Stomach bug knocks Nadal from Australian Open

FILE - In this June 26, 2012 file photo, Rafael Nadal of Spain returning a shot to Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil during a first round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

FILE - In this June 26, 2012 file photo, Rafael Nadal of Spain returning a shot to Thomaz Bellucci of Brazil during a first round men's singles match at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, England. (AP Photo/Anja Niedringhaus, File)

MADRID (AP) ? Rafael Nadal will miss the Australian Open because of a stomach virus, further delaying his comeback after being sidelined since June.

The Australian Open, the year's first Grand Slam tournament, begins Jan. 14. The virus kept Nadal from making his return at Abu Dhabi this week.

The Spaniard said Friday his withdrawals had nothing to do with the tendinitis in his left knee, which forced him to take a break last summer following his second-round loss at Wimbledon to then 100th-ranked Lukas Rosol. Nadal also missed the London Olympics.

"My knee is much better and the rehabilitation process has gone well as predicted by the doctors," Nadal said in a statement. "But this virus didn't allow me to practice this past week, and therefore I am sorry to announce that I will not play in Doha and the Australian Open."

The former No. 1 player hopes to return at Acapulco, Mexico, starting Feb. 27. However, he did not rule out playing an earlier tournament if his recovery went well enough.

"I always said that my return to competition will be when I am in the right conditions to play," he said. "And after all this time away from the courts, I'd rather not accelerate the comeback and prefer to do things well."

Nadal, ranked No. 4, won the Australian Open in 2009. Last year, he lost to top-ranked Novak Djokovic in a title match that lasted 5 hours, 53 minutes, the longest recorded Grand Slam final.

Nadal's doctor, Angel Ruiz-Cotorro, said in the statement that Nadal needed at least a week to recover from the virus, ruling him out for the Qatar Open set to start on Jan. 2.

And Nadal's coach and uncle, Toni Nadal, explained that Nadal had opted against making his return at Melbourne since he wouldn't be physically fit to take on its five-set format.

"We consider not appropriate to play the Australian Open since we will not have enough preparation for a greater competition which is a Grand Slam tournament," said Toni Nadal in the statement. "It is simply not conceivable that his first event is a best of five sets event, he wouldn't be ready for that."

Nadal's knee injury prevented the 11-time Grand Slam winner from defending his Olympic singles gold at last summer's London Games, where he was supposed to be Spain's flag bearer in the opening ceremony.

He also had to pull out of the U.S. Open and Spain's Davis Cup final against the Czech Republic, and his teammates lost without him.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2012-12-28-Nadal%20Out/id-ed79cd54872746559c6de004bb66e562

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Chinese Court Orders Apple to Pay $165K in Copyright Dispute

Apple Headquarters at Infinite Loop, Cupertino, California | Wikipedia

Last Thursday, a Chinese court ruled Apple to pay 1.03 million Yuan, or about $165,000, to a group of writers. The said writers claim that their work was pirated and sold through the App Store.

Apple vs. CWWCS

A judge from Beijing?s Second Intermediate People?s Court found Apple to be liable for the sale of unlicensed works by eight local writers. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, the unlicensed works were repurposed as an application and was distributed through the App Store.

Attorneys for the writers also argued that the software available on Apple?s App Store contains unlicensed digital copies of their books.

In relation to this, the fine will be meted out to the group of writers and two companies involved in the case. However, last Thursday?s decision is far from the requested compensatory damages claimed by the China Written Works Copyright Society (CWWCS). The group of writers filed a revised claim in February, which asks for 23 million Yuan or almost double the original claims.

Prior to this, the group asserted that the iPhone maker is aware of the pirated versions since July 2011. However, they were slow to remove the offending apps from their online store. The Cupertino-based company is said to have informed the group to contact the developers of the pirated app, but it was not verified.

On the other hand, Apple said that they are taking ?copyright infringement complaints very seriously.? They also added that their service is always updated to ?better assist content owners in protecting their rights.? Moreover, the company requires its developers to sign an agreement, which says that they hold the rights to the app material before bringing it to the App Store.

More Legal Disputes in China

This is the second time that Apple has to face a Chinese copyright-related loss for the past three months. Last September, the same Beijing court ruled that the company must pay $82,600 for selling unauthorized digital copies of a popular Chinese language encyclopedia.

In addition, they had a legal dispute in China last July, wherein they agreed to pay $60 million to a local arm of a Hong Kong company. The agreement is meant to settle a trademark dispute over the ?iPad? name.

