Solar Winds IP Address Manager

Solar Winds IP Address Management provides automated vendor-independent DHCP, DNS, and IP Address Space Management. It's an excellent, robust tool and provides lots of customization and flexibility in managing IP addresses throughout a business' infrastructure. Starting at $2K, it's not cheap; but, if you need the functionality it can provide, it's well worth the price.

Managing IP Adresses
IP address management is a critical part of managing a network. Avoiding conflicts, successfully creating subnets, and keeping tabs on DHCP-assigned addresses are all key to a smoothly-running network. Network administrators can manage some aspects of IP addresses through DHCP and DNS servers deployed on the network, but management options are limited and if you are dealing with several different subnets, management can become a nightmare just relying on DHCP or DNS server interfaces alone.

Microsoft recently added IP address management (IPAM) to its latest Windows server operating system, Server 2012. Native IPAM support in a Windows OS is a welcome new feature for many server administrators who have been mostly relying on third-party IPAM solutions. However, in my testing, IPAM support via Windows alone still has some limitations such as its inability to automatically discover non-Microsoft devices.Therefore, larger organizations with several subnets or many network nodes that may be considering an upgrade to Windows Server 2012 will likely still have to rely on a third-party IPAM solution. Solar Windows IP Address Manager is a worthy consideration.

This software does not come cheap, however. Pricing starts at $1,995 and licensing is based on the number of used IP address in your organization. Solar Windows and other companies offer free IPAM tools that may be useful for networks with few subnets and nodes, but if you are looking for the ultimate in IPAM, IP Address Manager is worth the price.

Install
Solar Winds offers a fully-functioning 30-day trial that can be downloaded from the company's site. IP Address Manager is a stand-alone application that I easily installed on a Windows 7 client Windows 7 to manage IP addresses on a Server 208 R2 domain. Installation requires Microsoft's .NET framework either version 3.5 SP1 or 4.0. Running IP Address manager also requires IIS. You can perform a manual install to use with an existing SQL server database, otherwise, you can do the automated install and the Solar Windows software will install SQL Server Express.

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This is a Windows-centric application, though it will also discover non-Windows IP addresses. Running it on a Windows 7 machine provided a smooth install and peppy performance.

You can set up IP Address Manager to login with a Windows domain account. After first install, you just use the default username and password displayed at first login to get into the interface and then you can change to a Windows account for login.

Features and Navigation
The first screen displayed is Discovery Central. This is where you can enter a subnet, import a file containing IP addresses in your organization, or add a DHCP or DNS server?all for discovering IP addresses.

I entered my network's subnet information. Every IP address, even ones assigned to virtual machines, was discovered in a few minutes on my rather small testing network.
Once discovery is complete, the IP Address Manager interface displays all IP addresses and associated information such as the address' status (if it's a reserved, used, or available address, for example), hostname, MAC address, DNS records, response time to a Ping, and more information.

You can also switch into a chart view. This displays a pie graph of the percent of IP addresses used, available, transient, and reserved. I easily saw that 94 percent of IP addresses in my subnet were available.

Clicking on a specific IP address and then on "View Details" option shows even more specific information about that network node such as IP address history, aliases, and lease expiration. You can also view information on IPv6 addresses.

?Solar Windows' IPAM software also includes some powerful tools. One is a subnet allocation wizard. This tool lets you allocate subnets from one specific supernet, a process that can get messy if you just try to do the same using DHCP and DNS servers. Of course, there are myriad reports you can run, and it's easy to import and export IP address information.

The key to this software is centralization. Administrators can quickly view all IP address information via a dashboard, which is accessible by clicking the "Home" tab in the interface. The dashboard allows you to quickly add subnets, DNS or DHCP servers for discovery as well as get a quick glance which subnets have the most used IP addresses, top DHCP scopes in use, or you can search for a specific IP address?a good resource if you are trying to troubleshoot a problematic network device or client.

The dashboard also integrates with the Thwack community. This is a forum for getting help using the product as well as information about new features and capabilities as the software is updated.

Administrators also have the ability to customize IP Address Manager. You can add custom IP Address information as well as tailor the look of the interface and what's displayed.

Powerful IPAM
There's no question that Solar Winds IP Address Manager provides powerful IP Address Management. The question is, do you need it? Smaller networks, probably not?it's likely overkill and too expensive. But if IP address management is crucial to running your infrastructure, look into Solar Windows IPAM, a 4.5 out 5 star Editors' Choice for networking utilities.

More?Networking Software?Reviews:
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??? Wi-Fi Finder (for iPad)
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Members-only marijuana clubs open in Colorado

DENVER (AP) ? Recreational marijuana clubs opened Monday in Colorado, less than a month after the state governor signed into law a constitutional amendment allowing recreational pot use.

With a reggae soundtrack and flashing disco-style lights, Club 64 in an industrial area just north of downtown Denver opened Monday afternoon, with some 200 people signed up. The opening came less than 24 hours after club organizers announced they would charge a $29.99 admission price for the bring-your-own pot club.

Two Colorado clubs were believed to be the first legal pot dens in the nation.

New Club 64 members were firing up bongs and exchanging hugs before the sun set Monday, and they also planned to ring in the new year together.

"Look at this!" an excited Chloe Villano exclaimed as the club she created over the weekend opened. "We were so scared because we didn't want it to be crazy. But this is crazy! People want this."

Colorado's marijuana amendment prohibits public consumption, and smoke-free laws also appear to ban indoor smokeouts. But Club 64 attorney Robert Corry, who cut a ribbon at 4:20 p.m. for the new club, said private pot dens are permissible because marijuana isn't sold, nor is it food or drink. Villano, the club owner, said the pot club would meet monthly at different locations, with the $29.99 membership fee good for only one event.

On Monday, the pot club was meeting in a hemp-based clothing store near downtown. Hooded sweatshirts and backpacks were shoved to a corner. In the main area, a few small tables sat next to a screen showing "The Big Lebowski."

A bar decorated with blue Christmas lights handed out sodas and Club 64's official snacks ? Goldfish and Cheetos. The snacks were inspired by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who warned marijuana users the night of the marijuana vote, "don't break out the Cheetos or Goldfish too quickly." Club 64 gets its name from the number of the amendment.

