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Friday, April 8, 2011

'Counter-Terror' Policy Targets Uyghurs

2011-04-07
A new report says China uses the threat of terrorism to crack down on Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

AFP
Uyghur men and women chat outside a mosque in Urumqi, July 17, 2009.

China's anti-terrorism policy deliberately targets ethnic minority communities such as Uyghurs and Tibetans struggling for greater autonomy, according to a white paper by a rights group.

The policy equates terrorism with groups pushing for more self-governing rights, is too broad in scope, and shirks international human rights commitments, said the Hong Kong and New York-based Human Rights in China (HRIC).

The paper looked into human rights concerns within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), a regional intergovernmental organization which includes China and five other member states-Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan-with a total population of 1.5 billion people.

It said the SCO approach to counter-terrorism, modeled on China'sThree Evils doctrine, and highlighting principles of territorial integrity, noninterference in internal affairs, and social stability, contributes to supporting repressive regimes at the expense of human rights.

A failure to demand accountability from the SCO undermines the effectiveness and integrity of the international system in countering terrorism and advancing rule of law, peace, and security, HRIC said.

"China's approach to counter-terrorism is the Three Evils doctrine, and it links terrorism with separatism and extremism," HRIC director Sharon Hom said in an interview.

"This Three Evils approach is overbroad, highly politicized, and while not exclusively applied only to ethnic minority groups, it is regularly applied to Uyghurs and Tibetans in its practice."

Hom said other SCO member states follow China's lead by recognizing Xinjiang and Tibet as inalienable territories of China and repatriating its ethnic minorities who seek asylum within their borders.

"China has enormous clout in the SCO, and you can also see it in the ways in which the other SCO member states and the SCO will completely parrot China's line and China's policy on these two so-called autonomous regions."

Treatment of Uyghurs

The HRIC white paper said it found "serious issues" concerning China's treatment of Uyghurs, including the principle of non-refoulement and potential use of torture during interrogations.

Regulations specific to Xinjiang became part of China's domestic counter-terrorism legal framework in December 2009 when provincial-level lawmakers revised the region's Comprehensive Management of Social Order.

Through the revisions, Chinese authorities were ordered to specifically crack down on the three threats of "terrorism, separatism, and extremism" in the aftermath of the July 2009 ethnic violence in Urumqi which left hundreds dead, according to official media reports.

HRIC called the amendments "unique" to Xinjiang, adding that "such singular focus by the Chinese government ... suggests that the concept of terrorism has been applied in a biased fashion, with the Uyghur community the subject of intense scrutiny and suspicion."

It noted that while China does face real threats of terrorism, "the limited involvement of Uyghurs in terrorist acts cannot serve as justification of widespread repression throughout [Xinjiang] or the labeling of peaceful Uyghur activists under the rubric of the Three Evils."

Adherence to rules

But despite its reliance on the Three Evils doctrine, HRIC wrote, China continues to claim that it is acting to "firmly uphold and fulfill the resolutions of the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council," according to a statement by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS).

Under U.N. rules, China pledged to oppose the "arbitrary widening" of the scope of fighting terrorism and identifying terrorism with any specific ethnic group or religion.

"The Three Evils doctrine undermines this principled approach and, in doing so, compromises human rights guaranteed under international law, and international counter-terrorism efforts as a whole," HRIC said.

HRIC recommended that Beijing narrow its "Three Evils"-based approach to national security and reformulate its definition of terrorism.

On June 24 last year, Chinese authorities announced they had broken up a "terrorist" ring of a Uyghur separatist group, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), after arresting more than ten of its members involved in an alleged major plot against China.

The announcement said that information leading to the arrest had been obtained through the investigation of 20 "individuals of Chinese citizenship" who had been deported to China on December 20, 2009-the exact date that Cambodia deported 20 Uyghurs seeking asylum following the July 5 ethnic unrest in Urumqi.

The statement also indicated that several of the alleged ETIM members had confessed to participating in a wide array of terrorist activities during interrogation.

Human Rights Watch said in February that the Cambodian government has a "dismal track record" of deporting refugees granted asylum status by the UNHCR, particularly those from neighboring countries such as China and Vietnam.

Ethnic tensions

Millions of Uyghurs-a distinct, Turkic minority who are predominantly Muslim-populate Central Asia and the Xinjiang region.

Ethnic tensions between Uyghurs and majority Han Chinese settlers have simmered for years, and erupted in riots in July 2009 that left some 200 people dead, according to the Chinese government's tally.

Uyghurs say they have long suffered ethnic discrimination, oppressive religious controls, and continued poverty and joblessness despite China's ambitious plans to develop its vast northwestern frontier.

Chinese authorities blame Uyghur separatists for a series of deadly attacks in recent years and accuse one group in particular of maintaining links to the al-Qaeda terrorist network.

Reported by Mamatjan Juma for RFA Uyghur service. Written in English by Joshua Lipes.
Copyright © 1998-2011 Radio Free Asia. All rights reserved.

