Max Scherzer's 15 Ks help Tigers beat Pirates 4-3

DETROIT (AP) ? Max Scherzer struck out 15 ? the most by a Detroit pitcher in 40 years ? and the Tigers rallied for him with three runs in the seventh inning to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Sunday.

Scherzer (3-3) threw 115 pitches in seven innings and was done for the day when the Tigers came back from a 2-1 deficit while he was still the pitcher of record. Alex Avila hit a two-run single through a drawn-in infield to put Detroit ahead.

Pittsburgh scored a run in the ninth off Joaquin Benoit, but he held on for his first save this season.

Kevin Correia (1-5) allowed three runs in six-plus innings.

Mickey Lolich had 15 strikeouts for the Tigers in a 1972 game and set the club record of 16 in 1969.

Scherzer's 15 strikeouts were the most by a major league pitcher this year. Miami's Anibal Sanchez had 14 against Arizona on April 28.

Scherzer allowed seven runs in 2 2-3 innings in his first start of the season, and although he's been better since then, he entered Sunday's game with a 6.26 ERA. He was locked in from the start, throwing his first 10 pitches for strikes before finally missing the zone against Pedro Alvarez, the first hitter of the second. Scherzer got Alvarez anyway for his third strikeout of the day.

Scherzer had struck out five straight ? and 10 for the game ? when Rod Barajas homered with one out in the fifth to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Jhonny Peralta answered with a solo shot in the bottom half.

Neil Walker hit a 407-foot homer in the sixth, and it appeared the Tigers might waste Scherzer's terrific effort. His pitch count was creeping up, precluding a run at the big league record of 20 strikeouts for a nine-inning game, and Scherzer was actually on the hook for a loss when manager Jim Leyland offered him a congratulatory handshake after the top of the seventh.

But Prince Fielder led off the bottom half with a blooper to left that dropped between shortstop Clint Barmes and left fielder Nate McLouth. Barmes had a long way to run because the infield was shifted around to the right, and when the ball hit the ground, it bounced weirdly up off him into foul ground, enabling Fielder to reach second with a double.

Delmon Young followed with a tying single, and Peralta drew a walk one out later. A passed ball by Barajas allowed the runners to move up to second and third, and the Pirates brought the infield in. Avila's base hit up the middle foiled that strategy and made it 4-2.

Scherzer allowed four hits and a walk.

Detroit was without center fielder Austin Jackson (abdominal strain) and closer Jose Valverde (lower back strain), but the Tigers ended up taking two of three from Pittsburgh. Scherzer and Justin Verlander bookended the series with brilliant pitching performances. Verlander threw a one-hit shutout Friday night, striking out 12 and giving up only a ninth-inning single to Josh Harrison.

The Pirates struck out 17 times Sunday and 41 times in the series.

NOTES: Detroit's Brennan Boesch had his 12-game hitting streak snapped. ... Pittsburgh dropped to 19-9 when scoring at least two runs. ... The Tigers are off Monday. The Pirates return home and will send LHP Erik Bedard (2-5) to the mound against Johan Santana (1-2) of the New York Mets.

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Environmental Apocalypse And The Global Development Pace

Is the world finally waking up to the environmental apocalypse that the earth faces? It surely seems that the media is starting to attract more attention. Recently, there has been much talk in the media press about the influences of global warming. Definitely, the related department no less launched a key campaign against the evils of plastic bags, which have a very damaging effect on our eco-system. It seems that another weapon is in demand. A more practical if slightly less fashionable alternative is the good old-fashioned shopping trolley.

The heaviest supermarket goods should be set in the centre of the trolley. Some trolleys need to be with a different design from the traditional supermarket trolley. As soon as hardware goods are bought or if goods are bought in bulk, they are heavier and take up much more room in the trolley. Trolleys with a flat bed are perfect choices for such shopping as the items do not have to be lifted up high to be positioned in the trolley and since there are no walls the larger items can protrude over each side or one end if necessary. Recent studies have indicated that stores which have not resorted to hand trolley have suffered poor sales in the recent years.

But ones who opted for the same have already registered booming sales. The shopping carts have revolutionized the buying experience of the elderly shoppers too who tend to get tired very easily due to old age without proper tools such as folding trolley or shopping trolley. But with these carts, shopping has now become a mere cakewalk even for the oldies. They can also use the carts to transport their purchased goods to the cars and then leave them at the parking lot to be picked up by the store personnel and returned to the storage area later on.

