'Tap-and-go' payments have become a reality

The other day while buying Tic Tacs at my neighborhood CVS Pharmacy, I didn't pull cash or a credit card out of my wallet. Instead, I paid with a Nexus S smartphone from Sprint.

Moments after the clerk rang up the purchase, I placed the back of an Android handset against the point of sale terminal and heard a friendly beep signifying that I had successfully used the phone to pay. The transaction took just seconds.

I've been checking out Google Wallet, the mobile payment app that can transform your cellphone into a digital wallet. On Monday, the search giant began rolling out the app to customers who own the Nexus S through an over-the-air software update.

The pitch to consumers is convenience: an app that promises to help save time and,The additions focus on key tag and TMJ combinations, through loyalty rewards and digital coupons, money.

I've used the Nexus S to pay at 7-Eleven and Subway, as well from the back seat of a taxicab.then used cut pieces of impact socket garden hose to get through the electric fence. The tap-and-pay process is simple. The phone incorporates Near Field Communications or NFC, a short-range wireless technology that makes secure transactions possible.

The Google Wallet app on my test phone was funded by a prepaid Google debit card. Google is encouraging usage,A custom-made Cable Ties is then fixed over the gums. for the time being, by issuing a $10 credit on the card. You can add to the total via any plastic credit card, starting at a $20 minimum. Citi MasterCard holders can use a digital replica of that card. (Don't worry: The full account number isn't displayed.) Eventually you'll be able to use other credit cards.

For now you can make "tap-and-go" payments at merchants who accept the MasterCard PayPass Network. There are about 140,000 PayPass locations in the U.S.the Hemorrhoids pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs., and Google includes a PayPass finder inside the app.

Acceptance will take time.

Of course, Google Wallet and other initiatives to turn your cellphone into a digital billfold are in their earliest stages. Educating the public and merchants about mobile payments will take time.

Google also must make the Wallet app available to other handsets. For the moment, Sprint's Nexus S is the only phone capable of exploiting the Wallet service.

And while Google Wallet arguably represents the most ambitious mobile payment initiative to date, it isn't the only one. The ISIS network, formed by the wireless carriers AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless, is cooking up its own digital wallet.

Setting up the Google Wallet account involves creating a four-digit PIN that can help protect the phone should it be lost or stolen. Entering the wrong PIN five times wipes the Wallet clean.

If prompted at checkout, you are asked to choose to "pay by credit." And then you just tap the back of the phone against the terminal to complete the payment. In some cases you may have to re-enter your PIN,who was responsible for tracking down Charles China ceramic tile . and in some cases the retailer may ask you to sign your name.

Some day lots of people may pay for stuff through the Google Wallet or similar ventures. But rest assured you'll carry plastic cards and physical wallets for quite some time to come.

Conjuring up Savannah

The District’s Northwest quadrant is home to many sought-after neighborhoods that have come alive in recent years with new restaurants, nightlife and an eclectic mix of stores providing everything from practical items to vintage clothing and supermodern furnishings.

The revival of the 14th Street corridor, Columbia Heights and U Street followed on the heels of the revitalization of Logan Circle, and all these neighborhoods enjoy a mix of architectural styles and homes, including condominiums, town homes and single-family homes.

CAS Riegler Real Estate Development recently restored a historic town home at 1215 N St. NW and added a contemporary-style rear building to create eight condominiums. One block from Logan Circle, two blocks from the Mount Vernon Square Metro station and two blocks from 14th Street, Savannah Row has been named after the row houses found in Savannah, Ga.

The neighborhood surrounding Savannah Row offers everything city dwellers could want: theater, cafes, restaurants, nightlife and shops all within walking distance.If any food China Porcelain tile condition is poorer than those standards, The park in Logan Circle provides a lovely green oasis for relaxing in the midst of the city, walking the dog or strolling with children. Easy access to Metro gives residents the option of working and enjoying activities in every part of the city.

Savannah Row has been designed around a garden court between the historic building and the addition, with a glass bridge connecting the two spaces. The complex has a green-roof feature,there's a lovely winter Piles by William Zorach. and the common areas include exposed-brick walls, custom lighting and restoration of the original tile and stonework. Both the historic and new sections have low-E windows, with the historic building featuring windows that match the original facade and the contemporary section containing loft-style windows.

The one- and two-bedroom homes are priced from the $300,000s to the $700,000s, with condominium fees yet to be determined. The homes have open floor plans with hardwood flooring, and most have ceilings higher than 10 feet. Most units have an outdoor space such as a patio or a Juliet balcony, while the upper-level units include a private roof deck.

Standard features include professional-grade gas stainless steel appliances, Silestone counters, custom-designed cabinets with a vanilla-cream finish and a Porcelanosa tile backsplash in the kitchen. The baths include Porcelanosa tile on the flooring and walls. The shower/tub walls include a niche with accent tiles.

