Insert Coin: SmartThings wants to connect your dog, mailbox and kitchen cabinets to the internet

In Insert Coin, we look at an exciting new tech project that requires funding before it can hit production. If you'd like to pitch a project, please send us a tip with "Insert Coin" as the subject line.

Sometimes you just can't remember if you turned off the toaster oven before leaving the house. Sitting at work, you might wonder, "is my house burning down?" or "should I go home and check?" You could run home, of course, or you could just link that croissant cooker up to the internet and switch it off from your phone. SmartThings promises to let you do just that, offering a system that connects everyday physical objects to a cloud-based control center. The project aims to provide users with a bevy of end-devices -- automatic door locks, thermostats, humidity sensors, presence sensors, power outlet switches and more -- that connect to a router-like SmartThings hub. From here the user can easily see and control these devices on the SmartThings mobile app.

That alone would be pretty handy -- but the SmartThings team decided to take it a step further by building SmartApps, that is, applications for further customizing how SmartThings devices (and the user) interact with the every day objects they're attached to. The platform is going to remain open, too, allowing owners and developers to build custom applications to fit their needs. Better still, the project is on a tight time line, and aims to put its product in backer hands by December -- of course, it'll have to reach its $250,000 Kickstarter goal first. Check out the team's pitch after the break, or hit up the source link below for more details.

Continue reading Insert Coin: SmartThings wants to connect your dog, mailbox and kitchen cabinets to the internet

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Insert Coin: SmartThings wants to connect your dog, mailbox and kitchen cabinets to the internet originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 26 Aug 2012 12:29:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Source: http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/26/insert-coin-smartthings-wants-to-connect-your-dog-mailbox-and/

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Tropical Storm Isaac 2012: Exact Path Uncertain As Florida Keys, Caribbean Hit By Storm

Tropical Storm Isaac is already hitting the Florida Keys with rain and wind, and it may become an even stronger hurricane as it makes its way toward the northern Gulf Coast.

Isaac is expected to make landfall somewhere along the Gulf Coast by Tuesday or Wednesday ? the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. That storm caused disastrous flooding all along the coast. A hurricane hasn't hit the Gulf Coast since Ike in 2008.

REPUBLICAN NATIONAL CONVENTION

Party officials are trying to cram four days of convention events and festivities into three as Isaac approaches. The storm is not expected to directly hit Tampa, but those in attendance ? and especially those protesting outside ? can expect to get wet.

DAMAGE

Most of the damage down by Isaac so far has been in the Caribbean. At least seven people were killed by flooding in Haiti, including in tent cities filled with earthquake victims, and two others in the Dominican Republic. Isaac scraped Cuba, downing power lines and trees. As of early Sunday afternoon, the storm was just beginning to hit the Florida Keys and had done little damage aside from scattered power outages.

WHERE WILL IT HIT?

On Sunday afternoon, Isaac is expected to pass over the Florida Keys. From there, it will hit somewhere along the northern Gulf Coast.

Forecasters at the U.S. National Hurricane Center have warned that right now, it's extremely difficult to determine exactly where on the Gulf Coast Isaac will make a direct hit. But it is expected to gain significant strength over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico, and is likely to become at least a Category 2 storm. And it is a massive system: Tropical storm conditions extend as far as 200 miles from the center, meaning even communities not in the direct path could get a lashing.

• Heavy storm clouds hover over the skyline of downtown Miami as Tropical Storm Isaac's weather bands reach the Miami area aon Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Carl Juste)

• Folko Weltzien, 38, kite surfs as high winds from Hurricane Isaac gusts on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Miami. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Carl Juste)

• A person walks by a sign warning about Hurricane Isaac, in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

• A message warns drivers of severe weather on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, in Miami. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/The Miami Herald, Hector Gabino)

• Workers put up shutters at a local cafe in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012, as the prepare for Tropical Storm Isaac. Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

• A cyclist rides his bike in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012. Tropical Storm Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

• Craig Jones, left, and Kimberly Branson secure their boat in Key West, Fla., Sunday, Aug. 26, 2012 in preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac. Tropical Storm Isaac gained fresh muscle Sunday as it bore down on the Florida Keys, with forecasters warning it could grow into a dangerous Category 2 hurricane as it nears the northern Gulf Coast. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

• Shira Edllan Gervasi, of Israel, puts her name on plywood protecting a storefront in Key West, Fla., in anticipation of Tropical Storm Isaac on Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. Isaac's winds are expected to be felt in the Florida Keys by sunrise Sunday morning. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

• Oren Eshel boards a storefront on Duval Street in Key West, Fla., Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012 in preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac, Saturday, Aug. 25, 2012. Isaac's winds are expected to be felt in the Florida Keys by sunrise Sunday morning. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/26/tropical-storm-isaac-2012_0_n_1831665.html

