Upcoming event to explain 'the ABCs of a Business Ph.D.'

Students considering a Ph.D. in business can get their questions answered at an information session at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 13, in CBC 240 at Modesto A. Maidique Campus or remotely via a live stream.

The meeting will cover the basics of getting started and emphasize how minorities in particular can benefit from financial and other assistance geared toward increasing their representation in business Ph.D. programs.

Antoinette Smith has a Ph.D. in accounting.

Antoinette Smith, an associate professor in FIU?s School of Accounting, will lead the meeting. She stresses that getting the facts early is key to understanding how one begins the process of applying for admission and successfully obtaining support. She encourages undergraduates at all levels to take part.

?Even if right now you don?t know what your future is, you have to put yourself in a position where you will know [your options],? Smith says.

FIU business administration and human resources management double major Natalie Palacios attended an information session at which she learned about one of the opportunities that Smith promotes: the Ph.D. Pipeline. Funded by the Department of Education, the Ph.D. Pipeline culminates in a two-week summer workshop at Duke University?s school of business. Palacios applied for the all-expenses-paid trip to North Carolina and participated in 2011.

?I learned about different programs, program requirements, GMAT scores and the types of questions to expect on the test,? Palacios said. (The GMAT, or Graduate Management Admission Test, is a standardized, computer-based assessment used as an admissions tool by business schools.) ?We also spoke to various students in Ph.D. programs, and they shared their personal experiences with us. It was inspiring and insightful, to say the least.?

Smith wants minority students to know that those who successfully complete a Ph.D. should be in high demand among universities, which are increasingly looking to diversify their faculty.

?I think that it?s always important. In any organization, you want to have diversity,? Smith says. Currently, minority students are underrepresented in Ph.D. programs in business, as well as in other academic areas.

Smith holds herself up as an example of someone who might have benefited from learning sooner about what earning a Ph.D. entails. She was in her later 20s when she heard about available resources.

?There could be a thousand reasons? why someone does not apply, Smith explains. ?One of them could be because you don?t see someone that looks like you in the classroom. Maybe that?s not a profession you identify yourself with. Maybe you?re the first of your generation to go to college.?

Smith hopes students will choose to be informed, and she is ready to give them a true picture of graduate school.

?It?s tough and it?s challenging,? she says. ?If you?re able to be self-disciplined, self-motivated and persevere, that?s the foundation right there. Everything else can be learned.?

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to our newsletter. Thanks for visiting!

Source: http://news.fiu.edu/2012/10/upcoming-event-to-explain-the-abcs-of-a-business-ph-d/47829?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=upcoming-event-to-explain-the-abcs-of-a-business-ph-d

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Seagate Backup Plus brings USB 3.0 speed, sociability to new Macbooks

When Seagate launched its PC/Mac Backup Plus offering that could safeguard not only your folders but your Facebook or Twitter content, too, it seemed like a nice idea. But conspicuously missing from the Mac side of that equation was a USB 3.0 port to hustle transfers along at a much less pedestrian 5 Gbps -- likely because until recently, no Macs directly supported it. Now, Seagate has launched a USB 3.0 version of the device for those shiny new Macbook Pro Retina and Air models that pack it, while offering the option to upgrade to Thunderbolt or FireWire 800 "as the need presents itself." Prices go from $110 for the 500GB model up to $180 for the 3TB version -- check the PR after the break to see the entire range.

Continue reading Seagate Backup Plus brings USB 3.0 speed, sociability to new Macbooks

Filed under: Storage

Seagate Backup Plus brings USB 3.0 speed, sociability to new Macbooks originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Oct 2012 02:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/10/22/seagate-backup-plus-brings-USB-3-0-to-mac/

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Enough already: voters hit with ads, calls, more

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) ? People who live in battleground states tend to have a number and a coping strategy.

Virginian Catherine Caughey's number is four: Her family recently got four political phone calls in the space of five minutes.

Ohioan Charles Montague's coping mechanism is his TV remote. He pushes the mute button whenever a campaign ad comes on.

All the attention that the presidential campaigns are funneling into a small number of hard-fought states comes at a personal price for many voters.

The phone rings during a favorite TV show. Traffic snarls when a candidate comes to town. A campaign volunteer turns up on the doorstep during dinner. Bills get buried in a stack of campaign fliers. TV ads spew out mostly negative vibes.

The effects are cumulative.

"It's just too much," says Carmen Medina, of Chester, Va. "It's becoming a little too overwhelming."

Medina, it should be noted, is an enthusiastic supporter of Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney. She squealed with joy outside the United Latino Market in Richmond when she learned that Romney had just appeared at a rally across the street.

But she's starting to block phone numbers to Make. The. Calls. Stop.

Even Ann Romney, the candidate's wife, has had enough. "I don't want to get myself upset so I am not watching television for the moment," she told the women on ABC's "The View" on Thursday.

"Trust me, the audience members that are in swing states are sick of them," she said of political ads.

Ditto the president.

"If you're sick of hearing me approve this message, believe me, so am I," Barack Obama said during the Democratic National Convention.

The parties speak with pride of their massive ground operations ? the door knockers, the phone banks, the campaign signs and more. They trumpet the higher level of activity this year than in 2008.

With the campaign now focused on just nine states ? Colorado, Florida, Iowa, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Virginia and Wisconsin ? the parties are able to target their resources narrowly.

Republicans say they've made three times more phone calls and 23 times more door knocks in Ohio than they had by this time in 2008, for example, and nearly six times more phones calls and 11 times more door knocks in Virginia. Democrats don't give out that level of detail, but describe ambitious outreach activities from their 60-plus field offices in Virginia and 125 in Ohio.

The campaigns and independent groups supporting them are expected to pour about $1.1 billion into TV ads this year, the vast majority of it in the most competitive states.

But does all of this activity reach a point of diminishing returns? Is there a risk of overkill?

Not to David Betras, chairman of the Democratic Party in Ohio's Mahoning County. He considers himself a field general in the battle to re-elect Obama, and enthusiastically details the party's efforts on his turf.

