2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid: Active Noise Cancellation Helps Deliver ...

? All-new 2013 Ford Fusion Hybrid delivers EPA-certified 47 mpg city and 47 mpg highway for a 47 mpg combined rating, with Active Noise Cancellation technology

? Fusion Hybrid engineers tuned the gasoline engine more efficiently in rpm ranges that typically produce unpleasant powertrain sounds, now suppressed by an advanced noise cancellation system to give driver and passengers a quiet ride

Powertrain noise in the all-new Ford?Fusion Hybrid is like the proverbial tree that fell in the forest. With Active Noise Cancellation technology on board, if you don?t hear it, is it really even there?

Active Noise Cancellation technology helps enable the 2013 Fusion Hybrid sedan to deliver EPA-certified 47 mpg city and 47 mpg highway ratings that combine for 47 mpg overall.

The fuel economy connection may not be obvious, but Active Noise Cancellation allows Ford engineers to tune the car for more fuel-efficient operation.

Calibrating an engine requires careful balance between delivering the desired performance with the lowest possible fuel consumption and emissions, all while keeping it pleasant to drive.

?The Fusion Hybrid leverages this advanced technology to help deliver maximum fuel economy for the customer,? said Henry Ford Technical Fellow for NVH (Noise, Vibration and Harshness) Dr. Takeshi Abe. ?Reduced powertrain noise in the passenger compartment becomes the icing on the cake.?

At the lower speeds that help efficiency, engines produce booming, low-frequency sounds that can be unpleasant to the driver and passengers. Without Active Noise Cancellation, engineers have to keep the engine out of this operating range, sacrificing efficiency.

Yet to achieve peak fuel economy, a creative solution must be applied harnessing advanced audio technology to eradicate this unwanted sound.

A predictive control system notes driver behavior and how the engine responds, anticipating noise before it is even generated.

Three highly sensitive microphones are mounted in the Fusion Hybrid?s interior headliner ? two over the first seating row and one over the rear ? to detect and measure engine noise. These microphones send a signal to the Active Noise Cancellation control module in real time.

The module instantaneously and continuously generates opposing sound waves. This reversed wave is directed through the Fusion Hybrid?s audio system, combining with the original engine noise wave to cancel out any potentially objectionable sound.

The combination of the proactive and reactive signals ultimately provides a more pleasing effect for driver and passengers.

The infographic below depicts Active Noise Cancellation technology at work, showing the movement pattern of sound travel within the car. The lower panel depicts the cancellation of unwanted sounds, resulting in minimized residual noise.

The Fusion Hybrid appears in Ford dealerships nationwide this fall

Source: http://www.energytrend.com/Ford_EV_20120927

the talented mr ripley weather new orleans orcl the hartford

Making Family Fitness a Priority | Plantation General Hospital

National Family Health and Fitness Day is Saturday, but an active lifestyle is worth pursuing every day.

We know your busy family doesn't need one more thing added onto a to-do list. But this task can be fun.

Everyone in your family ? from the youngest member to the oldest ? can benefit from regular physical activity. Besides fending off childhood obesity, sports and exercise can relieve stress, improve sleep, increase energy, strengthen bones and develop confidence. When done as a family, physical activity becomes a great way to allow families to bond and support each other, while they improve their health.

Not sure how you can get started? Here are some ways you can make family fitness a priority:

• Boost your daily activity. Park farther from your destination when you go to the store, ride bikes to work or school, and exercise in front of the television.
• Get social. Plan activities with friends that involve exercise. Organize physical games everyone can play at parties. Join the YMCA or a running club.
• Carve out time. Take a walk after dinner with your family. Get active on weekends.
• Schedule it. Write down your plans on the family calendar and stick to them. Commit to classes, exercise groups or organized sports.
• Simplify. Try activities that require minimal equipment and planning ? walking, running, jumping rope, aerobics.
• Limit screen time. Sometimes you just need to turn off the television and computers. This frees up more time for the whole family to be active, according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

Plantation General Hospital is committed to providing high-quality, family-centered health care. If you need to find a pediatric specialist for your children or you need a checkup for yourself, we are happy to give you a referral through Consult-A-Nurse, a free service. Just call? 1-888-256-7724 or search our online physician locator here.

Related Posts:
Kids and Sports: Does It Get Too Competitive?
Ideas for Keeping Your Kids Physically Active
Top Tips for Lowering Your Blood Pressure

?

Categories: Uncategorized | Tags: Broward hospitals, childhood obesity, children, exercise, family, Family Health and Fitness Day, fitness, Florida, health, parents, plantation, Plantation General Hospital, sports, weight. Bookmark the permalink.

Source: http://blog.plantationgeneral.com/2012/09/27/making-family-fitness-a-priority/

hines ward alex smith alex smith robert deniro mexico news the talented mr ripley weather new orleans

iStabilizer Monopod

• Pros Extends up to three feet. Easy to adjust. Smartphone mount included. Works with most compact cameras and camcorders.
• Cons Need to use timer or remote when fully extended.
• Bottom Line The iStabilizer Monopod is a simple and easy, but its included smartphone mount sets it apart, extending the reach of your mobile device for self portraits, solo video shoots, and capturing scenes over obstacles or crowds.

By Eugene Kim

The iStabilizer Monopod ($34.95 direct) is a simple handheld monopod that extends the reach of cameras beyond arm's length, but where most similar options end at small cameras and camcorders, the iStabilizer Monopod includes a special spring-loaded mount for use with a variety of smartphones. That added feature, plus the usefulness of monopods for self-photography or simply extending the reach of a camera,?makes the iStabilizer version a solid addition to any photographer's accessory arsenal.?

It's tough to get creative when you're designing a monopod, which is basically a single metal rod, but the telescoping metal iStabilizer does distinguish itself in a few key ways. There are no knobs and locks to engage when extending and collapsing the rod. Instead, simply twisting individual segments counterclockwise allows for adjustments, and a simple twist clockwise locks it back into place. There are four segments that, when fully extended, reach a length of 3 feet. At the base is a soft padding, wrist strap, and threaded hole for attaching to a standard tripod.

At the opposite end is a translucent piece that can twist and pivot, with a small knob for locking in desired positions. The piece has a standard ?-inch threaded camera mount, but the iStabilizer Monopod comes with a smartphone mount already attached. It's the same mount found on the iStabilizer Dolly, which helps enable smooth tracking and panning shots, and uses a spring loaded vice to grip onto devices. The mount opens up to 2.75-inches wide, which is just wide enough to fit a large phone like a Samsung Galaxy S III. You can remove that mount and attach a standard point-and-shoot camera or camcorder that weighs less than 12.3 ounces. There's also a small protrusion at the end with a small mirror, which works well for self portraits.

The iStabilizer Monopod works exactly as advertised, making it easy to capture self portraits, shoot videos of yourself, and capture shots over large crowds. Triggering pictures at a distance, however, can be problematic unless you use a timer. To be fair though, this is a problem with any monopod. ?A wireless remote like the Satechi Bluetooth Multi-Media Remote would be a great companion, allowing you to access your iPhone's camera shutter from afar. Not everyone will need the iStabilizer Monopod, but for those who do take a lot of self pictures and videos , especially with a smartphone, it's worth a look.

