From 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Thursday, VH1, MTV and CMT will celebrate superstars and emerging artists.
By Gil Kaufman, with reporting by Rob Markman
Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1710028/ti-independent-artist.jhtml
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By now, we US citizens are all very very aware that our metadata is being harvested
Immersion functions with Gmail (and Gmail only) to pull all your historical data about who you're sending emails to, who you are getting them from, who you are CC'ing, and when it all went down. MIT promises to not peek at the subject or the body of those emails while it's in there, and you can delete it all from MIT's servers at your leisure.
The result is a big, beautiful web showing who you talk to and when, just like the big boys have, and you might be surprised at exactly how much it betrays about your everyday life.
Unlike PRISM, Immersion is proving to be pretty popular, so it's somewhat overloaded at the moment. But if you leave your email, MIT will get back to you when it has a spare moment to snoop on you. In the meantime, you'll have to be content knowing someone is collecting all that data, even if you don't get to see it. [MIT via GigaOM]
Source: http://gizmodo.com/spy-on-your-own-email-to-see-exactly-what-the-nsa-has-o-656799897
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Looking to capture professional-quality video on the cheap? You've probably considered a DSLR, but for many users, an interchangeable-lens camera might not be the best pick. Camcorders and higher-end video rigs typically offer far more powerful autofocus capabilities, and while Digital SLR footage can look great, if you're not tweaking the lens manually, things might not go as smoothly as you'd hope. Canon's setting out to change that, with its brilliant new EOS 70D. On the surface, this 20.2-megapixel camera doesn't venture far from its 60D roots, but internally, it's an entirely different ballgame.
At the core of the 70D's modifications is what Canon's calling Dual Pixel CMOS AF. Essentially, the sensor includes twice the number of pixels in a (very successful) attempt to improve focusing. There are 40.3 million photodiodes on the sensor, and when they're all working together, "it's like 20 million people tracking the focus with both eyes," as Canon explains. The result is camcorder-like focusing for both stills and video, when you're shooting in live view mode. During our test with a pre-production sample, the device performed phenomenally, adjusting focus instantaneously when snapping stills, and quickly but gradually when recording video. Join us after the break for a closer look.
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'He's clearly having a moment,' says Vibe editor-in-chief Jermaine Hall about Skateboard P's spree of hits.
By Gil Kaufman with additional reporting by Rob Markman and Nadeska Alexis
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See Inside Tuberculosis seems to be evolving in unexpected ways that outsmart humans
Image: Daniel Chang
Today most people in the richer parts of the world think of tuberculosis, if they think of it at all, as a ghost of history. Throughout ancient times the tenacious bacterial infection consumed the bodies of untold millions, rich and poor, filling their lungs with bloody sputum. As TB spread in the centuries that followed, it continued to attack across economic and class lines, affecting both the famous and the obscure. Among its better-known victims: poet Manuel Bandeira, writers Emily and Anne Bront?, and sculptor Fr?d?ric-Auguste Bartholdi, who designed the Statue of Liberty. By the early 20th century humanity had begun fighting back with public health campaigns, improved living standards, and eventually antibiotics and a modestly effective vaccine. Although in 2011 TB sickened nearly nine million people, killing 1.4 million of them, mostly in the poorer regions of the globe, the mortality rate has nonetheless fallen by more than a third since 1990. Things are looking up?or so it may seem.
New genetic research, however, suggests that the bacterium responsible for TB could be poised to emerge stronger and more deadly than ever before?and not just because some strains have become resistant to treatment with the standard set of antibiotics. A small but increasingly influential group of investigators believes that the microbe, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, may have evolved along an unexpected and particularly dangerous path. The scientists have discovered that TB can be divided into seven families of genetically related strains, at least one of which is surprisingly virulent, prone to drug resistance and especially well suited to spreading disease in our increasingly interconnected, densely populated world.
This article was originally published with the title The Diabolical Genius of an Ancient Scourge.
Source: http://rss.sciam.com/~r/sciam/basic-science/~3/NWdAXdPsys4/article.cfm
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Is the 4.7-inch HTC One not the right size for your hands? Do Nokia's latest Lumia phones not appeal to your design sensibilities? Well, a leaked document from O2 Germany lists four unannounced devices reportedly coming out later this year that just might satisfy your very particular tastes. The HTC One Mini is on there (a 4.3-inch phone we're already well familiar with) as is the One Max, which rumors suggest will have Qualcomm's Snapdragon 800 and a 5.9-inch 1080p display. Moving on to Nokia, there's the "Eros," though that might be a typo for the 41-megapixel "EOS" that's expected to be announced on the 11th. There's also the "Mars," which is the first time we've heard that name. Check out the full list after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, HTC, Nokia
Source: mobiFlip (translated)
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All Critics (102) | Top Critics (35) | Fresh (93) | Rotten (9)
It's a tribute to Gerwig's performance, somehow both clumsy and elegant, that she wins us over despite ourselves, that we come to appreciate her aimlessness in a goal-oriented society ...
This is an odd film (creepier than it knows), and even if you feel the atmospheric company of Dunham-ism, with a little of Whit Stillman, Henry Jaglom, and Woody Allen, the core influence on Noah Baumbach's film is fifty years older or more.
Baumbach usually builds his films around difficult protagonists, but Frances is entirely endearing, at once silly and deep, hopeless and promising.
The dialogue and editing are zippy and generally charming, combining with the tart observations of 20-something culture to create a nice frisson.
A black-and-white salute to the French New Wave (the score is borrowed from Georges Delerue, composer of many a Truffaut and Godard film) that manages to be very much of this moment ...
The movie's a love letter to an actress and her character, but by the end you may feel like an intervention is more in order.
Agreeable low-budget modern-day urban comedy.
Frances Ha is a refreshingly contemporary film, exploring 20-something hipster ennui with accuracy, empathy and humour.
As long as you remember to laugh, Frances Ha is a tolerable experience. Forget the "ha ha" and Frances Ha is beyond unbearable. I found this an odd and often frustrating truth, but it's what makes Noah Baumbach's new movie a success.