"Is there a saturation point? I haven't heard that," he says. "I think just the opposite. I think people, at least in my neck of the woods, are kind of excited that they're playing such an important role."

But he does say, "Some people you call and of course they're burned out with it, and you thank them very much and you move on."

Clearly, more exposure doesn't always translate into more support.

"The more I see Romney, the less I like," says Kay Martin, who lives in the Denver suburb of Arvada.

And if not generating a backlash, some of that political activity is surely just wasted energy.

Gwynnen Chervenic, in Alexandria, has taught her kids to yell "lies" any time a political ad comes on.

"I'm trying to make sure they develop a healthy skepticism about the election PR process," she explains. "Makes me laugh every time and should help ease the pain until Election Day."

A Fairfax County woman who's a strong Romney supporter emails: "I don't mind telling the Romney campaign or the RNC (Republican National Committee) that I am voting for Romney, but why do I have to tell them that MULTIPLE times?"

She's ready to start giving out a phony phone number. But she doesn't want to be identified by name ? because her husband's working for the Romney campaign. And, yes, she even went with him recently to knock on doors.

"But I was so uncomfortable knocking on people's doors in the evening because I felt like I was doing the very thing that bothers me," she admits.

Political psychologist Stanley Renshon, a professor at City University of New York, said most Americans don't spend a lot of time thinking about politics, and don't particularly like being the focus of too much political attention.

But the campaigns just won't ? or can't ? stop reaching out.

"They can't not try to win your vote, even at the risk of alienating your vote," says Renshon. "You don't want to regret not doing everything you can do."

John Geer, a political science professor at Vanderbilt University, says it's the political equivalent of an arms race, and neither side dares stop the carpet bombing.

"We don't know exactly where saturation occurs, but I think we're way past that," he says.

For those from less competitive states, the number and tone of ads can be jarring.

"I think people are just upset about the lies," says Pamela Ash, a 66-year-old Obama volunteer from Arizona who's been visiting her brother in Ohio to help the campaign. "Enough already. I just can't stand it."

Even the people making the calls understand the annoyance.

Maria Buzzi estimates that 10 percent to 15 percent of the calls she makes during her volunteer shift at Romney's Stow, Ohio, offices end with frustrations.

"I've been called a G-D, F-ing B," the 67-year-old retired nurse and grandmother said. "I'm a sensitive person and they are just vicious. It hurts my feelings and I take it personally. But I really want to help Mitt Romney."

After those tough calls, she hangs up and takes a moment to compose herself. Then she picks up the phone and dials another voter.

Maybe one of her calls will end up in tiny Payson, Utah, about as far from the political front as you can get this year.

That's where Katie Peterson lives. She moved there from Ohio four years ago.

Says Peterson: "Somehow all those people making the phone calls think I still live there and that they need to call all the time."

___

Elliott reported from Ohio.

___

Follow Nancy Benac on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/nbenac

Follow Philip Elliott at http://twitter.com/Philip_Elliott

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/enough-already-voters-hit-ads-calls-more-175037421--election.html

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Berdych beats Tsonga in 3 sets to win in Stockholm - Herald Online

Czech Republic's Tomas Berdych celebrates after winning the ATP Stockholm Open tennis final match against France's Jo-Wilfried Tsonga at the Royal Tennis Hall in Stockholm, Sweden, Sunday, Oct. 21, 2012. (AP Photo/Scanpix Sweden, Soren Andersson) SWEDEN OUT

Soren Andersson ? AP

STOCKHOLM ? Tomas Berdych won his second ATP title this year by rallying to beat top-seeded Jo-Wilfried Tsonga of France 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the Stockholm Open final on Sunday.

The sixth-ranked Czech saved seven of nine break-point chances in the hard-fought match to improve to 3-1 against Tsonga and add to his win in February in Montpellier, France. Berdych now has eight career titles - including winning more than one in a season for the first time.

"It feels pretty good ... this season has been really solid," Berdych said.

He saved a break point to hold serve for 5-4 in the deciding set. In the following game, Tsonga then saved two match points by hitting an ace and a winner but ultimately lost on a double fault.

"I just tried to stay positive until the end and tried to take points one by one," Berdych said. "I'm happy to turn it (the match) around, it makes the win even more special."

Berdych is aiming to make it into next month's London Finals, after which he will be part of the team to take on Spain in the Davis Cup final.

"To qualify into London is special, this is the one where you have to play well all year to get into the tournament. I'm hoping to make it for the third year in a row."

In the first set, thanks to some patient baseline play, Tsonga forced the hard-hitting Berdych into making mistakes and eventually broke the Czech to 3-2 on his fourth break point.

With some powerful serving and aggressive play, Tsonga went on to clinch the opening set 6-4.

He proceeded to break Berdych in the opening game of the second set, and then held his serve until 4-3. Berdych gradually found his groove and finally broke back to 4-4, then reeled off the next two games to take the set.

In a tight deciding set, both players fought off several break points, with both managing to hold serves until the 10th game, where Tsonga's serving finally let him down.

"I feel bad," said a disappointed Tsonga, the stronger player for a set and a half. "I think we played a great match and I had many opportunities. I did some wrong things, but I gave my best tennis and I lost, so I have nothing to regret."

Source: http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/10/21/4352298/berdych-beats-tsonga-in-3-sets.html

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Robust increases in business travel pricing in select markets in 2013 ...

Travel Daily News International
Robust increases in business travel pricing in select markets in 2013
Travel Daily News International
NEW YORK - According to American Express Global Business Travel in its Global Business Travel Forecast 2013, projected increases in business travel pricing in select markets in Latin America, Asia, and Eastern Europe indicate that road warriors will ...
Business travel pricing to be up for Brazil, India, RussiaBizjournals.com

all 34 news articles??