By Eugene Kim Junior Analyst, Consumer Electronics

Before joining the consumer electronics team at PCMag, Eugene worked at local news station NY1 doing everything from camera work to writing scripts. He grew up in Montclair, New Jersey and graduated from the University...

');}} '); } }

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/Sm3atj8EO9U/0,2817,2409980,00.asp

soa apple apple 9/11 Jerry Lawler andy murray godaddy

Why Do Businesses Use A Send SMS Message Online Service

Communications:Mobile-Cell-Phone-SMS Articles from EzineArticles.com

Why Do Businesses Use A Send SMS Message Online Service?

Any business today knows how important it is for them to be able to communicate effectively with their clients if they want to see theirs thrive. One way of course of doing this is through them sending information regularly to their customers by sending them SMS messages.

GoArticles Traffic Analysis Recent Articles

The SEO Big Four

Search Engine Optimization, or SEO, best practices can?t be mastered or accomplished in a day. It requires getting to know Google like an intimate friend ? what it likes, what it doesn?t like, where it ?

Source: http://www.cursebuster.vpanelhosting.net/wordpress/?p=2173

houston texans texans lana del rey snl enemy of the state golden globe nominees joe philbin miss america pageant 2012

Source: http://peter3735.typepad.com/blog/2012/09/why-do-businesses-use-a-send-sms-message-online-service.html

ncaa tournament marchmadness mike d antoni nba trade rumors 2012 ncaa tournament schedule laurent robinson dantoni

Source: http://medicate-sophi.blogspot.com/2012/09/why-do-businesses-use-send-sms-message.html

george lucas numerology the game new hampshire primary hue jackson coachella 2012 line up lsu

Job Search Tool Kit and Resume Review Free for Veterans and ...

?

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep 23, 2012 -
Community Business College announced today that it has expanded its job placement services with a program designed to help military families achieve success in the workplace. Military family members can now receive the Community Business College Job Search Tool Kit package at no cost to the recipients. The kit includes the college?s guide, How to Find a Job When ?Nobody's Hiring? which provides tips to find the ?hidden? jobs.

The project is funded by the college?s ?Thank You For Your Family?s Service? military family support project. The institutional director of training, Frana Hamilton, said ?the more support we can provide for military members, veterans and their loved ones, the more we can ?serve those who serve.? This new program is just one of the ways we can serve.?

There are three components to the job search tool kit package: 1) a resume review, 2) job search guide, and 3) a one-month world language class.
All these services are provided at no charge to U.S. military veterans, spouses and dependents upon verification of eligibility.

Free Resume Review
Military family members and veterans can submit their resumes to the Community Business College placement department for analysis and review. The school staff provide feedback to the

Free Job Search Guide
The guide has been developed by the school?s successful job placement department and is written in an easy-to-use style with tips and strategies for finding jobs that go beyond the proverbial ?low hanging fruit? that most job seekers see. There are tell-tale signs that a company is about to hire and the guide offers techniques for being one of the first resumes read, even before job advertising has begun.

Free Language Class
The program offers military members and their immediate families a 1-month world language class. Students can choose their preferred new language to learn via the college?s online e-classroom.
For the past 5 years, Community Business College has offered a world language component of classes for its students to become bilingual, or, if already bilingual, trilingual. The institution?s job placement department has found that employers are looking more and more for people who can communicate in different languages. Even if not completely proficient in a new language, employers have accepted candidate?s progress in learning a language. The school reports that, so far, Spanish is the most popular second language, with Mandarin Chinese the runner-up.
Military family members and dependents have 15 languages from which to choose including English as a Second Language (ESL) during the month-long class. They may also switch languages if they so desire.

Military spouses, veterans and military dependents can get more information or find out if they qualify by calling the school at (209) 529-3648 (209-529-DO IT) or by sending an e-mail to JobToolKit @ communitybusinesscollege.edu

About Community Business College
Community Business College has been providing adult vocational education for over 14 years. The school participates in the Department of Defense?s MyCAA program allowing military spouses to receive a full scholarship to online and campus-based vocational classes and job placement assistance. From ESL training to medical support classes, the school has helped military spouses and veterans get job training and employment in a challenging economy. With its ?Where You Go, We Go? job placement services, the school helps military spouses make the transition to new employers through deployments.

The Modesto, California based college is one of the top 1,518 colleges, universities and trade schools to be named to the ?Military Friendly Schools? list by G.I. Jobs Magazine for the third year in a row. Schools are designated as military friendly by offering scholarships and discounts, veterans? clubs, full-time staff, military credit and other services to those who served

The college maintains its business-based accreditation through the NeCal Better Business Bureau and currently holds a satisfaction rating of A+.

Other military-related programs include accepting nominations of names and addresses for care packages to deployed active duty service members and sending grocery coupons to families stationed overseas. Military members can continue to use manufacturers? coupons for 180 days past their printed expiration date.

Photo:
http://www.prlog.org/11981548/1

Source: http://www.prlog.org/11981548-job-search-tool-kit-and-resume-review-free-for-veterans-and-military-family-members.html

deadliest catch dwts sean hannity bobby petrino fired buffett rule lollapalooza lineup joss whedon

Sundance to honor film critic Roger Ebert

{ttle}

{cptn}","template_name":"ss_thmb_play_ttle","i18n":{"end_of_gallery_header":"End of Gallery","end_of_gallery_next":"View Again"},"metadata":{"pagination":"{firstVisible} - {lastVisible} of {numItems}","ult":{"spaceid":"85529917","sec":""}}},{"id": "hcm-carousel-1246084332", "dataManager": C.dmgr, "mediator": C.mdtr, "group_name":"hcm-carousel-1246084332", "track_item_selected":1,"tracking":{ "spaceid" : "85529917", "events" : { "click" : { "any" : { "yui-carousel-prev" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"prev","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } }, "yui-carousel-next" : { "node" : "a", "data" : {"sec":"HCMOL on article right rail","slk":"next","itc":"1" }, "bubbles" : true, "test": function(params){ var carousel = params.obj.getCarousel(); var pages = carousel._pages; // no more pages, don't beacon again // if same page, don't beacon if(("_ult_current_page" in carousel) && carousel._ult_current_page==pages.cur) return false; // keep track of current position within this closure carousel._ult_current_page = pages.cur; return true; } } } } } } })); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings = '"projectId": "10001256862979", "documentName": "", "documentGroup": "", "ywaColo" : "vscale3", "spaceId" : "85529917" ,"customFields" : { "12" : "classic", "13" : "story" }'; Y.Media.YWA.init(Y.namespace("Media").ywaSettings); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {(function() { try{ if (Math.floor(Math.random()*10) == 1) { var loc = window.location, decoded = decodeURI(loc.pathname), encoded = encodeURI(decoded), uri = loc.protocol + "//" + loc.host + encoded + ((loc.search.length > 0) ? loc.search + '&' : '?') + "_cacheable=1", xmlhttp; if (window.XMLHttpRequest) xmlhttp=new XMLHttpRequest(); else xmlhttp=new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); xmlhttp.open("GET",uri,true); xmlhttp.send(); } }catch(e){} })(); }); Y.later(10, this, function() {if(document.onclick===YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.newClick){document.onclick=YAHOO.Media.PreventDefaultHandler.oldClick;} }); }); });

Judge: Police to enforce Ariz. immigration law now

PHOENIX (AP) ? A judge has ruled that police in Arizona can immediately start enforcing the most contentious section of the state's immigration law, marking the first time officers can carry out a requirement that officers, while enforcing other laws, question the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally.