Regardless, China has become a significant market for Apple, wherein their products are seen as aspiring. In fact, the company?s sale in the country for the fiscal year through September was $5.7 billion, or about 16 percent of its worldwide total.

A twenty-something Manila girl who writes regularly for AMOG. She loves to eat, read books of various genres, and write more than anything. Those are the things that keep her sane.

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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/AmogRss/~3/M1J3wIQrBF4/

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Android App of the Week: WinePoynt Turns You Into a Smart Drunk

WinePoynt is a simple little app that should help you weed through the endless selection of wine you see at supermarkets and restaurants alike. When you first start using the app, you can select price range, color, and what food you?ll be eating with your wine. WinePoynt will offer a recommendation.

If you continue to use WinePoynt, you?ll be able to rate wines that you drink or buy from certain locations. On the basis of those ratings and search fields, the app will make progressively smarter recommendations. You?ll also be able to see other people?s rating for wines at various locations, and you?ll be able to spot the nearest location to you carrying a specific wine.

WinePoynt is available now on Google Play for free. A premium version is also available, which is priced at $0.99 per month or $4.99 for a whole year. It?s nice to know that your Smartphone can encourage your drinking habits.Google+

Tags: android

Source: http://www.chipchick.com/2012/12/winepoynt.html?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=winepoynt

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I'm I'm Gini Dietrich, Founder of Arment Dietrich and Spin Sucks, and ...

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Firmology?s How I Power My Business?series?profiles the technology?business owners?use to run and grow their business.

How I Power My Business
By Gini Dietrich of Arment Dietrich and Spin Sucks

What?s the story behind Arment Dietrich and Spin Sucks?

In true entrepreneurial fashion, I run not one, not even two, but three businesses (unless you count speaking and book writing as separate businesses, in which case there are five).

The core business is Arment Dietrich, which is an integrated marketing communications firm in Chicago. A little more than a year ago, we went virtual (hence no photo of me in front of the business) and we experienced 200 percent growth this year. I truly believe there are two reasons for that: I have an amazing team with really talented professionals who are doing what they?re meant to do and our overhead went from thousands of dollars a month to almost nothing.

Six years ago, we launched Spin Sucks ? the blog ? and nearly three years ago, we began to use it to generate revenue. Today it is the number two driver of new clients for Arment Dietrich.

And we have Spin Sucks Pro in beta right now, which is a professional development site for PR and marketing pros. We are developing this because there isn?t anywhere, other than annual conferences, where our profession can learn about new technologies, new initiatives, and new campaigns. Because things are changing so quickly, it?s important to have a place to learn every day versus once a year.

What apps, software, service or gadgets are essential to the operations of your business?

Because we?re a virtual company and because we have clients in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, it?s important for us to use technology to stay connected, be productive, and manage our time most effectively.

• WordPress powers our website, our blog, and Spin Sucks Pro.
• Dropbox serves as our document sharing server.
• Skype serves as both our telephone system and our instant messaging.
• Google Docs is used for our editorial calendars and client documents.
• BusyCal is my go-to choice for my calendar and task list.
• Passbook is fantastic for traveling. You add your boarding pass through your airline?s app and you can use your phone for your ticket.
• We all use most of the social networks to connect with one another in public ways that builds our culture.

What time-saver or money-saver would you love your fellow business owners to know about?

There are a few things that have made us more efficient:

• Dropbox is only $10 per month and it allows us to not only share documents, but access them from anywhere in the world, including on planes without Internet access. Not having the server anymore saves significant expenses each month.
• VirtualPBX allows us to have a main office number that rings directly to people?s cell phones. I think it?s something like $49 a month.
• I mentioned BusyCal above. It was $50, but it?s worth every penny. I couldn?t find anything I liked better than my paper task lists before I found BusyCal. Now I use it for everything.

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If you?d like to be featured on Firmology?s How I Power My Business series, here?s what we need from you:

1. Read this example post first:?Wanted: Businesses for How I Power My Business Series
2. Headshot/Company Photo: Ideally, we?d like a picture of you standing in front of or in your business, but we?ll take your profile headshot by itself or two separate photos too!
3. Company Logo: Who doesn?t have a logo now-a-days? If you don?t have the file, just send us your website link and we?ll grab it from there.
4. Description of Business: Tell us about your business! What is your product or service? Extra points if you have a story of how or why you launched your business.
5. How You Power Your Business: What apps, software, service or gadgets do you use to power your business?