The Denver Post reported that a similar pot club opened earlier Monday in the small southern Colorado town of Del Norte (del-NORT').

Corry said the pot clubs are intended for people who can't use marijuana at home because of local ordinance or because their landlords threaten eviction.

"It's just a place for adults to exercise their constitutional rights together," Corry said. "We're not selling pot here."

Among the new Club 64 members planning to ring in the New Year was Joe Valenciano of Denver. He heard about Club 64 yesterday and signed up immediately.

"We need more clubs like this," Valenciano said.

An hour after opening, no police were seen outside Club 64. Villano said the club wanted to open symbolically at 4:20 p.m., but that the party wouldn't get going until about 9 p.m., when DJs were scheduled to start as members prepared for pot-filled countdown to burn in the New Year.

___

Find Kristen Wyatt at http://www.twitter.com/APkristenwyatt

___

Online:

http://www.club-64.com

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/386c25518f464186bf7a2ac026580ce7/Article_2012-12-31-Marijuana%20Clubs/id-53c682ce837341068ec48be45228ec9f

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How To Prevent Facial Wrinkles From Showing Up Too Early

Because of the condition of our environment and the type of lifestyles we lead these days, it's quite difficult to keep the skin healthy and young. Premature facial wrinkles are prevalent thanks to air pollution, stress at work, and unhealthy diets. Though modern medicine has come up with many ways to remove the signs of aging, numerous people remain unwilling to use them. One reason is that these methods are extremely expensive. Surgeries can cost several hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and you may need to go through them more than once to get the results that you need.

Article by Health-and-Fitness:Anti-Aging Articles from EzineArticles.com (c) Health-and-Fitness:Anti-Aging Articles from EzineArticles.com - Read full story here.

Source: http://anti-aging.fitnessthroughfasting.com/anti-aging/how-to-prevent-facial-wrinkles-from-showing-up-too-early.php

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Delkus: Monday's soaking rain will leave North Texas by nightfall of New Years Eve

by PETE DELKUS

Bio | Email | Follow: @wfaaweather

WFAA

Posted on December 29, 2012 at 10:26 AM

Updated today at 11:22 AM

Widespread rain is on the way ?? another good soaker looks likely to drench most of North Texas on Sunday night. However, that rain will be out of the region by Monday evening, leaving New Years Eve dry.

Saturday will be a sunny to mostly sunny day with high temperatures in the middle 40s. Clouds will steadily increase Sunday, with most locations staying dry.?

High temperatures will climb to near 50 degrees. By tomorrow night, rain will develop across most of the area. A widespread, cold rain will bring high temperatures in the mid 40s. This will occur throughout the day Monday before slowly ending late in the afternoon, moving west to east.?

Rainfall totals will average between ?? to 1? with some isolated higher amounts.?

As of right now, the rain should be over in North Texas by 7 p.m., meaning all outdoor activities, including the biggest of them all, Big D NYE, will be dry.?

Source: http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/Delkus-Sundays-soaking-rain-will-leave-North-Texas-by-nightfall-of-New-Years-Eve-185156361.html

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Asus VG2787HE

• Pros

  Solid color performance. Great motion handling. Ergonomic stand.

• Cons Narrow viewing angles. No USB ports. Weak grayscale performance.
• Bottom Line

  The Asus VG278HE is a versatile 27-inch monitor featuring a 144Hz refresh rate and a speedy pixel response. It?s a bit pricey and loses some pop when viewed from an angle but it handles gaming and video with aplomb.

By John R. Delaney When we reviewed the Asus VG278H earlier this year we awarded it an Editors' Choice for its overall performance and the fact that it was one of the first 120Hz monitors to support Nvidia's 3D Vision 2 with LightBoost technology. However, we weren't thrilled with its lofty price, lack of USB ports, and narrow viewing angles. The new Asus VG278HE ($499.99 list) also supports 3D Vision 2 with LightBoost, but it doesn't come with a 3D Vision kit like the earlier model does. Unfortunately, it also suffers from narrow viewing angles and weak grayscale reproduction. On the plus side, it boasts a faster 144Hz refresh rate and delivers a sharp, detailed picture, especially when it comes to gaming. It's still more expensive than most similarly sized TN (twisted nematic) monitors, though.

Design and Features
The VG278HE uses a 27-inch TN panel with a maximum resolution of 1,920-by-1,080 and a matte anti-glare coating. The screen is framed by thin 0.75-inch black bezels with a silver Asus logo attached to the bottom edge. The 16-pound cabinet is 2.75 inches thick and is supported by a mounting arm and base assembly that provides height, tilt, and swivel maneuverability. The round base sports a 3D emblem and a glossy black finish.

There are seven clearly labeled buttons located beneath the bottom bezel, off to the right. In addition to acting as menu navigation buttons they are also hot keys for selecting an Asus Splendid (picture preset) mode, adjusting volume and brightness, and selecting an input source. The Menu button launches the OSD (on screen display) where you can also select one of the Splendid presets (standard, scenery, theater, game, night view, sRGB), and adjust brightness, contrast, saturation, skin tone, and color temperature levels. There's also a Smart View setting that is supposed to improve picture quality when viewed from an angle but colors appear washed out with this setting enabled.

The rear of the cabinet holds DVI, HDMI, and VGA video inputs as well as headphone and audio input jacks, all of which are downward facing. While the headphone jack is a nice touch it would be more convenient if it was mounted on the side of the cabinet. There are no USB ports on this model nor is there a built-in 3D transmitter such as the one embedded in the VG278H's upper bezel. As mentioned earlier the Nvidia 3D Vision 2 kit is not part of the package and must be purchased separately for around $150 if you want 3D capabilities. The 3-watt speakers are appropriately loud and crisp sounding but are no substitute for a good 2.1 channel desktop speaker setup.

The VG278HE comes with a three-year warranty covering parts, labor, and backlighting. Included in the box are a dual link DVI cable, a VGA cable, and an audio cable. An HDMI cable is not included. You also get a CD containing a user guide and drivers.