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Detox diets - helpful or harmful? | Guiding Instincts

Detox diets are getting more attention as a way for people to quickly lose weight and feel healthier. However, some people are concerned that detox diets and cleanses may be bad for you, or not work at all. What determines if a detox diet is good or bad for someone depends on what their goal is and what specific diet they are following. People with unrealistic goals or who do not follow diets that are well thought out are not likely to have good experiences. On the other hand, detoxing can be beneficial and lead to weight loss and improved health when done right.

When most people think of detox diets, they think of fasting, or only drinking juice or a herbal formula. While there are some cleanses that do follow similar plans, not all detox diets forbid eating. The idea behind a detox is to get rid of toxins and contaminants in the body that build up over time. Many people believe that the chemicals, preservatives and additives that are found in many of the foods that we eat can have harmful effects over time, and they believe that cleanses help the body eliminate them.?


There are a variety of detox goals, and the type of cleanse that a person is going for will determine what their detox diet involves. For example, for people who want to improve their digestive systems, detox diets will involve eating only foods that promote digestion and are easy for the body to process. Some of these detox diets may require that people only drink juice, while other digestive detoxes involve eating lots of fiber rich foods to help clean out the colon. Another common cleanse is a fruit and vegetable diet. These diets are said to help get rid of toxins in the body since there are essentially none in fresh produce.?

Therefore, we can see that not all detox diets require people to fast; however, many people find that cutting certain foods out of their diet can help them feel better and kick start a diet. For example, most people who eat processed foods or foods with added sugar find that cutting those out of their diets improves their health and energy. Studies have also shown that many people who follow a gluten free diet see improvement in their digestion and overall health. These types of detoxes can help people lose weight and improve their energy levels by changing their eating habits.

Even detox diets that involve only consuming fluids are not necessarily bad for people. Fasting has been around for centuries, and many people swear that fasting for a few days helps to clear their minds and improve their overall mental health. Still, even though there are a large number of people that promote fasting once or twice a year, there are very few people that recommend long term or frequent fasting.?

Overall, people who chose to follow detox diets with the goal of improving their health by cutting bad foods out of their diet find them to be very beneficial. Still, detox diets can be harmful if someone is simply trying to lose weight quickly and with no regard to their health. It is not good for people to completely cut food out of their diet for an extended period of time. Therefore, when looking at detox diets, it is important to consider both long term and short term effects.

Your question(s): Have you benefited from a detox diet? (post your comments below)

_________________________________________________________________________

Sam is a health and fitness writer who is commonly searching for healthier ways to live. He has tried many detox diets himself and is still looking for the right one for his fitness goals.

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Best Buddies: Awesome Yearbook Photos (PICTURE)

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The Nguyens are the undisputed champions of yearbook pranks for the class of 2012, but best buddies John and Ian might be a close second.

Their tactics are simple, but the effect is pretty priceless.

Lets just hope no one's mom ordered tons of prints. She might not be too pleased.

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Via The Daily What

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Obama stance adds fuel in marriage battlegrounds

FILE - In this April 28, 2009 file photograph, gay rights advocate Matthew Arnold-Lloyd of Albany, N.Y., right, argues with an unidentified man opposed to gay marriage during a rally outside the Capitol in Albany. A flurry of political activity in states such as Rhode Island, Illinois and Colorado followed President Barack Obama?s declaration of support for gay marriage, which has emboldened activists and politicians on both sides of the issue ahead of anticipated votes in four states this fall, including Maine and Maryland. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

FILE - In this April 28, 2009 file photograph, gay rights advocate Matthew Arnold-Lloyd of Albany, N.Y., right, argues with an unidentified man opposed to gay marriage during a rally outside the Capitol in Albany. A flurry of political activity in states such as Rhode Island, Illinois and Colorado followed President Barack Obama?s declaration of support for gay marriage, which has emboldened activists and politicians on both sides of the issue ahead of anticipated votes in four states this fall, including Maine and Maryland. (AP Photo/Mike Groll, File)

FILE - In this March 4, 2008 file photo, Luke Otterstad, left, and Kerry Coles argue pro and against views over the gay marriage debate outside of the California Supreme Court in San Francisco. A flurry of political activity in states such as Rhode Island, Illinois and Colorado followed President Barack Obama?s declaration of support for gay marriage, which has emboldened activists and politicians on both sides of the issue ahead of anticipated votes in four states this fall, including Maine and Maryland. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)

