Why Sell in Other Markets and How Easy It Can Be with Website ...

There are 2.27 billion internet users worldwide and tens of millions of businesses online. But how can you add them as customers if you don?t speak their language?

Over half of all Google searches are made in a language other than English ? that?s a lot of customers to miss out on.

Internet World Stats reveal that the top ten languages used on the internet (to the nearest million) are:

1. English (565 million)
2. Chinese (510 million)
3. Spanish (165 million)
4. Japanese (99 million)
5. Portuguese (83 million)
6. German (75 million)
7. Arabic (65 million)
8. French (60 million)
9. Russian (60 million)
10. Korean (39 million)

Other languages from around the world make up another 350 million users.

This means that if your business only has a website in English, it is potentially reaching 565 million users from around the world. This may sound a lot, but in other words you are losing out on reaching an additional 1.5 billion internet users.

How the internet has changed

The growth of non-English languages on the internet is no surprise. Over a period of just a few years, the internet has changed the way we live; the way we communicate; and the way we do business. At one time there was a noticeable ?digital divide?, with users being disproportionately young, white, university-educated, English-speaking, middle/ upper class and male. Yet thanks to globalization and advances in internet access, gaps of gender, age, location and class have decreased.

International e-commerce growth predicted

Online shopping has become commonplace and is expected to grow rapidly in southern European markets over the next few years. Research by Forrester Research Inc. predicts that e-retail sales will grow at 11% per year in the UK and 12% in Germany to 2016, yet predicts even faster growth in countries where consumers have so far been slower to embrace online shopping ? with an annual predicted growth rate of 19% for Spain and 18% for Italy.

Barclay?s Capital predicts that China?s ecommerce market will more than triple over the next three years, with online sales reaching $420 billion by 2015. That?s 20% more than what the US?s (English speaking) ecommerce market is predicted to be worth in the same year. With an estimated 193 million online shoppers (more than any other country) Chinese website translation seems well worth considering.

Seize opportunities with website translation and marketing translation

Trading internationally and considering marketing translations is the ONLY way for businesses to benefit from this huge growth in internet usage. Businesses not planning to capture these foreign markets are really in line to miss out on some big opportunities.

Although many British companies are already recognizing the online opportunities available to their businesses by setting up Facebook pages, Twitter accounts and Ebay shops, it is simply not enough to supply marketing materials only in English. Businesses that are prepared to take prompt action with website translation and marketing translation are the ones that will really benefit from these technological advances.

Advertising and promoting your business online doesn?t have to be difficult, even in other languages.

Tips for Carrying Out Website Translations

Following are our top ten tips for carrying out website translations and marketing translations for international business success are:

1. Research your market

   Research is the first and probably most important stage in website translation, so it is important that you do it right. Use the internet to check out your online competition and measure demand for your product/ service in other countries. There is no point targeting a country where people don?t need your product or service! Use online tools such as Google analytics to see where your customers are from and use Google Market Finder to see how many people search for your keywords in other languages.

2. Make use of support

   UK Trade & Investment (UKTI) provides support to businesses wishing to expand overseas. UKTI has country reports on its website and can also help you to carry out in-depth research into potential markets. Consider the Overseas Market Introduction Service (OMIS) and the Export Marketing Research Scheme (EMRS).

3. Review your website content

   Before even considering translating your website into another language it is important that it is well written to start with. It should be written in simple, short sentences which can be easily translated. Avoid abbreviations, metaphors and terms which might not have an international equivalent and could result in mistranslation.

4. Conduct a brand check

   Check your brand and slogans to make sure there are no negative meanings in other languages. Don?t make the same mistake as Clairol who launched a product called ?Mist Stick? in Germany ? not realizing that in German the word ?mist? is slang for manure!

5. Translate your website

   Research commissioned by the European Commission found that 82% of consumers were less likely to buy goods online if the website was not in their native language. This shows that website translation is vital when targeting customers overseas. Additionally, website visitors stay for twice as long if a website is in their own language (Forrester Research) and customers who buy online will pay more for a product if they can buy it in their own language (Common Sense Advisory).

6. Consider your domain name

   If you are setting up your websites in multiple languages, you will need to think about how to separate the different version of your website. There are a number of options. You can buy the domain name for the specific country, i.e. www.website.de (for Germany). Another option is to use a general top level domain name such as www.website.com and then use a language specific sub-domain www.website.com/de. There are varying opinions on which is the best strategy in terms of SEO. It will depend very much on your objectives for building sales in the target market and overall strategy.

7. Hire a professional translation company

   Website translation and marketing translation requires the skills of a professional. While there might be online gadgets available to carry out instant and automatic website translations, these are unreliable and often produce website content that has incorrect words, grammar and punctuation ? guaranteed to put off potential overseas customers.

   You might be tempted to use an in-house staff member who has knowledge of the language you wish to translate your website into. However, only a professional? and human ? translator possesses the specialist knowledge required to carry out your website translation correctly. Professional translators, who work only into their mother tongue, possess specialist knowledge of the business context involved e.g. engineering, marketing, electronics, finance. The more specialized your sector, the more important it is that the translators have the necessary specialist knowledge to carry out your website translation accurately.

8. Use social media

   Social media has undeniably changed the way we communicate ? including the way we communicate with our customers. So when considering communicating with customers overseas and carry out marketing translations, it is crucial to consider social media as part of your international marketing strategy. While Facebook is clearly the favored social network around the world it is important to remember that groups of people in other countries use social networks differently. For example, in countries such as Japan, Iraq and India, less than 1% of the population uses Facebook, compared with around 42% of the UK population (2010 data).

   Carry out research into which social media platforms are popular in your target market and set up separate accounts for each language on each of them.

9. Carry out research into international search engine optimization (SEO)

   Don?t underestimate the importance of translating and localizing your keywords. However, it is not as simple as translating your keywords directly into other languages. The most effective keyword for a product or service in another market might not always be a direct translation of the English term; it could be a colloquialism, a ?nickname? for a product or a different word altogether.

   A professional language translation company which also provides keyword research and localization services can carry out research in your target market to help you select the most effective keywords for use in your website translation.

10. Respond to overseas enquiries!

    You?ve gone to all the trouble of carrying out research into potential overseas markets, comparing website translations services, conducting keyword research and so on. But how do you deal with the enquiries when they come in via your translated website?

    It might sound obvious but don?t forget that enquiries coming in via you foreign language website will not be in English! To take advantage of all the leads generated, it?s essential to have a good strategy. This could involve setting up a pre-recorded message in the foreign language or sending out an automated holding email in the correct language which gives you time to respond in more detail. You can then use an in-house translator or use a professional language translation company to translate the enquiries for you.

