Monday, August 5, 2013

Using Speech APIs in Windows Phone 8

Using Speech APIs in Windows Phone 8

8/5/2013 | Tags: windows-phone

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source: drdobbs.com

In this article, I explain how to retrieve parameters when it is necessary to execute the voice commands and how to update phrase lists within the app. I also explain how to use speech recognition and text-to-speech features. This way, you will be able to combine voice commands, speech recognition, and text-to-speech to enable a voice-driven UX.

Checking Parameters and Executing Voice Commands

The Recipes app discussed in the first two parts of this series recognizes voice commands, but fails when it has to navigate to the target pages because the pages don't yet exist in the project. It is time to add the pages for each of the voice commands. I'll start with the simple AddNewRecipePage page that the app must display when executing the CreateNewRecipe voice command. To keep the sample app simple and focused on speech-related features, I won't use a Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) approach - I'll just add the necessary pieces of code to the code-behind files. However, take into account that a MVVM approach is definitely suitable for these kinds of apps.

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You can also follow us on Twitter: @winphonegeek for Windows Phone; @winrtgeek for Windows 8 / WinRT

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Windowsphonegeek/~3/Epg4maqQ5Bc/using-speech-apis-in-windows-phone-8

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Obama Just Vetoed a Proposed Ban on Apple Products

Obama Just Vetoed a Proposed Ban on Apple Products

Back in June, as part of the never-ending Samsung vs Apple patent war, Samsung won a skirmish that could have ultimately lead to a ITC sales ban on certain Apple products including the iPhone 4 and 3G iPad 2 in the US. Well the victory was short lived; the WSJ is reporting that Obama just issued a big ol' veto.

Read more...

Source: http://gizmodo.com/obama-just-vetoed-a-proposed-ban-on-apple-products-1013423140

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Ohio killer set for execution found hanged in cell

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction shows Billy Slagle. Slagle, facing execution Wednesday was found hanged in his cell at the Chillecothe, Ohio Correctional Institution Sunday morning, Aug. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Ohio Department of Rehabilitation, File)

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction shows Billy Slagle. Slagle, facing execution Wednesday was found hanged in his cell at the Chillecothe, Ohio Correctional Institution Sunday morning, Aug. 4, 2013. (AP Photo/Ohio Department of Rehabilitation, File)

(AP) ? A man condemned to death for fatally stabbing a neighbor during a Cleveland burglary was found hanged in his cell Sunday just days before his Wednesday execution.

Billy Slagle, 44, was found at about 5 a.m. at the Chillicothe Correctional Institution south of Columbus and was declared dead within the hour, prison spokeswoman JoEllen Smith said.

"He was in his cell alone. No other inmates suspected to be involved," Smith said in an email. "It does appear to be a suicide."

Under regular prison policy, he was scheduled to be placed under pre-execution watch Sunday morning but "was not yet placed under constant watch," Smith said.

Slagle was sentenced to die for the 1987 stabbing of Mari Anne Pope, who was killed while two young children she was watching were in the house.

In a rare move, the prosecutor in Cleveland asked the Ohio Parole Board to spare Slagle. Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Tim McGinty said jurors today, with the option of life without parole, would be unlikely to sentence Slagle to death.

The parole board and Gov. John Kasich both rejected mercy for Slagle.

Last week, Slagle's attorney argued that a jury never got the chance to hear the full details of his troubled childhood.

The attorneys, arguing for a new trial and to delay his execution, said that information met requirements for asking for a new trial, which normally must happen within four months of a conviction.

Slagle was "unavoidably prevented" from filing his request because his original attorneys didn't develop and present the evidence, the filing said.

McGinty and Slagle's attorneys had cited his age ? at 18, he was barely old enough for execution in Ohio ? and his history of alcohol and drug addiction.

___

Associated Press writer Julie Carr Smyth in Columbus contributed to this report

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2013-08-04-US-Condemned-Killer-Dead-In-Cell/id-23e2823c90414ee385b66d9b60cdfa90

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Locating the brain's GPS: Human neurons link to navigation in open environments

[unable to retrieve full-text content]Using direct human brain recordings, scientists have identified a new type of cell in the brain that helps people to keep track of their relative location while navigating an unfamiliar environment.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/RhCTKJ_QC3A/130804144401.htm

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Stupidest Products For Staying Cool (PHOTOS)

Stupidest Products For Staying Cool (PHOTOS)

It's summertime and everyone's looking for new ways to beat the heat. Forget those horribly inconvenient window AC units you're convinced will fall out your window and kill someone! Here's fifteen cool (literally!) products to keep you and your loved ones from melting this summer.

  • Travelon 3 - Speed Personal Folding Fan

    Holding a fan by yourself can be very difficult. Luckily Amazon sells a personal fan that hangs from your neck, fanning your face so you don't have to.

