're not going to see NFC penetrate the mainstream during 2013. Maybe 2014 will finally be the year of NFC.
Flexible Smartphones
Here's something you never knew you needed -- a flexible smartphone. These devices will be lighter, more durable and the screen will be bendable. This feat is possible by making the display out of an organic light-emitting diode (OLED) and shielding it in plastic rather than glass. Samsung is reportedly moving forward with plans to start producing a bendable phone.
Samsung is not the only player in this game, however. Many companies are developing bendable screens. At Nokia World in London in 2011, Nokia showed off a device which not only bends but is controlled by bending. Check it out in the video below.

Since there are quite a few companies working on this, it seems likely that one will try to be first to market in 2013. There are rumors that the next model of Samsung's Galaxy will feature a bendable HD display. We'll find out much more about this at the Consumer Electronics Show, scheduled for next week. Stay tuned for updates.
The Future of Smartphone Cameras
Cameras and phones have been married for about a decade (they dated, previously). In that time, the relationship has been constantly improving in terms of specs, which has led to higher-quality photographs.
SEE ALSO: 5 Mobile Photographers Capturing the World With Android
Nokia upped the ante significantly in 2012 when it released the 808 PureView, a smartphone equipped with a 41-megapixel camera. The iPhone 5 has an eight-megapixel camera. Granted, more megapixels doesn't necessarily equate to better pictures, but it's certainly one important element. The gallery below features pictures taken with the 808 PureView.
Nokia 808 PureView
The Nokia 808 PureView comes in several colors. It's heavier than your average phone, with the camera lens protruding from the back. By far its most interesting feature is the 41-megapixel camera, which takes amazing photos.
Click here to view this gallery.
In 2013, we can not only expect more megapixels, and better sensors, flashlights and shutter speeds from smartphone cameras; there are also some futuristic developments in the works.
One most likely to hit the market in 2013: a sensor developed by Toshiba that will allow users to adjust the area of focus of a shot during post-processing, much like with a Lytro cameras.
Another development to anticipate is greater availability and lower cost for smartphone cameras that shoot 3D photos and video.
While all of these improvements are exciting, it's not just smartphones that are getting better cameras. Better cameras are literally being turned into smartphones. In 2012, Samsung released a Galaxy Camera which Mashable's tech editor Pete Pachal described as an "incredible device."
Connected cameras might not become the norm in 2013, but they will definitely become more common.
Eventually, there could even be cameras that have the ability to penetrate objects such as thin walls, clothing or even skin. While the technology is in place, don't look for it in 2013. The world probably isn't ready for x-ray vision quite yet.
Wearable Tech
It's not enough to carry technology anymore. Nowadays people want to wear it, too.
In April, the Pebble Watch, which integrates with both Android and iOS devices, received Kickstarter funding totaling over $10 million from nearly 70,000 backers. Pebble still has not shipped watches. It is currently accepting pre-orders, but has not announced a release date. It's relatively safe to assume these watches will be available in 2013.
Although there are other smart watches currently available, Pebble may face some serious competition if the rumors about Apple producing a smart watch prove true. In fact, Apple recently received 22 patents that would enable the company to move forward with a range of wearable smart technology, including sneakers, shirts, skiing gear and more.
SEE ALSO: Wearable Tech: Welcome to the Future of Fashion
Patents alone mean very little. So unless you hear otherwise, don't expect Apple smartpants (which, if they do happen, should definitely be called "smartypants") anytime during 2013.
And speaking of extremely exciting wearable technology that probably won't happen during 2013, let's all re-watch this video for Google Glass while wistfully longing for the future to arrive.

On the bright side, since we survived the Mayan apocalypse, it looks like we might eventually make it to the future, after all. In case you hadn't noticed, it seems pretty obvious that when we get there, glorious mobile technology will abound.