The decision on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Susan Bolton is the latest milestone in a two-year legal battle over the requirement. It culminated in a U.S. Supreme Court decision in June that upheld the provision on the grounds that it doesn't conflict with federal law.

Opponents who call the requirement the "show me your papers" provision responded to the Supreme Court decision by asking Bolton to block the requirement on different grounds, arguing that it would lead to systematic racial profiling and unreasonably long detentions of Latinos if it's enforced.

Other less controversial parts of the law have been in effect since July 2010, such as minor changes to the state's 2005 immigrant smuggling law and a ban on state and local government agencies from restricting the enforcement of federal immigration law. But those provisions have gotten little, if any, use since they were put into effect.

Arizona's law was passed in 2010 amid voter frustration with the state's role as the busiest illegal entry point into the country. Five states ? Alabama, Georgia, Indiana, South Carolina and Utah ? have adopted variations on Arizona's law.

Despite the decision that lets Arizona's questioning requirement take effect, some backers of the law questioned the level of cooperation they will get from federal immigration agents, who will be called to verify people's immigration status and be responsible for picking up illegal immigrants from local officers.

Federal immigration officers have said they will help, but only if doing so conforms to their priorities, including catching repeat violators and identifying and removing those who threaten public safety and national security.

If federal agents decline to pick up illegal immigrants, local officers in some cases will likely have to let them go unless they're suspected of committing a crime that would require them to be brought to jail.

To the supporters of Arizona's law, the questioning requirement was the most salient part of the statute, whose stated purpose was to make attrition through enforcement the state's immigration policy. Immigrant rights groups believe the requirement presented the most opportunities for civil rights abuses.

Among the opponents of the law was the Obama administration, which filed a challenge that led to the most controversial parts of the statute being put on hold.

Shortly before the law was to take effect in July 2010, Bolton prevented police from enforcing the questioning requirement and other parts of the statute, ruling the Obama administration would likely succeed in showing federal law trumps the state law.

Gov. Jan Brewer, who signed the measure into law, appealed the ruling, lost at the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and took her case to the Supreme Court. The Obama administration failed to persuade the nation's highest court to strike down the questioning requirement on the argument that federal law trumps the state law.

A coalition of civil rights, religious and business groups then asked Bolton in July to prevent police from enforcing the questioning requirement. They offered different reasons in trying to put the brakes on the provision.

This time, the opponents sought to block the provision by arguing that Latinos in Arizona would face systematic racial profiling and unreasonably long detentions if that section is enforced.

Lawyers for Brewer urged the judge to let the requirement go into effect. They argued that the law's opponents were merely speculating in their racial profiling claims, that police have received training to avoid discriminatory practices and that officers must have "reasonable suspicion" that a person is in the country illegally to trigger the requirement.

Bolton denied the coalition's request on Sept. 5.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-09-18-Arizona%20Immigration/id-28f127c301194ce2802f553f1624cfb0

the curious case of benjamin button secret service prostitute rich ross april 20 jennifer love hewitt secret service prostitution

Protection for humans on Mars

ScienceDaily (Sep. 18, 2012) ? For six weeks NASA's Mars rover Curiosity has been working on the Red Planet. NASA also plans to send humans to Mars within the next 20 years. On the flight and during the stay on Moon or Mars the astronauts have to be protected against long exposure to cosmic radiation that might cause cancer.

On behalf of the European Space Agency ESA the GSI Helmholtzzentrum f?r Schwerionenforschung GmbH tests whether Moon and Mars regolith can be used to build shieldings for ground stations.

On Earth the atmosphere and the magnetic field weaken cosmic rays. But on Moon and Mars they pelt down unhamperdly. The cosmic radiation can harm astronauts and could cause cancer in the long run as a result of damage in DNA and cells.

Chiara La Tessa is manager of experiments in GSI biophysics. She explains why Moon or Mars ground stations would not be built from terrestrial high tech material: "In space travels every gram counts. Transporting building material through space would lead to a cost explosion. That is why ground stations would basically be built from Moon and Mars regolith -- especially the shielding. We know from the analyses done by rovers what the local sand and stones consist of. With this information one can produce Moon and Mars regolith on Earth and we test it for its properties." As cosmic rays are nothing else but fast ions that were accelerated by star explosions they can be simulated by an accelerator. The GSI facility is one of the few able to reproduce cosmic rays in an original way.

After the GSI team tested how well the stone slabs can protect against radiation in the American accelerator laboratory in Brookhaven, they now explore how many neutrons are produced in the materials when radiated.

If cosmic rays strike the stones with full speed they smash some atomic nuclei to pieces. The resulting free neutrons have a different effect on the human body than cosmic radiation. Depending on their speed they might even be more harmful.

At GSI the scientists now tested how strong the neutron effect is in Moon and Mars regolith and how far it passes through the material. ?I cannot estimate how the material is going to react to the radiation yet," says La Tessa. ?Will many neutrons be produced? How many fast and how many slow ones? This we will know when we analyzed our experiment data."

The tests funded by ESA were coordinated by Thales Alenia Space Italia. The prime contractor of ESA's project also designed the test plan in cooperation with GSI, chose the materials and evaluats the results.

Share this story on Facebook, Twitter, and Google:

Other social bookmarking and sharing tools:

---

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/space_time/astronomy/~3/tuQMLKdCpZw/120918121545.htm

patriots broncos game saints willis mcgahee willis mcgahee ship aground off italy nfl playoff schedule 2012 nfl live

Nokia details new ruggedized shells for Lumia 820

Nokia's Lumia 820 was firmly stuck in the Lumia 920's shadow -- in fact it barely figured in Nokia's big presentation. But one thing it holds over its bigger, publicity-hungry brother is the ability to switch covers, so while the 820 won't get its wireless charging built-in, a specific case can add the same functionality. Well, we knew that already, but Nokia's now revealed the phone's own range of dedicated ruggedized cases. These covers, arriving in green, yellow and orange, will measure in at the same length and width as the others, but will protrude marginally more, offering some protection to that 4.3-inch screen when it comes into contact with surfaces. A "rubber-like" trim will afford some extra protection to those glossy corners too. Expect the toughened cases to appear alongside the Lumia 820 at launch -- whenever that is.

