Liberty Newspost Feb-24-10

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23/02/10 - 24/02/10

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Dole recuperating after bout of pneumonia, knee surgery

“Nothing can live without water.”

by David Alexander (Front Row Washington)

by Field Notes (LWI News Center)

leader knows the ins and outs of Walter Reed.

In 2007, then-President George Submitted at 2/23/2010 10:07:09 PM W. Bush named Dole to co-chair Former Senator Robert Dole is a commission to look into recuperating at Walter Reed reports of problems at the Army Medical Center after knee hospital and in the rest of the surgery and a bout of military healthcare system. pneumonia.

Walter Reed is the top U.S. Dole, the long-serving Kansas military hospital and treats Republican who challenged Bill presidents and lawmakers as well Clinton for the presidency in as many of the soldiers wounded 1996, was admitted to Walter in combat in Iraq and Reed with pneumonia about Afghanistan. three weeks ago. statement issued by his law firm, For more Reuters political news, He recovered but stayed on for Alston & Bird. click here. physical therapy on his knee.

Photo credit: Reuters/Larry Dole had knee surgery in late “I’m making great strides, November, but his recovery has Downing (Dole speaks after working between sessions and been set back because of the being named by Bush as co-chair hope to be fully recovered and illness. of a panel looking into reports of back at the office in a few The former Senate Republican problems at Walter Reed Army weeks,” Dole, 86, said in a Medical Center in October 2007)

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that they could take care of themselves; they just weren’t sure how they were going to take Submitted at 2/23/2010 8:52:25 AM care of the many homeless and Message from fivefilters.org: If displaced people coming into you can, please donate to the full their community.

-text RSS service so we can In many ways, the process all continue developing it. starts with clean water. The well HAITI – Croix-Des-Bouquets, we repaired is sealed and Port-Au-Prince disinfected, so the water they GPS: 18 34.028 N, 072 11.628 will get from this pump is much W cleaner than the water from the Although this community is cistern. The people in the close to Port-Au-Prince, the community should have plenty effects of the earthquake are not of water for themselves and for as bad here. Many of the those who have come looking for surrounding areas were hit much, help. One of the students who much harder, so people are gathered around to watch the coming into Croix-Des-Bouquets repair commented about how looking for help. People here useful the new pump would be: used to get their water from an “Water is life, even for the plants open cistern that was filled every in our gardens. Nothing can live so often by water from a diesel without water.” pump. The water started out Click here to watch a Helping fairly clean, but gradually Haiti Webisode of this rehab.

Glenn Beck. became more and more polluted Five Filters featured article: Weird Nut Drooly is on to him: as it sat in the cistern. With the Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: Meet kinder, gentler Glenn Beck: limited resources they had, the PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, New ‘global warming’ believer? people here in Croix-Des- Term Extraction.

Bouquets all felt very strongly

Glenn Beck, Warmist RINO (Little Green Footballs)

Submitted at 2/24/2010 8:30:00 AM Submitted at 2/23/2010 6:19:36 PM

The latest radical progressive RINO to find himself on the wrong side of the right wing:

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Met Office: we must check 150 years of climate data (Top stories from Times Online)

World Meteorological Organisation.”

The new analysis would test the Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:49:19 AM conclusion reached by the Message from fivefilters.org: If Intergovernmental Panel on you can, please donate to the full Climate Change (IPCC) that -text RSS service so we can “warming of the climate system continue developing it. is unequivocal”.

More than 150 years of global The World Meteorological temperature records are to be re- Organisation said the Met Office examined by scientists in an proposal had been approved in attempt to regain public trust in principle this week by delegates climate science after revelations at a meeting in Antalya, Turkey. about errors and suppression of The IPCC has come under data. attack in recent weeks after it The Met Office has submitted emerged that its latest report proposals for the reassessment contained a number of errors, all by an independent panel in a of which overstated the severity tacit admission that its previous of the threat posed by climate reports have been marred by change. The most glaring error their reliance on analysis by the was a claim that all Himalayan University of East Anglia’s glaciers would disappear by Climatic Research Unit (CRU). 2035. Most glaciologists believe Two separate inquiries are being it would take another 300 years held into allegations that the for the glaciers to melt at the CRU tried to hide its raw data present rate. f r o m c r i t i c s a n d t h a t i t The allegations against climate exaggerated the extent of global scientists are believed to have warming. contributed to an unprecedented In a document entitled Proposal rise in public scepticism about for a New International Analysis climate change. of Land S u r f a c e A i r An opinion poll this month Temperature Data, the Met found that the proportion of the Office says: “We feel it is timely population which believes to propose an international effort climate change is an established to reanalyse surface temperature fact and largely man-made has data in collaboration with the fallen from 41 per cent in

November to 26 per cent.

The Met Office document stresses that the new assessment would be fully independent and be based on data that was freely available to the public and could therefore be examined by climate sceptics.

It says: “The proposed activity would provide a set of independent assessments of surface temperature produced by independent groups using independent methods.”

The Met Office secretly proposed carrying out the reassessment in December last year, soon after more than 1,000 leaked e-mails raised doubts about the integrity of some scientists at the CRU. The Times revealed on December 5 that the Department of Energy and Climate Change had stopped the Met Office from announcing the reassessment because it feared that it would be seized upon as an admission of weakness on the eve of the Copenhagen climate summit.

The reassessment will be hampered by the refusal of authorities in some countries to allow data from their weather stations to be made publicly available. However, data from more than 3,000 of the 5,000

EU to investigate Google after complaints

by Tom Krazit (Webware.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 5:04:00 PM

After complaints from European

companies about their search rankings, regulators are seeking information on how Google's secretive search algorithms

work.

Originally posted at Relevant Results

stations around the world has already been published on the Met Office website and it hopes that most of the rest will be available later this year.

The reassessment will also look at the data in much greater detail, tracking daily changes in temperature. The Met Office’s previous report was based on monthly averages.

The document states that the main reason for the reassessment is to “ensure that the datasets are completely robust and that all methods are transparent”.

The Met Office says that it does not expect the reassessment to result in significant changes in its conclusions about how the temperature has changed.

“It is important to emphasise that we do not anticipate any substantial changes in the resulting global and continentalscale multi-decadal trends.”

The Met Office said that the reassessment would take up to three years. It hopes the findings will be ready for the IPCC’s next report, due to be published in 2013 and 2014.

The Met Office intends to hold a meeting at which “key players” from climate science and weather centres around the world would decide how to conduct the

reassessment.

It adds: “Recognising that no single institution can undertake such a fundamental data collection, reanalysis and verification process singlehandedly, we would envisage this as a broad community effort — a ‘grand challenge’ so to speak — involving UK and international partners.”

The document also suggests that “multiple independent groups” could consider the same raw data.

It adds that scientists participating in the process will be encouraged to be open about the uncertainties in their conclusions.

“Participants will be required to create a full audit trail and publish their methodology in the peer-reviewed literature. Strong preference will be given to systems ... that reflect the uncertainties in the observations and methods.”

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Video Break: Holographic Turntables (Little Green Footballs) Submitted at 2/23/2010 2:50:11 PM

[Video]

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Clashes as strike brings Greece to standstill over austerity measures

Options Update: Palm Volatility Elevated, Shares Trend to 11Month Low

(Top stories from Times Online)

by Paul Foster (BloggingStocks)

private sector.

Traffic ground to a halt in the centre of the capital as streets Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:36:56 AM were closed off for two separate Message from fivefilters.org: If demonstrations heading towards you can, please donate to the full the parliament building in -text RSS service so we can Syntagma Square. continue developing it.

The first demonstration by Much of Greece ground to a halt PAME, a communist-affiliated today as a general strike gripped union group, began marching the country, with more than shortly after midday while a 20,000 people taking to the second larger demonstration by streets of Athens to protest ADEDY and GSEE followed. a g a i n s t t h e G o v e r n m e n t ’ s Protesters shouted chants from austerity measures. It began as a loudhailers and beat drums, peaceful but v o c a l while many held banners and d e m o n s t r a t i o n a t m i d d a y , placards with slogans against although there were soon clashes c a p i t a l i s m a n d a u s t e r i t y between protesters and police. measures.

