বুধবার, ২ জানুয়ারী, ২০১৩

A perfect match: PC game designers and the quest for compatibility

A perfect match: PC game designers and the quest for compatibility

Making games for computers is apparently akin to churning out sausage. For the most part, consumers are privy to the final yummy-looking package, give or take the occasional wandering bug that decides to crash their gaming spread. Underneath all that sumptuous, juicy meat, however, is a healthy helping of mystery meat. This includes the amalgamation of hours upon countless hours of the proverbial blood, sweat and tears piled up by the modern-day artisans who ply in the video game trade. At the top of their list of concerns? Making sure a game works across the multitude of computers that proliferate out in the wild.

With the industry essentially settling on NVIDIA and ATI/AMD these days, the narrowing of card choices to two brands has made working on compatibility "a little easier" than it used to be, said Travis Baldree, president and lead engineer for Runic Games. Note he said "a little easier" not "a cakewalk."

"Compatibility is always the biggest challenge -- it isn't a new problem at all," Baldree said. "The sheer number of permutations of cards, drivers, devices and third-party software -- and their unexpected interactions with one another -- can be a trial to deal with."

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/01/02/pc-game-compatibility-and-design-challenges/

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Republicans concerned about lack of spending cuts in "fiscal cliff" bill

During an oddly jokey statement at the White House as the fiscal deadline bore down Monday afternoon, President Obama said, "I'm going to be president for the next four years. I?hope." He was warning Republicans that, yes, they'd have to deal with him for a while. But it was, to be sure, a strange moment. Could he actually have been joking about assassination? About impeachment? The?apocalypse? Or has everyone just had enough of these negotiations??

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/republicans-concerned-lack-spending-cuts-fiscal-cliff-bill-204747391--business.html

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Have A Credit Card? Then Read These Tips! | Chicagoland Daily ...

Choosing amongst all the credit card solicitations one receives can be a daunting task. Some of these have lower interest rates, while others are easy to get. Cards may also promise great reward programs. So what should you do? The tips presented below will teach you just about everything that you need to be aware of when considering a credit card.

Fully pay off your monthly credit card charges when you receive the bill. Unless you have a % interest rate, you will have interest added to your balance every month that you carry a balance. When only paying the minimums, you can increase the time to repay the debt by months, if not years, depending on the limits and compounding finance charges.

TIP! It is a great idea to let your credit card issuer know when you?re using the card in an unusual way. Making exceptionally large purchases and traveling internationally are examples of situations where giving advance notice is smart.

Adhere to a smart budget. Simply because a card issuer has given you a spending limit, you should not feel obligated to use the entire amount of credit available. Be sure of how much you are able to pay every month so you?re able to pay everything off monthly. This will help you stay away from high interest payments.

Credit Card

Ask for lower interest rates or fees if you have missed payments. Credit card companies will raise your interest rate and charge additional fees if your payment is not on time. By calling the financial institution that issued your credit card, you can usually have these additional charges either reduced or removed.

TIP! Individuals under 18 can rarely obtain a credit card by themselves. An adult can probably add you to their account in the form of a joint user.

Don?t make any credit purchases with suspicious vendors. Try calling the listed phone numbers to ensure the company is in business and always avoid purchases from companies that do not have a physical address listed.

Use a checkbook balance-type system to keep track of your monthly credit card spending. This will help keep you from impulse purchases that can really add up quickly. If you aren?t paying attention to how much you already put on your credit card, at the end of the month you may not have enough money to pay off the bill.

Designate one of your credit cards to be the only one you use for online purchases, to protect yourself in the event of fraud. Using a lot of different cards can increase your risk of being defrauded, so having one card eliminates some of that vulnerability.

Credit Card

Carefully peruse your monthly credit card statements. Verify that the charges are right and that there are no unexpected purchases or changes on your card. If you do find a legitimate error, inform your credit card company promptly to dispute a charge or have errors corrected.

Use bank cards only when necessary. Use your debit card at all other times. Save your credit card purchases for big ticket items such as a computer or television. But if you are going out for groceries, using your debit card is best. This can result in significant savings.