Source: http://www.thefinancialherald.com/?p=325869

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Cruise ship suffers crack during rough crossing

1 day

Adam Coulter , CruiseCritic.com

P&O Cruises'?Ventura?ship?will have repairs made to a crack in an aluminium deck while it is in port in Southampton in the U.K. on?Friday, ahead of a two-day mini-cruise.

One of the welds directly below the Laguna Pool deck cracked open during a rough crossing across the?Bay of Biscay, leaving a?two-inch gap?width-ways across the deck, according to passengers posting on?board. The area was immediately taped off and, according to posts from passengers on?board, people on Deck 14 were told not to use their balconies.

A spokesperson for P&O said the crack had no ?structural?or safety issues,? and that the mini-cruise would set sail as planned tonight.

The incident first came to light on the?Cruise Critic message boards?when user "davedex"?wrote: ?Just read that Ventura has suffered a crack width wise by Breakers Bar.?

User?"drewlin"?wrote: "Just noticed on the P&O forum that a major problem has occurred on Ventura -- "Currently on Ventura and after a rough passage into the bob one of the deck welds on deck 17 overlooking the Laguna pool has split open leaving about a 2 inch gap across the deck. The area is now taped off."

User?"Thejuggler"?added: ?I suspect this has been a problem joint since it was built, but it has only just manifested itself. Stress fractures on steel are not unknown and there's no way every weld can be checked during construction. It's due for a refit, looks like an extra job is required.?

The 116,000-ton, 3,080-passenger Ventura, which was launched in 2008, will?go into dry dock?on March 22 next year, for scheduled repairs for 15 days.

The incident is also being talked about extensively on the?P&O Facebook page?where Peter Smith wrote: ?Ventura is now 4cm longer than Azura. Seriously, there is a 4cm gap across the whole starboard side of deck 16 which has caused a window pane to lose support. There is no other damage and no risk. The fact that the gap didn't close up after the ship stopped flexing shows that the welded joint must have been under considerable tension.?

P&O made the following statement: ?Repairs will be made to an aluminium deck on Ventura upon arrival in Southampton today. This has no structural strength or safety implications. Ventura will leave Southampton later today as planned for a two night cruise.?

More from CruiseCritic.com:

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/travel/cruise-ship-suffers-crack-during-rough-crossing-1C6568548

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Illinois Amtrak train hits 110 mph in test run

FILE - In this March 22, 2011 file photo, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin are joined by state and local officials as they announce the next phase of high-speed rail construction during a news conference at an Amtrak maintenance building in Chicago. On Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, Quinn, Durbin and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will take part in a test run of the high speed Amtrak line between Joliet and Normal, Ill., at 110 mph. The 30-mph increase from the route?s current top speed is a morale booster for advocates of high-speed rail who have watched conservatives in Congress put the brakes on spending for fast train projects. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

FILE - In this March 22, 2011 file photo, Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn and U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin are joined by state and local officials as they announce the next phase of high-speed rail construction during a news conference at an Amtrak maintenance building in Chicago. On Friday, Oct. 19, 2012, Quinn, Durbin and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will take part in a test run of the high speed Amtrak line between Joliet and Normal, Ill., at 110 mph. The 30-mph increase from the route?s current top speed is a morale booster for advocates of high-speed rail who have watched conservatives in Congress put the brakes on spending for fast train projects. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast, File)

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) ? An Amtrak passenger train has reached a speed of 110 mph for the first time in Illinois.

The train reached the speed Friday morning in a modest milestone for President Barack Obama's high-speed rail vision. The five-car, two-locomotive train zipped through the central Illinois countryside, hitting its high speed between the towns of Dwight and Pontiac.

Gov. Pat Quinn and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood were among the officials aboard who watched the speed increase on a special video monitor. The governor pumped his fist in the air and gave a thumbs-up when it reached 110 mph. Other officials cheered and clapped.

The 30-mph increase from the route's current top speed is a morale booster for advocates of high-speed rail. But some rail experts question whether the route will become profitable.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-10-19-Midwest-High%20Speed%20Rail/id-c5646c3a372346dcb2fb039a7ffa76d7

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TIGTA: IRS Unjustifiably Withholds $181 Million in Relief from Tax ...

? NYU Announces Overhaul of 3L Curriculum | Main | Should a CPA with Kids Go to Law School? ?

October 18, 2012

TIGTA: IRS Unjustifiably Withholds $181 Million in Relief from Tax Penalties from 1.5 Million Taxpayers

The Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration yesterday released Penalty Abatement Procedures Should Be Applied Consistently to All Taxpayers and Should Encourage Voluntary Compliance (2012-40-113):

The Internal Revenue Code imposes a Failure to File (FTF) penalty for failing to file a tax return and a Failure to Pay (FTP) penalty for failing to pay the tax shown on any tax return by the date prescribed.? The IRS can abate both penalties under certain circumstances. ?If the IRS does not administer these and other penalties fairly and accurately, taxpayers? confidence in the tax system will be jeopardized.?

The IRS waives FTF and FTP penalties for some taxpayers who have demonstrated full compliance over the prior three years. The purpose for granting the waiver, called a First-Time Abate (FTA), is to reward past tax compliance and promote future tax compliance. However, most taxpayers with compliant tax histories are not offered and do not receive the FTA waiver. TIGTA estimated that for Tax Year 2010, approximately 250,000 taxpayers with FTF penalties and 1.2 million taxpayers with FTP penalties did not receive penalty relief even though they qualified under FTA waiver criteria. TIGTA estimated the unabated penalties totaled more than $181 million.

October 18, 2012 in IRS News, Tax | Permalink

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There's an interesting District Court refund case in Phoenix involving a labor lawyer whose CPA mailed an extension request on April 17, 2007 -- the due date for 2006 returns, because April 15 was a Sunday and April 16 a holiday in DC.

When he filed his return in October, IRS assessed a $14,000 late-filing penalty. When he protested, an Appeals Officer told him that his extension request was not valid because it had not been mailed by April 16.

The Justice Department answer to his complaint was due a couple weeks ago, but they needed more time because IRS had not been able to provide the information needed for a response. The parties stipulated to -- an extension.

