December jobs report: 155,000 new jobs, unemployment stays at 7.8 percent

The employment picture continues to improve, but Congress' budget battles remain a source of concern
The Labor Department reported on Friday morning that the economy added a solid 155,000 jobs in December, and that the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 7.8 percent — tied for its lowest level in four years. The report is the latest evidence that the labor market — after years of periodic setbacks — is now on a steady, if slow, climb out of the deep hole caused by the Great Recession.
In further good news, the Labor Department said that the economy created 161,000  jobs in November, up from its initial projection of 146,000.
In December, the private sector added 168,000 jobs, while the government — at the federal, state, and local levels — shed 13,000 workers. Construction companies added 30,000 jobs, the most since September 2011, which was partially attributed to efforts to rebuild areas in the Northeast ravaged by Hurricane Sandy.
It appears that the caustic fiscal cliff debate in Congress had a negligible impact on hiring, despite assertions that the cloud of uncertainty spewing from Washington, D.C., was causing businesses to think twice about making new labor investments. Businesses were reportedly immensely relieved that Congress found a way to extend the Bush tax cuts for all but the wealthiest Americans, as well as unemployment benefits, which act as a stimulus for economic growth.
However, concern lingers that looming budget battles in Congress could undermine the labor market's progress. In the next two months, the country faces the prospect of crippling spending cuts, a U.S. default on its debt, and a government shutdown — if Congress fails to act. "We may be seeing the calm before the storm right now," Ian Shepherdson, the head economist at Pantheon Macroeconomic Advisors, told The New York Times. "Small businesses are wringing their hands in horror at what's going on in Washington.

Read More..

Why this year's Oscars will be the least snooty ever

Finally, the Academy seems to realize that box-office success isn't a disqualifying factor
It happens every winter: A beautiful starlet wakes up at the crack of dawn to read a list of movies that will vie for Best Picture at the Academy Awards, and millions of people around the country groan. "Never heard of them," America says.
But this year — for the first time in many, many years — not only will a majority of the public have heard of most of the films likely to be nominated, they may have actually seen them, too. Yes, the annual tradition of griping over the disconnect between the Academy's affinity for little-seen arthouse fare and the public's taste for mass-appeal blockbusters may finally be interrupted — at least if precursor award organizations' rewarding of bona fide box-office hits like Argo, Lincoln, and Les Miserables continues. (And it will.)
SEE ALSO: Is Tom Cruise the right actor to play Jack Reacher?
Years of discontent over the snubbing of well-made, populist films finally came to a head in 2008, when The Dark Knight, one of the best-reviewed and most audience-cheered movies of the year, was excluded from the Best Picture race. Not only did Christopher Nolan's second Batman flick score over $500 million at the domestic box office, but its 94 percent approval rating on review-aggregator Rotten Tomatoes trounced eventual nominees The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (72 percent) and The Reader (61 percent), bested Frost/Nixon (92 percent), and tied Milk and Slumdog Millionaire — all while being exponentially more popular with movie audiences. Backlash to The Dark Knight's omission was so vitriolic that it seems to have spurred the Academy to expand the Best Picture category to 10 nominees the very next year. The idea, presumably, was to make room for Dark Knight-like movies released each year that are habitually dismissed by Oscar voters for lack of space.
This was only a moderate success. While films like Avatar, The Blind Side, and The Help have made it in since the change was enacted in 2009, those extra slots have typically been taken by quiet indies: A Serious Man, Winter's Bone, The Kids Are Alright, The Tree of Life. But this year, that's about to change.
SEE ALSO: Diagnosing the Home Alone burglars' injuries: A professional weighs in
Earlier this week, the Producers Guild Association, considered one of the more accurate Oscar predictors, nominated the operatic (and cash-guzzling) new Bond flick Skyfall for its Best Picture award, marking the first time that any of the 23 Bond films have been (seriously) in the Oscar conversation. Skyfall has been a mammoth commercial success, raking in $290 million in the U.S. alone. Oscar gurus currently have it ranked number 10 among likely nominees. If it does manage to scrape a Best Picture nod, it would join Argo, Les Miserables, Django Unchained, Lincoln, and probably Zero Dark Thirty as films that, by the time the Oscar ceremony takes place, will have crossed the $100 million threshold at the box office. In addition, likely nominee Life of Pi has already made more than $85 million, and will build on that total in the weeks to come.
That means that six likely Best Picture nominees (seven if you count Skyfall) will have made more than $85 million at the box office. Annoyingly complex new rules make it so that as few as five and as many as 10 films are nominated. But the upshot is that it's possible that those six (or seven) commercially successful films will actually be the only nominees. Compare that to last year, when only one nominee made that much at the box office (The Help). And really, for most of the last decade, the Best Picture race has been dominated by teeny-tiny indies. (Remember those box-office juggernauts Capote, Letters From Iwo Jima, and In the Bedroom?)
SEE ALSO: 7 awful Christmas movies that flopped
Water cooler conversations this winter are zeroing in on Anne Hathaway's stunning turn as Fantine in Les Miz, Daniel Day-Lewis' seamless portrayal of Abraham Lincoln, and Ben Affleck's second life as a first-rate Hollywood director — a rare occasion in which buzzy awards films are also just buzzy films in general, irrespective of their Oscar chances. Tuning into the Oscars this February 24 will finally become an active experience, with audience members actually being able to root for and judge nominees instead of shrugging the standard "haven't seen it" when contenders are introduced.
There could be several explanations for this shift. Perhaps after suffering years of blockbuster dreck — Transformers, Twilight, the latter Pirates of the Caribbean films — moviegoers are becoming more discerning with their box-office dollars. Or it could be that after producing years of blockbuster dreck, studios are wising up and making mass-market films that are actually good — The Dark Knight Rises, The Hunger Games, Ted, 21 Jump Street, and The Avengers are among 2012's rapturously reviewed commercial smashes. Or maybe Oscar voters are finally catching on to the growing frustration with out-of-touch awards picks each year.
SEE ALSO: 24 movies to see in 2013: Part two
Whatever the reason, it's a win-win situation. Oscar viewers want to be entertained and engaged by the telecast. Just look at how hosts' performances are mercilessly picked apart each year. Often, these performances are the only one Oscar audiences are familiar with. But when viewers have actually seen the nominees, they're far more likely to enjoy the broadcast.
As for the Academy: Its mission is rewarding art, yes, but it's also producing a television show. Thusly, it wants as many people as possible to watch its television show. Historically, viewership spikes when hugely popular movies up for major awards — the years of Titanic, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, and Avatar saw upticks in viewership — and falls when most of the nominees are little-seen movies — the year of No Country for Old Men is the lowest-rated ever.
SEE ALSO: The 13 biggest pop culture moments of 2012
Certainly, no one's arguing that the Oscars should turn into the People's Choice Awards. No one wants The Expendables 2 and Madagascar 3 to get Best Picture nods just because they were popular at the box office. But a year in film in which the general public and the exclusive Academy seem to be seeing eye to eye is something to celebrate.