Gerwig keeps you on side and rooting for Frances to get her act together in what becomes an affectionate salute to messy lives, an endearing underachiever and a New York state of mind.
Don't be fooled by Frances with all her feigned insecurity and branding of herself as "undateable" and predicting she'll be a lonely spinster. She's a psychopath.
Gerwig's deft screwball timing turns every disaster into a grace note. This may be a comedy of awkwardness, but rather than curl, your toes will tap.
A refreshing amount of buoyancy to dance and charm its way through Quarter-Life Crisis territory. One of the best performances of Greta Gerwig's career to date
Frances Ha is a sympathetic but not uncritical depiction of a girl's gradual evolution into a woman; one that never condescends by forcing her to abandon all her quirks and impish qualities in the final act... An absolute delight, this is.
Indie darling Gerwig has a great deal to do with the picture's success: she's disarmingly likable...
There's a level of audacity beneath the lightweight whimsy in this unassuming low-budget comedy.
"Frances Ha makes a star out of Gerwig, and she's the kind of star we need: a goofy one we can feel tender about but never underestimate."
'I can't account for my own bruises,' Frances says, as if she were a clumsy kid with an adult's vocabulary. Does the remark refer to more than the abrasions on her skin?
A celebration of cinema, New York City and the distinctive charms of actress Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha was co-written by Gerwig and its director, Noah Baumbach, and it's the best film either has made.
There's a thin line between comedy and tragedy, and Greta Gerwig walks it remarkably well.
There's depth and realism in the way Frances Ha shows aspiration versus reality.
Gerwig, beyond a doubt, is immeasurably appealing, and Frances Ha is tailor-made to showcase her gifts better than anything she's ever been in.
...if you hold your nose and simply wallow through the stench of self-aggrandizement, you'll be rewarded with an experience that will actually tug on your emotions.
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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/frances_ha_2013/
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Serena Williams of the United States follows through on a return during her Women's singles match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Serena Williams of the United States follows through on a return during her Women's singles match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Sabine Lisicki of Germany reacts after beating Serena Williams of the United States in a Women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Serena Williams of the United States reacts during her Women's singles match against Sabine Lisicki of Germany at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Sabine Lisicki of Germany bows to the crowd after beating Serena Williams of the United States in a Women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
Serena Williams of the United States returns to Sabine Lisicki of Germany in a Women's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships in Wimbledon, London, Monday, July 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant)
LONDON (AP) ? For 34 matches over 4? months, on hard, clay or grass courts, Serena Williams was unbeaten ? and, in the minds of many, unbeatable.
So it was apt, somehow, that the longest winning streak in women's tennis since 2000 would end at this memorably unpredictable edition of Wimbledon, where up is down, where seedings and pedigree mean nothing whatsoever, where even five-time champion Williams looked lost at the start and, most surprisingly of all, the finish of her fourth-round match.
Stumbling on the Centre Court grass a couple of times while her game slumped in crunch time, the No. 1-ranked and No. 1-seeded Williams dropped the last four games to bow out 6-2, 1-6, 6-4 Monday against 23rd-seeded Sabine Lisicki of Germany.
"Didn't play the big points good enough," said Williams, who had won three of the past four Grand Slam titles, including Wimbledon a year ago and the French Open less than a month ago. "I didn't do what I do best."
Oddly passive down the stretch, Williams essentially let Lisicki to do what she does best: dictate points quickly with a big serve, powerful returns and pinpoint groundstrokes. If that sounds familiar, could be because it's the formula Williams uses to dominate her sport. Except on this breezy afternoon, Lisicki compiled a 10-7 edge in aces, a 35-25 lead in winners, and broke Williams five times.
"Come on, guys, let's get with it. She's excellent," a composed Williams said at her news conference after blowing leads of 3-0 and 4-2 in the third set. "She's not a pushover."
Especially at Wimbledon. Her game is built for grass. Lisicki is a mediocre 16-15 at the other three Grand Slam tournaments and 17-4 at the All England Club. She reached the semifinals at Wimbledon in 2011, and is into her fourth quarterfinal, coincidentally beating the reigning French Open champion every time: Svetlana Kuznetsova in 2009, Li Na in 2011, Maria Sharapova in 2012, and Williams in 2013.
"Good omen," Lisicki said.
"Obviously," she said, "I went into the match feeling that I could win."
Might have been the only person who felt that way. After all, Williams owns 16 major championships, and entering Monday, the 31-year-old American had won 46 of 48 matches this season, and 77 of 80 since the start of Wimbledon in 2012.
"You cannot be perfect, every match, all year," said Patrick Mouratoglou, the French coach who began working with Williams last year. "She won 34 matches in a row. It has to stop one day. It has to happen. And it happened today."
The inevitability of failure, even for the most successful player, has never been made clearer than during this tournament. This was only the first day of the fortnight's second week, yet Williams joined quite a list of those already gone: Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Victoria Azarenka and Sharapova ? all major title winners, all former No. 1s, all out by the end of Day 3.
"This," summed up 17th-seeded Sloane Stephens, "has been a crazy Wimbledon."
Sure has. No U.S. men reached the third round, something that last happened 101 years ago, and Williams' departure made Stephens the lone American singles player left. The 20-year-old Stephens' first quarterfinal at the All England Club comes Tuesday against No. 15 Marion Bartoli of France, the 2007 runner-up.
The other matchup on their half of the draw is No. 8 Petra Kvitova of the Czech Republic, the 2011 Wimbledon champion, against No. 20 Kirsten Flipkens of Belgium. Tuesday's remaining quarterfinals are No. 4 Agnieszka Radwanska of Poland, who lost to Williams in last year's final, against No. 6 Li of China; and Lisicki against 46th-ranked Kaia Kanepi of Estonia.
Kanepi reached her fifth Grand Slam quarterfinal, and second at Wimbledon, with a 7-6 (6), 7-5 victory over 19-year-old Laura Robson, the first British woman in the fourth round at the All England Club since 1998. Robson, like others, took note of Monday's most significant outcome.
"I thought for sure Serena was going to win the tournament," Robson said, expressing a popular sentiment.
