'DWTS' danger: Shawn danced on a broken shoe

Craig Sjodin / ABC

By Michael Maloney, TODAY contributor

Each week, Olympian and season eight "Dancing With the Stars" champ Shawn Johnson will be sharing her experiences on "All-Stars" with The Clicker! Look for Q&As, exclusive photos and more from the gold medalist throughout the season as she competes to win her second mirror ball trophy, this time alongside pro Derek Hough.

You can follow us on Twitter @TODAY_Clicker?to get all the latest updates on Shawn's quest for ballroom glory. Shawn is also on Twitter?@ShawnJohnson.

The Clicker: What happened with your right shoe (during your leaderboard topping routine on Monday night's show)?
Shawn: Right before I went out on stage I noticed people in the wardrobe department were looking at my shoes, but I didn?t know why. When I came off stage, they said, ?Oh, my goodness! Your shoe was broken the entire time you were dancing!? I looked down and saw that the heel on my left shoe goes straight down. The one on my right shoe is bent and is snapped in half on the inside. The only thing that?s keeping it intact is the (exterior) fabric.

The Clicker: So how were you able to not only dance, but dance so well?
Shawn: I have no idea. Someone?s watching out for me.

The Clicker: Melissa Rycroft kept talking about all the great lifts you do. Had she seen your routine ahead of time?
Shawn: I don?t think so. We?ve all been playing around with lifts this week. We?ve been doing them in previous dances, too. I think that?s where that came from.

The Clicker: What challenges went into doing the mambo?
Shawn: This week was hard. I was really stressing about doing the dance, getting into character and getting it all right. I didn't feel I was ready. Derek told me to put all my inhibitions aside, just go for it and have fun. I did and I loved every second of it.

The Clicker: What do you think it?s going to take to survive? Chemistry? Fan bases?
Shawn: No. I think it?s the comfort zone thing.

The Clicker: You mean the comfort you have with your partner?
Shawn: With everything. Kelly (Monaco) and Val (Chmerkovskiy) did something different completely different this week. They went way out of their comfort zone, but it blew everybody?s socks off. It really connected with people. I think people saw that I was also out of my comfort zone, but because I was having fun then the audience connected with it, too.

The Clicker: What did you think of guest judge Paula Abdul?
Shawn: She was great. Her comments and enthusiasm were great. We?d love to have her as a permanent judge.

The Clicker: How is your partnership with Derek going?
Shawn: I?m biased, of course, but Derek is phenomenal. He has a vision. He works with the band. He?ll change the music. He designs props and has input into the sets and lighting. Also, he works with me on my confidence.

The Clicker: How does he help you with your confidence?
Shawn: I come from (gymnastics) is where if it?s not perfect then it?s not good enough. I won?t ever be perfect (as a dancer), but it?s not my profession. Derek re-iterates to me every day that I can make mistakes, have fun and be silly. People love that. It?s taken a bit for that to sink in, but each day he breaks down my walls and barriers a little bit more. It?s what Kelly said after her dance with Val. The show is about finding trust in someone who can take you outside your comfort zone. Our (dance) partners do things for us that people never realize.

Related content:

More in The Clicker:

Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2012/10/16/14479101-shawn-johnson-pulled-off-near-perfect-dancing-with-the-stars-performance-with-broken-shoe?lite

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From the 'Wastebook': robotic squirrels, talking urinals, and Congress

Sen. Tom Coburn's annual Wastebook comes up with $18 billion of spending that never should have occurred, with an eye to getting Washington priorities back in line. The No. 1 wasteful item: $132 million to run a Congress that won't say no to waste.

By David Grant,?Staff writer / October 16, 2012

Sen. Tom Coburn (R) of Oklahoma, shown here at a Senate hearing on May 10, 2011, released a new version of his annual 'Wastebook' on Monday.

Jonathan Ernst/Reuters/File

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Sen. Tom Coburn (R) of Oklahoma has issued his annual ?Wastebook,? the 100 government expenditures that should not have been.
?
?Until Congress has the guts to cut specific programs,? Senator Coburn said in a statement, ?we will never get our debt under control.?