Posted by: Bob | Oct 18, 2012 11:21:16 AM

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Source: http://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2012/10/tigta--1.html

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Are You JJ Watt Jersey An Effective Salesperson? - Coast Business ...

Affiliate internet marketing is the procedure wherein a revenue-expressing strategy is integrated JJ Watt Jersey online utilizing an automated marketing and advertising software which lets Webmasters place an advertiser?s advertisements or back links on their site. This short article will help you understand this simple, but also intricate way of marketing and publicizing your organization, product or service and providers.

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Top Tips To Market Your Business Using Email | Debbie Clark ...

If you plan to market your business using email, you need to know what you are doing. Your emails must reach your intended target and actually be read to be effective. Keep reading for the most invaluable advice about email marketing!

For the most effective email marketing campaigns, make sure that your mailing lists are built organically. This list should contain people who have an interest in your product or service and should not be a mailing list that you purchased. Instead, give your customers a place to sign up for your listings, both on the Internet, and in your store.

Try to use Alt tags if the emails you send have images. The text in these tags will replace the images that fail to load, or are prevented from loading by the email client. The tags? descriptions should be relevant to the picture in order for the recipient to see its purpose. You should also use descriptions for your links.

Make it clear on your email sign-up form what the reader will get by submitting their information. Always inform your readers of what kind of email you will be sending and how often it will arrive. That way, your subscribers will be well aware of the content they will receive, and the frequency.

Do not make your email submissions into a long-winded sales pitch. Your emails should read like a newsletter with interesting information about your business. If you only include sales pitches, your customers will be unsatisfied, which could lead to them unsubscribing from your list. In order to keep your customers interested, they may need more than a sales pitch.

If you plan to use emails as a marketing tool, you must first gain permission from each customer you would like to include in your campaign. Otherwise, your spam complaints will increase, and, you may even lose customers over it completely.

Resist the urge to send your customers more than a single marketing email each week. Chances are, your customers receive a ton of email everyday, just like you. Over time, they will start to ?tune out? your email messages if they see them too frequently, wasting all of your efforts.

Your email marketing content should be attention grabbing. This might take a few tries to get it right. Make sure to evaluate what is working, and what is not. If it?s not working, change it. If you have found something that works well, make sure you test new strategies anyway.

Come up with a sales list that is targeted very well. The best way for you to do this is to build the list around your most reliable customers and their close contacts. If you make it out to seem that those who receive your mailing list also receive exclusive tips on your particular topic, then your mailing list will be more targeted while at the same time make your mailings appear to be more authoritative.

Choose themes for your marketing emails which build on special occasions and holidays. Create the year?s business strategy with holiday and event promotions in mind. Come up with campaigns that revolve around major retail holidays, including Christmas, Easter, Valentine?s Days and any others that may be appropriate. It?s also helpful to amp up your marketing efforts when business is slow in order to increase sales.

Make sure your subject line is an attention getter. Using an incentive in your subject line will increase the likelihood of your email being opened. Try to get their attention through something special, like a new product, something free, or a discount. Using a subject line like this will make it more likely that people will open your emails.

Keep in mind that the purpose of an email marketing scheme is to build your business?s reputation and generate more business. Never take shortcuts, aim for the wrong audience or use any kind of deception. Only engaging in white hat tactics will ensure that your reputation remains intact.

Keep your customers interested in your emails by offering promotions. This email strategy has the dual benefit of rewarding your customers for their subscription to your newsletter and inspiring them to recommend that their friends and family do the same. Referrals are an invaluable way of increasing your email list and customer base.

The tips you just read constitute a simple guide to take an email marketing campaign from borderline spam to effective and profitable in no time. You can use these tips to improve your current projects or start working on a brand new campaign.

Test a variety of different formats for your emails. Always place new offers and the most vital information at the top of the emails you send. Try different formats in order to see which elicits the most responses. When you find your formula for success, stick with it. This will help build consistency into your email marketing; your subscribers will be familiar with your style and more apt to open your email, as it is something they trust.

Debbie Clark
Lovin? Life

Tagged as: customers interested, email marketing, mailing list, sales pitch

Source: http://www.debbieclarkonline.com/top-tips-to-market-your-business-using-email/

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Lightning to 30-pin Adapters hands-on

While Apple managed to ship the iPhone 5 to dozens of countries within the span of a couple weeks, it's taken almost a month to get the 30-pin Dock to Lightning connector adapters shipped and into stores. So, now that they're here, how are they?

Okay. Pretty much exactly what you'd expect.

The dongle isn't really small enough to avoid being annoying, but that's what you get when you need something to translate the new, all-digital Lightning signal into the old, partly analog Dock signal and vice versa. If all you have is an old legacy cable, either stand-alone or as part of an in-car system, it works fine. Anything that's cramped, however, or relies on wrapping around the base or back of the iPhone for stability, probably won't work.

That brings us to the cable. It's the same as the dongle but includes a short length -- 20 cm or 7.8-inches -- of USB cable as well. So, for example, you could attach it inside a battery case or even some types of media docks and still, awkwardly, use them with your iPhone 5, iPod touch 5, or iPod touch 7.

Both are expensive, neither is ideal, neither supports video, and they took far too long to get into stores. That said, if you have a legacy accessory that absolutely needs a 30-pin Dock port to work, it's something you're going to have to pick up.

I tested both out with the iPod connector kit in my car and they both worked fine, exactly how the iPhone 4S worked with the traditional, direct Dock connector. My music played out through the car, and the car controls were recognized by my iPhone 5.

