just4moms.netExciting News Every Mom Should Know…

[This unedited press release is made available courtesy of Gamasutra and its partnership with notable game PR-related resource GamesPress.]

City, Date: Sony Computer Entertainment Europe(SCEE) today announced an exciting update to PlayStation®Plus that guarantees subscribersreceive at least three full games a month from a selection of thevery best titles from the PlayStation®Store. the update will provideusers with a wide variety of the hottest titles, at no additionalcost.

Starting June 6th, there will be an Instant Game Collection of10 games to choose from ready to download and play as part of theupdated PlayStation®Plus subscription, with at leastthree being updated monthly. the amazing launch line-up includesthe brand new Virtua Fighter 5™: Final Showdown, as well as Oddworld: Stranger’s Wrath HD, Renegade Ops™, Chime Super Deluxe, Outland™, Darksiders and Warhammer 40,000®: Space Marine®.

As part of the 10 games available, there will be a PlayStation®Plus Game of the Month. this willchange every four weeks and represent the very best PlayStation®Store has to offer, includingbrand new download-only games and Digital Blu-rays. 

Additionally, as part of their subscription, members will haveaccess to three digital Blu-ray blockbuster titles from SCEE – inFamous™2, MotorStorm: Apocalypse® and LittleBigPlanet™2.

PlayStation®Plus will also deliver some of thebest games in production from smaller, independent developers thatevery member will have the chance to play. the first game to beincluded as part of this new offering is Retro/Grade, the arcade shooter with a twist from 24 CaretGames and will be available later this summer for eight weeks, atno cost to subscribers.

On top of all of the exciting new updates, the PlayStation®Plus service will continue tooffer the same special features, huge discounts and exclusiveaccess that subscribers know and love.

Over the last year PlayStation®Plus has delivered incrediblevalue to its members worldwide. Between June 2011 and June 2012,subscribers have received:

·         Over€150 in games that are brand new to PlayStation®Store and included as part of thesubscription, like Awesomenauts, Trine 2™ and the Simpsons™Arcade

·         Over€450in games from the massive collection of great titlesalready available on PlayStation®Store, like Castle Crashers®, Plants vs. Zombies™ and Far Cry® 2

·         Morethan €1000 in discounts on brand new games at launch,including digital Blu-ray titles from franchises like Assassin’s Creed®, Tom Clancy’s GhostRecon® and call of Duty®, as well as additional money-off PlayStation®Store special offers.

Subscribers also received an array of exclusive features andaccess, including cloud storage for game saves, automatic updateand beta access to titles like Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deception™, Resistance® 3 and StarHawk™, as well as a huge collection of exclusive dynamic themesand PlayStation ® Network avatars.

Last year PlayStation®Plus gave members access tocontent valued at over 30 times the cost of their yearly membershipand this will only continue to increase over the coming months.

PlayStation®Plus still costs just£39.99/€49.99 for a one-year subscription or£11.99/€14.99 for a 90-day subscription..

About Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd

Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE), based in London, isresponsible for the distribution, marketing and sales ofPlayStation®3, PlayStation®Vita, PlayStation®2,PSP™ (PlayStation®Portable) and PlayStation®Networksoftware and hardware in 109 territories across Europe, the MiddleEast, Africa and Oceania. SCEE also develops, publishes, marketsand distributes entertainment software for these formats, andmanages the third party licensing programs for the formats in theseterritories.

More information about PlayStation products can be found at http:/www.playstation.com/www.playstation.com“>www.playstation.com.

PlayStation, the PlayStation logo are registered trademarks ofSony Computer Entertainment Inc. PS3 and PSP are trademarks of SonyComputer Entertainment Inc. All other trademarks are property oftheir respective owners.  

If you travel to Mexico’s Baja region or to sunny Southern California, you will find hundreds of restaurants and food stands offering fish tacos. most often, the fish is beer-battered and fried. this version using marinated fish is a lot easier and, in my opinion, even more flavorful.

Fish tacos can be made easily with any firm-fleshed white fish, such as grouper, tilapia, halibut, snapper, mahi-mahi or even cod. Marinating the fish will add flavor and moisture. I like to use a simple marinade of lime or lemon juice. I also toss in a few spices, such as garlic and chili powder, for a little kick. keep in mind that fish is delicate. It should never be marinated longer than 1 hour.

You can cook the fish outdoors on a grill or sauté it indoors. both cooking methods work perfectly for this dish and will have your fish cooked and ready to serve in about 10 minutes.

A citrusy slaw is the perfect accompaniment for a fish taco and is easy to whip up in minutes. to save time, pick up a package of shredded coleslaw in the produce department. the slaw can be made in advance; just keep it covered in your refrigerator until ready to serve.