Image Credits

Source: http://www.instantshift.com/2012/10/13/why-sell-in-other-markets-and-how-easy-it-can-be-with-website-translation/

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Rental Property Managers Peter Konig Art

Oct14

Property Management Services Utah Owning real estate can be a lucrative and enjoyable experience as you monitor the growth and profits of your property over a long period of time. It can also be a very time-consuming process with money to collect, tenants to find, and materials to update and repair. If you have purchased real estate but are often involved in other projects, you may not have the time to manage your investment properly. Hire a reputable property management company to help alleviate this burden. Property managers can assist in the process of finding tenants, receiving payments, and communicating with the tenants of the property. We always work hard to provide the finest property management services you will find anywhere. We know that unique properties need unique procedures and we are flexible and innovative. Call us today for a great solution to your property management concerns.

Source: http://peterkonigart.com/rental-property-managers/

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Jeter breaks ankle in ALCS, out for postseason

Trainer Steve Donohue, second from left, and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, second from right, help Derek Jeter off the field after he injured himself during Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in New York. New York Yankees' Robinson Cano, left, and Eric Chavez stood by. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Trainer Steve Donohue, second from left, and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, second from right, help Derek Jeter off the field after he injured himself during Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in New York. New York Yankees' Robinson Cano, left, and Eric Chavez stood by. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter reacts after injuring himself in the 12th inning of Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers early Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in New York.(AP Photo/Paul Sancya )

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter injures himself fielding a ball in the 12th inning of Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers early Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

Trainer Steve Donohue, left, and New York Yankees manager Joe Girardi, right, help Derek Jeter off the field after he injured himself during Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya )

New York Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter reacts after injuring himself in the 12th inning of Game 1 of the American League championship series against the Detroit Tigers early Sunday, Oct. 14, 2012, in New York. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya )

NEW YORK (AP) ? Delirious only minutes earlier, fans at Yankee Stadium sat stunned in utter disbelief while they watched Derek Jeter being helped off the field, his left leg dangling.

Their worst fears were met, too. The durable captain broke his left ankle in the 12th inning of the AL championship series opener Saturday night and is out for the rest of the postseason.

"It's kind of crushing," outfielder Nick Swisher said.

Three innings after Raul Ibanez sent the 47,122 in Yankee Stadium into a frenzy with a tying two-run homer, the New York shortstop silenced the crowd when he went down and didn't get up after making a tumbling stop on Jhonny Peralta's grounder.

That feel-good moment was gone in a flash.

Jeter took four steps to his left for the sharp grounder, landing hard on his left foot, falling and wincing in pain as he flipped the ball toward second base. He then rolled onto his stomach, and a collective gasp was heard when the player who symbolizes championship baseball didn't get up.

Jeter remained on his side, rolling slightly, as trainer Steve Donahue and manager Joe Girardi checked him out. He was helped up, and he put an arm around Girardi and Donahue. They coaxed him off the field, with Jeter not moving his left leg as chants of "Derek Jeter!" rang out.

"You can see the disappointment in his face," Girardi said after the 6-4 loss.

A teammate on three World Series championship teams, Girardi wanted to carry Jeter off the field but he would have none of it ? not the player who has always been reluctant to sit and prides himself on playing through pain.

"He said, 'No, do not carry me.' That is the kind of guy he is," Girardi said.

Girardi said the injury won't jeopardize Jeter's career. But the recovery will be about three months.

Now if the Yankees are going to go deep in the postseason, they'll have to do it without the five-time World Series champion for the first time in 16 years.

Tigers outfielder Delmon Young found it difficult to watch one the game's greats leaving the field in the manner Jeter did.

"He is an idol for many baseball players," Young said.

Jeter has been a constant in the Yankees' lineup since he was Rookie of the Year in 1996. In fact, the 2000 World Series MVP has played in all 157 of New York's postseason games since then.

That's over now.

"I can't tell you how much I appreciate his toughness and his grit," Girardi said. "It's, to me, a great example for everyone. And I am not just talking about athletes, I am just talking about everyone that goes through struggles in life or goes through pain in life."

Already missing career saves leader Mariano Rivera from those five championship teams since early May because he tore a ligament in his knee shagging flyballs, the Yankees will activate Eduardo Nunez before Game 2 of the series Sunday. Jayson Nix is expected to start at shortstop.

"It's a tough loss, but it's not going to be something that we're going to, you know, let it derail us," general manager Brian Cashman said. "But it's tough to lose, obviously, any important player, and Derek's obviously been as important as anybody. But now he's been taken out, so Nix has got to go in there and we've got a lot of confidence in Nix."

Jeter was the designated hitter in Game 4 of the AL division series after fouling a ball off the same foot the previous night and had to come out after the eighth inning. It was the first time he didn't start a playoff game at shortstop, as Nix got the nod in his place.

"I saw him flip the ball to Robbie (Cano), and you figure he's going to get back up," Swisher said. "When he didn't was when I knew something was wrong and you know he wanted to get up and get off the field as quickly as he possibly could."

Written off as an aging star after slumping in 2010, Jeter struggled to adapt to a no-stride swing in '11 before going on the disabled list for only the fifth time in his 17 full seasons in the big leagues with a calf injury. He returned revitalized, getting his 3,000th hit and finishing strong.

This year, Jeter had a remarkable season for a 38-year-old, batting .316 with a league-leading 216 hits. He carried that over to the postseason, hitting .364 against the Orioles.

Earlier Saturday, Jeter became the first player in baseball history to reach 200 hits in the postseason with a single in the second off Doug Fister. He was left stranded, though, a common problem for the Yankees these playoffs.

With Alex Rodriguez benched, and Robinson Cano, Curtis Granderson and Swisher in playoff funks, Jeter was one of the few constants ? getting help from late-game guru Ibanez ? in the Yankees' lineup.

"You've got to come back," Ibanez said. "He's obviously a great player and a huge part of the team and a captain. But, at the same time, you try to move forward, fight and come back, and the guys will have to step up."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/3d281c11a96b4ad082fe88aa0db04305/Article_2012-10-14-ALCS-Yankees-Jeter%20Injured/id-e7b89620d4e643fe82fe20ac642feb93

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Mixing Treatments of Physical Therapy and ... - NC BEA Health Blog

Sometimes the best solution to chronic pain is to get treatment from a variety of non-traditional care providers. Such providers may include chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, or physical therapy. Healthcare centers, known as pain relief centers, may be able to help you better than your general practitioner by offering tailored consultations with all these different therapists. If you seek a pain relief center chattanooga tn then you might end up seeing both a physical therapist and a massage therapist. These types of treatment compliment each other because massage therapy loosens muscles while physical therapy stretches and strengthens muscles. Ask a pain relief center doctor to help you decide your course of treatment.