Read More..

Why repeating your message isn't the same as staying on message

Somewhere along the line, political consultants must have told politicians and their spokespeople to repeat their answers over and over again. The logic behind their recommendation: News organizations often have space for only a single quote per person, so if you utter the same sentence over and over again, they'll be forced to use it.
That may have worked many years ago, but it doesn't work anymore. Today's reporters shame repetitive pols by releasing the video of their full, evasive, interview. And it's not just broadcast reporters who shame obfuscating politicians — print reporters often post the video to their newspaper websites as well.
SEE ALSO: Guns need food. Starve them
Ed Miliband, Leader of the British Labour Party, offered a classic example of why the "repeat your message" strategy doesn't work anymore. In this video — which received hundreds of thousands of views and temporarily made Miliband a laughingstock — he repeats his exact same message five times.
SEE ALSO: Welcome to Tough Love with Starshine Roshell
And see if you can spot the message in this 2008 press conference delivered by Cullen Sheehan, then the spokesperson for Sen. Norm Coleman (R-Minn.).
SEE ALSO: What's next for gay marriage?
Brad Phillips writes in his new book, The Media Training Bible, that such overt repetition tends to infuriate the audience. Instead, he recommends that politicians repeat the themes of their messages in every answer by using a combination of stories, statistics, and sound bites. By using variety, spokespeople can ensure that they stay "on message" without ever being overly redundant.
It's a good lesson for anyone who wants to be an effective communicator.

Read More..

Is gridlock inevitable in the 113th Congress?

The 112th Congress closed up shop to widespread jeers. Will its newly sworn in successor be any less ineffective?
Among the nicer things said lately about the extraordinarily ineffective, widely insulted 112th Congress: At least it was more popular than gonorrhea and North Korea. And now, with the 113th Congress having been sworn in Thursday, some analysts are speculating hopefully that, with 20 percent of Congress' members fresh-faced newcomers, the House and Senate just gaveled into session could not possibly be worse than their predecessors. Others, however, argue that the new Congress will remain plagued by the same deep divisions that stymied the 112th. The Senate will still be controlled by Democrats, whose majority was strengthened in the November elections, while the House is run by a Republican Party more determined than ever to insist on severe spending cuts after being forced to swallow tax hikes on the wealthy as part of the last-minute deal to avoid the worst effects of the fiscal cliff. With major fights looming over raising the debt ceiling and dealing with postponed fiscal-cliff spending cuts, will the new Congress be stuck in the same, old gridlock?
The 113th is doomed to the same crippling division: "There is no honeymoon ahead," say Sean Sullivan and Aaron Blake at The Washington Post. Republicans forced to cave on taxes will be out for payback in the coming debt-ceiling debate. Judging by John Boehner's narrow re-election as House speaker, plenty of Republicans remain "willing to adopt a stern posture and make a statement." And "more spats over cabinet confirmations will only fuel partisan divisions."
"5 reasons gridlock will seize Congress again"
SEE ALSO: 23 bizarre things ceremonially dropped on New Year's Eve
But lawmakers know voters won't tolerate more gridlock: The rancor that hobbled the 112th Congress is still rampant on Capitol Hill, economist Alice Rivlin tells The Jacksonville (Fla.) Times-Union. Still, "I am encouraged by the show of bipartisan cooperation" that it took to avert the fiscal cliff. Angry voters and business leaders have finally made politicians see that America wants lawmakers to work together to get things done.
"Angry voters will end all this gridlock, economist says"
This Congress will get a little more accomplished than the last one: There has been no sea change, say Halimah Abdullah and Ben Brumfield at CNN, so anyone expecting this Congress to "dissolve partisan gridlock" is dreaming. Still, "the incoming freshman class took notes on failures of the previous Congress in hopes of avoiding a repeat performance." It might manage to muster enough cooperation "to exceed the abysmal approval rating of the previous Congress.

