Hampton Hotels Santa Clarita - Instagram Launches Embed Feature For Videos, Photos. Start Sharing!

Source - http://www.latimes.com/
By - Jessica Guynn
Category - Hampton Hotels Santa Clarita
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita 

Hampton Hotels Santa Clarita

Last month when Instagram launched video to compete with Twitter's Vine, there was a collective groan. It lacked a key feature: the ability to embed videos elsewhere on the Web.

So, just to make their visual moments much more visible, crafty people came up with all kinds of complicated workarounds that were not supported by Instagram and could, of course, break at any time.

Instagram says it heard time and again impassioned pleas from users who didn't want to train as software engineers to embed their photos and videos. So starting Wednesday, you can share your favorite Instagram moments with the world as easily as with YouTube or other digitally forward services.

A new share button will let you embed your Instagram videos and photos anywhere (except Twitter, naturally). And, of course, marketers can use this handy new button, too, a key selling point as Instagram looks to conquer the world of visual social sharing and start building a moneymaking business.

How it works: When you visit an Instagram photo or video page on your desktop Web browser, you'll see a new share button on the right side of your photo (just under the comments button). Click the button to see the embed code. Copy the block of text it gives you and paste it into your blog, website or article. When you hit publish, the photo or video will appear. 

 

Instagram also says please don't worry: "As always, you own your photos and videos, and we want to make sure that's understood no matter where your content appears." (That's now a standard line in every Instagram announcement after this happened.)

The embedded photo or video appears with your Instagram user name. If people click on the Instagram logo, they'll be whisked to your Instagram page. And never fear, no one is going to be able to embed those photos or videos that you really should have done on Snapchat in the first place. Embedding works only for photos and videos that are public, not for private ones, Instagram says.

This kind of worldwide Web distribution should make it a lot easier for Justin Bieber to take over the rest of the known digital universe and for Paris Hilton to get even more people to gush over videos of her puppies.

It's also part of a major effort from Facebook not just to be in the moment but to capture the moment.

Whether it's the Boston Marathon bombings or the Oscars, Instagram is well positioned to do just that with images that can be quickly blasted across the Web and universally understood across all borders and language barriers.

Twitter has ruled the world of real time with its short messages that have telegraph breaking news as it happens, but it looks like Instagram could pose a serious threat to its real-time rule.

Hotels In Northern California - Late Nights 'Sap Children's Brain Power'

Source - http://www.bbc.co.uk/
By - Michelle Roberts
Category - Hotels In Northern California 
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Hotels In Northern California

The findings on sleep patterns and brain power come from a UK study of more than 11,000 seven-year-olds. 

Youngsters who had no regular bedtime or who went to bed later than 21:00 had lower scores for reading and maths. 

Lack of sleep may disrupt natural body rhythms and impair how well the brain learns new information say the study authors. 

They gathered data on the children at the ages of three, five and then seven to find out how well they were doing with their learning and whether this might be related to their sleeping habits. 

Erratic bedtimes were most common at the age of three, when around one in five of the children went to bed at varying times. 

By the age of seven, more than half the children had a regular bedtime of between 19:30 and 20:30.

Overall, children who had never had regular bedtimes tended to fare worse than their peers in terms of test scores for reading, maths and spatial awareness. 

The impact was more obvious throughout early childhood in girls than in boys and appeared to be cumulative. 

The researchers, led by Prof Amanda Sacker from University College London, said it was possible that inconsistent bedtimes were a reflection of chaotic family settings and it was this, rather than disrupted sleep, that had an impact on cognitive performance in children.

"We tried to take these things into account," said Prof Sacker.

The children with late and erratic bedtimes came from more socially disadvantaged backgrounds and were less likely to be read to each night and, generally, watched more TV - often on a set in their own bedroom.

After controlling for such factors, the link between poorer mental performance and lax bedtimes remained.

The findings are published in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health

.

Prof Sacker said: "The take-home message is really that routines really do seem to be important for children.

"Establishing a good bedtime routine early in childhood is probably best, but it's never too late."

She said there was no evidence that putting children to bed much earlier than 19:30 added anything in terms of brain power. 

Dr Robert Scott-Jupp of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said: "At first glance, this research might seem to suggest that less sleep makes children less intelligent, however, it is clearly more complicated than that.

"While it's likely that social and biological brain development factors are inter-related in a complex way, in my opinion, for schoolchildren to perform their best, they should all, whatever their background, get a good night's sleep."

Family Hotels In Santa Clarita - Buffett Gives $2 Billion To Gates Foundation

Source - http://dealbook.nytimes.com/
By - WILLIAM ALDEN
Category - Family Hotels In Santa Clarita
Posted By -  Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Family Hotels In Santa Clarita

Warren E. Buffett has strengthened his bond with his friend and fellow billionaire Bill Gates, with a $2 billion charitable donation.