More than two million workers “The crisis should be paid for by of the five million-strong Greek the plutocracy,” read one banner. workforce walked off the job A n o t h e r one called for after ADEDY, the civil servants’ “Permanent and steady jobs for union, joined a 24-hour strike all.” “Minimum wage should be called by the larger General set at €801400,” read another.

Confederation of Greek Workers Other slogans included: “Where (GSEE), which represents about has all the money gone?”, two million workers in the “Terrorism will not pass, say no

to sackings” and “Billions of euros for capitalism, but nothing for the workers - Rise up.” There were also separate protests supporting migrants’ rights.

Unions are opposed to a series of austerity measures, including pay cuts and a hiring freeze for public sector workers, as well as tax hikes and plans to reform Greece’s ailing social security system, which calls for workers to work longer and receive reduced pensions.

“We work very hard and get paid very little. We have seen our taxes go up and are income go down – enough is enough,” said Vasilis Tsangas, a trainee lawyer taking part in the demonstration.

“I work very hard, the Greek people work very hard. The corrupt politicians and the rich who don’t pay their taxes made this mess. They should pay for it, not the ordinary workers” said Angelike Pavlopoulou, a

In pictures: protesters and riot police clash in Athens during 24-hour general strike (Latest news, breaking news, current news, UK news, world news, celebrity news, politics news) Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:20:26 AM

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-text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

Police fired tear gas and clashed with demonstrators in Athens after some 50,000 people finished a peaceful march against cutbacks intended to fix the country's debt crisis Picture:

virologist at the Athens Cancer Hospital who was also taking part in the demonstration.

Transport services were severely disrupted across Greece. Air, rail and maritime transport ground to a halt in protest against the Government’s measures and the prospect of cuts to benefits.

Athens metro and bus lines were running a skeleton service to allow strikers to get to the street demonstrations in the city centre.

The strike also shut down schools, government offices and courtrooms, with disruption to banks, hospitals and state-owned companies. There was also a news blackout from Greek media after the strike received backing from the national journalists’ union, which penalises its members for breaking ranks.

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New Images of Enceladus Show More Plumes and Heat

by Alexis Madrigal (Wired Top REUTERS Five Filters featured article: Stories) Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:00:00 AM PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, New images and data from the Term Extraction.

Cassini spacecraft have revealed more geysers on the surface of the Saturn moon Enceladus.

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Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:00:00 AM

Filed under: Palm Inc (PALM), Options Palm ( PALM) closed at $8.20.

Palm is expected to report Q3 EPS on March 19. March call option implied volatility is at 86, puts at 94, May calls are at 73, puts are at 85, versus its 26-week average of 70, according to Track Data, suggesting larger price movement. Puts are more expensive than calls because PALM is difficult to borrow.

TiVo ( TIVO) closed at $9.64.

TIVO is expected to report Q4 EPS on March 2. Call option volume of 14,764 contracts compares to put volume of 1,427 contracts. March put option implied volatility is at 118, May is at is at 101, August is at 89, versus its six-month average of 84, according to Track Data, suggesting larger near-term price movement.

Update is by Stock Specialist P a u l F o s t e r o f theflyonthewall.com.

Options Update: Palm Volatility Elevated, Shares Trend to 11Month Low originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Gordon Brown and Alistair Darling 'World's strongest boy' hold clear-the-air talks over 'forces of breaks air push-up Hell' record (Top stories from Times Online)

“The Chancellor has been right on every economic issue over the last three years,” said Mr Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:46:30 AM Brown, comparing him Message from fivefilters.org: If u n f a v o u r a b l y t o G e o r g e you can, please donate to the full O s b o r n e , t h e Shadow -text RSS service so we can C h a n c e l l o r . continue developing it.

The comment was particularly The Chancellor and the Prime notable because it was Mr Minister held clear-the-air talks Darling’s assertion that Britain’s today after Alistair Darling economic outlook was worse stunned colleagues by suggesting than at any time for 60 years that t h a t D o w n i n g S t r e e t h a d is said to have sparked Mr “unleashed the forces of Hell” Brown’s fury and a briefing against him in 2008. campaign against the Chancellor The pair then sat next to each by prime ministerial aides. o t h e r o n t h e C o m m o n s Mr Cameron said the Prime frontbench and spent much of a Minister and the Chancellor were r i o t o u s P r i m e M i n i s t e r ’ s “at war”, and three times asked Questions talking to each other, Mr Brown to deny that he had as David Cameron tried to authorised briefing against Mr exploit the latest signs of a rift Darling. between 10 and 11 Downing “This is what we are told: Street.

Damian McBride, your spin “Any closer and they will start doctor, was spreading poison kissing,” said Mr Cameron. against Darling. He told every Mr Brown went out of his way journalist who had access to a to praise the man who the pencil that Alistair’s interview previous evening had spoken was a disaster. There was the forthrightly about being on the most poisonous briefing against receiving end of hostile briefing him.

by No 10 aides.

"Last night the Chancellor said

that after he said what he said, No 10 Downing Street ’unleashed the forces of Hell’.

Why do you think he said that?”

Mr Brown denied it the first time, then sought to move the debate onto Tory economic policy.

At one point the Speaker raised a laugh when, calling for calm, he said that without a quieter chamber, “I may have to ring some sort of helpline myself” — a reference to the national bullying helpline that some Downing Street staff are alleged to have rung.

Earlier this morning, Mr Brown met privately with Mr Darling to smooth their relations over in advance of Prime Minister's Questions. Sources close to the Chancellor say that he accepts Mr Brown's word, and that Mr Darling has never accused Mr Brown, privately or publicly, of briefing against him.

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Jon Stewart on Glenn Beck's CPAC Speech (Little Green Footballs) Submitted at 2/23/2010 10:45:34 AM

Here’s Jon Stewart’s hilarious speech.[Video] take on Glenn Beck’s bizarre, rambling CPAC keynote

(Latest news, breaking news, current news, UK news, world news, celebrity news, politics news)

for the quickest ten-metre handstand walk – which he completed while holding a heavy ball between his legs.

Iulian Stroe, a 33-year-old Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:24:09 AM former gymnast, said his son Message from fivefilters.org: If enjoys striking macho poses you can, please donate to the full and performing to crowds in -text RSS service so we can Italy, where he lives. continue developing it.

He added that the boy, who has Published: 3:24PM GMT 24 a w a s h b o a r d s t o m a c h a n d Feb 2010 A five-year-old boy bulging shoulder muscles, also h a s p u t p r o f e s s i o n a l takes pleasure in more normal b o d y b u i l d e r s t o s h a m e b y children's pastimes such as breaking the world record for painting and watching cartoons. "air push-ups".

He said: "I took him with me to Guiliano Stroe, a five-year-old training at the gym ever since he who has been called the world’s was born. strongest boy, caused a "But he's still only a child and if sensation when he performed 20 he gets tired or bored we go and air press-ups live on Romanian play." television.

The Metro newspaper reported The physically demanding that a boy previously named the exercises, which involve raising world's strongest, Richard the body from a horizontal Sandrak, from America, is position into a handstand with believed to have given up the feet never touching the weightlifting. ground, are more commonly According to reports the boy, performed by adult bodybuilders. now 17, had been trained by his But the young Romanian, who father since the age of three but has been lifting weights since the had since lost interest in the age of two, broke his second sport.

Guinness World Record by Five Filters featured article: performing the gruelling task 20 Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: times in a row, destroying the PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, previous high of 12.

Term Extraction.

His first world record came last year when he claimed the title

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Six more British passports used in Milk in a bag at Dubai assassination of Mahmoud al- Sainsbury's Mabhouh (Top stories from Times Online) Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:04:29 AM

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The alleged Mossad hit squad that killed a Hamas leader in Dubai used a further six British passports in the assassination — bringing the total involved to twelve.

Dubai police have identified 15 new suspects over the attack at a Dubai luxury hotel, 12 of whom used European passports.

