A Better Calling Card

In the old days, self-important people use to carry calling cards. Now we have Twitter, Facebook and other social media sites to turn us all into mini-celebrities. So what's the new calling card online? That position's being jockeyed for as we speak, and different contenders are taking very different approaches.

Twitter released an important new feature to selected developers yesterday that could make it a compelling alternative to the fast growing Facebook Connect system for logging into sites around the web.

Google has its own Friend Connect service and many people use their own website as an ID and data store. That's the goal with all these systems: giving new sites you visit secure access to information about you and your friends from other sites so that the new site can better personalize its service to you. There's reason to be particularly excited about Twitter's entry into this field.

Facebook Connect is being adopted rapidly by sites all over the web seeking to let people sign in with a verified identity, some social data and access to publish activity back onto the Facebook Newsfeed. Now Twitter looks to be offering a similar feature and it could be a better implementation of the same idea.
Yahoo's Eran Hammer-Lahav wrote an in depth article about the new "Sign in With Twitter" functionality yesterday. He celebrates the move as particularly adherent to agreed upon standards - no proprietary "special sauce" clouds interoperability as happens with Facebook Connect. He also draws a distinction between Facebook's offering a social layer to websites vs. Twitter's new feature and its work with 3rd party sites and services that are already tightly integrated with Twitter. We're not so sure that second distinction is so important, though. We can imagine this new Twitter feature being implemented far and wide.

The idea is that sites using the new Sign in With Twitter tool will go through a relatively simple process to gain permission to access your data from Twitter. They will see if your browser is already logged in to Twitter, then they will either give you a pop-up window to log in there or they will skip directly to asking Twitter to ask you if you'd like to give access to this new site. You never have to give the new site your Twitter password, but you can give it permission to access private data like Direct Messages and the ability to post in your name.

It seems quite similar to Facebook Connect and Google Friend Connect in a number of ways. It may be more exciting though, because Twitter is a fundamentally different beast.

All social networking services these days want to be "a platform" - but it's really true for Twitter. From desktop apps to social connection analysis programs to services that will Twitter through your account when a baby monitoring garment feels a kick in utero - there's countless technologies being built on top of Twitter.

It's always been that way, Twitter's API is open at its core. Twitter would be nowhere near where it is today without its developer community.

Facebook, on the other hand, not only uses a non-interoperable system of authentication in Facebook Connect - it's also not based fundamentally on openness. It's based on giving access to your information to a limited set of the people you know. No one can see your profile at all without your explicit permission. The company has long held that protecting users' privacy is of the utmost importance. Of course Facebook is still about sharing, it's not completely closed, and it could be toying with and changing our understanding of privacy more than we know.

Is this just an accident? Hammer-Lahav doesn't think so and put it quite well on the OpenID mailing list last fall. "They never made the effort to truly engage the community and understand either specifications [OpenID/OAuth]," he wrote. "Second, for the most part, they reused existing Facebook pieces to create Facebook Connect. Those pieces could have been converted or added support for OpenID and OAuth a long time ago. And third, this is exactly what they wanted to do - these are some of the brightest minds in the industry and they know what they are doing."

The point is, though, that when I give you my Facebook "calling card" using Facebook Connect, that system has a long list of do's and don'ts for what developers can do with the data. It's letting sites borrow the data - not setting data free.

Twitter's version of the calling card should be more developer friendly and it's already more standards adherent, which is another way to say developer friendly. Prove you are who you say you are to Twitter and it will give sites you approve a big open field of your data to work with. In other words, web developers should be able to do a whole lot more for me when I give them my Twitter calling card than if I give them one from Facebook.

At least that's the way I suspect it will unfold in the near term. This battle is far, far from over though and it's an important one to the future of the connected web.
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Seedlings and leaving their "calling cards" throughout your landscaping.

(ARA) - You love the great outdoors, especially gardening. But sometimes wildlife can be just a bit too wild, with rabbits munching prized plants to the ground, deer devouring petals of roses and azaleas, and cats rolling over seedlings and leaving their "calling cards" throughout your landscaping.