Roofing Vancouver Issues

Vancouver Roofing

In Vancouver extra care is required whenever obtaining a estimate for any home. The roof covering company within Vancouver must know precisely what they're coping with whenever getting your roof away. Unforeseen costs really are a typical situation in Vancouver and each proprietor should be prepared

Heritage- being among the oldest places within the GVRD you can understand that there are several fairly old homes. Having a steep pitch roofing, probably in the vicinity of 12/12 pitch which essentially means Forty five degree position roofing. The initial roof had been cedar tremble looking at strapping. I'm not sure if it had been lazy or the norm, in the event that everyone was attempting to cut costs but if you have this roofing you most likely got several layer on the top. The original continues to be on and 2 additional levels sit above the cedar tremble. I've run into house exactly where five levels sitting along with the house. According to building signal now days the Vancouver Roofing company must remove all layers if your new roof is to be positioned above. You people tend to spend more because of the steepness, the actual few levels of roofing, the actual plyboard outdoor patio and the difficulty. You are probably 2 ft out of your neighbours

Vancouver Roofing

Low Slope - Vancouver special houses run all through East Vancouver. The actual slight problem with these types of homes when it comes to roof covering is that dwindling roofing businesses available do tar residue and tiny rocks. The option you have is actually flashlight upon or steel. Asphalt shingles cannot continue these houses. Your pitch would be to low as well as asphalt probably would not last ten years. Vancouver Roofing companies that have been in the commercial of flashlight on in excess of 10 years are most likely reliable. Ice and snow build up upon these types of roofs trigger mini pools to develop in your roofing as well as trigger major leaking, keep the actual gutters and downpipes clear.

Low Slope or even Steep Slope cedar shake -- Within Vancouver this really is common about the Western aspect. There is not a lot to say of Cedar within Vancouver. There is a long period through the 60's, 70's as well as Eighties when Vancouver Roofing companies weren't installing cedar. Most Cedar rooftops tend to be new building. cedar is the 1 product that the majority of issues can be determined before the work begins

Reduced Downward slope or even High Slope Asphalt roofing -- If you have asphalt roofing also it hasn't been transformed in the last 10 years then you've a good deck. Since the 1970's asphalt arrived to the marketplace. With new building shiplap or even also called tongue as well as groove was the only choice of the solid deck. Shiplap moves a lot in the winter and in summer therefore plyboard should be layered down through the roofing contractor

Roofing within Burnaby

Roofing within Burnaby can have its challenges and also the easiest way to undergo them all is to function through North in order to South starting towards the top of Burnaby. In Northern Burnaby the actual hillsides start to slope and decrease to some pretty powerful perspectives. The big problems I've found here are driveway steepness and use of the home, even though this may not appear to be a problem to you it is a truly major problem for any roofing company that has to hand carry your old roof upward the hill as well as hand carry your new roofing down the hill.

Hard, the downward slope area in this region kept building companies away and as a result you have homes which were just about all constructed through separately hired building businesses. There are some servings of North Burnaby that have small groups houses all constructed collectively but to the degree that Main Burnaby offers. Northern Burnaby has more fascinating constructed designs as well as rooftops creating a ball recreation area determine estimate in this region fairly hard.

Burnaby Roofing

Main Burnaby is where big construction businesses having a regular architectural way of building the home had been pretty hectic throughout the 70`s and early 80`s. Having a shiplap deck being the only real option and asphalt tiles becoming the option as well as positioned on a house. Today shiplap may be the roofers enemy because of the fact the shingles of today aren't made to use shiplap. Trying to convince central Burnaby they have to re-deck the rooftop with plywood has often been overlooked and for good reason.

The quality of shiplap has elevated levels of this area with many from it that I have come across becoming between Six and Eight inches which is ideal. Other than that this part of Burnaby is fairly simple to roofing along with entry not a problem all that often along with a obvious style within steep roof that's clear to see. Lots of Vancouver special offers centered here to with flashlight upon being the main choice from the original tar and gravel choice. Cedar roofs tend to spread the actual east side of this area with many converting to asphalt

South Burnaby has a tendency to have much larger rooftops that are scattered along with asphalt and cedar shake. Cedar shake rooftops in this region are usually from homes close to Two decades aged. This house has a tendency to transform right into a asphalt roofing and many have okay entry but some do not and the roofs are not everything to steep. A few asphalt roofs down here actually have plyboard decks which is usually a big saver for just about any home owner

Roofing West Vancouver

West Vancouver is a area associated with valley's as well as ridges, high drive-ways as well as concealed rooftops. This is often a roofers nightmare however there are roof covering businesses that work in the region and understand what they most likely could be coping with. Unlike additional cities within the Metro Vancouver area, large building businesses didn't buy big tracks of land as well as develop designed suburban cul-de-sacs. They do can be found but to some smaller degree compared to other cities. Consequently you'll find in one road 20 houses all constructed differently. I guess due to the land scenery this was the only method to obtain homes built in some regions.

There was certainly the growth during the 1970's by the shear quantity of shiplap patio's available. Most rooftops in West Vancouver that require an upgraded tend to be asphalt rooftops which take a seat on the shiplap deck. They shingle is generally a lock shingle that was designed for shiplap but no longer available in the higher Vancouver region. The majority of home owners in West Vancouver are understanding they now require a plywood deck to cover the actual shiplap.

Several Cedar roofs appear in West Vancouver but not a lot that requires replacing. Most twenty years old cedar tremble roofs in West Vancouver have been replaced so you look for a cedar roofing in some places. Replacing cedar with cedar isn't the just about all to common practise and many Cedar rooftops are in new building.

