Senators struggle with tech industry concerns on U.S. immigration bill

By Rachelle Younglai and Caren Bohan

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Senate supporters of a broad U.S. immigration bill struggled on Wednesday to satisfy technology companies that want greater leeway to hire high-skilled foreign workers.

Democratic Senator Charles Schumer of New York took the lead in trying to broker a compromise on a visa program for skilled workers known as H-1B that has divided business groups and organized labor. The two sides are at odds over requirements that companies first seek Americans for any job openings and a prohibition on displacing U.S. workers.

The tech industry and labor both wield a great deal of clout in the debate over a sweeping Senate bill that would step up border enforcement, give 11 million illegal immigrants a chance for citizenship and revamp visa programs for high- and low-skilled workers.

The AFL-CIO labor organization says the recruitment and displacement requirements in the bill are merely efforts to protect American workers, while the tech industry argues the provisions are burdensome and in some cases unworkable.

Pushing on behalf of the tech companies is Republican Senator Orrin Hatch of Utah, who has not yet said whether he will back the broad immigration bill but says changes to accommodate tech firms could be crucial to his decision.

Hatch has introduced several tech-related amendments to the bill written by the bipartisan "Gang of Eight" senators. The amendments are strongly supported by Silicon Valley and business groups such as the Chamber of Commerce, but opposed by the AFL-CIO.

The labor organization has a powerful ally in Senator Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, who strongly opposes giving companies more leeway to hire foreign workers.

Schumer is working to settle the issue before a meeting of the Senate Judiciary Committee scheduled for Thursday, according to congressional aides and lobbyists. Schumer, Durbin and Hatch all sit on the Judiciary Committee, and Schumer and Durbin are members of the Gang of Eight.

HATCH'S SUPPORT SEEN CRITICAL

The Group of Eight senators, who have pledged to work together to preserve a consensus on the immigration bill, met on Tuesday night. The H-1B visa program was one of the issues discussed, according to congressional aides. The group has been urging both sides to reach a deal on the visa program and considers Hatch's support to be important for the bill's chances in the full Senate and in the House because of the message it would send to other Republicans.

"I think the rest of the group understands that Hatch's support is critical," one congressional aide said. "We need all the support we can get. Senator Hatch has said that if we can address the H-1B issues in the bill, that he can support the legislation."

A system known as "E-Verify" that allows U.S. employers to check the legal status of workers is also proving to be a divisive issue in the discussion of the immigration bill.

Under the Senate bill, use of the system would be mandatory for all employers within five years. But businesses and many civil liberties groups worry about an error rate in which roughly one out of every 400 searches turns up incorrect information. That sometimes happens because of errors in typing names into the system or because of issues such as confusion over name changes for people recently married.

In an amendment backed by a broad array of interest groups, Democratic Senator Al Franken of Minnesota has proposed delaying the full implementation of the verification mandate for companies with 14 or fewer employees unless the Department of Homeland Security, which oversees E-Verify, can certify the system meets a certain accuracy rate.

The amendment is backed by groups including the American Civil Liberties Union, several immigrant advocacy groups and some small-business organizations. But it is strongly opposed by the National Restaurant Association, which says exempting some businesses but not others would make for unfair competition.

"It's a deal-killer. If you start creating exemptions, how are people going to see that you are serious about enforcement?" said Angelo Amador, vice president of labor and workforce policy for the National Restaurant Association, which represents some 980,000 food-service establishments.

But Chris Calabrese, legislative counsel for the ACLU, said the amendment would keep pressure on the Department of Homeland Security to try to ensure E-Verify is as accurate as possible.

"I think what this does, which is so important, is it keeps the focus on accuracy, in a real and meaningful way so that there will be an actual consequence if the system is not accurate," Calabrese said.

