PST: Manchester City's failings costly for title hopes

This space has?occasionally?made light of England the English media?s quest to?anoint?Joe Hart the best keeper in the world, but until this year, the cause had always been excessive excitement about a player who, while clearly a small step behind the world?s elite, gave his home country plenty of reasons to be proud.

But this year, the Manchester City keeper is in the middle of bad season, a series of misreads and outright gaffs undermining his countrymen?s campaign. The most famous of these mistakes may have come in a meaningless game, but the fame of Zlatan Ibrahimovic?s goal rightly brought attention to the fact Hart hasn?t been very good.

Today wasn?t the first time this season Hart may have cost City points. It was just the more?egregious.

Tied 0-0 in the second half against an impotent Sunderland, Hart was challenged from long and wide by a speculative Adam Johnson shot. Only the challenge wasn?t very strong. Headed for the bottom right corner, the ball should have been caught. Or blocked. Or generally prevented from becoming the game-deciding goal, provided any degree of goalkeeping?competency.

But Hart?s competency had left him by the time Johnson let go of his shot. Badly out of position, Hart needed a quick leap to have a chance. But allowing himself to be screened, the England international reacted too late. Johnson?s shot curled down and into the corner, giving Sunderland the goal they needed to hand Manchester City an embarrassing defeat.

It was Johnson?s first game against the team that sold him this summer, his goal proving manager Roberto Mancini was wrong to assume he wasn?t needed. Though Johnson would have been unlikely to get time on the wing, he would have done to stop that type of shot. Most players would have.

But Hart wasn?t Manchester City?s only Wednesday failing. In front of him, the team continues to play uninspired soccer, showing little of the drive that shot them out of last year?s gates and toward their first Premier League title.

The squad has the look of a team that needs shaking up, their lethargy and disinterest agonizingly apparent as they offered no resistance at Dortmund, fell behind early to Manchester United, needed a swallowed whistle to get full points from Reading, and lost on the road to a bad Sunderland team. That?s four of their last five meetings.

MORE: Manchester United: Flawed and fabulous

Most discouraging for City may be the merely mortal performance of Yaya Tour?, though to say he?s been a Hart-level disappointment would be an exaggeration. The Ivorian has simply failed to carry the team as he did down the stretch last season, forcing us to ask whether City can challenge for a title when Tour? is not playing like the best player in England. Because it may not be fair to ask for such consistent greatness from any player, particularly when they?ll spend half the winter in at the Africa Cup of Nations.

At every point of comparison, Manchester City is worse than they were last year. In league, they?re six points off last year?s pace (and seven behind United). In Europe, they failed to even qualify for Europa. To the eye, they seem more talented but less capable than the team that tracked down the Red Devils last May. They?re adrift, if not in the standings then in spirit. This is not title-contending form.

Then there?s Mancini?s continued fascination with a 3-5-2 formation, something he never used during last year?s better times. That comparison is important because at no point this season has City looked as good as they did when they tinkered instead of overhauled. The choice to start with three at the back at Sunderland reeked of the same desperation we saw last week from Jos? Mourinho.

And just as Real?s loss at M?laga forced us to consider Mourinho?s viability at El Real, so does Mancini?s defeat at Sunderland compel consideration of his future. Only unlike Mourinho, these doubts are not new. Ever since Mancini failed to prepare his team for Ajax in Champions League, his suitability for City should have been in doubt. Now, as Manchester United seems ready to stumble into their typical winter surge, City management must ask if Mancini can keep up.

With a squad that looks desperate to be shaken up, almost anybody else will do. And City has the virtue of being able to lure elite managerial candidates.

Unless the thinking around Eastlands is Chelsea-esque uncertainty might scare Pep Guardiola (or Jos? Mourinho) away, there seems little to endear Mancini for this job. With his capabilities laid bare three years into the job, Mancini must improve results before Sheikh Mansour makes a move.

Source: http://prosoccertalk.nbcsports.com/2012/12/26/manchester-city-boxing-day-results-joe-hart-roberto-mancini/related

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Smartrac Taps into a new Communications Power : Media ...