An official statement given to The Times in Dubai today listed the six new British names, as well as three more Irish passportholders, three French and three Australian. All the new suspects are thought to have been using phoney passports as a result of identity theft.

Dubai police have now named 26 suspects in the January 19 assassination of Mahmoud al-

Mabhouh, a founder of the armed wing of Hamas. In addition to the twelve Britons there are six Irish, four French, three Australians and one German. Six are women.

Police also said today they had tracked down the credit cards used by 14 of the suspects while they were in the Gulf emirate.

The cards were all issued by MetaBank of the United States.

The assassination has been widely blamed on the Israeli spy service Mossad, although Israel has refused to confirm any involvement.

The six Britons were named as Philip Carr, Gabriella Barney, Stephen Drake, Mark Sklur, Daniel Schnur and Roy Cannon.

Flight details released today through the Dubai Government suggested that members of the hit squad flew into Dubai under their faked identities as early as March last year — suggesting an extraordinarily complex plot.

At one point last year no fewer than nine of the suspects were in

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and now plastic, have been the predominant method of selling milk since 1880, when they were Dubai at the same time, flying in introduced by Express Dairies, from November 6-8 and leaving many other countries use bags.

Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:14:50 AM between November 8 and In China, India, Poland and November 10. It is not yet clear Message from fivefilters.org: If Canada milk is more normally why they were there at that point. you can, please donate to the full sold in bags.

Detectives have been trawling -text RSS service so we can Initially, the supermarket will through thousands of hours of continue developing it. give away 500,000 jugs, CCTV footage, piecing together Instead of picking up their milk especially designed to hold and the hit squad's movements as in a plastic bottle, customers will pierce the bags. Thereafter, the they closed in on their target. be encouraged to pop a bag of jugs will cost £1.94.

They have also been getting an the liquid into their trolley.

The company estimates that by overview of their finances.

U s i n g 7 5 p e r c e n t l e s s switching from bottles to bags, it Documents obtained by The packaging, the bags cost slightly could save up to 1,400 tons of Times today showed that apart less than the bottles. A two pint packaging. from the fourteen MetaBank m i l k b a g – t h e o n l y s i z e Initially Sainsbury's own-brand credit cards, the assassins also available – costs 80p, compared semi-skimmed milk will be used one credit card issued by with 86p for the same size bottle. available, with its 1 per cent the Nationwide Building Society The supermarket insisted the milk becoming available later and two by the UK provider IDT bags are very robust and no this year. The bags go on sale at Finance. customers have complained its Sainsbury Local stores this The alleged ringleader, who was about the bags splitting since week, with the remaining 500 using a fake French passport they first went on test two years supermarkets stocking them by under the name Peter Elvinger, ago. Sainsbury's estimated that 3 the end of next month. used a credit card issued by DZ per cent of its 24 million weekly Five Filters featured article: Bank of Frankfurt. customers, the equivalent of Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: Five Filters featured article: 720,000 shoppers, have already PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: switched to regularly using Term Extraction.

PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, bags.

Term Extraction.

Though bottles, originally glass

10 worst figure skating outfits (Holy Kaw!) Submitted at 2/24/2010 2:14:58 AM

The figure skating athletes glide across the ice and fly through the

air landing acrobatic moves to dramatic melodies. Their fitted outfits often compliment the story being told by their movements. But, as you can see

in the video above, some take their attire to a fashion of another universe.

As off-based as the aboriginal costumes are, they're mild

compared to the zebras and clowns that made their appearance on ice.

Full story at Time.

More about the Winter Olymics.

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6

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Nigeria's ailing president returns amid fears of power struggle

Uncertainty Clouds an Economic Recovery

(Latest news, breaking news, current news, UK news, world news, celebrity news, politics news)

by Michael Alter (Inc.com)

Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:16:30 AM

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By Duncan Woodside in Nairobi Published: 3:16PM GMT 24 Feb 2010 President Umaru Yar'Adua was taken to a clinic in the presidential palace but his condition is unknown and it is unclear whether he is capable of resuming his duties.

Two aeroplanes landed in the dead of night at the sealed-off international airport in the capital, Abuja, and a convoy of government vehicles including an ambulance were seen speeding along the heavily guarded highway back to the city.

"I can confirm that the President has returned," Mary Ikoku, a

spokesperson at the Ministry of Information, told the Telegraph.

"I have not seen him myself so I don't know his condition.

"He arrived in what I can call an air ambulance and he was transferred to Aso Rock, so I don't imagine he is in the best of health." Aso Rock is the presidential palace, located just outside the capital, Abuja.

"We are sure he will be back to work soon," added Ikoku. She said that she did not know whether Yar'Adua would attend a rescheduled cabinet meeting later on Wednesday.

The 58-year old leader arrived from Jeddah, where he was being treated for acute pericarditis, an inflammation of the fibrous sac that surrounds the heart.

He has not been seen in public and has issued only one brief statement since he left for Saudi Arabia in November, forcing government officials to approve a temporary transfer of power to his vice-president, Goodluck Jonathan, earlier this month.

But Yar'Adua's return has

created fresh confusion over who is in charge and renewed fears of a constitutional crisis.

The acting President postponed a cabinet meeting on Wednesday and summoned ministers to a briefing. Analysts say he has been behaving in an increasingly assertive fashion.

Adding to the confusion, an unnamed ally of Yar'Adua told Reuters news agency "the acting presidency lapses once the president sets foot on the shores of Nigeria".

A spokesman at the British Embassy in Nigeria said "we continue to encourage the government of Nigeria to act in a way that is consistent with the constitution and the principles of democracy and the rule of law, as they have done during President Yar'Adua's absence."

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Internet Explorer gains modicum of HTML5

by Seth Rosenblatt (Webware.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 4:15:00 PM

Internet Explorer fans can now

get a taste of the video elements in HTML5 without having to switch browsers, but the plug-in that gives IE an HTML5 boost has a long road ahead.

Originally posted at The Download Blog

Submitted at 2/23/2010 1:01:02 PM

Hiring continued to improve in January, and we see the first month of salary growth in well over a year. Has the economy turned the corner? The data may say yes, but sentiment says no.

The first month in 2010 was the first in years that that both small business hiring and salaries are up, 0.8 percent and 0.1 percent respectively. Following the last few months of ’09 that showed strong signs of improvement, it seems like the data would have a whole lot of people feeling positive. But business owners are far from it.

In fact, SurePayroll’s optimism survey reveals one of our most pessimistic months ever, with more than half of business owners reporting that they feel pessimistic about the economy at this time.

So why does our technical data tell us business owners feel – and are acting – confident about the economy while our emotional data tells us they’re not?

There is still huge uncertainty.

There is uncertainty about where health care will land. Will a bill get passed? Which version of the bill? Will it cost small businesses more or less?

There’s uncertainty about the

president’s small business incentives. Will the community bank lending program impact small business growth? How quickly will tax incentives, and credits for investment and hiring have an effect? Is there enough stimuli? When will all of this get implemented?

And there’s uncertainty about the stock market. Why have we seen the worst monthly decline since last February? Was optimism too high at the end of ‘09? Is the government getting too anti-business?

If people continue to feel uncertain, pessimism will grow and their actions will quickly catch up. But since most business owners have no control over the health care bill, the stimulus package or the stock market at this time, all you can do is focus on what you do have control over at this time - your business practices. Whether you’re hiring or investing or downsizing and conserving, you need to take a stark, nonemotional look at your business and decide how you should feel…and then how you should be acting.

It’s the business owners who did that last year and even two years ago that are still around this year.

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Going Virtual: A Whole New Perspective

by Tamara Schweitzer (Inc.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:00:00 PM

I have to admit I was a bit skeptical before Inc. began its virtual experiment earlier this month. My work as a magazine reporter is such that I am constantly interacting with other writers and editors. During the past few weeks, I have become a huge fan of Skype as a way to stay connected with my colleagues, but working virtually has meant missing out on that spontaneous meeting in an editor’s office to discuss an idea, or the inspiration and energy that comes from a random conversation with a co-worker in the hallway.