(Reporting by Caren Bohan and Rachelle Younglai; Editing by Peter Cooney)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/senators-struggle-tech-industry-concerns-u-immigration-bill-224725868.html

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Male testosterone levels increase when victorious in competition against rivals, but not friends

May 14, 2013 ? Sporting events can bring a community together, such as when the Louisville Cardinals won the NCAA championship and University of Louisville campus was filled with camaraderie. They also can fuel bitter rivalries, such as the long-standing animosity between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago Cubs. A new University of Missouri study has found that testosterone levels during group competition are modulated depending on the relationships among the competitors and may be related to the formation of alliances in warfare.

"One interesting thing about humans is that we are the only animal that competes in teams," said Mark Flinn, professor of anthropology at MU. "Our hormonal reactions while competing are part of how we evolved as a cooperative species. What we found in our study is that although male's testosterone levels increase when men are victorious against strangers or rivals, levels of the hormone tend to stay the same when competing against friends."

Flinn and his research team studied males from varying age groups on the island of Dominica while they played dominoes or cricket. Flinn found that when males competed against a group outside of their community, their testosterone levels rose during and after competition if they won, but diminished following a defeat. However, when males competed with their friends, their testosterone levels did not change in response to victory or defeat.

Competing in sport coalitions can raise testosterone levels in males, but males don't have to be competing in order to see a rise in testosterone. Flinn says that when watching a favorite sport team the viewer is a part of a coalition of fans in the community and can also get a rise in testosterone levels while watching games.

"For example, when MU plays the University of Kansas, males will probably have a huge increase of testosterone during the game and afterwards if their team is victorious," Flinn said. "At the same time we can create a coalition of fans while attending the game and bond together during the event."

Flinn suggests that coalitions may have had important effects on the evolution of human social psychology.

"The fascinating thing about humans is that whether we are watching or playing the sport, we have the ability to put interactions among the whole team in our heads," Flinn said. "That just shows how complex our social psychology is. For example, a hockey or basketball player can anticipate how his teammates are going to react when he passes to each one of them and predict the outcome. The ability for humans to be able to do that is pretty astonishing."

Members of Flinn's research team include Davide Ponzi, now a postdoctorate at the University of Chicago, and Michael Muehlenbein, associate professor of anthropology at Indiana University.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/strange_science/~3/r29l0hkM_e8/130514185338.htm

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Nokia's Smart Devices Chief On Instagram, Android, Phablets & The Continued Lack Of A 41MP PureView Lumia

Nokia has added another device to its burgeoning Lumia portfolio of smartphones today, with the introduction of the Lumia 925: a sleek, PureView-branded handset that will be its first flagship on T-Mobile U.S. At today's London launch, Nokia executive VP of smart devices, Jo Harlow, sat down with TechCrunch to field a few questions.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/LIO06-inPtc/

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Kitchen-Ready Tablet Is Not Really Ready for the Kitchen

Finding your niche in the cut-throat tablet market is the key to success. Or at least the key to landing in a few kitchens. Archos introduced the ChefPad today. It’s a 9.7-inch Android tablet aimed at the budding chef in ...

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/wIC30Chcd-8/

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5 Steps to Fix a Leaky Faucet

Whether it?s the cause of water pooling under your sink, or the annoying dripping sound that keeps you up at night, a leaky faucet is a nuisance that could turn into a full-blown problem if not addressed properly. Fortunately, putting a stop to a leaky faucet, such as the compression faucet in your kitchen, can be surprisingly inexpensive and simple.

Tools you?ll need:
? Adjustable wrench; C wrench
? Phillips and/or flat-head screwdriver
? Penetrating oil, such as WD-40 or CRC
? Replacement washers and O-rings

Step 1: Don?t make a mess worse by transforming your broken faucet into Old Faithful. Before applying any wrench or screwdriver to your fixture, make sure your water supply is turned off, from the handles over the sink to the knobs underneath that control the water coming in from the main line.