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Tax filing delay looms if no fix for minimum tax: IRS

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The top U.S. tax collector warned on Thursday of a delayed start to 2013's tax season if Congress fails to reset the alternative minimum tax (AMT) on high-income taxpayers so that it does not sweep in millions of middle-income people.
Without another adjustment by lawmakers soon to the AMT, "many of us will see a delayed filing season," said Steven Miller, named just last month as Internal Revenue Service acting commissioner.
Miller did not give an exact date by which Congress must approve an AMT "patch" to prevent a delay to the tax season, which is scheduled to begin on January 22.
"We don't have any drop-dead time in mind," Miller told reporters after a speech at a conference in Washington.
But his remarks came on a day of continued stalemate in Washington between Democrats and Republicans over what to do about the "fiscal cliff" approaching at the end of the year.
The AMT is a crucial part of the assorted tax increases and automatic spending cuts that make up the so-called "cliff," a convergence of events that, absent congressional action, threatens to plunge the U.S. economy back into recession.
"Many people don't realize that they could potentially face a significantly delayed filing season and a much bigger tax bill for 2012," if the AMT is not dealt with, Miller said.
"In programming our systems, the IRS has assumed that Congress will patch the AMT as Congress has for so many years.
"And I remain optimistic that the fiscal cliff debate will be resolved by the end of the year. If that turns out not to be the case, then what is clear is that many of us will see a delayed filing season," Miller said.
The AMT is a tax intended to make sure that at least some tax is paid by high-income people who otherwise could sharply reduce or eliminate their regular income tax bills through using tax loopholes. About 4 million people annually pay the AMT.
Unlike the regular income tax, the AMT is not indexed for inflation. So the thresholds that determine who must pay the tax have to be regularly raised. This prevents the AMT from hitting middle-class people whose incomes may have crept upward on the back of inflation, but who are not wealthy.
Congress last patched the AMT in late 2010. Without another patch, the AMT could hit as many as 33 million people for the 2012 tax year, according to the IRS.
Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York said on Thursday he is "hopeful" that the AMT problem will be fixed with a broader "fiscal cliff" resolution before December 31.
Republicans in Congress may see the AMT as leverage in their "fiscal cliff" negotiations with President Barack Obama and the Democrats.
The IRS might have until mid-January to implement an AMT patch and still start the tax season on time, if Congress approves the fix as expected, said Richard Harvey, a tax professor at Villanova University and a former IRS official.
The AMT "is a ticking time bomb that is going to go off some time in January," Harvey said.

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Oregon governor says Nike plans to hire thousands

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Sporting goods giant Nike plans to expand its operations in Oregon and hire as many as 12,000 new workers by 2020 but wants the government to promise it won't change the state tax code, prompting a special session of the Legislature.
Gov. John Kitzhaber said he'll call lawmakers together Friday in Salem to create a new law authorizing him to grant Nike's wish.
The governor did not release information about the company's expansion plans but the $440 million project would create 2,900 construction jobs with an annual economic impact of $2 billion a year.
Nike Inc. has its headquarters in Beaverton. Company officials could not immediately be reached.
The Legislature is due to meet in its regular annual session beginning Jan. 14, but Kitzhaber said Nike needed certainty sooner. The company was being wooed by other states, he said.
"Getting Oregonians back to work is my top priority," Kitzhaber said in a news conference.
Either the governor or the Legislature itself can call lawmakers into session at times other than the state Constitution specifies.
For much of the state's history, the Legislature's regular sessions have been held every other year, at the beginning of odd-numbered years. That's the kind of session the Legislature is scheduled to begin early next year.
In recent years, the Legislature has moved to meet annually, running test sessions of briefer sessions in even-numbered years. Those led to voter approval of a constitutional amendment in 2010 that called for annual sessions.
Records list 38 special sessions since Oregon's statehood, ranging from one day on eight occasions to 37 days in 1982.