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Here are the top four takeaways from the 2012 Wastebook.

1. Can Smokey Bear and the Alabama Watermelon Queen take a robot squirrel into their hot air balloon while lugging a sack of talking urinal cakes?

Coburn turns up a trove of government spending that, well, you just couldn?t make up if you tried.

Some of our favorites include $10,000 for talking urinal cakes in Michigan (to fight drunken driving), $142,000 for a Department of Transportation grant offering free bus rides to Super Bowl attendees in Indianapolis, $25,000 for the Alabama Watermelon Queen to tour the state to promote her prized crop, just under $50,000 for Smokey Bear hot-air balloon rides, and $325,000 for a robot squirrel designed to help test the relationship between squirrels and rattlesnakes. (Hint: antagonistic.)

And that?s in addition to the report?s wry commentary on ending penny production (saving $70 million per year to produce $35 million worth of pennies), a $350,000 National Science Foundation grant about golfers needing to ?envision a bigger hole? to improve their putting, and $445,000 on a play about biodiversity and climate change that reviews deemed ?boring? and ?needed improvement.?

2. Are there serious policy issues in there alongside the Alabama Watermelon Queen?

Foremost of Coburn?s tough questions is this: Is Washington keeping its priorities in order?

With real and imminent needs in the American economy, every dollar spent wastefully is one that could have gone to a higher purpose.

?How many of our friends, families and neighbors could be fed with the nearly $1 million the government spent taste testing foods to be served on the planet Mars? How many nutritious school lunches could have been served with the $2 million in financial assistance provided to cupcake specialty shops?? the Wastebook asks.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/sPMWtb4i1X4/From-the-Wastebook-robotic-squirrels-talking-urinals-and-Congress

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Internet Marketing Tips That Everyone Should Check Out! | SEO ...

An online marketing strategy is a valuable tool that can be used independently, or in conjunction with, more traditional marketing methods (print, television or direct). The powerful tips below will help your business become a part of the new wave of profitable Internet commerce.

When beginning your internet marketing adventure, think small and manageable when it comes to your website. Having too many indexed pages such as a million or more can cause a search engine to pass by your site, in favor of one that has around ten thousand or twenty thousand.

Do your homework before jumping into a new Internet marketing campaign. A mentor is an invaluable resource. People who know how to effectively market on the Internet often provide free tips or online tutorials for a nominal fee. When choosing a system for internet marketing, make sure it suits your work style. Keep in mind that this might take time to start, but know that it is well worth your time.

Create a space for customers to submit product reviews and comments about your products. By having a system in place for product review, you will be providing both you and your customers with important information. You can determine which products to hold in stock and perhaps adjust your pricing or marketing accordingly. Customers will also have more trust in both your service and the product they intend to purchase.

Video marketing is one of the best ways to increase the popularity of your business. Sometimes there is no better way to grab a customer?s attention than by posting a compelling video about your product. Name your video something clever, and make it unique.

Your ad copy should provide a space for input from people who visited your site but did not purchase anything to let you know why. If they decided not to purchase because of a problem with your website, you can improve it.

Analyzing your competition is crucial to internet marketing success. Every market out there has many businesses competing for clients.

Determining a solid path to your business goals can seem intimidating, even when you are well prepared. Find a clear and concise interest to go with on your website. It is best to pick a niche that you know about, and that you enjoy. Marketing becomes much simpler with a clearly defined goal in mind.

Internet marketing is, in the end, something that can help you, no matter what sort of business you?re in. When it?s done properly, it can be as effective as older forms of print, radio, or TV advertising ? if not more effective! By keeping the tips in this article handy, you can make Internet marketing a successful business endeavor.

