Google's controversial tactic to add users: There's No Avoiding Google+

Google Inc. (GOOG) is challenging Facebook Inc. (FB) by using a controversial tactic: requiring people to use the Google+ social network.
The result is that people who create an account to use Gmail, YouTube and other Google services—including the Zagat restaurant-review website—are also being set up with public Google+ pages that can be viewed by anyone online. Google+ is a Facebook rival and one of the company's most important recent initiatives as it tries to snag more online advertising dollars.
The impetus comes from the top. Google Chief Executive Larry Page has sought more aggressive measures to get people to use Google+, two people familiar with the matter say. Google created Google+ in large part to prevent Facebook from dominating the social-networking business.

Both Facebook and Google make the vast bulk of their revenue from selling ads. But Facebook has something Google wants: Facebook can tie people's online activities to their real names, and it also knows who those people's friends are. Marketers say Google has told them that closer integration of Google+ across its many properties will allow Google to obtain this kind of information and target people with more relevant (and therefore, more profitable) ads.
Some users of Google's services are startled to learn how far the integration can reach. Sam Ford, a 26-year-old Navy petty officer, says he signed up for Google+ on his smartphone because it would let him automatically upload new photos to a Google+ folder—one that he kept private. Later, he says, he was surprised to see that his Google+ profile page—which includes his name—was tied to a software review that he wrote recently on the Google Play online store.
Google is "trying too hard to compete with Facebook, and if people aren't going to share willingly, they'll make them share unwillingly," he says.
A Google spokeswoman says the company began requiring use of Google+ profiles to write reviews to improve the quality of the critiques, which was lower when people were able to leave reviews anonymously. The change also allows people to see reviews by their friends, she says.

Symbol	Price	Change
GOOG	737.23	13.56
FB	28.64	0.87

A Facebook spokesman declined to comment.
Google executives say more integration is coming. "Google+ is Google," says Vice President Bradley Horowitz. "The entry points to Google+ are many, and the integrations are more every day."
The initiative has been controversial within Google. Some employees viewed it as a desperate attempt to catch up to Facebook while others believe it is the company's best path to being relevant in the age of social media, said people familiar with the matter.
Mr. Page, the CEO, about a year ago first pushed the idea of requiring Google users to sign on to their Google+ accounts simply to view reviews of businesses, the people say. Google executives persuaded him not to pursue that strategy, fearing it would irritate Google search users, the people say. A Google spokeswoman declined to comment on the matter.
In recent months, Google has pressed ahead with other forms of integration. This past fall, for instance, Google began requiring people who want to post their reviews of restaurants or other businesses to use their Google+ profiles to do so. The same rule applies for reviews of smartphone software "apps," as well as physical goods, obtained through Google.
Vic Gundotra, who is in charge of Google+, says he sees little in-house controversy today. "There was more resistance two years ago," when the project wasn't well understood internally, he says.
The integration has helped increase Google+ usage. Google last month said 235 million people used Google+ features—such as clicking on a "+1" button, similar to Facebook's "Like" button—across Google's sites, up from 150 million in late June.
By using its top websites to help Google+, the company has shown how far it is willing to go to battle Facebook to become a gateway for Internet users to communicate with each other and businesses.
Google is "sitting on a mountain of data," says Alan Osetek, president of Resolution Media, which helps marketers buy ads on Google. He says "click-through rates"—the rates at which Google search users click on ads—have increased for his clients' ads when they include information from Google+, such as the number of people who have recommended a brand by clicking the +1 button on the brand's Google+ page. "In the majority of cases, lift in click-through rates ranged from 2% to 15%," he says.
A person's Google+ profile page typically includes their real name, and they can add other details such as their hometowns. By default, the page is public and will turn up in a Google search. It is possible, however, to change a setting so that the page doesn't show up in search results.
Although Google doesn't reveal a user's name to advertisers, Google uses information about the person's Web visits and interests to help marketers target ads more accurately, Google says. Mr. Gundotra, the Google+ chief, says the company won't share data about individual users with advertisers and that it is important for the company to maintain users' trust.
Google encourages account holders to use Google+ to share photos and thoughts with friends or other Google+ users who share their interests. Integrating Google+ with the rest of the company's properties helps users glean more information about apps, businesses, websites, products and—most important for Google's business—ads for those products. That's because Google+ users can be notified if their Google+ friends or other contacts recommend the items.
"You'll go to search for a camp stove on Google, and you'll find that your friend just bought one, and you'll be able to ask him about it," says Dylan Casey, a former Google+ product manager who now works at Path Inc., a smartphone-based social network.
Since Google+ made its debut in mid-2011, the Mountain View, Calif., company has had limited success getting people to spend time directly on the Google+ site. Research firm comScore Inc. a year ago estimated that Google+ users spent an average of three minutes on the site each month, versus more than 400 minutes for the average Facebook user. In the U.S., Google+ had nearly 28.7 million unique visitors through PCs in October—well below Facebook's 149 million, comScore says. Those numbers don't include mobile-device users.
Because using Google+ requires people to sign in to their Google accounts, Google will be able to blend mounds of data about individual users' search habits and the websites they visit with their activities on Google+. That is a potential boon to Google's ad business, from which the company derives about 95% of its more than $40 billion in annual revenue, excluding its new Motorola phone-making unit.