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Galt, Gold and God | Gather

August 25, 2012 11:09 AM EDT

views: 10 | comments: 1

Galt, Gold and God

I read both of Ayn Rand's major books - Atlas Shrugged and The Fountainhead -- when I was 19 and thought, at the time, that she must be a psychotic with major control and power issues. It astonished me that so many people actually took her seriously. Years later I became very good friends with Nathaniel Branden her onetime lover and for many years, before his own disillusionment, her leading spokesperson. I asked Nathaniel, whom I both liked and respected, what he had found so beguiling. I confess after his explanation it still didn't make any sense to me. Objectivism is such obvious nonsense. I place it as the antipode to Marx's Das Kapital. Both of them theoretical works written by people who hadn't a clue what real life was about -- and who were utter hypocrites to boot. It tells me more about Paul Ryan than I want to know that he remains enthrall to Rand, and the idea that a Vice President of the United States would be influenced by her I find quite scary. Stephan A. Schwartz? www.schwartzreport.net

PAUL KRUGMAN, Nobel Laureate and Op-ed Columnist - The New York Times

So far, most of the discussion of Paul Ryan, the presumptive Republican nominee for vice president, has focused on his budget proposals. But Mr. Ryan is a man of many ideas, which would ordinarily be a good thing. In his case, however, most of those ideas appear to come from works of fiction, specifically Ayn Rand?s novel 'Atlas Shrugged.? For those who somehow missed it when growing up, 'Atlas Shrugged? is a fantasy in which the world?s productive people - the 'job creators,? if you like - withdraw their services from an ungrateful society. The novel?s centerpiece is a 64-page speech by John Galt, the angry elite?s ringleader; even Friedrich Hayek admitted that he never made it through that part. Yet the book is a perennial favorite among adolescent boys. Most boys eventually outgrow it. Some, however, remain devotees for life. And Mr. Ryan is one ...

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Source: http://newspoliticsecon.gather.com/viewArticle.action?articleId=281474981580124

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The Positives of Getting an Online Degree

Today, many employers require a degree before they'll even consider a candidate for a job. However, going to college requires a substantial investment of time and money, and many people are stuck at dead-end jobs because they can't afford to pay for an education.

Today, that problem is a thing of the past. Thanks to online schools, improving job skills has never been easier. An online degree is a convenient and effective way to enhance any resume, and with hundreds of programs available across the country, it's never been easier to find an online school for you.

Are you thinking of getting an online degree? Here are a few of the advantages that an online degree offers:

Convenience: Normally, going to college represents the time commitment of a full-time job. Classes take up several hours of time per day, and homework assignments and studying take up several more hours on top of that. People with other commitments in life can't afford to spend that much time getting a degree, which is why online schools offer an effective middle ground - students can choose exactly when they want to work on their classes and set up a schedule that works for them. Getting an online degree is set up to be as convenient as possible.

Affordable: Since students of online schools aren't attending regular classes or using the facilities of a physical university, tuition is often priced at a more affordable rate. You might get the same degree as somebody who attended traditional university courses, but you could end up paying significantly less for your online degree.

Quality learning: The internet has made it easy to teach even the most complex lessons across vast distances. Instead of reading through textbooks on your own and trying to figure out the mysteries of the world, today's online schools often feature videos and other online information that makes it easy for students to learn the material. You might even be able to talk with your professor over webcam to enhance the learning experience.

Effective communication: The days of using snail mail to hand in assignments are far in the past. Today, online schools use the internet and email to communicate with students. If you need to ask a teacher a question, it's just a quick email away. Some online schools even have video chat-rooms, virtual lecture halls, and other tools that use modern technology to its full potential.

Online degrees are an effective way to expand your education. If you've constantly delayed going back to school due to other commitments in life, then an online school provides affordable convenience that you can trust. With hundreds of different degrees available online, there has never been a better time to pursue an online degree.

Are you in the Caribbean and interested in getting an online graduate degree? If so, make sure you check out Southpoint Education at http://seidegrees.com today!

Source: http://articles.submityourarticle.com/the-positives-of-getting-an-online-degree-290295

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Ann Romney has Secret Service protection

WASHINGTON (AP) ? The wife of Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney now has Secret Service agents assigned to her at all times. The move comes as her husband is set to formally receive the GOP presidential nomination.

Mitt Romney has had Secret Service protection since January.

It's standard practice for the wives of presidential candidates to receive such protection as Election Day approaches.

Agents accompanied Ann Romney to a supermarket near the Romney's New Hampshire vacation home on Sunday morning.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ann-romney-secret-protection-144536920.html

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REQUIREMENTS NEEDED FOR A PERSONAL LOAN

Bask in the Golden Glory of Los Angeles

Of all the bright and big cities in the United States of America, Los Angeles is one of the most prominent and popular of all time because it is the place where the superstars, the rich and the famous come out to play. Ever since the boom of Hollywood and sporting events in this country, [?]