On Wednesday, the men's quarterfinals on the draw's top half are No. 1 Novak Djokovic of Serbia, a six-time Grand Slam titlist and the only remaining past Wimbledon winner, against No. 7 Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic, the 2010 runner-up; and No. 4 David Ferrer of Spain against No. 8 Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina, the 2009 U.S. Open champion. On the bottom half, it will be No. 2 Andy Murray of Britain, the London Olympic gold medalist and 2012 U.S. Open winner, against 54th-ranked Fernando Verdasco of Spain; and No. 24 Jerzy Janowicz against his Davis Cup teammate and pal, 130th-ranked Lukasz Kubot, in a match between the first two Polish men to reach a Grand Slam quarterfinal since 1980.
One will give the country its first male semifinalist at a major tournament.
"We hugged. We are happy," Janowicz said. "Magical."
Janowicz's serve reached 137 mph and his temper flared on occasion as he beat 37th-ranked Jurgen Melzer 3-6, 7-6 (1), 6-4, 4-6, 6-4, while Kubot also won a five-setter, celebrating with a can-can dance routine after hitting 26 aces to eliminate 111th-ranked Adrian Mannarino 4-6, 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4.
Both Janowicz and Kubot benefited from one of the record-equaling 13 withdrawals or mid-match retirements last week, another element fueling the tournament's topsy-turvy feel.
"Everyone was a bit on edge, a little bit uptight, because of what was happening with the injuries, withdrawals, upsets and stuff," said Murray, who like Djokovic hasn't lost a set. "Obviously, Serena losing today is a major shock, as well."
Late Monday afternoon, British bookmakers were making Lisicki the favorite to win a trophy that hours earlier seemed destined for Williams. Asked whether that affects her in any way, Lisicki shot back: "No, not at all." Not even a little bit? Lisicki didn't blink and answered, "No."
It was the same steely demeanor the quick-with-a-smile Lisicki displayed at key moments on court, weathering a near-collapse in which Williams grabbed nine consecutive games to take the second set and go up 3-0 in the third.
"I just was fighting for every single point," Lisicki said, "no matter what was happening out there."
Williams hadn't lost a match anywhere since her three-set defeat against Azarenka in the final of the Qatar Open on Feb. 17. She hadn't even lost a set since the French Open quarterfinals against Svetlana Kuznetsova on June 4. But Lisicki showed things would be different Monday with an early five-game run, including when she smacked a forehand return winner to break at love and take the opening set.
Lisicki yelled, "Come on!" The crowd, eager to see something special, roared. Williams walked to the sideline slowly, stunned.
"I just was thinking, 'Let's get to a third set,'" Williams said. "That's what I always say when I lose a first set."
Going from considerable trouble to total control, as if simply by wishing to do so, Williams produced 43 masterful minutes in which Lisicki did not win a single game. Williams did not have an unforced error in the second set, and she even got some unneeded assistance early in the third, with two consecutive return winners that both clipped the net tape and bounced over.
"I felt," Williams said, "that I was on the verge of winning."
Lisicki finally ended the drought by holding to 3-1 with one of her four second-serve aces in the match, then a 115 mph service winner.
"Huge serves," Williams said. "Constantly, constantly, back-to-back-to-back."
That's how her opponents usually feel. But Lisicki managed to get better reads on returns late, and broke to get within 4-3 with a forehand passing winner as Williams lost her footing and fell to her knees. The next game was key. Lisicki fell behind love-40, meaning Williams had three break points, any of which would give her a 5-3 lead and allow her to serve for the match.
But Lisicki wouldn't fold.
"I put more pressure on her," she said. "I started to be more aggressive again."
One missed backhand by Williams, then a pair of winners by Lisicki, erased the break points, and she wound up holding with a 95 mph ace and 115 mph service winner. At 4-all, deuce, Lisicki hit a forehand passing shot after Williams tripped, making it break point. Williams then awkwardly sailed an overhead long, putting Lisicki ahead 5-4.
Suddenly serving for the biggest win of her career, Lisicki double-faulted to give Williams a break point ? and an opening. But it was Lisicki who closed strongly, hitting a 113 mph ace and a 99 mph service winner, and then ending a 17-stroke exchange with a forehand winner.
Lisicki dropped to her knees near the net, covering her face as tears flowed.
Williams was asked whether the pressure to win got to her.
"Not at all," she said. "I mean, every time I step out on the court, I'm the favorite."
That sort of thing hasn't mattered one bit at this Wimbledon.
___
Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at http://twitter.com/HowardFendrich
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ATLANTA (AP) ? Far from reversing course, Senate Democrats who backed President Barack Obama's health care law and now face re-election in GOP-leaning states are firming up their support for the overhaul even as Republican criticism intensifies.
Mark Begich of Alaska, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Kay Hagan of North Carolina will face voters in 2014 for the first time since voting for the Affordable Care Act ? also known as "Obamacare" ? three years ago. They aren't apologizing for their vote, and several are pursuing an aggressive strategy: Embrace the law, help voters use it and fix what doesn't work.
"I don't run from my votes," Begich told The Associated Press. "Politicians who sit around and say, 'That's controversial so I better run from it,' just ask for trouble. Voters may not always agree with you, but they respect people who think about these issues and talk about them."
That means, Begich said, reminding voters that as a candidate in 2008 he called for prohibiting insurers from denying coverage based on existing health problems, ending lifetime coverage limits and making it easier for workers to leave a job and still have insurance, an option they'll have under new exchanges that consumers can begin using to buy individual policies this fall.
"There's a lot of good that people will realize as this all comes online," the first-term senator said.
Republicans argue just the opposite ? that there's a lot of bad in the sweeping law. More than a year before the elections, they use the law to pummel the four Democrats, three of them from the conservative South and all from states that Republican Mitt Romney carried last fall.
Begich highlighted that Senate Democrats have voted to repeal parts of the law: paperwork for businesses and a tax on medical equipment. And he promised aggressive outreach to help constituents use the exchanges and other consumer benefits.
