They're back: J. C. Penney adds sales

This image provided by J.C. Penney shows the company's new advertising campaign. Penney is still embracing its ?fair and square? strategy as the cornerstone of its reinvention plan, and says the promotions will be targeted. But the latest tactic acknowledges that middle-income shoppers can't be weaned off sales. (AP Photo/J.C.Penney)

This image provided by J.C. Penney shows the company's new advertising campaign. Penney is still embracing its ?fair and square? strategy as the cornerstone of its reinvention plan, and says the promotions will be targeted. But the latest tactic acknowledges that middle-income shoppers can't be weaned off sales. (AP Photo/J.C.Penney)

This image provided by J.C. Penney shows the company's new advertising campaign. Penney is still embracing its ?fair and square? strategy as the cornerstone of its reinvention plan, and says the promotions will be targeted. But the latest tactic acknowledges that middle-income shoppers can't be weaned off sales. (AP Photo/J.C.Penney)

This image provided by J.C. Penney shows the company's new advertising campaign. Penney is still embracing its ?fair and square? strategy as the cornerstone of its reinvention plan, and says the promotions will be targeted. But the latest tactic acknowledges that middle-income shoppers can't be weaned off sales. (AP Photo/J.C.Penney)

NEW YORK (AP) ? J.C. Penney is bringing back sales.

The struggling department store chain this week will begin adding back some of the hundreds of sales it ditched last year in hopes of luring shoppers who were turned off when the discounts disappeared, CEO Ron Johnson told The Associated Press.

Penney also plans to add price tags or signs for more than half of its merchandise to show customers how much they're saving by shopping at the chain ? a strategy used by a few other retailers. For store-branded items such as Arizona, Penney will show comparison prices from competitors.

The reversal comes on the eve of the one-year anniversary of its original vow to almost completely get rid of the sales that Americans covet but that cut into a store's profits. The idea was to offer everyday low prices that customers could count on rather than the nearly 600 fleeting discounts, coupons and sales it once offered.

The bold plan has been closely watched by others in the retail industry, which commonly offers deep discounts to draw shoppers. But so far the experiment has served as a cautionary tale of how difficult it is to change shoppers' habits: Penney next month is expected to report its fourth consecutive quarter of big sales drops and net losses. After losing more than half of its value, Penney's stock is trading at about $19. And the company's credit ratings are in junk status.

Johnson, who rolled out the pricing plan shortly after taking the top job in November 2011, told The Associated Press the latest moves are not a "deviation" from his strategy but rather an "evolution."

"Our sales have gone backward a little more than we expected, but that doesn't change the vision or the strategy," said Johnson, who previously masterminded Apple Inc.'s retail stores and Target Corp.'s cheap chic fashion strategy. "We made changes and we learned an incredible amount. That is what's informing our tactics as we go forward."

But critics say Johnson is backpedaling. Walter Loeb, a New York-based retail consultant, said Johnson "is now realizing that he has to be more promotional to attract shoppers."

The pricing strategy has been a key part of Johnson's plan to reinvent Penney, which had failed to change with the times as its competitors updated their stores to make them cool places to shop. The plan includes adding hip new brands such as Joe Fresh and replacing racks of clothing with small shops-within-stores by 2015. But this isn't the first time the pricing strategy has been tweaked.

When it was rolled out in February 2012, the plan entailed permanently slashing prices on everything in the store by 40 percent. Penney decided to have just 12 monthlong sales events on some merchandise. And there would be periodic clearance events throughout the year.

But the new pricing plan wasn't well received on Wall Street or Main Street, so six months after launching it, Johnson ditched the monthlong sales, saying that they were too confusing to shoppers. Johnson said Penney has learned that people don't shop on a monthly basis, but rather they buy when they need something for say, back-to-school or during the winter holidays. And during those times, he said, they're looking for even more value.

"I still believe that the customer knows the right price, but they want help," he said.

Penney declined to say how many sales events it will offer going forward, citing competitive reasons. But the company said the figure will still be well below the nearly 600 it used to offer. The company said the discounts will vary depending on the sale. From Feb. 1 through Feb. 14, for instance, shoppers will get 20 percent off some jewelry for Valentine's Day. One example: half-carat diamond heart pendants on sale for $96, below Penny's everyday price of $120.

Penney said the decision to add tags or signs on much of its merchandise that shows the "manufacturer's suggested retail price" alongside Penney's "everyday" price was a result of his realization that shoppers want a reference price to consider.

National brands were also asking Penney to show the suggested price to shoppers, he said. Penney began showing the suggested manufacturer's price on Izod men's merchandise last fall and was encouraged by the response.

Burt Flickinger, a retail consultant, said the move could help Penney because manufacturers' suggested retail prices can be as much as 40 percent higher than what retailers wind up charging. The practice is common in the home appliance industry but spotty in the department-store industry because stores generally hike prices up even more to give shoppers the illusion of a big discount, he said.

"The strategy will be helpful for shoppers to understand lower prices," Flickinger said. "At the same time, it will be tough to get consumers back in the store from competitors."

But Craig Johnson, another retail consultant, said that adding the suggested manufacturer's price is just a gimmick. "The objective of this exercise is to maximize the perceived value for the purchase."

Johnson said that for Penney's own store brands like Arizona and Worthington, the team will research other stores and will submit supporting data to its legal team for approval before it advertises comparison prices, using certain criteria. For example, they'll make sure the fabric used is of the same quality as its rivals. For jewelry, Penney is using the International Gemological Institute, a third-party appraiser.

"There are no makeup prices here," Johnson said. "It's all about trying to communicate what it's worth to the customer."

Penney will not show comparison prices for merchandise that is part of exclusive partnerships with brands such as Nicole Miller and Mango, however. The company said it's difficult to offer such references.

To promote the strategy, Penney on Wednesday will begin launching TV, print and digital ads. One TV ad compares a $9 polo shirt under its store brand Arizona with $19 "elsewhere." ''Two polos, same color, same vibrant, same details, same swing, same swagger, different prices," the ad said.

Johnson reiterated that he expects Penney to return to sales growth sometime in 2013. That would be a welcome change for Penney, which has had steep sales and profit losses since the new strategy was launched.

For the first nine months of its current fiscal year, Penney lost $433 million, or $1.98 per share compared with a loss of $65 million, or 30 cents per share in the year-ago period. Total sales dropped 23.1 percent to $9.1 billion.

Analysts expect Penney to post a loss of 17 cents on sales of $4.22 billion for the fourth quarter. They expect the company's annual sales to fall by 23 percent, or nearly $4 billion, to $13.3 billion for the latest year. Revenue at stores opened at least a year ? a measure of a retailer's health ? are expected to drop 25 percent, in line with the third quarter, according to analyst polled by research firm FactSet.

Meanwhile, investors have sent shares down more than 55 percent from a peak of $43 in the days after the plan was rolled out in February. Shares slipped 18 cents to $19.17 on Monday.

"A year ago, we were launching a major transformation and didn't know what to expect," he said. "Today, I know what happened. Our team has a year's worth of history. This is going to be a great year because the new JCP is coming to life for customers."