This entry was posted on Saturday, October 13th, 2012 at 9:05 am and is filed under Health and Fitness. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

Source: http://www.ncbea.net/health-and-fitness/mixing-treatments-of-physical-therapy-and-massage/

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Gucci Mane Disses Young Jeezy In ?Truth (Not a Jeezy Diss - Idolator

After years of exchanging disses, Gucci Mane feels hard-pressed to settle the score with fellow Atlanta rapper Young Jeezy. Despite having just wrapped his new mixtape (Trap God, out October 17), Gucci still felt inspired enough to record ?Truth (Not a Jeezy Diss)? ? in sum, a rehashing of details fit for Degrassi: The Next Generation, including fights over a girl?and sightings at a birthday party. Check out ?Truth? after the jump:

Gucci Mane, ?Truth (Not a Jeezy Diss)?

According to Young Jeezy however, ?Truth? may not be revealing enough. After offering his vague recollections of meeting Rick Ross at the BET Hip Hop Awards, Young Jeezy revealed that Gucci Mane apparently called a few times about recording songs together ? an offer that the Snowman refused. ?I mean, I feel like everybody know that boy retarded, nobody take him seriously,? Young Jeezy told Power 106. ?He got an ice cream cone on his face.?

On Twitter, Gucci even invited Young Jeezy to his Trap God release party, then cast out a $100,000 bet: ?I can and will beat Jeezy ass #JUSTTRUTHS.? The goofiness of Gucci?s Twitter invitation, ?Truth? and Jeezy?s statements makes it hard to believe that seven years ago, the Gucci-Jeezy beef may have had fatal consequences. The last time bets were placed ? a $10,000 bounty for a Gucci Mane pendant, as cast out in ?Stay Strapped? ? Gucci shot and killed one of the five assailants who allegedly took to Young Jeezy?s challenge. Gucci maintained that he was acting in self-defense and the murder charges were dropped.

What do you think of Gucci Mane?s ?Truth?? Let us know in the comments, or on Facebook and Twitter.

Source: http://idolator.com/7144842/gucci-mane-young-jeezy-truth

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Hot Real Estate Investment News This Week 2012-10-13

All the Real Estate News That?s Fit to RE-Print?

Welcome to our weekly edition of?Hot Real Estate Investment News.

We?re getting more good news this week for the real estate market.

?The wave of foreclosures hitting the nation?s housing market has been much less severe than anticipated, with foreclosure filings at their lowest level in five years last month?.?

Current residential shadow inventory has dropped 10 percent from a year ago.

Here are the real estate investing related news items that caught our attention this past week. We hope they help you stay up-to-date with your real estate investment strategies and inspire some profitable real estate deals for you.

"The shadow inventory that previously darkened industry outlook is beginning to fade."

CoreLogic^? reported on Tuesday that the current residential shadow inventory as of July 2012 fell to 2.3 million units, representing a supply of six months.

This is a 10.2 percent drop from July 2011, when shadow inventory stood at 2.6 million units, which is approximately the same level the country was experiencing in March 2009.

The full Q2 2012 Shadow Inventory Report with additional charts and roll rate information is available here.

See also:

Is the Industry Seeing Sunlight Break Through the Shadows?

?The shadow inventory that previously darkened industry outlook is beginning to fade. In fact, we may soon begin to see the sunlight on the horizon.?

Foreclosure activity is down 16 percent from a year ago.

Monthly Activity at Lowest Level Since July 2007

On Thursday, RealtyTrac?? released its U.S. Foreclosure Market Report? for September and the third quarter of 2012, which shows foreclosure filings ? default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions ? were reported on 180,427 U.S. properties in September, a decrease of 7 percent from the previous month and down 16 percent from September 2011.

September?s total was the lowest U.S. total since July 2007.

See Also:

Foreclosures at Five Year Low

?Foreclosure filings were reported on 531,576 U.S. properties during the quarter, a decrease of 5 percent from the second quarter and a decrease of 13 percent from the third quarter of 2011 ? the ninth consecutive quarter with an annual decrease in foreclosure activity. ?

Foreclosures fall to 5-year low

?The wave of foreclosures hitting the nation?s housing market has been much less severe than anticipated, with foreclosure filings at their lowest level in five years last month?.?

Source: http://www.creonline.com/blog/hot-real-estate-investment-news-this-week-2012-10-13/

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Klinsmann 'not happy' despite US win

Associated Press Sports

updated 2:26 a.m. ET Oct. 13, 2012

ST. JOHN'S, Antigua (AP) - Eddie Johnson rewarded his coach's faith in him - twice.

In his first game back with the U.S. national team, Johnson scored a pair of goals Friday night, including the winner in second-half injury time, lifting the United States to the verge of advancing in World Cup qualifying with a nervous 2-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda.

"We are not happy with what we saw, but we expected a very difficult challenge and they gave us that challenge and it came down to the wire," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "I'm happy for Eddie, getting this moment back in the team. He was all excited the last couple of days."

If the Americans win or draw with Guatemala on Tuesday night in Kansas City, Kan., they would move into the six-nation final round of CONCACAF qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. The U.S. (3-1-1) has 10 points and so does Guatemala after a 2-1 win over Jamaica (2-2-1), which has seven points. The top two teams in the group advance.

Johnson connected on headers in the 20th minute and then in the dying moments in his first game for the U.S. team in two years. The 28-year-old forward was added to the squad by Klinsmann, ostensibly replacing the disappointing Jozy Altidore, and the move paid off.

"It was a lot of thinking before the second goal. It was 1-1 and I remember the Olympic team was in a (similar) situation," Johnson said. "At the end of the day, you don't want to be a part of a team that didn't qualify for a World Cup."

Johnson was on the U.S. roster for the 2006 World Cup under coach Bruce Arena, but was making his first appearance for the national squad since a May 2010 exhibition against the Czech Republic. His previous goals for the national team came in 2008 in an 8-0 romp over Barbados.

"We see a player that is extremely proud to be back in this group," Klinsmann said. "We see a player that has matured a lot and knows now that he has a point to prove, he gets that opportunity and knows that maybe at his age there might not be that many opportunities coming and he takes that one similar to Herculez Gomez how he took his chance in May and June in these games and put himself back into that team."

Until Johnson's second goal, the Americans struggled, particularly with the wind in their face on the wet cricket pitch at Sir Vivian Richards Stadium. The field was exceptionally tight, too, hindering the Americans' attack.

The wind picked up in the second half, and the footing remained tricky. Gomez crashed into goalkeeper Molvin James in the 49th and James needed several moments before he returned to his feet, holding his chest and left shoulder.

Taking advantage of that wind, the Antiguans several times barely missed shots wide. But the best scoring opportunities in the late going were by Sacha Kljestan in the 81st and Michael Bradley in the 86th before Johnson pounced.

Kljestan's hard right-footed shot was punched away by James, and then he got his hands on Bradley's header. Soon after, things got rough and ragged, with Bradley challenging several opponents following a hard tackle by George Dublin, who undercut him.