FILE - In this Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 file photo, Whitney Gifford, of Bucksport, Maine, leads a group of gay marriage supporters carrying signed petitions to the Secretary of State's office in Augusta, Maine. A flurry of political activity in states such as Rhode Island, Illinois and Colorado followed President Barack Obama?s declaration of support for gay marriage, which has emboldened activists and politicians on both sides of the issue ahead of anticipated votes in four states this fall, including Maine and Maryland. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) ? President Barack Obama's support for gay marriage has emboldened activists and politicians on both sides of the issue, setting off a flurry of political activity in a number of states and serving as a rallying point in others where gay marriage votes are being held this fall.

With the nation divided on gay marriage, Obama's declaration this month ? a day after North Carolina voters approved an amendment to the state constitution affirming that marriage may only be a union of a man and a woman ? has added a wrinkle in the political debate on a touchy subject.

Obama's stand has put wind in the sails of gay marriage supporters, while providing political fuel to opponents, said Kamy Akhavan, president of ProCon.org, a nonpartisan California-based nonprofit that researches pros and cons on controversial issues.

"It has altered the national discussion to some degree," he said.

Same-sex marriage is now legal in six states and the District of Columbia. Thirty-one states have passed amendments aimed at banning it. The issue is expected to come up in at least four ballot measures this fall:

? Maine's ballot question asks whether gay marriage should be legalized.

? Minnesota is asking whether a ban on gay marriage should be part of the state constitution.

? Maryland and Washington are expected to have ballot measures seeking to overturn same-sex marriage laws that were recently passed by the legislatures.

In Maine, the announcement has invigorated activists who favor and oppose November's statewide referendum seeking to legalize same-sex marriage. The Maine Legislature passed a gay marriage bill in 2009, but it was overturned by 53 percent of the voters in a referendum that fall.

David Farmer, spokesman for Mainers United for Marriage, said Obama's description of his personal evolution on gay marriage illuminates the conversations that supporters are having in door-to-door and phone discussions with residents ? talking about their "personal journeys" and people they know who are gay.

"A lot of people who agree with the president got a burst of energy, that feeling of momentum, about the first sitting president of the United States endorsing a cause that they support and are working very hard on," Farmer said.

Obama's words also made referendum opponents realize they have their work cut out for them, said Bob Emrich, chairman of Protect Marriage Maine and pastor of Emmanuel Bible Baptist Church.

"It's deepened people's awareness that this is a major issue that isn't going away and we need to have more people involved in it," Emrich said.

It's not just Maine where Obama's words have energized gay marriage supporters.

In Illinois, Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn said he "stands with the president" while announcing his stepped-up support for gay marriage, vowing to work with state legislators to legalize same-sex marriage there without waiting for the courts to act. Illinois currently allows civil unions, which afford couples many of the rights of marriage.

In Rhode Island, which allows civil unions but not gay marriage, Gov. Lincoln Chafee signed an order proclaiming the state will recognize same-sex marriages performed elsewhere; Chafee, an independent, said Obama's announcement is positive momentum. Maryland's highest court ruled Friday that same-sex couples can divorce in the state even though Maryland does not yet permit gay couples to wed.

Former Nebraska Gov. and Sen. Bob Kerrey, a Democrat who is again running for the Senate, voiced his support for gay marriage this week. And in Minnesota, gay marriage supporters say Obama's position is galvanizing opponents of a proposed constitutional amendment to ban it and should help fundraising efforts.

Obama's announcement has also drawn response from gay marriage opponents.

In Oklahoma, the state Senate recently voted overwhelmingly in favor of a resolution reaffirming opposition to gay marriage, even though there's a ban already enshrined in state law and the state constitution. Republican Sen. Clark Jolley said he introduced the resolution in direct response to Obama's position.

A Democratic state senator accused Jolley of introducing the resolution because he has "a difficult re-election campaign coming up and needs promotional material for the God and gays section" of a campaign leaflet.

In Colorado, the Republican House speaker accused Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper of "reading straight from President Obama's campaign playbook" in calling for a special legislative session to vote on civil unions a day after Republicans had killed a bill. The resurrected legislation was again killed during a special session this week.