Read More..

Is Promised Land unfair to the energy industry?

The new Matt Damon film, which tackles the controversy over hydraulic fracturing, has fracking fans crying foul
Promised Land, a Matt Damon-starring drama that hits movie theaters today, tells the story of a small town debating whether to allow a corporation to use its hydraulic fracturing (or "fracking") process to extract energy from their land. (Watch a trailer for Promised Land below.) Of course, over the past few years, fracking has become a hugely contentious issue pitting environmentalists — who argue that the process can have a devastating impact on the Earth — against industrialists, who argue that the process is a fair and relatively non-threatening way to draw oil and natural gas from land. Unsurprisingly, some in the energy industry have expressed concern that Promised Land will mark a permanent shift in the public opinion war over fracking. Does Promised Land offer genuine insight into the fracking debate, or is it unfairly stilted?
Promised Land is pretty fair to both sides — until the end: "It's easy enough to label Promised Land as the "anti-fracking movie" because, ultimately, that's what it becomes," says James Berardinelli at ReelViews. But for the majority of its runtime, the film actually attempts to offer "an evenhanded look at the issues associated with fracking," with Matt Damon's pro-industry character making a compelling case that the economic benefits for the townspeople override any possible environmental concern. But the film's abrupt shift into a preachy, cartoonish finale throws out any semblance of nuance in favor of a blatant anti-fracking message.
Even Promised Land's anti-fracking argument isn't very convincing: Promised Land may feature a strong cast, but "the star power is deceiving, and the energy companies might be smarter to ignore the film than fan the controversy by attacking it," says Liam Lacey at The Globe and Mail. "This film’s depth of insight into the practice of fracking is, literally, presented at a primary-school level," as one of the film's environmental activists tells a first grade class that chemicals can hurt water and animals. Fracking is a complicated issue that deserves an honest debate, and "it's a shame Promise Land doesn't put up a better fight."
And it isn't likely to encourage a serious debate: Promised Land illustrates "the potential pitfalls of narrative political cinema," says Jason Bailey at Flavorwire. If filmmakers want to make politically themed movies, "it must be done with more subtlety and tact than in Promised Land," which preaches to the choir by delivering its final moral "unambiguously and without much in the way of complexity." A serious narrative film that tackles fracking could (and should) still be made, but it would need to have the courage to present all the facts and let viewers come to their own conclusions.

Read More..

Flippa.com Announces Inaugural Flippie Awards

Flippie Award recognizes the best websites sales of 2012.

San Francisco, CA and Melbourne, AUS (PRWEB) January 02, 2013
Flippa.com, the #1 marketplace for buying and selling websites, has launched its first annual Flippie Awards, kicking off 2013 by honoring some of the best sites sold in 2012.
Nominated websites were chosen from over 29,000 websites and domains that were sold on Flippa.com in 2012. The Flippie Committee chose sites based on the level of interest they attracted from website buyers, as well as quality factors such as monetization, content and uniqueness.
With 5 separate categories, sites and domains in various industries will be honored with a Flippie. All of the sites nominated were sold on Flippa where more than $22 million in websites were sold 2012.
The categories for the Flippie Awards are:

Best Ecommerce Site

Best Site Content Idea

Best Blog

Best Site Monetization

Best Web/Mobile App

Best Domain Listing
Each category has 5 nominated sites competing for the award. The site that garners the most votes in all categories combined will also win the Flippie for Best Overall Site.
“Our sellers are the key to our thriving marketplace, and we wanted to acknowledge that by showing off some of the best websites and domain names we've sold in 2012,” stated Dave Slutzkin, CEO of Flippa. “It was a tough job! Our dedicated team diligently sorted through the tens of thousands of sites and domains sold on Flippa in the past year, representing over $20 million in sales. They've come up with some really fantastic sites for our first annual Flippie Awards.”
Voting begins on January 2nd and ends at midnight EST on January 30th. The winners will be announced February 4th, 2013. To see all the nominated sites, prizes, and fineprint; please visit blog.flippa.com/flippies.
About us:
Launched in 2009, Flippa is the #1 marketplace for buying and selling websites. Each month, over $2 million in websites and domains are traded on Flippa. Over 29,000 sites, valued at more than $22 million, were sold on Flippa in 2012 alone. The most notable of these included Mark Zuckerberg’s Facemash.com as well as iPhone application Taptivate.com, news site Inquisitr.com, and Pinterest analytics site PinReach.com.

Read More..

AES International welcomes James McLeod as General Counsel

AES International is delighted to announce the arrival of James McLeod, who joins the Board as General Counsel. As AES continues to grow and expand, James will play a pivotal role in ensuring the company maintains its commitment to export UK best practice to the international marketplace.