Then Johnson got free in the box and smartly headed Gordon's cross back to his right past the sprawling James. Gordon was making his first international appearance.

The Americans broke through in the 20th minute after controlling much of the early play. Off a corner kick, Graham Zusi took the ball on right wing, fed Bradley and got a return pass as he curled outside the penalty area. Zusi's left-footed cross was met perfectly by Johnson, who headed the ball down, making it skid off the turf past James.

But Antigua's speed began to pay off and, as has been their tendency throughout qualifying, the Americans got lax on defense. A quick burst by Peter Byers got him free in the area on right wing and when center back Clarence Goodson fell, Byers tapped the ball to an uncovered Blackstock for the equalizer.

"We had our chances and could have won the game," Antigua and Barbuda coach Tom Curtis said. "I don't think it went wrong, I think we lapsed for 10 seconds and I'm proud of the guys for their performance against a team full of world-class players."

As rain intensified late in the first half, the United States again took charge of possession, but couldn't connect. Bradley was just off-target with a 25-yard blast in the 40th minute, his shot glancing off the right goalpost. The hosts then challenged Howard with a quick counterattack, but the veteran keeper caught the shot from Byers.

Blackstock shot wide in the final seconds of the half with the Americans off-balance in their end.

"It was ugly, real ugly," U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra said. "It's three points and sometimes in CONCACAF it's like this, so on Tuesday night we'll go out there on the front foot and get a win hopefully."

NOTES: Johnson now is tied for second-most goals for the U.S. in qualifying games with Brian McBride. ... Substitute midfielder Jermaine Jones drew a yellow card for a hand ball and is suspended for the Guatemala match. ... Bradley returned to the lineup after missing the prior two qualifiers with a muscle injury. ... This was the first time Antigua and Barbuda hosted the U.S.

? 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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More news

US finds hero in win over Antigua

PST: Not even the most ardent Eddie Johnson fan would have predicted he would be the man to pull the U.S. national team back from its World Cup qualifying ledge. But he scored both goals in the 2-1 victory over Antigua and Barbuda.

Source: http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/49398941/ns/sports-soccer/

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Today in History

Please check the URL for proper spelling and capitalization. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Yahoo!, try visiting the Yahoo! homepage or look through a list of Yahoo!'s online services.

Please try Yahoo Help Central if you need more assistance.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/today-history-050206767.html

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Canada dollar strong due to economy: Flaherty

TOKYO (Reuters) - The appreciation of the Canadian dollar reflects the strength of Canada's economy and commodity markets, the country's finance minister said on Saturday, indicating comfort with the currency's value.

Speaking on the sidelines of the IMF-World Bank meetings in Tokyo, Jim Flaherty suggested the Canadian dollar would remain in its current trading range against the U.S. dollar for some time.

The Canadian dollar recently hit a 13-month high against the greenback and data shows Canadian exports are falling.

"I think most Canadian business people are accepting that the dollar will be in the range it is for a while and relatively strong vis-?-vis the U.S. dollar," Flaherty told Reuters. "It is a reflection of the commodities markets; it's a reflection of the fact that we still have some strength in the Canadian economy."

The Canadian currency closed at C$0.9793 versus the U.S. dollar, or $1.0211, down slightly from Thursday.

Flaherty said a review of a $15.1 billion Chinese takeover bid for Canada's oil and gas explorer Nexen Inc was purposefully rigorous to protect Canada's interests.

"It matters not just for this transaction but for other potential transactions down the road -- be it with China or someone else," he said when asked whether the review could scare off Beijing if it believed its investment was not welcome.

The Canadian government this week extended the review of the bid by 30 days to November 11. Canada, home to the world's third-largest proven oil reserves, is grappling with concerns that approval of the deal could spark a flurry of mega-takeovers of Canadian energy companies.

(Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Tim Ahmann)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/canada-dollar-reflects-strength-economy-flaherty-064013500--finance.html

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Fundation Friday - Become Beauty Firm + Tone Mineral Foundation

Fundation Friday - Become Beauty Firm + Tone Mineral Foundation - Review, Pictures, Swatches

Welcome back to Foundation Friday. ?This week I bring you a foundation from Down Under?.No You SICK-O's not that. I mean Australia.

Become Beauty has a huge range of products including skin care and makeup. ?They have a few different lines of skin care, but the Makeup line is limited, simple and straightforward. ?I was sent a tube of the Firm + Tone Mineral Foundation. ?This is a multi-purpose foundation with 30 SPF UVB/UVA protection. It provides translucent coverage in a universal shade (more on that in a second), it helps protect, firm and tone the skin with anti-aging ingredients. The foundation contains?Zinc and Titanium, natural sunscreens,?DMAE?Extract which is an antioxidant and soothes the skin,?Mica, which reduces the appearance of lines and silica which gives a flawless look to the coverage.

Guess what. ?My skin color was not in that "universal" shade range. ?But I soldiered on and tested it, so I could at least tell you how it works. I actually wore it for 2 straight days while I was home on the weekend. (I don't really care if someone at the grocery store sees me with foundation that doesn't match my skin tone.) Since my weekends consist of doing nothing but indulging Darthypie and catching up on lost sleep I was happy to test this out. ?As I said I wore this foundation for two days and getting it to look natural on my pale complexion was a bit of a challenge, but I figured out, on day 2, that if I applied it to the middle of my face, blended out and then used another BB cream on the outside of my face and blend inwards, this foundation could look pretty decent.

I know what you are thinking. ?"Wait a second. How can you review a product after only 2 days of use. ?Don't you normally take weeks to test a product?" ?Yes. I do normally take weeks to test a product. ?I'll tell you why I only took 2 days in just a moment. ?But first...

You all are probably wondering about the color. ?So here it is.


Yup. It's pretty dark and orangey/yellow for me. ?I think darker skin tones would benefit from this much more than I did. ?I do not like that this foundation only comes in one color. ?That's just not cool.

As for how it holds up. Actually quite nicely. ?Applied all over my face with primer on day one the finish was slightly matte and natural looking (despite the color) ?My skin did seem slightly toned and firmer when I was wearing this?but I stress that it was a slight improvement. ?The foundation did a good job of covering up my pores and not settling into fine lines. ?It looked pretty Awesome actually, despite the poor color match. It seemed to fade on my oily skin after 4-5 hours, but that is to be expected with any foundation touted as a translucent finish. ?By the time I figured out how to apply it with a BB cream closer to my skin tone I looked pretty amazing. ?I was ready to recommend this foundation for darker skin tones right away.