Landrieu has gone on the offensive, too, criticizing Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and her state's Legislature for refusing federal money to broaden Medicaid insurance for more low-income Americans. Along with the exchanges, the optional Medicaid expansion anchors the law's insurance coverage extension.
With those contentious parts slated to begin next year, Obama's signature legislative achievement is all but certain to be central in the 2014 midterm campaign as Republicans look to hang onto power in the House and gain the six seats they need to win control of the Senate for the final two years of the Democratic president's second term.
A Republican-aligned outside group already has aired a TV ad in Arkansas deriding Pryor as "the deciding vote for Obamacare" ? a label Republicans can apply to any Democrat since the bill passed with the exact number of votes necessary to avoid a GOP filibuster. The North Carolina GOP regularly hammers Hagan on her choice. And Louisiana Republicans recently tried to link Landrieu to comments from the state Democratic Party chairwoman, who suggested that opposition to Obama's law stems from the fact the president is black.
Initially, the law's 2010 passage roused tea party activists, who propelled Republicans to a House majority and Senate gains that fall. The lagging economy and anger over bank rescues, stimulus spending and budget deficits also played a role. Reprising the health care critique as part of their 2012 strategy, Republicans couldn't replicate their success: Obama defeated Romney decisively, and every Senate Democrat who voted for the health care law won re-election.
Public support for the law as a whole has never consistently reached a majority, according to most polls; opposition in Romney-won states exceeds 50 percent. Yet many individual provisions already in effect, like those Begich mentioned, have more support in polls.
The GOP bets that voters' displeasure will intensify in 2014 as more provisions take hold. Besides exchanges and Medicaid enlargement, businesses with at least 50 full-time employees will have to provide insurance coverage and state insurance regulators will enforce coverage minimums. Many market analysts predict premium increases for individual policies.
"It's not accidental that President Obama scheduled the most popular provisions to be in effect for his election year," argued Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for the national GOP's Senate campaign arm. "He's left a lot of 2014 Democrats hanging out to dry with the unpopular provisions."
Democrats say Republicans need Obama's health care overhaul only to rally their core supporters, who are particularly important in midterm elections in which the electorate typically is older, whiter and more conservative.
Dayspring said the issue wins independents.
John Anzalone, a Democratic campaign consultant and pollster, retorted: "What happens when the boogeyman that's promised never comes?"
Anzalone, who counts Hagan among his politician clients, said the best counter for vulnerable Democratic incumbents is to use their office actively to help constituents take advantage of the law. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi outlined the same approach in a 78-page memo to her caucus members last month.
Democrats also argue that Republicans ignore their own vulnerabilities and individual state dynamics that could complicate a GOP effort to run a national campaign.
The law, Begich notes, established long-term coverage plans for Native Americans. "That's important to Alaska" and lingered in Congress for two decades before finding a place in the act, he said.
Landrieu can point to bonus payments she negotiated for Louisiana's Medicaid program to make up for money lost because of several hurricanes. Conservative commentators mocked the arrangement as the "Louisiana Purchase," but Jindal, who asked for the extra money, gladly used it to balance Louisiana's budget in multiple fiscal years.
Hagan and her North Carolina colleagues paid special attention to pharmaceutical companies that develop drugs called "biologics." They negotiated 12-year monopolies for those drugs, a win for the biomedical sector that dominates the "Research Triangle" around Raleigh.
Veteran North Carolina political observer Gary Pearce, a Democrat, said Hagan also could benefit from the fact that leading GOP candidates expected to challenge her come from the new legislative supermajorities that have pursued a long list of conservative priorities, including rejecting Medicaid expansion that North Carolina hospitals wanted. A Republican primary fight among top statehouse Republicans, Pearce said, could leave Hagan "in a good position to paint Republicans in a right-wing corner."
In Louisiana, the GOP may find its health care expert in Rep. Bill Cassidy, who spent several decades as a hospital physician in Baton Rouge and has served among leading GOP congressional critics of the law. But as a congressman, Cassidy voted with his caucus to repeal the law in full more than three dozen times.
Justin Barasky, Senate Democrats' campaign spokesman, said those votes give Democrats fodder to argue that the GOP candidate sided with big insurance companies. The same scenario could apply in Arkansas if Rep. Tom Cotton, who's expected to run, ends up as GOP nominee.
Landrieu also can use Jindal as a GOP counter on health care. Now chairman of the Republican Governors Association, Jindal has dismantled the state hospital system that Louisiana State University runs, closing some facilities and contracting with private firms to run others. Voters have not embraced the changes.
Arkansas Republican strategist Alice Stewart acknowledged that her party has had only mixed success using health care as a national issue, but she said Pryor's eventual GOP opponent can make it resonate.
"It's not just a generic criticism of Obamacare," she said. "This is part of explaining that Mark Pryor goes to Washington and doesn't represent the values of this conservative state." She recalled then-Rep. John Boozman ousting Sen. Blanche Lincoln in 2010 after her vote for the law.
"Voters here remember that going from Blanche to Sen. Boozman was an important step," Stewart said. "Mark's in the same boat."
___
Follow Bill Barrow on Twitter at https://twitter.com/BillBarrowAP
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/2014-senate-democrats-firm-health-care-support-162613904.html
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There's nothing like the BlackBerry Q10 ($199.99-$584.99 at AT&T). It's a messaging monster. If you're one of those "keyboard people," the Q10 is the answer to your prayers: a well-built, modern smartphone with the best physical keyboard you can get your thumbs on. And even though the Q10 doesn't lead the pack in terms of other features, its near-perfect little keyboard may be enough to keep BlackBerry alive.
Physical Features, Keyboard, and Voice Calling
The BlackBerry Q10 looks like the BlackBerry Bold 9900, but improved. At 4.7 by 2.6 by 0.4 inches (HWD) and 4.9 ounces, it's very clearly designed for both one-handed and two-handed use. It's shorter than the full-touch BlackBerry Z10, and still narrow enough to use in one hand. The back is a soft-touch, carbon-fiber-like material that RIM calls "woven glass," with a subtle gray-and-black pattern. (There's also a white model.) The front of the phone is evenly balanced between a 3.1-inch, 720-by-720-pixel display and a physical QWERTY keyboard that's similar to the Bold's, but better. A traditional BlackBerry notification light blinks up by the earpiece.