  • Cool On The Go - Versatile Hands-Free Personal Cooling Device

    In case the previous fan necklace wasn't large enough, here is another option. This one is a larger, bulkier and stranger shape, but far more versatile. You can wear it as a necklace and strap it to things like your baby's car seat. It comes in both white <em>and </em>blue! Awesome.

  • Personal Cooling System 3.0

    If you're more of the minimalist type, Amazon also sells a very small, discrete and cool looking choker that cools you down.

  • Cooling Neck Wrap

    In case you wanted an even more fashionable neck cooling system...

  • Replacement Hot/Cold Mat

    Amazon sells this, not sure really sure what it's supposed to be other than a cold ice cube floor.

  • Cool Off Towelettes

    Aren't these just baby wipes?

  • Solarsafe Stroller , Playard & Pack 'n Play Net

    In case you're worried about your baby getting hot, don't worry, there's this weird dark sheet to put over their stroller. It provides 85% UV sun protection, and will also prevent them from seeing the outdoors and make it look like they're en route to a funeral.

  • Cooling Cool Wrist Wrap

    If you're one of those people prone to overheating wrists, this is a fun way to keep your wrists cool.

  • Solar Powered Fan Hat

    Another cool fan you don't have to hold: the solar powered fan hat! Walk around, look awesome, and get fanned on your forehead without having to move at all.

  • The Evaporative Cooling Cap

    If you don't like the fan hat, you could also fill a hat with water which will freeze and weigh as much as a brick on your head all day.

  • Ice Bandana

    Or, if you're not too into hats, just wear a bandana with ice in it. You'll look normal. And when it starts to melt, it'll be really awesome.

  • Visor Head Cover

    And if you want a more fashionable head cover...

  • Flexi Freeze Ice Vest

    Not only does it look like a bullet proof vest, but for everyone who has wondered what it would be like to wear ice trays as clothing, now is your chance to find out. It's going to be really cool (hehe, literally!) to see what happens when it melts. Who doesn't love carrying twenty pounds of water around on their body?

  • Fan Umbrella

    Because if holding a fan, wearing one on your neck and/or in your hat isn't enough, you can also hold a massive umbrella which will fan you from a foot above your head.

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    Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/03/stupidest-products-for-staying-cool_n_3653708.html

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    Girl Scout turns Gold Project into call for the community

    From Dare to Care

    LOUISVILLE, KY - Girl Scout Makena Devlin has used her Girl Scout Gold project to make a community appeal for an end to hunger in Kentuckiana.? After a full year of planning and work, Makena created an 8' by 12' mural that increases awareness of the problem of hunger and encourages the community to support Dare to Care Food Bank.

    Dare to Care Executive Director, Brian Riendeau, applauded Makena's work and emphasized the importance of its message.? "Hunger has never been this widespread in Kentuckiana in Dare to Care's 40 year history.? We can only continue to address it and create innovative solutions if our community is aware of the problem and committed to solving it.? Makena's remarkable work of art clearly communicates her passion for the issue and does so in a way that makes her passion contagious.? We are proud and honored to be the beneficiary of this special young woman's work."

    The mural will first be displayed to the public in Louisville's NuLu neighborhood.? The location will be at the Community Garden adjacent to 720 East Market Street. ?

    Dare to Care food Bank is a local nonprofit agency with a mission to lead the community to feed the hungry and conquer the cycle of need.? In the past twelve months, Dare to Care distributed over 13 million meals to nearly 200,000 different people in eight Kentucky and five Indiana counties.? Dare to Care also operates 17 Kids Cafes in neighborhood afterschool locations and Backpack Buddy weekend nutrition programs in 36 Kentuckiana elementary schools.

    Source: http://swjeffersoncounty.wave3.com/news/community-spirit/369763-girl-scout-turns-gold-project-call-community

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    Sunday, August 4, 2013

    White House prospects mix at governor's meeting

    Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, right, talks to Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper during a session of the National Governors Association meeting Sunday, August, 4, 2013 in Milwaukee. Republicans have stated openly they plan to use the slow economic recovery and the health care law to attack Democrats in the 2014 congressional elections. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

    Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, right, talks to Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper during a session of the National Governors Association meeting Sunday, August, 4, 2013 in Milwaukee. Republicans have stated openly they plan to use the slow economic recovery and the health care law to attack Democrats in the 2014 congressional elections. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

    Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker talks to fellow governors during a session of the National Governors Association meeting Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013 in Milwaukee. Republicans have stated openly they plan to use the slow economic recovery and the health care law to attack Democrats in the 2014 congressional elections. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

    Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer smiles during a session of the National Governors Association meeting Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013 in Milwaukee. Republicans have stated openly they plan to use the slow economic recovery and the health care law to attack Democrats in the 2014 congressional elections. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

    Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy looks over some note during a session of the National Governors Association meeting Sunday, August, 4, 2013 in Milwaukee. Democratic governors say they are nervous about getting the new federal health care law implemented. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

    Delaware Gov. Jack Markell listens during a session of the National Governors Association meeting Sunday, Aug. 4, 2013 in Milwaukee. Democratic governors say they are nervous about getting the new federal health care law implemented but add they will be better positioned in next year's elections than many of their Republican counterparts who have resisted the far-reaching and politically polarizing measure. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

    (AP) ? Health care, budgets and education topped the official agenda for governors at their annual summer summit. But the 2016 presidential race was never far from view or conversation, given the clear White House interest from some in the crowd gathered near Lake Michigan.

    With President Barack Obama in his second and final term, the fields for both parties are wide open for the 2016 nominations. There are two years to go before primary campaigning begins in earnest, but prospective candidates are already putting out feelers to determine the support they might draw.

    Some of the governors thought to have potential presidential ambitions were a study in contrasts at the Milwaukee meeting.

    Republican Gov. Scott Walker of Wisconsin was perhaps the most conspicuous, playing the role of proud host and welcoming his counterparts from around the country to the area where he once served as county executive.

    He schmoozed with governors and their families while taking batting practice at Miller Park, home field for Milwaukee's major league baseball team, the Brewers. He sat for private interviews with local and national media and was pressed by dozens of reporters on Friday, the conference's opening day.

    Most conspicuously, Walker sported a signature black and orange Harley-Davidson jacket and rumbled through downtown Milwaukee on his own 2003 motorcycle, leading a procession of 100 riders celebrating the 110th anniversary of Wisconsin's iconic motorcycle. He stopped at times for pictures with veterans who joined the rolling thunder.

    "It draws more attention to what I'm trying to do in Wisconsin," Walker said in an interview. "You're in the news not for the sake of being in the news. It's for a purpose."

    Walker has already developed a national reputation because of legislation he signed in 2011 stripping public employee unions of bargaining power and decisively winning the recall it prompted last year.

    Like Walker, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie also has a national following. His outspoken style, background as a federal prosecutor and image as a Republican who has confronted powerful forces in his Democratic-dominant state have made him a fan favorite.

    But Christie could hardly have been less conspicuous in Milwaukee. He was accompanied by few staff, mainly security. Most noteworthy, Christie, who is usually accessible to news media, granted no interview requests.

    Approached in a corridor, Christie breezed by, saying "He's not taking questions."

    For Christie, the calculation is different than for others with possible presidential ambitions who attended the conference, including Republican Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana and Democrats Gov. John Hickenlooper of Colorado and Martin O'Malley of Maryland. Unlike the others, Christie faces re-election this fall, and keeping his public profile focused on returning to office is a priority. Whatever prospects he may have for the presidential nomination would effectively vanish if he lost re-election.

    Like Christie, Jindal kept a low profile. But he made strategic use of his time.

    Jindal met with reporters Sunday morning shortly after pulling off the behind-the-scenes coup of the weekend. He had attended a fundraiser in Iowa at the invitation of Gov. Terry Branstad and flew with Branstad to Milwaukee, giving the two an hour of quality chat time. Because of Iowa's early presidential caucuses, Branstad's insight into the state's politics is valued. He also carved out time for Walker and Christie.

    "I like all these governors," said Branstad, a veteran Republican. "I want to be a good friend and a good host. And I'll give them my best and honest advice."

    Hickenlooper and O'Malley were as different as Christie and Walker. Hickenlooper was content to keep a lower profile, while O'Malley literally seized the spotlight.

    At a Democratic Governors Association reception Saturday evening, O'Malley, who plays guitar and sings Irish folk tunes, sat in with the band on stage for several numbers.

    News reporters sought out Hickenlooper to discuss his government's response to last year's shootings in a suburban Denver movie theater packed for a midnight screening. Twelve people died in the massacre, including a 6-year-old girl, and 70 were wounded.

    Hickenlooper signed legislation this year requiring background checks for all gun sales and stepped-up mental health programs. "We also saw a point of keeping guns out of the hands on dangerous criminals," Hickenlooper said.

    But among the Democrats, O'Malley took pains to discuss his views on the state of the country, the only one of the governors to offer insight into a prospective campaign.

    "We're going through a time of confusion and polarization and a real crisis about whether or not we are capable as a people of accomplishing big and important things," he told reporters Saturday.

    And in doing so, O'Malley signaled candidly he is preparing to run.

    "By the end of this year, we're on course to have a body of work that lays the framework of the candidacy for 2016," he said.