____

Follow Anne D'Innocenzio at www.twitter.com/adinnocenzio

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-28-JC%20Penney-Sales%20Are%20Back/id-553d631281f54c1f9ed3b6514b2f1daa

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UK: Specific threat to Westerners in Somaliland

LONDON (AP) ? British citizens should immediately leave the breakaway Somaliland region of Somalia because of a specific threat to Westerners, British diplomats said Sunday. It was the second such warning issued for an African region in just days and comes amid growing turbulence across the continent's north.

In a statement emailed to reporters, Britain's Foreign Office did not go into any further detail about the nature of the threat but noted that "kidnapping for financial or political gain, motivated by criminality or terrorism" is an issue throughout Somalia.

Somalia has endured years of civil war, and Britain ? along with the United States and a host of other countries ? has long advised against all travel to the Horn of Africa nation. Sunday's travel warning applies specifically to the northwest territory of Somaliland, which declared its independence from Somalia in 1991 and has since been a haven of relative peace amid the chaos and bloodshed of the country's south.

The new warning was issued only days after Britain, Germany, the Netherlands and Canada urged their citizens in the Libyan city of Benghazi to evacuate in response to what was then described as an imminent threat to Westerners. European officials told The Associated Press at the time that schools were thought to be among the potential targets.

The exact reason for the warnings remains unclear, but they come at a time of heightened tension across north Africa. French and African land forces are battling al-Qaida-linked Islamists in northern Mali, while a renewed bout of unrest has gripped Egypt following the two-year anniversary of the revolution that toppled strongman Hosni Mubarak.

In addition, a Jan. 16 attack on the Ain Amenas natural gas plant in the Sahara ignited a four-day siege by Algerian forces in which at least 37 hostages and 29 militants died. An al-Qaida-affiliated group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Libya also remains unstable following the overthrow of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

It was unclear if any of those factors played a role in Britain's latest warning. The Foreign Office declined to comment beyond its brief statement.

Somaliland, a former British colony, is a key ally for neighboring Ethiopia, which has an embassy in the enclave, and collaborates with the United States and its allies on anti-terrorism missions. Somaliland employs its own security forces, justice system, and currency but is not recognized as a separate country by the international community.

Somaliland was most recently hit by terror attacks in 2008, when suicide car bombers struck inside the enclave and its neighboring Puntland territory, killing more than 29 people.

___

Abdi Guled in Mogadishu, Somalia contributed to this report.

___

Online:

British government travel advice on Somalia: http://bit.ly/cbSix4

Raphael Satter can be reached at: http://raphae.li/twitter

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/uk-specific-threat-westerners-somaliland-141850754.html

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Hackers take over sentencing commission website

This screen shot shows the website of the U.S. Sentencing Commission after it was hijacked by the hacker-activist group Anonymous, early Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, to avenge the death of Aaron Swartz, an Internet activist who committed suicide. The website of the commission, an independent agency of the judicial branch, was replaced with a message warning that when Swartz killed himself two weeks ago "a line was crossed." (AP Photo)

This screen shot shows the website of the U.S. Sentencing Commission after it was hijacked by the hacker-activist group Anonymous, early Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013, to avenge the death of Aaron Swartz, an Internet activist who committed suicide. The website of the commission, an independent agency of the judicial branch, was replaced with a message warning that when Swartz killed himself two weeks ago "a line was crossed." (AP Photo)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The hacker-activist group Anonymous says it hijacked the website of the U.S. Sentencing Commission to avenge the death of Aaron Swartz, an Internet activist who committed suicide. The FBI is investigating.

The website of the commission, an independent agency of the judicial branch, was taken over early Saturday and replaced with a message warning that when Swartz killed himself two weeks ago "a line was crossed."

The hackers say they've infiltrated several government computer systems and copied secret information that they now threaten to make public.

Family and friends of Swartz, who helped create Reddit and RSS, say he killed himself after he was hounded by federal prosecutors. Officials say he helped post millions of court documents for free online and that he illegally downloaded millions of academic articles from an online clearinghouse.

The FBI's Richard McFeely, executive assistant director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch, said in a statement that "we were aware as soon as it happened and are handling it as a criminal investigation. We are always concerned when someone illegally accesses another person's or government agency's network."

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2013-01-26-Commission%20Website%20Hacked/id-f42f432efbaf45548fe63f8144f08374

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Fighting back against citrus greening

Jan. 25, 2013 ? U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) scientists in Fort Pierce, Fla. are helping citrus growers and juice processors address the threat posed by Huanglongbing (HLB), a disease that is costing the citrus industry millions of dollars each year.

Citrus trees infected with HLB, also called citrus greening, usually die within five to 10 years. Fruit on infected trees often falls to the ground before harvest, and fruit that remains on trees may become misshapen and sometimes only partially ripen.

Supervisory horticulturalist Elizabeth Baldwin with USDA's Agricultural Research Service (ARS) in Fort Pierce is investigating the effects of HLB on the taste of orange juice produced from diseased trees. Her goal is to provide help while a permanent solution is found.

She and her colleagues at the agency's U.S. Horticultural Research Laboratory evaluated fruit with or without HLB symptoms -- produced over two growing seasons -- for a number of fruit and juice characteristics. They compared Midsweet, Hamlin, and Valencia oranges, the three principal varieties harvested for processing, and used gas and liquid chromatography to analyze juice compounds.

They found that orange juice from the fruit with HLB symptoms was often higher in limonin and nomilin, compounds that can give the juice a bitter taste, but that the compounds were generally below levels that could be detected by human taste panels. Their results were published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry.

In another study, they investigated how HLB infection affects juice quality in the same three varieties of orange with respect to cultivar, maturity, and processing methods. The results showed tremendous variability, depending on the harvest date and variety of orange. In general, the researchers found more of a problem with off-flavored juice from diseased Hamlin orange trees than with diseased trees of the Valencia and Midsweet varieties.

But the researchers concluded that using some fruit that has HLB symptoms would not cause problems in commercial operations as long as fruit with and without symptoms, harvested from several varieties, locations, and seasons, was mixed together. Those results were published in the Journal of Food Science.

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Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by USDA/Agricultural Research Service. The original article was written by Dennis O'Brien.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

---

Journal References:

1. Elizabeth Baldwin, Anne Plotto, John Manthey, Greg McCollum, Jinhe Bai, Mike Irey, Randall Cameron, Gary Luzio. Effect of Liberibacter Infection (Huanglongbing Disease) of Citrus on Orange Fruit Physiology and Fruit/Fruit Juice Quality: Chemical and Physical Analyses. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, 2010; 58 (2): 1247 DOI: 10.1021/jf9031958
2. Anne Plotto, Elizabeth Baldwin, Greg McCollum, John Manthey, Jan Narciso, Mike Irey. Effect of Liberibacter Infection (Huanglongbing or ?Greening? Disease) of Citrus on Orange Juice Flavor Quality by Sensory Evaluation. Journal of Food Science, 2010; 75 (4): S220 DOI: 10.1111/j.1750-3841.2010.01580.x

Note: If no author is given, the source is cited instead.