The four-row keyboard is 30 percent wider than the Bold's, stretching almost edge to edge. Each row is separated by a fret, which makes for a fast, accurate typing experience. My only complaint is that the Shift and Alt keys are swapped from where you'd instinctively find them, but it's easy enough to get used to that. Your fingers absolutely fly on these keys.
I feel like I need to devote more space to the sheer physical relief of being able to type on a 'real' keyboard, but if this is one of the things you get instinctively, you'll get it. AT&T doesn't sell any other recent QWERTY phones. If you want the keyboard experience on AT&T, you might as well stop reading now. Nothing else will satisfy.
The Q10's screen, albeit small, delivers the deep, punchy colors of AMOLED technology and clocks in at 328 pixels per inch, almost exactly the same density as Apple's iPhone 5 but less dense than the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4. In any case, text is very sharp down to very small sizes.
The Q10 is an okay voice phone, but I expected better. Earpiece volume is moderate and there's just a touch of muddiness at top volume. And there's some sidetone, which I like. Transmissions also sound good but not spectacular; noise cancellation generally works, but lets a bit of background noise through. The moderate-volume speakerphone also lets some background noise through. Both the HTC One and especially the Samsung Galaxy S 4 offer better call quality. Voice commands can be activated over a Bluetooth headset, but the Q10 had trouble recognizing my family's (admittedly odd) names, including my own.
This model of the Q10 supports AT&T's LTE network, as well as global HSPA+ networks. It supports Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n on the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, as well as Bluetooth 4.0, GPS, NFC, and mobile hotspot mode with the right service plan. I saw 10Mbps down using the Flash-based speedtest.net speed test, a decent speed on AT&T LTE in New York City.
I got pretty good battery life on the AT&T Q10, with 11 hours, 6 minutes of talk time and 4 hours, 14 minutes of LTE video streaming. That falls short of the HTC One and Samsung Galaxy S 4 (as well as the Verizon version of the BlackBerry Q10), but it isn't shameful and still predicts a day's use before recharging.
BlackBerry OS and Performance
The BlackBerry Q10 runs BlackBerry OS 10.1, a minor update to the BlackBerry 10 OS with a few new features and bug fixes, so check out that review for an in-depth look at the Q10's operating system. In short, the Q10 has a modern, competitive Web browser with Flash support; a unified inbox called BlackBerry Hub that also integrates Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn; and an excellent note-taking app called Remember that syncs with Evernote, among other things.
The keyboard and the 10.1 OS update make the Q10 even better for messaging and office work. The most dramatic new feature is Instant Actions: Just start typing, and the BlackBerry will try to figure out what to do with what you're typing, whether it's a contact's name, the name of an app, or something you want to search on the Web. The feature reminds me of WebOS's beloved Just Type, and it's excellent.
(Next page: Apps, Multimedia, and Conclusions)
Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ziffdavis/pcmag/~3/-T5Tkpo_IeM/0,2817,2418035,00.asp
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As you begin your internet marketing journey, you should seek and establish relationships with affiliates who offer the types of things you are hoping to provide. If you connect with a wide array of affiliate groups, you stand a greater chance of developing several income streams. Do some research before you accept an affiliate to ensure that you feel comfortable promoting them.
Let your visitors and readers know when you?re using affiliate marketing. They usually will give you a positive result. Never be dishonest when dealing in affiliate marketing. Showing your followers that affiliate marketing helps you to produce more of the quality content they enjoy can be a good way to get them to click your links and help you out.
TIP! A lot of affiliate communication happens through emails, but the inbox makes an inefficient place to store important information. Instead, become more productive by copying the key points that you need for future reference from the email and paste into one word processing program, so that in effect you?ll have one list.
Try not to market only extremely popular products. Marketing quality products is important. Keep in mind that when something is extremely popular it doesn?t mean it is automatically considered a quality item. Marketing extremely popular items also means dealing with a lot of competition. This may not result in profits for you.
Be sure to inquire about payment options different affiliate companies use. Payments can be by paper checks that are periodically issued or by direct transfers through sites such as PayPal, which are usually quicker and more frequent.
Try dipping into secret links. You can place your affiliate links in your website in a subtle and inoffensive way. Just be honest with your readers about using them. Advise the readers about where the link leads and refrain from giving false information for a few additional views.
You should look into the ability to link secretly. There are ways to put subtle affiliate links right in your content text. Use these, but be honest about them. Give readers a bit of information and context for each link so they know what to expect and have no surprises.
TIP! You should only work with affiliate companies that pay a fair wage. You should look for affiliate vendors who offer commissions of 20% or higher on their products.
Look for an affiliate partner with a broad and constantly expanding array of products. You generate more affiliate revenue by working with businesses that have a larger variety of products. Be sure to avoid products that may become fads. You want a product that has a long lifetime.
Before you do this, make some solid judgments regarding the products you wish to link. It may take a while to figure out the best way to configure your affiliate links, but once you have found a successful method you will see more profits.
There are a wide variety of affiliate programs. Programs vary by product and degree of flexibility.
Affiliate programs are not created equal. All of the affiliate programs will be different.
TIP! Some affiliate companies are better than others. A badly designed website can prove to be very difficult to navigate and may turn away potential clients due to frustration.
Not every affiliate promotion website is the same. A few can be almost impossible to navigate. Website owners should not allow poorly designed affiliate sites to deter them from making financial gains. This can help build trust and encourage more sales.
Market your business online more effectively by using affiliate promotion programs. Typically, affiliate programs produce more traffic than traditional advertising or banners. The usability of a website and the commission are the most important parts of choosing a affiliate.
Don?t try to hide your affiliates from your audience. Customers respect honesty and integrity, and are more likely to do future business, if they trust you.
Achieve the confidence of your browsers. If your readers trust and like you, they?re more likely to want to support you by using your referral links.
TIP! There is a lot of money to be made in affiliate marketing, but you must have a great strategy and be innovative to really bring in the bucks. You will need to find a way to make your blog/website ranked high by all of the search engines.