London, UK (PRWEB UK) 2 January 2013
As General Counsel, James McLeod is responsible for the Corporate Governance and Risk Management at AES International. This involves the oversight of all regulatory, administrative and legal matters within the many jurisdictions in which AES operates to make sure that the highest standards are upheld, regardless of jurisdiction.
AES International CEO Sam Instone commented, 'As independent specialists licensed to provide investment and insurance advice in 34 jurisdictions, AES International has a truly global perspective and we are always looking for people of the highest calibre to join us in our mission to positively change international financial services. James has that quality, and as an Investors in People Gold firm we are thrilled to welcome him into a supportive and progressive environment in which he can build on the great work we are already doing.'
A Classics graduate from Oriel College, Oxford, James was commissioned in 1985 into the Scots Guards, serving in multiple overseas theatres. Following his military service, James worked in the Ministry of Defence, and then qualified as a solicitor in 2003. Working initially as an Associate in the Employment and Pensions Department at S J Berwin LLP, he later moved to specialist positions at both Herbert Smith LLP and Squire Sanders (UK) LLP.
Having such a wide breadth of experience and expertise, James is passionate about ensuring AES delivers the very highest possible standards to both its advisers and clients in accordance with the AES cultural values of integrity, respect, teamwork, knowledge and professionalism. He is committed to enabling a transparent, trusted and well-governed organisation to positively change the international marketplace.
Outside the office, James practices seiko karate, is a keen traveller and has extensive charitable interests including fundraising through organising and participating in long-distance cycle rides. James is a member of the Association of Pension Lawyers and the Law Society and is a solicitor registered in England and Wales.
About AES International
AES is the fastest-growing UK financial services business for both 2011 and 2012, as recognised by the Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.
AES International is the trading style of a multi-award winning financial services group that is licensed for investment and insurance business in over 34 jurisdictions worldwide and is owned by AES International Global PLC.
The company’s approach is strongly differentiated from its peers. As multi-award winning independent specialists with a global perspective, AES seeks to export UK best practice into the international marketplace, focusing on quality; both in terms of the advisers they recruit and the service they provide. Their values-driven approach is reflected in their unique Partnership Charter, which brings peace of mind and security to partners and clients alike.
AES International seeks to bring positive change to international financial services and specialises in multi-jurisdictional, cross border, inpatriate, expatriate, and non-domiciled insurance and investment services. This means they deliver professional services to international private client advisers, wealth managers, and other financial services firms who serve internationally mobile professionals, offshore clients/trusts and the expatriate sector.
The firm delivers three market leading value propositions to those intermediaries and businesses with whom they partner. These enable their partners and agents to help their respective clients understand, build and protect their assets.
Specialities:
International Wealth Management, Protecting your Family and International Insurance, Investment Services, Emigration and Immigration Services, International Pension and Retirement Planning, International Financial Planning.

Read More..

Brian Su to Discuss Potential Impact of Chinese Visa Retrogression at Dallas EB-5 Seminar

Brian Su, CEO of Artisan Business Group, Inc., is to discuss potential impact of Chinese visa retrogression at Dallas EB-5 Finance Seminar January 16, 2013.

Dallas, TX (PRWEB) January 02, 2013
Brian Su, CEO of Artisan Business Group, Inc., is to discuss potential impact of Chinese visa retrogression at Dallas EB-5 Seminar January 16, 2013. The proposed visa "cap" to Chinese investors will have a major impact on EB-5 marketplace.
Marked by past success, the EB-5 program has been extended and Artisan Business Group is pleased to be offering the 2013 EB-5 Finance Seminar Tour. This Tour, unlike past events, will provide an excellent experience that will allow for the expansion of knowledge and exposure to the expertise necessary to develop and successfully execute business and investment projects with the EB-5 immigrant investor program.
The US real estate developers and businesses realizes the difficulty that can be associated with successfully executing a business project without sufficient capital and funding. Funding becomes a major issue in the US financial market last three years. The EB-5 finance workshop will advise US project developers on utilizing EB-5 alternative finance. Individuals interested in the EB-5 immigrant investor program are encouraged to attend, including, but not limited to: investors, project developers, attorneys, economist, consulting firms, real estate developers, regional center executives, and governmental officials.
Greenberg Traurig's Business Immigration and Compliance Group is a full-service business immigration practice representing businesses, organizations, and individuals from around the world on a wide range of EB-5 related matters. The firm’s practice has achieved international recognition for legal advocacy, results-oriented service, and responsiveness to its clients. The Greenberg Traurig Business Immigration and Compliance Group works hand-in-hand with its partners in the Securities, Corporate, and Tax practices to develop customized solutions for EB-5 clients. The Greenberg Traurig EB-5 Team has worked with numerous developers and business owners to assist them in raising EB-5 capital for investment projects. Services provided include applications to designate new regional centers; applications for pre-approval of projects within regional centers; having projects adopted by existing regional centers; and purchasing USCIS-designated regional centers. Greenberg Traurig, LLP, is an international, full-service law firm with approximately 1750 attorneys serving clients from 35 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia.
Artisan Business Group, Inc., is a leading US China cross border investment and business advisory firm headquartered in Springfield, IL, with clients throughout the country. For more information about the upcoming tour, log on: http://www.EB5NewsBlog.org

Read More..