TIP! Do everything you can to minimize how many credit card accounts you keep open. Having more than one credit card can be a challenge, as you have to monitor spending for each card.

A good thing to remember is that you should not immediately make a credit card payment after you make a charge. It is best just to pay it off each month when the bill is due. This builds a stronger payment history and has a larger positive impact on your credit score.

People typically receive dozens of credit card promotional letters everyday in their mail. It can be frustrating trying to sort through these offers. Having some knowledge, and doing some research, can help you understand how to choose the right charge cards easier. The above article contained advice to help credit card users make wise choices.

Source: http://chicagolanddailydeals.us/2012/have-a-credit-card-then-read-these-tips/

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Details of Senate bill averting 'fiscal cliff'

Highlights of a bill Congress passed Tuesday aimed at averting wide tax increases and budget cuts scheduled to take effect with the new year. The measure would raise taxes by about $600 billion over 10 years compared with tax policies that were due to expire at midnight Monday. It would also delay for two months across-the-board cuts to the budgets of the Pentagon and numerous domestic agencies.

The House and Senate passed the bill on Tuesday and sent it to President Barack Obama for his signature.

Highlights include:

?Income tax rates: Extends decade-old tax cuts on incomes up to $400,000 for individuals, $450,000 for couples. Earnings above those amounts would be taxed at a rate of 39.6 percent, up from the current 35 percent. Extends Clinton-era caps on itemized deductions and the phase-out of the personal exemption for individuals making more than $250,000 and couples earning more than $300,000.

?Estate tax: Estates would be taxed at a top rate of 40 percent, with the first $5 million in value exempted for individual estates and $10 million for family estates. In 2012, such estates were subject to a top rate of 35 percent.

?Capital gains, dividends: Taxes on capital gains and dividend income exceeding $400,000 for individuals and $450,000 for families would increase from 15 percent to 20 percent.

?Alternative minimum tax: Permanently addresses the alternative minimum tax and indexes it for inflation to prevent nearly 30 million middle- and upper-middle income taxpayers from being hit with higher tax bills averaging almost $3,000. The tax was originally designed to ensure that the wealthy did not avoid owing taxes by using loopholes.

?Other tax changes: Extends for five years Obama-sought expansions of the child tax credit, the earned income tax credit, and an up-to-$2,500 tax credit for college tuition. Also extends for one year accelerated "bonus" depreciation of business investments in new property and equipment, a tax credit for research and development costs and a tax credit for renewable energy such as wind-generated electricity.

?Unemployment benefits: Extends jobless benefits for the long-term unemployed for one year.

?Cuts in Medicare reimbursements to doctors: Blocks a 27 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors for one year. The cut is the product of an obsolete 1997 budget formula.

?Social Security payroll tax cut: Allows a 2-percentage-point cut in the payroll tax first enacted two years ago to lapse, which restores the payroll tax to 6.2 percent.

?Across-the-board cuts: Delays for two months $109 billion worth of across-the-board spending cuts set to start striking the Pentagon and domestic agencies this week. Cost of $24 billion is divided between spending cuts and new revenues from rule changes on converting traditional individual retirement accounts into Roth IRAs.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-01-Fiscal%20Cliff-Glance/id-f4de12c06f9545cd8971ffe2a1d83be9

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মঙ্গলবার, ১ জানুয়ারী, ২০১৩

Great China Mania Presents in Chinese Satellite TV National ...

By Marketwire .

Article Rating:

December 31, 2012 08:55 AM EST

Reads:

108

HONG KONG -- (Marketwire) -- 12/31/12 -- Great China Mania Holdings, Inc., (OTCBB: GMEC) (the "Company" or "GMEC") announces its artists' participation in a Chinese National Broadcast New Year variety show on Hunan Satellite Television ("Hunan STV").

Hunan STV is a Chinese provincial government satellite TV station launched in 1997 and is China's second most-watched channel next to CCTV. Currently, Hunan STV's signal covers most of China including Macau, Hong Kong, and Taiwan as well as overseas regions including North America, Japan, Australia and Europe.