Disclaimer: Views expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/~3/zl-SjElU6ds/130125111333.htm

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Lindsay Lohan Court Case Transferred to Judge Who's Not a Fan

Source: http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/2013/01/lindsay-lohan-court-case-transferred-to-judge-whos-not-a-fan/

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Text'nDrive 2 Out To Make Drive Time Useful For Contact, Safely

Texting and driving is a dangerous combination. Most anything that takes a driver?s attention off the road is a dangerous proposition, but for many drivers, the thought of losing all that potentially productive time is a hard pill to swallow. So how can drivers manage to keep safe on the road yet get some work done? Text?nDrive 2 wants to take a run at it.

Naturally, we start by saying that, again, anything that takes a driver?s attention off the road is a dangerous proposition, and as such, nothing that distracts from a driver?s full attention can ever really be endorsed. But since Text?nDrive 2 has applications not only in transit but also out of it, it has added value on that side of the spectrum as well. What Text?nDrive 2 does it that allows users to keep up with mail and messages in much the same way that they can listen to the radio. It converts e-mail and messages alike into speech, reading messages aloud for consumption. There?s no typing required, no contact with the device beyond the kind involved with, say, a GPS or radio.

But better yet, it works with several different e-mail systems, from Gmail to Yahoo and several others, to ensure that the system works the best it can. There?s also an upgrade available that adds still more functionality to it. While the app isn?t specifically optimized for the iPhone 5, it does offer support for all the iOS hardware, as well as for Android and BlackBerry. Though iOS users should take note that SMS is blocked for Apple hardware at the moment, so for you, Text?nDrive 2 will only read e-mail.

Naturally, like any speech-to-text conversion, there will be some problems. Expect plenty of Doonesbury-esque ?Egg freckles? moments as the speech to text concept gets used to your voice. But thankfully, for the most part, the text-to-speech conversion portions seem to work out much better overall. There?s nothing saying that an app like this can only be useful in a car, as the idea of having a way to speak and send responses to messages?powered by Nuance at last report?makes this a pretty potent system indeed.

It?s an excellent start, no mistake there, but things will only look better when cloud-based telephony systems are brought into play. Having things on hand like reporting and analytics tools and call answering systems will only prove better for business as getting a hold of just the right people becomes even easier for users, no matter how?or where?their calls are returned.

Text?nDrive may not be the best use of a commute, but it will likely go a long way toward adding productivity to some businesses, and that?s the kind of thing that?s generally more help than hindrance.

Related keywords: cloud-based telephony, text messaging, driving, GPS navigation software

Source: http://www.halloo.com/Blog/index.php/textndrive-2-out-to-make-drive-time-useful-for-contact-safely/

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Rights group says Egypt police behaves like 'gang'

CAIRO (AP) ? An Egyptian rights group on Tuesday accused the country's police of "acting like a gang," torturing detainees and continuing to use violence to impose control while the country's president flounders at efforts to reform the powerful security apparatus.

The report released by The Egyptian Initiative For Personal Rights documented 16 cases of police violence in which 11 people were killed and 10 tortured inside police stations. Three died under torture during the first four months since President Mohammed Morsi took office on June 30, it said.

The police were among the most hated state institutions under Hosni Mubarak, Egypt's longtime ruler deposed in a popular revolt in 2011. Flagrant abuse, torture and unjustified detention were some of the main drivers of the uprising.

"Police still use excessive force and torture is still systematic just as it was under the Mubarak regime," the group said in its report, entitled "Killing Continues." It also accused the police of carrying out random shootings and collective punishment.

The government did not immediately respond to the report. An Interior Ministry official who did not give his name because he was not authorized to brief the media described it as "untrue" and "full of exaggerations."

The rights group said the cases it investigated show that police still operate with impunity and a complete absence of accountability, with an increasing number of cases where officers had acted "like a gang taking revenge."

In one case, it said police attacked a village south of Cairo last summer, beating up pedestrians, smashing shops and destroying vehicles. When residents protested, police returned the next day, firing tear gas and live ammunition at random, leaving four villagers dead and others wounded.

In another case, a police force allegedly trashed coffee shops and beat people in a village in the Nile Delta region northeast of Cairo in September. The group said one young man was arrested and beaten to death inside a police station.

When angry residents protested the killing in front of the police station, police responded by firing on the crowd, killing one and injuring another. The Interior Ministry said in a statement at the time that officers fired to prevent residents' from storming the station.

That same month, the group documented three deaths inside police stations in three different cities, where it said the official cause of death was a suspicious "suicide" or "drop in blood pressure."

In a third and similar incident in southern Egypt, the group said police took revenge for the killing of one of their own. The group says they "imposed collective punishment" by opening fire randomly in the streets, attacking residents and injuring a 9-year-old girl with a bullet to the head.

Egypt witnessed an unprecedented collapse of its police force during the early days of the 2011 uprising, when tens of thousands of protesters outnumbered riot police and even chased them in the streets. Nearly 850 protesters were killed during the 18-day revolt. Some 100 policemen were charged with killing protesters, but almost all have been acquitted or seen the charges dropped.

With the country awash with weapons looted from police stations during the uprising or smuggled across borders from Libya, street violence has surged and civilians regularly react to police violence with riots and clashes.

In one of the latest incidents, at least 47 were injured on Tuesday when security forces clashed with protesters in the northwestern city of Marsa Matrouh on the Mediterranean Coast. According to a security official, the families of men sentenced to six months imprisonment by a military tribunal for drug dealing tried to storm a police station, prompting police to fire tear gas and attack the crowd.

The protesters could not be reached for comment. Military tribunals, widely rejected in Egypt, are known for their swift and harsh verdicts.

Just south of Cairo on the same day, three policemen were briefly kidnapped by drug dealers during a police ambush, a security official said. They were released when authorities sent reinforcements.

The two officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the press.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/rights-group-says-egypt-police-behaves-gang-185034853.html

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Australian firefighters test data-transmitting pills to monitor biometrics during work

A new swallowable pill has been trialled with 50 firefighters in Australia, aimed at monitoring body temperatures and other vital readings when working under extreme conditions. Using Equivital's EQ02 LifeMonitor capsule, the pill transmits metrics to a device housed on the chest. This then sends data on skin temperature, heart rate and respiration rate to an external computer. If a firefighter's core body temperature is increasing too quickly, they can then be moved from the frontline to a recovery area, hopefully reducing accidents and deaths caused by heat exhaustion.

Until now, the standard method involved measuring body temperatures through the ear, but this new method -- which was also used to monitor Felix Baumgartner's 23-mile drop to Earth -- offers a faster, more effective way of monitoring multiple vital signs. Research has so far focused on monitoring a firefighters' core temperature when they've been exposed to temperatures between from -3 to 124 degrees Celsius for about 20 minutes, but according to News.com.au, testing will continue on the Equivital capsules, with temperatures likely to go as high as 600 degrees Celsius -- about 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. We're just hoping that electrical firewands are next on the list.

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Terrific Advice And Tips For Successful Video Marketing ...

In today?s cut-throat world of business, companies need to do what they can to stand out. Video marketing can be just the tool to help you succeed. Read on to find out how you can create the best video possible.

Make limited use of expensive videos. Bright and flashy videos can often seem like a gimmick. Consider something more cost-effective instead. If you can afford to, hire a professional to create a quality video.