Performance
The VG278HE turned in mixed performance results. Color gradation was even throughout the DisplayMate color Scales test and the panel delivered bold, well saturated colors in my test photos but it had trouble reproducing dark shades of gray. The three darkest shades of the 64-Step Grayscale test appeared black when they should have been progressing to a dark gray. Light grayscale performance was only slightly better.

The panel's 144Hz refresh rate coupled with a 2-millisecond (gray-to-gray) pixel response provided excellent motion handling, a plus for the gaming crowd. The action was fast and smooth while playing Far Cry 2 on the PC, and there was no discernible judder or ghosting. With the monitor connected to a PS3 console it performed flawlessly while I played Burnout Paradise, an action packed street racing game. As with the PC game there was no noticeable judder, smearing, or ghosting while displaying fast moving images.

The VG278HE used 29 watts of power during testing with ECO mode disabled. Enabling Eco mode brings that number down to 25-watts without making the picture too dim. That's much better than the earlier VG278H, which used 41-watts of power. Still, the VG278HE can't match the energy efficiency of the Samsung S27B750V, which used just 19-watts of power.

The Asus VG278HE will appeal to gamers who want trace-free performance while blasting their way through today's graphics-laden action games, but it may not be the best choice for users who rely on accurate grayscale reproduction to edit photos. Its fast refresh and pixel response notwithstanding, it can't measure up to the Asus VG278H's performance and 3D features. As such, the Asus VG278H remains our Editors' Choice for big-screen gaming monitors.

More monitor reviews:
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By John R. Delaney Contributing Editor, Monitors and HDTVs

As a Contributing Editor for PC Magazine, John Delaney has been testing and reviewing business displays, PCs, servers, and other assorted hardware and peripherals for the past 8 years. A 13-year veteran of PC Magazine's...

Subscribing to a newsletter, constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. ');}} '); } }

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Cry For Help From Chinese Labor Camp Found in Box of Halloween Decorations

NTDTV.org
December 30, 2012

A woman from Oregon found a cry for help from a Chinese labor camp in a box of Halloween decorations. The letter claims to be written from the Masanjia labor camp in northeastern China.

The Masanjia labor camp is notorious for its harsh work conditions and the mistreatment of those interned inside. In the plea letter that found its way to the US, the writer specifically mentions the mistreatment of Falun Gong practitioners. Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline. Its adherents are brutally persecuted in China.

Pan Qi is a former detainee from Masanjia. She witnessed another Falun Gong practitioner who was forced fed neuroleptic drugs.

Read full article

This article was posted: Sunday, December 30, 2012 at 9:46 am

Tags: activism, foreign affairs, government corruption

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Source: http://www.infowars.com/cry-for-help-from-chinese-labor-camp-found-in-box-of-halloween-decorations/

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India?s Economy Looks to Rebound in 2013 (Voice Of America)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS and RSS Feed via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/273568411?client_source=feed&format=rss

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The Trends In Single Parent Dating Online (and Other Niches Too ...

Online dating is a very competitive and usually time consuming activity. You simply do not signup to any random dating sites and expect to find right away someone decent enough to be your date. Just like everything else, there is a process to follow and fortunately if you get a sensible dating guide, that process will be a lot easier and is guaranteed to produce positive results. There are lots of methods and proven tips about how to successfully find a date online and for single parents who are looking for a serious relationship; it cannot get any tougher than that.

Building Relationships Online

Speaking about building intimate relationships or finding the perfect companion you have been looking for, the easiest and less stressing form of dating is online dating and you will love this site by parents. All single dads should read this because at present, there is a growing trend in single parent dating most of these happen first in the internet. This is where you meet someone, go to a dinner and have some light drinks before heading to his or her house for a nightcap. Some would see this as decadent and morally wrong but to tell you frankly, we are in a new era and this has become a trend for majority of single parents who want to be in a casual relationship that is not dictating and limiting.

Building Relationships Online: Casual relationships are easy to find if you meet the right people!

The Advantage Of Online Dating For Single Parents

Online dating gives single parents the opportunity to meet someone and get to know them more personally as their relationship progresses. Often with some good advice from a reliable online dating guide, it will be a lot easier for a single parent to find a good website where they can create their own dating profile. Some would involve themselves in a serious relationship immediately and would later find out that his or her chosen partner is not really exactly who they are looking for. Serious commitments can hurt feelings when you try to break away from it and you get emotionally blackmailed afterwards that you just can?t find an easy way out. For single parents who want to have an intimate experience with younger men, online personals and internet based dating service is the best place to go as long as the site has a positive reputation due to its reliable dating service.

Great Advice For Having Flings

There are lots of people who are more than willing to date a single parent. But for first time daters, a good advice for having flings is often needed so as for them to find the visit best-fling-sites.com. Online dating is one of the most ideal options for single parents to have if they are not yet ready for any serious and long term commitments with another person. Being involved in a casual relationship is not as stressful and demanding as compared to serious ones where you have to devote most of your time trying to make and keep the relationships working. But always remember that your partner must be in the know about your intentions. Do not be sly and tricky about your dating plan. Don?t be devious and later learn that he is not comfortable with the idea of being with a single parent and they are just along for the experience.

Is It A Trend or Lifestyle?

The trend of dating single parents is fast becoming popular among other people not only for single parents along but also for those who really want to have a relationship with single moms and dads. With the advent of the internet and sites like cougar-dating-guide.com, this practice has been reinforced and majority of single parents are no longer limited to clubs and other events when looking for a man or woman to date. You can find more information here http://cougar-dating-guide.com/ about single parent dating and other things you need to know about online dating advice.

Looking for a man or woman to date

Starting a relationship online is much easier and less complicated which is one of the reasons why online dating service is a popular choice for single parents and other people who want to build a relationship with someone else.

Source: http://pr-priority.com/relationships/the-trends-in-single-parent-dating-online.html

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Stocks open lower as 'fiscal cliff' deadline nears

Stocks are heading lower for a fifth day on concern that Washington lawmakers will fail to reach a budget deal before a year-end deadline.

The Dow Jones industrial average slid 104 points to 12,992 in the first 40 minutes of trading Friday. The Standard & Poor 500 index fell 10 points to 1,408 and the Nasdaq dropped 19 points to 2,966.