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Oregon governor says Nike plans expansion

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Nike wants to expand its Oregon operations and hire hundreds of workers but is asking the government to promise it won't change the state tax code.
Gov. John Kitzhaber (KIHTS'-hah-bur) says he'll call the Legislature into session Friday to create a law to give Nike its wish.
The company has not specified its expansion plans except to say it would create at least 500 jobs and $150 million in capital investment over five years.
Nike Inc. has its headquarters in Beaverton, outside Portland. Company officials could not immediately be reached for comment.
It employs 44,000 people globally, including 8,000 in Washington County.
Nike has been selling off brands and making other moves to focus on its most profitable businesses, which include its namesake Nike brand, Jordan, Converse and Hurley.

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Report: Most Pakistani lawmakers do not file taxes

ISLAMABAD (AP) — The majority of Pakistani lawmakers do not file tax returns despite a legal requirement to do, a report said Wednesday, reinforcing concerns about the low level of tax revenue in the country.
Pakistan has one of the lowest tax-to-GDP rates in the world because payment is not well enforced, and major areas of the economy, such as the agriculture sector, are either taxed at very low rates or not at all.
Around two-thirds of the country's 446 lawmakers failed to file tax returns in 2011, the latest data available, said the report, co-published by the Center for Investigative Reporting in Pakistan and the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives.
A similar percentage of the government's 55 Cabinet members also failed to file returns, said the report, titled "Representation Without Taxation." Among those politicians who failed to file a return was Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari.
Even lawmakers who filed returns often paid very low amounts of tax on outside income. The lowest-paying lawmaker who filed a return, Senator Mushahid Hussain, paid less than $1 in taxes, said the report.
The figures do not take into account the tax paid by lawmakers on their official salaries, which is automatically deducted. It instead focuses on declarations of supplemental income from land, businesses and other sources of revenue.
Analysts have said that the country's effective tax rate is so low because a small elite, comprised of the military, land owners and the rising urban upper and middle classes is reluctant to give up any of its wealth. These groups either put pressure on lawmakers or are the lawmakers themselves.
"End result is the erosion of public trust in the government that is frequently blamed for serving the interests of the rich and powerful at the expense of the poor and low-income groups," the report said.

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Pennies over patriotism: Look at tax-averse stars

 France's Socialist government is introducing a 75-percent income tax on those earning over €1 million ($1.3 million), forcing some of the country's rich and famous to set up residency in less fiscally-demanding countries.
Here's a look at some big stars in France and elsewhere who have, over the years, put their pennies above their patriotism.
DEPARTING DEPARDIEU
The French prime minister has accused actor Gerard Depardieu of being "pathetic" and "unpatriotic" for setting up residence in a small village just across the border in neighboring Belgium to avoid paying taxes in France.
The office of the mayor in Depardieu's new haunts at Nechin, also known as the "millionaire's village" for its appeal to high-earning Frenchmen, said that for people with high income, like Depardieu, the Belgian tax system, capped at 50 percent, is more attractive.
Depardieu, who has played in more than 100 films, including "Green Card" and "Cyrano de Bergerac," has not commented publicly on the matter.
BEATLE TAX
In 2005, the Beatles' Ringo Starr took up residency in Monaco, where he gets to keep a higher percentage of royalties than he would in Britain or Los Angeles. France's tiny neighbor Monaco, with zero percent income tax for most people, has obvious appeal for the 72-year-old drummer and his estimated $240 million fortune.
The Beatles' resentment of high taxes goes back to their 1960s song "Taxman." George Harrison penned it in protest of the British government's 95 percent supertax on the rich, evoked by the lyrics: "There's one for you, nineteen for me."
Harrison reportedly said later, "'Taxman' was when I first realized that even though we had started earning money, we were actually giving most of it away in taxes."
LICENSE TO DODGE
Former "James Bond" star Sean Connery left the U.K. in the 1970s, reportedly for tax exile in Spain, and then the Bahamas — another spot with zero income tax and one of the richest countries per capita in the Americas. His successor to the 007 mantle, Roger Moore, also opted for exile in the 1970s — this time in Monaco — ensuring his millions were neither shaken nor stirred.
EXILE ON MAIN ST.
In 1972, The Rolling Stones controversially moved to the south of France to escape onerous British taxes. Though it caused a stink at the time, it spawned one of the group's most seminal albums, "Exile on Main St." The title is a reference to their tax-dodging. In 2006, British media branded them the "Stingy Stones" with reports that they'd paid just 1.6 percent tax on their earnings of $389 million over the previous two decades.
FISCAL HEALING
In 1980, U.S. singer Marvin Gaye moved to Hawaii from L.A. to avoid problems with the Internal Revenue Service, the American tax agency. Later that year, Gaye relocated to London after a tour in Europe. Gaye, whose hits include "Sexual Healing" and "I Heard it Through the Grapevine" settled in Belgium in 1981. He was shot to death in 1984.