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Source: http://goozleology.com/terrific-advice-and-tips-for-successful-video-marketing.html

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Five Successful SEO Tips For Your Website - Work On the Internet

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Miscellaneous

Written by Anonymous ??

Saturday, 19 January 2013 06:33

Search engine optimization is by far one of the important aspects that have become indispensable if you want to see your website getting top rankings in the search. Different tools are used by SEO experts to get that extra edge which will help you knock up the website rating in major search engineslike Google and Yahoo. However, it is also a fact that not all SEO campaigns attain the success it aims at. No matter how hard you try and even get the best Dallas SEO experts in the job, still the expected results fail to take shape. What you need thus is are few golden rules that acts as a catalyst and increases your success ration in the web based market: Do not compromise on the content The most important part of your website is your content. At the end of the day it is a good informative and profound content is what is going to pill you through the edge. There is absolutely no scope of any compromise when optimizing the content of the website. It was and remains one of the foremost requirements for the success of any website. Lateral Thinking is advisable Common facts and information are in abundance in the web world. There is no dearth of information about subjects we deal in our day to day life. The trick is to think out of the box. Also, the general websites generally meet stiff competition compared to the one that has something new to offer. So ensure that you select a niche area and cash on it. Research keywords carefully Keywords need to be used optimally. The keyword is the main thread that will connect the website to the readers. Therefore, ensure that you have chosen the right and appropriate keywords to get best search results. At the same time the content should also have well utilized keyword and not a cluttered one. SEO friendly URLs Along with the content and the keyword, even the URLs too play an important role in getting the best ranking. Complicated and difficult URLs generally put off surfers. The URL should be by and large simple that describes what the page is about in a few words. Describe using tags and Meta tags You should create concisely informative tags and Meta description of all your Web pages. These meta descriptions are likely not use by Google any more for ranking, but they're useful in attracting attention from human readers in the search results page, so use them as much as possible. You can find out more about - copywriter houston, pr consulting, copywriting services Article Tags :

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Source: http://www.workoninternet.com/business/reviews/miscellaneous/223364-article.html

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Chefs hail first foodies with inauguration salute

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2011, file photo, celebrity chef Art Smith discusses a healthy journey to wellness during an interview with The Associated Press in Miami Beach, Fla., at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Smith served as Oprah Winfrey's personal chef and a Top Chef contestant. Smith is one of 6 chefs hosting the first Chef's Ball on Jan. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter, File)

FILE - In this Feb. 26, 2011, file photo, celebrity chef Art Smith discusses a healthy journey to wellness during an interview with The Associated Press in Miami Beach, Fla., at the South Beach Wine and Food Festival. Smith served as Oprah Winfrey's personal chef and a Top Chef contestant. Smith is one of 6 chefs hosting the first Chef's Ball on Jan. 10, 2013. (AP Photo/J Pat Carter, File)

FILE - This May 1, 2011 file photo shows Duff Goldman, the cake master behind Food Network's reality show ?Ace of Cakes,? speaking in Los Angeles. Goldman is making the cake for President Barack Obama?s Commander-in-Chief?s Ball. Goldman?s Charm City Cakes bakery said Saturday that it will bake a cake for the ball, one of two official inaugural balls the president will attend. (AP Photo/Katy Winn, File)

Actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson arrives at the 70th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on Sunday Jan. 13, 2013, in Beverly Hills, Calif. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP)

WASHINGTON (AP) ? Some of Washington's top chefs came together to salute the president ahead of the inauguration, in part because of the first family's influence on the culture around food.

Chicago-based Chef Art Smith opened his Capitol Hill restaurant Art and Soul for a late-night Chefs Ball expected to attract food fans of all stripes Saturday night with its relatively low ticket price of $75. Seven celebrity chefs teamed up for the charity event to prepare delicious bites for a sold-out crowd of more than 500.

From the White House garden to Michelle Obama's focus on healthy eating, Smith said the Obamas, more than any other first family, have embraced fresh American food and care about where food comes from.

"Can that little garden at the White House feed America? No. But you know what it can do? It can inspire America," Smith said. "Most importantly, it's that we as Americans all deserve good food, regardless of economic, social differences."

Smith was Oprah Winfrey's personal chef for years and competed on TV's "Top Chef Masters."

For his first inaugural ball, Smith cooked his trademark fried chicken. There would probably be a riot if he didn't, he said.

Guests included "Modern Family" actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Gayle King, co-anchor of "CBS This Morning" and Illinois Gov. Pat Quinn. The wait staff wore white bow ties from Ferguson's organization TieTheKnot.org to promote gay marriage rights in Illinois and across the country.

Chefs served up tiny lamb gyros, crab salad on a cornbread cracker and fried chicken and waffles on a stick, among other bites. The bar offered cocktails called "Stayin Put" and "Stickin Around."

Smith was joined by Washington restaurateurs Erik Bruner-Yang of Toki Underground, Scott Drewno of The Source, Todd Gray of Equinox Restaurant, Rock Harper of TV's "Hell's Kitchen" who helps lead the charity D.C. Central Kitchen and Mike Isabella, a "Top Chef All-Stars" finalist whose restaurants include Graffiato and Bandolero.

Isabella said he was new to Washington four years ago and that the city's food scene has come of age in the Obama era. He plans to open another restaurant later this year.

"I think D.C. is probably one of the biggest and fastest-growing culinary scenes in America," Isabella said. "It was a steakhouse town 10 years ago. Nowadays it's all about living in the city and being a part of the growth."

In the 1980s, Smith said he visited the Reagan White House when it was party central. The Reagans loved entertaining, he said, but all the cooking was French.

"America had not really discovered or embraced its food to say 'We are America. We are about our food. We are about this wonderful melting pot of people who have all come together and created this amazing culture,'" Smith said.

In the past 20 years, tastes have changed. As first lady, Hillary Rodham Clinton embraced American cooking, and Laura Bush brought Tex-Mex to the White House, Smith said. The Obamas have gone a step further to foster more conversation about fresh ingredients.

Isabella, who joined Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton's inaugural American Chefs Corps last year to use food as a tool for diplomacy, credits the Obama administration with changing attitudes around food.

"I think they're the first to really indulge into the whole culinary scene, putting chef programs together for schools and kids, dining in restaurants around the city and really believing in food and farm-to-table," he said. "It's been a huge, huge help for us."

___

Follow Brett Zongker on Twitter at https://twitter.com/DCArtBeat

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/4e67281c3f754d0696fbfdee0f3f1469/Article_2013-01-20-Inauguration-Chefs%20Ball/id-6c4b55176244444fa34498b4a33ec91f

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Dear Abby's legacy: Wit, warmth, and snappy advice

NEW YORK (AP) ? Two men had recently bought a house together in San Francisco, and the neighbors were annoyed. The men were entertaining "a very suspicious mixture of people," the neighbors wrote, asking: "How can we improve the neighborhood?"

"You could move," Dear Abby replied.

That zinger, contained in the 1981 collection "The Best of Dear Abby," was such classic Abby ? real name, Pauline Friedman Phillips ? that it moved her daughter to burst into laughter Thursday when reminded of it, even though she had just returned from the funeral of her mother. The elder Phillips had died a day earlier at age 94 after a long battle with Alzheimer's disease.