But then it happened. ?I started to break out. ?I started to break out in painful cystic like acne in areas of my face that never break out. ?It was then I FINALLY looked at the ingredients and I saw that one word that strikes dread into my cold black heart. ?Cyclopentasiloxane. Yup. That dreaded silicone that is in countless makeup products. ?It's not typical to react the way I do to?Cyclopentasiloxane, but it is possible. ?Yup. ?This is one of the few silicones that makes me break out in huge hurty cystic acne. ?It sucks, because some products that are really awesome contain this ingredient. ?But, like I said, my reaction is not typical and most people can, and are, currently wearing this silicone on a daily basis with no issues what so ever. ?And that is why I didn't test this foundation for more than 2 days.

So do you NEED this? ?I know I certainly do not. ?You might need this. ?If you don't have issues with?Cyclopentasiloxane and you aren't?any lighter than a MAC NC20 or Darker than a MAC NC35. ?(A MAC NC40 might be able to make this work.) this could work for you. That's a pretty narrow window of skin tones if you ask me but the majority of the US falls into this range. ? Perhaps as Become Beauty expands they will also expand their range of colors for the Firm + Tone Mineral Foundation. ?That way women of color and non color (like myself) can also benefit from this product. ?However, I will never benefit from it as long as?Cyclopentasiloxane is in it. ?It's not fair to condemn a product just because?Cyclopentasiloxane is the main ingredient. I get that. I know my reaction is not typical. ?

So what am I going to do with a tube of Mineral foundation that is skin suicide for me? ?I'm going to give it to my buddy that doesn't have this reaction to?Cyclopentasiloxane and has much darker skin than I do. ?But what about you dear reader? ?Perhaps you too are yearning for this foundation because you have the ideal skin coloring and no issues with?Cyclopentasiloxane. ?Just because I personally didn't like a product for non typical skin reaction I experienced doesn't mean that YOU won't like it. ?I get that we are all special snow flakes and that everyone is different. ?That's why I agreed to hold a giveaway!

The generous people at Become have not only sent me a tube of the Firm + Tone Mineral Foundation to review, but they gave given me one to give away as well! ?Sorry tho, this is open to US residents only. ?Just enter using the rafflecopter widget below. ?You can earn extra entries by liking me on Facebook, following me on Twitter, visiting the Become Beauty website, and more.

Good luck to everyone entering!

Ingredients:
Water, Zinc Oxide, Cyclopentasiloxane, Polyglyceryl-3 Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Hexyl Triethoxysilylethyl Polydimethylsiloxyethyl Dimethicone, Titanium Dioxide, Aluminum Hydroxide, Stearic Acid, Butylene Glycol, Glyceryl Stearate, PEG 100 Stearate, Glycerin, Mica, Cyclohexasiloxane, Dimethicone, Sorbitan Stearate, Silica, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Vanilla Planifolia Fruit Extract, Brassica Campestris, Aleurites Fordi Oil Copolymer, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Polyacrylamide, C 13-14 Isoparafin, Laureth-7, Lecithin, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Fruit Extract, Aniba Rosaeodora (Rosewood) Wood Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia (Lime) Peel Extract, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Extract, Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Peel Extract, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Glycolic Acid, Dimethyl MEA, Xanthan Gum, Phenoxyethanol, Caprylyl Glycol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hexylene Glycol, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Disodium EDTA, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice Powder, Citric Acid, Iron Oxides (CI 77491, CI 77499, CI77492)


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Source: http://www.pinksith.com/2012/10/fundation-friday-become-beauty-firm.html

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ASUS Padfone 2 images and video leak out ahead of official announcement

ASUS has already sent out the invites for their October 16th event where they're expected to fully announce Padfone 2 in addition to the purported specs having already been leaked. Now, for those of you who simply couldn't wait to see the Padfone successor, we're now getting a look at the total package through some leaked images and an early video.

Keeping in line with the original Padfone experience, the handset is separate from the tablet and on it's own actually looks pretty nice. Needless to say, our main question of pricing of the tablet companion devices remains unanswered but at least now, we know what it should end up looking like. You can jump below to check out the video and gallery of images.

Source: @evleaks, BloombergUTV

read more

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/androidcentral/~3/qZXfnsWuJTo/story01.htm

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Are teens ditching Facebook for Twitter? [infographic]

Who is the ?Prom King? when it comes to Social Media? for teens? Twitter or Facebook? One of MethodShop?s readers named Michael Johnson sent us this note:

?I thought MethodShop might find this interesting. I was talking to my 16-year-old last night and she said her high school friends are abandoning Facebook and moving to Twitter. This is surprising because last year Twitter was considered ?lame? by her friends but now it?s the cool way to communicate. Is this a trend or just a random occurrence at one high school??

Excellent question. Is increased Twitter use a growing trend with teens? Mobile has been a major driver for Twitter, and who is on their phone more than a teenager? Obviously Facebook is available on mobile too, but the simple text/IM style of Twitter is probably appealing to teens. Justin Bieber?s popularity of Twitter is also another indicator of teen adoption of Twitter. He currently has 28M+ fans.

And there?s no denying that teens love to text message. A recent infographic by OnlineSchools.com, claims that the average teens sends an?astonishing?3,417 text message every month. In case you?re wondering, that breaks down to 7 text messages per waking hour.

Here?s some more data to think about. According to this Pew Research Center study released back in 2009, teenagers are the second biggest age group using Social Media and half of all Twitter users access the service using a cell phone.

Is Twitter benefiting from teen?s love for text messaging and mobile communication? What social network do you think teens prefer: Twitter or Facebook? Leave a comment below.

Source: http://www.methodshop.com/2012/10/facebook-vs-twitter.shtml

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Doll House Adventure ?Savannah's Story by Jodi Stone ...

Good Day Folk,

http://www.amazon.com/Savannahs-Story-Jodi-Stone/dp/0988270730/ref=sr_1_4?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1350055795&sr=1-4&keywords=jodi+stone

I have been a huge fan of Jodi Stone?s sweet stories for a couple of years now. We met at a different publisher. And now are together again at Anchor Group Publishing.I love the Stone sisters adventures.

I have compared her books to Pinkalicious series. I think Jodi?s stories are better and more entertaining and always has a subtle life lesson.

In Savannah?s Story: Savannah is bored? and goes to her dollhouse and makes a wish.? All of a sudden she is playing inside the doll house and having a wonderful time. How many

of us wanted to play in our doll houses.

I see it with my own girls. They play for hours with their dollhouses. I listen to their imaginations while they play. What wonderful fun they have in their doll houses. And like the story it is time to go home and be

with the family and have fun with them too. My girls love Jodi?s illustrations and her stories. Bravo my friend you have done it again. Yes we must always remember to believe in magic it is all around us and is

what makes dreams come true.

Savanah?s Story is a 5 star read. If you have a little girl in your house they would love this story.