West Vancouver Roofing

Vancouver specials aren't all in order to typical in West Vancouver. Flashlight on and tar residue and tiny rocks is available but not recommended. The actual rainfall as well as blowing wind tends to be a bit more extreme in West Vancouver, using the large quantities associated with trees and the chance of huge snowfall drop metal is really a high recommendation.

Getting a roof estimate in West Vancouver can be quite different than the individual living right on the doorstep. if you have a steep front yard, possess a roof that's steeper than Thirty levels and over Two thousand square feet than you can spend a lot more than $ 3000 compared to your neighbor. The kind of roof and quantity of pulsating can make a big difference. Within West Vancouver it's very tough to ball park a cost with this very reason. I guess you could say based on the little land you reside upon and the style from the roofing could make a big difference between a higher estimation and a reduced estimation. Roof entry has become a problem with some roofers needing to hand have the old roof over 100 feet compared to hands carrying the new roof one hundred ft towards the home.

Obtain three estimates to check apples along with celery and for the same item, provides you with the ability to educate yourself and get the best questions. Most rooftops within West Vancouver is under ventilated so make certain when you get your roof estimation you can see if every estimate you get may upgrade your ventilation or your brand-new roof will not last. The additional air flow isn't the addition cost so the much more the actual merrier, you cannot have a limit upon air flow. Sapling debris is a problem so maintain your roofing without damaging the roof item. drip motorized inflator is probably the best form of maintenance.

Thursday, April 7, 2011

Victoria roofing Contractors -- Altering Several roofs

Victoria roofing companies can help to save a little bit of cash whenever caring for your roofing as well as some of your neighbors. There are many cul-de-sac's out there within Victoria where the houses had been constructed at the same time and all sorts of having a cedar or asphalt roof with the same guarantee and environmental conditions. The home are usually built with exactly the same design and have the same ventilation problems then when it's time to replace your neighbours then its time for you to substitute your own..

New building roofing Victoria two decades back came with in regards to a twenty 12 months warranty. Most roofs begin to leak shortly after the 20 year mark as well as suddenly the entire street gets their rooftops replaced. Whenever a Victoria roofing estimator comes to your home and you are on good terms together with your neighbours maybe you might persuade your neighbors to obtain a roofing estimation as well. The majority of Victoria roofing Contractors can offer 2 estimates. One is the actual estimate if perhaps you were to replace you house alone on the street. Another estimation is perfect for you and also the actual neighbours that have opted for the estimate as well, if you have convinced your own neighbours to do this.

Victoria roofing Contractors can save profit two main places whenever several roofing. One in the actual delivery price of the materials is actually reduced when a roof covering company can get 3 houses in a single shipping. The second reason is the wastage, movement associated with wastage is exactly what costs money as well as making sure that the wastage is moved together allows the Victoria Roofing Company to reduce the buying price of your brand-new roofing. Whenever neighbours customize the roof covering project done together this gives future home owners to complete exactly the same within 30 years when your new roofs obtain old.

Find the Best Victoria Roofing Company

My home is Victoria and know how hard it is to locate a good service provider to operate on your house. They all appear genuine first and they just about all promise the world. Unfortunately there are some that really deliver on these guarantees.

Roofing companies are no exception and want to complete your own research in order to weed out the great ones in the bad types.

The rooftop is a vital element of any kind of home. This is your main hurdle of numerous of the elements found outside. For those who have the leaky roof you could discover yourself placing lots of pans and pots throughout your house to trap water. In case your roof gets really poor you also risk it caving in at some point.

Fortunately if a roof is actually constructed the proper way it will are several years. There are even a few rooftops that are each so good they are able to are fifty years.

Finding a reliable roofing company in Victoria and you need this type of work done is actually extremely important. You would like someone who is going to give you a fair bet, do the job in a timely manner, and use regular or over average supplies.

This is the goal you just need to fine a roof for an region who's ready to do it.

Here are some things that I personally would look for and can apply for not only Victoria, but all areas in the country:

When i first prefer to start with recommendations. I understand I am not the only one that has a house and I wish to request others their viewpoint however had roof covering function done prior to me personally. Buddies, members of the family, coworkers, acquaintances, and folks you realize will often not steer you incorrect. They are able to make use of a immediate you to definitely an individual who has done a fantastic job for them. Unless an individual does not like a person they were not often recommend the roof covering organization in Victoria who has carried out substandard function.

Next, you need to get at least 3 estimations. Roof covering work is costly by nature and you want a contractor who's going to give you a fair and reasonable price. Keep in mind even a reasonable and reasonable quotation is going to be high. Comprehend too which roofing contractors spend some of the greatest insurance rates from any industry in the nation. Because the function carried out roof covering Contractors workers comp rates are regarding 5 times greater than other such as Contractors. It is not unusual for this kind of company to pay $30 in workers comp premiums for each 100 bucks these people shell out within payroll. These types of costs have to be forwarded to the customer. So, when you get an offer from a roofing company understand that at least 30 in order to 40% of what he's getting you is just to pay for administrative as well as insurance costs. A person who sends in to you and extremely reduced bid is probably uninsured weren't covered whatsoever.

Every thing should be written on the contract. This includes the types of materials for use in your home and also the time that it will require to install all of them. Don't depart anything as a verbal contract. You need to be able to accurately evaluate that which you had been getting for the price you are paying and make an educated choice. Once the estimators come they will attempt to bait you into putting your signature on something right away. Do not do it. You need 3 estimations, side by side in your table, and you have to take time to see them every carefully such as the small print.