Filed under: Cellphones, Mobile

Nokia details new ruggedized shells for Lumia 820 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Sep 2012 03:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  Nokia Conversations  | Email this | Comments

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/09/18/nokia-lumia-820-ruggedized-cases/

felix hernandez Ron Palillo julia child Texas A&m taylor swift taylor swift katy perry

Robbaz Viking Gaming Setup ? "Viking ... - Computer Games Articles

My 300th video! ? Like & Favorite!
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Robbazking
Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/RobbazTube

Computer Specs
Corsair Obsidian 800D
ASUS Rampage II Extreme X58
Intel Core i7 920 C0 @ 21?200 4200MHz 1.38v
Corsair H50
Corsair XMS3 6GB DDR3 1600MHz CL9
Corsair AirFlow Fan v2
Corsair Force Series 3 240gb SSD
Black magic intensity Pro
2x HD6950 2GB unlocked to HD6970 2GB
3x Samsung Spintpoint F3 1TB 7200RPM 32MB
Corsair TX750W
3x BenQ 24" E2400HD
Consoles:
Xbox 360 core & Xbox 360 Slim 250gb
Playstation 3 60gb & Playstation 3 Slim 320gb

My computer is 3,5years old "except gpu, case and cooler.
Monitors is 2,5years old, Tv 4 year old, the SSD is a month old.

robbaz apartment setup led computer viking gaming crib home cod game xbox 360 ps3 playstation pc hd6950 crossfire triple monitor eyefinity hd pvr socket 2011 sandy bridge i7 920 evga gigabyt fiberoptic mw2 games maximum highest minecraft battlefield call of duty modern warefare laptop asus intel amd 2012 ati nvidia eyefinity "Triple Monitor" 5760?1080 hd high

Tags: computer games, online games, video games
If you like this post then please subscribe to my full RSS feed.
You can also subscribe to the Computer Game Articles blog by email.

This entry was posted on Sunday, September 16th, 2012 at 16:42 and is filed under Articles. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Source: http://www.computergamearticles.com/articles/robbaz-viking-gaming-setup-viking-commentary/

leap year moratorium dwts season 14 cast leap day michigan primary results olympia snowe davey jones dead

Key concepts in second language acquisition - Digital Culture ...

Review of Shawn Loewen and Hayo Reinders? Key concepts in second language acquisition

Nazanin Ghodrati

Published Online: September 15, 2012
Full Text: HTML, PDF (304 KB)

Book Review

Loewen, S., & Reinders, H. (2011). Key concepts in Second Language Acquisition. Hampshire: Palgrave Macmillan. ISBN 0230230180, 256 pages, $23 US.

Key concepts in Second Language Acquisition is a user-friendly terminology guide which, according to the back cover, is the ideal quick reference text for students of linguistics and language teachers alike, and for researchers as well according to the authors themselves. The book is written by Shawn Loewen, an Associate Professor in the Second Language Studies program at Michigan State University, and Hayo Reinders, Head of Learner Development at Middlesex University. The book consists of a four-page introduction, a glossary holding 453 alphabetically-ordered entries accompanied with illustrations (i.e. tables & figures), cross-referencing of related entries when needed, and key references for each entry. The book finishes with an index of key references.

What does it mean to acquire a second language? How is a second language defined in a multilingual context? Key concepts in Second Language Acquisition raises these critical questions in an effort to consider them (not to answer them) throughout the book by providing concise definitions of key terms and concepts in the field of second language acquisition (SLA). In the introduction section of the book, in an effort to define SLA, the authors break down the term into its parameters (i.e. second, language, acquisition). The above critical questions are raised when the authors define the last two parameters (i.e. language, acquisition).

I believe the authors have been only partly successful in reaching the purpose of considering the above key questions in SLA. For instance, when defining the term language, the authors refer to different fields of study such as linguistics, pragmatics, and discourse, and to how each field views language use differently. While discussing these different views, relevant key terms and concepts are mentioned, all of which the reader expects to be included as separate entries in the glossary. However, a number of them such as lexis, pronunciation, dialects, language variation, and mutual intelligibility are missing, even though they are stated in the introduction section of the book. One might argue that although the term pronunciation is not defined, phonology is; or although the term lexis is not defined, lexicon is. Even if the terms are tapping roughly the same concepts, not including them as separate entries in the glossary shows inconsistency in the authors? selection, since other terms tapping roughly the same concepts such as vocabulary and lexicon are included as separated entries in the glossary (see p. xii). In other cases, key terms that are raised as points of concern in SLA such as standard vs. non-standard language, learning vs. acquisition, and development vs. acquisition are defined and relevant issues are explained in the glossary. Therefore, the authors have accomplished the stated objective of the book in these cases.

As for the glossary itself, the power of this book lies, partly, in its scope. In contrast with A Glossary of Applied Linguistics by Davies (2005) which is criticised for its lack of clear and predetermined criteria for its selection of terms and concepts (Contesse, 2007), the criteria for selecting terms and concepts in Loewen and Reinders? glossary is limited to defining those which are a) unique to SLA, and b) from other disciplines such as linguistics or education but influential in SLA (e.g. Universal Grammar, Sociocultural Theory). Those terms and concepts that are primarily linguistic and/or sociolinguistic in nature and those only related to teaching methodology, such as grammar explanations, are not included. Such a narrow scope not only increases the specificity of the content but also that of the audience; those interested in areas of applied linguistics which are for instance ?purely? linguistic or sociolinguistic in nature might find it far less inclusive as opposed to those interested in SLA and L2 learning.

Another strength of the book is its inclusion of list of key references to published works, not at the end of the book as bibliography, but proceeding right after each entry. This indicates that the authors understand the limitation of the book which aims to provide ?only an introduction to the most important concepts in the field? (p. xiii), and therefore the need to refer the reader to other prominent sources on the topic. Keeping references close to each entry does not only make key influential sources, which are relevant to each concept, easily accessible, but also gives the reader exposure to authors and articles that have significantly shaped each of the key terms and concepts.

In conclusion, for Loewen and Reinders, the need for a key concept book about SLA arises due to the existence of three realities: 1) formalisation of SLA as an academic discipline, 2) growth of second language industry, hence its economic reality, 3) concern for the questions of what it means to acquire a second language, and how a second language is defined in a multilingual context. Although, at times the latter is not fully accomplished, I believe, Loewen and Reinders have been successful in providing an up-to-date, clear, objective and in-depth yet concise source of definitions of key terminologies in SLA. Key concepts in Second Language Acquisition proves to be a reliable quick-reference text for students, teachers and researchers in the field.

References

Contesse, C. A. (2007). [Review of the book A Glossary of Applied Linguistics, by Davies, A.]. RESLA, 20, 217-220.

Davies, A. (2005). A Glossary of Applied Linguistics. Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Biographical Statement

Nazanin Ghodrati is a PhD candidate and tutor in ESL and CALL subjects at the University of Melbourne, School of Languages and Linguistics. Her PhD research is on the development of collaborative critical thinking in multicultural blended learning contexts with specific focus on ESL students. Her research interests are blended language learning, computer-supported collaborative learning and critical thinking. She has recently published a paper in Australian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (Ascilite) 2011 conference: Changing Demands, Changing Directions.