$39.95 - Lightning to 30-pin Adapter (0.2 m) - Buy now

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Need (more) Advice... - Adoption.com Forums

First of all...he has never had a daddy before, right? And, you being mommy...it may be confusing. But, my kiddos(whom we have had each from birth) absolutely flip when Daddy gets home(he is often gone all week for work, too)...they cry and carry on as soon as he gets home...if he gets home right before bedtime it is a *nightmare*...at first, I was kind of put off by it...but, the pp is right, it is the novelty and the fact that he is the one who is NOT there...because when I went to Hawaii for 8 days with my mom and sisters, the kids did the same thing with me when I got home...and my dh said they did all of the usual behavioral stuff in response to my being gone...in fact (probably for my ego!LOL!) he swears it was worse...that they were pretty sober and sad the whole time...my son attests to that...probably just smart guys! They know when to schmooze the mama!LOL! BUT, they did react the same when I got home...

Also, have you considered that you are the one bringing him to the visit that freaks him out...so, naturally he asks for Daddy...because in his little mind, Daddy did NOT bring him here...and he does NOT want to go in there and for whatever reason, he knows you can't save him from it. Poor little man...hang in there mom. It is not uncommon at all!!

I will say it is nice to know I am not the only one who ever felt this way, though...it is easy to tell someone else, but I have felt it and it's not cool...just like you said, logistically...I am the bomb...but, he is so patient and playful...makes me feel like the workhorse!LOL!

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Last edited by hopefulandwatching : Today at 07:11 PM.

Source: http://forums.adoption.com/foster-parent-support/408938-need-more-advice.html

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The Internet of Things will transform our everyday life, experts say

ScienceDaily (Oct. 17, 2012) ? The next ICT revolution will have a profound impact on our lives and the economy. Ubiquitous computing and the Internet of Things are experiencing remarkable growth. The effects are becoming more and more apparent wherever you look: in housing, transport, health care, and retail, as well as the security and energy industries. VTT has developed key technologies for ubiquitous computing. These include situation awareness for portable devices, mixed and augmented reality, and interoperability solutions enabling devices made by different vendors to share information.

Information technology and electronics are becoming entwined with our everyday lives in industry, the service sector, transport, logistics, health care, housing, education, and our leisure time, almost without our noticing it..

The changes are already apparent to consumers in the energy sector, for example: remotely readable meters are rapidly becoming more common, enabling developments such as new pricing models that encourage the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The remote control of machines and devices is experiencing substantial growth and spreading to smaller and smaller appliances. Smart buildings use building automation to control their own functions to an ever greater extent, and remote health care applications are increasing apace with the aging of the population.

"VTT is developing uID (universal Identification) technology with our Japanese partner, the University of Tokyo," says VTT Research Professor Heikki Ailisto. "This technology enables the identification and tracking of individual products, components, and food products. With uID, information on origin, manufacture, and history can be attached in the digital world to the most commonplace items over their entire life cycle. A timber plank, for instance, can be tagged with information on which forest the timber was cut from, where it was sawn, how many times it has been painted, and with what paints."

"Three big waves can be identified in telecommunications in the past century or so. First, the telephone connected 500 million places. The mobile phone then connected 5 billion people. The Internet of Things will connect 50 billion devices, machines, and objects. Objects and packages that do not require an actual data connection can also be named and connected to background systems with the help of identifiers," says Ailisto.

Objects converse with each other, mobile phones identify our movements

Ubiquitous computing (ubi) and the Internet of Things (IoT) will revolutionise technology and business. VTT sees an opportunity in this revolution; an opportunity that it wants to grasp together with the industry and other actors. The goal is to create a technological operating environment and to build business on it.

VTT has been developing ubiquitous computing applications and basic technology in the OPENS (Open Smart Spaces) programme. The programme's achievements include the implementation of the interoperability platform Smart M3, which enables various appliances and objects in the home or office to "converse," understand each other, and share information. This interoperability platform, created for devices produced by different manufacturers for a variety of purposes, is based on so-called semantic technology, which defines a common "language" for devices and applications. The interoperability of devices promotes energy saving, comfort, and safety at home and at work. The solution was developed together by VTT, industrial partners, and universities in various national and European projects.

One way to make appliances and services feel "smart" for the user is to make them situationally aware. Situation and location awareness has already been put into practice in mobile communications devices and other appliances. VTT has brought a new dimension to awareness with the solutions it has developed to enable additional recognition of the user's activities -- is the user sitting, walking, or running? -- and his or her method of travel -- is the user travelling by train, bus, car, or bicycle? In this way the user can be offered the most appropriate services for the situation.

One example of interaction technology between man and machine is mixed and augmented reality, an area in which VTT has achieved globally significant results. Such applications include motion sensing input devices and 3D cameras for games and practical applications. Mixed and augmented reality as an interface for mobile phones, for example, is just breaking into the market and entering consumer consciousness.

The worth of business related to IoT technology and applications is rising by 30% each year, and by next year will reach EUR 300 billion. VTT is helping Finnish companies reap their share of this growth. Research in the field is continuing strongly, with a particular focus on the Internet of Things.

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The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Technical Research Centre of Finland (VTT).

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

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Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/Lb0HH-lOllM/121017091728.htm

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Does True Love Wait? Age of First Sexual Experience Predicts ...

? Sexual Health News ? Oct 17, 2012

It?s a common lament among parents: Kids are growing up too fast these days. Parents worry about their kids getting involved in all kinds of risky behavior, but they worry especially about their kids? forays into sexual relationships. And research suggests that there may be cause for concern, as timing of sexual development can have significant immediate consequences for adolescents? physical and mental health.

But what about long-term outcomes? How might early sexual initiation affect romantic relationships in adulthood?

Psychological scientist Paige Harden of the University of Texas at Austin wanted to investigate whether the timing of sexual initiation in adolescence might predict romantic outcomes ? such as whether people get married or live with their partners, how many romantic partners they?ve had, and whether they?re satisfied with their relationship ? later in adulthood.

To answer this question, Harden used data from the National Longitudinal Study on Adolescent Health to look at 1659 same-sex sibling pairs who were followed from adolescence (around 16) to young adulthood (around 29). Each sibling was classified as having an Early (younger than 15), On-Time (age 15-19), or Late (older than 19) first experience with sexual intercourse. Her findings are reported in a new research article published in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.