If stocks end the day lower, it will mark the longest losing streak in three months.

President Barack Obama has returned from a Christmas break in Hawaii and will meet with congressional leaders at the White House to try thrash out the terms of a deal that would prevent across-the-board tax increases for millions of Americans as well as simultaneous government spending cuts beginning Jan. 1. Those measures, if implemented, could push the economy back into recession, economists say.

Stocks closed lower Thursday but erased most of an early loss after Republicans said they would reconvene the House of Representatives Sunday in hopes of piecing together a last-minute budget deal.

Despite the fiscal gridlock in Washington, major stock indexes are holding on to gains for the year. The Dow is up 6.5 percent, the S&P 500 index is 12 percent higher and the Nasdaq is up 14 percent.

Stocks rose in 2012 on optimism that a housing market recovery, coupled with an improving job market, will support economic growth. The Federal Reserve has also extended its bond purchasing program, which is intended to lower borrowing costs and encourage spending and investment.

Bond prices rose as investors moved money into defensive investments. The yield on the benchmark 10-year Treasury note fell to 1.70 percent from 1.75 percent late Thursday.

Energy stocks fell the most of the 10 industry groups in the S&P 500 index, dropping 1.2 percent. All 10 categories were lower in early trading.

Among stocks making moves:

Hewlett-Packard fell 35 cents to $13.71 after the computer and printer maker said the Department of Justice is investigating H-P's business software unit Autonomy. H-P bought Autonomy for $10 billion in 2011 and has accused the company's former management of fudging its accounting before the acquisition. H-P has lost almost half its market value this year, making it the biggest decliner among the 30 stocks in the Dow average.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-28-Wall%20Street/id-1c871e40d76e4a4fbcb008005ca3b6fe

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Investors Eye U.S. Budget Talks, Gold Pulls Back Slightly | Gold ...

Reuters reported that gold hovered around last week?s four month lows on Thursday, as investors continue to eye U.S. budget talks.

As quoted in the market report:

Gold fell $4.58 an ounce to $1,654.91 by 1059 GMT. It has come off a 4-month low of $1,635.09 struck last Thursday, but remains below a record high of around $1,920 hit in September 2011.

To view the whole Reuters report, click here.

Source: http://goldinvestingnews.com/30775/investors-eye-u-s-budget-talks-gold-pulls-back-slightly.html

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Moshi Monsters Moshlings Theme Park (3DS) Review - Nintendo Life

Goopendous or a Moshi-mess?

Moshi Monsters Moshlings Theme Park is based on the Moshi Monsters website, a popular Neopets-style virtual pet game that lets you adopt a monster, customise its home and play mini-games to collect prizes. The franchise's first video game outing took the monsters to a zoo, and now they're taking a break to vacation at a faraway amusement park. This latest game opens with various Moshi Monsters bailing out of a plane over the Moshlings Theme Park, scattering the little critters everywhere. It's your quest to rebuild the theme park, round up the monsters, and play mediocre digital approximations of carnival games.

The main focus of the game is on rebuilding the titular theme park, over six distinct areas. You play as a different Moshi Monster in each area, and work through a relatively linear chain of Arcade games (carnival-style mini-games) and Rescue Rooms in order to eventually unlock that level's Ride (a slightly more ambitious mini-game). The Arcade games include a Breakout clone, Moshi-themed Whack-a-Mole, a claw-prize game, a pie-flinging shooting gallery, and air hockey. None of them are any more exciting than they sound, unfortunately, though the Breakout clone and air hockey can be fun in short bursts.

The Rescue Rooms are where the game's star creatures are released from their oddly similar-looking prisons, and these are more interesting than the Arcade games, but marred by slow movement and slightly sloppy controls. You tap a button to "call" the monsters towards safety on the left side of a level, while manipulating a grabber and boxing glove arm to clear their way of obstacles and pick up gems and batteries. The touch screen controls are wonky here: sometimes a hard left will register as a right before fixing itself, and everything seems to need to happen "on the beat", which can feel unresponsive. Also, having to hit the "call" button to keep your Moshi Monster moving leftward makes for a lot of awkwardly incessant tapping.

Once you rescue your Moshi Monsters or Moshi eggs, you can play with them in the Monster Habitats and Nurseries. You can drag toys into the playroom or feed them treats, and play little stylus-based mini-games to give them a bath, prepare hot dogs for them (as you do), serenade them with Simon Says xylophone melodies, and help them get through exercise courses. The mini-games are simple, and reminiscent of Flash-based website diversions, though the lack of any customisation makes them a step down from the actual Moshi Monsters website games. Younger players will likely enjoy these ? though nearly every activity ends with a prompt to blow into the microphone, so be prepared for some spittle on little 3DS screens.

The final parts of each area are the Ride Regenerator and the subsequent Ride. The Regenerators are simple puzzles, while the Rides are unique mini-games for every level, including rollercoaster runs and and white water rapid rides, among others. These have the most potential of any of the mini-games, but sadly, the controls are a real let down. The first area's ride (a downhill kart ride through a tubular chute) is nigh on uncontrollable, with the touch screen's joystick nowhere near sensitive or responsive enough to gather collectables or avoid obstacles with any precision.

Each of the park's six areas feature these same attraction types, and while some are better than others, the uneven quality only exacerbates one of Moshlings Theme Park's worst problems: nothing is skippable. To unlock the Rescue Rooms in each stage, you need to play the same five Arcade games every time. To unlock the Rides, you have to collect every single battery from each of the Rescue Rooms. The only optional areas are the Nurseries and Habitats ? and these are ironically the most enjoyable parts of the game. For a game aimed at younger players, the insistence on beating every game type and finding every last collectable before advancing stages seems like a real misstep.

The biggest issue, however, and one that will be a constant annoyance to kids and adults alike, is that Moshi Monsters is an exceedingly slow game. Not only in terms of pacing, but movement as well. You move your Moshling around the theme park by tapping left or right on the touch screen, but your monsters move with all the speed of Moshi-molasses. It takes an incredibly long time to get anywhere, and your Moshling will insist on stopping at all points en route. There are no express routes in Moshlings Land. To saunter from one end of an area to the other takes about 70 seconds (yes, we counted!) ? and that's something you have to do routinely to select from all the different activities in each level, as the side-scrolling areas essentially act as animated menus. It's pointless, tiresome and excruciating enough to make you think twice about traipsing back to the beginning of an area for anything.