Email: gnazanin@unimelb.edu.au

Source: http://www.digitalcultureandeducation.com/uncategorized/dce_006_ghodrati/

sessions

'Lincoln' Trailer Debut: Watch It Now!

Daniel Day-Lewis embodies the iconic president in nearly two-minute preview of Steven Spielberg's film.
By Kara Warner

Daniel Day-Lewis in "Lincoln"
Photo: Touchstone Pictures

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1693820/lincoln-movie-trailer-premiere.jhtml

nba finals K Michelle roger clemens multiple sclerosis falling skies rodney king sandusky

Video: Former Fed Gov: New Stimulus Could Be Effective

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

Source: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/cnbc/49011585/

rough riders joy division dodd frank norco rand paul detained nbc news asexual

Self Improvement Personal Development And Success Strategies ...

New Personal Development Program Pays 51% On All Upsells & Hard-code Affiliate Id - Get Paid For Lifetime! Salescopy With Proven Sales Conversion For Self Improvement & Achieve Success Niche. Get Affiliate Promo Tools: www.successtrace.com/affiliate.html Display Full Page Giuliana & Bill - How to Visualize Success Season: 5 Giuliana & Bill Season: 5 Episode: 4 Giuliana and Bill have faced many struggles--all of which they overcame by positive thinking. Hear how their outlook shaped their outcome. Ranked 3.60 / 5 | 425 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (00:00) Submitted By: hulu Tags: Giuliana Bill Make Money Fast Self Help Positive Thinking Optimist Optimism Lifestyle And Fashion Giuliana & Bill Categories: Entertainment Law of Attraction Subliminal Success http://www.manifestwealthmentor.com/subliminals.php - Use Subliminal Audio To Multiply Your Money Attraction Results Have you used subliminal audio to attract money into your life? Perhaps you have used subliminal messaging for success in some areas of your life but nonetheless can't quite appreciate how money attraction works? It Will not Do This Like a great many other areas of development when using subliminals it is important to note that you'll most likely not wake up with a mysterious check in the mail the morning after using a money attraction subliminal. There are a lot of stories about people receiving mysterious checks through the mail or coming into massive sums of money out of the blue - either when listening to subliminals, or when using some sort of tool to help them with the law of attraction. This sadly is rare, and is the exception, rather than the standard result. The truth is money attraction is more of a gradual process, and works better in a couple of days and a few weeks than the instant you start out listening. How It Actually Works Again subliminal audio is a gradual process and is designed to change your thoughts and beliefs about money and align your subconscious mind to focus on bringing money into your life. This occurs naturally, and can not be forced.This is why it requires different amounts of time for everyone - many people have a lot more anxieties and mental blockages about money and this accordingly takes longer for them to really shed them and focus on money in a constructive way. It works in 3 simple ways: To focus you on money in a positive way and really make you more determined than ever before to bring money by the bucket load into your life. To align your subconscious mind completely to your money attraction goals. Your whole mind and body will be completely aligned on bringing money into your life - making it much more likely to occur. Ultimately it will align your mind fully so that you believe in the law of attraction 100%. You will totally believe that it is possible for YOU to bring money into your life through the power of your thoughts. Only when you really believe this does it actually become possible. Get started today using the world's most powerful attract money audio album from http://www.manifestwealthmentor.com/subliminals.php Ranked 4.50 / 5 | 80 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (01:36) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Law-of-attraction Attraction Law Of Attraction Loa Mind Movie The-secret Secrets Money Make Money Fast Visualization Manifesting Personal-development Self-help Subliminal Subliminal-messaging Subliminal-messages Categories: People & Stories Will Smith Shares His Secrets of Success http://accelerateme.net - Will Smith shares his success philosophy Ranked 4.46 / 5 | 4903 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (09:57) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Will Smith Law Of Attraction Make Money Fast Self Help Self Improvement Personal Growth Achievement Categories: Entertainment Blast Off! The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality.. Book Trailer Allison Maslan introduces her book, Blast Off, The Surefire Success Plan To Launch Your Dreams Into Reality. (Morgan James, 2010) Get Ready to Love Your LIfe! Are you ready to launch your most passionate and prosperous decade ever? The burning question is Do you want to be in the same place you are now in ten years, or even five years? The truth is that you will be asking yourself that same question in another decade if you dont take action now. There is a completely fulfilling life just waiting to be claimed as your own. The next question is What are you waiting for? Through her proven Blast Off! formula, Allison Maslan will teach you step-by-step how to let go of limiting fears and beliefs, inspire you to tap into your burried passions, then give you a step-by-step plan to achieve your dreams in a new and prosperous career, find your soulmate, have more fun and adventure and create a fulfilliing spiritual path. On January 19th, 2010 Receive Over 20 Valuable Bonus Gifts from leading authors, coaches and teachers. Go to www.myblastoff.com/booklaunch. Rave Reviews For Blast Off "Blast Off! gives the what and how to create the personal and professional life of your dreams. Allison Maslan's easy-to-follow program offers a great recipe for prosperity, success and fulfillment." Marci Shimoff, NY Times bestselling author, Happy for No Reason, featured in The Secret "When I went to see Allison, I was, like many people, stuck and unfulfilled in my career. Allison helped me sort myself out and see my potential. She helped me find the clarity and the guts to take the leap. Thank goodness she did! Now I am the producer of my own national series television show on Discovery Health, have won 11 Emmy's and just about to publish my second book." Sam Zien,The Cooking Guy-Television Personality/Chef "Allison's book should never leave your sight. It contains a clear path for living your dream and getting more out of life. Here is your chance to stop dreaming about it once and for all and start making something great happen in your life and work. It is your desktop and bedside table companion for life!" Mark LeBlanc, author of Growing Your Business!, president of Small Business Success, Recent President, National Speakers Association "Allison Maslan bares her soul in this authentic book about living passionately and fully from the inside out. In Blast Off! she skillfully weaves the power of divine energy and the soul's purpose with nuts and bolts strategy and raw determination. The result is mesmerizing. After reading this book, you will not only know for certain that you can achieve your heart's desire, you will be equipped with the tools make it happen. She is brilliant at teaching others to tap into the deepest part of themselves and then helping them create their individual formula for success. I highly recommend this book." Ernest D. Chu, author of Soul Currency, spiritual community leader, and counselor "Allison Maslan has helped me more than anyone on my road to success. She is the real deal and living proof that you can achieve your dreams and live your best life possible! If you are ready to take the leap to a new life on all levels, Allison's Blast Off! Program will get you there." Mary Goulet, Author of Go With Your Gut and It's All About You, Co-Founder, Momstown.com "In Blast Off! Allison Maslan provides us with the keys to manifesting what in the yogic tradition are called the Four Fruits of Life-dharma (the true path), artha (prosperity), kama (love), and moksha (freedom). Allison shares generously from her life experiences and humorously recounts how from them she learned to discover her true calling, find the man of her dreams, build a successful business, face her fears, and have a lot of fun along the way. Allison's gift is to present universal and eternal principles in a way that is easy to understand and apply." Tim Miller, Master Ashtanga Teacher and Director, Ashtanga Yoga Center (Encinitas, California) "Allison Maslan's powerful book, Blast Off! gives the most direct path in inventing the career and personal life of your dreams. Her easy-to-follow flight plan is a profound mix of inspiration, passion, and success in the real world." Digby Diehl, New York Times and London Times bestselling author of over 30 books, including Million Dollar Mermaid, Remembering Grace, literary correspondent for ABC-TV's"Good Morning America," and founding editor of The Los Angeles Times Book Review Ranked 3.54 / 5 | 577 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (03:17) Submitted By: Allison Maslan Tags: Life Coaching Life Coach Blast Off Best Seller Success Book Motivational Make Money Fast Self Help Law Of Attraction Inspirational Goal Setting Achievement Soulmate Allison Maslan Business Consultant Business Coach Prosperity Categories: How To Alain De Botton: A Kinder, Gentler Philosophy of Success http://www.ted.com Alain de Botton examines our ideas of success and failure -- and questions the assumptions underlying these two judgments. Is success always earned? Is failure? He makes an eloquent, witty case to move beyond snobbery to find true pleasure in our work. TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Featured speakers have included Al Gore on climate change, Philippe Starck on design, Jill Bolte Taylor on observing her own stroke, Nicholas Negroponte on One Laptop per Child, Jane Goodall on chimpanzees, Bill Gates