Email the above information to contact@firmology.com with the subject line: How I Power My Business

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Source: http://www.firmology.com/2012/12/28/im-im-gini-dietrich-founder-of-arment-dietrich-and-spin-sucks-and-this-is-how-i-power-my-business/

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Global shares sag as U.S. races to avoid fiscal cliff

LONDON (Reuters) - World shares sagged and the dollar climbed on Friday as U.S. lawmakers prepared to resume talks to avoid a fiscal crunch, while expectations Japan will inject drastic new stimulus into its economy pushed the yen to a two-year low.

President Barack Obama and lawmakers are set to have a last round of talks before a New Year's deadline to reach a deal and avoid massive tax hikes and spending cuts which could drag the economy, and others around the world, into recession.

Obama and Vice President Joe Biden will meet congressional leaders from both parties at the White House at 3.00 p.m. ET.

As midday approached in Europe, the MSCI all-world share index <.miwd00000pus> had lost the momentum of an earlier rally in Asian shares to stand almost unchanged at 338.83.

With London's FTSE 100 <.ftse>, Paris's CAC-40 <.fchi> and Frankfurt's DAX <.gdaxi> also flagging after a positive start, the pan-European FTSEurofirst 300 <.fteu3> fell back into negative territory and on track for a small weekly loss.

Members of Congress and economists were divided on the odds of success at the U.S. budget talks but Daiwa Securities economist Emily Nicols said the chances of a deal before year-end were slipping. "Markets in Europe are now down and that is reflecting the U.S. situation."

"The Republicans are not coming back until Sunday so it looks increasingly unlikely that a solution will be found before the end of the year, although markets still expect a deal eventually even if it does go into January," she added.

YEN LOW

U.S. stock futures pointed to falls on Wall Street when trading resumes later. <.n/>

Earlier in Asia, Japan's benchmark Nikkei index hit a 21-month high as markets prepared for a huge injection of stimulus by the Bank of Japan following the election of a new government. The expectations also pushed the yen to a new two year low versus the dollar.

Japan's newly appointed Finance Minister Taro Aso said he wants the government and the Bank of Japan to agree on an inflation target in January before the central bank's next policy meeting and stressed a willingness to intervene in FX markets.

"The Japanese equity market has turned positive, providing good sentiment for global investors, with many making money and putting the money into commodity markets such as the oil market," said Tetsu Emori, a commodity fund manager at Astmax in Tokyo.

The dollar rose as high as 86.64 yen. The yen has now fallen roughly 10.5 percent against the dollar in 2012, its biggest annual drop since 2005. At the same time the Nikkei share index is now up 22 percent for the year.

With investors wary about the outcome of the fiscal cliff negotiations, the dollar <.dxy> and German government bonds, both seen as safe-haven assets because of their liquidity, strengthened.

In contrast, with markets starting to focus on uncertain elections at the end of February, Italy's 10-year borrowing costs rose to the highest since October at its first auction for long-term debt to be settled in 2013.

Mirroring equities, the euro gave up early gains to slip back under $1.32. It came as France reported it had managed just 0.1 percent growth in the third quarter.

COPPER

Despite the tensions over the U.S. budget talks, the mood in financial markets has been improving in recent weeks. Data from key emerging economies have shown signs of a pick-up while analysts are hopeful that Europe may also soon bottom out.

Fresh signs that top consumer China's economy is improving saw growth-attuned copper prices climb as high as $7,955 a metric ton, on track for the biggest weekly rise in four weeks.

A new Reuters poll showed economists think China's factory activity probably expanded at its fastest pace in eight months in December.

The U.S. uncertainty weighed on other commodities though. Brent crude was down 0.25 percent just below $111 a barrel by 1100 GMT and on course to post a full-year increase of about 3.6 percent, which would be its smallest gain in four years.

Gold also gave up early gains to drop to $1,658.40 an ounce. However, it looks set to notch its first weekly rise in a month and for the year is up around 6 percent.

"We do expect a ... (U.S. budget) deal to happen at the last minute, but it will be a minimal deal," said Dominic Schnider, an analyst at UBS Wealth Management in Singapore. "I think that should be gold supportive."