"Our artist Mia Chan (http://youtu.be/RdLG-HTyRa0) will present in the variety show and performs in a DJ show section," Wai Hung Yau, CEO of GMEC, said. "It helps GMEC and our artists to gain exposure in China through a National Broadcast TV show."

About Great China Media Holdings, Inc.:

GMEC (OTCBB: GMEC) is an electronic content provider that provides leisure and lifestyle-related electronic contents through portal websites and major cell phone network operators. The Company also utilizes these electronic contents to produce traditional paper magazines. In order to support the provision of electronic contents, the Company operates an artist management company to leverage on the popularity of artists and celebrities in stories and event creations.

http://www.greatchinamania.com
http://www.gmegroup.com.hk
http://gmegroup.com.hk/artiste?task=artiste&mid=25

Safe Harbor Statement

Information in this document constitute forward-looking statements or statements which may be deemed or construed to be forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "forecast," "anticipate," "estimate," "project," "intend," "expect," "should," "believe," and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve, and are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which could cause Great China Mania Holdings' actual results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements to differ from the future results, performance (financial or operating) or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The risks, uncertainties and other factors are more fully discussed in Great China Mania Holdings' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements attributable to Great China Mania Holdings herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by the above-mentioned cautionary statement. Great China Mania Holdings disclaims any obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in this estimate, except as may be required by law.

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Source: http://gov.ulitzer.com/node/2497398

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Family of 7 displaced after Summerville house fire - Live5News.com ...

  • North Charleston man shot to death in Goose Creek home

    North Charleston man shot to death in Goose Creek home

    Monday, December 31 2012 8:47 AM EST2012-12-31 13:47:01 GMT

    CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - Berkeley County Sheriff's deputies raced to a home on Jean Well Drive in Goose Creek around 3:00 AM Saturday in response to a shooting. Inside they found D'Andrae White, 27, ofMore >>Berkeley County Sheriff's deputies raced to a home on Jean Well Drive in Goose Creek around 3 a.m. Saturday in response to a shooting.More >>
  • Berkeley County man killed in tractor accident

    Berkeley County man killed in tractor accident

    Monday, December 31 2012 8:46 AM EST2012-12-31 13:46:00 GMT

    CHARLESTON, SC (WCSC) - A Berkeley County man was killed Saturday night in a freak tractor accident. According to Coroner Bill Salisbury, Richard Watson Murray, 41, of Moncks Corner was lost control ofMore >>A Moncks Corner man was killed Saturday night when he was thrown from his tractor before it crashed into a farm pond.More >>
  • Assault suspect handcuffed after tripping over cinder blocks

    Assault suspect handcuffed after tripping over cinder blocks

    MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WMBF) - A man is behind bars after police saw him allegedly beating an ex-flame in the home he now shares with a new love. It was just after 2:30 a.m. Friday when a woman on the 1300More >>A man is behind bars after police saw him allegedly beating an ex-flame in the home he now shares with a new love.More >>
SUMMERVILLE, SC (WCSC) -

A Summerville home was overtaken by fire Sunday. Fire officials say the blaze was accidentally started in the kitchen.

The house, located at 106 Poppy Road, suffered extensive damage from the afternoon fire. Summerville fire and rescue officials say that 12 people were at home at the time, but luckily all of them made it out safely. According to the Red Cross, a?family of seven, including six children, live in the home.

Officials are investigating the incident as an accidental kitchen fire.

The American Red Cross provided the family with temporary housing, funds to help replace the food lost in the fire as well as comfort kits.

Copyright 2012 WCSC. All rights reserved.

Source: http://www.live5news.com/story/20472753/summerville-home-damaged-in-fire

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The best and most effective online marketing techniques. | Marketing ...

I have been in internet marketing for over three years and have seen marketing techniques come and go. Some are still around and some are new and innovative. Below you will find what I believe to be the best and most effective online marketing techniques.