on malaria and mosquitoes, Pattie Maes on the "Sixth Sense" wearable tech, and "Lost" producer JJ Abrams on the allure of mystery. TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design, and TEDTalks cover these topics as well as science, business, development and the arts. Closed captions and translated subtitles in a variety of languages are now available on TED.com, at http://www.ted.com/translate. Watch a highlight reel of the Top 10 TEDTalks at http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/top10 Ranked 4.42 / 5 | 1149 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (16:52) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Alain De Botton TEDTalks TEDGlobal Talks Philosophy Make Money Fast Failure Self Help Schools Of Life Advice Categories: People & Stories Zig Ziglar, Strategies For Success Intro, Part 1 http://www.IWasBornToWin.com Hear my interview with Zig at IWasBornToWin.com Zig Ziglar is loved by many. He has traveled over 5 million miles inspiring and encouraging people to be their best. Ranked 4.50 / 5 | 190 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (07:34) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Zig Ziglar Was Born To Win Iwasborntowin James Smith Motivation Inspiration Make Money Fast Hope Lonely Winners Winning Goals Self Esteem Image Self-image Love Fear Pain Obstacles Adversity Categories: People & Stories 17 Success Principles - The Common Traits of Successful People 17 Success Principles - The Common Traits of Successful People video by Ahmad Sanusi Husain consultant-speaker-motivator Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia sanusi.my@gmail.com +6019-2348786 Do you want to be a successful entrepreneur and even a millionaire? If the answer is "Yes", your journey of a thousand miles and a thousand smiles starts here: http://www.vemmabuilder.com/584770805/ut Apply the 17 successful principles above, you are on the right track. Ranked 4.37 / 5 | 104 views | 1 comments Click here to watch the video (10:06) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: 17 Make Money Fast Principles Common Traits Successful People Dr. Napoleon Hill Dale Carnegie Pma Positive Mental Attitude Ahmad Sanusi Husain Teamwork Definiteness Purpose Master Mind Self-discipline Extra Mile Cosmic Habit Categories: People & Stories Stedman Graham Speaker, Author, and Success Coach Brooks International presents Stedman Graham. http://www.brooksinternational.com . Stedman Graham is an accomplished author and success coach. He has written or co-written several educational books about management, marketing, and success building. An inspiring speaker, Graham speaks to organizations around the country on issues surrounding success, self-empowerment, and diversity. A commitment to education and lifelong learning is central to Stedman Graham's philosophy. Graham is also a founder and former director of George Washington University's Forum for Sport and Event Management and Marketing - the first of its kind in the country. The Forum provides academic programming, career training, and business and employment research in sports and related industries, with a focus on minorities and women. Graham is a sought-after speaker and lecturer. Based on the precepts of You Can Make It Happen and Build Your Own Life Brand, he annually delivers his message to over 100 corporations, colleges, universities, high schools and not-for-profit organizations. Clients include the U.S. Department of Education, Morgan Stanley Dean Witter, and the U.S. Olympic Committee. Ranked 4.20 / 5 | 21 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (05:57) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Inspiring Speaker Author Success Coach Management Marketing Make Money Fast Self-Empowerment Diversity Education Learning Categories: People & Stories What is Success in Life and How to Achieve It Get your free ebook on mind Condition your mind to achieve success. Inspiration and motivation are the key to success. Ranked 3.74 / 5 | 657 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (01:21) Submitted By: cavideomarketing Tags: Make Money Fast Life Accomplish Your Goals Self-hypnosis Inspiration Motivation Law Attraction Categories: How To "Yes" You Can Do It. Achieve Success. Free Ebook http://www.directdirections.net/7keys/tosuccess.html A short inspirational and motivational video on how we can all achieve success in life for anything we want. A Free Ebook is available for download. Ranked 4.59 / 5 | 5634 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (01:17) Submitted By: videowhispers Tags: Self-help Personal Development Free Ebook Make Money Fast Achievement Life Money You Categories: How To Never Eat Alone - Relationships Are Core to Your Success Keith Ferrazzi explains that relationships are core to your success. Every relationship is at its core personal. For more information, go to www.keithferrazzi.com Ranked 4.50 / 5 | 28 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (02:06) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Keith Ferrazzi Never Eat Alone Self Improvement Personal Development Relationships Make Money Fast Business Categories: People & Stories The Way to Success by Swami Parthasarathy Swami Parthasarathy explains the foundations of success Ranked 4.20 / 5 | 94 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (03:21) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Concentration Help Intellect Parthasarathy Religion Self Spirituality Make Money Fast Swami Vedanta Wisdom Categories: People & Stories Brian Tracy's 21 Success Secrets of Self Made Millionaires http://www.21MillionaireSecrets.com 21 Success Secrets of Self Made Millionaires by Brian Tracy Ranked 4.10 / 5 | 768 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (03:34) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Brian Tracy Self Made Millionaire Categories: People & Stories Self-Motivation:the Key the Success Here is some "Happy" posters ive found over the internet. Hope you like the video SOng : superchick-get up Ranked 4.50 / 5 | 406 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (00:00) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Chicks Happy Motivation Self Super Superchick Categories: People & Stories Brian Tracy Success Interview http://tinyurl.com/2kq4ra. The Success Interview of Brian Tracy By Jerry Clark. How you can reach a level of success by following the success route of Brian and many others who follow his ways to reach their success Ranked 3.88 / 5 | 770 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (05:14) Submitted By: marsdentan Tags: Interviews Make Money Fast Brian Tracy Motivational Personal Development Tips Self-help Wealth Inspirational How Categories: How To People & Stories MIND MASSAGE For Entering Infinite Realms Of Success! You are henceforth choosing to enter into only the most wonderful situations and thus experiencing the most wonderful results! Musical Moment Mind Massage. Music by CHROMATICUS used with permission. Entranceicus-Inifiniticus available at Apple iTunes. Ranked 3.59 / 5 | 1090 views | 1 comments Click here to watch the video (00:49) Submitted By: newtheatron Tags: Affirmations Law Of Attraction Positive Thinking Hypnosis Massage Self Improvement Categories: How To Cool Commercials Inspiring Movie:The Secret That Motivates You Toward Success Sit back, relax and allow this parable on the Pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to Ranked 4.27 / 5 | 420 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (03:30) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Make Money Fast Inspiring Self-help Inspirational Movie The Secrets Law Of Attraction Dreams Personal Development Tony Robbins Categories: Entertainment Do You Affirmations! Attract Success Today Your subconscious mind is very powerful and accepts and believes any information it is given. So relax and enjoy this wonderful journey into a life of success. Use daily for at least one month. Ranked 4.44 / 5 | 1758 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (02:40) Submitted By: LiveTheSecret Tags: Do You Affirmations Make Money Fast Simmons Personal Development Self Help Visualization Law Of Categories: News & Events People & Stories Inspirational Movie for Your Success: The Impossible Dream How many times have you reached for something, felt it so close and then gave up? How many times have you decided to change your life, but you are still where you were? Everyone desires success to achieve the impossible dream, but few people actually achieve it. In this very rare and inspiring movie, you'll learn how to go beyond your limits and turn your level of commitment into a "leap of faith" to achieve what is important to you. If you loved this video, also visit http://www.inspirationjunction.com for more inspirational Flash movies and downloadable screensavers. Send them to your friends or loved ones (could be your spouse or just that special someone whom you really care for) and brighten their day :-) They wouldn't know unless you put your caring thoughts into actions to touch their hearts... Ranked 4.00 / 5 | 1928 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (02:12) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Attraction Dream Esteem Impossible Inspirational Kiyosaki Law Of Personal Robbins Secrets Self Make Money Fast The Videos Categories: Entertainment Sports Success Quotes & Quotations http://www.selfimprovementsguide.com Success Top 100 SUCCESS quotes and quotations. View the best success quotations and quotes, motivational quotes, life quotes, love quotes, sayings, proverbs, inspirational quotes, success quotes, affirmations, positive quotes, self improvement quotes, selfhelp quotes, hypnosis, happiness quotes, quotes for meditation & manifestation, popular quotes slideshows. Ranked 4.05 / 5 | 271 views | 0 comments Click here to watch the video (01:22) Submitted By: Metacafe Affiliate U Tags: Make Money Fast Successful Successquotes Motivational Motivate Quote Quotes Quotation Quotations Lifecoach Life Love Sayings Proverbs Inspirational Relax Affirmations Meditation Self Help Improvement Motivtional Positive Slideshow Categories: News & Events