Don?t put all your eggs in one basket. You should not depend upon a limited number of affiliate partners for the viability of your internet marketing enterprise. Use a wide range of vendors, and offer a diversity of products, as well. If the success of your venture rests on a wide base of products and affiliates, your business will suffer little damage if you have to cut one of your affiliates because the relationship is unprofitable. Seek additional advertising opportunities if you think you have the capacity to handle extra.
Move away from pop-up ads to pop-under ads. With the increasing popularity of pop up blockers chances are they will never been seen. It is shown that pop-unders that load under the browsers are more likely to be read by visitors than pop-ups.
Success in web marketing depends upon being transparent with your users. Honesty will help you build a more loyal user base. Readers can sense a lack of honesty, and that is a surefire way to make them skip over your links and head straight to the seller.
For maximum results in your affiliate marketing venture, select an affiliate program through a business with a healthy sales conversion ratio. If you use 1% of sales to visitors as a benchmark for conversion, that should be acceptable.
TIP! Using real-time statistics can be very helpful. These statistics give you crucial information.
Don?t overrun your web site with banner advertisements. Putting banners on every square inch of your site looks terrible and comes off as unprofessional. There should be a good contrast between the banners on your site and the content you provide.
A good online marketing tip is to make sure you use an affiliate network. These networks allow webmasters to find good advertisers. Only do business with reliable affiliates. Working through networks considered to be reputable will in turn help you build your reputation.
Don?t be satisfied with your accomplishments to be a good affiliate marketer. Your goal is to always do more than you are doing right now and to do it better. Build another blog or another type of site that you can generate additional money. It?s crucial that you never stop working.
A personal handwritten ad may help advertise. This gives the advertisement a personal touch which may result in higher sales. If you have poor handwriting, have someone with nice handwriting help you with it.
TIP! To increase your earning power power with affiliate marketing, make a review that includes screenshots, videos or anything else that makes the product more appealing. People will want to buy your product because it is so appealing.
Previous glitches in the state of California that led to account closures for affiliate sites are now being allowed to reinstate the links that were deleted. As a result of a state law, Amazon was compelled to drop California participants. The law was repealed and those who were dropped can participate again. It is a good idea to see if you were affected by this law.
Now that you?ve reached the end of the article, you should know some great tips for succeeding at web marketing. Even though you have this new information, you should still remain caught up with the latest information about web marketing so that you are certain to have the best results. Affiliate promotion is a great way to make a little bit more cash on your website. This way, you accomplish two things with one effort. ?
It is not helpful to put all your work into only a couple of affiliate marketing campaigns. It is important to offer a variety of products, and use multiple vendors. Should a lack of profitability prompt you to discontinue one of your products or affiliates, a well-diversified portfolio will insulate you from deep losses. Find out how many different product lines you can handle at a time. If you aren?t operating at your full potential capacity you should look for more products to achieve this.
TIP! Instead of having pop-up advertisements on your website, opt for pop-under advertisements. Today?s smarter browsers can block pop-up ads automatically, too, so that your advertising efforts are entirely wasted.
About the Author:
Emmanuel Adegbola was online for four miserable years (according to him), without any proven result, he had no mentor, no focus, no serious marketing system in place until he stumbled across MLSP that has literally changed his business almost overnight. He is now a leader in the industry helping many people to reach their goals and making full potential dream income from the comfort of their homes. He is called the King of Lead Generation. Emmanuel generates leads online like water and growing in his business across the globe daily.
If you?re sick and tired of not getting the type of result you desire in your business, click here now to discover the new cutting-edge technology Emmanuel uses to generate leads daily, sponsor Reps into his primary business and creating wealth on a fast track.
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Tags: affiliate links, affiliate programs, affiliate promotion programs, extremely popular, web marketing
Source: http://emmanueladegbola.com/increase-affiliate-marketing-rewards-with-these-tips/
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June 14, 2013 ? A simple smile and a friendly greeting can make customers feel much more loyal towards small independent companies, according to new Kingston University research.
The study, which examined the retail behaviour of 2,006 consumers and the business practices of 1,216 decision makers in small and medium size enterprises (SMEs), reveals that a smile and a friendly hello is the most common reason (59 per cent) why consumers feel loyal towards independent retailers. However, only just over half (54 per cent) of respondents stated their small business employed this practice.
Three in five consumers are also willing to pay more for a product from a small independent shop rather than deal with a large corporate retailer, the study funded by Barclays Business Banking and carried out by Kingston Business School's Small Business Research Centre suggested.
"SMEs are in a unique position to embrace these traditional values of personal customer contact and loyalty and should build on their natural competitive advantages to make a real difference to survival and growth," Professor Robert Blackburn of Kingston Business School said.
More than a third of loyal consumers said they kept coming back because of excellent customer service and one in five said they valued businesses remembering their usual order -- but only around half of businesses involved in the study kept a record of customers' previous orders.
The research also discovered that less than a third of SME respondents consider retaining or growing their current customer base to be their main business priority to achieve growth over the next 12 months. Only 50 per cent would encourage word of mouth recommendations by regular customers in order to grow or survive.
"While the majority of decision makers do recognise the importance of personal relationships with customers, they are failing to develop their own customer loyalty strategies," Professor Blackburn explained. "This shows a worrying 'loyalty gap' among British SMEs, where they could be failing to capitalise on their capability to provide customers with a highly personalised service."
The study was one of a series of research projects carried out by Kingston Business School for Barclays.
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COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) ? Colorado authorities lifted mandatory evacuation orders in the state's second largest city as a historically damaging fire continued to burn to the west.
The El Paso County Sheriff's office made the announcement Friday afternoon in a tweet, but said other evacuation orders in the fire zone were still in place.
The evacuation order in Colorado Springs impacted 1,000 homes in a northern slice of the city.
So far, 389 homes have been destroyed, but authorities continue to assess the damage from the fire near Colorado Springs.
On Friday, the fire appeared to be less active, producing some haze but no plumes of smoke as it did earlier. Firefighters were also aided by rainfall in the afternoon.