Microsoft lashes out at Google’s decision to spurn Windows Phone

Dave Heiner, vice president and deputy general counsel for Microsoft (MSFT), took aim at Google (GOOG) and the company’s unwillingness to develop for Windows Phone 8 in a blog post on Wednesday. Heiner claims that, “Google continues to prevent Microsoft from offering consumers a fully featured YouTube app [among other] for the Windows Phone.” Microsoft has been apparently been trying to get a full-feature YouTube app for its Windows Phone operating system for more than two years, however it has been unsuccessful.
[More from BGR: ‘iPhone 5S’ to reportedly launch by June with multiple color options and two different display sizes]
Despite the fact that the Windows Phone Marketplace has doubled in the past year, Google has not yet produced any quality apps for the platform. The company previously said that it will not be launching a native Gmail or Google Drive app for Windows 8 or Windows Phone until people start using the operating systems.

Read More..

NewsWatch Features ProCamera HD on it's National Television Show as Part of AppWatch

NewsWatch, a nationwide television show, recently aired a news segment about “ProCamera HD”, a new camera app. The segment aired as part of “AppWatch”, a weekly review of the top apps in the marketplace.

Washington, DC (PRWEB) January 03, 2013
NewsWatch, a nationwide television show, recently aired a news segment about “ProCamera HD”, a new camera app. The segment aired as part of AppWatch, a weekly review of the top apps in the marketplace.
ProCamera is a full-featured 5-in-1 app that has still camera and video, photo editing tools, social networking support, and camera related utilities. ProCamera sets the standard as the most professional camera app with its high-end features and has gotten numerous awards. ProCamera HD for iPad was released recently as the first full-featured iPad camera replacement app and has been a big success worldwide.
Included in the new app, users have access to: ProCamera Lightbox to save, export and delete photos within the app; QuickFlick for going immediately to albums and settings; 100% stability and blazing fast performance; adjustable capture format, including 16:9, 4:3, 3:2, 1:1,; and Anti-Shake Image Stabilizer for photo and video.
ProCamera HD also comes with professional editing capabilities. Using the Pro Lab Studio users can make real-time tonal curve correction; as well as adjust brightness, contrast, gamma, saturation, color temperature, and shadows.
For more information or to download the “ProCamera HD” app, head to their iTunes Page.
About Cocologics

Cocologics is a professional startup and has become the technological leader for mobile photography software on iOS. Committed to sustainability, Cocologics develops cutting-edge software solutions, which meet the highest demands in quality, aesthetics and simplicity.
NewsWatch is a weekly 30-minute consumer oriented television show that airs on the ION Network Thursday mornings at 5:30am across the nation. NewsWatch regularly features top travel destinations, health tips, technology products, medical breakthroughs and entertainment news on the show. A recent addition to NewsWatch, AppWatch is a weekly segment that provides viewers app reviews and game reviews of the latest and hottest apps and games out on the market for iOS and Android devices. The show airs in 180 markets nationwide as well as all of the top 20 broadcast markets in the country, and is the preferred choice for Satellite Media Tour and Video News Release Distribution.

Read More..

Iran says defeats cyber attack on industrial sites

DUBAI (Reuters) - An Internet virus attacked computers at industrial sites in southern Iran, in an apparent extension of a covert cyber war that initially targeted the country's nuclear facilities, an Iranian official said.
Iran, the world's No. 5 oil exporter, has tightened online security since its uranium enrichment centrifuges were hit in 2010 by the Stuxnet computer worm, which Tehran believes was planted by arch-adversaries Israel or the United States.
The unit tasked with fighting cyber attacks, the Passive Defence Organisation, said a virus had infected several sites in Hormozgan province in recent months but was neutralised.
"Enemies are constantly attacking Iran's industrial units through Internet networks in order to create disruptions," Ali Akbar Akhavan, head of the Hormozgan branch of the organisation, was quoted as saying by the Iranian Students' News Agency on Tuesday.
"This virus has even penetrated some manufacturing industries in Hormozgan province, but with timely measures and the cooperation of skilled hackers in the province, the progress of this virus was halted," Akhavan said.
"As an example, the Bandar Abbas Tavanir Co., a producer of electricity in the province and even adjacent provinces, has been the target of Internet attacks in recent months," he said.
Bandar Abbas is the capital of Hormozgan province on Iran's southern coast and home to an oil refinery and container port.
Israeli officials have threatened military action against Iranian nuclear facilities if Western sanctions on Tehran's banking and oil sectors do not persuade the Islamic Republic to shelve its disputed atomic program.
Western powers suspect Iran is trying to develop the means to produce nuclear weapons. Tehran says it is enriching uranium only for civilian energy.
Iranian authorities said in April that a computer virus was detected inside the control systems of Kharg Island - which handles the vast majority of Iran's crude oil exports - but the terminal had remained operational.
Cyber attackers also slowed Iran's Internet and attacked its offshore oil and gas platforms this year, Iranian officials have said.

Read More..

Iran media report new cyberattack by Stuxnet worm

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — An Iranian semi-official news agency says there has been another cyberattack by the sophisticated computer worm Stuxnet, this time on the industries in the country's south.
Tuesday's report by ISNA quotes provincial civil defense chief Ali Akbar Akhavan as saying the virus targeted a power plant and some other industries in Hormozgan province in recent months.
Akhavan says Iranian computer experts were able to "successfully stop" the worm.
Iran has repeatedly claimed defusing cyber worms and malware, including Stuxnet and Flame viruses that targeted the vital oil sector, which provides 80 percent of the country's foreign revenue.
Tehran has said both worms are part of a secret U.S.-Israeli program that seeks to destabilize Iran's nuclear program.
The West suspects Iran is pursuing a nuclear weapons program, a charge Tehran denies.