?

12088

(0 votes, average 0 out of 5)

12 Questions to Ask When Saving for Retirement Knowing how much to sock away for your golden years requires understanding these variables. How Are Your IRA and 401(k) Really Performing? Set up a custom benchmark to see if you've added value with security selection. Save early, often to calm retirement chaos For many years, baby boomers and other workers looked at their homes as giant piggy banks. Rather than saving for retirement, they assumed rising home values would bail them out in their golden years.But ... SEI and Ryland Gray Selected by SERCO to Manage End-of-Service Benefits SEI and Ryland Gray today announced that they have been appointed to manage the SERCO Offshore Retirement and Savings Scheme which represents the end-of-service benefits and employee contributions for ... Why Do the Rich Invest Offshore? If you?re following this year?s election news, you?ve probably seen Romney come under fire for his offshore accounts. While his campaign isn?t offering explanations for keeping money in places like Switzerland ... Will turmoil in Middle East hurt my retirement portfolio? Why political upheaval in the Middle East -- or any other region, for that matter -- shouldn't influence the way you invest for retirement. Will turmoil overseas hurt my retirement portfolio? Why political upheaval in the Middle East -- or any other region, for that matter -- shouldn't influence the way you invest for retirement. Calpers to invest US$530m in Asia real estate funds of ARA Asset The California Public Employees? Retirement System (Calpers) will invest US$530 million ($664 million) in two new real estate funds of ARA Asset Management that will mainly allocate to China, the biggest US public pension fund said on Thursday. Read more...

?

We have?395 guests?online

Source: http://invest.5ver.com/self-help/12088-self-improvement-personal-development-and-success-strategies-self-help.html

amanda bynes arrested f 18 jet crash in virginia beach john tortorella nicki minaj beez in the trap video food network good friday

Judge approves DOJ settlement in e-book case

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? A federal judge has approved the U.S. Justice Department's settlement with a trio of electronic book publishers accused of conspiring in a price-fixing scheme orchestrated by the late Steve Jobs.

Among other things, the agreement requires the publishers ? Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster ? to abandon the pricing system that they had conceived with Apple before it released its iPad tablet in 2010. The change is supposed to come within the next week.

The ruling released Thursday cast aside the strident objections of Apple, other book publishers, book sellers and authors who argued the settlement will empower Internet retailing giant Amazon.com Inc. to destroy the "literary ecosystem" with rampant discounting that most competitors can't afford to match.

Those worries were repeatedly raised in court filings about the settlement. More than 90 percent of the 868 public comments about the settlement opposed the agreement.

Apple Inc. and two of the objecting publishers, Macmillan and the Penguin Group, also had argued it would be unfair to approve the settlement before they have a chance to fight the government's price-fixing allegations in a trial scheduled to begin next June.

But U.S. District Judge Denise Cote in New York decided the settlement "appears reasonably calculated to restore retail price competition to the market."

In its objections, Apple had raised the specter of appealing if Cote approved the settlement. Apple had no immediate comment Thursday on Cote's decision.

In a statement, the Justice Department said it is "pleased the court found the proposed settlement to be in the public interest and that consumers will start to benefit from the restored competition in this important industry."

Cote's ruling comes nearly five months after the Justice Department filed an antitrust lawsuit alleging Apple worked with the largest digital book publishers to rig a system designed to counteract Amazon.com's pricing practices. The approach, known as "the agency model," calls for book publishers, rather than retailers, to establish the prices of each title.

Under the agency model, merchants make their money through a commission. In Apple's case, that translated into the standard 30 percent cut it collects on most products sold through its iTunes stores.

The publishers' switch to the agency model came just before Jobs unveiled the iPad in January 2010. Before he died 11 months ago, Jobs confided to his biographer, Walter Isaacson, that he had convinced the major publishers that the agency model would be the best solution for all the key players in the rapidly growing e-book market.

"We told the publishers, 'We'll go to the agency model, where you set the price, and we get our 30 percent,'" Jobs told Isaacson. "And, yes, the customer pays a little more, but that's what you want anyway."