Source: http://news.yahoo.com/crews-battling-colo-wildfire-hold-flames-check-205344072.html
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June 14, 2013 ? The sound of small children chattering away as they learn to talk has always been considered cute -- but not particularly sophisticated. However, research by a Newcastle University expert has shown that toddlers' speech is far more advanced than previously understood.
Dr Cristina Dye, a lecturer in child language development, found that two to three- year-olds are using grammar far sooner than expected.
She studied fifty French speaking youngsters aged between 23 and 37 months, capturing tens of thousands of their utterances.
Dr Dye, who carried out the research while at Cornell University in the United States, found that the children were using 'little words' which form the skeleton of sentences such as a, an, can, is, an, far sooner than previously thought.
Dr Dye and her team used advanced recording technology including highly sensitive hidden microphones placed close to the children, to capture the precise sounds the children voiced. They spent years painstakingly analysing every minute sound made by the toddlers and the context in which it was produced.
They found a clear, yet previously undetected, pattern of sounds and puffs of air, which consistently replaced grammatical words in many of the children's utterances.
Dr Dye said: "Many of the toddlers we studied made a small sound, a soft breath, or a pause, at exactly the place that a grammatical word would normally be uttered."
"The fact that this sound was always produced in the correct place in the sentence leads us to believe that young children are knowledgeable of grammatical words. They are far more sophisticated in their grammatical competence than we ever understood.
"Despite the fact the toddlers we studied were acquiring French, our findings are expected to extend to other languages. I believe we should give toddlers more credit -- they're much more amazing than we realised."
For decades the prevailing view among developmental specialists has been that children's early word combinations are devoid of any grammatical words. On this view, Cchildren then undergo a 'tadpole to frog' transformation where due to an unknown mechanism; , they start to develop grammar in their speech. Dye's results now challenge the old view.
Dr Dye said: "The research sheds light on a really important part of a child's development. Language is one of the things that makes us human and understanding how we acquire it shows just how amazing children are.
"There are also implications for understanding language delay in children. When children don't learn to speak normally it can lead to serious issues later in life. For example, those who have it are more likely to suffer from mental illness or be unemployed later in life. If we can understand what is 'normal' as early as possible then we can intervene sooner to help those children."
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Source: TheArnoldFans
June 14, 2013
Following the news that Arnold Schwarzenegger is returning as the Terminator in Terminator 5, which he says will start filming in January, comes word that the actor will return for The Expendables 3 as well. TheArnoldFans is attending a summit with Schwarzenegger and says:"Not only did Arnold confirm to TheArnoldFans that he will be in Expendables 3, he added that he's going to start filming in August in Los Angeles!"
Lionsgate has a set an August 15, 2014 release date for The Expendables 3, which will again star Sylvester Stallone and has Jackie Chan, Wesley Snipes, Nicolas Cage and Milla Jovovich in advanced negotiations to join him.
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Source: http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1927668/news/1927668/
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If you live anywhere in the European Union, you'll be glad to know that starting next year, you will no longer be charged mobile roaming fees anywhere within the EU. The change, which may go into effect as soon as July of 2014, would apply to voice calls, texting, and data according to The Telegraph.
Currently, if you roam outside of your home country anywhere in the EU, you are charged roaming fees on cellular phones and tablets. A recent vote by European commissioners in Brussels would bring that to an end. The change will see a 2% loss in revenue for carriers.
They expect the death of roaming charges to typically wipe 2pc off mobile operators? revenues, after several years of tightening regulations designed to put an end to shockingly high bills for holiday makers and business travellers. They argue that operators will gain in the longer term by customers using their mobiles more abroad, particularly to access the internet.
Regulators such as the EU and FCC have been looking into cell phone carrier practices pretty stringently lately with the consumers' best interests in mind. This is one example of that and it's good news for everyone.
If you live in the EU, how bad have roaming charges been in the past for you?
Source: Android Central via The Telegraph
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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/TheIphoneBlog/~3/Cl10Al3Me2k/story01.htm
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Jason Merritt / Getty Images file
Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus in 2011.
Billy Ray Cyrus' heart might be achy breaky again. The country star's wife, Tish, mother of singer Miley, filed for divorce Thursday after 19 years of marriage.
"This is a personal matter and we are doing what is in the best interest of our family," the couple said in a statement. "We ask that you respect our privacy at this time."
After the news was announced, Tish Cyrus retweeted a tweet from Christian singer Tammy Trent that read, "God never promises the absence of storms. He just promises to walk with us through them!"
Back in 2010, it was Billy Ray who filed for divorce, but the couple later reconciled. "I want to put my family back together," he said at the time on "The View."
Rumors at the time forced rocker Bret Michaels to appear on "Fox & Friends" to deny a romantic relationship with Tish Cyrus.
Tish and Billy Ray wed in 1993, the year after Miley was born. They have two other children together and both have adult children from previous relationships.
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Microsoft want a piece of Apple?s marketshare in the tablet space and they?ll do whatever it takes to get some. Recently they?ve been going on a tirade against the competition when it comes to their gadgets and this new ad is directed right at Apple.
Microsoft?s new ad shows off Windows 8 running on a ASUS tablet, next to it is the iPad. They try to show how the Windows 8 tablet is more superior than the iPad, showing some live widgets, apps running?simultaneously and how Powerpoint is more powerful than Apple?s own Keynote. Most importantly shown is the huge price difference between the two tablets ? which is no doubt a very good tactic.