Step 2: Remove any decorative parts of the handle knobs. A simple prying with a flat-head screwdriver will take care of that. Underneath each knob, there will be a screw that mounts the handle to the stem. Unscrew, then gently remove the handle with your flat-head. Using penetrating oil can assist in loosening it, allowing you to take the faucet handle off the stem.

Step 3: Use your wrench to loosen the packing nut. From there you should notice the stem. Remove that as well. Depending on the faucet, some stems pop right off, while others twist off from the valve. Check the removed parts for any damage.

Step 4: If everything is intact at this point, inspect the O-ring and washer inside the valve seat?they could be the reason for your leak. Remove the washer and put a replacement inside the seat.

It?s crucial to make sure your replacement washers and O-rings are an exact fit. If you are unsure about either, check the seat to see if the sides fit a cone-shaped or flat washer, and purchase the appropriate type. You may want to take the old O-ring to your local hardware store to verify the correct size. You can also buy a package including many different sizes of O-rings?sometimes it?s worth the extra few bucks.

Step 5: From here, carefully reassemble all the parts (in order of washer/O-ring, stem, packing nut, screw, and handle). Slowly and gently turn the knob to test the running water and check to see if you?ve licked that leak.

If, after all of your hard work, you notice the faucet is still dripping, then the cause may be corrosion in your valve seat. If not cleaned over time, it can produce leaks near the spout. Other potential problems are worn-out seals, loose parts, or, even worse, broken plumbing. If your troubleshooting leads to these areas, or if other sudden complications occur, then it may be time to call a professional plumber.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/home/improvement/electrical-plumbing/5-steps-to-fix-a-leaky-faucet-15470175?src=rss

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Mom of stabbing victim: Accused boy, 12, 'could never' hurt sister

VALLEY SPRINGS, Calif. (AP) ? A day before a 12-year-old boy was arrested for the stabbing death of his 8-year-old sister, his mother described him as "protective" of his younger sibling.

Leila Fowler's killing last month shook the quiet community of Valley Springs, southeast of Sacramento, and set off an intense manhunt. Her brother was in the home at the time and told police he saw a man run from the scene.

Days later, the boy appeared with his father and stepmother at a vigil for his sister. On Friday, as speculation in the community built that perhaps the boy was involved, his biological mother told Sacramento television station KOVR her son "could never hurt his sister."

"I've never seen him be mean to her," said Priscilla Rodriquez.

Less than a day later, police delivered the stunning news: The 12-year-old boy had been arrested and will be charged with homicide.

For a community still reeling from the killing, the news was another blow.

"It's bad enough to lose a child. I can't imagine losing a child by one of my own children," Patti Campbell, a longtime area resident and owner of Campbell's Country Kitchen, told The Associated Press.

Campbell, a resident of the area for 33 years and the operator of the Valley Springs restaurant for 15 of them, said she had served Leila and her family in her restaurant.

"It's just shocking. I don't know what else to say," Campbell said.

Other residents in the community of about 7,400 people expressed similar feelings of disbelief.

"I did not want to believe it. You kind of thought so, but it's not something you want to believe," resident Tammy Ainsworth told Sacramento's KCRA-TV.

Aaron Plunk, a neighbor of Fowler's, said the arrest was staggering but he could rest easier now. He said he and his family had been extra vigilant about locking windows and doors, even though the street was being closely guarded by deputies.

"I think we were the safest house in the county," Plunk told the Modesto Bee.

Plunk's mother, Carla Plunk, said she had been scared enough to arm herself.

"It the first time I ever held a gun," she said.

Calaveras Unified School District Superintendent Mark Campbell said counselors will be available Monday at all schools.

The district "stands ready to provide whatever level of support and assistance is necessary to the Fowler family" and the community at large, he said Sunday.

Police released no information about what led them to arrest the unidentified 12-year-old for the April 27 attack. Following the crime, investigators did a door-to-door sweep of homes, storage sheds and horse stables scattered across the oak-studded hills foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Divers also searched two nearby reservoirs in search of clues.