November 28, 2012, WIMA NFC Conference, Millbrae, CA?Corey Wilson from Smartrac presented a case for changing the focus of NFC from financial to non-financial areas. The capabilities from the technology to enhance communications will become the driver for greater consumer adoption.

NFC is supposed to be fun. The startup will not be in transactions, but in other areas,. Communications definitions will change as users, retailers, and providers become more comfortable with the capabilities of the technology. In comparison with RFID which is a one-to-many data transfer mode, NFC offers a one-to-one active exchange.

Personal communications evolved from speech, to paper, to computers, and now to smart phones. In a similar manner, broadcast went from radio, to TV, to computers, and now to mobile devices, the NFC technology enables direct interactivity on a personal basis through the smart mobile devices, with their multi-function capabilities to link to the rest of the world.

NFC allows the user to pull information from any NFC-enabled object, and through the connection with the smart mobile devices, link directly to specialized opportunities, other social media, and comparison shopping. This change will move the on-line experience into the store and change the in-store experience to be much more personal. The various use cases partially depend upon mobile device availability. Market penetration is expected to be about 20 percent in North America next year, rising to 70 percent by '15. Other areas in the world will also grow, but at a slower rate.

For retail, the use case is to develop push from the brands and use the NFC tags as dynamic QR replacements. The store can dynamically alter the user's experience based upon information from the user device, the environment, and other inputs. A tap on a NFC enabled display will provide acquisition and recognition of the user, and gives the retailer information about the user. This information is a path to a purchase that can be enhanced by loyalty programs, couponing, promotion items, authentication, and can suggest items or contact the appropriate personal shopper.

As a result of these efforts, a retailer should see increased sales, greater visibility into the consumer behaviors, and constant contact with that consumer. The brands will be able to develop deeper understanding of their target customers through real-time information on data access and buying habits. Brands will be able to learn who, where, what, when, and even why people are buying their products.

Other applications include data capture and data sharing. The tags can create a clean trail of a user's inquiries. Social media can participate in many ways. For example, Samsung has a display in JFK airport that allows others to monetize a tap with requested videos and other displays.

Retail has worked to reduce personalization until the advent of NFC. Recent surveys indicate that 74 percent of retailers are developing in-store exposure criteria, to take advantage of the fact that 42 percent of all sales are from on-line exposure and social media. On the consumer side, 61 percent of the consumers consider themselves more informed than the sales associates. NFC will promote greater data availability in stores and for the consumers.

Posted by Tets on Sunday, December 9, 2012 at 9:58 pm?
Filed under Featured Content, New Technology, Tradeshows ? Tagged with consumers, data, Event, information, mobile, NFC, personal, sales, wima

Source: http://mandetech.com/2012/12/09/smartrac-taps-into-a-new-communications-power/

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Listwire help. - Computers, Math, Science, and Technology

WP Members: > 70,000 New Today: 17 New Yesterday: 28

Listwire help. ??? ???Wrong Planet Autism Forum Index -> Computers, Math, Science, and Technology ???? zacb Sea Gull Joined: May 08, 2012 Posts: 215 Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2012 2:31 pm?? ?Post subject: Listwire help. Hello, I have an email list about Asperger's Syndrome: Mailing List, which is doing pretty good. But I have one question about it, I place certain formatted text (spaced), and when I send it, that formatting is undone. Is it the web service itself, or from formatting it as html email? Back to top ? '); //--> ??? ???Wrong Planet Autism Forum Index -> Computers, Math, Science, and Technology??? ?

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Source: http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt217644.html

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November 2012 Fullerton CA Real Estate Market Report

The information being provided by CARETS (CLAW, CRISNet MLS, DAMLS, CRMLS, i-Tech MLS, and/or VCRDS) is for the visitor's personal, non-commercial use and may not be used for any purpose other than to identify prospective properties visitor may be interested in purchasing.

Any information relating to a property referenced on this web site comes from the Internet Data Exchange (IDX) program of CARETS. This web site may reference real estate listing(s) held by a brokerage firm other than the broker and/or agent who owns this web site.

