HOUSTON (AP) Johnathan Franklin didnt care about his personal performance or the numbers that UCLA put up against Rice on Thursday night.

He was just happy to get the win.

Franklin rushed for 214 yards and three touchdowns as the Bruins racked up 348 yards on the ground en route to a 49-24 season-opening victory.

Brett Hundley, a redshirt freshman, was 21 of 28 for 202 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 68 yards and a touchdown. Joseph Fauria caught three passes for 53 yards and a touchdown.

All praise to God and my offensive line, Franklin said. They opened up a lot of holes. You could have driven a bulldozer through those holes.

Rices Taylor McHargue threw for 172 yards and two touchdowns on 17 of 28 passing and rushed for 95 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries. Sam McGuffie caught eight passes for 63 yards and a touchdown.

McHargue said he felt the Owls showed they could play with anyone.

There is a lot of good to take from this, and the mistakes we made offensively, especially in the second half, are mistakes that are easy to correct, McHargue said. It was just mistakes a couple mental busts here and there.

UCLA finished with 651 total yards in Jim Mora Jr.s first game as coach, compared to 347 for Rice.

Its a win, and you take a win anytime you can get a win, Mora Jr. said. I thought we had some unnecessary penalties that we will clean up, but we made some big plays. I thought our defense... after having 55 defensive plays in the first half, came back to play well in the second half with some adjustments. Its a good start.

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Franklin leads UCLA past Rice; BYU spoils Leach’s WSU debut

AvantiKumar | Aug. 31, 2012

Malaysian telecom Maxis reports steady first half year performance with 3.6 percent year on year revenue growth to US$1.4 billion.

PHOTO - Sandip Das, Maxis Berhad CEO presenting the company Q2 2012 Financial Results; seated: Nasution Mohamed, Maxis Chief Financial Officer.

New data products and services including personal cloud storage and online book stores, as well as a wide range of smart devices, helped Malaysian telco Maxis to record a steady first year with 3.6 percent year on year revenue growth to RM4.4 billion [US$1.4 billion]

Speaking on 30 August 2012, Maxis chief executive officer Sandip Das said the company's steady performance for its first half year results ended 30 June 2012 was helped by strong data and IDD (international direct dialling) growth.

"Since the start of this year, we have launched major market moves across product categories and are encouraged with the response we have received from our customers," said Das.

"As a result, our performance in the first half of the year has been steady despite the tariff wars in the market," he said. "We registered the highest prepaid net additions in five quarters on the strength of the new Hotlink plan launched in March, offered a wide range of globally contemporary data products such as personal cloud storage and online book stores, a wide range of smart devices and made definitive inroads into the migrant market with attractive international calling tariffs."

"Our continued efforts to grow a data-friendly ecosystem has resulted in non-voice revenues climbing up to 45.3 percent of mobile revenues with 62 percent of the revenue coming from Internet and data services," he said.

Original post:
Personal cloud storage, e-books contribute to steady first half year growth: Maxis

The headsets are coming, the headsets are coming! The disturbing trend of consumer electronics companies wanting to perch on your mug continues.

Would you wear one? (Click to enlarge.)

Coinciding with many other announcements during its presser today at the IFA 2012 confab in Berlin, Sony quietly launched the HMZ-T2 personal 3D head-mounted display.

The headset -- vastly similar to its predecessor (the HMZ-T1) -- contains two small 0.7-inch OLED (organic light-emitting diode) displays placed in front of the wearer's eyes that simulate a big screen and can display 2D/3D content from any HDMI source. Crave sent Sony an e-mail to see if the HMZ-T2 offers the same 720-pixel resolution and picture quality as before, which seems likely, as T2's marketing babble reads very much like that of the HMZ-T1. We'll let you know.

Who wouldn't want to get up close and personal with a couple of vibrant OLED screens? (Click to enlarge.)