As expected, later timing of first sexual experience was associated with higher educational attainment and higher household income in adulthood when compared with the Early and On-Time groups. Individuals who had a later first sexual experience were also less likely to be married and they had fewer romantic partners in adulthood.

Among the participants who were married or living with a partner, later sexual initiation was associated with significantly lower levels of relationship dissatisfaction in adulthood. The association held up even after taking genetic and environmental factors into account and could not be explained by differences in adult educational attainment, income, or religiousness, or by adolescent differences in dating involvement, body mass index, or attractiveness.

These results suggest that the timing of first experience with sexual intercourse predicts the quality and stability of romantic relationships in young adulthood.

Although research has often focused on the consequences of early sexual activity, the Early and On-Time participants in this study were largely indistinguishable. The data suggest that early initiation is not a ?risk? factor so much as late initiation is a ?protective? factor in shaping romantic outcomes.

According to Harden, there are several possible mechanisms that might explain this relationship.

It?s possible, for example, that people who have their first sexual encounter later also have certain characteristics (e.g., secure attachment style) that have downstream effects on both sexual delay and on relationship quality. They could be pickier in choosing romantic and sexual partners, resulting in a reluctance to enter into intimate relationships unless they are very satisfying.

It?s also possible, however, that people who have their first sexual encounter later have different experiences, avoiding early encounters with relational aggression or victimization that would otherwise have detrimental effects on later romantic outcomes.

Finally, Harden explains that it?s possible that ?individuals who first navigate intimate relationships in young adulthood, after they have accrued cognitive and emotional maturity, may learn more effective relationship skills than individuals who first learn scripts for intimate relationships while they are still teenagers.?

Future research can help to tease apart which of these mechanisms may actually be at work in driving the association between timing of first sexual intercourse and later romantic outcomes.

In previous studies, Harden and her colleagues have found that earlier sexual intercourse isn?t always associated with negative outcomes. For example, using the same sample from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health, she found that teenagers who experienced their first sexual intercourse earlier, particularly those who had sex in a romantic dating relationship, had lower levels of delinquent behavior problems. She explains, ?We are just beginning to understand how adolescents? sexual experiences influence their future development and relationships.?
###

For more information about this study, please contact: K. Paige Harden at .

The APS journal Psychological Science is the highest ranked empirical journal in psychology. For a copy of the article ?True Love Waits? A Sibling-Comparison Study of Age at First Sexual Intercourse and Romantic Relationships in Young Adulthood? and access to other Psychological Science research findings, please contact Anna Mikulak at 202-293-9300 or .

###

Anna Mikulak
Association for Psychological Science
202.293.9300

Provided by ArmMed Media
Revision date: Sept. 19, 2012
Last revised: by Alexander D. Davtyan, M.D

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Source: http://www.health.am/sex/more/first-sexual-experience-predicts-romantic-outcomes/

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Round 2: President Obama turns up the heat in combative town-hall debate

By Amanda Paulson,?Staff writer / October 17, 2012

U.S. Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney (L) and U.S. President Barack Obama answer a question at the same time during the second U.S. presidential campaign debate in Hempstead, New York.

REUTERS/Jim Young

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President Obama delivered a far more forceful performance in his second presidential debate against Mitt Romney, as he and the former Massachusetts governor clashed over a wide range of questions from undecided voters.

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Debating at Hofstra University in New York?s Long Island, Obama and Governor Romney both had the gloves off in this town-hall debate, as they sparred over questions that ranged from the economy and gas prices to Libya, immigration, gun control, and gender disparity in pay.

The outcome was less clear-cut than the debate in Denver, with neither candidate scoring the huge victory that Romney seemed to in their last encounter.

The big question as the debate began was whether Obama could undo some of the damage he did two weeks ago in Denver, where he was widely viewed as losing badly to Romney. In the weeks since that debate, Romney has largely overtaken Obama in the polls, and is now leading in some key swing states. Obama certainly delivered a stronger performance this time around, and seemed unafraid of directly confronting Romney on a number of issues he shied away from two weeks ago.

?Very little of what Governor Romney just said is true,? he said early on in the debate, in response to criticisms by Romney of his energy policy and ?statements that he had reduced drilling on federal lands.

It set the stage for a willingness to spar directly with Romney frequently ? an interaction that often doesn?t happen in town hall debates, where the emphasis is on engaging with the questioner ? that happened repeatedly through the night, as Romney and Obama tussled with each other about their positions and statements on energy, the Libya attack, immigration, and tax policy.

Romney?s strongest moments in the debate came when he characterized Obama?s first four years in stark terms.

?I think you know that these last four years haven't been so good as the president just described and that you don't feel like you?re confident that the next four years are going to be much better either,? Romney told a questioner who said that he had voted for Obama four years ago but was less optimistic this time around.

?I can tell you that if you were to elect President Obama, you know what you're going to get,? Romney said, before launching into criticisms ranging from unemployment and the growing numbers of people in poverty to his failure to reform entitlements or immigration. ?The president has tried, but his policies haven't worked,? Romney said.

Romney was strong at the debate's end, too, though he misfired notably when he answered a question on gender pay inequity by referring to ?whole binders full of women? that he had his staff in the Massachusetts governor?s office bring him when there weren?t enough women candidates for cabinet positions. The phrase quickly became one of the most mocked of the night on Twitter and elsewhere.

But Obama, who had the most to gain from this debate, came in with a particularly tall agenda.

He needed to be more energetic than in Denver. He needed to find a way to attack Romney?s character and paint him as a flip-flopper, without hurting his own likability. He needed to appeal to women voters, who are key to his victory plan and who polls show may be leaving the president for Romney.?

And he had to do it all without seeming like he was overcompensating from his weak performance of two weeks ago, or that he is desperate.

And, with some missteps, he accomplished most of that agenda.

He used a fairly softball question on pay disparity for women to not only highlight his signing of the Lily Ledbetter act but also move into a discussion of contraception and Planned Parenthood ??criticizing Romney on both ? noting that ?these are not just women's issues. These are family issues. These are economic issues.?