In Minnesota, Minnesotans for Marriage spokesman said Obama's announcement "demonstrates why marriage needs to be protected and put in the state Constitution where politicians can't get at it."

In New Hampshire, the sponsor of a failed bill to repeal gay marriage sent out an email calling Obama "arrogant and out of touch" with his announcement.

Frank Schubert, political director for the National Organization for Marriage, which opposes gay marriage, said Obama's opinion will continue to have ramifications as November's elections close in, particularly for Democrats who don't share his view.

"I think he's scrambled the omelet quite a bit here and made it complicated for Democrats, in swing states in particular, because it puts them in position of having to, sometimes publicly, distance themselves from the president," he said.

___

Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Steve LeBlanc in Boston, Sean Murphy in Oklahoma City, Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis, Ivan Moreno in Denver, Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Wash., and Brian Witte in Annapolis, Md.

Associated Press

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Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE

Distro Issue 41 features a visit to the Lowcountry home of Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE

It's the most wonderful time of the week once again, pals. Like most seven-day periods, this one comes to a close with the latest issue of our e-magazine for your gadget reading pleasure. Front and center this time around, our own Darren Murph pays a visit to the South Carolina HQ of accessory maker Twelve South to chat about making a big splash while staying small. On the review side of things, we take a gander at the TiVo Premiere XL4 and the HTC EVO 4G LTE to see how they stack up and we go hands-on with the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon and Sounder's iOS app. Reaction Time makes an appearance too -- taking a long look at Max Payne 3 while listing this week's must-have game releases. The usual suspects fall in line as well, as you might expect. Switched On discusses RIM and Nokia, IRL sneaks a look in at our gear collections, former Doctor Who script editor Christopher H. Bidmead pauses for the Q&A and Dustin Harbin has the Last Word on what killed dinosaurs. Go ahead. Grab the device of your choice and hit the appropriate download link to grab a copy of this week's e-publication.

Distro Issue 41 PDF
Distro in the iTunes App Store
Distro in the Google Play Store
Distro APK (For sideloading)
Like Distro on Facebook
Follow Distro on Twitter

Distro Issue 41: a visit to the Lowcountry's Twelve South, TiVo Premiere XL4 and HTC EVO 4G LTE originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 18 May 2012 09:15:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Texas Psychological Career Center: Psychology jobs, Pomona jobs ...


Welcome to?Texas Psychological Association Career Center

Crisis Counselor (Full-Time Temporary Lecturer, 12-month)
Job Code: CrisisCouns1
POSTED: May 17
Salary: Open Location: Pomona, California
Employer: Cal Poly Pomona University, Counseling and Psychological Services Type: Full Time - Experienced
Sector: College / University Discipline: Psychology
Required Education: Doctorate
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About Cal Poly Pomona University, Counseling and Psychological Services

Cal Poly Pomona is a comprehensive public university that is widely recognized for its polytechnic mission and learn-by-doing philosophy. One of the 23 campuses of the California State University, it is consistently ranked as one of the best public universities in the West. Cal Poly Pomona currently enrolls 20,000 undergraduate and graduate students (with approximately 61% representing diverse ethnic groups) and employs approximately 1,000 faculty members. The University is committed to diversif....more info

View all our jobs


CAPS invites applications for 1 (one) Crisis Counselor (Full-time, Temporary Lecturer, 12 month). In collaboration with the Associate Director and Director of Counseling and Psychological Services, the Crisis Counselor will provide support, assessment and crisis management to students with emotional challenges and those whose behavioral difficulties impact the campus. The primary functions of this position require excellence in crisis intervention and case management. Additional functions require strong ability in other aspects of clinical service delivery including brief individual, couple, family and/or group counseling, intakes of students seeking services and limited psychological testing. Duties also include clinical services in the form of consultation and outreach services (i.e., psycho-educational programs) to various constituencies on campus (e.g., student organizations, faculty and staff), serving as a resource to university offices in an effort to enhance student life, and providing clinical supervision and training seminars for pre and post-doctoral trainees. Some evening and weekend hours required to meet workload demands and/or departmental responsibilities, and to provide quality services.
NOTES:
Additional Salary Information: Salary is competitive and commensurate with qualifications and experience. Position includes a very attractive benefits package.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