So what's really changed with the HMZ-T2 in this incremental upgrade? It appears the tweaks have mostly to do with design and weight. Sony dropped the built-in headphones, and now you can use whatever ear digs you like to hear virtual 5.1 surround sound. The headpiece also weighs 20 percent less than the previous version, coming in at seven-tenths of a pound.

It appears the HMZ-T2 might sport a slight upgrade to its actual visual performance as well -- Sony speaks of a 24-pixel True Cinema option, as well as a Clear mode for gaming.

Crave also checked in with Sony's U.S. sleeve to learn more about when we should expect the HMZ-T2, and how many simoleons it should cost. Stay tuned.

The HMZ-T2's profile looks like some sort of robo-fish. (Click to enlarge.)

Originally posted here:
Sony gets in your face with upgraded personal 3D viewer

Nigel Wright, the chief of staff in Prime Minister Stephen Harper's office, was lobbied by Barrick Gold Corp. despite having personal ties to the company. Wright is seen here during committee testimony on Parliament Hill in 2010. (Adrian Wyld/Canadian Press)

Pointed questions are beginning to swirl around Nigel Wright, Prime Minister Stephen Harper's chief of staff, and whether he used his position to further the financial interests of friends at Barrick Gold Corp.

Ethics commissioner Mary Dawson is following up with Wright after the disclosure that he was lobbied twice by Barrick, the world's largest gold producer, in May.

Wright has known Barrick founder and board chairman Peter Munk for years and is particularly close to his son, Anthony, who sits on Barrick's board of directors.

Indeed, in a 2011 magazine article, Peter Munk disclosed that Wright is godfather to Anthony Munk's son. Wright worked with Anthony at Onex Corp., the private equity investment giant from which Wright has taken a leave of absence to work for Harper.

Wright also served as a director on the board of the Aurea Foundation, a charitable foundation established by Peter Munk and his wife in 2006 to support the study and development of public policy. He resigned from the board shortly before joining Harper's office in November 2010.

In a story in the April 2011 edition of The Walrus, Peter Munk lavished praise on Wright.

"I'd rank Nigel Wright among the mere handful of people I've met in whom I have complete trust," Munk was quoted as saying. "He's just one of those rare human beings with whom you feel totally comfortable in seeking an opinion or discussing complex issues, on any subject."

According to a report summary filed by Barrick with the federal lobbying commissioner, someone from the company the report does not identify who contacted Wright on May 14 to discuss international relations and international trade.

Nine days later, a second report indicates, Barrick talked to Wright again on the same subject matter this time along with Harper's foreign policy adviser, Andrea van Vugt, and his principal secretary, Ray Novak, who is Harper's point man on government-to-government relations.

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PMO chief lobbied by Barrick Gold despite personal ties

QPR has agreed personal terms with Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar, according to Sky Italia.

The Brazil international is expected to complete the move within the next day or so but the deal faces complications, as he has two years remaining on his contract and so may be entitled to a payoff.

The 32-year old initially lost his place to understudy Luca Castellazzi last term following a series of injury problems, but despite being fit he has yet to make an appearance for the Nerazzurri in the 2012-13 season.

Hoops boss Mark Hughes has been looking to sign a goalkeeper all summer, with the departure of Paddy Kenny to Leeds leaving an unclaimed number one jersey, which was then filled by new signing Robert Green.But Green has looked less than convincing in his first two matches in a Rangers shirt - prompting Kenny to send text messages mocking his replacement's performance to club owner Tony Fernandes and technical director Mike Rigg - and Hughes is thought to still be looking to bolster his options between the sticks.

Cesar was also linked with a move to north London with Tottenham but appears to prefer QPR, which avoided relegation on the last day of the season despite losing 3-2 to champion Manchester City. Follow GOAL.COM USA on Twitter

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QPR agrees personal terms with Inter goalkeeper Julio Cesar

REDWOOD CITY, Calif., Aug. 27, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Traveling everywhere with our laptops has become a way of life, which also makes laptops a target for theft. Did you know that one out of every ten laptops gets stolen, that means a laptop is stolen every 53 seconds! Scary statistics, and a good time to revisit some simple steps you can take to make your laptop more secure when traveling. The Personal Technology Experts at Support.com (SPRT), a provider of technology services and software for consumers and small businesses recommend the following:

1. Avoid Laptop Bags: Almost 12,000 laptops are lost or stolen in U.S. airports each week. To make your laptop less of a target, skip a typical laptop bag and instead try carrying your laptop in a padded briefcase, suitcase or backpack.