Lastly, check up on a Victoria's roofing companies experience and reputation. You would like them to possess enough experience to be able to get the job done. Optimally, you want a business that's been around the block and absolutely nothing may surprise them. If they have been around not less than five years they will have a reputation of either performing excellent work are now being people. Some of the best people to request our local contractors. Even when it is their own rival a company proprietor were usually not talk poor regarding an additional organization unless he or she truly seems he is doing treatment terrible work. You should consider asking roof covering suppliers that believe that is the best. They work with hundreds the roofer's every month and therefore are in a excellent position to provide you with within information.

Fundamental essentials three items I'd look for when selecting my personal roofing contractor. I am picky concerning the individuals I select to do business along with and you ought to be fussy as well. You cannot depend on a Contractors yellow-colored web page ad to inform you what they are regarding. Each and every company says of their the very best. Roofing companies are no exception and sometimes go with what are the biggest phonebook ad of the biggest criminals.

Research your options and you should manage to find a good Victoria roofing business. Spend some time and do not let anyone rush you. Go with your stomach and don't invest your hard earned money with anyone you feel uncomfortable with

The right roofer Victoria is right at the door step should you choose your due diligence and thoroughly check the company's history and reputation. Doing this will make sure you do not get in love with some thing you don't need or doing business with the disadvantage designer.

Make sure you click here for more info regarding Victoria roofing contractors.

Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Roofing Vancouver analysis, cost estimates and pricing

Roofing can be defined as one of the most important stage of building while constructing any creating or even home. From the previous a long time different roof covering methods as well as supplies happen to be used according to the weather problems and requirements from the residents. Using the remarkable development and enlargement in the field of building there are numerous roofing vancouver options obtainable these days. There are different roofing companies Vancouver as well as roof covering businesses Vancouver, that offer Vancouver roof covering services. Roofing Vancouver options offered at this time fulfill the demands from the occupant, serve well for the purpose of roofing and appear appealing also.

The initial part of direction associated with changing associated with roofing vancouver should incorporate a considerable search created on the internet or by visiting various roofing vancouver providers. By this 1 can acquire information on distinct facets of replacing a roofing and get one of the most economical estimates. Roofing Vancouver service providers offer crucial capabilities as well as architectural strategies for the actual replacing a current roof. For that replacing roofing select a contractor or perhaps a business which is properly respected within Vancouver and is certified to provide providers. Acquire different estimations to check the expense supplied because there may be a difference in roofing vancouver expenses as well as estimations of several businesses. You will discover a number of elements that figure out the actual cost of replacing a roof, so having some details on hand might be genuinely valuable.
If the roofing from the structure has been carried out appropriately keeping in mind the most recent methods as well as components the roofing helps in handling:

Air flow

Water ingress

Drinking water fumes diffusion

Surface area safety

Warmth blood circulation

Roofing insulating material basically works well for developing a hurdle, which doesn't permit the outer atmosphere to mix using the environment of inside. For this purpose there are lots of types of energy insulations becoming applied today during the process of roof covering.

To obtain one of the most appropriate as well as practical roofing vancouver materials, you have to carry out a comprehensive study and maintain in your mind your preferences as well as monetary price range.

Roofing Vancouver shapes accessible

There are many roofing vancouver shapes available inside the marketplace these days, a few being costly and although some being common or low cost. Probably the most well-known roofing vancouver shapes include:

Gabled- This specific form is given by developing a triangular on the entrance side as well as providing inclines upon both sides from the ridge.

Side Gabled- In this form the no gabled attributes face the leading usually as well as contain the entrance entrance.

Front Gabled- In this condition the actual gabled sides usually face the leading and include the leading doorway.

Cross Gabled- In this particular condition the actual perpendicular wings are usually put into the primary portion which types two individual parts getting their own gabled façade.

Top covers are basically installed for the defense of under roofing supplies from various UV rays and physical damage. Top covers are available in different forms for example: liquid covering, factory mineral, metal surface, pavers as well as gravels.

Learn more about Vancouver roofing on roofing companies Vancouver website

Monday, April 4, 2011

seo websites

Vancouver seo

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Making Money Online Forum

A few years ago, the Internet experienced a video revolution. As broadband access expanded and more people began uploading content, video became an expected resource for consumers. Businesses could get more mileage out of television commercials and engage users by linking to video reviews of its products.

A year ago, we saw evidence of small and medium-sized business increasing budgets for video content – to be used both on their homepages and in advertisements. In 2009, 19% of businesses polled were using video (up from 5% in 2008) and I’m willing to bet that number will be much higher in the 2010 report that should come out later this month.

Now, as technology has become more affordable and increasingly mobile, we’re able to experience virtually anything online. As such, local search engines are evolving into master content synthesizers to meet the needs of consumers and advertisers alike – offering video and photos, local advertising deals, user reviews, QR codes, maps and directions, etc.

Consumer expectations of local search engines have never been higher. Users want to see photo and video reviews of a company’s products, read what other people have to say, and even take a virtual tour of your store or restaurant before they visit.

The same is true of small- and medium-sized business owners looking to find a competitive advantage. Local search engines are offering more dynamic content than ever before to users and it’s up to search marketers to help business owners feed that content.