US economy adds 155K jobs, rate stays at 7.8 pct

US economy adds 155,000 jobs in December, unemployment rate stays at 7.8 percent

WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs in December, a steady gain that shows hiring held up during the tense negotiations to resolve the fiscal cliff.
The solid job growth wasn't enough to push down the unemployment rate, which remained 7.8 percent last month, the Labor Department said Friday. The rate for November was revised up from an initially reported 7.7 percent.
The government also said hiring was stronger in the previous month than first thought. November's job gains were revised up 15,000 to 161,000, while October was nearly unchanged at 137,000.
Stock futures inched higher after the report was released at 8:30 a.m. Eastern time.
The "gain is perhaps better than it looks given that firms were probably nervous about adding workers with the fiscal cliff looming," Paul Ashworth, an economist at Capital Economics, said. "Nevertheless, the overall picture is that the labor market remains lackluster."
Robust hiring in manufacturing and construction fueled the December job gains. Construction firms added 30,000, the most in 15 months. That increase likely reflected hiring needed to rebuild after Superstorm Sandy and also gains in home building that have contributed to a housing recovery.
Manufacturers added 25,000 jobs, the most in nine months.
Other higher-paying industries also added jobs. Professional and business services, which include jobs in information technology, management and architecture, gained 19,000 positions. Financial services added 9,000 and health care created 55,000.
Lower-paying sectors were mixed. Restaurants and bars added 38,000 jobs. Retailers cut 11,300, a sign that the holiday shopping season may have been weak. But the cuts came after three months of strong gains.
Governments shed 13,000 jobs, mostly in local school systems.
Even with the gains, hiring isn't strong enough to quickly reduce still-high unemployment. For 2012, employers added 1.84 million jobs, an average of 153,000 jobs a month, roughly matching the job totals for 2011.
But the stable hiring last month shows that employers didn't panic during the high-stakes talks between Congress and the White House over tax increases and spending cuts that weren't resolved until New Year's.
That's an encouraging sign for the coming months, because an even bigger federal budget showdown is looming. The government must increase its $16.4 trillion borrowing limit by around late February or risk defaulting on its debt. Republicans will likely demand deep spending cuts as the price of raising the debt limit.
Friday's report did point to some weakness in the job market. For example, the number of unemployed actually rose 164,000 to 12.2 million. Approximately 192,000 people entered the work force last month, but most of them didn't find jobs.
The unemployment figures come from a survey of households; the number of jobs that were added each month comes from a separate survey of businesses.
A broader gauge that counts the unemployed, plus part-time workers who want full-time work and people who have given up looking for a job, was unchanged at 22.7 million.
Still, the economy is improving. Layoffs are declining. And the number of people who sought unemployment aid in the past month is near a four-year low.
The December jobs report showed that hourly pay is staying slightly ahead of inflation. Hourly wages rose 7 cents to $23.73, a 2.1 percent increase compared with a year earlier. Inflation rose 1.8 percent over the same period.
The once-depressed housing market is recovering. Companies ordered more long-lasting manufactured goods in November, a sign that they're investing more in equipment and software. And Americans spent more in November. Consumer spending drives nearly 70 percent of economic growth.
Manufacturing is getting a boost from the best auto sales in five years. Car sales jumped 13 percent in 2012 to 14.5 million. And Americans spent more at the tail end of the holiday shopping season, boosting overall sales that had slumped earlier in the crucial two-month period.