2. Free Wi-Fi Means More Risk: Many public wireless networks are relatively unsecure, and all users should be extra careful before connecting their laptop to a free network. If you must connect to a free network, here are 6 steps to connect to a wireless network safely. Instead of accessing a free network, you may be able to use an Internet USB dongle, or some providers like T-Mobile offer mobile hotspot services that let you access the Internet on your laptop with your mobile device.

3. Security/Anti-Theft Program: Install a security program that allows you to track/recover your laptop if lost or stolen. A well-known program is LoJack for Laptops.

4. Backup Data Before You Travel: Back up your data before you travel, it will be there if your laptop gets stolen! For those who travel a lot, consider an online data backup service that offers 24/7 access to all your files.

5. Encryption for Added Protection: Encrypting data on your laptop ensures that it can be accessed or read only by you -- a good idea if it falls into the wrong hands!

Finally, never leave your laptop unattended in hotel rooms or rental cars!

About Support.com Support.com, Inc. (SPRT) provides technology services and software for consumers and small businesses. Support.com(R) Personal Technology Experts provide a quick, cost-effective and stress-free technology support experience over the Internet and the phone using the Company's advanced technology platform. Support.com also offers a wide range of easy-to-use software products that detect and repair common computer problems and optimize performance and security. Support.com offers programs through many of the nation's leading retailers, broadband service providers and technology companies, and provides software to over a million consumers and small businesses. For more information please visit us at: http://www.support.com, http://www.facebook.com/support.com, or http://twitter.com/support_com.

The Support.com, Inc. logo is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=11893

Support.com, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information, visit http://www.support.com/about/careers.

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Personal Technology Experts(R) at Support.com Offer Five Tips to Make Your Laptop More Secure for Traveling

Jan Vertonghen admitted his performance in Saturday's 1-1 draw with West Bromwich Albion was pleasing but was dissatisfied with the result.

The Belgian defender made his Spurs debut after signing from Ajax earlier this summer and impressed in defence with his attacking style although the North Londoners could not get the win as the Baggies netted an injury-time leveller at White Hart Lane.

"I was pleased with my performance," said Vertonghen.

"I did a few good things, a few bad things, but we cannot be happy with the result.

"I like getting forward. I can drive the ball into midfield. That's what the manager has asked me to do.

"We have a home game against Norwich next Saturday and we have to win that one. It would be good for our confidence."

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Personal performance pleasing but Vertonghen unhappy with Tottenham result

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. (AP) -- Love and Pride held off heavily favored Royal Delta by a half-length Sunday in the $600,000 Personal Ensign Invitational Handicap at Saratoga Race Course.

Ridden by John Velazquez and trained by Todd Pletcher, Love and Pride ran 1 1/8 miles in 1:49.22 and paid $22, $6.70 and $3.50 for her third victory in seven starts this season.

''She's a filly that's kind of hinted she had one of those in her, and she's been real tricky to ride,'' Pletcher said. ''She doesn't respond well to an aggressive ride. Johnny gets along with her really well, and she showed up with a big performance today.''

Royal Delta returned $2.70 and $2.10, and It's Tricky paid $2.10 to show.

Royal Delta, the 2011 champion 3-year-old filly and winner of her last two races, bore out and lost momentum leaving the stretch turn. It's Tricky, winner of three straight races and second in the wagering, stumbled badly at the break and failed to fully recover.

''I had her in a pretty decent spot and the other horse kept pushing me to the outside and she got a little more aggressive,'' Velazquez said. ''I just waited there until we got to the three-eighths pole, and when I saw (It's Tricky) get through on the inside, it was time to go and she responded right away.''