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Rating: 7 out of 10 (from 83 votes)

Source: http://seocompanyworld.com/internet-marketing-tips-that-everyone-should-check-out-2-10/

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Two great tech tools to amp your customer service - Leaders West

I like to think that all small business owners want to provide great customer service to go along with their online presences. However, there are times when you?need to be in front of your client to really help them.

Unfortunately that is not always possible.

So, until you can magically transport yourself to their locations, or have so much time on your hands that you can drop everything and drive over to physically visit them every time they need you, I say, ?embrace technology!?

Now, as you might have figured out from my previous ramblings, I love technology. So, it?s easy for me to say but not always easy for non-tech types to implement. But I promise that what I am about to tell you is easy for anyone to do ? well, as long as you know how to operate a computer. If not, then you might be out of luck on this one.

Do you know Jing?

I recently got a message from a business associate who was struggling with how to do something online. He messaged me and asked if I could help.

Ideally, when showing someone how to do something online, you want to be there in person to walk them through the process. ?Otherwise, you end up spending 20 minutes trying to explain how to get where they need to be and what to do once they are there. In person, this process would take all of five minutes. ?You never get those wasted 15 minutes back, and the time spent doesn?t even accomplish anything useful ? unless you were trying to frustrate your valued client, who now thinks you would get lost inside a brown paper sack.

You would have been better off letting the phone go to voicemail and pretending that the message was never delivered. I am not recommending you do that, but it would have been far less frustrating for both of you.

In this instance, instead of trying to give a blind explanation, I opened an application called?Jing?that I had previously downloaded from techsmith.com. Their free plan allows me to not only record my computer screen, but also my voice for up to five minutes. Plenty of time to show my friend how to accomplish what he was trying to do.

It really is that easy.

Let?s review. Select the area of your screen that you want to share and click record. Use your mouse and voice to navigate through the Internet or whatever you are trying to showcase. When you are done, click stop.

The program will automatically upload the video to Jing?s server and give you a link to share. Send the link to your client and you?re done.

In some instances a full-on video screenshot would be overkill. With Jing, you also can take a simple screenshot and make notes using text and arrows to explain how to do something.

Either way, you look like a rock star ? deserving of an award for exceptional customer service. Next time someone calls you and can?t figure out how to do something on your website, you know what to do.

Go to?. Join.me?

But, wait.? What if the situation needs more of a two-way conversation? Perhaps it?s a meeting or training session about how to use something on your website, or sharing a PowerPoint presentation.

As you might have guessed, I have a technology solution for that as well.
You?ve likely heard of Go To Meeting. It?s great, but costs $49 a month and makes your participants download the company?s software to log in.

As a participant of a ?Go To Meeting,? I?ve found logging in a bit cumbersome. The last thing you want is for your client to get confused or frustrated when they try to connect to your meeting.

I also like free and easy. So, I prefer using?Join.me.

It still requires me to download the software to share my screen, but only requires my participants to click on the URL I send them.? That makes ?logging in? super easy.

Using a meeting/screen sharing tool like Join.me makes it feel like you?re right there with the person. Once they are viewing your screen, they can see everything you are doing real time ? and ask questions.

Based on those questions, you can alter your presentation to make sure they get the most out of it. Doing this with just a recorded video or simple screen share would be difficult.

Think about implementing this type of tech as part of your company?s customer service process. I promise, it will take the fuss out of helping your clients.

Can?t think of how this would help your business? Consider how easy it would be to explain how to order from your online store or where to enter that discount code.

The possibilities are endless!

Or you could try unplugging your phone and hope that your customers figure out their questions on their own ? because a blind explanation is rarely helpful when it comes to the online world.

The original article ?Personal touch goes high-tech? by Tessa Miller was published by the Business Examiner.

Original Article

Photo Credit

Tessa joined the Business Examiner's advertising sales team in June 2008. She has a diverse background in customer service, ad design, technology and marketing. In June of 2011 she was promoted to Social Media & Digital Manager. If she isn't tinkering with the Business Examiner website or moderating #BEchat on Twitter, you'll likely find her consulting with clients who want to have a newsletter or social media presence and don't have the time or aren't sure where to start.