"People weren't really talking about homosexuality back then," Jeanne Phillips, who now writes the famous syndicated column, said. "But you know, there wasn't a subject my mother wouldn't take on."

As the world said goodbye to Dear Abby on Thursday, the Web was full of her snappiest one-liners, responses to thousands of letters over the decades that she wrote in her daily column. But her admirers noted that behind the humor and wit was a huge heart, and a genuine desire to improve people's lives.

"She really wanted to help people," said Judith Martin, the etiquette columnist known as Miss Manners. "Yes, she wrote with humor, but with great sympathy. She had an enormous amount of influence, and for the good. Her place in the culture was really extraordinary."

The long-running "Dear Abby" column first appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle in 1956. Phillips was hardly experienced, but she had managed to snag an interview for the job. A skeptical editor allowed her to write a few sample columns, and Phillips was hired.

She wrote under the name Abigail Van Buren, plucking the name Abigail from the Bible and Van Buren from American history. Her column competed for decades with that of Ann Landers, who was none other than her twin sister, Esther Friedman Lederer (she died in 2002.) Their relationship was stormy in their early adult years, but they later regained the closeness they'd had growing up in Sioux City, Iowa.

Carolyn Hax, who writes her own syndicated advice column, feels that one can't speak of one sister without the other, so influential were they both, and at the same time.

"Any of us who do this owe them such a debt," she said. "The advice column was a backwater of the newspaper, and now it is so woven into our cultural fabric. These columns are loved and widely read, by people you wouldn't expect. That couldn't have happened without them."

In a time before confessional talk shows and the nothing-is-too-private culture of the Web, the sisters' columns offered a rare window into Americans' private lives and a forum for discussing marriage, sex and the swiftly changing mores of the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

The two columns differed in style, though. While Ann Landers responded to questioners with homey, detailed advice, Abby's replies were more flippant and occasionally risqu?, like some collected for her 1981 book.

Dear Abby: My boyfriend is going to be 20 years old next month. I'd like to give him something nice for his birthday. What do you think he'd like? ? Carol

Dear Carol: Nevermind what he'd like, give him a tie.

Dear Abby: I've been going with this girl for a year. How can I get her to say yes? ? Don

Dear Don: What's the question?

Jeanne Phillips, who took over the column in 2002 after a few years of sharing the byline, recalled in a telephone interview Thursday her mother's response to a woman who wrote in detail of how many drinks she'd shared with her date one night. "Did I do wrong?" the woman wrote, in the daughter's retelling.

"Probably," her mom responded.

But with all the wonderful humor, the younger Phillips says she was most impressed with two things: her mother's compassion and her bravery. The compassion, she says, shone through especially when her mother met her readers. She remembers a young girl coming up at a speaking engagement and saying something quietly, at which point her mother embraced the girl, who wept on her shoulder.

"That is my favorite visual memory of my mom," she said.

Dear Abby's advice changed over the years. When she started writing the column, she has said, she was reluctant to advocate divorce.

"I always thought that marriage should be forever," she explained. "I found out through my readers that sometimes the best thing they can do is part."

But her bravery, her daughter says, was exemplified even more by her willingness to take on issues like abortion, AIDS, sexism and other hot topics. She caught some flack for writing about homosexuality.

"Whenever I say a kind word about gays, I hear from people, and some of them are damn mad," she said. "People throw Leviticus, Deuteronomy and other parts of the Bible to me. It doesn't bother me. I've always been compassionate toward gay people."

Phillips didn't always stop at answering letters; sometimes she called people directly.

"I'll call them. I say, 'This is Abby," she said. "How are you feeling? You sounded awfully low.' And they say, 'You're calling me?' After they start talking, you can suggest that they get professional help."

Her longtime editor, Alan McDermott of the Universal Uclick features syndicate, said he was struck by how she combined that compassion with an infectious sense of humor, and good spirits.

"I don't think I ever, in all those years, saw her without a smile on her face," said McDermott, who edited her column for some 20 years. The two would speak on the phone weekly, and he sometimes accompanied her on speaking engagements.

And even though Phillips was a good 30 years his senior, McDermott says, she was not above a little innocent flirting. One morning he called her hotel room, and she quipped, "I think you left you left your toothbrush here," he remembers with a chuckle.

Pauline Esther Friedman, known as Popo, was born on Independence Day 1918 in Sioux City, Iowa, 17 minutes after her identical twin, Esther Pauline (Eppie). Their father was a well-off owner of a movie theater chain. Their mother took care of the home. Both were immigrants from Russia who had fled their native land in 1905 because of the persecution of Jews.

Two days before their 21st birthday, the sisters had a double wedding. Pauline married Morton Phillips, a businessman, Esther married Jules Lederer, a business executive and later founder of Budget Rent-a-Car. The twins' lives diverged as they followed their husbands to different cities.

The Phillipses lived in Minneapolis, Eau Claire, Wis., and San Francisco, and had a son and daughter, Edward Jay and Jeanne. Esther lived in Chicago, had a daughter, Margo, and in 1955 got her job writing the advice column. She adopted its existing name, Ann Landers.

Pauline, who had been working for philanthropies and the Democratic Party, followed her sister's lead. She applied for the advice column without notifying her sister, and that reportedly resulted in bad feelings. For a long time they did not speak to each other, but their differences were eventually patched up. In 2001, the twins, then 83, attended the 90th birthday party in Omaha, Neb., of their sister Helen Brodkey.

The advice business extended to the second generation of the Friedmans. Not only did Jeanne Phillips take over "Dear Abby," but Esther Lederer's daughter, Margo Howard, wrote an advice column for the online magazine Slate.

___

Online: http://www.dearabby.com

___

Associated Press writers Bob Thomas in Los Angeles and Steve Karnowski in Minneapolis contributed to this report.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/dear-abbys-legacy-wit-warmth-snappy-advice-005457889.html

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Woods, McIlroy shoot 75s, miss cut at Abu Dhabi

Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland reacts on the 7th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Rory McIlroy from Northern Ireland reacts on the 7th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Tiger Woods from the U.S. plays a bunker shot on the 7th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

Justin Rose of England reacts after he missed a putt on the 10th hole during the second round of Abu Dhabi Golf Championship in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Jan. 18, 2013. (AP Photo/Kamran Jebreili)

ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (AP) ? Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy missed the cut at the Abu Dhabi Championship on Friday, a woeful start to the season for the world's top two golfers.

Woods missed it after he was penalized two shots for wrongly taking a free drop, while top-ranked McIlroy was frustrated trying to adjust to his new Nike clubs, even though he used his old Titleist putter in the second round. Both finished with 3-over 75s.

"When you don't hit fairways on this golf course, you can't score," McIlroy said.

Justin Rose played solid, mistake-free golf. Away from the large galleries, the Englishman shot a 69 for a 136 total and a one-shot lead at the halfway point over Jamie Donaldson (70) of Wales , Gonzalo Fernandez-Castano (67) of Spain and Thorbjorn Olesen (69) of Denmark .