It’s interesting to see how video content has changed since the advent of YouTube. Instead of traditional video advertising, we’re seeing new technology that lets users look around your business from their own home. Soon, we’ll be able to find virtual creations of almost any environment online – and those virtual tours are being integrated with current deals and other advertising promotions to drive traffic to your business.

Recently, a company called EveryScape partnered with Bing and YP to offer digital advertisers a new local search solution – virtual tours. For example, YP360 will let a user step inside a restaurant in Baltimore while they’re still on the train. They can choose a place and even set a reservation, all within the same application on their phone.

Google Earth has gone indoors and local search engines are responsible for bringing this detailed and vivid content to users while keeping it simple and accessible. And the business case for offering this new content to users and advertisers alike is clear as local advertising is expected to grow to $16.1 billion this year, up from $13.7 billion in 2010.

Even more, mobile phone advertising spending is expected to be more than a billion dollars in 2011, up 48% from 2010. Local search engines like YP and Yelp! are seeing over 20 million visitors a month, many of them accessing via mobile phones.

This is a great opportunity for local search engines and advertisers to embrace this new technology and get ahead of the pack. Effective local advertising goes beyond building a social networking presence and listing in directories – you have to make sure your content is engaging. In the online world, the savviest local search marketers who use this technology well will have the most successful campaigns.

I recommend that any business owner or local search marketer read up on the latest digital advertising solutions and consider offering your customers virtual tours of your products or store. To set your business apart, you need to stay current with the best that local search has to offer.

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.

Related Topics: Locals Only

Opinions expressed in the article are those of the guest author and not necessarily Search Engine Land.

Related Topics: Locals Only

Surface Encounters

Dallas Cowboys' Dez Bryant faces 2nd lawsuit, for $615K

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant faces a second lawsuit claiming he didn't pay for jewelry and game tickets and didn't repay loans.

Surface Encounters

REPORT: News Corp. In Talks To Hand Over Control Of MySpace To ...

News Corp. is in preliminary talks to give control of Myspace to Vevo.com, the site partly owned by top record companies, including Universal Music and Sony Music, according to a Bloomberg report. News Corp. has been looking to unload ...

Surface Encounters

News FAIL - Epic Fail Funny Videos and Funny Pictures

Fox News is hard right heroine. They love pushing stories, even with only an ounce of truth and a pound of spin, to their audience. However, it is basically the only opposition voice people on the far right have besides talk radio. ...

Surface Encounters

Editor’s Note: Jim Dalrymple has been writing about Apple for more than 15 years. You can follow him on Twitter @jdalrymple and on his Web site at The Loop.

Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Wednesday introduced the iPad 2 at a special event in San Francisco, taking even more momentum away from its competitors.

I’ve had a lot of people in the last 24 hours tell me that the iPad 2 isn’t as revolutionary as the first generation device. Yes, that’s true. But not every device a company releases has to be or can be revolutionary.

Apple has released three revolutionary products in the last decade alone: iPod, iPhone and iPad. I really can’t think of any products from Apple’s competitors that fit in the revolutionary category in that same time period.

People also said that Apple wasn’t very forthcoming with the specs of the iPad 2. Again, that’s true, but there’s a good reason for that—nobody cares.

Well, some people care. Those of us who are geeks care about specs. However, have you ever noticed that when you sit with your non-geek friends and start listing off specs their eyes glaze over and they rest their chin in their hand.

That’s because they couldn’t care less.

The iPad 2 is no slouch either. It lost one-third of the thickness of the previous generation, and therefore it is one-third less than the size of the iPad competitors too. It also has new technologies like a gyro built-in that will launch another round of cool apps.

Yesterday’s iPad 2 announcement wasn’t about the geeks—it was about all the other people who will buy an iPad. What those people want to know is “what can I do with it?”

If it fits into their lifestyle, most people are good with that. Apple showed many ways how the iPad 2 can fit into your lifestyle.

From the very beginning, Apple was very smart with how it marketed the iPad. The first thing it did was get the device into businesses and promote the fact that it could be used to get work done. And it was quite successful with that.

In an analyst call in October 2010, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer said the iPad was already being used in 65 percent of Fortune 100 companies. That was four months ago and the iPad has grown since then, so we can only imagine where that number is now.

This strategy allowed Apple to do two things. If it came out with the iPad and pushed the gaming capabilities of the device, the business world would have looked at it as a toy. That would have certainly meant slower adoption. It also allowed them to work on some consumer software, two of which we saw yesterday.

In addition to the iPad 2, Jobs also unveiled iMovie and GarageBand for the iPad. This is what people want to know about—what can I do with the iPad that’s exciting and new.

Obviously, creating movies and being able to edit and share them with friends and family is a very popular thing to do these days. iMovie makes that easy.

Creating music, whether a novice or pro is also a cool thing to do. GarageBand is a great app to get that done and you can move your projects to your Mac and continue working on them.

It’s not just about the hardware. Apple delivers the whole experience that nobody else can. Jobs said yesterday that there are 65,000 apps on its App Store specifically designed for the iPad. That’s a lot of things you can do.

If you think Apple’s competitors are jumping for joy because the iPad 2 isn’t revolutionary, I believe you are wrong. I think they’re scared. Yesterday, they figured out Apple’s strategy too, but a little too late.