    Govs. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., and Rick Perry, R-Texas, are also viewed as possible contenders for their party's nomination in 2016. Neither attended the conference.

    ___

    Associated Press writer Scott Bauer contributed to this report.

    ___

    Follow Thomas Beaumont on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TomBeaumont

    Associated Press

    Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2013-08-04-Governors-2016/id-900dcd4b540f4ae484e39fbd92b6ecee

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    LOST: women's gold wedding/engagement ring, 1.7 ct diamond, surrounded by smaller ct stones. Lg reward....

    Source: Front Range Classifieds

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    Source: http://frontrange.kaango.com/ad-lost-womens-gold-wedding-engagement-ring-17-ct-diamond-surrounded-by-smaller-ct-stones-lg-reward/22294737

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    Veteran Sportscaster Scott Graham Provides Insight on the NFL

    Pro Football Hall of Fame / (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

    Pro Football Hall of Fame / (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)

    Scott Graham, from NFL Films and Dial Global Radio Network, joined Bull and Fox to talk about the overall landscape of the NFL.? Graham talked about recent SuperBowls, raving about the setup in Indianapolis, and mentioning the next SuperBowl, at MetLife Stadium, could be ?groundbreaking.?? The longtime sportscaster also talked about the NFL Hall of Fame weekend, saying his favorite part is the dinner, and he?s particularly looking forward to Warren Sapp?s words.??

    • Scott Graham
    • Bull and Fox

    Sports Stories You May Also Be Interested In

    Source: http://cleveland.cbslocal.com/2013/08/02/veteran-sportcaster-scott-graham-provides-insight-on-the-nfl/

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    'Horror Story' has 'a lot of humor' this season

    TV

    10 hours ago

    Image: American Horror Story panel

    Frederick M. Brown / Getty Images

    From left, executive producer Tim Minear and stars Jessica Lange, Sarah Paulson, Kathy Bates and Angela Bassett at the TCA press tour.

    "American Horror Story: Coven" won?t feature Uncle Arthur or Aunt Clara when it returns to FX in October. However, the supernatural-themed series (set to focus on mothers and daughters and witches that migrate from Salem to New Orleans) will be a bit lighter in its tone than season one's "Murder House" and season two's "Asylum."

    ?It?s definitely a drama,? Sarah Paulson, a returning cast member, shared with TV critics at the summer TCA press tour Friday. ?But there?s a certain lightness to the show. Last season, we couldn?t even sit in the asylum set for very long. We wanted to go back to our trailers and nobody ever does that. These sets (for ?Coven?) are beautiful. I?m walking around my character?s kitchen saying, ?I wish I had this cutting board.? ?

    Paulson?s set to play Jessica Lange?s daughter, Cordelia, in "Coven." Lange will portray a witch named Fiona.

    "There is a lot of humor and we are embracing a kind of velocity and fun with the series," previewed executive producer Tim Minear.

    Though the usually dark drama may be lighter in tone this year, the screams aren't going away.

    ?You won?t feel like the walls are closing in on you, but you will get scared,? said Minnear.

    "Coven" features a female-heavy cast, including Oscar-winner Kathy Bates ("Misery") and Oscar-nominee Angela Bassett ("What?s Love Got To Do With It"), who are playing real-life characters Delphine LaLaurie, a Louisiana socialite/serial killer, and Marie Laveau, a practitioner of voodoo.

    ?This is a character that?s very different from Harry,? said Bates, the former "Harry?s Law" star, or her murderous character. ?And I?m thrilled to be able to play it!?

    ?There are some voodoo-ians who?ve offered to show me a few things,? said Bassett.

    Lange and Paulson aren?t the only cast members from previous seasons set to return.?

    ?Evan Peters is back and he will be involved with at least one of the witches in our coven,? said Minear, who added that Peters won?t be playing characters similar to those he portrayed in "Murder House" and "Asylum," but rather ?something new.??

    While Paulson?s character has a husband, Minear said that the cast is mostly women.

    ?All of these women (Lange, Paulson, Bates and Bassett) are playing iconic characters,? said Minear. ?Not all of them are witches, but some of them are. This cast is off-the-hook amazing.??

    Sure, FX can be a ?boy?s network,? Minear mused, but ?we have a ?Murders? Row? of actresses, who are very friendly ? friendly until we start doing what we do!??

    Source: http://www.today.com/entertainment/american-horror-story-has-lot-humor-season-6C10835747

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    Google intros Android Device Manager to help you find that missing handset

    Frequently lose your phone? Yeah, join the club. Don't worry, Google's got a fix. Android Device Manager will be available later this month for phones with 2.2 or later, letting you ring your phone at maximum volume when you can't find it, even if the handset has been silenced. Should that fail, you can also locate the thing on a Google Map in real-time -- and there's also a plan C. When you're all out of other options, you can securely erase all of your data from afar, so your Angry Birds scores don't wind up in the wrong hands.