Jennifer Chandler is the author of “Simply Salads” (Thomas Nelson, $24.99), “Simply Suppers: Easy Comfort Food your whole Family will Love” (Thomas Nelson, $24.99), and “Simply Grilling” (Thomas Nelson, $24.99). she lives in East Memphis with her husband and two daughters. for more recipes and dinnertime solutions, go to cookwithjennifer.com.

Grouper Tacos with Jalapeño-Lime Slaw

For the Jalapeño-Lime Slaw:

1/4 cup mayonnaise

3 tbsp. freshly squeezed lime juice

2 cups finely shredded green cabbage

1 cup finely shredded red cabbage

1/4 cup thinly sliced red onion (about half a small onion)

2 tbsp. seeded and finely diced fresh jalapeños

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

2 tbsp. coarsely chopped fresh cilantro leaves

For the fish tacos:

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lime juice

3 tbsp. olive oil

1 clove garlic, minced

1 tsp. chili powder

1/2 tsp. cumin

4 grouper fillets (6 oz. each)

Vegetable oil, for the grates

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

8 small (4-inch) flour tortillas, warmed

2 avocados, halved, peeled, and seeds removed

To make the jalapeño-lime slaw: in a large mixing bowl, whisk together the mayonnaise and lime juice. Add the green cabbage, red cabbage, red onion, jalapeño and cilantro. Toss until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Fold in the cilantro just before serving.

To make the fish tacos: in small bowl, whisk together the lime juice, olive oil, garlic, chili powder and cumin until well blended. Place the grouper in a shallow dish and pour the marinade over the fish. Cover and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.

Preheat a clean grill to medium-high with the lid closed for 8 to 10 minutes. Lightly brush the grates with oil.

Remove the fish from the marinade, shake off any excess, and discard the marinade. Season both sides of the fish with salt and pepper to taste.

Place the grouper on the grill. Close the lid and cook, turning once, until medium, about 4 to 5 minutes per side.

Assemble the tacos by placing the fish (approximately half a fillet per taco) in the center of the tortillas. Garnish with slices of avocado and a spoonful of the slaw. Serve warm.

Serves 4.

Variation: for a kid-friendly version, melt cheddar cheese on a tortilla and simply top with the seared fish.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) — Nokia said Thursday it will cut up to 10,000 jobs worldwide by the end of next year, part of an accelerated cost reduction program at the Finnish cellphone maker.

The company also warned that increased competition in the smartphone sector would hit its financial results in the second and third quarters, causing its operating loss margin to be bigger than previously forecast.

U.S. shares of Nokia (NOK) fell 8% in premarket trading. even before that latest plunge, shares had fallen 42% so far this year.

"these planned reductions are a difficult consequence of the intended actions we believe we must take to ensure Nokia’s long-term competitive strength," said Nokia CEO Stephen Elop, in a statement.

As part of its cost reduction efforts, Nokia plans to close research and development facilities in Germany and Canada.

Nokia said it plans to focus more on the development of its Lumia phone. The Lumia, which uses a Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) operating system, is Nokia’s attempt to take on Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) and Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) in the cellphone market.

Besides the challenge of going up against Apple, the world’s most valuable company, Nokia faces greater challenge from the deep pockets of Google, which last month closed a $12.5 billion purchase of Motorola Mobility

In the first quarter of this year, Nokia lost the title of world’s largest cell phone company to Korean rival Samsung, ending a 14-year reign on top of the industry. It also had credit rating agency Standard & Poor’s and Fitch downgrade its debt rating to "junk" in April.

But Nokia has been losing ground steadily for years, with shipments down nearly 30% since their peak just after Apple’s iPhone first went on sale in 2007. Nokia was the smartphone leader as recently as a year ago, but it has since fallen to a distant third place. And the smartphone category is forecast to be the only part of the cell phone market to grow this year.

Nokia is not the only cell phone company struggling with the new competition. Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIMM) has hired Wall Street firms to consider its strategic options, which generally means it is considering a sale of the company, and it is plans deep cost cuts that could eliminate jobs.

– Staff writer David Goldman contributed to this report 

First Published: June 14, 2012: 6:49 AM ET

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ABC15.com (KNXV-TV)

The Town of Amherst is in sound financial health with the exception of two anxiety-provoking problems that could result in major tax increases or a cash-flow crisis if allowed to fester. one involves a potentially devastating legal claim. the other involves spending in the Highway Department.

A complicated personal injury claim involving the town and a state agency accused of deceit and conspiracy could decimate the town’s general fund reserves within two years, according to Thomas P. Malecki, partner in the Drescher and Malecki accounting firm that released the preliminary findings of the town’s 2011 audit on Monday.

“At some point in time in 2012 or 2013, you’re going to run out of cash to advance to your self-insurance fund,” Malecki said.

The decade-old Bissell case, which involves a $23 million judgment, has resulted in the town paying out a personal injury claim to the tune of $3.2 million a year beginning in 2011. the next payment is due next month.