Titles from major book publisher Random House will now appear in Apple’s iBooks store. The news was one of many talking points covered earlier today at Apple’s media event. Random House had previously been the only major publisher not represented in Apple’s popular iOS book store, as it was not willing to grant Apple the 30% cut taken on titles sold through iBooks. The addition of Random House is a major coup for Apple as it looks to compete with the likes of Amazon’s Kindle bookstore and other popular offerings. Hit the break for Apple’s full press release.

Random House, Inc. Makes Entire US Catalog of 17,000 ebooks Available on Apple’s iBookstore

iBookstore Now Features More than 2,500 Publishers, Including All Six Major Trade Publishers

SAN FRANCISCO—March 2, 2011—Apple® today announced that Random House, Inc., the largest trade book publisher in the US, has made its full catalog of 17,000 ebooks available on Apple’s iBookstore℠, including bestsellers by Stieg Larsson, John Grisham, Dan Brown, Danielle Steel, Laura Hillenbrand, Cormac McCarthy, Lee Child and many more of the world’s preeminent authors. Starting today, customers can pre-order upcoming releases from Random House including Lisa Gardner’s “Love You More,” Suze Orman’s “The Money Class” and Jean Auel’s “The Land of Painted Caves.” With the addition of Random House, the iBookstore now offers ebooks from all six major trade publishers and thousands of independent publishers.

“We are delighted that Apple’s iBookstore now will be carrying Random House’s US ebooks for the first time,” said Markus Dohle, Random House’s Chairman and CEO. “And we look forward to bringing our 17,000 ebooks to Apple customers.”

“We’re thrilled to offer Random House on the iBookstore,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s vice president of Internet Services. “iBookstore customers have already downloaded more than 100 million books in less than one year, and we think they’ll love being able to choose from Random House’s incredible selection of titles to enjoy on their iPad, iPhone and iPod touch.”

iBookstore customers can choose from a wide selection of illustrated and video-enhanced books that look incredible on iPad™, including Jay-Z’s memoir “Decoded” and Bing West’s “The Wrong War”; bestselling children’s series such as Magic Tree House and Junie B. Jones; and cookbooks by Martha Stewart, Rachael Ray, and the Barefoot Contessa, Ina Garten. Random House, Inc. comprises more than 80 adult and children’s US publishing imprints including Alfred A. Knopf, Doubleday, Crown, Pantheon Books, Vintage, Ballantine and Bantam.

The iBookstore, included in Apple’s free iBooks® app, is the best way to browse, buy and read books on your iPad, iPhone® and iPod touch®. iBookstore offers ebooks from more than 2,500 publishers in more than 20 categories, including Mysteries & Thrillers, Biographies & Memoirs, Cookbooks, Children’s & Teen, Humor, Romance, Business and Travel.

Apple designs Macs, the best personal computers in the world, along with OS X, iLife, iWork, and professional software. Apple leads the digital music revolution with its iPods and iTunes online store. Apple is reinventing the mobile phone with its revolutionary iPhone and App Store, and has recently introduced its magical iPad which is defining the future of mobile media and computing devices.

Tags: announcement, Apple, books, e-books, e-reader, ebooks, eReader, Event, iBooks, Random House

Surface Encounters

Surface Encounters

What is your social media brand? Do you have one? Sure, many small business owners and entrepreneurs are coming around to the enormous importance of social media as a marketing, customer service, and, yes, even sales tool. But if you haven’t thought about how social media can define your brand, you are probably missing a HUGE part of what social media tools can do for your business. Here’s more…

Tools & Techniques

Creating a great brand with these blog tools. Tools that improve the look and functionality of your blog also improve your brand. A well-maintained small business blog is one of the most obvious and least expensive branding tools at the entrepreneur’s disposal even more so than social media channels like Facebook and Twitter because of how a blog can be customized to fit your needs and personality. This list of tools is a great way to start. EpicLaunch

What Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi can teach you about social media. One of the stars of the hit reality show “Jersey Shore”, “Snooki” is a perfect example of personal brand, but social media entrepreneurs could also learn much about building their own online presence from Snooki. Being yourself and using a simple, short tag to indelibly brand your identity are also great techniques in social media. One site is already trying to apply the starlets techniques in the social media space. Brand-Yourself

Tito Philips doesn’t want your comments on his blog! At least, not if they’re the wrong kind. And the wrong kind would be comments left for no other purpose than to get the blogger and his/her readers to visit your blog and perhaps comment on it in return. Why is comment trading bad? Don’t get Tito started! There are many ways to engage in social media marketing. Be sure you understand and respect some of the attitudes you may face. Blogging Bookshelf

News & Trends

The best of the best. Want to get a look at arguably the 20 best Facebook fan pages for business on the planet? By now you should know the value of a Facebook fan page to your branding efforts. What’s also true, however, is that not all Facebook sites are created equal. If you want to take your social media marketing to the next level, have a look at this list of cream of the crop sites. Inc.com

Even churches use social media marketing! In this article on the growing market for tech services among religious organizations, we learn that many churches have also already entered into the social media space. As houses of worship, particularly huge mega-churches, expand and build congregations, it’s easy to see how social media can work as a marketing tool here as well. Is your religious organization using social media for branding? WSJ

Tips & Tricks

20 tips that will make you a Twitter star. Among the tools popular in the new digital space is Twitter. The microblogging platform can be used for business or non-business purposes and it can be the key to your small business’s success. Learn how to use Twitter like a pro and you may be surprised at the benefits your small business gains as a result. Global Copywriting