What’s more, I knew after attending an in-office session on the psychology of virtual work, conducted in January by consultant Cindy Floggart, that I'm the type of person that may not be as productive in the homeoffice environment. So, for most of this virtual month, I've scheduled my workdays with a destination in mind—a café, a library—and spent time accomplishing tasks in places where other people were around.

But, last week I left my apartment in New York City for one of the quietest places around: Alpine, Utah, population:

approximately 9,800, where my dad, Dean Schweitzer, who runs a home-based business, has a second home (His primary residence is in Southern California).

And what I found during my time in Utah surprised me.

I used to think that the buzz of office phones and constant stimulation was integral to my work lifestyle. Well, it’s hard to argue against working from home when I’m starring out at the majestic snow-capped mountains from my dad's huge kitchen window, and the only noise is of the sound of my fingers typing on my keyboard.

Granted very few people work in places where they have this kind of view...

But scenery aside, coming here has helped me understand virtual work from the perspective of an entrepreneur. The Inc. challenge for our editorial team was to see if a magazine staff could go virtual, and there have been all kinds of lessons that have already come out of that. I've had the added benefit of seeing how our subjects, the people who are actually running virtual companies, are doing it.

My dad is a pediatric dentist, and in 2008 he developed an esthetic full-crown restorative procedure for children and the PedoNatural Crown, an original

product integral to the procedure.

He holds seminars out of Salt Lake City where he trains other dentists on how to perform the specialized restoration, and he sells PedoNatural Crown kits with all the materials needed for those dentists to implement the procedure in their own offices.

My dad is his company’s sole employee: He serves as the marketer, the public relations person, the fulfillment center, and the web developer, among many other things. So when you do all that my dad does for his business, the concept of having an office really becomes meaningless. He doesn’t go to his company each morning; his company goes with him wherever he may be.

During my few days in Utah, my dad was preparing for an upcoming seminar in Salt Lake City. As I sat downstairs doing research and preparing for interviews with sources, I listened to my dad record audio for an instructional DVD he’s going to sell, and polish the language on his Website. I also watched as he meticulously put together all the materials he would need to bring to the seminar – instructional packets for the dentists, models to work on, ordering forms, etc. – and marveled at all the work that went into creating each element

of his business.

Time seemed to go a little more slowly while I was there. Either that, or I was completely free of distractions, and being among nature has a way of helping my mind focus. I barely thought about the things that normally consume me at home like what I will eat for lunch, or when I will catch up on my DVR. Luckily for my dad, that’s what almost every day is like for him. And the best part was seeing first hand the joy he gets from putting everything he’s got into the business, no matter the place or the time.

The virtual work life isn’t for everyone, of course, and there is no denying that there are many entrepreneurs who have built wonderful cultures that employees yearn to be part of.

But as my stay at my dad’s home has taught me, entrepreneurship in its truest form has nothing do with the physical structure, boundaries, or even culture of a company. In most cases, entrepreneurship is about starting something out of nothing and pushing the limitations of the status quo.

To see more of my virtual experience in Utah, here's a video interview I did with my dad using a Flip Cam:

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Fla. Thieves Caught When Phone Accidentally Dialed 911 (FOXNews.com) Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:45:48 AM

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DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. Police say two Florida teenagers are facing charges after 911 dispatchers heard them talking about breaking into cars when one teen's cell phone accidentally called 911 during the heist.

Daytona Beach police say 19year-old Stefanie Vargas and a 13-year-old are charged with burglary to a conveyance.

Police spokesman Jimmie Flynt says dispatchers listened as the pair discussed what was worth taking while rummaging though a vehicle parked near a Daytona Beach nightclub early Sunday.

Officers went to the area and spotted the 13-year-old inside a vehicle. A police report says the teen tried to flee in a sport utility vehicle driven by Vargas. The report says both admitted to the robbery.

It's unclear how the number got dialed.

Click here for more from MyFoxOrlando.com.

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The Jobs Bill and You

by Max Chafkin (Inc.com)

heard from them. TechCrunch's Jason Kincaid says Etacts, "seems like it would appeal to Senate passes hiring incentives. any professional that has to A measure designed to provide manage a sizable contact list." f i n a n c i a l i n c e n t i v e s f o r 10 mistakes they made so you c o m p a n i e s t o h i r e n e w don't have to. Entrepreneurs employees looks set to pass the know the importance of learning Senate, after five Republicans, from their own mistakes, but including newly elected Senator sometimes it's nice to learn from Scott Brown, crossed party lines other people's mistakes for a and voted with the Democrats. change. On his blog Quick The New York Times, which Sprout, tech entrepreneur Neil carries the news, calls it "a Patel speaks with 10 founders of glimpse of bipartisanship." The companies that are worth at least bill, assuming it passes today and $50 million and asks them what is reconciled with a House was their biggest mistake in version, would give companies b u s i n e s s . A m o n g t h e that hire unemployed people an e n t r e p r e n e u r s f e a t u r e d i s exemption from payroll taxes WhitePages.com founder Alex this year. Meanwhile, companies Algard, Pricegrabber's Kamran that keep a new worker for more Pourzanjani, and Tony Hsieh of than a year will receive a $1,000 Zappos. So take heart, if these tax credit. entrepreneurs made big mistakes A new way to fight email in building businesses, don't feel overload. TechCrunch reports on too bad about those you might a new start-up that just launched have made. As Pourzanjani o u t o f t h e Y C o m b i n a t o r explains, "Though we all want to incubator that can help you take avoid mistakes, there is almost control of your inbox. Etacts is a no way to get around them when free service that keeps track of running a business, particularly a the people you email and call start-up." using your cell phone. It then Are you paying too much for tries to figure out who your most social media marketing? Since important contacts are, and it December, venture capitalists sends you reminders when it's have invested more than $90 been a long time since you've million in start-ups that mix Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:00:00 PM

marketing and social media, writes the Wall Street Journal, but questions remain about how much social media marketing is really worth. For example, Groupon helped Balani Custom Clothiers, a Chicago men's attire store, sell 850 gift certificates in a single day and generate buzz on Twitter. But the Groupon took a hefty 50 percent of the earnings from the promotion.

The lesson: Social media marketing works great for generating buzz--and even actual sales--but it isn't always cheap.

Wal-Mart buys a start-up. The age of the DVD may have come to an end yesterday when WalMart announced that it had purchased Vudu, a start-up allows TVs and Blu-Ray players to download high definition movies. The New York Times reports that the purchase price was over $100 million. That sounds impressive, but Vudu, according to the Times, had raised some $60 million from investors. Meanwhile, BusinessWeek reports that the acquisition could signal WalMart's entrance into all sorts of digital goods: e-books, internetbased storage, and music.

When a private-equity takeover goes right. In 2006, Duane

Reade, New York City's biggest drug store chain was, "hemorrhaging money," the New York Times's Andrew Ross Sorkin writes. But then a private equity firm came along and proved it could actually manage a turnaround. Today, Sorkin has the untold story of the deal that made last week's $1.1 billion Walgreen acquisition of Duane Reade possible.

The bidding war over YouTube's front page. Last year, YouTube was seen as a pariah among marketers, but nowadays, just try buying ads on the homepage. AdAge's Michael Learmonth reports that, in an effort to try to turn the video site into a profit maker, Google has rolled out dozens of marketing opportunities for large and small advertisers in the last 18 months, including homepage ads, prerolls, overlays, paid placement, and search ads. Some lessons for the website's rise: be flexible; play to your strengths; and put your customers first.

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Yahoo turns on the Twitter firehose

by Tom Krazit (Webware.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 5:32:00 PM

Yahoo users will start seeing more Twitter content in search results and will be able to update

their Twitter feeds from their Yahoo accounts.