We are going to have some fun at Jodi Stone?s Savannah?s Story Launch Party starting at 6pm eastern time come join us.

https://www.facebook.com/events/430257833698525/

You can keep up with Jodi Stone on FB, at https://www.facebook.com/JodiStone.ChildrensBookAuthor

and other Lil Anchor books at https://www.facebook.com/LilAnchors

Check out Anchor Group Publishing for other titles they publish at https://www.facebook.com/anchorgrouppublishing?ref=ts&fref=ts

Enjoy your adventures, WB

Like this:

Be the first to like this.

Source: http://wendysbookcase.com/2012/10/12/doll-house-adventure-savanahs-story-by-jodi-stone/

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NJ Transit Train Accident Leaves Man Injured in Rahway | Personal ...

Browse >
Home / / NJ Transit Train Accident Lea... October 11, 2012 (AmericanInjuryNews.com - Press Release)

New Source: JusticeNewsFlash.com
10/07/2012 // WPB, FL, USA // Injury Lawyers News // Nicole Howley // (press release)

Rahway, N.J. ? One person was injured after a New Jersey Transit train hit a car in Rahway on Friday, September 28, 2012. The train accident occurred around noon, which effected train traffic along NJ Transit?s Northeast Corridor, NJ.com reports.

According to reports, the New York-bound 11:01 train from Trenton hit a gray passenger sedan that was on the railroad tracks, about one mile south of the Rahway train station.

It is unknown at this time how the car got on the railroad tracks. The tracks are elevated about 20 feet at the Rahway interlocking.

The front end of the vehicle sustained heavy damage, and left the driver with minor injuries.

The driver, who was only identified as an adult male, was taken to University Hospital for treatment of his injuries.

None of the 900 passengers on the train were injured.

Investigations are underway.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for New Jersey train accident lawyers.

Media Information:

Address:
Phone: 561-247-1646
Url: West Palm Beach Personal Injury Lawyer News News Source: JusticeNewsFlash.com - Press Release Distribution

No tag for this post. Online Press Release Personal injury lawyers - AmericanInjuryLawyers.com

Source: http://www.americaninjurynews.com/2012/10/11/NJ-Transit-Train-Accident-Leaves-Man-Injured-in-Rahway_201210117313.html

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Annan: Kenya violence, militias 'of great concern'

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International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc.(IBTCI) Jobs ...

International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc.(IBTCI) Jobs vacancy in Kenya 2012

Communication & Evaluation Officer

IBTCI (International Business & Technical Consultants, Inc.) is seeking a Kenyan Communication & Evaluation Officer to play a central role in the day-to-day communication and Monitoring & Evaluation (M&E) needs of tthe Monitoring & Evaluation Program for Somalia (MEPS)

The position requires:

• Kenyan citizenship
• Very strong written English language skills, feeling at ease with the writing of succinct, informative and highly readable reports, bulletins, debriefs?
• Strong inter-personal and interview skills
• University degree and very strong IT skills
• Somali speaker

Desirable but not required

• Local knowledge of the Somalia language and/or experience working in Somalia
• Journalism, report-writing and multi-media experience
• Experience working in a similar program, focused exclusively on M&E

Applications (cover letter with CVs) should be sent via e-mail to iduale@ibtci.com. Only candidates being actively considered for employment will be contacted.

There is an immediate vacancy, so interested individuals are encouraged to apply promptly.

Source: http://www.jobsinkenya254.com/2012/10/11/international-business-technical-consultants-inc-ibtci-jobs-vacancy-in-kenya-2012/

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Small Business Internet promotion?5 Hot Tips | Marketing

If you?ve got reached happens of considering taking an internet marketing course for ones business, congratulations! You will possess without doubt realized, a strong online presence is essential for the future increase of your online business. On this era of great change, a web based marketing course will direct and guide your small business to future success, growth and prosperity.

Online marketing courses is available using the online search engines.There are numerous viewpoints with regards to which online marketing strategy to embrace. Strategies honest safe music downloads will probably be instrumental to assist you accomplish your goals.

I strongly propose that you place your goals greater than at any time, for the simple reason why, conventional marketing techniques pale as opposed low-priced the traffic they generate to your traffic the world wide web can generate. These conventional strategies contained the media connected with TV advertising,Newspapers and Radio. Simply because the shop bought which the internet can reach far exceeds these three markets combined.

An online marketing course that may achieve spectacular results should have most, it not exclusively in the following five elements. Taking into consideration that any kind of these four elements alone could explode the traffic numbers visiting your website and skyrocketing the sales to new heights.

1. The very first element should consider and demonstrate what?s so great about getting traffic from the local TV news station?s website. Believe it or not it is quite possible to acquire their online traffic to visit your website.

2. Another element concerns search engine marketing (SEO); you can find nine seo steps that a majority of business owners are not familiar with. These unique strategies will catapult your web site to the top level with the search engines like, Google and bing for starters.

3. Another element will include methods which will help you get double listings on the net. This would double your odds of getting that traffic which can be most preferred.

4. The fourth element I suggest, should educate you on learn to get extra exposure around the ?Google Local? business listings. Excuses have you employed specific searches for your ?service + city? kind of business, in case you have, you?ll have observed a small number of businesses will show up prominently?

5. The 5th element that really must be included would have to become the interactive websites of Facebook,Myspace and Twitter. It is unbelievable the amount web traffic these sites attract. It is imperative that this internet website marketing course can display you ways to capture as much of the enormous traffic that these sites generate.

Source: http://www.coolyourmyspace.com/myspace-marketing/small-business-internet-promotion-5-hot-tips.html

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WebiMax Partners with HelpAsh.org, Victims of the Aurora, CO ...

MOUNT LAUREL, NJ (OCT. 2, 2012) ? Kenneth Wisnefski, founder and CEO of WebiMax, proudly announced today that the nation?s leading online marketing agency has partnered with HelpAsh.org, a website dedicated to Ashley Moser and Veronica Moser-Sullivan, victims of the Aurora, Colorado shooting tragedy that took place in July.

Tragically, on July 20, 2012, Veronica?s life was cut short when a gunman entered a movie theater and opened fire. She was only 6 years old.? Ashley, Veronica?s mother, sustained multiple gunshot wounds and is still in a medical facility recovering.? Ashley (25 years old), faces a long road to recovery and additionally faces significant mounting medical bills. HelpAsh.org was launched to provide online resources, including a fundraising form, to raise awareness for Ashley and secure donations toward helping her overcome this challenging time.

?WebiMax is honored to partner with HelpAsh.org to help Ashley Moser and her family overcome this difficult time,? stated Wisnefski.? ?We are fully committed to helping Ashley in any way possible by leveraging our award-winning online marketing services, including search engine optimization, website design and development, social media marketing, and public relations services, to increase their website traffic and raise visibility of their fundraising efforts.?

While Ashley is still recovering in a Colorado-based medical facility and unavailable for comments, family spokespersons Kindle Fahlenkamp-Morell and Heather Dearman, indicate Ashley is extremely appreciative of the care and support she has received.

