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09-08-2012 13:04 President Barack Obama highlighted his support for tax credits for wind energy manufacturers in Colorado and other states. Obama says 37000 jobs are at risk if the credit is allowed to expire at the end of the year. (Aug. 9)
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Obama: Wind Energy Tax Credit Supports Jobs - Video
Summary: Social networking giant needs to better educate local marketers on benefits of both online and mobile ads through physical relationships to better monetize markets.
Social networking giant has successfully monetized in the emerging markets of Asia through social games, however, it now needs to focus on pushing advertising to marketers in the region.
Audrey Heng, market analyst for emerging technology at IDC Asia-Pacific, pointed out that Facebook had successfully monetized its social games business in Asia's emerging markets. "Social gamesare easy to learn and quick to play that are able attract new gamers and new internet users in these developing markets," she noted.
However, social games are only one aspect of monetization and the social network will need to address advertisements, said Heng. "Both online and mobile advertising remain low particularly in developing markets where traditional marketing continues to dominate," she said.
While users in the developing markets of Asia tend to stay connected online using their mobile phones rather than the desktop, Heng noted that the mobile platform and services only started to develop in the recent two years.
Many Web sites were designed for desktop browsing and this was replicated for access on mobile phones, she said. "Only recently in the past year, more emphasis was made to design a separate mobile Web site that was user friendly and considered the mobile's smaller screen size and capabilities," Heng added.
Challenges monetizing mobile This is why it is "not surprising" that Facebook is facing challenges in monetization of mobile, she noted.
However, the social networking giant has been "aggressively" investing in mobile monetization strategies, such as by acquiring mobile apps such as Instagram and introducing advertising solutions like sponsored stories and App Centre, Heng noted.
Tackling monetization on the mobile platform is not a problem specific to Facebook. China's top social network Renren also saw its user base shifting from desktop to mobile.
In its second quarter results announcement Tuesday, Renren chaiman and CEO Joseph Chen noted that its strategy remains focused on mobile opportunities and will experiment on different monetization models such as mobile games, mobile advertising and mobile group-buying.
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Personal relationships key to Facebook's Asia advertising success
FLORENCE, S.C. --
The rumbling of a combine with a hopper full of freshly harvested, golden corn in an Effingham field is a reminder of the great growing season the Pee Dee has had, with a warm winter allowing farmers to plant earlier to benefit from rains that lasted through the summer.
There are other beneficiaries of these conditions as well.
Among the most nefarious of them are mosquitoes who have not only been annoying, but have been spreading lethal diseases at the highest rates in three years.
Perhaps the biggest mosquito-born problem is Eastern equine encephalitis (EEE). After a quiet 2011, the horse-killing disease has returned, with six confirmed cases of the virus in South Carolina horses this year. The Pee Dee has been especially hard hit. Two of the cases were in Horry County, one in Marion, one in Darlington and one in Kershaw. And with months before the first frost, experts predict this could be just the beginning of an especially bad year for horses, who bear the brunt of the attack from a disease that bears their name.
Its been a mess, said Dr. Karen Bolten, a traveling veterinarian with Carolina Equine Clinic South. And it usually gets worse later in the summer. My first case was in the beginning of June, and I foresee it continuing to be bad through the end of summer.
The virus kills nine out of 10 horses infected. Two to five days after a horse is bit by a virus-carrying mosquito, it will begin to show symptoms such as stumbling, circling, head pressing, depression or apprehension, weakness of legs, partial paralysis, inability to stand, muscle twitching or death.
Bolten is on the frontline of the fight against the virus and has seen half of the states confirmed EEE cases. The virus, which can eventually affect a horses neurological function, forced her to euthanize two and hospitalize the other. The third horse did survive.
Bolten recommends owners vaccinate horses twice a year for EEE due to their high exposure to mosquitoes. She recommends having a vet do the job as opposed to buying over-the-counter treatments.
There are a lot more problems with feed-store vaccines, Bolten said. The one woman had vaccinated with feed-store vaccine, and her horse still got it. Its not that stores are mishandling it, but they might not understand proper vaccine handling such as the proper storage temperature.
CTV Toronto Published Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012 9:24AM EDT Last Updated Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012 6:39PM EDT
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford was released from hospital Thursday afternoon after an infection triggered his asthma, leading to a two-day hospitalization.
Speaking to TSN radio after his release, Ford said he was ready to be back at city hall again Friday.
It was just an allergic reaction to something in my esophagus and I couldnt breath, so it freaked me out for a bit, but Im back in fighting form and Ill be at work tomorrow, Ford told the sports radio station.
Ford admitted himself to Humber River Hospital late Tuesday night.
A release issued by the mayors press secretary Wednesday said Ford has suffered an adverse reaction to food, which irritated his throat and stomach and triggered his asthma.
Fords mother, Dianne Ford, spoke to reporters Thursday before her son was released. She thanked citizens for their support.
On behalf of the Ford family, we really, truly appreciate all the phone calls weve got, the concerns, the support, really, really has been wonderful and we sincerely appreciate it, she said.
Fords brother, Coun. Doug Ford, also spoke to reporters earlier in the day, saying that his brother was making a speedy recovery.
The doctor said he should be released today and everything seems to be all right, he said. The doctor said hes strong, strong heart, he feels good. He has an infection in his throat, but hes good to go. Hes sitting there, returning phone calls and asking for the Toronto Sun for his football picks.
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Toronto mayor feeling better, no word on release
The use of the word "Republican" on campaign lawn signs promoting State Senate District 47 incumbent candidate Julianne Ortman has prompted supporters of her primary election opponent, Bruce Schwichtenberg, to file a complaint with the State of Minnesota Office of Administrative Hearings (OAH).
On Aug. 1, members of Schwichtenberg for Senate filed a complaint with the OAH alleging that the signs violate state statute because they falsely imply that Ortman has the Republican Party endorsement. Neither candidate has the party's endorsement because neither received the necessary 60 percent of votes after five rounds of balloting during the party's district endorsement convention held earlier this year.
In material sent to the OAH, two different signs were presented as evidence. One sign reads "Vote August 14, Julianne Ortman, Republican for Minnesota Senate" and another says "Julianne Ortman, Republican for State Senate."
In an email to the newspaper, Schwichtenberg said the signs undermine the voice of the grassroots, activists, delegates and alternates and citizens of Carver County.
"There was no endorsement and her actions to this point may already have cause irreparable harm to our campaign," he said. "Many people have given their time, money and support to our campaign and to have their efforts thwarted by illegal and unethical actions is inexcusable."
Ortman argued that there was no misuse of the word "Republican" on the signs.
"My opponent and I are both members of the Republican Party and running in the Republican Primary Aug. 14; the sample ballots identify us both as Republicans," she wrote in an email to the newspaper.
"We both filed an Affidavit of Candidacy with the Secretary of State, which inquired, under penalty of perjury, to declare a party affiliation. We both declared ourselves to be Republicans," Ortman continued. "I am optimistic that the OAH will uphold our ability to communicate this information to voters, and our right of free speech contained in the First Amendment to the Constitution."
A probable cause hearing was to be held by the OAH on Tuesday, Aug. 7. At that time, the OAH was to decide whether or not it would dismiss the case or plan an evidentiary hearing. The OAH's ruling was not available when this edition went to press.
The primary election will be held on Tuesday, Aug. 14.
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Word on lawn signs causes disagreement between candidates