? Possession of a Doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology and a valid license to practice as a Psychologist in the state of California; or if licensed in another state, eligible for reciprocity per CA Business and Professions Code Chapter 6.6 Article 3 ? 2946 (see http://www.psychboard.ca.gov/lawsregs/index.shtml.) ? Experience in the following: crisis intervention and follow-up, including hospitalization of clients, facilitating referrals to community resources, case management, collaborating with medical professionals, and other relevant parties to ensure continuity of care; risk assessment for suicide, violence, and other psychological/behavioral emergencies; working with a broad range of presenting problems, including individuals with severe and chronic mental health conditions; brief counseling with individuals, couples, families and groups utilizing professional therapy orientations, techniques, and strategies; working with diverse populations; developing and implementing outreach services, including consultation, trainings, and workshops/presentations; supervising, training, and evaluating pre and post-doctoral trainees. ? Demonstrated ability to: provide crisis intervention and case management; make quick and thoughtful decisions during crisis situations while adhering to legal and ethical standards and maintaining appropriate professional boundaries; work with severe and chronic mental health conditions; to perform brief therapy, and psychological assessment, especially as pertains to the developmental needs of a college student population; make independent decisions, exercise sound clinical judgment, multi-task and set priorities. ? Demonstrated cultural sensitivity and competence in addressing the needs of diverse clients. ? Knowledge of and experience with mental health models and policies/procedures related to the field of psychology. ? Excellent communication skills, including demonstrated ability to make effective oral presentations, facilitate an open exchange of ideas, and write clear and concise clinical case notes, documents, and reports. ? Excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to collaborate with and respond to multiple constituencies and make meaningful connections within and outside the counseling center.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

In order to meet the service needs of Cal Poly Pomona students, one or more of the following preferred qualifications are desired:

? A valid license to practice as a psychologist in the state of California at the time of application. ? Completion of an APA-accredited doctoral program and pre-doctoral internship. ? Experience working in a University and/or College Counseling Center. ? Extensive experience working with addictive and compulsive disorders. ? Specialty, interest in, and experience working with survivors of trauma (childhood abuse, sexual abuse, and/or domestic violence). ? Experience in suicide and violence prevention education and mental health programming. ? Experience working with serious mental illness in an outpatient or inpatient setting. ? Bilingual fluency in Spanish/English and competency to conduct therapy in Spanish.

HOW TO APPLY

Review of complete applications will begin June 15th, 2012, and will continue until the position is filled. Early response is encouraged. Completed application packages will be available for examination by any tenured and tenure-track faculty of CAPS.

A complete application will consist of:

Cover letter addressing the candidate?s interest and background related to each of the requirements listed above under minimum and preferred qualifications. Detailed curriculum vitae.

Completed Employment Form, found at: http://www.csupomona.edu/~jobs/how%20to%20apply.shtml Copy of graduate transcripts (official confirmation of degree required for hire). Three recent letters of reference supporting the candidate?s match with the requirements listed above in the position description and qualifications.

Contact information (including name, address, and phone number) for these 3 references so that they can be contacted should the candidate become a finalist.

Please submit all application materials by e-mail to: CAPS Crisis Counselor Search Committee c/o Leslie Taylor-Contla 3801 W. Temple Ave, 66-116 Pomona, CA 91768

E-mail to: ldtaylor@csupomona.edu Fax to: (909) 869-6775 Phone: (909) 869-3220

The University is committed to diversifying its faculty and staff, and has made educational equity one of its highest priorities. California State Polytechnic University, Pomona is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. Cal Poly Pomona subscribes to all state and federal regulations and prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, gender identity/gender expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, age, disability, genetic information, medical condition, and covered veteran status. The University hires only individuals lawfully authorized to work in the Unites States. As required by the Clery Disclosure Act, the university?s annual security report is available at http://dsa.csupomona.edu/police/securityreport.asp.



Cal Poly Pomona University, Counseling and Psychological Services

Pomona CA

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Did Facebook and Mobile Gaming Kill GameStop? | Wall St. Cheat ...

According to a recent report from NPD Group, the traditional video game industry is taking a beating. Retail video game sales plummeted 42 percent in April, compared to the same month last year. It was the fourth consecutive month of double-digit declines for the sector. Facebook (NASDAQ:FB) and mobile gaming through products from Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) and Google Inc. (NASDAQ:GOOG) continue to pressure brick-and-mortar stores.

Don?t Miss: Where Will Facebook Trade Today?