Woods and McIlroy were expected to contend for the lead but often looked like weekend golfers. Their struggles captivated the crowds and their departure means it is the first time the world's top two players missed a cut in the same tournament since McIlroy and Luke Donald at the 2012 U.S. Open. The last time in a regular tournament came in 2005 by Woods and Vijay Singh at Disney World.

"I didn't hit it particularly well. I putted great but just didn't hit it very good. I was struggling with that," Woods said. "I have some work to do, and next week I'm playing at Torrey (in San Diego), and obviously it will be different weather there, so going to go back and get ready."

Woods thought he was safe in finishing his second round at 73. But he was advised by the European Tour chief referee Andy McFee of the penalty, giving him a 75 and 3-over total of 147. The cut for the top 60 plus ties was 2 over.

McFee said he warned Woods on the 11th tee of the penalty, which was a result of his taking a free drop when his ball was embedded in sand. It's not allowed.

"I called Martin (Kaymer) over to verify the ball was embedded. We both agreed it was embedded and evidently it was in sand," Woods said of the infraction that happened when his drive on 5 landed in a bed of vines. "Andy ruled I broke an infraction, consequently got a two-shot penalty. Andy feels the way he feels about it and I broke the rules."

Kaymer said he thought the ball was embedded and was surprised to hear of the ruling.

"I didn't know about it and he obviously didn't know about it, otherwise he wouldn't have done it. It's an unfortunate thing," Kaymer said. "Obviously he was fighting back a lot, and he was 3 or 4 over par, and trying to make the cut. He was playing very well coming in. He was making nice putts in the end."

McFee said Woods didn't challenge him on the ruling. It came to light when a spectator alerted the European Tour to the infraction, he said. After the drop, a reporter heard some spectators questioning whether the drop was appropriate.

"An embedded ball relief is through the green but in ground other than sand," McFee said. "I talked to him when he came off the 11th tee because I couldn't be sure about a two-stroke penalty until we got into the recording area."

Woods said it was frustrating to bow out of a tournament in this way, especially after he recovered from four bogeys on his first five holes ? the fifth subsequently becoming a triple. He birdied five of the last 11 holes including three in a row in the back nine.

"It's tough because I didn't get off to a very good start. I fought and got it back," Woods said. "I was right there and felt if I could post even par I had the chance to go into the weekend only eight back. Evidently it wasn't enough."

McIlroy posted a second straight 75 for a 6-over total of 150. Even a switch to his old putter for the second round didn't help. He putted poorly, flubbed several chips and drove erratically.

McIlroy carded three bogeys on his first seven holes to all but eliminate himself from the weekend. He had a string of birdies at the turn ? including a chip-in on 9 ? but wasted that with a bogey on 10 and another on 14.

"I didn't putt well again, so they were the two areas of the game; nothing was really on today," he said. "One of those things. I've got a few weeks off to work at it and try and get my game in decent shape for the U.S."

"It's very disappointing. You really want to get off to a nice start at the start of the season, but I've got to realize that it is only the start of the season and there's a lot of golf left. I said to the guys yesterday on the way back, as long as I feel like my game is in good shape heading into Augusta, that's all I'm worried about."

Rose started slowly but finished with a flurry. He had three of his four birdies on the back nine including on his 18th when his approach shot came within a few feet of the pin. Second at the Dubai World Championship last month, Rose said he was confident.

"There's a difference in how I feel about my game and how I trust my game, absolutely. I believe that any tournament I tee up in, I can win," Rose said.

Robert Rock, the defending champion from England, withdrew before the round because of illness.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-01-18-GLF-Abu-Dhabi-Championship/id-45fc8b7de6e948369995bb7e0d173cc0

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Google Tells Investors To Moderate Their Earnings ... - Marketing Land

Earlier today Google issued an accounting-related missive on its investor relations site that sought to correct a problem with financial analysts? earnings estimates for the company. Google will be reporting Q4 revenue numbers on Tuesday next week.

Google is compelled to report revenues for the part of Motorola that it is selling (Motorola Home) separate from its general earnings. Here?s what Google said:

In accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP), an entity is required to present the results of a business to be disposed as discontinued operations if the business is clearly distinguishable from the rest of the entity and the entity will not have any significant continuing involvement in the operations of the business after the disposal. Results from discontinued operations are required to be presented separately from the results of continuing operations, below net income from continuing operations.

As the sale of the Home business meets the above U.S. GAAP criterion, we are required to present the Home results as discontinued operations in our consolidated statements of income. That means our net income for this quarter as well as for Q212 and Q312 will be split between our ongoing operations and the Home business.

Google added that most financial analysts apparently hadn?t realized or recognized the accounting issue in their estimates for Google?s Q4 earnings. According to AllThingsD the practical impact of this will be to reduce Google?s consolidated earnings by roughly $1 billion.

Consensus estimates for Google?s Q4 earnings are more than $12 billion. This change will likely reduce them quickly.

Last quarter Google?s earnings were mistakenly released early and investors reacted with disappointment. This time Google wanted to correctly set expectations so that the line-item accounting for Motorola Home didn?t take people by surprise and have a negative impact on Google shares accordingly.

Related Topics: Google | Google: Business Issues

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Source: http://marketingland.com/google-tells-investors-to-moderate-their-earnings-expectations-31128

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Michelle Obama lets wardrobe take back seat

NEW YORK (AP) ? Michelle Obama has proven her fashion savvy time and again since she was introduced as first lady in a yellow sheath and coat by Isabel Toledo on Inauguration Day 2009 ? so much so that we don't discuss it nearly as much as we used to.

Four years ago, there was a daily barrage in the media: Jason Wu gown! J. Crew gloves! Jimmy Choo shoes! It remained that way for months and even years.

There was the Naeem Khan beaded strapless gown for the first state dinner in the Obama White House, the black racer-back dress by Michael Kors worn in her official portrait. Her wardrobe for the Obamas' state visit to England, including the white cross-neck halter gown by Tom Ford she wore to a black-tie event with Queen Elizabeth in London, and the fiery red Alexander McQueen she wore the for the state dinner the Obamas hosted for China generated news around the globe.

Even more recently, her pink Tracy Reese dress was practically an honored guest at the Democratic National Convention in September, and one of the moments so many are eagerly anticipating on Monday is when she'll emerge in her gown for the inaugural balls.

But she's figured out a way to largely move the focus from her style to her substance.

"What's really interesting about the first lady is that she's been able to incorporate the fact that she's stylish into a much larger persona," says Ariel Foxman, managing editor of InStyle magazine.

In the early going, there was intense focus on what she'd wear "because we hadn't seen a first lady who had such an innate style and sense of color ? and great arms," he adds. "It's been exciting to see a first lady embracing fashion by remaining consistently interesting and diverse in her fashion choices, and in doing that, she's been able to draw attention elsewhere."

She probably doesn't want the first question when she visits a school to promote healthy living to be about her sneakers, and she doesn't want the print of her dress to steal the thunder of a speech about veterans.

"Consistency has made her look much more matter of fact," Foxman adds.

Yet in an age of the overused term "style icon," Obama is one of the few modern women to deserve it. In the past four years she has adeptly walked ? usually in kitten heels or ballet flats ? the line between directional fashionista and everywoman.