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Israel sees new US poise, including military, to curb Iran

JERUSALEM (Reuters) - U.S.-led efforts to curb Iran's nuclear program have resumed since President Barack Obama's re-election and include preparation for possible military action, a senior Israeli official said on Tuesday.
The remarks by Vice Prime Minister Moshe Yaalon suggested cautious optimism at prospects for an international resolution to the decade-old standoff with Tehran, though Israel says it remains ready to attack its arch-foe alone as a last resort.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set out a mid-2013 "red line" for tackling Iran's uranium enrichment project. The West says this program is aimed at developing the means to build atomic bombs. Tehran denies this, saying it is enriching uranium solely for peaceful civilian uses.
Yaalon told Army Radio on Tuesday that Israel knew there would be no movement on the issue before the U.S. election in November, but had expected a renewed effort after the vote.
"And indeed it has been renewed," he said.
He cited contacts among the six world powers - the United States, Russia, France, China, Britain and Germany - and Iran about holding new nuclear negotiations, ongoing sanctions against Iran, "and preparations, mainly American for now, for the possibility that military force will have to be used".
Yaalon did not elaborate. Another Israeli official told Reuters the minister was alluding mainly to recent U.S. military mobilization in the Gulf.
The powers said last week they hoped soon to agree with Iran soon on when and where to meet. There have been suggestions it could happen this month, though January now seems more likely.
But, sounding defiant, Iran's top nuclear official was on Tuesday quoted as saying there would be no halt to uranium enrichment to 20 percent fissile purity - an advanced threshold alarming foreign negotiators.
ZONE OF IMMUNITY
A former armed forces chief who belongs to Netanyahu's rightist Likud party, Yaalon questioned Obama's resolve on Iran during the Democratic president's first term. By contrast, Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak, the lone centrist in Netanyahu's coalition government, argued in Obama's favor.
Yaalon is a frontrunner to succeed Barak, who has announced he will retire from politics after Israel's January 22 election.
On Monday, Barak reiterated Israel's determination to deny Iran the capability to make a bomb. Israel, widely assumed to have the Middle East's only atomic arsenal, sees a nuclear-armed Iran as a mortal threat.
The prospect of unilateral Israeli air strikes, and ensuing retaliation by Iran, a big oil exporter, and its Islamist guerrilla allies in Lebanon and Gaza, worries world powers, in part because it could destabilize a fragile global economy.
Speaking to Jewish leaders in New York, Barak acknowledged the limitations of Israeli forces against Iran's distant, dispersed and well-defended nuclear facilities.
"The Iranians are deliberately trying to create a level of redundancy and protection for their program, what we call the ‘zone of immunity'. Once they enter the zone of immunity, fate will be out of our hands," Barak said.
"The state of Israel was founded precisely so that our fate would remain in our own hands."
Barak's term "redundancy" refers to Israel's belief that Iran seeks to stockpile raw uranium and enrichment centrifuges on a scale that would allow it to restore independent nuclear capacity should its known facilities be attacked.
Iran's nuclear infrastructure has been dogged by sabotage, including cyberwarfare. Iran's Ministry of Communications and Technology Information said on Sunday it had identified a "new, targeted data-wiping malware". The ministry's statement did not say what computer systems might have been affected.
While Israel has not publicly claimed responsibility for such incidents, Yaalon said there could be more in store, in parallel to global economic pressure.
"Sometimes malfunctions happen there - worms, viruses, explosions. Therefore this schedule is not necessarily chronological. It is more technological," he told Army Radio.
"We are, without a doubt, closely tracking developments in the program there, lest they attempt to pass the red line.