Valuable lessons in social media. Gary Vaynerchuk, author of The Thank You Economy and a successful social media entrepreneur in his own right, has many insights to share with small business leaders seeking a new way to define their brands in an age of social communications. Read some of the takeaways Vaynerchuk shares with those trying to define their businesses with social media. E-Marketing Associates

Success Stories

Doubt the power of FB to create brand for almost anyone? You won’t after you read the story of Princeton English Professor Jeff Nunokawa and “Jeffbook”, a collection of 3,221 brief literary essays on Facebook, that have created an incredible cult status for Nunokawa in the process. His motivation? Not too different from those of most marketers. Nunokawa simply started sharing where he knew his audience already spent lots of their time. The results speak for themselves. Fast Company

Increase exposure with niche social media. Blogger Mavis Nong talks about the importance of niche social media sites including social bookmarking sites as a key method of creating exposure for your online business. Mavis talks about her experience with our sister site BizSugar.com (thanks for the shout out! ) and explains how smaller more focused social sites can sometimes have a surprising impact even larger than the big guys. Attraction Marketing Online

Opportunities

Sponsors wanted for new SugarTone Sweet Business Blogging Contest. Put the power of social media to work for your brand. We’re looking for sponsors to help with a brand new blogging contest involving two of the fastest growing small business communities on the Web, BizSugar.com and Bloggertone.com. Learn more about the contest by reading the full announcement and get in touch today! BizSugar Blog

Preview of Final Result

Resources

PT Sans Bold – FontSquirrel

Free App Icons for Developers – WebAppers

Step 1

Open Photoshop and create a new document that is 1200 x 1200 pixels, 72 dpi, and RGB Color. Fill the layer with white. (Ctrl+Backspace or Delete)

Step 2

Now create a rectangle for the header and fill it with a white-grey color, then use the colors on the image for the “Gradient Overlay”. Our search and logo will eventually be part of the header.

Step 3

Create a new rectangle above the previous one, with attributes as shown below. The following drop shadow effect creates a look of a 1 pixel stroke which does increase the look of that simple bar. Note: this step creates a horizontal line.

Step 4

Now add the “Gradient Overlay” layer style with the hex codes indicated.

Step 5

Add a white 1 pixel stroke. The following stroke of 1 pixel will divide the grey shadow effect. It’ll eventually work as a divider.

Step 6

Make one more rectangle in the middle-right zone, and fill it with white and add a 1 px stroke as indicated – it will be our search box.

Step 7

One more rectangle should be created and filled with blue. Set the inner shadow as indicated below, this will be our search button. This blue works great in combination with grey, white and light-grey. Blue will be the major contrasting color we use as we work through this template.

Step 8

Add the Gradient Overlay details to the button with the details from image.

Step 9

Add a 1 px stroke to the button with the color indicated. Take a look at the first and the final result of the button so you can see the difference all these details made.

Step 10

Now add this drop shadow effect for the text placed in the search box, using PT Sans Bold. This will be the final step in creating your search button. You may want to try other fonts, but the PT Sans Bold is really good for this small button.

Step 11

Make another fill under the header section, this will be the navigation area. Here we will place the navigation links of our template.

Step 12

Write your navigation links using a dark-grey color, then add a white “drop shadow” effect. The effect used for the navigation links is the same used for the search button.

Step 13

With 1px vertical line, make divisions between each links. The lines should be black and will really increase the beauty of the navigation area.

Step 14

Over the home section, make a fill with the blue and then add a Gradient Overlay style as indicated.

Step 15

Copy the Home link, this time color it white and add a drop shadow effect.

Step 16

Create a big, grey zone under the navigation, it should be about 30% of the layout. This will be the background for the featured area.

Step 17

Now create a big, white rectangle and add some shadow with the details shown. A big stock image, a big headline and some text with another great button will be added.

Step 18

Add a any dummy image you want to that featured area. Be sure it covers more than 80% of the area. The one I chose is from a stock website.

Step 19

Add some text to it, use the PT SANS Bold font and make the font big.

Step 20

The remaining area should be filled with grey, in it we’ll place some text. This is really a secondary area which describes the image, the services, the company itself, or whatever you’d like.

Step 21

Place some blue-colored text which will be the title of the information below. Use the details in the image for Drop Shadow style.

Step 22

Add some dummy text. This could be some important information or whatever you’d like.

Step 23

Create another grey area under the featured zone, where we will add some text and icons later. Add the details as stated on the image. Mostly, the icons will promote the services offered by the company behind the website.

Step 24

Continue by adding a Gradient Overlay style for the last rectangle we have created in the anterior steps.

Step 25

Now we are adding titles and icons, as well as some divisions. The icons can be found in the resource list at the beginning of the tutorial. Be sure to choose your icons and text thoughtfully.

Step 26

At the border of both zones, create a small circle and fill it with dark brown color. Add some inner shadow as stated on the image.

Step 27

Continue by adding a drop shadow layer style. It is another small detail, but it really makes that button zone minimalistic, nice-looking and well designed.

Step 28

To finish, add a Gradient Overlay effect.

Step 29

By using the Custom Shape Tool (U), create an arrow in both circles. Now add the details shown on the screenshot.

Step 30

Continue by adding some Color Overlay for the arrow. It should also be a blue color because otherwise, it will not fit the contrast and the colors used on the whole template.