Read More..

Phablet wars heat up with ZTE’s quad-core Nubia Z5

2013 is shaping up to be the year of the “phablet” with virtually ever major handset maker preparing to challenge Samsung’s (005930) impressive Galaxy Note lineup. While there’s no clear definition on how large a phablet is, most tend to have screens that hover in the 5-inch range, though Huawei’s upcoming 6.1-inch smartphone will only push that boundary. ZTE’s newly announced Nubia Z5 packs a 5-inch display with full-HD 1,920 x 1,080 resolution, an aluminum case, a 1.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro quad-core processor, 2GB of RAM, 32GB of internal storage, a 13-megapixel rear, a 2-megapixel front camera, Dolby sound and Android 4.1 Jelly Bean. It even edges out HTC’s (2498) slim DROID DNA in terms of size with slightly thinner dimensions and a larger battery: 2,300 mAh versus the DNA’s 2,020 mAh. The only deal-breaker is the Nubia Z5 likely won’t be available in the U.S., but importers drooling over its specs can pick one up in China for about $554.

Read More..

Hacker Fears Are Seriously Messing with the Oscars' Online Voting

So what happens if the Academy is too scared to cast Oscar ballots this year? It's not an entirely outlandish scenario, with the nominations less than two weeks away and reports screaming out of Hollywood that the awards' attempt at going digital may already be backfiring. Both the Hollywood Reporter and Deadline have semi-detailed accounts today of the surprising flaws within the Academy's new online voting system, and both conclude that it's so worried about hackers rigging  the Oscars that it's become difficult for the (increasingly aging) members to pick their actual favorites.
RELATED: And This Year's Oscar Nominations for Best Actress (Might) Go to...
The Academy enlisted Everyone Counts — an electronic voting company whose clients include the U.S. Department of Defense and the U.K.'s Ministry of Justice — back in January to help develop a secure system for voting online. Maybe too secure. Pete Hammond of Deadline writes that the system is "so loaded with specific safeguards and military-type encryption methods to keep hackers and imposters out that it is causing extreme frustration for some of those who have tried to vote." One member joked (we think) to The Hollywood Reporter's Scott Feinberg that "it's easier to break into the CIA." Everyone Counts, as a CNN article about online voting in political contests noted, "uses 'military-grade encryption' for its ballots, and can also provide a paper trail for clients who want it, [CEO Lori] Steele says."
RELATED: And the Best Actor Nominations (Might) Go To...
Feinberg and Hammond both detail the new Oscar voting process, which includes forcing members to create an elaborate second password (beyond the one for main access to the Academy's site) and enter a security code that arrives via phone call or text message. Which sounds kind of like, say, resetting your online banking password, but remember, as Feinberg notes, the Los Angeles Times found that 54 percent of Oscar voters are over 60. Though certainly not all people over the age of 60 are computer illiterate, Feinberg himself pointed out in January that "the full story is that more than a few members don't even have computers and/or know how to use the Internet, which would preclude them not only from streaming screeners, but also from filling out an e-ballot." There have been efforts to include voters who don't want to turn to the Internet, but now, amidst all the bubbling frustration, there's worry that some members will just give up altogether.
RELATED: And This Year's Best-Picture Nominations (Might) Go to...
Voting for nominees closes January 3, and, as Hammond writes, the Academy is so secretive about this stuff that we may never get a good sense of turnout anyway. But we can't help but wonder: If the Oscar voting pool's majority contingent of old white men gets diminished, does that mean some films could sneak to glory? Does it mean old white men-centric contenders for Best Picture like, say, Lincoln could suffer? Or could The Master, a favorite with the younger oddball set, or — gasp! — awards-season underdog Beasts of the Southern Wild break free? We'll just have to wait and count the e-ballots, we guess.

Read More..

McAfee’s 2013 predictions: Mobile malware threats will grow, Anonymous will fade

Security firm McAfee Labs released its annual Threat Predictions report this week, highlighting the potential malware, viruses and other security concerns we may see in 2013. The firm says that with the rise of more advanced mobile devices, smartphones and tablets will become an even larger focus for cybercriminals. This past year we saw a number of high-profile attacks from the hacktivist group Anonymous that had the National Security Agency on edge, however McAfee Labs believes the group will begin to decline due to “incoordination and competition” from more politically-motivated hackers. It has also been predicted that the threat of large-scale attacks such as Stuxnet, which is believed to have taken down Iran’s computer infrastructure earlier this year, will increase as well.

Read More..

The Indian Company RePIN Masterbatches, one of the fastest growing Masterbatch Companies by AMI Magazines, will be attending the next year’s ArabPLast 2013 Expo

RePIN Masterbatches, the Indian company that with its top quality products and its best customer service, has become one of the fastest growing manufacturer of masterbatches, according to AMI Magazine, will be participating in the next year`s ArabPlast 2013, that will take place in Dubai.