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/6mn_p-gSCU0/Round-2-President-Obama-turns-up-the-heat-in-combative-town-hall-debate

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Twitter for Customer Service 101 at Indus Net Technologies Blog

Abhishek Rungta | Wed, Oct 17, 2012 | 0 Comment

Offering customer service is certainly not the easiest job in the world. It means that one must face one?s own weaknesses, accept these weaknesses and mistakes and rectify them as soon as possible. Providing customer service also means a company has to ensure that they are available at all times and are not elusive. While it is a great way to build a company?s image by offering great customer service, making a customer wait, not resolving the problem immediately or showing that you may lack empathy lead to disastrous consequences. Twitter is increasingly being used to offer customer service, as an adjunct to telephonic service. Sometimes, companies offer customer service solely on Twitter. Here are the most important reasons why Twitter is such a great platform to offer customer service

Twitter is Cost Effective and Requires no Installations

Twitter costs no money and is free, and can be used by a lone customer service representative if you are a small company. In fact, one does not need to install any software or hardware. All that one needs is a freelance contractor who knows how to talk wittily and sympathetically.

Twitter Reduces Friction

Twitter helps companies to resolve problems without friction. This friction is usually caused when customers are put on hold when they call or when the customer service executive speaks in a foreign accent. If the problem that one is talking about is small, it can be resolved in just a tweet. If not, the customer can be prodded to call a certain number of continue to conversation through direct messaging.

Spread of Goodwill

Each time a customer is satisfied, he or she will thank you, and will use your official Twitter handle to express their gratitude for resolving their problem. This can be viewed by other customers and you can ensure that goodwill against your business or company will be built over a period of time.

Easy Monitoring

Twitter also ensures that a company can monitor its presence on social media. If somebody does not have a nice thing to say about your company or business, it provides you food for thought to improve on that area. In fact, using Twitter as a medium for customer service can result in some serious soul searching within an organization.

Twitter Is Viral

As discussed earlier, your presence will be noticed each time you tweet to disgruntled customers. When they end the conversation satisfied that their problem is resolved, other customers become aware of your company?s presence. Twitter customer service then has a viral effect on spreading the good word. Companies and businesses can utilize their Twitter customer service accounts to retweet comments made by satisfied customers and also to highlight your strengths and weaknesses.

Removes Opacity and Barriers between Customers and Companies

Twitter reduces any sort of opacity that might exist between a company and its customers. All that a customer needs to do is send a 140 character message to the company, and the message shall have reached. This increased transparency and availability leads to greater customer satisfaction and increased loyalty when it comes to using your products and services.

Increasing Engagement

Another important factor one must consider when talking about Twitter customer service is engagement. There is no better alternative to Twitter when it comes to engaging audiences and striking up conversations with potential customers. Twitter can be a very powerful tool in solving customers problems, recognizing your strengths and weaknesses, reducing costs, increasing efficiency and finally, increasing profits and revenue.Among these fundamental qualities of Twitter, here are the most important reasons why companies must take Twitter more seriously when it comes to offering customer service:

• It reduces time and increases the speed of problem resolution.
• Helps companies to personalize communication and offer a human face to the company. It can be used as an opportunity to show that instead of being a cold business, a company is actually warm, humane and understanding.
• Twitter offers confidentiality, in the form of direct messages. Sensitive information can be communicated through direct messages by asking your customer to follow you at least temporarily.
• Twitter can be a great hunting ground when it comes to looking for possible and new customers.
• Twitter is decentralized and democratic no matter which way one looks at it.
• Twitter is free, reduces HR-related expenses and boosts a company?s image.

It is no wonder then that most companies have begun to offer customer service online via Twitter. This trend will only continue and is expected to increase dramatically in the next couple of months.

Source: http://www.indusnet.co.in/blog/twitter-for-customer-service-101/1659/

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Giants beat Cardinals 7-1 in Game 2 to even NLCS

San Francisco Giants' Marco Scutaro watches his three RBI hit during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

San Francisco Giants' Marco Scutaro watches his three RBI hit during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

San Francisco Giants second baseman Marco Scutaro (19) lies on the infield grass after being knocked down by St. Louis Cardinals' Matt Holliday (7) during Game 2 of baseball's National League championship series, Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/The Sacramento Bee, Paul Kitagaki Jr.) MAGS OUT; LOCAL TV OUT (KCRA3, KXTV10, KOVR13, KUVS19, KMAZ31, KTXL40); MANDATORY CREDIT

San Francisco Giants' Angel Pagan reacts in front of St. Louis Cardinals catcher Yadier Molina after scoring on a hit by Marco Scutaro during the fourth inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League championship series Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Chris Carpenter throws during the third inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League championship series against the San Francisco Giants Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

San Francisco Giants' Angel Pagan, right, is congratulated by Pablo Sandoval after Pagan hit a home run during the first inning of Game 2 of baseball's National League championship series against the St. Louis Cardinals Monday, Oct. 15, 2012, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Ben Margot)

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ? Marco Scutaro bounced back from Matt Holliday's hard slide by delivering a big hit of his own that helped the San Francisco Giants get their first home win this postseason, 7-1 over St. Louis on Monday night that tied the NL championship series at 1-all.

The game got off to a testy start when Holliday barreled into Scutaro at second base to break up a potential double play in the first inning. The play riled up a crowd that had seen three straight losses by the Giants so far in the playoffs.

There was plenty to cheer all night for the Giants. Ryan Vogelsong pitched seven strong innings, Angel Pagan hit a leadoff homer and Scutaro hit a two-run single off Cardinals starter Chris Carpenter that broke the game open in a four-run fourth.

Scutaro left after five innings because of an injured left hip, and was going for X-rays.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-10-15-NLCS-Cardinals-Giants/id-3075318476434987becf3e7261d0f57f

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Virgin to run rail line while government fixes bidding fiasco

LONDON (Reuters) - The government faced fresh humiliation over a botched competition to run the country's west coast rail service on Monday, when it asked Virgin to continue operating the line on an interim basis, only weeks after choosing a rival company.