Moshi Monsters' presentation is nothing to write home about, though the bright colours and cartoony graphics will probably be fine for the game's younger audience, who are used to seeing these creatures in website form. It's essentially an average looking DS game, and the 3D effect only serves to create depth between the screen glass and the still-flat-looking game. The music is mostly looping, low-sample-rate MIDI guitar rock, with a few catchier tunes popping up from time to time.

There are a few thoughtful touches that younger games will appreciate, however, like the tactile opening of presents by sweeping the stylus back and forth across the on-screen package. Better still is the game's use of the 3DS' features: there's StreetPass integration for swapping high scores and exchanging "Visitors" (monsters that wander around the park and can come with bonuses), and a cool little AR mini-game (using the '?' card included with the 3DS) to unlock bonus Moshlings. These extras don't make up for the game's problems, but they're welcome additions nonetheless.

Sometimes licensed games made for younger players can surprise us, and exceed our expectations. Sadly, this is not one of those times. Moshlings Theme Park eschews the customisation-based gameplay of its source material in favour of generic, forgettable arcade games, cutting out much of what makes the franchise popular in the process. Poor controls and slow movement pull it down even further, and its strictly average presentation does nothing to help. The game comes with a coupon for a seven day Premium Membership to the Moshi Monsters website in the box, and we'd bet that most players would be much happier with that offer than the actual game.

Source: http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds/moshi_monsters_moshlings_theme_park

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Superior Service for Heating Arlington Homes | Ellis A/C - Dallas Air ...

Heating Arlington, TX homes is a specialty of Ellis Air Conditioning and Heating. When you choose a contractor to take care of equipment that affects your air quality, you deserve a company that stands out from the competition. Ellis has a distinguished record of achievement in serving Arlington since 1975. Your family can rely on services provided by a family owned business that cares about the community.

Signs of Superior Service
An indicator that you can use to compare the merits of Ellis with the competition is the length of time in business. It is hard to find a competitor who has served the Arlington community for almost 40 years the way we have.

Another important comparison is the level of commitment to the community. Our family owns and operates our business, a far different business model than you find at national chain stores. They just want your business, but we want to serve you. When you need help, we respond the same day on almost all air conditioning calls.

Price is not always the best way to make a business decision, but it is usually a contributing factor. Our prices are competitive, and we strive to save you money even on the best brands. We accept all major credit cards for your convenience, and we also offer our own financing programs.

Training Makes a Difference
We recommend Carrier equipment for our clients, based on our experience with the reliable service it provides. Our technicians are professionally trained, and we continue educational programs on the latest advancements on cooling and heating Arlington, TX homes and businesses. We invest in our employees to enable them to serve you with the highest level of knowledge and skill. We hire only the best technicians, and we obtain a complete background check on each employee.

A Full Service Approach
Your home?s heating and air conditioning system is comprised of sophisticated components that need maintenance on a periodic basis. Many factors affect the way your equipment performs, including the amount of insulation that you have in your attic. Part of our full service approach to managing your system is to inspect your insulation and to increase it if needed.

Our concern for your family?s health extends to the quality of indoor air as well as to proper heating and cooling levels. Statistics indicate that the quality of air that people breathe inside their homes is often poorer than the air outside. Our technicians are experts in indoor air quality, and you can rely on their expertise to measure it accurately. If there are problems, we have effective ways to improve the air quality in your home.

Assessing Your Comparisons
When you count the advantages of choosing Ellis as your HVAC contractor, you can see that our competitors do not measure up as well. Our commitment to providing you with the highest quality of equipment at the most competitive prices gives you the confidence to make the right decision.

Posted by admin on Thursday, December 27, 2012 at 7:43 pm?
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Source: http://ellisac.com/superior-service-for-heating-arlington-homes/

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Ouya Android Gaming Console Ships Developer Kits Ahead Of ...

Posted: December 27, 2012

The Ouya Android gaming console will begin its launch in earnest now. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, the Ouya developer consoles were projected to release closer to the end of December but some developer console are already shipping.

Those who contributed to the Kickstarter Ouya project early on should expect to have the open-source Android machine in their hands no later than January 10, according to new posts on the official Ouya?forums.?The OUYA Development Kit (ODK) includes?one special dev console and two controllers.?The Ouya Software Development Kit (SDK) is still expected to be released on December 28 which gives game developers plenty of time to familiarize themselves with the Ouya platform before receiving the hardware in the mail.

Like the Amazon Kindle Fire HD the Ouya will not be tied into the normal Google Play store. While, yes, there are tons of games already available all of those games are intended for touchscreens and not a controller. It?s possible that using the OUYA Development Kit (ODK)?that game developers could simulate some of this functionality in order to make porting their game titles easier. A mouse-like cursor could be combined with buttons for ?touching? and ?not touching?. Zooming out via pinching could be another button. But many games also feature dynamic interfaces with buttons all over the screen so those would have to be updated to natively support the Ouya.

The Ouya gaming console will be available to normal gamers for a low price of $99 USD. According to Tech Spot, the Ouya sets records for a Kickstarter project:

?Ouya was one of the most?successful?crowd sourced campaigns of 2012, raising over $8.5 million from more than 63,000 backers. Earlier this month, the firm behind the $100 Android console announced?10 new games?would be coming to the console in time for a planned March release. New titles include Fist of Awesome, MechKnight Chronicles, Syder Arcade, KidElectro, Space Runner, Legend of Dungeon, iMech Online, DustyRevenge, HolyShield! and Starbound.?

Do you plan on buying an Ouya gaming console?

Source: http://www.inquisitr.com/456794/ouya-android-gaming-console-ships-developer-kits-ahead-of-schedule/

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Document drop: Another Obama ICE memo sabotages homeland security (Michellemalkin)

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blondelle seamanship: Simple Abundance Exercises Can Change ...