Originally posted at Relevant

Results

Google Exec: Buzz is not a Facebook or Twitter killer (Holy Kaw!) Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:56:00 PM

In a recent article by eweek, Bradly Horowitz, vice president of product management for Google, casts Buzz as a unique social networking services that fills a niche separate from Twitter and Facebook. When eweek asked him if Buzz was a Twitter and Facebook killer, he responded: Absolutely not. Per what I just said, this is creating a new category of communication. It’s filling a niche, which is not currently met in the market. I think something unique is happening on Buzz that will continue to evolve. It’s hard to create a trend line or extrapolate too much from six days of use, but certainly conversation and the conversational Web is a place where Buzz has excelled.

Read the full article at eweek.

More on social media.

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Italy Convicts Google Execs on Privacy Invasion Charges, Revisits Dark Ages

by Kit Eaton (Fast Company) Submitted at 2/24/2010 8:46:53 AM

Three Google execs have been convicted on charges of privacy violation in an Italian court, based on a horrid schoolkid bullying clip on YouTube.

Though the video is shocking, it's the Italian legal system that's truly appalling.

Google's own blog describes what occurred: In 2006, some school students in Turin bullied a schoolmate, suffering from autism according to Google. This was terrible enough, but these bullies also filmed the event, and uploaded it to YouTube. The Italian police became involved, and notified Google officially about the offending clip--it was taken "down within hours."

Google's team then cooperated with the police to identify the perpetrators, and the data was subsequently key in convicting the female uploader, who received 10 months community service as a penalty, along with other involved male students.

Google notes that "in these rare but unpleasant cases, that's where [their] involvement would end."

Not so here though, as a public prosecutor in Milan decided that Google's execs were at fault, and brought a case of criminal defamation and breaching of Italian privacy laws. All four

were just cleared of criminal defamation, but three--David Drummond, Peter Fleischer, George Reyes--were found guilty of privacy code violations, and face a six month jail sentence. Google plans to "vigorously appeal."

None of the three were responsible for the act portrayed in the video, none of them filmed it, uploaded it, or reviewed the clip on-site. When Google became aware of the offending footage among its millions upon millions of global video clips, a totally different set of Google employees (among the thousands inside the company) reacted with admirable speed, and did what independent observers may well see as "exactly the right thing."

But Italy's legal system has still seen fit to find the execs guilty.

It's akin to the Catholic church prosecuting the makers of the paper that Galileo's offending publication about heliocentricity was printed on. Around the world we're used to the glacial pace of legal advances trailing the cutting edge of technology by years, but this case resurrects nasty memories of the dark ages.

And there's more intrigue here too. Google's blog quite clearly presents the poor victim at the heart of the affair as suffering from autism. But Reuters, reporting on the matter, notes that the the youth concerned had Down syndrome, and that the legal case was brought at the request of the victim's father and

an Italian advocacy group for Down syndrome sufferers, Vivi Down. Did Google just blot its copybook by misrepresenting the facts of the case?

Irrespective of that issue, it seems it's the Italian courts that are to be blamed here. There are serious implications, in terms of legal precedent, for future cases of liability of online content providers for content their users upload. This is a situation which puts Italy's legal system in headon collision with the way a techsavvy, socially-networked society is moving. The Italian sentence may also be in violation of European Union laws protecting content broadcasters from liability, if they remove offending content swiftly (as

Google did here.) And it's the latest case of seeming wrongheadedness in Italian law concerning the forced regulation of web-based video content.

Recent legal maneuvers in Italy on these matters have been roundly condemned in the rest of Europe, since the country's billionaire Prime Minister, Silvio Berlusconi, owns Italy's major private TV network along with other media interests. Is this latest Google case merely another move in a highly questionable game?

[Via Google, Reuters]

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Intel-Led Alliance to Invest $3.5 Billion in Tech Start-Ups

by Courtney Rubin (Inc.com) Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:24:00 AM

With venture capital lagging and a new report warning Silicon Valley will limp out of the recession, Intel plans a $3.5 billion infusion for tech startups.

Intel CEO Paul Otellini announced the two-pronged effort during a speech Tuesday at the Brookings Institution, a Washington, D.C., think tank.

First, the Santa Clara, California -based semiconductor giant -along with 24 venture-capital firms it's partnering with as part of what's been dubbed the Invest in America Alliance -- will funnel $3.5 billion into U.S. companies developing "clean" technology, information technology and biotech. (Intel's venture capital arm, Intel Capital, will form a $200 million fund as part of the effort.)

Intel also announced that it and 16 other tech companies, including Cisco Systems, eBay, Microsoft, and Google, will hire at least 10,500 US tech college grads by year's end. Some of the companies will be hiring double

the number they did in 2009.

"All my life I have believed that America's best years are still ahead of it. If we focus, invest and work hard, that belief will hold true," Otellini said in his talk. "Strong, enduring economies grow out of a culture of investment and a commitment to innovation. We simply must have a clear, consistent strategy to promote innovation, investment and start-up companies.

The company released no other details about the initiative other than to say it will help create jobs in newer industries such as molecular diagnostics, bioinformatics, electric vehicle ecosystem and wireless infrastructure. It announced no specific investments.

Critics are dismissing the announcement as not much more than a PR stunt for Intel, since U.S. venture capital firms already invest 70 percent of their money in domestic start-ups and the $3.5 billion isn't a new

capital initiative. It's dollars that would likely have been invested anyway. But other VC firms and corporations are expected to join the effort -- good news for the economy, and for research and development.

In his speech, Otellini also appealed to business and government to make U.S. competitiveness a priority. He cited a 2009 study of how much 40 countries were doing to make themselves more innovative. The U.S. ranked last.

"Other countries have focused on investing in innovation, creating national policies to build digital infrastructure, and have moved quickly to embrace sustainable energy," he said. "We are seeing this not just in India and China, but in Finland, Korea, Japan, the Netherlands, and many other places. All this activity on their part is making them far more potent competitors in the next phase of the global economy."

He called for a "clear, enduring strategy to promote innovation,

investment and start-up companies" – specifically, stemming the decline in research and development tax credits, more certainty around healthcare and energy costs, and less stringent controls on welleducated immigrants.

Otellini's speech came on the same day the company revealed in Securities and Exchange Commission filings that it was a victim of hackers at the same time as Operation Aurora, the high-profile orchestrated attack on Google and some 30 other companies. It said digital thieves try to break in regularly, and sometimes succeed.

"One recent and sophisticated incident occurred in January 2010 around the same time as the recently publicized security incident reported by Google," Intel wrote in its annual 10-K report, the summary of the company's performance.

Facebook still pitching itself to open-source crowd

by Caroline McCarthy (Webware.com)

Facebook's rep at the Future of Web Apps event in Miami this week was David Recordon, the

company's open-standards guru.

That's a crowd that the social network still has yet to win over.

Originally posted at The Social

Only 50% of tweets are in English (Holy Kaw!) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:14:05 AM

It’s no longer just English speakers tweeting everything from the mundane to the fascinating anymore; according to a new study, only 50 percent of Twitter updates are in English.

Paris-based Semiocast analyzed 2.8 million tweets in a semantic and quantitative study that found tweets in English posted on the popular microblogging site dipped 25 percent from last year.

Japanese, Portuguese, Malay, and Spanish follow English as the most used languages.

Analysis tools identified fortyone different languages used in tweets, including Korean, Hebrew, Greek, and Tamil.

Full story at Washington Post.

Tons of Twitter tidbits.