The market research firm announced that retailers raked in $292.1 million in game sales last month, down sharply from $503.2 million a year earlier. The only part of the video game segment that showed an increase was accessories, which edged slightly higher to $148.6 million from $147.8 million. According to Matt Matthews from Gamasutra, if the decline from 2011 continues at the current rate, retail video game revenue in the United States for 2012 could fall below the $12.6 billion amount seen in 2006, when Microsoft?s Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) Xbox 360 was just booting up.

?Simply stated, there were notably fewer? new game releases, explained NPD analyst Anita Frazier, according to GameZone. ?I think it?s a simple as that, because when we see compelling content come into the market, the games are still selling as well as ever. We just saw a lot less of this in April as compared to last year.? However, the problem is that fewer compelling games are coming to the market and consumers are satisfying their gaming needs through less expensive apps, found on tablets and smartphones.

Don?t Miss: Uncle Sam Must Love These 30 Companies

Companies are having to rely more on past blockbusters to attract attention and sales. Activision Blizzard Inc. (NASDAQ:ATVI), the world?s largest video game maker by market capitalization, recently launched Diablo III, a new version of the popular exploration game that last debuted in 2000. In 2010, the company also released a sequel to StarCraft, a whopping 12 years after the original.

Cheap or even free games from Facebook and mobile devices have also given way to the rise of the casual gamer. Addictive games such as ?Words with Friends? and ?FarmVille? from Zynga Inc. (NASDAQ:ZNGA) allows users to receive their gaming-fix without spending $60 on a single console game. The quality is certainly lower on Facebook or apps, but when it comes to spending $60 on a console game or $5 on an app, the quality appears to be good enough.

GameStop Corp. (NYSE:GME) is one of the clear losers in the shift taking place among the video game industry. The world?s largest brick-and-mortar video game retailer recently announced dismal financial results before Thursday?s opening bell. For the first-quarter, the company earned $72.5 million (54 cents per share), compared to $80.4 million (56 cents per share) a year earlier. Revenues also declined 12.2 percent to $2 billion from the year-earlier quarter. For each of the last four quarters, the company has seen its net income fall. In the fourth-quarter of the last fiscal year, net income fell 26.5 percent while the figure fell 1.5 percent in the third-quarter of the last fiscal year and 23.4 percent in the second-quarter of the last fiscal year. Shares of GameStop closed 11 percent lower on Thursday and are down 23 percent year-to-date.

Investor Insight: How Big is Facebook?s $104 Billion Valuation?

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Real Estate Marketing Technology | Bit 'n Java

Real Estate Marketing Technology is one thing, it is a collection of concepts. Marketing Real Estate is actually two-fold. It?s the marketing of the agent?s abilities and marketing the actual properties themselves. So, one has to look at the two pieces individually and decide how to use the technology respectively.

First, marketing the agent has not changed much over the years. One must differentiate themselves from the other agents in the area in some way. The traditional way has pretty much been either referral or printed materials offered to prospects. Now things have gotten more sophisticated; social media methods have entered into the picture such as Facebook Pages, Twitter, and web sites in the form of blogs. The benefit of using this technology is that people can now vouch for the agent online and share their experiences and the agents can now interact in multiple ways online such as email marketing, videos, and online postings. There is no right or wrong way, rather, it?s what works.

On the other hand, marketing the actual properties compared to years past has changed completely. The Real Estate Industry has always embraced technology in order to get the word out easily about properties. The electronic MLS (Multiple Listing System) was one of the first major enhancements that facilitated showing properties. No longer did large big books have to be published constantly with listings; agents could now go into the computer list and print quickly. Now, with advancements such as IDX (Internet Data Exchange) the listings can be syndicated to other public sites for potential customers to search. Those customers can then initiate a conversation with the agent about properties they saw and are interested in viewing.

The biggest benefit now is being able to merge the two sides together.? Agents can now combine the internet data feeds of listings into their own marketing portals. So, as conversations are started about how good an agent is, the potential customer can check that person out and see what is available on the market for sale and get in touch with that agent immediately creating the relationship. No longer does an agent have to go out seeking customers; the customer can come to the agent via the web and social media.? With Facebook Custom Fan pages, agents can post MLS listings in the area and start getting leads. The same goes true for any other online portal. Solutions are available to incorporate the same data there too giving customers more options to learn about the agent and connect.

The options are virtually endless as far as how Real Estate Marketing Technology solutions can increase the bottom line. The question is where to begin and that?s where I can help.