Love and Pride earned $360,000 for the Green Hills Farm.

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Love and Pride wins Personal Ensign

By KASIE HUNT and THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) - Mitt Romney is about to get personal.

The GOP's presidential nominee-to-be wants to use his four-day party next week in Florida to play up his life story following a summer filled with a barrage of TV ads - courtesy of President Barack Obama and his allies - that cast him as a ruthless and out-of-touch businessman.

He'll surround himself with his five sons, five daughters-in-law and 15 of his 18 grandchildren. Romney's wife, Ann, will play her biggest role yet. A parade of athletes Romney met as an Olympic organizer, such as hockey legend Mike Eruzione, will be on hand. So will doting parishioners he helped as a lay pastor in the Mormon Church in Boston.

From the stagecraft to the speakers' roster, the agenda for the convention that starts Monday is carefully crafted toward one goal: introducing Romney to the country on his own terms while projecting him as the leader the country needs in tough economic times - and Obama as a failure on that front.

"We go to a convention and for the first time define Mitt a little bit better," said Ron Kaufman, a top Romney adviser.

Aides dismiss the notion that the former Massachusetts governor needs to repair a damaged image after a summer of negative ads and a recent string of missteps, including Friday when he waded into a debunked conspiracy theory by raising the issue of Obama's citizenship.

"No one's ever asked to see my birth certificate," Romney joked at a rally in the suburbs of Detroit while visiting his native state. "They know that this is the place that we were born and raised."

Romney later Friday in a CBS News interview said he had not intended the comment as a swipe at Obama.

Just a day earlier, Romney caused himself another potential headache when he said big business was "doing fine" due to off-shore tax havens. It was a comment that echoed a claim similar to one he had criticized Obama for making, and it also reminded voters of Romney's own overseas accounts.

Continued here:
Romney to feature personal side at convention

Thursday night an exasperated Lance Armstrong announced he would stop fighting the U.S. Anti-Doping Agencys charges that he had used performance-enhancing drugs, prompting the USADA to move to strip the legendary cyclist of his seven Tour de France titles.

If the agency succeeds, the highest athletic achievements of the greatest philanthropist in sport will disappear from the record, but experts say Armstrongs personal brand and powerhouse Livestrong foundation are sturdy enough to survive the loss of his Tour titles.

Since founding the Lance Armstrong Foundation in 1997, Armstrong, a testicular cancer survivor, has helped raise $470 million for cancer research.

Hes aspires to inspire (and) for all the talent he had on the bike, his greatest talent was being a champion of hope, says Sunny Pathak, president of SOS Media and brand manager to several pro athletes. Thats the advice Id give him. Fight the fight you believe you can win.

Armstrongs foundation was responsible for the yellow LIVESTRONG bracelets that were ubiquitous in the mid-2000s, and which have raised roughly $100 million for cancer research on their own.

Corporate support for the Armstrong foundation was just as strong, with sponsors ranging from Nike to Budweiser, and with the LIVESTRONG name gracing the home stadium of Major League Soccers Sporting Kansas City Franchise. American Century Investments introduced a line of mutual funds titled LIVESTRONG Portfolios, which earned strong reviews from investment industry analysts earlier this summer.

Thursday afternoon all three companies announced they planned to maintain their relationships with Armstrong and his foundation, even if he loses his Tour de France titles.

The USADA may sanction Lance and attempt to strip his titles, but no one can take away what hes done for the 28 million people around the world living with cancer, an American Century spokesperson told The Associated Press on Friday.

That decision doesnt surprise McMaster University marketing professor Manish Kacker, who points out that sponsors gravitate to Armstrong not because he defeated other cyclists but because he triumphed over cancer.

Both Armstrong and Livestrong have a real track record in terms of raising funds for cancer, says Kacker, who teaches at McMasters DeGroote School of Business. There might be some people who will pull away from Livestrong, but the charity probably has enough momentum to continue moving forward.

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Lance Armstrong’s personal brand will still live strong