    Filed under: , ,

    Comments

    Source: Official Android Blog

    Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/96kbKb-dJWQ/

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    Peru to directly export silver to India shortly

    Bangalore, August 2, 2013, DHNS:

    Will explore tourism initiatives with Karnataka, says its Envoy

    Peru will soon start exporting gold directly to India, Javier Paulinich, Peruvian Ambassador to India said on Friday.

    He was speaking at a cultural program held to mark the 192nd anniversary of the Independence of Peru.

    ?Earlier we used to do it via Switzerland. But, now we will directly reach out to India. It will approximately account for exports worth Rs 800 million,? he said. The South American country which recently celebrated 50 years of bilateral relations with India, is one of the largest exporters of silver, lead, tin and gold.

    Trade relations

    The Ambassador also said that many jewellers in Karnataka are also being contacted to further the trade relations. ?We are getting a trade delegation of jewellers and gold importers to visit Peru and do a study there and also hold talks regarding investments,? said Vikram Vishwanath, Honorary Consul of Peru in Bangalore.

    Talking about the growing trade relations between the two countries, Paulinich said Karnataka was a huge trading hub. ?We have a lot to learn from the Forest department, the IT industry and the education sector. Also, we want to explore many more tourism initiatives in the State.?

    Talks with private sellers

    Peru, also known for its Quin oa crop? - cereal with high nutrition content, is soon to enter Indian markets. ?We want bring the cereal to India. We are in talks with private sellers and are also open to government agencies to supply them here,? said Paulinich.

    He also expressed happiness that Peru was a popular tourist destination. ?The number of Indian tourists visiting our country has doubled since last year. Macchu Pichhu remains a favourite destination with many.?

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    Source: http://www.deccanherald.com/content/348805/peru-directly-export-silver-india.html

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    Newlyweds Don&#39;t Want Your Stupid Presents --They Want Cold ...

    ?

    No matter that people are marrying later than ever, often after having lived together for a number of years, thus having acquired all the five-speed blenders they could ever need: In the world of wedding etiquette, the only thing worse than being a bride-or groomzilla is having the low-class temerity to ask for $$ in lieu of traditional gifts.

    ?

    But things have changed, and it's time to get over ourselves and our phony outrage and pony up with cold, hard cash. This time, give the kids what they want already, and especially, what they really need: MONEY.

    ?

    But first, let's clarify the terms of this debate:

    ?

    • NO, I'm not saying that anyone is obligated to give anyone a wedding gift. You're not. If you're offended by someone creating a registry at all, don't buy anything. If you're double offended by someone saying they could really use money, by all means, go get them a Cuisinart and show them who's the boss (of high-class etiquette).
    • I AM saying that IF you are going to give a GIFT, that the newlyweds SHOULD be able to say without petty shaming, gossiping or banishing from their social group that they prefer/need/want/could really use CASH instead of oh, I dunno, more cutlery.
    • YES, we could argue all day whether the giving of the stuff to the people getting married is even a necessary part of this ritual at all -- I eloped, so don't look at me -- but most of us agree it is a fun part of the ritual because WE SAY IT IS. Different argument.

    ?

    Moving on: This, then, seems to be the point of wedding registries. The couple lists all the stuff they need/want, the wedding invitees buy it. Only that "stuff" is not just any old stuff under the beautiful Saturday-in-June sun, though. It's largely domestic goods because of dowries, where if nothing else, you could at least hand off your prettiest daughter with a coupla mixing bowls to set up shop with her new overlord.

    ?

    We're still using this dowry-connected notion of the wedding gift tradition today. Why? I think helping a young couple is about giving them what they need, not what I think they should need or should want because I think it's great. Maybe they "need" sex toys or his and her p.o. boxes or a subscription to HBO. It's not for me to judge.

    ?

    No so fast, says etiquette: Even if the last thing on earth you need is more wine glasses, you're up a shit creek lined with 500-count sheets. Why? I've never heard or read a single convincing argument for why you're supposed to suck it up and take another 7-piece bar toolkit before you dare to just ask for cash to help with a nice honeymoon, a house down-payment, a new car, or a set of freaking tires -- things that actually make families go. At least, no argument that doesn't reek of classist bullshit about the fact that it's "tacky" or "rude" to ask for cash.

    ?

    Here's why it isn't:

    ?

    It's practical.

    ?

