Thursday, May 10, 2012

Nigeria stock exchange's yacht, Rolexes vanish

By Ian Johnston, msnbc.com

A yacht and dozens of Rolex watches bought by Nigeria?s stock exchange for a total of more than $868,000 went missing during an outbreak of share-price fixing, fraudulent accounting and insider trading, according to a report obtained by Reuters.

The yacht, worth $235,000, was meant to be given as a gift during an award ceremony in 2008, but there are no records of anyone receiving it, according to Arunma Oteh, director general of Nigeria?s Securities and Exchange Commission.?The exchange also bought 165 Rolexes as prizes, but only 73 were actually presented.


"The outstanding 92 Rolex watches valued at 99.5 million naira (about $632,950) remain unaccounted for," Oteh said in a report that she presented to?a Nigerian House of Representatives' committee that is investigating the scandal. The hearing took place Monday and Oteh?s report was obtained by Reuters Tuesday.

The abuses led to a financial crisis in 2008 and 2009 that saw shares lose 60 percent of their value in the year after the market peaked in March 2008.

"There were incidences of financial skimming, misappropriation, false accounting, misrepresentation, and questionable transactions," Oteh said in the report, according to Reuters.

She added that the market abuses were the ?primary reasons for the continuation of the investor apathy that we see today."

The Nigerian Tribune newspaper reported Wednesday that Oteh had refused to appear at the hearing again on Tuesday and the chairman of the committee, Ibrahim Tukur El-Sudi, had threatened to arrest her.

Oteh wrote to the committee saying she was unable to attend the ongoing hearing Tuesday as she was going to a meeting about the national economy chaired by the country's president, Goodluck Jonathan, according the paper.

More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:

Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world

?

ed reed football schedule jo paterno dead south carolina tuskegee airmen mike james red tails

Plantronics M55 and M25 bluetooth headsets ears-on

Image

Plantronics has launched two headsets at this year's CTIA: the M55 and M25. Sure, we'd bet dollars to donuts that piles of companies offer more bells and whistles but the M55's $49 and the M25's $39 price tag will likely garner some fans. The M55 features voice activated answering, 11 hour talk time, 16-day standby, DSP noise reduction, a physical barrier on the mic to reduce wind noise, and one free year of the Vocalyst service. The M25 apes its pricier sibling except it lacks the Vocalyst service and voice activated answering. Both devices feature a deep sleep mode that extends standby time out to 150 days once your device steps out of range of your mobile for longer than 90 mins. Best thing? You can barely notice when you're wearing one, though the rubber parts are a bit grippy and might tend to pull hair when being put in and removed from your listening place.

Zachary Lutz contributed to this report.

Plantronics M55 and M25 bluetooth headsets ears-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 22:34:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

obama care miss universe canada don draper gallagher madmen james cameron liam hemsworth

Arthritis Game for Android | DroidMill

Sorry, Readability was unable to parse this page for content.

kansas city chiefs chiefs kc chiefs kc chiefs judy garland j r martinez j r martinez

What NOT To Do With List Building | Psst . . . have you heard ...

In the last section we talked about some simple tools you can use to build your subscriber list. There are many possibilities and opportunities to expand your list if you are willing to put in the time and effort. Once you have a solid list, you are positioned to sell your product or service more efficiently on the Web or off the Web.

In this chapter we?ll look at some more ways of building your subscriber lists. Many people decide to build their mailing list by buying a mailing lists or subscriber lists. There are many places you can rent or buy mailing lists. Generally however, these lists do not work as well as collecting leads on your own. Sometimes buying a list causes problems. For example, many subscribers on these lists are people that didn?t want their personal information sold, so they may end up resenting you for contacting them, and even report you for Spam.

While you can use these lists and they might work, you have to consider whether the price is worth it as they are very expensive. If you are short on time and have some free capital to spare, you might start with a rented or bought list and then work on building your own subscriber list.

Building Your Own Mailing List

You can?t rely on others to build your mailing list for you. If you want to succeed you must do everything possible to create your own success.

Building your own list is the best way to earn the trust and loyalty of subscribers and to ensure your personal success and satisfaction. While you are building your subscriber list using the tools we talked about in the first chapter, you can also use the information you gather to start building your own mailing list. Some new business owners are afraid to ask their customers for personal information to include on their list. But for many, a mailing list can make or break a business.