Mr. Buffett on Monday distributed 17.5 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a gift valued at about $2 billion based on Friday’s closing price.

The donation was part of Mr. Buffett’s annual charitable contributions, which also included gifts to the Susan Thompson Buffett Foundation, the charity named for Mr. Buffett’s late wife, and the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, which is named for Mr. Buffett’s son. In total, Mr. Buffett donated 22.9 million Class B shares of Berkshire Hathaway on Monday.

Seven years ago, Mr. Buffett pledged to give about $31 billion to the Gates Foundation, which aims to improve health and education in poor nations. He said at the time that he would give the bulk of his fortune to the foundation and four other philanthropies.

Mr. Buffett’s net worth is estimated by Forbes to be $53.5 billion as of March, making him one of the richest men in the world.

The billionaire has been active in deal-making recently, even amid a somewhat lackluster period for mergers and acquisitions. Mr. Buffett teamed up with 3G Capital in February in a $23 billion deal for the H.J. Heinz Company and said in his annual investor letter that he continued to hunt for “elephants.”

Mr. Buffett and Mr. Gates have also worked to persuade other wealthy Americans to give away much of their fortunes, through a commitment known as the Giving Pledge. The effort has attracted many prominent adherents.

Six Flags Magic Mountain - Natural Gas a Good Choice For Vehicles

Source - http://www.news-register.net/
By - Press Release
Category - Six Flags Magic Mountain
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

 

Six Flags Magic Mountain

We're sure motorists around the Upper Ohio Valley rejoiced last week when they learned that gasoline prices had hit their "summer slide."

Right.

When you look at the average price of gasoline over the past five years, which we did for July 3, you find that prices this year at $3.48 per gallon for regular unleaded are the second highest during that span. Only July 3, 2011, at $3.56 per gallon, was higher, according to AAA.

A year ago, prices were at $3.33 per gallon. In 2010, the average price came in at $2.74 per gallon while in 2009, it was $2.63.

It has been a welcome sight to see prices fall slowly over the past few months. But motorists preparing for summer travel should be looking to the Middle East and what's happening in Egypt to gauge where prices could go in the very near future.

Already, oil prices have topped $100 per barrel, with more increases likely if oil supply lines are interrupted. And the price of gasoline always follows oil.

That's what makes natural gas an attractive alternative. Compressed natural gas already serves as the power source for many fleet vehicles across the country, and the technology exists to create a filling station virtually anywhere.

Compressed natural gas currently costs about $2 for the equivalent of a gallon of fuel. That price has held steady for the past few years.

The local region's abundance of natural gas also makes such a project a wise investment.

And when you couple in reduced emissions and helping to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, it makes sense to look at natural gas as an option.

We're sure motorists around the Upper Ohio Valley rejoiced last week when they learned that gasoline prices had hit their "summer slide."
Right.
When you look at the average price of gasoline over the past five years, which we did for July 3, you find that prices this year at $3.48 per gallon for regular unleaded are the second highest during that span. Only July 3, 2011, at $3.56 per gallon, was higher, according to AAA.
A year ago, prices were at $3.33 per gallon. In 2010, the average price came in at $2.74 per gallon while in 2009, it was $2.63.
It has been a welcome sight to see prices fall slowly over the past few months. But motorists preparing for summer travel should be looking to the Middle East and what's happening in Egypt to gauge where prices could go in the very near future.
Already, oil prices have topped $100 per barrel, with more increases likely if oil supply lines are interrupted. And the price of gasoline always follows oil.
That's what makes natural gas an attractive alternative. Compressed natural gas already serves as the power source for many fleet vehicles across the country, and the technology exists to create a filling station virtually anywhere.
Compressed natural gas currently costs about $2 for the equivalent of a gallon of fuel. That price has held steady for the past few years.
The local region's abundance of natural gas also makes such a project a wise investment.
And when you couple in reduced emissions and helping to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, it makes sense to look at natural gas as an option.
- See more at: http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/587312/Natural-Gas-a-Good-Choice-for-Vehicles.html?nav=511#sthash.sICxETlX.dpuf