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Three burning questions loom as RIM gets ready to report

Some people say that the November quarter that Research In Motion (RIMM) will report this week is not important. They are wrong. Even though the new BlackBerry model range debuting in 2013 is the key for RIM’s long-term survival, there are three issues that are vitally important for the company right now. RIM must keep certain aspects of its performance from caving in before the new phones begin trickling to the market early next year, and here are three things to watch for as RIM reports its fiscal third-quarter results on Thursday.
[More from BGR: How to turn an old Kindle Fire into a Nexus 7 with Android 4.2.1 Jelly Bean [video]]
Global subscriber base. RIM surprised the market when it reported its summer quarter by showing continuing global subscriber growth despite its U.S. collapse and European trouble. Blackberry’s growth has continued in Africa, Middle Wast and South-East Asia, giving RIM surprising longevity considering its share of new smartphone sales in America may have caved below 3% by now. However, a recent Kantar Worldpanel study showed that in the three months ending in October, BlackBerry market share slipped badly in markets like Brazil and Spain. Until last summer, RIM had maintained a decent grip on Latin America and Mediterranean countries via its cheap Curve devices. They may have finally started eroding even in those countries where BlackBerry had retained some vigor as a low-end youth brand. After its surprisingly robust 80 million subscriber base number from the summer quarter, RIM can afford to show a bit of erosion in November and February quarters. But steep drops would be deeply worrisome — RIM may not get aggressively priced low-end models based on the new OS out before next summer or even autumn.
ASP level. RIM has experienced steep average sales price decline over the past year. Nevertheless, another major plunge is still possible. In the UK market, BlackBerry Christmas promotions are almost entirely built around the cheap Curve 932o — and its price as a pre-paid model has plunged to unprecedented 99 pounds. This is exceptionally low for a model that debuted just last spring. European operators have effectively abandoned RIM’s more expensive business-focused models like the Bold. BlackBerry phones are now being marketed as some of the cheapest smartphones anyone can buy. How deep will this cut into RIM’s ASPs? If the plunge is bad enough, reversing the damage with new high-end models next summer may be extremely difficult. The core customer base for RIM’s high-end devices was built on the U.S. and the UK markets, but RIM has wiped out in America nearly completely and the UK carriers have switched to marketing BlackBerry handsets as bargain bin specials on par with Huawei or ZTE models. If BlackBerry ASP level dives too low during November and February quarters, undoing the damage will be a herculean task.
BlackBerry Messenger popularity. Business News reported last January that BlackBerry Messenger was growing at 140% pace in Nigeria, one of the key African mobile phone markets. BBM’s user base growth last winter was also torrid in South Africa. However, stand-alone messaging apps like WhatsApp and 2go have delivered scorching growth in Africa and Asia during 2012. 2go has soared ahead of Blackberry Messenger in popularity in Nigeria and is spreading rapidly in South Africa. WhatsApp became a top-three iPhone app in more than 100 countries last winter and offers cross-platform support that is a big draw in the South-East Asian markets that remain RIM’s lifeline: Malaysia, Philippines and Indonesia. Globally, WhatsApp has grown from relaying 1 billion daily messages in the fall of 2011 to 10 billion by fall 2012. By now, that rampant growth may have started encroaching on BBM popularity. RIM does not report on Messenger user numbers every quarter, so visibility on this front could remain limited in coming months. But any erosion in the Messenger user base is likely to have an impact on RIM’s overall subscriber base.

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