(Additional reporting by Lewa Pardomuan; Editing by Giles Elgood)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/yen-extends-fall-asian-shares-capped-u-fiscal-002858594--finance.html

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Blackburn euphonium player gains prestigious music college place

Blackburn euphonium player gains prestigious music college place

2:00pm Saturday 29th December 2012 in Blackburn

A TEENAGE Blackburn musician has proven he has the key to success after being accepted at the prestigious Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

Daniel Thomas, 17, who attends St Wilfrid?s High School in Blackburn, has been playing the euphonium since the age of seven.

He is delighted to be one of the chosen few to be selected for the coveted places at the nationally acclaimed school for aspiring musicians.

Daniel, of Heartwood Close, Blackburn, said his dad, who is the head of music at St Bede?s RC High School, and his mum, who plays the cornet, have always encouraged him to be involved in music.

He said: ?I was delighted when I found out I had been accepted. I couldn?t believe it.

?It was my first choice and it?s the best place in the world for a euphonium player to go.?

Daniel will start the four year musical performance degree next September and is eager to start.

He said: ?The course will give me time to make sure I know the instrument inside and out and master the instrument. I will be able to go around the country, and possibly around the world, playing in some of the best brass bands.

?To be accepted is an honour and a privilege and I can?t wait to start. This offer had helped to set me in the right direction for the future.

?I have always enjoyed playing. I practice every day for an hour and perform in concerts with the Blackburn and Darwen Brass Band.

?I am also learning to play the trombone so that I can play in the orchestra for musicals in the pit.

?My parents are especially happy.?

Last year Daniel was named the most improved player of the year and bandsman of the year at the Blackburn and Darwen Brass Band?s annual awards.

Source: http://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/blackburn/10131382.Blackburn_euphonium_player_gains_prestigious_music_college_place/?ref=rss

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Best of Travelife 2012: A simple philosophy for living. Just for today.

Life is usually very good for me -- my best friend used to always say I lead "a charmed life." And just three days ago, another equally old friend from school days said exactly the same thing.

I have to agree. I'm luckier than a lot of people. I have to admit this, especially as I'm typing this out from the best suite in the entire Philippines, and, boy, is it pretty fabulous. More on this in a later entry.?

Scroll down to read more...

But back to my luck. Never have I been luckier than this year, perhaps, which was full of simply amazing moments in a Travelife --?and not a few of them were shared with good friends and people close to me.

I'm not one for overly sentimental or emotional writings, but let me share with you a simple and inspiring poem that I came across over 20 years ago.?

A SIMPLE PHILOSOPHY FOR LIFE

I kept this in my wallet for a very long time to remind me of how to live each day as well as possible and how to deal with the arrows of life when they came. I only finally threw it away when I realized I'd imbibed this philosophy so much that I didn't need the piece of paper in my wallet anymore.

If there's one philosophy that has kept me going throughout the year, it's certainly been this. And I intend to live this way into 2013 and basically forever.

Just for today, I will try to live through this day only,

and not tackle all of my life's problems at once.

I can do something for twelve hours

if I felt that I had to keep it up for a lifetime.

Just for today, I will be happy.

I will remember what Abraham Lincoln once said:

"most folks are as happy as they make up their minds to be."

Just for today, I will try to strengthen my mind.

I will study. I will learn something useful.

I will not be a mental loafer.

I will read something that requires effort, thought and concentration.

Just for today, I will adjust myself to what is,

and not try to adjust everything to my own desires.

I will take my "luck" as it comes,

Just for today, I will exercise my soul in three ways:

I will do somebody a good turn, and not get found out.

I will do at least two things I don't want to do--just for exercise.

I will not show anyone that my feelings are hurt.

They may be hurt, but today I will not show it.

Just for today, I will be agreeable.

I will look as well as I can,

dress becomingly, talk low, act courteously, and criticize not one bit.

I will not find fault with anything

and I will try not to improve or regulate anybody except myself.

Just for today, I will have a program.

I may not follow it exactly, but I will have it.

I will save myself from two pests: hurry and indecision.

Just for today, I will have a quiet half hour all by myself to relax.

During this half hour, I will try to get a better perspective of my life.

Just for today, I will be unafraid.

Especially I will not be afraid to enjoy what is beautiful,

to have faith in the good,

and to believe that as I give to the world,
so the world will give to me. Just for today. In a never-ending, and never-endingly eventful Travelife.

Source: http://www.travelifemagazine.com/2012/12/best-of-travelife-2012-simple.html

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