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Garmin Gaps Lower on Margin Warning

Living on Planet Pleasant

by Marla Tabaka (Inc.com)

Chicago during the month of February was such a bad thing and why he chooses to read There have been times I’ve been stories about things that upset a c c u s e d o f b e i n g o v e r l y him so much – especially first optimistic, but I’ve never been thing in the morning? Larry’s told that I live on another planet! unexpected response was, “Not This weekend I had a fun everyone lives on Planet Pleasant conversation with one of my like you do!” Ouch! coffee shop buddies and it was But you know what? I like filled with some little gems that I Planet Pleasant. Of course there wanted to share with you. are things in life that get me It was first thing Sunday down and concern me from time morning and Larry was reading to time. When they do, I feel the the newspaper. Of course, it was impact that they have on my filled with distressing news and a body, mind, productivity level, particularly gloomy weather mood, and overall level of outlook. As Larry condemned happiness. So why would I Mother Nature for her selfish choose to worry about the outburst and wondered why he weather and other things that are was faced with so much negative totally out of my control? But news first thing in the morning, from Larry’s perspective I his energy shifted and signs of wasn’t being a concerned citizen stress became apparent. His leg and in touch with what really began to bounce, his eyes grew m a t t e r s . I t w a s q u i t e a n tired looking, and his movements i n t e r e s t i n g c o n v e r s a t i o n ! became increasingly animated. I Two different people, two continued to enjoy my coffee, d i f f e r e n t v i e w p o i n t s , t w o along with a good book. Simple. different response mechanisms. I Sweet. Uncomplicated. Ahhh. find the contrasting perspectives Intrigued by Larry’s agitation, I fascinating. For me, it’s a part of turned my attention away from what makes the world such an the novel and asked why snow in exciting place; people’s ideas, Submitted at 2/23/2010 2:30:23 PM

by Elizabeth Harrow (BloggingStocks) opinions, insights -and even fears - run the full spectrum and I love it! But what was most satisfying is that Larry and I made room for one another’s viewpoints and feelings. There was no argument, no judgment just observation and laughter.

We were two strong-minded individuals thinking in two completely opposite languages, yet allowing space for, and honoring, our differences. It felt good.

My Sunday morning experience was a nice reminder that, no matter what planet we live on, it feels good to take the time to listen to what our friends, clients, and family members are sayingno matter what language they speak. To make room for different personality types and understand what makes them tick, instead of trying to change them.

Hello. My name is Marla Tabaka and I live on Planet Pleasant. From what planet do you hail?

It's the birthday of the man who gave birth to the machine that

Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:30:00 AM

Filed under: Major Movement, Earnings Reports, Forecasts, Garmin Ltd (GRMN) Garmin Ltd. ( GRMN) topped analysts' fourth-quarter earnings expectations this morning, but the GPS guru opened with a thud after warning that it expects both gross and operating margins to decline in fiscal 2010. "The margin declines will be primarily driven by an ongoing price decline of approximately 10 percent in the [personal navigation device] industry and increasing R&D investment across our segments," said the company in a statement.

Aside from that cautious note, Garmin's fourth-quarter results and forward-looking guidance

gave birth to the Industrial Revolution.

were actually much more robust than Wall Street expected. The firm swung to a quarterly profit of $1.43 per share, excluding items, compared to analysts' consensus forecast of 95 cents per share. Gross margin ticked four percentage points higher to 46%, while revenue arrived at $1.06 billion.

Continue reading Garmin Gaps Lower on Margin Warning Garmin Gaps Lower on Margin Warning originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Xerox sues Google, Yahoo over search patents

by Tom Krazit (Webware.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 12:50:00 PM

Copy machines at law firms are busy making duplicates of a new filing against Google and Yahoo

Feb. 24, 1664: Steam Power Is Newcomen In

by Priya Ganapati (Wired Top Stories)

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claiming their search technology infringes on Xerox patents.

Originally posted at Relevant Results

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eBay Opens Up About Installing Bloom Boxes and Their Room for Improvement

by Ariel Schwartz (Fast Company)

system before, but that was part of standard maintenance. The way the system is built there are Submitted at 2/24/2010 8:48:41 AM hundreds if not thousands of the The Bloom Box fuel cell device wafers in each system, so it has been the subject of plenty of didn't cause us any particular controversy since its unofficial issues," Cole said. eBay's unveiling in a 60 Minutes maintenance contract lasts 10 segment earlier this week. The years, which says something device, which has already been about how long Bloom expects installed on the campuses of its boxes to run. major companies like eBay, Over the past 7 months, eBay Google, Staples, and FedEx, has managed to keep its system converts natural gas into under wraps--even to employees. electricity. But how efficient is "The boxes sat behind a fence for it? Is the box worth the money? a long time while they were Amy Szoczlas Cole, the Director being installed," Cole explained. of eBay's Green Team, spoke "But we gave our employees a with us briefly about eBay's heads up about the 60 Minutes installation of five Bloom Boxes. finalizing the contract to turn on efficient. "The solar panels takes $ 8 0 0 , 0 0 0 a p o p - - b u t C o l e piece." Eventually, eBay might According to Cole, the boxes biogas," Cole explained. Once 55,000 square feet and at their estimates that eBay's system will add even more Bloom Boxes to take up 3,000 square feet of the system switches to biogas, peak performance takes 18% of pay for itself within three years. its main campus. "We're actively space and produce 500 kilowatts CO2 will not longer be released our electricity use off the grid, Since the system started running in discussion about what more of power--enough to take 15% of as a byproduct of the Bloom Box but that's not at night or on days seven months ago, eBay has we can do together," Cole said. t h e S a n J o s e , C a l i f o r n i a , energy production process. when we have rain," Cole said. already saved $100,000 in "It's a terrific new technology campus's energy use off the grid.

E B a y ' s B l o o m B o x e s "Running the two side by side electricity costs compared to that we're really excited to be At the moment, eBay is running complement the 3,246 solar over the course of a year, we will power from the grid. And so far, early adopters of." its Bloom Boxes off natural gas, p a n e l s o n t h e r o o f o f t h e get 5 times as much energy from the company hasn't had any big [ Bloom Energy] but the company plans to switch company's LEED Gold-certified the Bloom system." issues with the system. to biogas sometime in the near headquarters. But the Bloom Bloom Boxes don't come cheap- "Maintenance teams have had to future. "We're in the stages of Boxes are ultimately more -companies pay $700,000 to come out to replace wafers in the

10 wacky businesses on wheels (Holy Kaw!) Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:46:38 PM

These aren’t your typical food carts. Meet these 10 unusual businesses on wheels, as curated

by MSN. Above, for instance, is shown Company 77 Pizzetta Mobile Pizza Unit.

See the full feature at MSN. Keep up with all the food carts in Twitter in the Pacific

York City.

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13

Hitachi's Research Elevator: 40MPH Straight Up

by Kit Eaton (Fast Company) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:31:52 AM

Buildings get taller, and people get used to driving in fast cars and airplanes with new technology--but everyone forgets about elevators. Except Hitachi, which is soon to open an elevator research facility that's the tallest ever.

The G1 Tower (pictured here) is currently under construction in Japan, and Hitachi's just announced it'll be completed in April. When finished, it'll rear some 700-feet above HitachinakaCity, making it the tallest such research facility ever made. That'll let Hitachi test the world's fastest elevator--with a top speed of over 3,500 feet per minute (about 40 miles an hour), as well as the world's largest high-speed cargo elevator, capable of carrying five-tons and running at a speed of nearly 2,000 feet per minute.

That's not all--there will also be experiments on controlling vibration in high-speed elevators, air-pressure systems that balance

product Hitachi can create.

Why's this important though-elevators are basic technology that just works, right? That's true, if you're talking about the kind of ride you had in a typical elevator today. But the engineering issues faced in constructing elevators inside super-buildings like the Burj Khalifa, or the new towers being constructed at the World Trade Center, are immense. Getting people and freight from basement level to the higher floors speedily and in comfort is a nightmare in working out car scheduling, let alone the issues caused by the cars themselves moving at thousands of feet per second inside a closed concrete shaft--making them act like air pistons. There's also an out changes in pressure caused ecological angle to think about: by the movement of the cars in Traditional elevators are horribly the shafts and lots of other eco-unfriendly, and there's science and engineering. The G1 clearly room to make energy tower will replace a 300-foot savings in designing elevators tower that dates back to 1967, for more modern skyscrapers. and this will of course enhance [ Hitachi] the kind of high-speed elevator

Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:00:00 PM

Contrary to recent research about social networks and efficiency, taking a break from work to read that tweet about

by Cliff Kuang (Fast Company)

Casey Neistat, who took it upon himself to explain ChatRoulette in a single entertaining video.

Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:25:53 AM There are loads of stats, Ladies really do have all the including the chart above. luck, and the perverts are a Notably, Neistat (a male) had sizable minority, according to only about a 5% stay rate--the Casey Neistat's video study of rest of people immediately Chatroulette. nexted him. But his pretty lady A month ago, we brought you friend had exactly the opposite an early look at ChatRoulette, result: and since then it's blown up, with Which is probably about the coverage in New York, The New same result as you'd find on any York Times, and even USA o l d d a t i n g s i t e . E x c e p t Lady Gaga's lingerie might Today, of all places. But this is ChatRoulette is about a million actually stoke creativity and the first time we've seen anyone times faster/awesomer/weirder. enhance problem-solving skills. apply some science to the [Via The Awl] phenomenon.

How Twitter and Facebook Make Us More Productive

by Brendan I. Koerner (Wired Top Stories)

Infographic: Chatroulette, 'Nexting' by the Numbers

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Workplace Friendships: Good for Morale, Bad for Productivity

Lending Drops to MultiYear Lows

by Addy Dugdale (Fast Company)

by Mark Fightmaster (BloggingStocks)

Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:41:07 AM

Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:00:00 AM

According to a recent survey, a happy office is dependent on a workforce's friendships within the workplace. With only 45% of Americans satisfied in their jobs, over half of the people polled said that chumminess between the cubicles means better teamwork, communication, and morale. On the subject of productivity, however, less than a third of the respondents thought that it increased productivity and performance.

The study, conducted by Ipsos Public Affairs on behalf of staffing firm Randstad, also dealt with the (sometimes) sticky issue of social media amongst colleagues. Forty-six per cent of respondents thought that Facebook friendships were appropriate, while just 24 per cent opted for LinkedIn. Unsurprisingly, it is the fairer sex who were more into the idea of friendships over the photocopier compared to their male counterparts, and saw their

Filed under: Financial Crisis According to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., U.S. banks saw their sharpest decline in lending since 1942, the Wall Street Journal reports. The lending drop is making it harder for the economy to recover.

Yes, top-tier banks are recovering, but the rest of the banks are suffering. The FDIC believes the number of U.S. banks at risk of failing have increased to a 16-year high of 702. This makes these banks far less willing to extend loans, which leads the banks to take

relationships with work colleagues as something that would spill over into their free time more than men did.

Managers, however, were less into the idea of their subordinates becoming BFFs, as just 49% of them encouraging the development of friendship within the workforce.

The downsides of a company working, eating and (perhaps in some cases) sleeping together, according to the respondents,

were the obvious ones. Themes that came up were gossip (44%) favoritism and the blurring of professional boundaries (37%), and conflicts of interest (35%), as well as making others feel u n c o m f o r t a b l e , r e d u c e d by Cameron Bird (Wired Top productivity, openness, and Stories) c o m p a n y l o y a l t y . [ V i a Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:00:00 PM BusinessWire] The Eiffel Tower of Terror, the Cantilevered Coaster and Hurricane Simu -- should we be happy or sad that these amusement park rides are not real? video of him being bullied be posted on the site in 2006.

Google Executives Convicted in Italy for Down's Video

by Reuters (Wired Top Stories) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:10:00 AM

A Milan court convicts three Google executives for violating the privacy of an Italian boy with Down's syndrome by letting a

Best Unbuilt Thrill Rides

credit away from both businesses and consumers.

Continue reading Lending Drops to Multi-Year Lows Lending Drops to Multi-Year Lows originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Meet the Boys of 'American Idol' (ETonline - Breaking News) Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:09:00 AM

Tonight, the boys take center stage on "American Idol," and you can get to know more about them right here!

The top 12 ladies sang last night -- now it's time for the gents to shine.

Watch the video to meet the top 12 guys on "American Idol."

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Dow Jones in Talks to Acquire SmartMoney: Why?

by Zac Bissonnette (BloggingStocks) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:30:00 AM

Filed under: News Corp'B' (NWS) Dow Jones & Co., a division of News Corp. ( NWS), is in talks to acquire the 50% of SmartMoney magazine that it doesn't already own from Hearst, its partner in the monthly that "The two sides continue to negotiate purchase terms, people publication.

The Wall Street Journal reports familiar with the matter said, but

a deal could be announced within days. A deal price couldn't immediately be learned."

Continue reading Dow Jones in Talks to Acquire SmartMoney: Why? Dow Jones in Talks to Acquire SmartMoney: Why? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments

15

YouTube Pulls the Original Rickroll Video [YouTube] by matt buchanan (Gizmodo) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:41:23 AM

Really? Really Sony BMG? After over 30 million views you just now decided to make YouTube pull Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" for a terms of use violation? If you were going to try to stop

rickrolling, couldn't you have at least done it a couple years ago?

Do you know what's going to happen now? People are going to be rickrolling other people as much as possible using illicit streams as a protest all day.

Thanks, assholes. Thanks. [ Neowin]

New Full-Body Scanners Coming to Two Airports (FOXNews.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 11:10:23 PM

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WASHINGTON The first of 150 full-body scanners planned for U.S. airports will be installed in Boston next week, officials said Tuesday.

The plan is to install three machines at Logan International Airport, according to a homeland security official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement has not yet been made. In the next two weeks, officials plan to install another machine at Chicago's O'Hare International.

The rest of the 150 machines that were purchased with $25 million from President Barack

Obama's 2009 stimulus plan are expected to be installed in airports by the end of June, another homeland security official, spokeswoman Amy Kudwa, said.

The use of the scanners in airports is key to the Obama administration's plans to improve airport security because of their ability to show objects hidden on the body. Body scanners have been available for years, but their deployment has been slowed by objections from privacy advocates.

After a Nigerian man allegedly attempted to blow up a Detroitbound airliner last Christmas, Obama called for purchasing hundreds more of the machines on top of 150 already announced last year. Other countries have also signed on to use the technology, including Nigeria

and the Netherlands, where the final leg of the man's flight originated.

The passenger allegedly hid the explosives in his underwear, and the materials went undetected as he went through screening in Nigeria and Amsterdam.

Experts have said that the fullbody screeners would not have picked up the suspect's hidden explosives.

The machines show the body's contours on a computer stationed in a private room removed from the security checkpoints. A person's face is never shown and the person's identity is supposedly not known to the screener reviewing the computer images.

Still, the American Civil Liberties Union has denounced the machines as a "virtual strip search."

The new scanners have not been available since the Obama administration announced last February it would provide $1 billion for airport screening as part of its stimulus plan.

In May, the administration detailed how that money would be spent — including $25 million for the new scanners.

Between May and September, the department asked contractors to provide proposals for building the scanners.

Competing models were tested over the summer, the homeland security official said.

The department awarded the contract to California-based Rapiscan at the end of September.

In the past five months, airports and the Transportation Security Administration worked to get construction and electrical

permits necessary to install the machines.

Boston and Chicago were selected based on risk, the official said, and whether the airports were physically able to install the machines and provide screeners to operate them.

Currently 40 full-body scanners are operated in 19 airports across the country, official said. Six of those machines are being used instead of the standard magnetometer screening machines that most U.S. passengers go through before boarding an airplane.

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Teacher tackles gunman supected in school shooting (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News)

trying to get him subdued."

The two students survived Tuesday's shooting and one Message from fivefilters.org: If remained hospitalized. you can, please donate to the full Police said they aren't -text RSS service so we can immediately sure about what continue developing it. motivated Bruco Strongeagle LITTLETON, Colo. – The Eastwood to target Deer Creek gunman was walking through a Middle School just after classes middle school parking lot and had ended for the day. Eastwood taking shots at students with a has an arrest record in Colorado hunting rifle as terrified dating back to 1996 for teenagers ran for their lives. He menacing, assault, domestic had just wounded two students violence and driving under the and seemed ready to unleash influence, and he is believed to more violence when a math have a history of mental issues. teacher named David Benke Jefferson County Sheriff Ted sprung into action.