Unfortunately, these critters are a common, perpetual annoyance to home gardeners. Learning a little more about their habits and identifying the culprits is your first step to critter control. First, you'll need to recognize your four-legged foraging foe. Here are some tips to help you determine the critters you'll need to thwart:

Rabbits: Bunnies don't just dine on clover and grass, they'll also wreak havoc on your vegetable plants and can even damage woody plants in your landscape. Tell-tale signs that bunnies are bountiful include damage that is usually no higher than 2 1/2 feet above the ground, and sharp cuts at 45-degree angles on plants.

Deer: A lovely sight almost anywhere other than in your backyard. Deer can, and do, cause major damage to plants, landscapes and vegetable gardens, consuming about 12 pounds of foliage in a single day. To determine if your flowers and vegetables are disappearing due to deer damage, look closely at the half-eaten plants. If you see a jagged, rough edge, you can be sure the damage was done by deer as they have no incisor teeth and tear at the food source, leaving proof of their presence.

Squirrels: These furry, funny, cute creatures can be quite destructive when it comes to your gardens and landscapes. Squirrels are burrowing animals; they usually feed on bulbs and green leafy material during the spring and summer of phone cards, switching to seeds and grains during the fall and winter. They love wild bird feeders and have a reputation for driving away the very birds you put the feeder out to attract. You have squirrel damage if you see gnawing marks on tree bark and outside wiring, and signs of digging and burrowing. You'll also see them in the light of day sitting atop your birdfeeder.

Cats: Cats love to dig in soft already-tilled soil, making gardens just perfect for their digging desires. Most cats think the outdoors is their litter box, and a patch of dirt is an invitation to come do their business. It also makes a great place to play or roll. They'll roll over your plants, breaking new shoots and foliage. A sure sign you have a cantankerous cat frolicking in your flowerbeds is cat droppings.

These critters don't have to be the enemy of your gardens, and trapping them won't solve the problem. The arrival of warm weather means the arrival of new foliage, green grass and pesky critters in our backyards and gardens. As spring is sprung, we're suddenly faced with long gardening to-do lists and a wide variety of unwanted animals in our garden beds. As a rule of thumb, it's far better to prevent animal damage than to wait until it occurs and try to combat it.

There are a number of less-than-ideal approaches for dealing with these frustrating problems. Messy, dangerous chemicals pose unacceptable risks for most homeowners, considering pets and children. Sealing off entire areas of your landscape would be impractical, inconvenient and potentially very costly. Trapping is a lot of effort, and again, it would be a perpetual labor as trapping does nothing to prevent new pests.

All-natural alternatives can help keep critters out of your gardens and landscape. Look for 100 percent certified organic products like those made by Messina Wildlife Management. Easily applied in ready-to-use spray bottles, these organic products dry clear, smell good and work for 30 days before reapplication is needed, no matter the weather. They're safe to use on vegetables and none will harm the animals they're intended to repel. Natural products use taste and smell aversions to keep critters like rabbits, deer, squirrel, cats, groundhogs, moles and even armadillos out of your backyard.

For most animals scent and taste are the primary senses that attract them to food sources. If you disrupt the animal's sense of smell and taste, you have won the battle against the constant parade of pesky critters in your landscapes. Visit Messinawildlife.com for more information on natural, safe, effective pest repellents.
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Students encouraged to skip school on 'Day of Silence'

A national coalition of pro-family groups are urging parents to keep their students home this coming Friday in protest of the annual "Day of Silence," when students vow silence to bring attention to the discrimination of gay students.

Over 20 Christian-based conservative groups have called for the massive walkout from middle and high schools participating the April 17 event, arguing that the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN)'s sponsored event politicizes the classroom to support the belief that homosexuality is moral. They include state chapters of American Family Association, Concerned Women for America, Illinois Family Institute, Liberty Council and Parents and Friends of Ex-Gays and Gays.

"This day is not about 'tolerance' as it claims, but about forcing propaganda and acceptance of high-risk behavior into the schools with no opposing views allowed," said Linda Harvey of Mission America, which also supports the walkout.