Article title: Simple Abundance Exercises Can Change Your Mindset
Article Category: Self-Improvement

When you feel more prosperous, you will lead life of improved health, happiness and prosperity. However, when most of us think about our finances, most of the time we don?t have thoughts of prosperity.
Continue reading this article?

Source: http://www.medicalguide.pro/3210/simple-abundance-exercises-can-change-your-mindset-4.html

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Making Robots with Mass Appeal

Not so long ago, the idea of most people owning a robot seemed far-fetched. But today, not only can consumers buy robots, but they can do so relatively cheaply.

The world of consumer robotics is finally beginning to merge with the world of everyday people, and some products really stand out. But in this growing and cutting-edge field, what makes a robot commercially successful? TechNewsDaily spoke with two creators of successful consumer robots to find out how they make their products click with the masses.

Ian Bernstein, the cofounder and Chief Technology Officer at Orbotix, believes the secret to success is simplicity, at least for now. ?[The robot] has to be really simple, because if it?s too complicated, people won?t use it,? Bernstein said. He and his team are responsible for Sphero, a simple robotic sphere with a range of capabilities.

But that simplicity didn?t come easy, said Bernstein. ?We were constantly improving to make things intuitive and simplify things. It was so hard to get this thing to work. It was crazy.?

Complicating the challenge of making a straightforward robot, Bernstein also wanted to produce an affordable product, one that would be accessible to a wide audience. Over the last few years, the Orbotix team made that goal a reality.

[Flying and Rolling Robots Work Together]

Users can control Sphero by remote, using an iPhone or Android. But the robot can also function as an onscreen controller to replace traditional gaming controllers, tabletop and multiplayer games, and, most recently, augmented reality games (games that enable users to view the real-word environment along with augmented, machine-generated elements). The ball, which two years ago was simply a concept, became hugely popular, and is now available for $129 at retailers like Brookstone, Apple and Target.

And the Orbotix team has no intention of slowing down. With more and more apps on the way, Bernstein and his group are excited about the future of Sphero, and for new Orbotix creations.

?I think Sphero is a good introduction to gaming robots, and as people get more comfortable with that idea, we can begin to do more complicated things,? said Bernstein. ?In fifteen years, we want to be the company building one-and-a-half foot [tall] robots that you buy at Target and battle [with] while you?re jumping around your living room.?

But the current world of consumer robots isn?t limited to entertainment. Jasen Wang, the founder of MakeBlock, believes that the ability to create is an essential piece of the consumer robotics market. His product, what he calls ?Legos for adults,? allows consumers to buy parts and build robots for themselves.

?Most people are creative people,? said Wang, ?and they have ideas, so now, if they want to, they have the opportunity to realize those ideas.? Like, Bernstein, Wang wanted to create an intuitive product. ?Before, if you wanted to produce something, it was very hard on the mechanics side. Our goal is make it easy for people to build robots.?

Admittedly, MakeBlock does require some knowledge of hardware, and Wang believes that the product needs to be simplified even more. But, he explains, just as a child benefits from playing with Legos, adults will learn as they manipulate and play with products like MakeBlock.

In the years to come, Wang believes that knowledge of robotics will become more ubiquitous, allowing more people to design and build their own robots. And he believes MakeBlock can help catalyze that process. ?In the future, there will be a lot of makers in the world,? Wang said. And with MakeBlock, ?there are no limits on the imagination or what you want to do.?

But for now, according to both Bernstein and Wang, the most important component of a consumer robot is simplicity. Allowing people to acclimate to using robots at home will allow the industry to move forward into a future in which robots play a much larger role, not only as entertainment devices, but as tools in our everyday lives.

This story was provided by TechNewsDaily, sister site to LiveScience.

Copyright 2012 LiveScience, a TechMediaNetwork company. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/making-robots-mass-appeal-175746268.html

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A big hand for the little lady (Powerlineblog)

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So, what'd you get?

Is it the best day ever? A close second? If you're able to take two seconds and spend a few quality moments with a few folks you love, it'll probably be tough to complain either way. But 'round here, it's pretty common for us to ask for something electronic on December 25th. Did you manage to unwrap a new phone? Tablet? Ultrabook? Or, for those who prefer to give, what kind of gadgetry did you bestow upon that special someone? Let us know in comments below -- and remember, go easy on any customer service reps you end up phoning today.

When you're done, check out what people got jazzed about in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011.

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Volunteers present new home to soldier's family - Army News | News ...

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/12/ap-army-veteran-new-home-indiana-volunteers-122412w/

By Mike Fletcher - Kokomo (Ind.) Tribune via AP
Posted : Monday Dec 24, 2012 6:52:27 EST

KOKOMO, Ind. ? When Rhonda Walton pulled into the driveway of her new house on North Wabash Avenue, she couldn?t believe her eyes.

Standing on the front lawn, on the sidewalk and in the street were about 30 to 40 people waiting to welcome her and her three children to their new home.

?This is just crazy,? she said.

Her husband, Army Spc. Anthony Walton was shot 37 times while fighting in Afghanistan. When he returned to Kokomo, local veterans joined with the Homes For Wounded Warriors Program and built Walton and his family a new home.

During the build, Walton suffered another setback. He fell in a driveway while visiting his wife?s family and suffered traumatic head injury.

After being in a coma for a short time, Walton is now recovering at an Indianapolis hospital.

?He?s a fighter,? his wife told the Kokomo Tribune.

Even though Walton wasn?t able to attend the dedication his presence was felt Saturday as members of the VFW Post 1152 dedicated the home with the raising of the U.S. Army flag and the American flag in the front lawn.

One of his main goals when he returned from war was to help fellow veterans through art therapy.

In a small room off the dining room, Walton?s paintings were showcased in his new art room.

?He wanted to make sure his artwork was on display when they dedicated the home,? said Rhonda, as she led people on a tour through the house.

Marine Corps Capt. Markus Trouerbach, president and founder of the Homes for Wounded Warriors Program, said it took volunteers about 100 days to build the two-story home.

Knowing the suffering veterans families go through upon their return from war, Trouerbach set up the program to make that transition a little easier.

?I don?t want them to worry about the finances,? he said. ?I want them to focus on family. That?s what this does.?

Volunteer Bill McKinney said it was amazing how the community came together to help one of their own in a time of need.