New Delhi, India (PRWEB) January 01, 2013
Founded in India, RePIN Masterbatches has become one of the fastest manufacturers of innovative masterbatches in the plastics industry, with the World Compounder of the Month recognition, by AMI Magazines. This company has an experience of over 30 years in the industry with the best quality products, thanks to the valuable technology they use in their production plants to ensure the correct combination of raw material and hardware, to produce masterbatches that match exactly with the customer needs.
Concerned about providing not only the best product, but guiding the customer during the whole process, which includes a high level of cooperation, to make them feel essential and also by offering a personalized service until the end of the process, are some of the philosophies that contribute to the best company-client relationship. These main objectives, made them worthy of the AMI Magazine recognition and those are some of the company´s strengths that are going to be present in the next year’s ArabPlast Expo, which will be held from January 7th to 11th in Dubai, the perfect scenario to offer their products.
These are some of the qualities that have made RePIN Masterbatches one of the most important companies in the plastics industry from India and Middle East Region, and with the highest rates of growth in a short term, and with high expectations of increasing their participation in the market.

Read More..

New Long Term Airport Parking Now Available Near Miami International Airport Through SimpleAirportParking.com

Coral Gables, Miami and Miami Beach Residents now have a great long term parking option when looking for a place to leave their vehicle while traveling.

Coral Gables, FL (PRWEB) January 01, 2013
Travelers looking for long term parking near Miami International Airport now have a new, convenient way to locate secure airport parking. SimpleAirportParking.com has introduced its partner parking locations to travelers looking for secure long-term parking options. By visiting the website, a traveler can locate an array of inexpensive airport parking options near Miami International Airport.
The company recently expanded its services to offer travelers in the Miami and Miami Beach areas a variety of parking options to suit their needs while traveling by air. The site lists many options for parking near Miami International Airport. The different options available provide significant discounts over parking directly at the airport itself.
SimpleAirportParking.com's goal is to provide secure, convenient parking sites for its customers. Each location offers complimentary shuttle service to the airport terminals. The company also makes it a point to ensure that the price travelers find on the site is the price they pay. Pricing is all-inclusive at every location, and no additional fees will ever be added.
When a traveler makes a parking reservation on SimpleAirportParking.com, a confirmation email receipt is sent that contains a user ID and password. Using this login information, a traveler has the ability to modify a reservation, leave reviews of a parking location, and print receipts for tax purposes. Payments made in advance through the SimpleAirportParking.com website can make the day of travel less hectic for travelers as no cash has to change hands at the parking location. Valet and self-parking options are available at multiple locations as well as covered parking and accommodations for over-sized vehicles.
Customer-created reviews of parking locations that are posted on SimpleAirportParking.com provide future travelers with information that will help them make decisions about which parking site they wish to use. The many amenities offered by the various parking locations can make your travel experience simply amazing.

Read More..

IRS Released New 1099-INT Electronic Filing Specs, 1099 E-File Software By Real Business Solutions Updated

2012 1099-INT electronic filing software has been released by Real Business Solutions. The new software supports the latest IRS specifications for filing 1099-INT forms electrically. Filers can download risk-free trial at http://www.realtaxtools.com/.

Chicago , IL (PRWEB) January 01, 2013
Real Business Solutions (http://www.RealTaxTools.com) today announced the release of the 2012 1099-INT Electronic Filing module for use by business filers and accounting professionals reporting 1099 interest forms to the IRS in the 2013 tax season. Headquartered in the Chicago area, Illinois, W2 Mate software is one of the leading W-2 and 1099 software developers in the US, with thousands of users nationwide.
W2 Mate (http://www.W2Mate.com) presents a great alternative to tax professionals and business filers looking for a more convenient, simple and affordable way to prepare 2012 / 2013 IRS 1099INT tax forms. W2 Mate 2012 enhances user experience with attractive new features that make W2, 1099, 1098 and 1098-T filing easy and stress-free.
In a statement Nancy Walters, W2 Mate product manager at Real Business Solutions said, "In 2013, thousands of businesses and accountants will trust W2 Mate to prepare their 2012 W2s and 1099s on time."
W2 Mate 2012 generates 1099-INT electronic filing submissions ready to upload to the IRS FIRE System. The W2 Mate 1099 electronic reporting module provides the capabilities for E-Filing the following forms with the federal government: W2, 1099-MISC, 1099-INT, 1099-DIV, 1099-K, 1099-R, W-3, 1096, 1099-S, 1098-T, 1098, 1099-A, 1099-B, 1099-C, 1099-PATR and 1099-OID. Several states have implemented W2 and 1099 electronic filing regulations, using the IRS and SSA reporting requirements as a basis. W2 Mate users who file 1099s for recipients who live or work in the states that comply with IRS publication 1220 (1099 electronic filing) can file their state information using the W2 Mate 1099 electronic reporting module. And users, who file W2s for employees who live or work in the states that comply with 2012 SSA EFW2 specification (W2 electronic filing), can also use W2 Mate to file state W-2s electronically.
Microsoft dynamics, Intuit QuickBooks and Sage 50 / Peachtree consultants and users are invited to try the state-of-the-art 1099-INT import wizard available inside W2 Mate software by visiting http://www.W2Mate.com. Interested filers can order W2 Mate 2012 and receive it instantly.
W2 Mate Software Highlights:

Supports an unlimited number of 1099 Filers and unlimited number of employees and 1099 recipients.
Prints 2012 1099 recipient copies on regular white paper.
E-files 2012 W2s and 1099s with the SSA and IRS (no limitations on the number of tax forms or electronic filing submissions).
Creates 2012 employee W2's as PDF and recipient (vendor) 1099's as PDF.
Government -approved to print W-2 and W3 tax forms on regular paper including federal copies.
Data import from MS Dynamics, Great Plains, Intuit QuickBooks, Sage Peachtree, Sage DacEasy, Excel and CSV. Data import from QuickBooks removes the "800 Form" / "$10 Million payroll" maximum limitation.
Efficient and intuitive manual W2 / 1099 data entry.
Supports 1099MISC, 1099K, 1099INT, 1099DIV, 1099R, W2, W3, 1096, 1099S, 1098T, 1098, 1099A, 1099B, 1099C, 1099PATR, 1099OID.
Automatically calculates Social Security and Medicare taxes. For paper filers 1096 and W3 are automatically generated.
Supports Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, Windows 2000 or Windows 98.
Roll-over of payer and recipient information from year to year.
Password protection and data validation.
Generates printing labels, form totals and recipient lists.
Prompt, courteous and reliable U.S.-based support through phone, chat or e-mail.
Network ready with affordable pricing for multiple seats.
Exports W2s and 1099s to excel.
Data Backup and restore.
TIN matching and verification including reports for missing TINs and TIN matching errors.
Built-in links to form instructions and websites for the IRS, SSA and government tax agencies.
Completes employer electronic W-2 forms.
Auto generates control numbers for W-2 Forms.
Helps filers meet 1096 and W3 due dates for 2012.
Risk-free trial of W2 Mate 2012 can be downloaded from http://www.W2Mate.com/. Customers can purchase W2 Mate and receive it instantly.
About Real Business Solutions:

Established in 2003, Real Business Solutions is an industry leader in providing payroll deduction software, 1099 E-File software and W2 forms programs for 2013, 2012, 2011 and before. Real Business Solutions products are used by thousands of businesses, tax professionals, non-profit organization, and government agencies all across America. The Company's mission has been to provide powerful and great value software solutions coupled with high quality customer service.

Read More..

2013 NFC - AFC Playoff Tickets on Sale Now at TicketProcess.com For all Wild Card, Division & Championship Games

The NFL playoffs will begin this weekend, and in a few week’s time the Super Bowl representatives from the NFC and AFC will be determined. Online Ticket exchange TicketProcess.com is now offering tickets for all Wild Card, Divisional, and Championship Games.

(PRWEB) January 01, 2013
NFL Playoff tickets are on sale now at TicketProcess.com, and fans should be aware that NFL tickets historically go very quickly. All the matchups are set, and teams have been game planning day and night for the 60 minute affairs that will determine the direction of their franchise. Incredibly, six of the 12 starting quarterbacks in the playoffs are either rookies or second-year players. This means that the NFL should experience incredible wave of talent from the leadership position over the course of the next decade. As for now, the young and talented gunslingers are preparing for their initial round of postseason battle.
The Washington Redskins and Indianapolis Colts both made their way into the playoffs after battling through a competitive schedule. This is especially noteworthy given the fact that both teams chose stud Heisman Trophy-caliber quarterbacks in the first round of last April's 2012 draft. Fans lucky enough to get their hands on tickets to one of the games featuring the Redskins or Colts will have a chance to see history unfold before their eyes.
*TicketProcess is not associated with any of the teams, artists or venues listed. Names used in this release are for descriptive purposes only and do not imply endorsement or partnership.
About Ticket Process Exchange

Since 2010, TicketProcess secondary ticket exchange has been offering a large selection of live event inventory to some of the most exclusive sports, concert and theater events nationwide. With 7-day customer service, all backed by a 100% Guarantee, its simple design and ease of use allow anyone to purchase event tickets with confidence.

Read More..

Private Investigator in Manchester Announce CCTV Services in Response to Greater Manchester Police News Dated 17th December 2012: Armed Robbery at Newsagents, Winstanley

Private Investigator in Manchester announce CCTV services in response to Greater Manchester Police news dated 17th December 2012: Armed robbery at newsagents, Winstanley

(PRWEB UK) 2 January 2013
At around 5.05 am on 15th December 2012 the manager of Martins Newsagents opened the shutters to check if the newspapers had been delivered when she was confronted and forced back into the shop by three men armed with crowbars. Two of the men loaded cigarettes into a sheet or duvet, while the third man demanded cash from the manager.
Luckily, apart from the shock the staff at the newsagents came out of the situation unharmed. Detective Constable Andrew Partington said: "The victims were left so traumatised that the descriptions they have given of the offenders are quite sketchy. Thankfully, however, they were uninjured.”
Investigators at Private Investigator in Manchester offer CCTV services that can be installed quickly.to give peace of mind especially over the Christmas and New Year period.
A spokesperson from Private Investigator in Manchester said: “We have very positive feedback from our clients that have already had CCTV installed to their homes or work premises. Some business clients have even praised the system for keeping track of the hours carried out by staff!”
Private Investigator in Manchester along with their sister company Private Detective London is a team of highly trained professional and discreet private investigators and detectives with over 35 years’ experience in the industry. Their understanding and approachable team of male and female detectives are available 24/7 to conduct matrimonial, corporate and private investigations.

Read More..