Laurie Higgins of the Illinois Family Institute said that while "all of civilized society must oppose bullying," she opposes the "illegitimate means of using public education to affirm volitional homosexual behavior."

Campaign for California Families said the demonstration will serve as financial "leverage" to get the message across, saying public schools in California lose $100 a day for each child absent.

The groups have encouraged parents and teens who are not willing to risk teacher retribution or missing school to send a letter to schools officials expressing their objections to Day of Silence.

The coalition has also called attention to a resolution sitting before Congress that would urge the federal government and public schools to officially recognize and celebrate Day of Silence. The legislation also requests that "the President issue a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to observe the National Day of Silence with appropriate ceremonies, programs, and activities."

House Concurrent Resolution 92 was introduced on April 1 and has been referred to the House Judiciary Committee.

GLSEN claims that over 8,000 students participated in last year's Day of Silence. The organization says the observance is needed, pointing to its 2007 survey showing 86 percent of LGBT students reported being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation while 44 percent report being physically harassed.

The band of pro-family groups, meanwhile, says that by opposing the event they are in no way endorsing the bullying and harassment of those in the LGBT community.

One Christian professor, however, has come against the walkout, saying it's not very productive.

"How can we get anything accomplished if we leave the field?" Dr. Warren Throckmorton, professor of Psychology at Grove City College in Pennsylvania, wrote last week on his blog on Crosswalk.com.

The expert in mental health and sexuality issues contends that students taking part in Day of Silence have a point, saying he has spoken with Christian students who have admitted to bullying or harassing gay students.

Throckmorton has created an alternative response to Day of Silence, asking Christians to take The Golden Rule Pledge and show up at school to live out the teaching of Christ to treat others as they want to be treated.

When Day of Silence students hand out pincards asking, "What will you do to help end the silence?" Christian students should respond: "This is what I am going to do. I pledge to treat others the way I want to be treated. 'Do to others as you would have them do to you.'"

Meanwhile, several other Christian-based conservative groups are promoting the Day of Truth on April 20, the following Monday, as a direct response to Day of Silence. According to Day of Truth's Web site, it was established to "counter the promotion of the homosexual agenda and express an opposing viewpoint from a Christian perspective."

Alliance Defense Fund and Exodus International, the promoters of Day of Truth, are encouraging students to speak the "truth in love" and engage in conversation about homosexuality.

Participants are also asked to hand out pin cards reading: "I'm speaking the Truth to break the silence. True tolerance means that people with differing - even opposing - viewpoints can freely exchange ideas and respectfully listen to each other. It's time for an honest conversation about homosexuality. There's freedom to change if you want to. Let's talk."
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Chivas USA clinch Best Mexico sponsorship

Best Mexico, one of the leading companies providing calling services from the United States to Mexico, has partnered with Chivas USA as the Major League Soccer club’s official calling card company.

The deal joins MLS’s Mexican-owned, Los Angeles-based team with a growing international communications company making an aggressive move into the California market, as Best Mexico prepares to launch distribution of its cards in the Los Angeles Metropolitan area and beyond, starting April 13.

“As Best Mexico launches its low-cost, high-value calling card service in California, Chivas USA was a clear choice for a partner,” said John M. Wise, President of Viscom International, Inc., the parent company of Best Mexico. “Like us, Chivas USA is an organization offering tremendous value to consumers. We look forward to working with the club to help show fans and consumers the best way to call Mexico.”
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Raise Your Credit Score - Some Quick Tips You Should Bear In Mind by Alan Willis

In this piece I'm going to explain some of the critical ingredients in relation to the subject of how to raise your credit score. There regularly is rather a large amount of bafflement with reference to this subject. The really great thing is that there is only a few totally crucial elements that you need to have an understanding of.

Going through your existing credit report for errors and inaccuracies is a very important subject to attempt to look at. Acquiring your existing credit report is obviously the first part of this process. The next part of this procedure is to write and object to errors or inaccuracies you uncover. The correction of any mistakes can certainly help your total score.

Calling a halt to new requests for credit is a particularly key subject to make an effort to investigate. This kind of new application will lead to a large body of activity on your account. Ultimately, that can really ruin your overall credit score. That is why avoiding making any new applications to new credit card companies straight away is extremely important.