?I?ve never seen anything like it,? he said, of being at the house early in the build. ?Everybody was donating something. It felt good to be part of it.?

The day began with a luncheon and recognition ceremony at First Baptist Church on West Taylor Street. Then the group headed to Walton?s new home for a home blessing, dedication, flag-raising ceremony and a tour of the home.

?It feels good,? said Bill Featherstone of Featherstone Construction. ?God spoke to me to do it. It feels good helping one of our own. I couldn?t have done it without all the volunteers.?

One of those volunteers, Army veteran Troy Mercer knows what Walton went through and was glad to pitch in to help a fellow veteran.

?I was at the Harley shop and a friend told me Anthony?s story,? said Mercer, who served in the 82nd Airborne in Desert Storm and in Afghanistan. ?I called Mark (Trouerbach) and said ?I got skills.? I?m a carpenter and a soldier. Four of my guys were killed in Afghanistan. I spent 11 weeks in the hospital and lost part of my leg and I?ve had eight surgeries on my back. I can relate to what Walton?s going through.?

Jerry Fivecoate, a member of the Disabled American Veterans Chapter 25, was thrilled to be able to help a fellow soldier.

?All of us vets stand together and support one another,? he said prior to the dedication. ?The main thing now is to get him healthy so he will be able to enjoy this with his family.?

Videos You May Be Interested In

Source: http://www.armytimes.com/news/2012/12/ap-army-veteran-new-home-indiana-volunteers-122412w/

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What wealthy Chinese want for Christmas: a bike

19 hrs.

Donny Kwok , Reuters

HONG KONG - Rich Chinese are buying bicycles that cost more than the average citizen makes in three years, motivated by nostalgia for the days when two wheels were the primary means of transport.?

China is now the world's biggest auto market, but high-end bike sales are expected to grow by 10 percent a year as they become a status symbol for wealthy executives.?

Yu Yiqun, the creative director at an advertising company in the Chinese capital, cycles to work on his favorite bike - a 100,000 yuan ($16,000) hand-made Alex Moulton.?

"It might be the only one in Beijing. It's like the Rolls-Royce of bicycles. Very classical, purely hand-made," said the 40-year-old Yu, who has about 35 high-end bikes.?

"I remember my father used to ride me to the city in the winter - about 40 km and minus 30 degrees centigrade. Back then, it was a means of transport that fulfilled your dream of travelling afar, which was relatively cheap but required brawn."?

Yu symbolizes a new bike culture in China, where wealthy, health-conscious executives are upgrading their lifestyle, in some cases abandoning flashy cars and taking to the road on high-end bicycles that can cost more than a car.?

"Demand for mainstream luxury items such as premium cars, watches has come to a point of saturation. High-income groups now turn to high-end bikes to show off the uniqueness in taste and healthy lifestyle," said Zhou Jiannong, general manager of Rbike Networks Ltd in China.?

Analysts estimate about 10 percent annual growth in the Chinese bicycle market over the next few years, with the high-end segment forecast to grow by as much as 15 percent a year.?

Companies are also getting in on the act, with a Hong Kong-based supplier taking an order for 1,000 pricey bikes from a Chinese financial firm as a year-end bonus for employees.?

"People are sick of conventional gifts such as wines and tobacco. For mainlanders, a bike is a great gift that shows your unique lifestyle," said Adam Wong, managing director at Hong Kong's Komda Bicycles.?

Wong declined to name the bank that had ordered the bikes, but he said they had an average price tag of 3,000 yuan ($480).?

Fashion statement
Fashion label Shanghai Tang, eager for a slice of this growing pie, teamed up with Dutch bike maker Colossi Cycling to make bicycles aimed specifically at China, where bike demand is estimated at about 28 million units a year?

"The high-end sector is going to be the major source of growth in the Chinese market. In China, bikes are more than just a means of transportation. It has become a fashion," said Terry Liu, an analyst at Fubon Research in Taiwan.?

It can cost up to HK$300,000 ($38,700) for an imported limited edition of expensive brands such as Italy's Colnago or France's Look, nearly 100 times the price of a Flying Pigeon, China's official bike since it was born in 1950.?

But the cost as no object for many high-income Chinese looking for the best two-wheeled vehicle.?

"For businessmen, they are not looking at the price. They are looking at the quality. They assemble their bike with import components in accordance to their taste and needs," said Zhang Lei, a director of a Zhuhai paper products supplier, who plans to spend 10,000 yuan to upgrade his current bike.?

Yu, the advertising executive in Beijing, has orders in for four more hand-made bikes, expanding his vast collection which includes brands such as Trek, Bianchi and Colnago.?

He and his wife have two cars but he says he doesn't drive.?

"I always bring my bike when I go on a business trip," Yu said. "When I go to Harbin, I bring a small, folding bicycle since it's easier for me to get around the city. When I go to Dalian, I bring a bigger bike since it's a mountainous city."?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/what-wealthy-chinese-want-christmas-bike-1C7660218

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'Hobbit' extends No. 1 journey with $36.7 million

From left, Andy Serkis, Peter Jackson, James Nesbitt, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage and Ian McKellan at the UK premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" at The Odeon Leicester Square,London on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP)

From left, Andy Serkis, Peter Jackson, James Nesbitt, Martin Freeman, Cate Blanchett, Richard Armitage and Ian McKellan at the UK premiere of "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" at The Odeon Leicester Square,London on Wednesday, Dec. 12, 2012. (Photo by Jon Furniss/Invision/AP)

FILE - This publicity film image released by Paramount Pictures shows Tom Cruise in a scene from "Jack Reacher." Cruise plays a former military cop investigating a sniper case. Just turned 50, and just out with his latest action flick, ?Jack Reacher,? Cruise remains one of the biggest stars in Hollywood. (AP Photo/Paramount Pictures, Karen Ballard, File)

LOS ANGELES (AP) ? Tiny hobbit Bilbo Baggins is running circles around some of the biggest names in Hollywood.

Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey" took in $36.7 million to remain No. 1 at the box office for the second-straight weekend, easily beating a rush of top-name holiday newcomers.