?Ashley is an incredibly strong woman,? states Fahlenkamp-Morell.? ?She is fortunate to have a large and strong family support system, and we want to do whatever we can to minimize the challenges she now faces.?

The family has set a goal of raising $300,000 for Ashley through HelpAsh.org by the end of 2012.? Current fundraising efforts include local events and an online donations form to help achieve this goal.? All of the donations (100%) will go directly to Ashley Moser and helping her overcome medical expenses and prepare for her future. WebiMax is purely donating their online marketing services at no cost and will not collect any of the fundraising dollars whatsoever.

?We are proud to support Ashley and be by her side as she conquers this hurdle,? states Dearman.? ?We are relying on the generosity of others including their thoughts and prayers to overcome this tragedy and work towards an independent future with new goals.?

About HelpAsh.org.

HelpAsh.org was recently launched by Ashley?s cousins as an online resource and fundraising website for Ashley Moser and Veronica Moser-Sullivan, victims of the Aurora theater shooting in Aurora, CO on July 20, 2012.? Tragically, Veronica?s life was cut short when a gunman entered a movie theater and opened fire. She was only 6 years old.? Ashley is currently in a medical facility recovering from the multiple gunshot wounds she sustained during the tragedy. Visit http://www.helpash.org/ for more information.

About WebiMax.

Led by serial web entrepreneur Kenneth Wisnefski, WebiMax has become the leader in online marketing services, including a focus on Search Engine Optimization, Search Engine Marketing, Paid Search and PPC, Website Design and Development, Reputation Management, and more. The company was named to the 2012 Inc. 500 (No. 37 overall) and was also selected as one of America?s Most Promising Companies (2011) by Forbes Magazine (No. 30 overall).? The company employs over 125 personnel in 12 offices including 8 U.S. based, and 4 International. Visit http://www.webimax.com/ for more information.

Source: http://www.webimax.com/blog/webimax/webimax-partners-with-helpash-org-victims-of-the-aurora-co-shooting

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HBT: Don't blame Strasburg absence for Nats' flops

It wasn?t supposed to be like this. The Nationals had the best record in baseball and the best rotation heading into the postseason. But now, after consecutive awful outings by the pitching staff, the Cards lead the Nats 2-1 in this best of five series. They lost 8-0 today.

Edwin Jackson was shaky out of the chute, and gave up four runs on eight hits. He settled down a bit, but as he made way for the bullpen, the fire began to rage again, and before it was all done the Cards had hung eight on the Nats. Pete Kozma?s three-run homer in the second was the big blow, but the Cardinals ended up needing only one run to secure the win.

The hittability of Nats pitchers led broadcasters Bob Costas and Jim Kaat to note the absence of Stephen Strasburg. And to note that his absence will turn into serious heat on Mike Rizzo and the Nats brass should Washington go on to lose this series. ?I think they?re right about that. ?And indeed, anyone who has read this blog over the past few months knows that I disagreed with the Nats shutting down Strasburg too. But let me say this: the way the Nats are losing this series shouldn?t bring any more heat on Rizzo for the Strasburg shutdown than he?s otherwise getting.

The Nats won Game 1 with Gio Gonzalez. They lost Games 2 and 3 due to poor outings from Jordan Zimmermann and Edwin Jackson. Guess what: barring a sweep, all three of those pitchers would have gotten starts in the NLDS. They needed Jackson and Zimmermann to pitch well even if Strasburg was there. They didn?t. The biggest difference will be seen in Game 4 when Ross Detwiler gets the nod, but his presence has yet to damage Washington?s chances.

Beyond the poor outings from Zimmermann and Jackson, the real culprit here has been the Nationals??somnambulistic offense. ?Washington was shut out today, leaving scads of runners on base ? I counted 11. On Monday they were down 7-1 before the bats woke up. Even in the win on Saturday they scored only three. You can?t give up 22 runs in three games and expect good things, but you gotta score some runs yourself too, you know.

So no, I?m not changing my mind about the Stephen Strasburg shutdown. I still think it?s a bad call to willingly deprive yourself of your best pitcher entering a playoff series. And if the difference in this series ends up being one solid pitching performance, I?ll be willing to entertain the notion that Strasburg was as critical as people will soon be saying. ?But, as it is right now, let?s not pretend that Stephen Strasburg?s absence is the difference here. ?The Nats are in serious trouble, and it is because of a total team failure, not because of some front office decision.

Oh, it also has a lot to do with the fact that the Cardinals ? who just so happen to be the defending World Series champions ? are a good baseball team who have gotten strong performances from just about everyone. Let us not lose sight of that when everyone rushes to blame the outcome of this series on the absence of Stephen Strasburg.

Source: http://hardballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/10/10/the-nats-are-on-the-brink-but-lets-not-blame-the-absence-of-stephen-strasburg/related/

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Wing Commander creator Chris Roberts returns to gaming with Star ...

The creator of the legendary?Wing Commander sci-fi spaceship combat games is getting back into the gaming cockpit today with the announcement of Chris Roberts??new massively multiplayer online game, Star Citizen. This is an extremely ambitious online game that aims to bring back the glory days of sci-fi space combat simulations in a persistent online world. The game?s art work and demo show that the 3D graphics animations are as eye-popping as a movie. You can, for instance, check out every inch of a kilometer-long battle carrier without finding obvious visual flaws.

?I want to bring space games back,? said Roberts, the chief creative officer at Cloud Imperium Games, in an interview with GamesBeat. ?The space sims just aren?t happening anymore. This is a spiritual successor to games like Wing Commander and Privateer,? which is another Roberts creation.

Roberts teased the game on his web site, Roberts Space Industries, after hackers discovered the site by accident. Now that I?ve seen a demo of Star Citizen, it reminds me how much I miss those epic space battles where you save the human race from the evil aliens. Roberts bets that the future is all about outstanding movie-like game experiences, not casual social networking games. That?s a bet that only someone with decades of game-making experience can make with any degree of confidence.

Reaching back to the past

Roberts (pictured above) is unveiling the game at the GDC Online conference today in Austin, Texas. He?s used to swinging for the fences. He started in games at Origin Systems, the Austin game studio that Electronic Arts later bought. He became a star in 1990 with the release of Wing Commander, a space combat game that produced nine sequels and spinoffs. For a time, it was a huge business for Electronic Arts, but the copycat sequels bored gamers and drove the franchise into the ground.

(Wing Commander, by the way, was the reason I spent $2,000 on a brand-new 486 PC. It was an addictive game where you flew space combat fighters as if they were World War II fighters, an imaginative twist on the space combat in the Star Wars films. I used to play the game so much that my hand got sore from holding the joystick. Naturally, I kept playing and switched to the other hand when the need arose).