A mailing list is a must have if you want to create large-scale sales and realize significant profits on the Web. Want to know why a mailing list is important? Here?s why. Typically the average customer will visit a website seven or more times before they buy something. As long as you give your customers a reason to revisit your site, they will. That is why you need a mailing list

You can mail a newsletter to your list to encourage your customers to visit your site and look at recent additions or updates. There are many statistics confirming that customers repeatedly buy from email advertisements, so don?t think you don?t need a mailing list. You do. And you need a good one at that.

How To Avoid Mistakes When Creating Your Subscriber List

Before we talk more about the steps you should take to build your subscriber list, let?s make sure we are clear on what you should NOT do when building your subscriber list. Many newbies fall victim to scams or programs offering free traffic that will boost their sales. Unfortunately many of these programs are nothing more than scams and may end up costing you more money than they make.

They can even prevent you from restarting your business and achieving the success you deserve. So let?s make sure you do not make these common mistakes.

Let?s start by looking at some things you should avoid when trying to build your list.

List Building No No?s

There are certain things you should never do when trying to build your subscriber list. The #1 mistake list builders make is buying bulk emails. Here is a tip:

NEVER BUY AND SEND BULK EMAIL TO PEOPLE

You won?t make any money sending bulk emails to people. Why? Because they are garbage. They are worthless. By now you must have done some research on list building or you wouldn?t be reading this book. You may see ads that promise thousands of email addresses for less than $50. If you see ads like this, know you are working with a bulk mail company.

While having thousands of subscribers would be great, it isn?t great if you are getting your names from a bulk mailing list. Bulk companies get their email addresses by using automatic tools, including robots on the Web.

If you buy the list, there is a very good chance you are buying a list of names of people that don?t want to be advertised to for the product you are offering. You risk being labeled a spammer. If no one asked to subscribe to your mailing list and you send them an email, what are you doing? You are spamming them.

Spamming people is the number one way to fail at building your subscriber list. Bulk mailing ads are useless. Avoid them at all costs if you want to run a successful campaign.

Bulk mailing lists also are not targeted. Targeted lists are lists that have the names and contact information of people that would have an active interest in buying what it is you have to offer. If you buy a bulk list, you run the risk of trying to sell a female hormonal cream to a man interested in sports gear. Not a good combination.

Now let?s look at another popular scam used on the web to pull new business owners in and trick them into spending their hard earned money on traffic and list building programs that don?t work.

Guaranteed Traffic Scam

Many new business owners are tempted by offers of ?guaranteed? traffic for a very low price. Now, these companies may send 100,000 or more visitors to your website, but you may not get a single subscriber or make a single sale.

Why? Traffic is generated by pop up windows appearing on other websites. Your website is loaded into a pop up window. So, someone may be surfing the net and your website pops up below the site he is searching. This results in sending out your website to thousands of untargeted customers. The key to success in list building is creating a list of TARGETED customers.

Targeted customers are customers that are most likely to be interested in buying your product. They have, in some way, offered their information and stated that they have an interest in a product. Let?s say you sell beauty products. You want a targeted list of consumers, mostly women, interested in buying beauty products on the Web. If you get a list of untargeted customers, your business will go nowhere. Most untargeted customers won?t buy anything, and they don?t want to be hassled by traffic generating pop ups.

sherri shepherd arkansas razorbacks trisomy 18 ozzie guillen ozzie guillen buster posey eric holder

Squier Red & The Blues Band at the Bynum General Store Friday ...

Home ? Events ? Squier Red & The Blues Band at the Bynum General Store Friday Night

by: Tri AE

bynumporchpainting Squier Red & The Blues Band at the Bynum General Store Friday NightThe Bynum Front Porch Friday Night Music Series is in full swing. This week we have Squier Red & The Blues Band who will be bringing their brand of blues to the outdoor stage. Visit http://www.reverbnation.com/squierredthebluesband for photos and more info on the band. ?Up next we have The Zinc Kings on May 18 who focus on the music from the piedmont which is heavily influenced by the blues. As always, a hat is passed to compensate the performers but tickets aren?t required. ?Shows run from 7 pm to 9 pm. For more info, visit www.bynumfrontporch.org. ?Shows go on rain or shine now that we also have a new indoor stage!squire red Squier Red & The Blues Band at the Bynum General Store Friday Night

?

?

?