Business Ideas for Creative Moms

Will it be a success or just roll along getting a sale here and there? I don?t know. I just have to do my best at marketing the product. I do know one thing; the website will not flop because I did my market research before I launched it. All the market research that I [?]

High Quality Metal Business Cards

Many people debate how creative you should be with your business cards. Some say it?s best to be simple and plain to show a no-nonsense approach but others argue that a card that displays your creativity and passion will impress upon clients your unique skills. There is no right or wrong way to design a [?]

Internet and Business Online

Search engine optimization plays a key role in web surfers finding and landing on your page so attention should be paid to optimization and of course, you want to gear that towards the heavy hitters like Google, Bing and Yahoo. But you also want to make sure that your optimization is not only cuddling up [?]

Essentially Investing your Money in Something Real

Traditionally, experienced investors have always gravitated to what they?ve considered safe havens during the more uncertain financial times. They correctly recognized the necessity to keep their money producing for them especially through the most hazardous of market conditions. In years past, investing in real estate had been the no-brainer during stock ma [?]

Source: http://www.riskmanagement-events.com/requirements-needed-for-a-personal-loan.html

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PFT: Cardinals not ready to name starting QB

After a bailiff cries ?all rise? and Judge David S. Doty strolls, marches, and/or glides into his Minneapolis courtroom the morning after the Giants host the Cowboys in the first game of the regular season, the NFL and NFLPA will get their first glimpse into the predispositions of the jurist who?ll decide whether or not the union?s surprising claim of a ?secret salary cap? in 2010 may proceed.

It was a surprise because the claim came well after 2010 ended, and after the new CBA presumably wiped the slate clean between the league and the players, erasing all pending legal issues including any collusion claims that could have been made based on actual or perceived restraints on spending in a year that was supposed to have none.? (Technically, the labor deal imposed a handful of limits in 2010, such as restrictions on the free-agent signings by the teams finishing in the final eight from 2009.)

It was a surprise also because the NFLPA had signed off on cap penalties imposed on the Cowboys and Redskins, penalties which revealed that the two teams were being punished because they didn?t comply with the ?spirit? of a salary cap that didn?t exist.? The union agreed with the penalties because the union desperately needed the NFL likewise to agree to a number-fudging that would allow the NFLPA to avoid the kind of reduction in the salary cap from 2011 to 2012 that would have been awkward, to say the least, as executive director DeMaurice Smith?s re-election approached.

Now that the billable hours have hit the fan, Judge Doty will have to decide whether he?s more persuaded by technicality, or by equity.

As framed by the NFLPA in its final written submission, a copy of which PFT has obtained, the players claim that the NFL didn?t do enough to engineer a release and waiver of claims for past collusion when the new CBA was finalized and all pending litigation was concluded in 2011.? Apart from whether the documents drafted by the parties contained the right magic words to make the claims for collusion in 2010 disappear, the NFLPA has advanced an intriguing argument based on the nature of class actions.? (Try to stay awake on this, please.? If it helps, the link on ?magic words? goes to a Bugs Bunny cartoon.)

The union smartly argues that claims made on behalf of a class of litigants can be extinguished by court order only.? And so the union claims that, by not ensuring that Judge Doty would officially wipe out the collusion claims, the collusion claims weren?t wiped out.

If Judge Doty agrees, it will mean that the league?s lawyers screwed up.

Balanced against that technical application of the rules is fairness and common sense.? Regardless of the specific words or procedures used by the parties, the idea was to hit the reset button on all legal issues between the parties.? The league made concessions and the players made concessions and now the players are trying to avoid one of the concessions they made.? Some judges would decide, quickly, that such an outcome simply isn?t fair.

Compounding the potential for a finding that the NFLPA is pushing for a fundamentally unfair outcome is the fact that the players gladly signed off on cap penalties that necessarily exposed the existence of collusion in 2010 in order to get something the NFLPA needed ? a higher salary cap in 2012.? It?s unseemly, to say the least, for the NFLPA to now try to use that which it gave up to get a high cap number as the basis for seeking billions in collusion damages for allegedly depressed spending in 2010, especially since it should have been obvious to anyone paying attention that something fishy was going on.

Did the NFL engage in collusion in 2010?? Yes, in our opinion.? Should the NFLPA has done something about it in 2010?? Yes, in our opinion.? Is there something that doesn?t feel right about the NFLPA agreeing to the cap penalties that made the collusion crystal clear and then suing for collusion?? Absolutely.

But what we/I/anyone else thinks doesn?t matter.? Judge Doty will provide the first official word on the issue.? And if Doty agrees that the collusion case may proceed, look for the NFL try to appeal that decision immdiately, arguing that if the next level in the federal court system sees it the NFL?s way, there?s no reason to spend the time and money associated with developing the evidence that would prove collusion.

Even though that evidence should be fairly easy to find.

Source: http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2012/08/24/whisenhunt-not-ready-to-name-a-starter/related/

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