We're sure motorists around the Upper Ohio Valley rejoiced last week when they learned that gasoline prices had hit their "summer slide."
Right.
When you look at the average price of gasoline over the past five years, which we did for July 3, you find that prices this year at $3.48 per gallon for regular unleaded are the second highest during that span. Only July 3, 2011, at $3.56 per gallon, was higher, according to AAA.
A year ago, prices were at $3.33 per gallon. In 2010, the average price came in at $2.74 per gallon while in 2009, it was $2.63.
It has been a welcome sight to see prices fall slowly over the past few months. But motorists preparing for summer travel should be looking to the Middle East and what's happening in Egypt to gauge where prices could go in the very near future.
Already, oil prices have topped $100 per barrel, with more increases likely if oil supply lines are interrupted. And the price of gasoline always follows oil.
That's what makes natural gas an attractive alternative. Compressed natural gas already serves as the power source for many fleet vehicles across the country, and the technology exists to create a filling station virtually anywhere.
Compressed natural gas currently costs about $2 for the equivalent of a gallon of fuel. That price has held steady for the past few years.
The local region's abundance of natural gas also makes such a project a wise investment.
And when you couple in reduced emissions and helping to reduce the nation's dependence on foreign oil, it makes sense to look at natural gas as an option.
- See more at: http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/587312/Natural-Gas-a-Good-Choice-for-Vehicles.html?nav=511#sthash.sICxETlX.dpuf

Vacations In Santa Clarita - iPhone 5, iPad And Macbook Air, May Be Banned

Source - http://guardianlv.com/
By - Veverly Edwards
Category - Vacations In Santa Clarita
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

 

Vacations In Santa Clarita

Boston University is requesting a ban on Apple Inc. leading devices including the iPhone 5, iPad and Macbook Air, purportedly for patent violations.

The Trustees of Boston University filed a complaint this week with Massachusetts federal court alleging that Apple Inc. products contain a “gallium nitride thin film semiconductor device” in which the University owns the patent.

The component in question powers the LED in the iPhone 5, iPad and Macbook Air.  The device is also expected to be used in the iPhone 6 which is expected to have a dual LED flash which will improve the photographs taken with the phone.

In the complaint filed this week, the Trustees asked the court to forbid Apple Inc. from making, having made, selling, offering for sale, distributing and/or using products that use the device in question including the accused products.

In the papers filed with the court, the inventor of the device is identified as Theodore D. Moustakas, Ph.D., Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering at BU, the device is referred to as 738 patent. According to the complaint Boston University owns by assignment the entire right, title, and interest in and to 738 patent, including the sole right to sue for the past and present patent infringements’

Dr. Moustakas applied for the patent in 1995 and it was granted in 1997. The lifespan of a patent in the U.S. is approximately 20 years; therefore, the patent will not expire until 2017 and the University owns all rights to it.

The first iphones were released on the market in 2007.  The iphones like many other smartphones use the blue laser light/LED- “gallium nitride thin film semiconductor.”

The Trustees are also asking for damages to include past and present profits from all products that use the component in question.

The documents filed in court this week also allege the infringement has caused substantial and irreparable damage to the University and is demanding a trial by jury.

The court documents state that Boston University is one of the largest private universities in the United States, and one of the largest employers in Boston, with more than 10,000 faculty and staff and over 33,000 students.  It conducts a diverse range of interdisciplinary, collaborative and innovative research projects across a broad spectrum of academic departments, programs, centers and institutes, including research in the field of electrical and computer engineering.  BU faculty members have won five Nobel Prizes and BU has been awarded hundreds of United States Patents, including U.S. Patent No. 5,686,738 (the “738 patent”).

If the alleged complaint is true, Apple is not the only company to infringe upon this device.  Several other companies have been named including Amazon and Samsung. Certainly if their has been an infringement these companies are at fault, but Boston University certainly waited a long time before filing a complaint.

While customers are awaiting the release of new devices by Apple Inc., if they have indeed infringed upon Boston University, and are using 738 patent, this could be the end to the iPhone 5, iPad and Macbook Air and possibly delay or prevent the release of the iPhone 6.

Meeting Space Santa Clarita - 5 Tips For Improving Your Home’s Wi-Fi Performance

Source - http://shopping.yahoo.com/
By - Marc Saltzman
Category - Meeting Space Santa Clarita
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Meeting Space Santa Clarita

It may sound like a daunting task, but setting up a wireless network in your home is a lot easier (and cheaper) than you think.

For as low as $15, in fact, web surfers can purchase a wireless router, connect it to their broadband modem and then wirelessly access the Internet on any compatible device in the home, such as a laptop at the kitchen table, iPad in the bedroom or a video game system in the family room.

Aside from multiple computers and other devices sharing the same high-speed Internet connection – without being tethered to the wall -- another advantage of setting up a "Wi-Fi" network is the ability to share the same peripheral between computers, such as a printer.

But you already know this, you say? You’ve owned a wireless router for years? Perhaps, then, you’re still reading this blog post because you’re in need of improving the Wi-Fi experience in your home.

If so, the following are a few tips to extending the range and the strength of your wireless network:

Reposition your wireless router.

Try to place your wireless router in a central place in your home, so that its range will cover your entire home and perhaps even a front porch or back patio. Many try to surf the Net wirelessly on a laptop on one end of the home while the wireless router is at the other. Or you might find a weak connection if your wireless router is in the basement and you’re trying to access it on the top floor of your home; generally speaking, if you can't use it on your main floor, it's recommended to keep the router higher than you opposed to underneath you.