Part one of Jackson's prelude to his "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy, the Warner Bros. release raised its domestic total to $149.9 million after 10 days. The film added $91 million overseas to bring its international total to $284 million and its worldwide haul to $434 million.

"The Hobbit" took a steep 57 percent drop from its domestic $84.6 million opening weekend, but business was soft in general as many people skipped movies in favor of last-minute Christmas preparations.

"The real winner this weekend might be holiday shopping," said Paul Dergarabedian, an analyst for box-office tracker Hollywood.com.

Tom Cruise's action thriller "Jack Reacher" debuted in second-place with a modest $15.6 million debut, according to studio estimates Sunday. Based on the Lee Child best-seller "One Shot," the Paramount Pictures release stars Cruise as a lone-wolf ex-military investigator tracking a sniper conspiracy.

Opening at No. 3 with $12 million was Judd Apatow's marital comedy "This Is 40," a Universal Pictures film featuring Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann reprising their roles from the director's 2007 hit "Knocked Up."

Paramount's road-trip romp "The Guilt Trip," featuring "Knocked Up" star Seth Rogen and Barbra Streisand, debuted weakly at No. 6 with $5.4 million over the weekend and $7.4 million since it opened Wednesday. Playing in narrower release, Paramount's acrobatic fantasy "Cirque du Soleil: Worlds Away" debuted at No. 11 with $2.1 million.

A 3-D version of Disney's 2001 animated blockbuster "Monsters, Inc." also had a modest start at No. 7 with $5 million over the weekend and $6.5 million since opening Wednesday.

Domestic business was off for the first time in nearly two months. Overall revenues totaled $112 million, down 12.6 percent from the same weekend last year, when Cruise's "Mission: Impossible ? Ghost Protocol" debuted with $29.6 million, according to Hollywood.com.

Cruise's "Jack Reacher" opened at barely half the level as "Ghost Protocol," but with a $60 million budget, the new flick cost about $100 million less to make.

Starting on Christmas, Hollywood expects a big week of movie-going with schools out through New Year's Day and many adults taking time off. So Paramount and other studios are counting on strong business for films that started slowly this weekend.

"'Jack Reacher' will end up in a very good place. The movie will be profitable for Paramount," said Don Harris, the studio's head of distribution. "The first time I saw the movie I saw dollar signs. It certainly wasn't intended to be compared to a 'Mission: Impossible,' though."

Likewise, Warner Bros. is looking for steady crowds for "The Hobbit" over the next week, despite the debut of two huge newcomers ? the musical "Les Miserables" and the action movie "Django Unchained" ? on Christmas Day.

"We haven't reached the key holiday play time yet," said Dan Fellman, head of distribution for Warner. "It explodes on Tuesday and goes right through the end of the year."

In limited release, Kathryn Bigelow's Osama bin Laden manhunt saga "Zero Dark Thirty" played to packed houses with $410,000 in just five theaters, averaging a huge $82,000 a cinema.

That compares to a $4,654 average in 3,352 theaters for "Jack Reacher" and a $4,130 average in 2,913 cinemas for "This Is 40." ''The Guilt Trip" averaged $2,217 in 2,431 locations, and "Monsters, Inc." averaged $1,925 in 2,618 cinemas. Playing just one matinee and one evening show a day at 840 theaters, "Cirque du Soleil" averaged $2,542.

Since opening Wednesday, "Zero Dark Thirty" has taken in $639,000. Distributor Sony plans to expand the acclaimed film to nationwide release Jan. 11, amid film honors and nominations leading up to the Feb. 24 Academy Awards.

Opening in 15 theaters from Lionsgate banner Summit Entertainment, Naomi Watts and Ewan McGregor's tsunami-survival drama "The Impossible" took in $138,750 for an average of $9,250.

A fourth new release from Paramount, "The Sopranos" creator David Chase's 1960s rock 'n' roll tale "Not Fade Away," debuted with $19,000 in three theaters, averaging $6,333.

Universal's "Les Miserables" got a head-start on its domestic release with a $4.2 million debut in Japan.

Estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Hollywood.com. Where available, latest international numbers are also included. Final domestic figures will be released Monday.

1. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," $36.7 million ($91 million international).

2. "Jack Reacher," $15.6 million ($2.5 million international).

3. "This Is 40," $12 million.

4. "Rise of the Guardians," $5.9 million ($13.7 million international).

5. "Lincoln," $5.6 million.

6. "The Guilt Trip," $5.4 million.

7. "Monsters, Inc." in 3-D, $5 million.

8. "Skyfall," $4.7 million ($9 million international),

9. "Life of Pi," $3.8 million ($23.2 million international).

10. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $2.6 million ($6.6 million international).

___

Estimated weekend ticket sales at international theaters (excluding the U.S. and Canada) for films distributed overseas by Hollywood studios, according to Rentrak:

1. "The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey," $91 million.

2. "Life of Pi," $23.2 million.

3. "Rise of the Guardians," $13.7 million.

4. "Skyfall," $9 million.

5. "Wreck-It Ralph," $7.3 million.

6. "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn ? Part 2," $6.6 million.

7. "Pitch Perfect," $6 million.

8. "Les Miserables," $4.2 million.

9. "Love 911," $3.2 million.

10. "De L'autre Cote du Periph," $3.1 million.

___

Online:

http://www.hollywood.com

http://www.rentrak.com

___

Universal and Focus are owned by NBC Universal, a unit of Comcast Corp.; Sony, Columbia, Sony Screen Gems and Sony Pictures Classics are units of Sony Corp.; Paramount is owned by Viacom Inc.; Disney, Pixar and Marvel are owned by The Walt Disney Co.; Miramax is owned by Filmyard Holdings LLC; 20th Century Fox and Fox Searchlight are owned by News Corp.; Warner Bros. and New Line are units of Time Warner Inc.; MGM is owned by a group of former creditors including Highland Capital, Anchorage Advisors and Carl Icahn; Lionsgate is owned by Lions Gate Entertainment Corp.; IFC is owned by AMC Networks Inc.; Rogue is owned by Relativity Media LLC.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/f70471f764144b2fab526d39972d37b3/Article_2012-12-23-Box%20Office/id-4ac2d11c3c2d4239922a7a257e9d137b

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