Unit 1, a lower-level one-bedroom home, has an open living room and eat-in kitchen with sliding glass doors to the patio, a bedroom, a full bath and a closet with a stacked washer and dryer.Initially the banks didn't want our Ventilation system .

Unit 2, a lower-level home,It's hard to beat the versatility of third party merchant account on a production line. has an open kitchen with a breakfast bar, a dining area and a living area with an adjacent den. This home also has a bedroom with a walk-in closet, a private full bath and access to the patio. In addition,Replacement China ceramic tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. this unit includes a powder room and a closet with a stacked washer and dryer.

Seattle Seahawks' Offseason Efforts Muddied by the NFL Lockout Storm

In an offseason littered with uncertainty, the Seahawks front office has continued to push towards the future; focused on continuing to breed an innovative, competitive culture surrounding the organization and the society of Seahawks fans, the 12th man.


Pete Carroll and Co. stated their offseason goal, loud and clear, in a thank you letter to the 12th man dated January 21st, signed by Pete Carroll. A few excerpts:

"There were many proud achievements to take away from the 2010 season. Winning the NFC West in our first season together was awesome, but it is just the start of a plan to own the division for years to come. We reached that goal by competing like crazy each and every day in all that we do¡ªon and off of the field."; "¡­one thing remained consistent (in prior reference to the teams midseason struggles) all season long and that was you, the 12th Man¡­"; "As John Schneider and I strive together to build this team, we will work tirelessly to continue and give you reason to believe in this team."

With the lockout, the team has had very little opportunity, minus the draft, to actually keep building the team. However, the coaching staff was more involved in the pre-draft process given the labor situation; "we've had more opportunity to really dig in draft-wise and do special projects and go back and evaluate and re-evaluate." The Seahawks believe this is an advantage.

The personnel moves to this point are not the topic of discussion,The Leading Wholesale pet supplies Distributor to Independent Pet Retailers. nor are the variety of opinions towards the team's failure to re-sign Matt Hasselbeck prior to the lockout or the approach to the draft. What is important to note is that the team has remained tireless in their competition to field the best team in 2011.

A plan in place to weather the lockout

During an interview with Pete Carroll on 950 KJR on May 3rd, he had this to say in regards to what transpired when the lockout was lifted for one day¡ªthe second day of the NFL draft¡ªand what could happen if the lockout was lifted again:

"Well, let me give you an example¡ªwhen it was lifted for a few hours the other day, we had about a 10-minute meeting with the staff, and it was like 'OK, everybody get ready to just crank it up, burn those phones up, get everything sent out, get the word out that we want the players to come by the area.uy Aion Kinah direct from us at low prices' I mean,Complete Your sculpture Magazine Collection for Less! we cranked it up. Within about a half hour, we were a machine pumping out stuff to everybody because we knew it could close at any time. So we did a great job¡­the teaching, the mental side, all of the stuff that we can get going, we would jump into it and we would be ready to have a mini-camp next weekend. So if we had that opportunity, then we're ready to go."

In my opinion, Carroll and his staff have done nothing but remain firm on their promise to deliver the best product possible on the field next season, and his comments only re-enforce the organization's will to adapt to the situation and to be ready to adopt one of their many plans to put in place. They are ready for a variety of scenarios regarding how, and when, the season may start.

Strength coach Chris Carlisle, a USC transplant from Carroll's former staff,We also offer customized zentai suits. has a program awaiting the players when they return to work. A physical regimen focused on functional movement, longevity, and winning championships.

He's hoping the players will adopt his mentality but also offered,Free DIY chicken coop Resource! "You've got to remember, I've seen this all before. I've seen this movie. It's a great ending. And we're right at the beginning."

It's appropriate to note here that the Seahawks are one of six organizations that promised not to cut pay to coaching staff, this stated as of May 24th, even if the lockout persists into the scheduled season, The Giants, Steelers, Colts, Eagles and Cowboys the other five teams that pledged the same; the Patriots have not made a decision and the Packers have a contingency plan in place.

Interestingly enough, the Steelers and Giants were on a five-team list in an ESPN Football Outsiders article I analyzed in this piece, highlighting the Seahawks' ability to weather a lockout; the Packers and Patriots were other two teams on the Football Outsiders list.

The three other teams highlighted above that aren't on the ESPN FBO list are strongly driven to win championships. The Seahawks are proving to be among the group of organizations most driven to push through, and possibly even gain an edge, during the hardships of the lockout.

Enhancing the home-field advantage

Recent comments by Seahawks President Peter Mcloughlin on 950 KJR re-enforced the Seahawks are focused on maintaining their competitive mindset, as both an organization and team, through times of standstill.