Article Marketing ? Article marketing was and is one of the most powerful online marketing methods available. Not only does it do wonders for you and your business, it is free as well!

Article marketing consists of writing helpful, informative, easy to understand articles that actually help your readers, not try to sell them something. Then you submit them to article banks, directories and ezine publishers. When your article runs in a popular ezine, it can do great things for your business. Writing articles is not as hard as you might think so give it a try. You will be delightfully surprised at how much it can affect your business.

Remember:

Don?t worry about fancy words. People are looking for help, not big words.

Advertise in your resource box, not your article.

Provide real, helpful info and resources, hot hype!

Write from the heart! Let your personality shine through in your articles.
Blogging ? Blogging is a newer form of online marketing that just started becoming popular in the late 90?s. Blog is short for weblog and means an online publication in the form of a log or journal. Blogs can increase your customer base, your traffic and your search engine ranking, thus increasing your sales.

Blogging can be done for free through such sites as:
blogger.com
wordpress.com
and livejournal.com

Be sure and update your blog regularly; everyday would be best as people like fresh content, ideas and information.
Ezine Publishing ? Ezine publishing has been around much longer than blogging and is far more effective, in my opinion. Your ezine needs to contain helpful resources and information, not just sales pitches. Develop a relationship with your readers. Let them know they can trust you and rely on you when they need your help.

Things to remember when putting together your ezine:

Keep it clean and easy to read.
Limit your advertising and be selective.
Always provide quality content and information.
Add your personality so your readers can get to know you.
Always provide contact info and be accessible.
Be consistent; send your ezine regularly as scheduled.
Be sure and proofread before sending it out.
Online Networking ? Online networking, as with offline networking, is very important to your business. This is when you connect with as many people as possible to learn more and share more about your business. Many leads can come from networking. There are several ways to do this online.

Email Discussion Groups: Go to yahoogroups.com and search for appropriate groups.

Message Boards: Be sure and follow the rules for posting and offer your help as much as possible.

Social Sites: Such as MySpace.com, Ryze, Merchant Circle, etc. These can be great ways to make more contacts and get leads.
Joint Ventures ? This is when you enter into an agreement with another online marketer that will benefit both sides.

Examples of joint ventures:

Ezine Ad Swaps
eBook Ad Swaps
Subscription Page Ad Swaps
Affiliate Programs
Exchange Advertising for % of Sales

and the list goes on and on. Be creative and come up with new ways you and your associates can help each other.
Podcasting ? Podcasting is using digital media files which are distributed all over the internet via syndication feeds. Podcasting is still a fairly new way of online marketing and has great potential. Podcasting can be powerful because it uses voice not written words to get the message across. Offer your articles, do voice interviews, offer a chapter in your ebook via podcast, etc. Again, use your imagination to create new ways to spread the word about your business.
Ezine Advertising ? Advertising your business, product, service, etc. in quality ezines can be well worth the money spent. There are a few things you can to to help you choose which ezines to advertise in.

Do a search to find ezines that cater to your target market. For example: if you are advertising kids? books, you don?t want to advertise in an ezine about cars.

Once you find several targeted ezines, subscribe to them so you can look them over and see if the publisher is reliable in sending them out. You can also look over the other ads and make sure the publisher is selective in their advertising. You can possibly learn what the other readers think of the ezine as well.

Try contacting the publisher to see if they respond to your email. Ask about testimonials from other advertisers. Find out how many ads they run per issue and what the costs are.

You could also ask the publisher to do an ad swap to get an idea of what the response is like. Be selective in your choices and always code your ads so you know which ezines actually deliver.

I hope this article has given you some insight as to how to market your home/online business. I use several of these methods (and should be using the rest) and know from experience that they work!

The possibilities with the internet are endless and we need to keep up with new and innovative ways of marketing ourselves and our business. And we need to keep using tried and true methods as well.

Source: http://marketing-trade.com/the-best-and-most-effective-online-marketing-techniques/

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Source: http://elsadrewss.posterous.com/the-best-and-most-effective-online-marketing

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