The town, which is self-insured, is currently on the hook for $13 million of the total claim. Its excess insurance carrier covered the remaining $10 million. two courts have stated that the State Insurance Fund must reimburse the town, but the state agency has refused to do so.

“You either collect the cash from the State Insurance Fund or there will be a tax levy at some point in time,” Malecki said.

Supervisor Barry Weinstein responded, “There will be a $13 million hit to the taxpayers.”

“That’s correct,” Malecki said.

The general fund — the town’s largest fund—broke even in terms of revenues and expenses. but be-

cause of the Bissell case, more of the town’s general fund reserves have been declared “non-spendable” because that money has been tied up to cover the Bissell case judgment, Malecki said.

The town currently has $4.4 million in unrestricted general fund savings at the end of last year. but after next month, general fund reserves will be down to about $1.2 million. More borrowing may be possible to offset this decline, but Weinstein said he was reluctant to “kick the can down the road.”

In regard to the town’s troubled highway fund, Malecki said, the town’s Highway Department has used up much of its highway fund reserves over the last two years with expenses outpacing revenues. the fund dropped from a year-end, unreserved fund balance of $5 million in 2009 to a mere $500,000 at the end of last year.

“This is a fund that’s going to need consistent monitoring,” Malecki said.

Highway fund savings stands at 4 percent of the fund’s total budget—well short of the 10 percent minimum the town requires for most of its funds.

Weinstein pointed out that the town raised taxes for the highway fund in the 2012 budget by 10.75 percent, which is expected to generate an additional $860,000 in revenue. but Malecki said that will not be enough to improve the highway fund’s health overall.

Comptroller Darlene a. Carroll said higher-than-anticipated gas and oil costs, as well as overtime and salt costs for a difficult winter at the start of 2011 contributed to highway expenses.

stan@buffnews.comnull

Karabedian, who is on probation for assault with a deadly weapon, allegedly started the fight inside the banquet hall, according to police. But the details about the brawl remain unclear because partygoers have refused to talk to police about the incident, Lorenz said.

Attempts to reach the managers of the banquet hall were unsuccessful.

Some partygoers refused medical treatment and didn't want to press any charges, Lorenz said.

A 27-year-old man, who had blood stains on his shirt, reportedly told police he was struck on the lip and hit on the head with a chair.

Another man had blood all over his face due to a cut on his eyebrow, police reported.

Termendzyan was released Sunday after posting bail, Lorenz said.

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– Veronica Rocha, Times Community News

Image: Approximate location of incident shown in black. Credit: Los Angeles Times Mapping L.A.

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By Sportsmail Reporter

PUBLISHED: 02:55 EST, 14 June 2012 | UPDATED: 02:55 EST, 14 June 2012

Spain midfielder Xabi Alonso is expecting a major battle as the Republic attempt to stage a Euro 2012 smash and grab raid.

The holders face Giovanni Trapattoni’s men at the PGE Arena in Gdansk on Thursday having taken a point from their opening game against Italy, but desperate to claim a first victory to ease themselves towards the quarter-finals.

Ireland will do everything within their powers to deny the Spaniards the win they crave with their own need even more pressing, and Real Madrid star Alonso is preparing himself for a fight.

Getting ready for action: Republic of Ireland know they face a massive challenge against Spain at the PGE Arena Stadium in Gdansk

‘With Irish teams, you know they are very proud. They will fight from the first minute until the last and they will play together as a team,’ he said.

‘It’s going to be a very difficult match. They know us and they know our characteristics, but we also know them because they all play in the Premier League.

‘We will have to be very patient. we will have to try to score early in the game because that makes everything easier afterwards. It’s going to be a difficult match. Anything can happen. we will have to fight from the beginning.’

Trapattoni has hinted that he might tinker with his formation in an effort to stem the flow from Spain’s star-studded midfield and drop one of his strikers into a deeper role.

… but the holders have plenty of respect for their inexperienced opponents

However, Alonso revealed that manager Vicente Del Bosque is prepared for all eventualities.

He said: ‘In most of the games we have seen, they have played with two strikers, and if one of them drops deep, that will make it tougher and more compact in midfield.

‘If Robbie Keane plays up front and Jon Walters or Kevin Doyle drops deeper, that’s what we have been working on.’

Best foot forward: Xabi Alonso

Del Bosque’s decision to line up against Italy with six midfielders and no strikers prompted criticism despite the fact that Cesc Fabregas, the man asked to provide the goal threat, did find the back of the net.

Alonso admitted he did not know what all the fuss was about, and pointed to the result as justification.

He said: ‘We have used this tactic several times, it’s not the first time we have used it. we know it works in a different way to when you are playing with a striker, but it can work, and we saw that in the last match when Cesc played there and scored a great goal.

‘But it’s not about what system you use, it’s about how we play it and if the result is good, then you say the tactic was fantastic and the decision the manager took was the right one.

‘We were quite pleased with how it worked.’