    Some 70% of couples now live together before they get married, as compared to 10% who shacked up before hitting the altar in 1960, according to a recent roundup of 2013's wedding trends at WeddingRepublic.com. Meaning most people have already started a household and have a crockpot. Those who haven't, naturally, may still be best-served by the traditional registry of cocktail glasses and dinner platters. But those who typify the new normal shouldn't be forced to take a BBQ grill and shut the hell up. So far, the alternative says:

    ?

    Sign up for a few gifts like that anyway; return them

    Don't ask for any gifts at all and hope people get the hint.

    Yes, "people" are so good at "getting the hint."

    ?

    It's financially helpful.

    ?

    Duh. There's the economy, for one. But for two, lots of people getting married don't have anyone to foot the bill anymore -- 50% of couples in 2013 pay for their own weddings. This means even if you don't go nuts on an overpriced $30,000 wedding charged to a credit card at 18% interest, it could still create financial hardship to even get married. (Anyone who tries to argue that you shouldn't get married if you don't have enough money for all the things can send their itemized complaints directly up their ass.)

    ?

    It's classist to act like it's tacky/rude.

    ?

    If you think about it for a split second even, telling someone to "show some class" or calling some "classless" for asking honestly for help getting their life started during a ritual wherein we traditionally give people stuff they "need" precisely to get their life started is a classist, bullshit thing to say. I guess only middle class people or better deserve to get married, people who "know better" than to ask for what they want/need.

    ?

    So seriously: Please stop asking like it's "beneath you" to even have to think about people asking for money for a honeymoon or life stuff when they get hitched. The beauty of going to a wedding is that two people who love each other are getting started together. They should, if nothing else, be treated like an individual couple instead of a factory-assembled one off the top of the wedding cake.

    ?

    If etiquette is supposed to be guided by what makes people comfortable, then I say we defer to what makes the newlyweds most comfortable: Getting them something actually helpful, which might be cash.

    ?

    In this HuffPo piece about new wedding trends, a bride-to-be wants to ask for cash but isn't sure how, so they ask an etiquette blogger who says it's totes rude but OK, sigh, whatevs.

    ?

    "The most elegant phrasing I've ever seen was 'Flat gifts preferred' or 'No boxed gifts please' or 'Please support our First Home fund,'" she wrote in an email. "But either one makes me shudder, to be honest. The only really elegant way to ask for cash is when it's going to a charity."

    When you're done shuddering, I'd like to point out that when couples are strapped for cash, it is perfectly charitable to help them with?.drum roll?.cash. Suggestions included various wordings for asking for the cash, and perhaps getting your gossipiest family member to "spread the word."

    ?

    Which is why I was thrilled to see that the acceptance of cash is slowly but surely catching on. WeddingRepublic.com's aformentioned infographic says, "Once considered taboo to ask for cash in North America, it is now a popular option."

    ?

    ?

    Yes, it's still a middle-man type thing so no one has to suffer PTSD from writing a check, but it's a start. Call me crazy, but I like it when people can be themselves and get things they like without being excommunicated from civilized society. Of course, we learn in the WaPo piece that it's still super hard on people to ask for something other than dishes, or to be asked for something other than dishes. Which indicates that the shock at the "rudeness" of it all will probably still take some time to kill off:

    ?

    Ryan Gaffney, 27, and his wife Carrie, 27, talked about whether to go the traditional route or use an alternative registry when planning their May 2012 wedding.
    ?We certainly considered the idea that couching what ultimately amounts to ?give us cash? more as a ?pay for snorkeling on our honeymoon? may help it go down easier for people who might otherwise be on the fence,? Gaffney said, although he and his wife ultimately decided against an alternative registry.
    Count Karen Avila, 22, as a wedding guest who is on the fence.
    ?I?d much rather buy a traditional wedding gift as opposed to making a donation online because I find it to be more personal,? said Avila, who will have attended three weddings this season by August. ?A big part of wedding gifts is letting the bride and groom know how special they are to you.?

    Here's a wild idea: Let the bride and groom know how special they are to you by getting them something THEY really need or want? I know, it's crazy.

    ?

    Reprinted with permission from Jezebel.

    Source: http://www.xojane.com/relationships/newlyweds-dont-want-your-stupid-presents-they-want-cold-hard-cash

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    Gannett cuts jobs, but won’t say how many

    MCLEAN, Va. (AP) ? Gannett said Friday that it is eliminating an unspecified number of jobs in its newspaper division.

    Jeremy Gaines, a spokesman for the McLean, Va.-based company declined to say where the cuts are taking place. He said the newspapers are making the cuts to bring their business plans in line with local market conditions.

    McLean, Va.-based Gannett is the country?s largest publisher of newspapers by circulation. It publishes USA Today, the No. 3 newspaper in the U.S. by circulation, and operates television stations.