Leaving open any good accounts you may have is a very key feature to make an effort to remember. Most people will choose to shut down this kind of additional credit international card account. Preserving them is a far better approach. This will lay down a better track record and lift your rating at the same time.

As I pointed out in the opening paragraph of the article, this has been a brief appraisal of some of the most critical items about the subject of how to raise your credit score. There are just a small number of other utterly critical issues that you really have to have an understanding of.
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March Leads Offer Hope for Some Pool Builders

Many builders across the nation reported that March saw an increase in leads for middle- to high-end pools over January and February.

While this is nothing approaching the spring leads seen during the housing boom, it represents a much-needed improvement.

“There was an explosion of phone calls for us in March,” said Steve Toth, owner of Acclaim Pools, LLC, in The Woodlands, Texas.

While unemployment numbers continued a grim upward trek, there were still reasons for optimism. The stock market saw its best four-week run since 1933, jumping more than 20 percent. The Obama Administration announced relief programs for small businesses, car companies and banks. And the National Association of Realtors reported new-home sales up 4.7 percent in February, while existing home sales rose 5.1 percent.

While these are only slight improvements — many from record lows — perhaps some homeowners believe there’s cause for optimism.

“On the middle end to higher end, I think people are starting to soften up a bit, to make commitments and get projects started,” said Russ Watters, owner of Watters Aquatech Pools & Spas in Las Vegas.

Some builders believe the shock of last autumn’s historic market downturn may have worn off a bit. Others say people just want to swim come Memorial Day.

“It’s my assumption that people are getting more used to what’s happening and they’re not as frightened, and there’s a little more hope,” said Dan Essig, president of Essig Pools in North Miami, Fla.

“We didn’t sell a ton of pools, but we definitely did better than we have, and we had substantially more estimates than we’ve had in the last five months,” he added.

Builders also reported that their leads are more likely to buy than in the past.

“I think there’s pent-up demand,” Toth said. “The folks who are calling card say, ‘Hey, we’ve been wanting to do a pool for a year, but we’ve been a little nervous about the whole idea, and maybe the worst is over.’

“We just sold a project and the family said, ‘We’re going to do the whole thing on credit cards.’”

Despite the signs, most pool professionals are cautious in their optimism. In the current economic environment, it’s hard to predict whether a customer can obtain credit. Additionally, many consumers are pitting one builder against the next as they try to squeeze every last dollar from the price. This creates a longer lead-to-conversion time than usual.

Other than the increase in leads, industry pros report the same trends of the past few months: Service and renovation remain strong; commercial and higher-end residential construction seem least affected; and lower-priced inground pool sales remain stagnant.
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Calling cards to soldiers

BRONXVILLE: Since it began in February 2008, the "Hearts to Home" program has raised more than $56,000 to send calling cards to soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan.

It recently partnered with the United Service Organizations, which will host an event from 4 to 5:30 p.m. April 26 at the Schoenfeld Campus Center of Concordia College, 171 White Plains Road. For more information, call 914-337-1313.
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Refreshments will be provided by Scarborough Fair in Bronxville. The suggested donation is $15. Make checks payable to USO Metropolitan New York. To RSVP, call 212-695-5590, Ext. 228, or e-mail choepker@usonyc.org.

If you are unable to attend and wish to donate, the address is: USO of Metropolitan New York, 625 Eighth Ave., North Wing, Second Floor, New York, NY 10018.
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Shave for the Brave to raise funds for calling cards

Shave For the Brave Buzz-A-Thon will be held Sunday May 3 starting at 1 p.m. at Ratch and Deb’s Pizza, 720A Merritt Ave.

Participants will shave their heads or get a military cut to help raise funds for prepaid calling cards for troops overseas.

Pick up a sponsor sheet at Ratch and Deb’s Pizza, Andy’s Pub, LeRoy’s Tavern and Gentelman’s Choice Barber Shop in Omro. Contact Mark Stormer at (920) 210-2982 or Tim Golding at (920) 410-9419 for more information.

Contributed by Mark Stormer and Tim Golding
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