Roberts left Origin in 1996 and started his own company, Digital Anvil.?Roberts said that no one has really picked up the mantle in sci-fi combat sims since his last company created the ill-fated Freelancer, published by Microsoft in 1999. That game took 4.5 years to make (and six to get to market), and by the end of it, Roberts had left the firm to make movies and Microsoft acquired his compan Freelancer was not a huge commercial success, but it was memorable. In the game, the player went from planet to planet, running missions and building a cool spacecraft. In Roberts? original vision, each one of those worlds was a living, breathing thing, full of people and adventures. It was a precursor to modern massively multiplayer online games.

?At the end of Digital Anvil, I was burned out,? he said. ?I didn?t feel the drive to make games. I didn?t do it to sell 2 million units. I saw a game experience in my head that I wanted to play. That was my impetus. But I was frustrated by development technology. I left four years into Freelancer, and it was two more before it game out.?

Lost in space and re-entry

?There were huge, long cycles. You work hard and then start the cycle again. I wasn?t keen on getting sucked into management. I took a break,? Roberts said.

He took time out of his gaming career to fulfill his dream of making a movie. In that sense, he was also a pioneer of transmedia, or taking an entertainment property from one medium to another. He created the Wing Commander film, a $30 million movie that generated a third of that at the box office. Roberts never directed another film, but he went on to produce films including The Punisher, The Jacket and Lord of War (the latter starring Nicholas Cage). Altogether, he produced 10 movies and worked with a big German film fund that poured $750 million into both films and real estate.

Roberts said that he left games in part because he was frustrated with the technology and felt that film could do a better job of realizing the visions in his head. But now he feels that PC gaming technology has finally advanced far ahead of the game consoles and can now produce high-quality imagery that can look very cool.

?I began to feel an itch,? he said. ?I wanted to realize a vision. The picture was in my head. The technology to a point where the stuff we could do was great. And the other aspect is the move to online and digital business models. That?s really exciting to me,? referring to trends such as distributing games digitally directly to consumers.

?Now you can interact with the community directly and get feedback loops,? he said.

And he thinks there?s pent-up demand for cool games. Within an hour of taking its web site live, Cloud Imperium, with no publicity, had 1,000 people signed up for its beta test. Now, 30,000 have signed up. You can test ideas, and you bring games to market that don?t need 10 million fans in order to be a success.

?There?s a shift in the market and the technology,? he said.

Roberts is easing back into gaming. He was scoping out game development trends at the Dice Summit conference in Las Vegas in 2011, where I ran into him. At that time, he was considering his options. He thought about doing a big console game, but he felt that wasn?t so interesting. And he wanted to control his own destiny, not work for a major publisher.

But about a year ago, he starting experimenting with technology. He focused on the PC, where technology is moving far ahead of the consoles. He saw successes such as Riot Games? League of Legends and Wargaming.net?s World of Tanks. Both are downloadable games that have tens of millions of players.

?I feel like there aren?t so many champions of the PC,? he said.

By April, he formally started Cloud Imperium Games, in West Hollywood, Calif., with chief executive Ortwin Freyermuth, a veteran film production executive and media attorney. Roberts started out with a very small team, working with an established technology, Crytek?s Cry Engine 3. That is one lesson he learned from Freelancer, whose costs soared out of control. The core of his team is no more than 50 people, and he can tap specialists outside of the company.

?I could not have done this in the old days,? he said.

Still, it will take two more years to complete the game.

The design of Star Citizen

As you can tell from the screen shots, the Cry Engine 3 technology can render a full space battle carrier, which is a kilometer in length and resembles the Tiger?s Claw carrier in Wing Commander. If you zoom in on any given yard of the carrier, it still looks real, with rivets, tiles, and bumpy surfaces. The flight deck has as many as 2 million polygons, the surfaces that make up 3D animated objects. But it doesn?t take forever to create these assets. Roberts calls this rendering at scale.

The ship is just a part of a PC-only persistent universe dubbed Star Citizen. You can earn your citizenship via military duty or civic duty. You can become a privateer or freelancer, operating a merchant ship that transports cargo and fights off enemy pirates. Within Star Citizen, you can play a story-driven, narrative game that resembles Wing Commander. Dubbed Squadron 42, the game within a game requires you to perform one mission after another until you complete a full story.

?You sign up for a tour of duty within this galaxy-wide, falling Roman empire,? he said. ?On the western borders, some alien barbarian races are invading. On the eastern side is more benign trade.?

The Squadron 42 team is an elite military unit, like the French Foreign Legion. They quell rebellions and protect the galaxy. Players will be able to move from star system to star system through ?jump points? that are like folds in space where you can travel anywhere you want. But within star systems, you?ll move at slower speeds. Each ship will have trade-offs in terms of weapons, armor, and speed. The physics models will be very detailed and determine whether one spaceship is more maneuverable than another. Each ship can have four thrusters to change its position in space; if one is damaged, the ship loses its capability to maneuver well. The ships fly by wire, much like an F-35 Lightning II.

Each spacecraft will have a distinct cockpit and a fully-rendered pilot. Each pilot has 100,000 polygons, or about 10 times the usual number in terms of 3D graphics animation. Players can make money flying trade routes. When intercepted, a battle takes place. In cooperative mode, they can tap other players to defend themselves.

Toward the core of the galaxy, the military preserves law and order. But on the edge, pirates likely operate with freedom.

?On the outer edge, it?s like Somalia,? he said. ?A warlord may show up and jack your stuff.?

Players will be able to host their own universe and multiplayer version of the game. They will have their own content creation and ?modding? tools, so they can modify the game. Ships will ?level up? by adding hundreds of components.

In making use of the community, Roberts is tapping into recent successes like Minecraft and Team Fortress 2, which support community creations. In Star Citizen, players will be able to enhance and create modifications to their own spaceships and then be able to sell them in a marketplace. Roberts plans to roll out lots of small updates over time. And players will likely be able to prepurchase their space ships from the company.

?It will feel like things are happening and new events are occurring in the galaxy,? he said. ?My goal is to make it feel alive and real to players. We will riff off the players? own creations.?

There isn?t much competition out there. EA released a minor Wing Commander game on Xbox Live Arcade, but it wasn?t a success. The last major Wing Commander title came out in 1997.

Roberts says he has an ?equity commitment? for the game. But he will also try to ?crowdfund? part of it on his own web site in order to validate demand for the game. You may, for instance, be able to prepay for your game and get early access to it. He hopes to raise a few million dollars via crowdfunding.

?I believe there are high-end PC gamers who want to have an experience like this,? Roberts said, noting that Dell?s Alienware division gave him an Alienware 18x laptop to show off the game assets.

?I hope that people will be excited about what I show,? he said. ?There is still a fan base out there.?

Source: http://venturebeat.com/2012/10/10/wing-commander-creator-chris-roberts-returns-to-gaming-with-star-citizen-online-game-universe/

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