Step 31

Add a video screenshot in the free space and place a title for it. For this template, I have used a simple screenshot of a YouTube widget.

Step 32

Add the text “Product Highlights” and “Case Studies.” Let the text under the “Product Highlights” be links so you could showcase some friends’ websites or resources you admire/promote.

Step 33

Finish it by creating another form for e-mails, place all kind of other information, and whatever you’d like.

Step 34

Don’t forget to make a relevant/small footer for our template. If you have paid attention, you should know how to create the same effect as below.

All done! If you have questions or suggestions, feel free to drop a comment. I hope you enjoyed this whole tutorial!

Surface Encounters

Jon Stewart Calls Out NBC News For Not Reporting on GE's $0 Tax ...

On Friday, The New York Times reported that General Electric paid no U.S. federal income tax in 2010, despite earning $14.2 billion in profits. While.

Surface Encounters

Surface Encounters

Surface Encounters

REPORT: News Corp. In Talks To Hand Over Control Of MySpace To ...

Surface Encounters

foreclosure

David J. Stern is winding up his infamous foreclosure practice, reports the Associated Press, citing a Securities and Exchange filing. The law firm's fall has been swift and steep, and it offers many reasons for schadenfreude: Stern lived the high life on the backs for borrowers foreclosed on with fraudulent documents, borrowers who weren't consistently given notice they were being foreclosed on. His firm's fall has exacerbated the problems in the Florida court system because his cases are being transferred to other lawyers who must now get up to speed on them.

But there's one thing his fall isn't, much as I wish it were, and that's the end of an era.

If we're to restore the rule of law in foreclosure cases, it's going to take a lot more than the fall of Stern's firm, which is just one of several "foreclosure mills" in Florida. Others are under investigation. Maybe some of them will fall too. Maybe not.

But the issue runs nationally, not just in Florida. Lender Processing Services (LPS) alone has hundreds of "network firms" following its due-process-abusing practices. A firm in Pennsylvania may have jeopardized thousands of foreclosures there by having nonlawyers do the cases. And the situation in nonjudicial states, where even foreclosure mills aren't necessary to take back homes, is worse.

If anyone hearing of the Stern firm's demise mistakes it for news that change has really come to the foreclosure world, that will be saddest news of all.

There has been evidence here and there of a marked fall in new foreclosure filings. Lender Processing Services, which handles more than half of the loans serviced in the US, said its revenues in its Default Services Group were down in the final quarter of the year. Why? Its revenues are tied to initial foreclosure filings, and its were off 33%, no doubt in large measure due to the robo signing scandal. Recall that it led many banks to halt foreclosures (some all over the US, others in judicial foreclosure states only) while they inspected the state of play and scrambled to revamp procedures. Banks piously claimed that they found no problems in the correctness of foreclosure actions and that ex making the changes needed to assure affidavits were proper, they were going to be back to business as usual post haste.

Now we already know that that isn’t the case. Since the robosigning scandal broke, foreclosure activity has been down. RealtyTrac reported that foreclosures in January were up only 1% over December levels, which was down 17% from the year prior.

But RealtyTrac captures every foreclosure filing in that particular report, so it is a mix of new foreclosure filings plus additional filings for foreclosures already underway (the number of filings required varies by state, but the minimum number is three, and the number can also be increased if a borrower gets a foreclosure suspended, say by entering into a payment catchup plan, and then has the process restarted later on).

Lynn Syzmoniak of Fraud Digest provides a snapshot for January 1 through January 26 in two counties in Florida, Lee County and Palm Beach County:

Her tally for US Bank over the same period covered only Lee County, but showed similar results: 42 new foreclosures for 2011 versus 143 for 2010.

Now merely eyeballing this sample, and assuming it is representative of Florida (Syzmoniak says other counties show similar patterns), it’s clear the decline is bigger than the 33% fall that LPS mentioned for the fourth quarter of 2010 or the 17% figure from RealtyTrac.

There are reasons why Florida might show a steeper fall than other states. First, the state AG has been investigating all the major foreclosure mills in the state. Some, like the Law Offices of David Stern, have effectively folded. So there could be a bit of disarray simply due to the loss of some processing capacity.

Second, Florida, like New York, has implemented a rule requiring that attorneys verify information provided in foreclosures. That might seem to be merely ceremonial, since lawyers are already responsible for the accuracy of information provided to the court. But I am advised that this measure is more than mere belt and suspenders; it apparently would have the effect of lowering the bar for opposing counsel calling for Rule 11 sanctions if he thought the foreclosing attorney was submitting bogus documents or information. That rule did became effective February 11, 2010 (hat tip Lisa Epstein), and the foreclosure mills have tried to escape compliance. I’d imagine in the wake of the robo signing scandal, their clients are becoming less tolerant of this sort of thing.

If this pattern holds across at least across judicial foreclosure states, it suggests what we have long argued: that failures to convey loans as required by securitization documents are widespread, if not pervasive. Now that servicers and foreclosure mills are finding that a lot of judges no longer take them at their word, which means they increasingly have to provide documentation, they may be finding that a lot of their records do not pass muster. And while document fabrication was once an easy way out, that strategy is a lot riskier than it used to be.

Reader input welcome. Do you have any local data on the level of new foreclosures in 2011 versus same period 2010?

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