Original Article on UltraLinx Website ? Microsoft Release Windows 8 Tablet vs iPad Ad | Video
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IRS official Lois Lerner is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, before the House Oversight Committee hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny IRS gave to Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Lerner told the committee she did nothing wrong and then invoked her constitutional right to not answer lawmakers' questions. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
IRS official Lois Lerner is sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, before the House Oversight Committee hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny IRS gave to Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Lerner told the committee she did nothing wrong and then invoked her constitutional right to not answer lawmakers' questions. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
House Oversight Committee Chairman Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif. holds up a document as he speaks to IRS official Lois Lerner on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, during the committee's hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny IRS gave to Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Lerner told the committee she did nothing wrong and then invoked her constitutional right to not answer lawmakers' questions. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
From left, Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration J. Russell George, former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman, Lois Lerner, head of the IRS unit that decides whether to grant tax-exempt status to groups, and Deputy Treasury Secretary Neal Wolin, are sworn in on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, prior to testifying before the House Oversight Committee hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny the Internal Revenue Service gave Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
IRS official Lois Lerner arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny IRS gave to Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Lerner told the committee she did nothing wrong and then invoked her constitutional right to not answer lawmakers' questions. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
IRS official Lois Lerner arrives on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, May 22, 2013, to testify before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing to investigate the extra scrutiny IRS gave to Tea Party and other conservative groups that applied for tax-exempt status. Lerner told the committee she did nothing wrong and then invoked her constitutional right to not answer lawmakers' questions. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
WASHINGTON (AP) ? The Internal Revenue Service official at the center of the storm over the agency's targeting of conservative groups told Congress on Wednesday that she had done nothing wrong in the episode, and then invoked her constitutional right to refuse to answer lawmakers' questions.
In one of the most electric moments since the IRS controversy erupted nearly two weeks ago, Lois Lerner defended herself during a brief appearance before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The committee is investigating the agency's improper targeting of tea party and other conservative groups seeking tax-exempt status from 2010 to 2012, and Lerner oversees the IRS office that processes applications for that designation.
"I have done nothing wrong," said a stern-looking Lerner, sitting next to three other witnesses and reading from a written statement. "I have not broken any laws. I have not violated any IRS rules or regulations and I have not provided false information to this or any other committee."
Members of Congress have angrily complained that Lerner and other high-ranking IRS officials did not inform lawmakers that conservative groups were targeted, even though legislators asked the IRS multiple times about it after local tea party groups told lawmakers they were being treated unfairly.
Lerner then said she would invoke her Fifth Amendment right to avoid incriminating herself. After Oversight committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., asked her to reconsider, Lerner said, "I will not answer any questions or testify about the subject matter of this committee's meeting."
Nine minutes after she began speaking, Issa excused Lerner and she left the hearing room through a rear door, escorted by her lawyer and several other men. The men quickly whisked Lerner into an elevator, where several of the men physically pushed back television camera operators who were trying to film them.
Lerner's refusal to answer questions was not a surprise. Her attorney, William W. Taylor III, wrote a letter to the committee this week saying she would do so.
Issa and other members of the committee were not pleased with Lerner's decision to not testify. Even before she spoke, Rep. Stephen Lynch, D-Mass., warned the witnesses that their refusal to cooperate would result in the eventual appointment of a special prosecutor to examine the case.
"There will be hell to pay if that's the route we choose to go down," Lynch said.
Lerner revealed the agency's targeting two weeks ago and apologized for the actions. Since then, Washington has been awash in questions about why the nonpartisan IRS focused on conservative groups, who instigated it and whether it was politically motivated ? which many Republicans suspect but participants have rejected.
J. Russell George, the Treasury Department inspector general who focuses on taxes, released a report last week that detailed the targeting and called it inappropriate. He has said there is no evidence that the screening was politically motivated or that IRS officials were influenced by others, and blamed poor management by IRS officials for allowing the screening system to be instituted.
Lerner, 62, is an attorney who joined the IRS in 2001. She has come under fire from members of both parties, including Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings, top Democrat on the Oversight Committee, who has said she should lose her job and criticized top IRS officials for not being more forthcoming.
"We're talking about truth and trust," Cummings said.
At Wednesday's hearing ? Congress' third since the controversy began ? the No. 2 Treasury Department official said his agency played no role in the episode.
"There is no indication that Treasury was involved in the inexcusable behavior at the IRS," said Deputy Secretary Neal Wolin.
Wolin told the committee that it was "absolutely unacceptable and inexcusable" that the IRS subjected tea party and other conservative groups seeking non-profit status to extra scrutiny from 2010 to 2012.
He said George told him last year "that he had undertaken an audit of the IRS's review of tax-exempt applications."
"I told him that he should follow the facts wherever they lead. I told him that our job is to stay out of the way and let him do his work," Wolin said.
Issa and other members of the committee complained repeatedly Wednesday that IRS officials had ample opportunity to tell Congress earlier about the targeting but didn't do so. Issa said his committee has privately interviewed another IRS official, Holly Paz, who said the IRS conducted an internal investigation that reached similar conclusions to George's report, but a year earlier.
"Think about it. For more than a year, the IRS knew it had inappropriately targeted groups of Americans based on their political beliefs, without mentioning it" to Congress, Issa said.
While the targeting began in early 2010, Lerner learned of it in June 2011 and ordered that the criteria be changed, according to George's report.
In early May 2012, Steven Miller, who was deputy commissioner, was told by staff that conservative groups were being inappropriately targeted, George's report said. Miller later became acting commissioner but has been ousted by President Barack Obama in the wake of the disclosures.
Staff of the Oversight Committee questioned Lerner and other IRS officials last year after receiving complaints from Ohio tea party groups that they were being mistreated by the IRS. In responses to the committee, Lerner didn't mention that tea party groups had ever been targeted, according to documents. Her responses included 45-page letters in May 2012 to Issa and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio.
Lerner also met twice in early 2012 with staff from the House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee to discuss the issue, according to a timeline constructed by committee staff. The timeline said she didn't mention at either meeting that conservative groups had been targeted.
A career civil servant who has run the division since late 2005, Lerner has not been disciplined for her role, IRS officials said.
Also coming under fire Wednesday for not telling Congress about the targeting was Douglas Shulman, who was IRS commissioner from 2008 until last November, while the screening was occurring. Shulman was appointed by President George W. Bush.
On Tuesday, Shulman told the Senate Finance Committee that he learned in the spring of 2012 about his agency's targeting of conservatives and George's probe. He said he didn't tell lawmakers or officials at Treasury ? of which the IRS is part ? because he only had sketchy information about the situation, was told it was being handled and believed it proper to let George's office conduct its investigation.
"When you learned that there was a list, you did nothing," said Lynch, the Massachusetts congressman.
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