Try to avoid wireless interference.

Move the wireless router off the floor and away from walls and metal objects (such as a filing cabinet) as these may interfere with your router's wireless signals. Remove potential obstructions to strengthen your connection. Another way to reduce interference is to try and avoid using other wireless devices while accessing the Net, such as cordless phones and microwave ovens -- though this is less of an issue with newer routers (see below). Also, if your wireless router has an external antenna it might be possible to unscrew it and attach a more powerful, hi-gain one, found at your local electronics store.

Pick up a wireless repeater.

If you can’t change where your wireless network is, because you need it near your broadband modem is, and you have a large home, you might want to consider buying a wireless repeater -- sometimes referred to as a signal booster, network bridge or range extender (and may work a little differently) -- and placing it about half-way between where your wireless router is and where you access the wireless connection the most, such as a kitchen table, home office or media room. A wireless repeater, which simply plugs into a wall’s electrical socket, will work to extend the range of the signal.

Upgrade your wireless adaptor.

If your wireless experience varies on which device you’re using, perhaps it’s because one device might have a better wireless network adaptor than the other. For example, if your TV or video game console has a Wi-Fi dongle for Internet access, there might be a faster one you can pick up. Your next ebook reader or tablet will likely support faster Wi-Fi connectivity, too. Also be sure to download newer drivers or firmware updates for your existing devices, so that it has the latest improvements from the manufacturer. Also, some believe a wireless adaptor and router from the same company, such as Linksys or D-Link, will work better together than products from separate companies.

Upgrade to 802.11ac or at least 802.11n.

Finally, it might be time to make the jump from 802.11b or 802.11g to the latest technology, 802.11ac, which not only offers greater speeds –- especially those who want to wireless stream video over the airwaves or transfer large files between multiple computers -– but also covers a greater range, such as those who live in a larger home. These routers also support more simultaneous devices, offer less interference and have stronger security options, too. Because your wireless router has a broader range with 802.11ac (and 802.11n, which came before it), be sure you’re using a secure password so neighbors can’t access your network.

Attractions In Santa Clarita - Businesses React To Health Care Act Delay

Source - http://www.usatoday.com/
By - Tim Mullaney
Category - Attractions In Santa Clarita
Posted By - Hampton Inn Santa Clarita

Attractions In Santa Clarita

Businesses reacted with relief to the Obama administration's decision to give large and midsize employers until 2015 to provide health care coverage for their workers or face fines.

Before the administration's announcement Tuesday, businesses with 50 or more employees had to provide affordable coverage to their full-time employees starting Jan. 1 or risk a series of penalties if even one worker ended up getting government-subsidized insurance.

Reaction marked a divide between representatives of big business, who mostly provide insurance already and were focused on complying with complex new reporting rules, and representatives of small business who said they need much bigger changes.

"This is a wise decision," says Bill Kramer, executive director for national health policy for the Pacific Business Group on Health. It represents national employers in all 50 states, including General Electric and Wal-Mart.

Small-business groups that opposed Obamacare entirely said the move didn't go far enough.

They are still lobbying for changes that will mandate coverage only for employees who work at least 40 hours a week, rather than 30, along with other fixes, said National Federation of Independent Business spokeswoman Cynthia Magnuson.

"This is a temporary fix and we need long-term relief,'' Magnuson said.

The delay may also calm the nerves of small business people, who have been reluctant to expand because of the new mandate, said Mark Cerminaro, senior vice president of small-business lending company RapidAdvance.

Since the economy is expected to be growing faster by late 2014, the delay will let small-company owners buy insurance or pay the penalties without worrying as much about how it will affect their businesses, he said.

"You have a tendency, where there's economic uncertainty already, to see individuals get a little more cautious,'' he said. ``With the extra time, they'll have an extra confidence level.''

Most large employers will still provide health insurance benefits — and wouldn't be subject to penalties — Kramer said. But the law's reporting requirements for those companies will still be an administrative burden, he said.

The decision to delay "is a recognition of how complex the implementation is," says Allan Zaremberg, CEO of the California Chamber of Commerce.

He says many regulations implementing the act weren't published until late last year and many companies wouldn't be ready to implement it.

More than 90% of the California Chamber of Commerce's member companies already offer coverage, he said.

Erik Stewart, who advises small-business owners at the Washington Small Business Development Center in Aberdeen, Wash., says the delay will let small-business owners overcome ``incorrect information" about what the law actually requires. Many employers with fewer than 50 employees mistakenly think they have to buy insurance, he said.

"What they hear on TV usually isn't the whole story, and so what has happened is that there is a culture of fear concerning these laws," says Stewart.