erinwatson

http://www.videogamedesignschools.net/20-great-sites-to-learn-the-ins-and-outs-of-video-game-design/

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/23/business/retailers-are-slashing-prices-ahead-of-holiday.html?_r=1&ref=business

Aggressive last-minute deals in the days before Christmas are good for procrastinators, but they could be an alarm bell for the retail industry.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/story/2011-12-22/music-headphones/52157370/1

When iPods hit the scene 10 years ago, the small, white ear buds that came with the devices became the symbol for listening to music on the go.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/story/2011-12-22/santa-tracking-norad/52166662/1

That's right. This Christmas, NORAD, the premier U.S.-Canadian air defense directorate, is once again using its super high-tech tracking equipment to keep tabs on jolly old Saint Nick.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/12/111221140706.htm

At UCLA's Laboratory of Integrative Neuroimaging Technology, researchers use functional MRI brain scans to observe brain signal changes that take place during mental activity.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16253364

A potential new malaria vaccine has shown promise in animal studies, according to research.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/8971393/Experts-drafted-in-to-improve-painfully-slow-adoption-system.html

Couples are forced to go through an overly bureaucratic process that can reject them on grounds of race or simply because they are overweight or smokers, while children have to wait on average two years and seven months to be adopted.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/20/us-htc-apple-patent-idUSTRE7BI24620111220

Apple Inc scored a narrow victory against Taiwan's HTC Corp in a patent lawsuit over smartphone technology that will set the stage for further battles between rival makers in the fiercely competitive market.

http://futureoftech.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/12/19/9550447-will-future-tech-read-your-mind

Nothing focuses your attention on the future like a forecast, especially when it comes to the technologies that will be changing daily life in the years to come. Five years, to be exact. That's why forecasts like IBM's annual "Five in Five" are so thought-provoking, even if they're occasionally wrong.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/20/health/evidence-mounts-linking-acetaminophen-and-asthma.html?_r=1&ref=health

The sharp worldwide increase in childhood asthma over the past 30 years has long perplexed researchers, who have considered explanations as varied as improved hygiene and immunizations. Over the last decade, however, a new idea has emerged.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/15/world/africa/sustainable-cities-debate/index.html?hpt=ibu_c1

Making cities greener "actually makes a lot of sense" in spite of the economic crisis, says former Irish President, Mary Robinson.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/large-hadron-collider/8952757/The-Higgs-boson-and-the-LHC-at-last-a-clue-to-the-universe.html

Today, scientists working on the Large Hadron Collider will reveal what they’ve learnt about the 'God Particle’. It’s another exciting step forward in physics, says Sue Nelson .

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/15/us/new-york-fitch-downgrade/index.html?hpt=ibu_c2

The ratings firm Fitch downgraded a cluster of the world's largest banks Thursday, pointing to trading challenges facing international markets.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/film-news/8945391/The-worlds-first-smartphone-movie.html

A smart phone connected to a camera set near Berkeley, California. An independent US filmmaker has made what is believed to be the first feature-length movie shot with a smartphone, to be released next week -- with actress Gena Rowlands in the starring role.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-16031149

Nearly half of cancers diagnosed in the UK each year - over 130,000 in total - are caused by avoidable life choices including smoking, drinking and eating the wrong things, a review reveals.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/07/tech/gaming-gadgets/words-with-friends/index.html

What's so addictive about a Scrabble-like online game that it can get you kicked off an airplane?Non-gamers have been asking that question since actor Alec Baldwin was booted from an American Airlines flight Tuesday in Los Angeles for refusing to turn off his phone. His reason? The "30 Rock" star was in the middle of playing "Words with Friends."

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/secondaryeducation/8940781/Exam-boards-how-examiners-tip-off-teachers-to-help-students-pass.html

Michael Gove, the Education Secretary, has ordered an official inquiry into the exam system after an investigation exposed examiners giving teachers secret advice on how to improve their GCSE and A-level results.

http://news.discovery.com/tech/gamers-advance-genetic-science-111207.html#mkcpgn=rssnws1

Video gamers are advancing the frontiers of science. Already, they've played games that ultimately help map the shapes of proteins. Now they're also advancing scientists’ knowledge of genetics.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/personalfinance/mutualfunds/analysis/ET-Wealth-Dont-fall-for-global-funds-impacted-by-the-rupee/articleshow/10968296.cms

The international/global funds, especially the ones aligned towards the US, have put up a spectacular show in the past three months. At a time when the creme de la creme of large-cap funds are bleeding with negative returns,

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/no-change-in-basic-countries-stand-on-emission-cuts/articleshow/11014989.cms

The BASIC quartet-Brazil, South Africa, India and China-came together scorching all rumours that China had decided to break ranks when it made its "offer" of accepting a legally binding agreement.

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international-business/us-middle-class-faces-make-or-break-moment-barack-obama/articleshow/11016959.cms

. President Barack Obama defended Tuesday his economic policy in a speech noting that the US middle class is facing "a make or break moment".

http://dsc.discovery.com/adventure/7-great-reasons-to-spend-winter-outside.html

As winter sets in, the indoors beckon to us. Three months of freezing temperatures, snow, wind and ice? Better just ride it out in front of the fireplace with a good book and a mug of hot chocolate. If that sounds right to you, you should reconsider. There are lots of reasons to get outside in the coldest months of the year: Here are seven of the best.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Scotch-biggies-in-high-spirits-over-India-play/articleshow/11001171.cms

This week, Beam Inc unveiled the most expensive product from the Teacher's brand portfolio-a whisky matured for at least 25 years-in India. Beam's India ubsidiary played an active part in designing and packaging Teacher's 25 which will enter international markets shortly.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/05/technology/thebuzz/index.htm

Google isn't Facebook. There. We got that out of the way. Now let's move on. For much of this year, many investors penalized the search king because it was no longer the cool kid on the tech block.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-16026270

French President Nicolas Sarkozy and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are to meet to agree on joint proposals aimed at resolving the eurozone debt crisis.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/gardeningadvice/8920209/How-gardening-helps-Alzheimers-sufferers.html

Gardening exercises the mind as well as body and provides stimulation for those suffering from mental health issues such as Alzheimer's.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/8919018/Hospital-guide-death-rates-10-per-cent-higher-at-weekends.html

Patients admitted to NHS hospitals for emergency treatment at weekends are almost 10 per cent more likely to die than during the rest of the week, according to a comprehensive new report.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/01/tech/gaming-gadgets/south-park-game/index.html

The creators of the "South Park" TV show are working on a new video game that is planned to hit stores in the latter half of next year, game publisher THQ announced on Thursday. It will be available for Sony's PlayStation 3 and for Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Windows computers.

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/12/01/tech/gaming-gadgets/powerbag-review/index.html

Thanks to a wave of new mobile technology, I can store my calendar, car keys, credit cards, music and notes all on my smartphone. That kind of convergence is convenient, but my phone has an Achilles' heel. The battery doesn't last forever.

http://money.cnn.com/2011/12/01/technology/facebook_privacy/index.htm

Facebook routinely gets itself in hot water over privacy issues, a problem that led this week to a settlement with federal regulators and an agreement that Facebook will undergo regular audits of its compliance with its privacy promises