Upcoming bands in the music series include:
May 18 ?The Zinc Kings
May 25 ?Jule Brown

June ?1 Zambamboogee
June 8 Onward, Soldiers
June 15 Boys From Carolina
June 16 Annual Auction and Fundraiser
June 22 Hot Rooster
June 29 ?Killer Filler!

July 6 Les Freres Kairaba!
July 13 ?The Swayback Sisters
July 20 Samantha Casey and The Bluegrass Jam
July 27 Dark Water Rising

August 3 Lizzy Ross Band
August 10 ?Justin Robinson & the Mary Annettes
August 17 ?Smith Family Bluegrass
August 24 The Bluegrass Experience
August 31 Chompin? At The Bit String Band

VN:F [1.9.17_1161]

Rating: 0.0/5 (0 votes cast)

iCal Import + Google Calendar

proposition 8 ricky martin chauncey billups caucus results exton ricky williams kurt warner

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Ice Cream Sandwich on the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note at CTIA

We've recently seen a leaked build of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich for the AT&T Samsung Galaxy Note. But how about something a little more official? We're at AT&T's get-together at CTIA in New Orleans, and on its demonstration Galaxy Note is none other than Android 4.0.3. 

A quick spin through the update shows what we expected -- Touchwiz still dominates the ICS UI (just like the Galaxy S III, by the way). But Ice Cream Sandwich is running on an "official" AT&T phone out here in the open is a pretty good sign that an update's on the way.



golden globes red carpet nfc championship game martin luther king jr quotes martin luther king jr i have a dream speech packers score ricky gervais napoleon dynamite

Scosche Announces Four New Multi USB-Port Home Chargers

Charging a bunch of gadgets, each with their own wall wart, uses up a lot of outlets.? Scosche has four new USB chargers that can charge multiple gadgets with one wall wart.? The reVIVE h4 (top, left) and reVIVE h4 pro (top, right) both feature 4 USB ports, each delivering 5W (1A) charging power.? The [...]

phantom of the opera agoraphobia andrew lloyd webber obscura grok cirque du freak eric cantor

Onion: Obama Makes Deal With Republicans to Get Kicked in Balls (Little green footballs)

Share With Friends: Share on FacebookTweet ThisPost to Google-BuzzSend on GmailPost to Linked-InSubscribe to This Feed | Rss To Twitter | Politics - Top Stories News, News Feeds and News via Feedzilla.

henrik stenson jobs act greg mortenson jim marshall died 2013 toyota avalon the secret life of bees full moon

iBGStar iPhone blood glucose meter gets FDA clearance and is now available to buy

The iBGStar blood glucose monitor by Sanofi for iPhone and iPod touch has now gained FDA (Food and Drug Administration) clearance and is available for sale in the United States. The iBGStar was first talked about way back in 2010 and it has taken nearly two years for it to become commercially available in the US.


mississippi state chris carpenter chris carpenter dick cheney hcg drops reason rally mad hatter

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Twitpic for iPhone review: not even close to being an 'Instagram Killer'

Twitpic is one of the most popular photos hosting services for Twitter and now they've released their very own iPhone app that lets you browse through the photos of all the people you follow on Twitter who have share their photos with Twitpic, add comments, a well as add filters and effects to your own photos to share to Twitter and Twitpic.


bethany hamilton

Samsung Focus 2 for AT&T hands-on at CTIA 2012 (update: video)

Image

It's the first night of action at CTIA Wireless 2012, and we're not wasting any time finding the best of what New Orleans has to offer. To start things off properly, we got some time with the Samsung Focus 2, announced by AT&T earlier this morning as the latest addition to the network's healthy Windows Phone lineup. Of course, the phone's no stranger to being in front of the cameras -- this is just the first time it's occurred without any shroud of secrecy surrounding it. So what kind of specs come with the Focus 2? The $50 handset, due out on May 20th, offers a 4-inch Super AMOLED WVGA display, a 1.4GHz CPU with unspecified RAM, 5MP rear-facing camera capable of recording 720p HD video, a VGA cam on the front and LTE connectivity.

The Focus 2, without a doubt, feels completely tiny in our hands when compared to Nokia and HTC's latest Windows Phone entries. And at 4.3 ounces, it's incredibly light as well -- sadly, the device's 11.98mm thickness was a slight disappointment for us. Aside from the inclusion of LTE and a 1,750mAh user-removable battery, we're not quite sure the reasoning behind it. With that said, anything with a display smaller than 4.3 inches these days seems immensely easy to grip, regardless. When handling the phone, we couldn't help but think of the similarly-designed Galaxy Blaze 4G, as the two devices appear to have come from the same mold.