Leila's brother told police he found his sister's body and encountered an intruder in the home while their parents were at a Little League game. He described the man as tall with long gray hair. A neighbor told detectives she saw a man flee the home, but she later recanted the story.

Police said there was no sign of a burglary or robbery. As part of the investigation, authorities seized several knives from the Fowler home, where Leila lived with her father, stepmother and siblings.

Calaveras County Sheriff Gary Kuntz said authorities spent more than 2,000 hours on the investigation before they arrested the boy at 5:10 p.m. Saturday.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/mom-accused-boy-12-could-never-hurt-sister-202446524.html

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How to market your business with online video | Small Biz Daily

By Jeremy Vest

As the Internet changes the way prospects access products and services, businesses must focus on new marketing strategies to get on the radar of their target audience. According to ComScore, the online video reaches 85.4% of the U.S. Internet audience. If your business isn?t incorporating video marketing into its overall strategy, you could be missing out on a huge chunk of the prospect pie. Since YouTube is second only to Google in volume of searches, it?s a great (free) place to upload and manage your video marketing content. But don?t just create videos and upload them to your channel; make sure your videos are being watched.

Wasp Barcode Technologies recently celebrated the milestone of reaching its one-millionth view on YouTube. Small businesses and content marketers can easily learn from this success with five simple content marketing tips to apply to your video strategy today.

1.?????Utilize a variety of content. ?Part of the appeal of Wasp?s YouTube channel is that we provide more than just product videos. Using vlogs (video blogs), video case studies and other recorded video testimonial in addition to video product marketing creates a more dynamic video channel, while also providing information users or potential prospects need.

2.?????Know your audience?. Which groups of people can benefit from your product or service? Once you?ve narrowed down who needs your product, you can position yourself for success at the corner of ?search? and ?intent.? Wasp makes its video content readily available to business owners, IT professionals and others looking for sophisticated business productivity solutions at a great price point. Our strategic video marketing plan focused on the creation of videos that solve problems common to our target audience. Video marketing is more than putting content online for people to stumble across; it?s about catering content to the people who will benefit from it.

3.?????Harness the power of video search optimization?. Video should be optimized to reach your audience based on search intent and brand name. Focus on adding keywords to titles, tags and descriptions. Also consider adding playlists centered on industry keywords and terms. Doing so will help users find content specific to their search queries. At the start of our video marketing campaign, we identified the term ?asset tracking? as one of our targeted key words. Through proper optimization, many of our videos appear on page one of YouTube for targeted search results.

4.?????Advertise?. It?s important to keep in mind the value of organic video views to reach an engaged audience. However, through Google AdWords for video, many companies are able to expand their reach by targeting specific demographics and individuals with niche interests. The cost per brand impression can be as low as pennies on the dollar given the volume of video people consume and the engagement associated with video. Additionally, targeted ads reach those who could benefit from the service, thus increasing sales and revenue. Proper targeting also avoids over-inundating those who have no interest in your product. As a result of targeting the right audience, Wasp experienced an increase of highly focused, engaged traffic from YouTube to our website.

5.?????Don?t forget YouTube is a social network. ?Many small businesses consider YouTube to be a hosting platform for their video content. However, with over 800 million active users, YouTube should be considered a top social network. At Wasp we didn?t get to one million views by acting like a wallflower, we engaged with other users, liked content and shared videos. Users like to see brands that are more engaged ? it instills a sense of community.

Video is changing the way businesses and prospects interact. Implement the five best practices above and you?ll be surprised at the increase in qualified web traffic and leads you generate from a well-optimized and effective video marketing strategy.

Jeremy Vest is Senior SEM & Online Manager at Wasp Barcode Technologies, a provider of barcode software and solutions to small and midsized businesses.

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Source: http://www.smallbizdaily.com/12043/5-tips-for-better-video-marketing/

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