5 Ways to Put Extra Cash in Your Pocket in 2013

Now that the President and Congress have reached a tax deal to avert the"fiscal cliff", many Americans are breathing a sigh of relief as most income tax rates will remain in place and certain benefits on which many Americans have depended have been extended or made permanent. Still, one major perk has gone away -- the payroll tax cut for most U.S. workers expired on December 31.

This year, workers will see a two percent increase -- from 4.2 percent to 6.2 percent - in their payroll taxes from 2012 levels. This amounts to a reduction in an annual income of $1,000 for the typical U.S. family earning $50,000 a year.
In addition, those workers who have been laid off in recent months or had work hours cut are certainly feeling a pinch. If you are among them -- or worried that you soon may be -- the start of the New Year is a great time to take the future of your financial situation into your own hands.
Start searching now for ways to make extra cash to simply pay for the increasing expense of just living. These strategies and "side gigs" may help you ease any financial strain:

1. Cash in gift cards. Tired of shopping? Don't need any more gifts? You may be used to holding onto gift cards for months - or years. Maybe you even used gift cards to purchase presents over the holidays. But if you need some extra cash, resale companies are happy to take them off your hands. At CardPool.com, you can get up to 92 percent of the card's value - and you don't have to pay a fee. Also check out PlasticJungle.com, which will also pay you for your gift card, either by check or a deposit into a PayPal account.

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2. Work extra hours at a part-time job. SnagaJob.com is just one of the great resources for finding part-time jobs, offering opportunities for work on an hourly basis. Pay generally ranges from $10-$11 an hour. Just because the holidays are over doesn't mean there are not jobs out there, especially in retail. Restaurants and food services, health-care and personal care are other top industries for hourly workers, according to SnagaJob.com.
If you're in a big city, check out TaskRabbit.com to find odd jobs that can help you to earn extra cash. Task Rabbit is a service offered in about a dozen major metropolitan areas that connects people who are willing to pay for jobs with people who have the skills to perform them. Here's how it works: Someone who needs a package hand-delivered posts the task on Task Rabbit. You bid on the job, and if you're the lowest bid, you'll be assigned to to make the delivery. You get paid by the person who hires you, minus a service fee.

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3. Start an online store. Turn your hobby, skills or expertise into a part-time business. Set up your own "online store" by selling products on Amazon.com, eBay.com or relative newcomer Etsy.com, an online marketplace for handmade jewelry, crafts and other goods, as well as vintage items. Etsy charges 20 cents to list an item for four months. When your item sells, you'll pay a 3.5 percent transaction fee. You can customize your shop with a banner, profile, shop policies and more. You'll get your own URL for your Etsy shop, based on your username.
4. Hold a virtual garage sale. Post your listings for furniture or whatever you'd like to sell online or on a smartphone mobile app like Geoli.st. Essentially a CraigsList for your mobile phone, Geoli.st. is a free app that offers virtual classified ads on the best deals near your location. Geoli.st deploys a location-based technology so that people in your area will see your product for sale (photo, description and price). Since you're selling to buyers in your area, you can avoid shipping to far away places and get paid in person.
5. Sell your knowledge. Calling all teachers! Sell your original lesson plans, exams, teaching guides and worksheets. TeachersPayTeachers.com is a website that lets you upload your original files to its catalog and set your own price. Basic membership to join the site is free and you'll get a 60 percent royalty on gross sales, paid to you quarterly through Paypal.
Another way to sell your smarts is to take up tutoring. Peer2Peer (part of AristotleCircle.com), matches students and tutors (ages 16 years old or older). Pay ranges from $12-$15 an hour and, generally, you have to be able to work at least three hours a week.

Surprising twist on Betty Crocker classics

The iconic, All-American food brand Betty Crocker is known for it’s nostalgic comfort foods, but recently, two chefs, Annie and Dan Shannon, turned the entire Betty Crocker cookbook on its ear, with their upcoming new book “Betty Goes Vegan”. We invited the Shannons to “The Shine” to show us their twists on some American classics. The Shannon’s new book isn’t a health book, to be clear, it’s a book intended to allow vegans to eat all the different foods they enjoy, including those yummy and sometimes fattening comfort foods. The mission of the book was to show not only vegans, but also non-vegans alike, that vegan food can be delicious and that the options are endless.
The Shannons brought to “The Shine” four delicious vegan dishes: quiche Lorraine, cheeseburger pie, red velvet whoopie pies, and cinnamon rolls. “Betty Goes Vegan” doesn’t hit stores until February 5th, but for a sneak peak, check out the two recipes below.
Cherry Cola Vegan Chicken Wings