She has a pretty deep tool box and she knows how to use it, says Kevan Hall, a Los Angeles-based designer. "Every designer wants to dress her," he says. (She has worn his label.)

"Just like any woman, she wants to look pretty, and I think she's having fun with it. It must be fun to be a girl with a big White House closet," Hall says, noting all the events, galas and speeches to dress up for.

She looks comfortable in clothes that can be a little edgy, and, Hall says, women find that inspiring.

Nick Verreos, fashion designer, "Project Runway" alum and instructor at Los Angeles' Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, was the host four years ago in Washington of the California State Society's luncheon celebrating inaugural fashion. "It has been a great journey watching her," he says.

He credits her with putting daytime dresses back on the map. After years of women favoring separates and jeans, Obama came along in her sheaths and A-lines. Then they were a trend on runways, malls and Main Streets.

"I know I always gravitate to the woman who's not the wallflower, and the first lady is no wallflower," Verreos says.

She also makes "conscious choices" about what she's going to wear, knowing that people will take note ? and read into it, he says.

"Of course she thinks about it," agrees InStyle's Foxman, "but she isn't preoccupied by it. She thinks about it in the way that everyone else does."

He describes her as a working mom who has those favorite go-to pieces: the sleeveless dresses, cardigans, capri pants, chunky jewelry, flat shoes and waist-nipping belts.

It's nice to see that she often wears the same pieces, finding new ways to mix and match them, Hall says.

The moment she's probably the most relaxed in her style is coming on and off Air Force One. Maybe travel encourages those above-the-ankle pants and flowy tops? "You just know there's some stretch in those pants," says Hall.

If you look at her style over the past few years, not much has changed, he adds, but you can tell she's grown more comfortable in her own skin, in her wardrobe and in her role. Casual clothes, looser hair and more natural makeup show that off.

The fashion industry is looking forward to another term, giving another chance for her to wear a variety of designer names and brands and call attention to new designers.

"It's a big business in this country," Foxman says. "We're waiting to see who she can pluck for obscurity on the inaugural night like she did with Jason Wu four years ago."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/michelle-obama-lets-wardrobe-back-seat-174030621.html

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CEO says Sony is on track for comeback

TOKYO (AP) ? Sony Corp., the struggling Japanese electronics and entertainment company, is headed in the right direction although its comeback is not yet complete, its chief executive said Thursday.

Kazuo Hirai told reporters that Sony is now more nimble and focused under his leadership which began nine months ago. Sony has lost money for the past four years, and has fallen behind powerful rivals such as Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics Co. in profitability and innovation.

Hirai acknowledged Sony had gotten bogged down in its sprawling bureaucracy, and stressed he is making a point of personal involvement in product development to make sure good ideas don't get squelched.

"I'm shepherding several of those projects personally myself to make sure that it doesn't get held up in the bureaucracy, or it doesn't suddenly fade away in the approval process," he said at Tokyo headquarters.

A continuing headache has been Sony's TV division, now in its ninth straight year of red ink.

Like other Japanese electronics makers, Sony is taking a beating from Chinese, Taiwan and South Korean rivals that offer products at much cheaper prices. Hirai said Sony will target customers willing to pay more and won't get sucked into a price war.

The make of Bravia TVs and PlayStation 3 game machines reports earnings next month for last year's final quarter. The numbers are expected to highlight a Sony midway through its recovery.

For the previous fiscal year ended March 2012, Sony reported a record annual loss of 457 billion yen ($5.1 billion) amid troubles exacerbated by factory and supplier damage in northeastern Japan from the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.

Still, Hirai was upbeat, stressing his determination to move or "wow" people with new products.

He proudly held up Sony's new waterproof, full-HD cellphone, set to go on sale around the world in the next few months.

That product, as well as the 4K or "ultra-HD" TV, whose displays have four times the pixels of today's TVs, received mostly positive feedback at the recent International CES gadget show in Las Vegas.

But Hirai acknowledged it may take several years, or as long as a decade, for 4K technology to catch on. He noted Sony's advantage in running a movie studio to make sure Sony Pictures offers 4K.

Yasunori Tateishi, who has written a book on Sony's recent woes, said the same price plunges that plagued flat-panel TVs could hit 4K products, unless Sony can clearly demonstrate that it is offering a superior product.

"Sony needs to show that it is showcasing its unique imagery technology, not doing something everyone is doing," he said. "It needs to create new sectors in the electronics market. Otherwise, it's stuck fighting over the crumbs of the same pie."

Sony has been criticized for failing to take advantage of having both entertainment and electronics businesses. Still, Hirai was sticking to the old "synergy" strategy, while making changes such as revamping senior management and carving out alliances.

He pointed to Sony's investment in Japanese medical equipment maker Olympus Corp. and joint development with Panasonic Corp. in OLED, or organic light-emitting diode, displays as the kind of partnerships in the works.

"We need to be a lot faster in decision making. We need to be a lot faster in execution. We need to be passionate about our product," Hirai said. "Are we perfect? No. But I think we've improved significantly."

___

Follow Yuri Kageyama on Twitter at www.twitter.com/yurikageyama

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/495d344a0d10421e9baa8ee77029cfbd/Article_2013-01-17-AS-Japan-Sony/id-ee8359e423ae47978a2c2103e0bc3048

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What Book Has Helped Shape Who You Are Today?

One of the best things about books is their ability to really help define you as a person. If you had to choose just one book that shaped who you are today (whether you read it as a kid or just last week), what would it be?

It might be hard to pick just one book, but think about which book(s) influenced your career choice, your interests, or your philosophy on life. Ones that have helped you through life's ups and downs are also good candidates.

Share that book with us below and discover, possibly, from others' comments another life-changing book to read.

Source: http://feeds.gawker.com/~r/lifehacker/full/~3/KodWRcQaFdk/which-book-has-helped-shape-who-you-are-today

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SIAP - Peter Tebow on Twitter

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Honda Urban SUV Concept, New Small SUV, Debuts At Detroit Auto ...

Tesla Motors

Franz von Holzhausen, Chief Designer, Tesla Motors speaks at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.

VIA Motors' High-Flying Conference

Trapeze artists Marina Luna, left, and Cameron McHenry of Duo de Luna perform at the opening of the VIA Motors news conference on Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit.

Peter Schreyer, Meet Peter Schreyer

Peter Schreyer, right, President and Chief Design Officer for Kia Motors, looks towards a model sporting a video images of himself at the Kia unveiling during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.

All-New Acura MDX Concept

Acura NSX

Acura NSX

Ford Transit Concept Wagon

Fort Atlas Concept

The Ford Atlas concept pickup is unveiled at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.