The accuracy of all information, regardless of source, including but not limited to square footages and lot sizes, is deemed reliable but not guaranteed and should be personally verified through personal inspection by and/or with the appropriate professionals. The data contained herein is copyrighted by CARETS, CLAW, CRISNet MLS, DAMLS, CRMLS, i-Tech MLS and/or VCRDS and is protected by all applicable copyright laws. Any dissemination of this information is in violation of copyright laws and is strictly prohibited.

CARETS, California Real Estate Technology Services, is a consolidated MLS property listing data feed comprised of CLAW (Combined LA/Westside MLS), CRISNet MLS (Southland Regional AOR), DAMLS (Desert Area MLS), CRMLS (California Regional MLS), i-Tech MLS (Glendale AOR/Pasadena Foothills AOR) and VCRDS (Ventura County Regional Data Share).

Date last updated: 12/8/12 11:05 PM PST

This IDX solution is (c) Diverse Solutions 2012.

Source: http://www.ocrealestateandloans.com/november-2012-fullerton-ca-real-estate-market-report/

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What Nate Diaz looked like after his loss to Benson Henderson (PHOTO)

On the left, you can see what Nate Diaz's face looked like before his UFC on Fox 5 main event bout against Benson Henderson. In the poster for the event, Diaz is sporting a perfect pre-fight mean mug. On the right is Diaz after the fight. That's what he looks like after five rounds in the cage with the champion. He's smiling but his face is swollen and beat up. If you're considering trying MMA, take a look at the two faces of Diaz. You have to be ready for your face to make this kind of change.

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Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/nate-diaz-looked-loss-benson-henderson-photo-053527195--mma.html

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Egypt: military warns of 'disastrous consequences'

CAIRO (AP) ? Egypt's military warned on Saturday of "disastrous consequences" if the crisis that sent tens of thousands of protesters back into the streets is not resolved, signaling the army's return to an increasingly polarized and violent political scene.

The military said serious dialogue is the "best and only" way to overcome the nation's deepening conflict over a disputed draft constitution hurriedly adopted by Islamist allies of President Mohammed Morsi, and recent decrees granting himself near-absolute powers.

"Anything other than that (dialogue) will force us into a dark tunnel with disastrous consequences; something which we won't allow," the statement said. It was read by an unnamed military official on state television.

Morsi had called for a dialogue Saturday to discuss how to resolve the disagreement as his vice president suggested that a Dec. 15 constitutional referendum could be delayed.

But the main opposition leaders declined to attend, saying talks can only take place if Morsi rescinds his decrees and cancels the referendum.

Most of the public figures at the meeting were Islamists, with the exception of liberal opposition politician Ayman Nour.

And at least three members left the talks soon after they started. Ahmed Mahran, a lawyer who was among them, said: "It was a one-way conversation," accusing presidential advisers of refusing to listen.

Egypt's once all-powerful military, which temporarily took over governing the country after the revolution that ousted autocratic leader Hosni Mubarak, was largely sidelined weeks after Morsi was elected.

Weeks after he was sworn in, Morsi ordered the two top generals to retire and gave himself legislative powers that the military had assumed in the absence of a parliament, which had been dissolved by the courts.

The current crisis was sparked Nov. 22 when Morsi granted himself authority free of judicial oversight, alleging that judges loyal to the former regime were threatening the constitutional drafting process and the transition to democracy.

But the move touched off a new wave of opposition and unprecedented clashes between the president's Islamist supporters led by the Muslim Brotherhood and protesters accusing him of becoming a new strongman.

At least six civilians have been killed and several offices of the president's Muslim Brotherhood torched in the unrest. The two sides also have staged a number of sit-ins around state institutions, including the presidential palace where some of the most violent clashes occurred.

With the increasing polarization and the specter of internal fighting looming, the military began reasserting itself, with soldiers sealing off the presidential palace with tanks and barbed wire. Its warning on Saturday marked the first time the military returned to the political fray.

Failing to reach a consensus, "is in the interest of neither side. The nation as a whole will pay the price," the military said, adding it "realizes its national responsibility in protecting the nation's higher interests" and state institutions.

Images of the military's elite Republican Guards unit surrounding the area around the palace also showed one of the most high-profile troop deployment since the army handed over power to Morsi on June 30.