Source: http://leaderswest.com/2012/10/15/two-great-tech-tools-for-client-facing/

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get off the Internet and grow your business

I?m a big fan of the Internet. It?s provided a lot of opportunities for my business. (After all, without the Internet, I wouldn?t have Designing an MBA.)

But when I think about the opportunities that have grown my business the most, they all seemed to happen OFFLINE.

I built a thriving wholesale business because I put in the time (and dollars) at trade shows. And while technically Tara and I did meet on Twitter, it wasn?t until we started hanging out offline that we created some serious business magic. And the same goes for many of my other ?online? friends. The ones I have the strongest connections with are the ones I?ve spent time with offline, at conferences or shows or brunch.

Lately, I?ve gotten the sense that a lot of business owners are hiding behind the Internet. It?s tempting to want to sit on your computer, hanging out on social media, while you ?work? on your business. And while I?m sure you could find examples of people who have grown successful businesses like that, I think you?ll find a lot more examples of people who accelerated their online businesses by spending time building them offline.

Now is a good time to start thinking about your business strategy for 2013, and one of my challenges for you is to figure out ways to take your business offline.

If you?re a creative, product based business, there are three big opportunities you could look towards ? retail shows, wholesale shows, and conferences.

Retail shows are fantastic for customer feedback and understanding which products people respond too. They?re also a great way to connect with your biggest fans and your fellow makers.

Wholesale shows let potential stores see your products in person (which is really important because that?s how they?ll be selling them) and lets you build face to face relationships with buyers. It?s also a great way to gain information about your business. (I?ve learned a LOT through the process of doing shows.)

And of course, conferences can be a great way to foster deeper connections with all those ?friends? you?ve acquired online, not to mention learn from and be inspired by lots of speakers.

Of course, I know for many of you, taking your business offline can be a nerve wracking experience. (There?s a certain comfort to sitting behind a computer screen.) Which is why I?m so excited to be teaming up with Brigitte Lyons for a free training on building offline connections and busting the fear of networking. Brigitte is one of those ?online friends? that I?ve been able to connect with in the past year during some amazing offline experiences and we?ve got some great conversation in store for you.

The Internet provides lots of opportunities for growing your business, but that doesn?t mean you should forget about the great big world beyond your computer. As you?re strategizing ways to grow your business, my challenge to you is to mix online strategies with real world connections to really maximize your business growth.

**********

Want to really maximize your offline strategy? The next session of Wholesale Academy starts October 22.

Source: http://designinganmba.com/2012/10/15/get-off-the-internet-and-grow-your-business/

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New noninvasive test for colorectal cancer shows promise

ScienceDaily (Oct. 16, 2012) ? A new noninvasive test for colorectal cancer screening demonstrated high sensitivity for detecting colorectal cancer, in particular precancers that are most likely to develop into cancer, according to data presented at the 11th Annual AACR International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research, held here Oct. 16-19, 2012.

"This test measures different kinds of DNA changes, known as methylation and mutation, along with a measure of fecal blood. By combining these measures, we can look for the kinds of biological changes that are most frequently found in precancers and cancers in the colon," said Graham P. Lidgard, Ph.D., senior vice president of research and development and chief science officer at Exact Sciences, which developed the test and sponsored the study.

Lidgard and colleagues analyzed 1,003 patient samples from 36 study sites and developed an analytic algorithm for the novel, automated stool DNA-based test platform, which generated a positive or negative result for each patient. The specimens were collected either before colonoscopy bowel preparation in screening and surveillance patients or at least seven days post-colonoscopy from patients with colorectal cancer and large precancers.

The control group included 796 patients with negative colonoscopies or small polyps (less than 1 cm), and the case group included 207 patients with confirmed colorectal cancer or precancers.

"By analyzing samples with confirmed diagnoses from colonoscopy, we were able to build an analytic algorithm that combines our 11 stool-based biomarkers into a single result," Lidgard said. "Through this study, we were able to demonstrate a high detection rate for both cancers and precancers using our automated analytic platform and algorithm."