Ford Atlas Concept

The Ford Atlas concept was revealed Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2012. (AP Photo)

Nissan Verde Note

The Nissan Versa Note is revealed at the 2013 North American International Auto Show media preview Jan. 15, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

North American International Auto Show Held In Detroit

Al Castignetti, Vice President and General Manager Nissan Division, introduces the Nissan Versa Note at its reveal at the 2013 North American International Auto Show media preview Jan. 15, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Nissan Resonance

The Nissan Resonance debuts at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Volkswagon Beetle

A dancer performs near a Volkswagon Beetle at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Corvette All Lit Up

Light projected on the soon to be unveiled 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray, the night before press previews start at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 13, 2013. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

Rocking Out With The New Corvette C7

The 7th-generation Chevrolet Corvette, the C7, is revealed to the media at the Russell Industrial Complex Jan. 13, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The redesigned 2014 Corvette was revealed at a preview of the 2013 North American International Auto Show, which opens in Detroit January 14th. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Chevrolet Unveils New Corvette, The C7

Mark Reuss, General Motors' President of North America, unveils the 7th-generation Chevrolet Corvette, the C7, to the media at the Russell Industrial Complex Jan. 13, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The redesigned 2014 Corvette was revealed at a preview of the 2013 North American International Auto Show, which opens in Detroit January 14th. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Corolla Furia Concept

A journalist photographs Toyota Division General Manager Bill Fay as the Corolla Furia Concept is unveiled during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Bentley's GT Speed Convertible

Bentley Chairman and CEO Wolfgang Schreiber unveils the GT Speed Convertible during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Hyundai Genesis HCD-14 concept car

The Hyundai Genesis HCD-14 concept car is unveiled at the North American International Auto Show, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Detroit, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

Stars Come Out To Auto Show

Diane Kruger, Josh Jackson and Bruce Hornsby make an appearance at the Mercedes-Benz press conference. (NAIAS Photo)

Mercedes Holds Event Prior To Start Of Auto Show In Detroit

Dr. Dieiter Zetsche Chairman of the Board at Mercedes-Benz introduces the 2014 CLA at the North American International Auto Show on January 13, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. The auto show will be open to the public Jan. 19-27. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Hyundai Genesis HCD-14 concept car

The newly unveiled Hyundai Genesis HCD-14 concept car, sporting "suicide doors", at the North American International Auto Show, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Detroit, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

North American International Auto Show Ford Exhibit

Cars are displayed at the Ford exhibit at the 2013 North American International Auto Show media preview at the Cobo Center January 14, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Approximately 6,000 members of the media from 68 countries are attending the show this year. The 2013 NAIAS opens to the public Jan. 19th. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

GM Leaders React

General Motors Senior Vice President Mary Barra, left, President of North America Mark Reuss, center, and Cadillac Chief Engineer David Leone react after the Cadillac ATS is named North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Karmin's Amy Heidemann performs at Detroit NAIAS 2013

Karmin's Amy Heidemann performs at the launch of the Mercedes CLA class car at a press event on the eve of the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 13, 2013. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)

The BMW 4 Series Coupe Concept

The BMW 4 Series Coupe Concept appears on display at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Mercedes Chairman Of The Board Launches CLA

Mercedes Chairman of the Board Dr. Dieter Zetsche speaks at the launch of the company's CLA class car on the eve of the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, January 13, 2013. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)

2013 Jeep Compass

The 2013 Jeep Compass is introduced at the North American International Auto Show, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Detroit, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

GM Chair And CEO Akerson Meets With Press

Daniel F. Akerson, General Motors Chairman and Chief Executive Officer speaks to reporters at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Honda Urban SUV Concept

The Honda Urban SUV Concept is shown at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Infiniti introduces 2014 Q50

Infiniti introduces the 2014 Q50 to replace their best-selling G sedan at the North American International Auto Show on Jan. 14, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)

Lincoln MKC Crossover Unveiling

The new Lincoln MKC crossover concept vehicle makes its world debut at the media preview of the 2013 North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center January 14, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. Approximately 6,000 members of the media from 68 countries are attending the show this year. The 2013 NAIAS opens to the public Jan. 19th. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images

Lincoln MKC Crossover Concept Vehicle

The new Lincoln MKC crossover concept vehicle makes its world debut at the media preview of the 2013 North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center Jan. 14, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Engineer David Leone With Cadillac ATS Prize

Cadillac Chief Engineer David Leone kneels in front of the Cadillac ATS which was named North American Car of the Year at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Getting Perspective On The Mini

The Mini exhibit appears on display at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee

The new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee makes its world debut at the media preview of the 2013 North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center Jan. 14, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne Checks Out The Show

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 14: Chrysler Group Chairman and CEO Sergio Marchionne (left) and Fiat Chairman John Elkann (right) watch the introduction of the new Jeep Grand Cherokee at the media preview of the 2013 North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center Jan. 14, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Fiat On Display at Detroit NAIAS 2013

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 14: People visit the Fiat exhibit at the 2013 North American International Auto Show media preview at the Cobo Center Jan. 14, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

Mercedes CLA

The Mercedes CLA class car is premiered at a press event on the eve of the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Michigan, Jan. 13, 2013. (Geoff Robins/AFP/Getty Images)

Corolla Furia Concept car

Toyota unveils its Corolla Furia Concept car during the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

2013 Jeep Compass

The 2013 Jeep Compass is introduced at the North American International Auto Show, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Detroit, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

GM Senior Veep Mary Barra Speaks

Mary Barra, General Motors Senior Vice President, Global Product Development speaks at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Corvette Stingray

The new Corvette Stingray is displayed after its unveiling in Detroit, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, the night before press days at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. When 1,000 GM engineers and designers started work on the next-generation Corvette, they began with the usual priority list for a muscle car, but topping the list was something that belies the roar of the Chevrolet's giant V-8: Gas mileage. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

2014 Chevy Corvette Stingray Interior

This undated product image provided by General Motors shows the all-new 2014 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. General Motors unveiled the revamped Corvette, the first new version of the iconic sports car in nine years, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, in Detroit. (AP Photo/General Motors, Alan Vanderkaay)

Audi Takes An Angular Approach To 2013 Exhibit

The Audi exhibit is shown at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

RAM CEO Fred Diaz With Ram 1500 Prize

Fred Diaz, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ram Truck Brand, stands with the Ram 1500 after the vehicle was awarded the North American Truck of the Year at media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Ford CEO Mulally And Chairman Ford Share A Laugh

Ford Motor Company CEO Alan Mulally (left) and Ford Chairman Bill Ford (right) talk while waiting for the start of the reveal of the new Lincoln MKC crossover concept vehicle during its world debut at the media preview of the 2013 North American International Auto Show at the Cobo Center Jan. 14, 2013 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images)

The Mercedes-Benz SLK250

The Mercedes-Benz SLK250, left, sits on display at the media previews for the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Down In The Trunk Of The Corvette Stingray

The rear trunk hood is opened to highlight the trunk space of the new Corvette Stingray after its unveiling in Detroit, Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013, the night before press days at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. When 1,000 GM engineers and designers started work on the next-generation Corvette, they began with the usual priority list for a muscle car, but topping the list was something that belies the roar of the Chevrolet's giant V-8: Gas mileage. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen With Q50

Infiniti President Johan de Nysschen talks about the Infiniti Q50 at the North American International Auto Show, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Detroit, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

Genesis HCD-14 concept car

Hyundai Chief Designer Chris Chapman, right, shows off the Genesis HCD-14 concept car, at the North American International Auto Show, Monday, Jan. 14, 2013, in Detroit, Mich. (AP Photo/Tony Ding)

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/14/honda-urban-suv-concept-detroit-auto-show_n_2473753.html

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