A 13-year franchise deal, due to commence in December, had originally been granted to FirstGroup ahead of the incumbent Virgin Trains, but the government was forced to pull the award earlier this month when it discovered serious flaws in the way it had run the process.

The Department of Transport is now asking Virgin to continue operating the service, which runs from London to Scotland, for a further nine to 13 months from December, while it runs a competition for an interim agreement, it said on Monday.

"The cancellation of the InterCity West Coast franchise is deeply regrettable and I apologise to the bidders involved and the taxpayer who have a right to expect better," said Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin.

"My priority now is to fix the problem and the first step is to take urgent action to ensure that on the 9 December services continue to run to the same standard and passengers are not affected."

FirstGroup, which had made a 5.5 billion pounds bid to run the franchise, has seen its shares slide over 20 percent since the deal was scrapped.

Virgin Trains - a venture between billionaire businessman Richard Branson's Virgin Group and Stagecoach - had offered 4.8 billion pounds to continue with the franchise, and had mounted a legal challenge when it lost, claiming the winning bid was "ridiculous".

In the process of preparing for the legal challenge, the government uncovered mistakes related to the way it had calculated risk, leading to an embarrassing u-turn on the award of the franchise, the suspension of three employees, and the freezing of other ongoing franchise competitions.

Following the debacle, the government has ordered two independent reviews. One will look into what happened with the west coast competition and is expected to report by the end of this month, while the other will look at the wider issue of rail franchising and report in December.

Virgin welcomed the government move on Monday. A spokesman said: "Customers have made it clear that they want Virgin to continue. We are delighted to have the chance to continue delivering our excellent service."

The affair is humiliating for the ruling Conservative Party, which began its programme of rail privatisations in the 1990s, a project that has been dogged by fatal accidents, financial crises and political infighting.

In 2009, the government was forced to re-nationalise the east coast line after contracts with GNER and National Express collapsed.

"RMT will continue to fight for public ownership of the railways, a position supported by the vast majority of the British people," transport union the RMT said on Monday.

"This short term political fix will not detract from the call for rail to be run as a public service free from the chaos and greed of privatisation."

(Reporting by Rosalba O'Brien; Editing by Paul Sandle and Mark Potter)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/government-asks-virgin-remain-west-coast-operator-short-063439698--finance.html

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Mitt Bags on the View (talking-points-memo)

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Fall 411 ? TwistedLoopYarnShop

I feel like writing you all a letter? so I shall.

Dear Beloved Customer (very 1800?s of me),

I?m so excited that Fall is finally under way.? I really feel like knitting now.? The wind is blowing, it?s getting dark earlier and I am having cravings for foods cooked in my crock pot ? please forward any yummy crock pot recipes my way. Oh, and drinking coffee and tea? LOTS of tea. (link to coffee cup cozy?pattern)

The shop is looking a bit thin after the Anniversary Sale but never fear.? I?ve ordered yummy new yarns and they?re scheduled to come in over the next few weeks.

Come into the shop often to see what?s new as far as yarn AND decor.? Having Bob?in the shop is always a good thing.? He is always looking at the shop and how to make it more comfy and functional for all of you ? hence the new class table and coat rack? just wait to see what we?re adding to the lighting .? He really enjoyed his time this past weekend and I think he?s beginning to understand why I love what I do (thanks to all of you).

Classes are all updated through December and I?m excited.??I can?t wait for the Guernsey Wrap, Cafe au Lait Fingerless Mitts and Cast On Crazy classes.

If you have taken Knit Happy or Falling Snow Christmas Stocking classes, the promised You Tube links are now over in the Tech Talk area just down and to the right of this post.? I hope you enjoy them.

As always Happy Knitting!

Jenni

Posted in News

Source: http://twistedloopyarnshop.com/?p=1184

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95% Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark in IMAX

tomatometer

67

Average Rating: 7.1/10
Critic Reviews: 6
Fresh: 4 | Rotten: 2

Featuring bravura set pieces, sly humor, and white-knuckle action, Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of the most consummately entertaining adventure pictures of all time.

audience

93

liked it
Average Rating: 4/5
User Ratings: 808,555

Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford) is no ordinary archeologist. When we first see him, he is somewhere in the Peruvian jungle in 1936, running a booby-trapped gauntlet (complete with an over-sized rolling boulder) to fetch a solid-gold idol. He loses this artifact to his chief rival, a French archeologist named Belloq (Paul Freeman), who then prepares to kill our hero. In the first of many serial-like escapes, Indy eludes Belloq by hopping into a convenient plane. So, then: is Indiana Jones afraid of anything? Yes, snakes. The next time we see Jones, he's a soft-spoken, bespectacled professor. He is then summoned from his ivy-covered environs by Marcus Brody (Denholm Elliott) to find the long-lost Ark of the Covenant. The Nazis, it seems, are already searching for the Ark, which the mystical-minded Hitler hopes to use to make his stormtroopers invincible. But to find the Ark, Indy must first secure a medallion kept under the protection of Indy's old friend Abner Ravenwood, whose daughter, Marion (Karen Allen), evidently has a "history" with Jones. Whatever their personal differences, Indy and Marion become partners in one action-packed adventure after another, ranging from wandering the snake pits of the Well of Souls to surviving the pyrotechnic unearthing of the sacred Ark. A joint project of Hollywood prodigies George Lucas and Steven Spielberg, with a script co-written by Lawrence Kasdan and Philip Kaufman, among others, Raiders of the Lost Ark is not so much a movie as a 115-minute thrill ride. Costing 22 million dollars (nearly three times the original estimate), Raiders of the Lost Ark reaped 200 million dollars during its first run. It was followed by Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1985) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), as well as a short-lived TV-series "prequel." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

In Theaters: Sep 7, 2012 Limited

On DVD: Oct 21, 2003

Box Office:$3.1M

Paramount Pictures

Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/indiana_jones_and_the_raiders_of_the_lost_ark_in_imax/

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