The researchers reported that the test detected 98 percent of all cancers as well as 83 percent of precursors with high-grade dysplasia and 57 percent of precursors 1 cm or larger overall, at 90 percent nominal specificity.

"We are encouraged by the results of this study for detecting cancer and cancer precursors, especially the precursor lesions with high-grade dysplasia, an abnormality broadly recognized as being associated with a higher risk for progression to cancer itself," Lidgard said. "Current screening tests using only fecal occult blood are biologically limited in their ability to detect precursors to colorectal cancer."

Exact Sciences is involved in a large colorectal cancer screening study collecting samples from more than 10,000 patients prior to screening colonoscopy. The company plans to apply for FDA approval after completing the study.

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Disclaimer: This article is not intended to provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Views expressed here do not necessarily reflect those of ScienceDaily or its staff.

Source: http://feeds.sciencedaily.com/~r/sciencedaily/top_news/~3/6ViWfZClK1g/121016131504.htm

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Campaigns express concern over role of debate moderator

Romney and Obama shake hands at their debate in Denver on Oct. 3, 2012. (Getty)

The moderators of the 2012 presidential and vice presidential debates have been under considerable scrutiny, perhaps more than in any other election cycle.

Now,?according to Time magazine, the campaigns of both GOP challenger Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama have expressed concern over how CNN's Candy Crowley, the moderator of Tuesday's town hall debate in Hempstead, N.Y., is approaching her role. In?an interview on the news network on Oct. 5, Crowley said she would not be afraid to ask follow-up questions if necessary.

"Once the table is kind of set by the town hall questioner, there is then time for me to say, 'Hey, wait a second, what about X, Y, Z?'" Crowley said.

The campaigns sent a memo to the Commission on Presidential Debates?claiming they were under the impression that the moderator would play a limited role in the debate's town hall format, as the commission announced in July:

The second presidential debate will take the form of a town meeting, in which citizens will ask questions of the candidates on foreign and domestic issues. Candidates each will have two minutes to respond, and an additional minute for the moderator to facilitate a discussion. The town meeting participants will be undecided voters selected by the Gallup Organization.

[Related: Lehrer's debate moderation mauled by critics]

From the campaigns' memo:

In managing the two-minute comment periods, the moderator will not rephrase the question or open a new topic. ? The moderator will not ask follow-up questions or comment on either the questions asked by the audience or the answers of the candidates during the debate or otherwise intervene in the debate except to acknowledge the questioners from the audience or enforce the time limits, and invite candidate comments during the two-minute response period.

Through a CNN spokeswoman, Crowley declined to comment. "Any questions about debate format should be directed to the Commission on Presidential Debates," the spokeswoman wrote in an email to Yahoo News.

[Watch: 'SNL' skewers VP debate (VIDEO)]

Crowley is the first woman in 20 years to moderate a presidential debate. Last week, ABC News' Martha Raddatz was praised by critics for her moderation of the vice presidential debate. PBS' Jim Lehrer, who moderated the first presidential debate of 2012, was widely criticized for losing control and allowing both candidates?Romney in particular?to "steamroll" him.

Two days later, the commission defended Lehrer's performance in a statement on its website:

The format for the first and fourth presidential debates calls for six 15-minute segments on topics selected and announced in advance by the moderators. After the moderator asks a question, the candidates each have two minutes to answer. After their answers, the moderator's job is to facilitate a conversation on the topic for the balance of the 15 minutes before moving to the next topic. ... Jim Lehrer implemented the format exactly as it was designed by the CPD and announced in July.

[Also read: High school girls who launched campaign for female debate moderator glad Lehrer went first]

The format for the third presidential debate, to be held Oct. 22 in Boca Raton, Fla., will be identical to the first and will focus on foreign policy. CBS' Bob Schieffer will moderate.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-romney-crowley-debate-160327851--election.html

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