After the iPad hit the market in April 2010, publishers imposed the agency model on other retailers. They also adopted a "most-favored nation" clause designed to ensure other e-book sellers couldn't undercut the prices in Apple's iBookstore. In doing so, the publishers achieved their goal of undermining the pricing power of Amazon.com, which had been pricing many best-selling books as low as $9.99 to make its e-reader, the Kindle, more enticing to consumers.

Under the agency model, publishers typically set e-book prices in the range of $11.99 to $14.99. The Justice Department alleged that the price fixing cost consumers about $100 million in the two years leading up to its antitrust lawsuit.

The settlement also requires the Hachette, HarperCollins and Simon & Schuster to phase out agency model contracts with other retailers and bans them of imposing similar restrictions on prices for two years.

Apple contends the introduction of the iPad and iBookstore benefited consumers by spurring more competition and innovation.

Amazon's share of the e-book market has fallen from about 90 percent to 60 percent since the introduction of the iPad and the pricing system that it helped usher in, according to court papers.

But Cote concluded the introduction of more e-readers to compete against the Kindle was the main factor in Amazon.com's reduced market power. She also noted the proposed settlement hadn't discouraged Microsoft from recently investing $300 million in Barnes & Noble or prevented Google from unveiling a tablet computer called the Nexus 7 to compete against Amazon's Kindle Fire.

Book retailers contend any short-term benefits from Amazon's discounting practice will be outweighed by the long-term damage caused by less competition as more brick-and-mortar stores close.

"To say the least, we are colossally disappointed that the judge failed to understand how consumers will be negatively impacted by a decision that does not take into account the realities of the book business in 2012," said Oren Teicher, chief executive of the American Booksellers Association, which had opposed the settlement.

In a 45-page ruling that included an Emily Dickinson ode to the value of books, Cote said antitrust law isn't designed to protect businesses from potential damages when a form of anticompetitive behavior is eliminated from the market.

"Although the birth of a new industry is always unsettling, there is a limited ability to foresee how the market will evolve," Cote wrote. "What is clear, however, is the need for industry players to play by the antitrust rules when confronted with new market forces."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2012-09-06-Electronic%20Books-Government%20Lawsuit/id-8788468a4de4433d85252533594aa463

andy whitfield kennedy demi moore roy oswalt kevin martin 2012 senior bowl chuck series finale

Literary masterpiece 'Infinite Jest' visualized in Google map

23 hrs.

Teressa Iezzi , Fast Company

David Foster Wallace fans: Put down your copy of D.T. Max?s newly released biography of the writer, Every Love Story Is A Ghost Story and click immediately on Infinite Atlas. Non-fans, stop whatever it is you?re doing and do the same.

Infinite Atlas is, in the simplest terms, "an independent research and art project seeking to identify, place and describe every possible location in David Foster Wallace?s 'Infinite Jest.'" In broader terms, it?s an infinitely absorbing marriage of literature and rich location-based data.

The map is the work of Washington-based writer, and dedicated "Infinite Jest" fan, William Beutler.

Beutler actually launched the project earlier this year in the form of Infinite Boston, a blog-based photographic tour of locations that figure into DFW?s complex study of life, addiction, depression, failed entertainment, and tennis. At the time Beutler wrote: "In July of what might have been Year of Glad, one year ago this week, I traveled to Boston, Massachusetts with the express purpose of visiting as many of the landmarks and lesser known precincts that appear in, or provide inspiration for, the late David Foster Wallace?s 1996 novel "Infinite Jest" as I could manage on a Thursday-Sunday trip. My reasons for doing so will become apparent at a later date, but for now I am pleased to present what I am calling Infinite Boston: a ruminative travelogue and photographic tour of some fifty or so of these locations, comprising one entry each non-holiday weekday, from now until sometime in early autumn."

More from Fast Company:

That later date has arrived and we now have the Infinite Atlas, a mind-bendingly detailed Google Maps-based compendium of over 600 IJ locations. Visitors can click on the map to reveal details about each location from the novel, in many cases including quotes, as well as where the site appears in the book and which characters are associated with it (and Beutler hasn?t just covered off your A-list places, like Enfield Tennis Academy and Ennet House. To wit: the listing for Marty?s Liquors, "Which Gately drives past in Pat Montesian?s black 1964 Ford Aventura"). Locations can also be discovered via search, and through a comprehensive lists of characters (again, we?re not just talking about Hal Incandenza and Michael Pemulis--the list includes everyone down to "the Watertown, NY boy who owned Ward and June, progenitors of the Concavity?s feral hamsters") and story threads. Fans are also encouraged to submit photographs of the locations.

The project also includes a poster version of IJ sites, the Infinite Map, available for purchase here. The map depicts the novel?s ?territorially reconfigured North America? and features 250 of its most interesting locations (as well as the Great Seal of O.N.A.N., pictured above).

Beutler, who had worked as a political journalist and is now a communications consultant, says the project has been four years in the making. "I re-read Infinite Jest after Wallace?s passing, and became obsessed with the idea that there was a way to treat Infinite Jest as a very large data set," he says. "It turned out that others had done so previously, the designer Sam Potts in particular, but with a primary focus on the relationship between characters. So I didn?t want to retrace that route. Meanwhile, I was influenced by friends involved in cartography, and I?ve always found maps to be fascinating, so both of these things pushed me in this direction."

At first, a map of locations was just one of many ideas, he says. "At one point I was going to include box scores for the Enfield Tennis Academy players, but the further I got into research, the more I realized how much more there was to do with geography."

The scope of the project meant Beutler brought in a number of creative partners, including agency JESS3 and DC web development company RedEdge, which helped bring the interactive map to life.

When it came to compiling the project?s staggering volume of data, Beutler had additional help. "A lot of the early research was compiled by a friend from back to college, named Olly Ruff, who had also first read Infinite Jest years ago," he says. "We each spent dozens of hours combing through the book, page-by-page, in late 2010 to make sure that we missed nothing, and to argue about what was where and what was the significance. We had those conversations right up to the point where we had to send it off to the printer. The early information architecture was done by another friend, Lyzi Diamond, who had recently earned a degree in Geography from the University of Oregon. Our eventual cartographer was Derek Watkins, who is now a graphics editor at the New York Times."

As for Beutler?s plans for the project, he says, "I?m really hoping to get readers to upload photographs of locations that I haven?t visited--and considering the scope of the project is global, that?s still most places. Otherwise, there are still some details to correct--our database is very good, but not free of noise--so that will take me some time to iron out the details. Even as I say that, I think the site is about 95% correct. It always takes a lot more effort to improve from there, but I?m just enough perfectionist, and just enough a fan of "Infinite Jest" to stick with it."

Teressa Iezzi is the editor of Fast Company's?Co.Create.?She was previously editor of Ad Age?s Creativity and is the author of "The Idea Writers: Copywriting in a New Media and Marketing Era." Follow her on Twitter.

This story originally appeared on Fast Company's Co.Create site.

More from Fast Company:

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/infinite-atlas-location-based-visualization-literary-masterpiece-987854

arik armstead sag awards red carpet torrey pines nhl all star game 2012 pollyanna samuel adams snowy owl