Overall, this isn't a device meant for power users, and it faces some heavy competition against the Nokia Lumia 900 in price point (though the Focus 2 is slightly less expensive than the Lumia's normal subsidized cost). But for anyone who enjoys a Windows Phone with a smaller display and was disappointed in the lack of LTE connectivity on the Focus Flash, this will be the ideal handset for you. If your curiosity is getting the best of you, go below to see the full gallery.

Update: Hit the break for our hands-on video.

Myriam Joire contributed to this report.

Continue reading Samsung Focus 2 for AT&T hands-on at CTIA 2012 (update: video)

Samsung Focus 2 for AT&T hands-on at CTIA 2012 (update: video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 17:53:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

adrian peterson

Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS packs 12-megapixel sensor, f/2.0 lens, ruggedized housing for $399

Image

Ruggedized cameras have always been delivered with some kind of compromise -- an inflated price tag, bulkier body or sub-par image quality. Now, much as the E-M5 did to tighten the gap among mirrorless cameras, Olympus is introducing a full-featured pro-worthy Tough model. The Tough TG-1 is effectively an XZ-1 in a ruggedized shell -- its 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, 25-100mm, f/2.0-4.9 4x zoom lens and 3-inch 610k OLED display are all wrapped in a reinforced body, capable of flawless shooting at depths of 40 feet, in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) and after a 6.6-foot fall. With the TG-1, the company is aiming for the pro's gear bag, bringing features like 30 fps full-res rapid-fire shooting (for 50 consecutive shots, or 220 in a 3-megapixel 60 fps mode), the same TruPic VI image processor previously available only on current-gen PEN models and super-fast E-P3-like focusing speeds to an affordable, pocketable compact.

The TG-1 is also a capable video shooter, offering 1080/30p captures on land and under the sea, with Linear PCM audio recording and a powerful Multi-Motion Movie image stabilization feature. A shutter range from bulb to 1/2000 second boosts versatility, while tools like GPS, an e-compass and pressure-measuring manometer combine to provide data-rich pictures while also aiding in-camera tools, like a compass with 3D renders and a power-efficient GPS that helps to identify more than 700,000 landmarks around the globe. It's hardly approaching ILC territory, but the camera includes some lens accessory compatibility, with an available conversion adapter with fisheye and telephoto attachments that work (and can be swapped in and out) underwater. Double-locking battery and HDMI port doors will keep dust and water away from compartments, and a repellant coating helps fight water build-up on the lens -- there's 40.5mm filter compatibility as well. The Olympus Tough TG-1 is set to ship for $399 in mid-to-late June, and we're fairly certain it will be worth the wait. Full PR is just past the break.

Continue reading Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS packs 12-megapixel sensor, f/2.0 lens, ruggedized housing for $399

Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS packs 12-megapixel sensor, f/2.0 lens, ruggedized housing for $399 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

bedlam

Skylar Laine's Country Roots Her 'Struggle And Strength' On 'Idol'

'While I'm doing different songs, they're going to sound country,' latest 'American Idol' castoff tells MTV News.
By James Montgomery


Skylar Laine
Photo: MTV News

When Skylar Laine was sent packing on last week's "American Idol," it was a shock to many. After all, in her run to the top five, she'd always been consistently good (and occasionally great), and, really, with some lesser contestants remaining (cough, Hollie, cough), it truly didn't seem like it was her time to head home.

Still, to hear her tell it, Laine wasn't surprised to be voted off the show, and she thinks consistency had a lot to do with it. Then again, she'll also admit that it was also her biggest asset too.

"My struggle was my strength at the same time: I always made the song country, and I got a lot of flak for it," she told MTV News on Monday (May 7). "I'd watch my YouTube videos back, and I'd read some of the comments, which you're not supposed to — but that is your voters and that is your fans, so you want to know what they think — and a lot of them would be like, 'Oh, all she can sing is county,' and I'm like, 'No, I sang a Lady Gaga song, I did Soul Train [week], but anything I sing is going to sound country.'

"So that was my struggle and my strength, knowing that I want everything I sing to be country," she continued. "But people don't understand that, while I'm doing different songs, they're going to sound country. Just like when Phillip [Phillips] sings a song, it's going to have that raspy sound."