Makes 8 to 10 Wings

Ingredients

Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce

1 cup cherry cola

¾ cup cherry preserves

2⁄3 teaspoon ground mustard

½ teaspoon ground ginger

3 teaspoons hot sauce

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons vegan Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon garlic powder

½ teaspoon Bragg’s liquid aminos

Dash of liquid smoke

1 cup ketchup (I can’t stress this enough: read your labels and use one that has actual tomatoes in it)

Wings

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil

Dash of liquid smoke

8 to 10 vegan chicken wings or 2 to 2 ½ cups vegan chicken on skewers, defrosted

Directions

Preheat the oven to 400°F.
1. Put all your Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce ingredients in one bowl and blend with a handheld electric mixer until smooth. We left a few large cherry chunks in there because they’re delicious.         
2. To prepare the wings, mix the olive oil and liquid smoke in a bowl. Brush a large glass baking dish with smoky olive oil. Place your vegan chicken wings in the dish so that they aren’t touching and brush with olive oil. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes, or until your vegan chicken wings start to turn a light golden brown.
3. Using oven mitts so you don’t burn your fingers, dip and roll your vegan chicken wings in the Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce one at a time till you get a thick, even coating on all your wings. Place back in the baking dish. Bake for 10 to 15 minutes, or until the Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce makes a nice glaze over the vegan chicken wings.
4. Serve with the rest of the Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce on the side to dip your wings and fingers in.
Red Velvet Whoopie Pies

Makes 1 dozen pies

Ingredients

Baking spray

2¾ cups all-purpose flour

½ cup cocoa powder

1½ teaspoons baking powder

¼ teaspoon crushed pink Himalayan salt

1 cup margarine, softened

1½ cups sugar

2 tablespoons applesauce

¾ cup soy milk

1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1½ teaspoons vanilla extract

2 teaspoons cherry juice

from a bag of frozen cherries or red food coloring
1 batch Cream Cheese Frosting

¼ cup crushed walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F. Spray your whoopie pie pan with baking spray.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together your flour, cocoa powder, baking powder, and salt.
3. In another bowl, blend your margarine and sugar together with an electric handheld mixer until fluffy and smooth. Mix in the applesauce until it’s creamy.
4. In a small bowl, whisk together the soy milk and apple cider vinegar. Let sit for 30 seconds.
5. Gradually add the fl our mixture to the margarine mixture and blend thoroughly. Then pour in the soy milk mixture, baking soda, vanilla, and cherry juice and blend until your batter is creamy.
6. Fill a cookie press or frosting gun with the batter, and then fill the cups of your whoopie pie pan three-quarters of the way full. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the edges are golden brown.
7. While your cookies are baking, make your Cream Cheese Frosting.
8. Once your cookies are done, move them immediately to a wire rack to cool with the less adorable side down.

9. Pour your walnuts into a shallow bowl.

10. Pipe frosting onto the less cut side of one cookie. Top with another cookie to make a sandwich. Then roll the edge of your cookie sandwich in the walnuts so that the frosting gets coated. Repeat with all your cookies until you have a bunch of little red velvet cookie monsters—I mean sandwiches.

Man accused of trying to rob store, then calling mom for ride

Just because the town is called "Niceville" doesn’t mean they’ll patiently wait for your mom to pick you up after you tried to rob the local convenience store.

The Sun-Sentinel reports that 22-year-old Zachariah Dalton Howard is charged with attempting to rob a Thumbs-Up Convenience store in the Florida town (home of the Boggy Bayou Mullet Festival), when he told the clerk he had a gun. But he left the store without any cash after the clerk showed him the empty store register.
Howard then walked over to a nearby Winn-Dixie store where he called his mom and asked for a ride home, the report says.
You can read a full copy of the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office report here (PDF).
According to the report, Howard told police that he initially left his mom’s home to “let off some steam” and didn’t set out to rob the Thumbs-Up but “came up with the idea while walking there.” As authorities deemed Howard did not in fact bring a gun into the store, he was formally charged with “attempted robbery without a weapon.”