A sit-in by Morsi's opponents around the palace continued Saturday, with protesters setting up roadblocks with tanks behind them amid reports that the president's supporters planned rival protests. By midday Saturday, TV footage showed the military setting up a new wall of cement blocks around the palace.

The president has insisted his decrees were meant to protect the country's transition to democracy from former regime figures trying to derail it.

Muslim Brotherhood leaders, meanwhile, made their highest profile appearances since the dispute began. The group's top leader Mohammed Badie and his powerful deputy Khairat el-Shater held press conferences Saturday alleging there was a conspiracy to topple Morsi but presenting little proof.

Badie said the opposition has accused his group of violence but is instead responsible for the attacks on Muslim Brotherhood offices. He also claimed that most of those killed in last week's violence at the Palace and other governorates were members of the Brotherhood.

"These are crimes, not opposition or disagreement in opinion," he said.

Meanwhile, with a dialogue largely boycotted by the main opposition players, members of a so-called Alliance of Islamists forces warned it will take all measures to protect "legitimacy" and the president, in comments signaling continued tension.

"We will not allow the revolution to be stolen again," el-Shater said. "Our main job is to support legitimacy and stop the plot to bring down the president."

Mostafa el-Naggar, a former lawmaker and protest leader during the uprising that led to Mubarak's ouster in February 2011, said the conspiracy alleged by the Brotherhood "doesn't exist." El-Naggar added that the Brotherhood and military statements suggested the crisis was far from over.

"The military is saying it is still here and will interfere when necessary. This is believed to be when there is widespread infighting," he said.

Meanwhile, he said Morsi and his group are threatening to widen the conflict by portraying the opposition as conspirators against Islam.

"As it stands, Egypt is captive to internal decisions of the Brotherhood," he said.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/egypt-military-warns-disastrous-consequences-123949533.html

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Rare tornado kills 3 in New Zealand's largest city

WELLINGTON, New Zealand -- An unusually destructive tornado swept through neighborhoods around New Zealand's largest city Thursday, killing three people and forcing 250 more to evacuate damaged and powerless homes.

The small tornado hit Hobsonville and Whenuapai, western suburbs of Auckland, during a midday storm that also uprooted trees, damaged buildings and caused flooding that closed roads.

Authorities said that as well as those who died, seven people suffering a range of injuries were admitted to hospitals.

Thursday's tornado was the deadliest in New Zealand in more than 60 years. Although the country reports about seven tornados on average each year, most are small, mild and do little damage. New Zealand's temperate maritime climate means it isn't prone to the large, destructive tornados that plague places like the American Midwest.

Auckland Council spokesman Glyn Walters said the storm made about 150 homes uninhabitable. He said some of those homes had roofs torn off or were severely damaged while others had more minor damage or had lost power. He said 250 residents were taken to an air force base at Whenuapai, where council staff and welfare workers were assisting them.

The worst weather appeared to have passed by midafternoon, Walters said. "It's clearing up slightly but people need to be careful out there," he said.

Auckland Fire Service Area Commander Larry Cocker told The Associated Press that three people had died in the storm.

Walters said one person was killed when hit by a tree and that some others who were killed or injured were workers who were building a school.

Several New Zealand media outlets reported that two of those who died were in an accident involving a slab of concrete.

Richard Turner, a meteorologist with New Zealand's National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research (NIWA), said New Zealand isn't prone to the intense surface heating that helps create the huge and violent tornados seen in the central United States. But he said even relatively small tornados like the one on Thursday can cause damage and death.

Tornados in New Zealand are typically about 30 meters (100 feet) wide and last for only a few minutes.

Daniel Corbett, a meteorologist with government forecaster MetService, said there had been some very warm, humid air "like soup" sitting over Auckland for several days before thunderstorms hit, creating the conditions for Thursday's tornado. He said he expected the weather system would move away from the country Thursday night.

The tornado equaled the deadliest recorded in New Zealand's history. In 1948, three people were killed when a tornado hit a suburb in the city of Hamilton.

Source: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/12/06/3130710/rare-tornado-kills-3-in-new-zealands.html

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