And true to her words, Laine said she's going to remain country to the core in her post-"Idol" career — she's already making plans to move from Mississippi to Nashville to record her debut album — but with a few weeks off before hitting the road with her fellow contestants, her plans are much simpler: She can't wait to head home and just enjoy herself.

"This will be the first time I've been home since February, and I just really want to spend some time with my family and friends," she said. "I'm so excited, you don't even know! I want to go all around Brandon and see all my friends and hang out at the car wash, sit on the tailgate of the truck and just talk to people. I just want to be a regular kid for a couple of days; a regular 18-year-old in Brandon, Mississippi."

Get your "Idol" fix on MTV News' "American Idol" page, where you'll find all the latest news, interviews and opinions.

Related Photos

bowls herman cain harry potter and the half blood prince city of ember city of ember virgin diaries kevin smith

R2-D2 Dark Roast Edition makes your coffee astromech-style, puts brew into 'homebrew' (video)

Image

Has there been a gaping R2-D2-shaped hole in your gadget life ever since the Motorola Droid 2 R2-D2 Edition bowed out? The good crew at Instructables knows your plight and has designed the R2-D2 Dark Roast Edition to give your astromech desires an almost literal jolt of energy. The team's do-it-yourself project modifies a BUNN industrial coffee maker -- no slow-drip home unit here -- with a float valve and a generous mix of aluminum, brass, copper and steel welded on top. If you're particularly ambitious, you can even make R2 bleep his delight when you've got a fresh pot lined up. Constructing a Dark Roast Edition requires a good amount of electrical and metalworking savvy, but it might be worth your time while you wait for C-3PO to reach stores.

Continue reading R2-D2 Dark Roast Edition makes your coffee astromech-style, puts brew into 'homebrew' (video)

R2-D2 Dark Roast Edition makes your coffee astromech-style, puts brew into 'homebrew' (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 19:25:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |  sourceInstructables  | Email this | Comments

crossbow airhead atherosclerosis steven tyler tropic thunder carnie wilson missing

Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS packs 12-megapixel sensor, f/2.0 lens, ruggedized housing for $399

Image

Ruggedized cameras have always been delivered with some kind of compromise -- an inflated price tag, bulkier body or sub-par image quality. Now, much as the E-M5 did to tighten the gap among mirrorless cameras, Olympus is introducing a full-featured pro-worthy Tough model. The Tough TG-1 is effectively an XZ-1 in a ruggedized shell -- its 12-megapixel 1/2.3-inch BSI CMOS sensor, 25-100mm, f/2.0-4.9 4x zoom lens and 3-inch 610k OLED display are all wrapped in a reinforced body, capable of flawless shooting at depths of 40 feet, in temperatures as low as -10 degrees Celsius (14 degrees Fahrenheit) and after a 6.6-foot fall. With the TG-1, the company is aiming for the pro's gear bag, bringing features like 30 fps full-res rapid-fire shooting (for 50 consecutive shots, or 220 in a 3-megapixel 60 fps mode), the same TruPic VI image processor previously available only on current-gen PEN models and super-fast E-P3-like focusing speeds to an affordable, pocketable compact.

The TG-1 is also a capable video shooter, offering 1080/30p captures on land and under the sea, with Linear PCM audio recording and a powerful Multi-Motion Movie image stabilization feature. A shutter range from bulb to 1/2000 second boosts versatility, while tools like GPS, an e-compass and pressure-measuring manometer combine to provide data-rich pictures while also aiding in-camera tools, like a compass with 3D renders and a power-efficient GPS that helps to identify more than 700,000 landmarks around the globe. It's hardly approaching ILC territory, but the camera includes some lens accessory compatibility, with an available conversion adapter with fisheye and telephoto attachments that work (and can be swapped in and out) underwater. Double-locking battery and HDMI port doors will keep dust and water away from compartments, and a repellant coating helps fight water build-up on the lens -- there's 40.5mm filter compatibility as well. The Olympus Tough TG-1 is set to ship for $399 in mid-to-late June, and we're fairly certain it will be worth the wait. Full PR is just past the break.

Continue reading Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS packs 12-megapixel sensor, f/2.0 lens, ruggedized housing for $399

Olympus Tough TG-1 iHS packs 12-megapixel sensor, f/2.0 lens, ruggedized housing for $399 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 May 2012 01:00:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink   |   | Email this | Comments

johnny knox monday night football monday night football bonjovi bonjovi antonio brown martial law