    Jim Hopkins, who publishes Gannett Blog, an independent blog about the company, estimates that over 200 jobs across at least 37 worksites have been eliminated so far. Hopkins, a former editor and reporter at USA Today, said the figures are based on information contributed by Gannett workers.

    According to the blog, the newspapers making the most cuts include the Ashbury Park Press in New Jersey, The Burlington Free Press in Vermont, The Arizona Republic in Phoenix and The Courier-Journal in Louisville, Ky.

    No job cuts were reported for USA Today, but the newspaper has cut jobs as recently as 2010.

    Like other newspaper publishers, Gannett has faced declines in print advertising and subscription revenue. Recently, the company has been shifting its focus toward television stations.

    In June, Gannett announced plans to buy Belo Corp. and its 20 television stations for about $1.5 billion in cash. The deal is expected to close by the end of the year. The move will nearly double Gannett?s portfolio of stations from 23 to 43. The company?s stations will reach nearly one-third of U.S. households.

    Gannett Co. employs over 30,000 people. Last month, the company reported a 5 percent drop in net income for its most recent quarter citing lower newspaper advertising revenue and other factors.

    In Friday?s trading, Gannett?s stock rose 12 cents to close at $26.27.

    Source: http://southtownstar.suntimes.com/business/21690538-420/gannett-cuts-jobs-but-wont-say-how-many.html

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    How to make outdoor summer activities more like video games ...

    '); $.get('http://wd.sharethis.com/api/sharer.php?destination=email&url=' + 'http://www.gamesradar.com' + window.location.pathname + '&title=Games%2BRadar&publisher=4dbe3140-5f84-43cf-a70f-e3555db9eefd&return=json'); setTimeout(function() { $('.statusItemWrapper').fadeOut(5000); }, 5000); } else { if (data.details.form_errors) { $.each(data.details.form_errors, function(key, val) { $('' + val[0] + '').insertAfter('#' + key); }); } $('#email_form').append(''); } }); // default email values $('#id_to_email').defaultValue({'value': "Your Friend's Email Address"}); $('#id_from_email').defaultValue({'value': "Your Email Address"}); });

    Source: http://www.gamesradar.com/how-make-outdoor-summer-activities-more-video-games/

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    Saturday, August 3, 2013

    Sounding rocket to study active regions on the sun

    [unable to retrieve full-text content]At NASA's White Sands Test Facility in Las Cruces, N.M., a sounding rocket is being readied for flight. Due to launch on Aug. 8, 2013, the VERIS rocket, short for Very high Resolution Imaging Spectrometer, will launch for a 15-minute trip carrying an instrument that can measure properties of the structures in the sun's upper atmosphere down to 145 miles across, some eight times clearer than any similar telescope currently in space.

    Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/HkGchEXIrNc/130802095144.htm

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    The Big Wedding (2013) 1080p BluRay AC3+DTS HQ NL Subs

    The Big Wedding (2013) 1080p BluRay AC3+DTS HQ NL Subs
    .
    8bp2.jpg
    .
    12 - 89 min - Comedy - 9 May 2013 (Netherlands)
    .
    http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1931435/
    .
    http://www.moviemeter.nl/film/78965
    .
    PLOT
    .
    A long-divorced couple fakes being married as their family unites for a wedding.
    .
    HQ Subtitles Dutch. White and Yellow. Internal and External.
    NL Vertaling: SRT-TEAM
    no zlib, no header stripping.
    .
    Format : Matroska at 11.2 Mbps
    Length : 6.98 GiB for 1h 29mn 32s 864ms

    Video #0 : AVC at 8 974 Kbps
    Aspect : 1920 x 800 (2.400) at 23.976 fps

    Audio #0 : DTS at 1 509 Kbps
    Infos : 6 channels, 48.0 KHz
    Language : en

    Audio #1 : AC-3 at 640 Kbps
    Infos : 6 channels, 48.0 KHz
    Language : en

    Text #0 : VobSub
    Language : nl
    Text #1 : VobSub
    Language : nl
    Text #2 : UTF-8
    Language : nl
    .
    Enjoy

    Source: http://www.torrentbit.net/torrent/2657544/The%20Big%20Wedding%20(2013)%201080p%20BluRay%20AC3+DTS%20HQ%20NL%20Subs/

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    NV Energy Keeps Dividend Steady

    Utility operator?NV Energy announced yesterday its third-quarter dividend of $0.19 per share, the same rate it's paid for the past two quarters after raising the payout 12%, from $0.17 per share.

    The board of directors said the quarterly dividend is payable on Sept. 18 to the holders of record at the close of business on Sept. 3.?The regular dividend payment equates to a $0.76-per-share annual dividend, yielding 3.2% based on the closing price today of NV Energy's stock.

    NVE Dividend Chart

    NVE Dividend data by YCharts

    The article NV Energy Keeps Dividend Steady originally appeared on Fool.com.