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US has 55 daily encounters with 'suspected terrorists'

A senior U.S. intelligence official says al-Qaida has been 'shattered' despite a just-released video tape from the group's new leader. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.

By Reuters

WASHINGTON - Law enforcement and homeland security personnel face an average of 55 daily encounters with "known or suspected terrorists" named on government watch lists, officials told Reuters.?

The figure -- which equals more than 20,000 contacts per year -- underscores the growing sweep of the watchlists, which have expanded significantly since a failed Christmas Day 2009 bombing attempt of a U.S. airliner. But officials note that very few of those daily contacts lead to arrests.?


Civil liberties groups question the use of watch lists, and they have been ridiculed for ensnaring innocent citizens.?

U.S. officials said the encounters, which involve airport and border security personnel as well as federal and local law enforcement officers, are reported to the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC), an interagency unit led by an FBI official based in a tightly guarded building in northern Virginia.?

NATO forces say they've captured Haji Mali Khan, a senior militant who managed operations throughout Afghanistan. NBC's Adrienne Mong reports.

At its headquarters, the TSC operates a 24-hour command center, resembling something from a Hollywood thriller, complete with giant wall-screen projections and signs flashing "SECRET."?

Officials said that when a law enforcement or homeland security officer in the field stops a person whose name matches a name in the TSC's databases, the officer is supposed to phone the TSC command center for instructions. Based on information in the databases, the TSC then will advise the officer in the field how to proceed, which could range from releasing the suspect to calling in federal officers as backup.?

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The command center gets between 100 and 150 inquiries a day, of which an average of 55 involve individuals who turn out to be listed on one of the federal watch lists, officials said. Of those calls, about 60 percent come from federal officers at border or airport security posts; the rest come from local police.?

"There are incidents every single day," said TSC director Timothy Healy.?

An al-Qaida sympathizer was about to put his terror plans into action when New York City police arrested him over the weekend. Jose Pimentel, 27, was accused of plotting to bomb police and post offices in New York City. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

The watch lists include the best known "no fly list" as well as a "selectee list" of people who the government thinks should get extra screening or questioning before being allowed to board an airplane.?

Officials acknowledge that the number of names on these lists -- and particularly the no-fly list -- have grown considerably since Christmas Day 2009, when a Nigerian-born militant who was listed in a classified database called TIDE, but not the no-fly list, successfully boarded a U.S.-bound aircraft but then failed to detonate a bomb which Yemeni militants had helped him stash in his underpants.?

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Before that incident, the number of names on the no-fly list was around 4,000. U.S. officials said it now contains about 20,000 names while the selectee list contains another 18,000.?

A new threat to aviation security surfaced earlier this month, in the form of a foiled plot by al-Qaida's Yemeni affiliate to deploy a more sophisticated "underwear" bomb.?

An online article purportedly written by al-Qaida members includes instructions on how to set fires in Montana. NBC's Brian Williams reports.

The watchlists have been the subject of controversy - most recently last week when an 18-month-old girl and her parents were taken off a JetBlue flight when the toddler's name appeared on a no-fly security list, apparently the result of a computer glitch.?

While the U.S. government has instituted measures to enable people to petition for their names to be deleted, officials insist that over time the lists have become more accurate.?

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Watchlisting officials say that airlines maintain their own lists of potentially troublesome passengers; often, they said, when a well-publicized case arises of a prominent or innocent person being denied boarding, it is because the air carrier, rather than the government, misconstrued the identity of someone on its proprietary lists.?

One of the world's most-wanted terrorists, Anwar Al-Awlaki, has been killed in Yemen, according to local officials, dealing a damaging blow to al-Qaida and a major victory to the United States. NBC's Jim Miklaszewski reports.

But Nusrat Choudhury, a lawyer for the American Civil Liberties Union, said her organization is pursuing legal action on behalf of people who have unjustifiably been restricted from flying. She said redress mechanisms maintained by the government are at best "ineffective."?

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Two or three of the inquiries per day turn out to be people listed on the "no fly" list, the most restrictive of the watchlists maintained by the TSC.?

A suspect's name is put on the "no fly" list if they are deemed by government experts to be a threat to aviation, to be planning an attack or if they are "operationally capable" and are known to be planning to attend, or to have already attended, a militant training camp.?

Fewer than 500 of the individuals on the no-fly list are U.S. citizens, officials said.

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