    Fool contributor Rich Duprey has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

    Copyright ? 1995 - 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

    Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2013/08/02/nv-energy-keeps-dividend-steady/

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    Pacino movie films in middle of concert by Chicago

    LOS ANGELES (AP) ? An Al Pacino movie broke out in the middle of a concert by the band Chicago, with thousands of fans serving as extras.

    Cameras were wheeled onstage during intermission of the group's show at the Greek Theatre on Friday night to film a scene from Pacino's upcoming movie "Imagine," in which he plays aging rock star Danny Collins.

    With coaching from the director, the crowd chanted the name of Pacino's character as the 73-year-old actor walked on stage to sing "Hey Baby Doll" in a black suit. The movie co-stars Michael Caine, Annette Bening and Jennifer Garner.

    "This is an improvisation," Pacino told the crowd. "You just came in and got it. That's not easy."

    Chicago's band members remained on stage to watch and clap along during the 25-minute filming. After a few takes, the crowd grew restless and there was scattered booing for the real musicians to resume playing.

    Earlier in Chicago's set, Joe Mantegna of CBS' "Criminal Minds" joined his hometown band to sing "If You Leave Me Now."

    Pacino returned to the stage during Chicago's encore and sang and danced to their hit "25 or 6 to 4."

    "For a shy guy from the South Bronx, this has been great," Pacino said.

    Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pacino-movie-films-middle-concert-chicago-073513803.html

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    Album Review: LYCUS Tempest - Metal Injection | Reviews | Metal ...

    In the realm of doom metal, heaviness is king above all. There are plenty of pretenders to the throne out there, but Lycus have proven they are the real deal on their very first album. You'd be hard pressed to come up with an album that rivals?Tempest?in sheer heaviness that's come out this year.?Tempest?is a fitting title for this album, too. It's the perfect description for the forty-odd minutes of funeral doom, black metal, and drone that this three track LP contains.

    Tempest?begins with "Coma Burn", a lumbering 11 minute epic that features death metal growling accompanied by cavernous chanting. The majority of this sprawling track is traditional funeral doom that lurches along menacingly until about the half-way point, when a short blast of black metal tremolo picking erupts out of nowhere to shake things up. After this brief interlude, the song slows back down to a crawl for the remaining minutes.

    Tempest by Lycus

    After "Coma Burn" comes to a close, "Engravings" picks up with more chanting and what could almost be considered a soaring guitar melody by funeral doom standards. Much like "Coma Burn", the measured crawl of "Engravings" is interrupted by a blackened section. This time it's shrieking vocals and blast beats rather than furious tremolo picking, though. At a mere nine minutes in length, "Engravings" is over before you know it, but that's okay because the album closer is a beast.

    At 20 minutes in length, "Tempest" is a monstrous song by any measurement. Although, it should be noted that the final 8 minutes of the track is just droning guitars and noise. Still, this a great track, and it closes the album out perfectly. It combines all of the earlier musical elements like the chanting and black metal influence and builds on them with the hypnotic droning that closes the album out.

    Although Tempest is 40 minutes long, it seems much shorter because the three tracks flow into each other so well. Listening to the album, it's not always clear where one song ends and the next begins. This is largely because all three songs contain similar musical themes. This is less of an album in the conventional sense and more like one long track that's been broken up in to three separate acts.

    Lycus have definitely created one of the better albums of 2013 with Tempest. This music is so heavy, but it's also almost meditative thanks to the drone aspects. It's easy to accidentally listen to this thing two or three times in a row and not even be a aware of it because you just get lost in the album. Tempest is a must purchase for fans of doom metal, no question about it. The album is out now and you can purchase the digital album through 20 Buck Spin's Bandcamp page here or purchase a physical CD here.

    Source: http://www.metalinjection.net/reviews/album-review-lycus-tempest?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=album-review-lycus-tempest

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    Home Office anti-immigration Twitter campaign is start of ?the UK Hunger Games?

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    If we decide to change our e-mail practices, we will post those changes to this privacy statement, the homepage, and other places we think appropriate so that you are aware of what information we collect, how we use it, and under what circumstances, if any, we disclose it.

    If we make material changes to our e-mail practices, we will notify you here, by e-mail, and by means of a notice on our home page.

    3. Third Party Advertisers

    The advertising banners and other forms of advertising appearing on this Web site are sometimes delivered to you, on our behalf, by a third party. In the course of serving advertisements to this site, the third party may place or recognize a unique cookie on your browser. For more information on cookies, you can visit www.cookiecentral.com.

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    Source: http://article.wn.com/view/2013/08/02/Home_Office_antiimmigration_Twitter_campaign_is_start_of_the/

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