Mink praised Benke and called Benke confronted the 32-year- him a hero, and the math old gunman, tackled him and teacher's status seems to be pinned him to the ground with growing by the minute. A the help of another teacher, Facebook page called " Dr. stopping what could have been a David Benke.. A TRUE hero!" much more violent encounter in quickly picked up more than a city all too familiar with tragic 1 , 0 0 0 f a n s b y W e d n e s d a y school shootings. The shooting m o r n i n g . occurred less than three miles Benke, the father of 7-year-old from where the Columbine High twins and a 13-year-old girl, School massacre happened fought back tears after Mink nearly 11 years ago. thanked him.

"Unfortunately he got another "Believe me when I say, I think round off before I could grab he stopped what could have been him," Benke said. "He figured a more tragic event than it was out that he wasn't going to be this afternoon," Mink said. a b l e t o g e t a n o t h e r r o u n d The victims, students Reagan chambered before I got to him so Webber and Matt Thieu, were he dropped the gun and then we b o t h t r e a t e d a t L i t t l e t o n were kind of struggling around A d v e n t i s t H o s p i t a l , w h e r e Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:59:34 AM

spokeswoman Christine Alexander said Webber was treated and released to her home.

Thieu was transferred to The Children's Hospital, where he was listed in critical condition late Tuesday.

Benke, a 6-foot-5 former college basketball player who oversees the school's track team, was monitoring the parking lot in the afternoon when he heard what he thought was a firecracker and began walking toward the noise.

"At first when I was walking over there, it was kind of what a teacher does," Benke said, still shaken hours after the shooting. "`Hey kid, what are you doing,' you know that kind of thing."

He said another teacher was quickly on the scene and both of them pinned the gunman to the ground. Eastwood was armed with a bolt-action rifle.

"I basically have my arms and legs wrapped around him, (the other teacher) has his forearm around his front and we were basically trying to get the guy to quit struggling."

"I talked to him while we were on the ground," Benke added. "I was underneath him and his face was pretty close to mine. I asked him, `Why did you do this?

Were you a student here?'

"He either didn't respond or his

responses didn't make a whole lot of sense," Benke said.

The shooting rattled a city that was devastated in 1999 when two students shot and killed 12 students and a teacher in one of the deadliest school rampages in U.S. history. The middle school is right down the road from Columbine High School, and is located on West Columbine Drive.

Benke told a TV station that he took part in drills after Columbine and recalled thinking that if the same thing happened, "I hope that I could go after him."

Investigators said Eastwood visited the school previously and was inside shortly before the shooting. He is expected to make his first court appearance Wednesday and may face at least two counts of attempted murder.

Denver station KUSA-TV reported that Eastwood attended Deer Creek Middle School in the early 1990s.

In 2005, Benke participated in a NASA-funded medical study in which he spent 10 days in a hospital bed so scientist could study muscle wasting, an affliction experienced by astronauts during long flights, according to a story in the Rocky Mountain News at the time.

He told the newspaper that he had a lifelong dream of being an astronaut and described his occupation to the newspaper as horse trainer working at his father's Eagle's Nest Ranch in Hudson.

A man who answered the phone Tuesday night at a number listed for Eastwood identified himself only as "Mr. Eastwood" and said he was Bruco Eastwood's father.

He was at a loss for words.

"There's nothing you can say about it. What can you say?" the man told The Associated Press.

"Pretty dumb thing to do. I feel bad for the people involved." He wouldn't comment further.

As for Benke, he said he still wishes he could have done: "It bugs me that he got another round off" before Benke tackled him to the ground. ___ Associated Press writers Samantha Abernethy in Littleton and Ivan Moreno and Thomas Peipert in Denver contributed to this story.

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Toyota boss faces tough questions (BBC News | Americas | World Edition) Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:20:06 AM

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The president of Toyota will face tough questioning from US politicians later over safety problems at the firm.

Akio Toyoda is to be quizzed on events that led to 8.5 million vehicles being recalled worldwide and how his firm responded to the public's concerns.

Mr Toyoda has already released opening remarks which admitted that the firm's expansion "may have been too quick".

Meanwhile, Japan's government is to investigate reports of unintended acceleration of Toyota vehicles.

Transport Minister Seiji Maehara said the government would launch a review of 38 cases in Japan over the past three years.

He said the investigation would focus on Toyota but would also include other carmakers.

"The number of complaints about Toyota cars is not out of proportion to its share of the overall number of vehicles registered," he said.

"But given the ongoing issue, we would like to investigate Toyota cars."

Explanation sought The reputation of Toyota has

personal apology to the family of Mark Saylor, a California highway patrol officer killed along with his wife, daughter and brother-in-law in a crash that led to renewed US government scrutiny of problems with acceleration in some models.

The Saylor family's lawyer, Tom Pestontnik, told the BBC's World Today programme that it was "heartening" to see the government taking "a very serious approach" to uncovering the causes of sudden acceleration in Toyota cars.

He added that the family wanted to know "when did they [Toyota] know they had a problem and what is the true cause of the problem".

"We're not sure that even they been severely damaged by a planned to send Yoshi Inaba, quality of Toyota cars. know. But if they do know, we string of major problems across a chief of Toyota's North America "All the Toyota vehicles bear my want to know when they knew." range of vehicles. operations, to face Congress. name. For me, when the cars are Unexplained complaints The main issues have been But last week he signalled a damaged, it is as though I am as Congress has already heard f a u l t y a c c e l e r a t o r p e d a l s , change of heart and said he well. I, more than anyone, wish from Toyota Motor USA chief accelerator pedals getting stuck would testify, after the chairman for Toyota's cars to be safe, and James Lentz, who they quizzed in floor mats, and a problem with of the House Oversight and for our customers to feel safe for more than two hours on braking systems on its hybrid Government Reform Committee when they use our vehicles."

Tuesday. models. formally called for him to do so. Please turn on JavaScript. Media Under questioning, he agreed The BBC's Adam Brookes in He was criticised by the requires JavaScript to play. that about 70% of complaints Washington said that the House Japanese media earlier this Noriko Hama, Doshisha about unintended acceleration E n e r g y a n d C o m m e r c e month for not bowing deeply Business School, calls Akio remained unexplained.

Committee had "not yet accepted enough at a news conference Toyoda a ''pampered prince'' "That is probably fair to say," he that Toyota understands why arranged for him to say sorry for And he added: "We pursued said. "There are many factors these cars surged out of control". the recalls, leading to questions growth over the speed at which that lead to it."

"The committee is groping for a b o u t t h e s i n c e r i t y o f h i s we were able to develop our Please turn on JavaScript. Media the rest of the story," he added. a p o l o g y . people and our organisation and requires JavaScript to play.

Mr Toyoda will be the most 'Deeply sorry' we should be sincerely mindful Rhonda Smith: "The car remains high profile figure to appear The grandson of the company's of that." in reverse as it speeds to over before the politicians. founder said in his pre-prepared Mr Toyoda also said he was He had initially said that he remarks that he took a personal "deeply sorry" for accidents that TOYOTA page 20 wished to stay in Japan and responsibility for improving the h a d o c c u r r e d a n d m a d e a

18

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Impoverished Indian reservation reaps benefits from oil boom (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News)

never have put us here," said Spencer Wilkinson Jr., general manager of the Four Bears Message from fivefilters.org: If Casino on the reservation. you can, please donate to the full " T h e r e i s p r o b a b l y m o r e -text RSS service so we can opportunity here than people continue developing it. have had in their lifetimes," said NEW TOWN, N.D. – An oil Marcus Levings, chairman of the boom on American Indian land Three Affiliated Tribes. Roads has brought jobs, millions of are now sometimes clogged with d o l l a r s a n d h o p e t o l o n g - traffic, including Hummers and impoverished tribal members expensive pickup trucks. The who have struggled for more local casino is buzzing with freethan a century on the million- spending locals. And tribal a c r e F o r t B e r t h o l d I n d i a n members who had moved away Reservation. to find work are now moving In little more than a year, oil back for the abundant goodcompanies have put dozens of paying jobs. money-producing rigs on remote Tribal officials say the oil has rolling prairie and sprawling helped right a wrong done to the badlands that are home to small tribes in the 1950s, when more cattle ranches and scattered than a tenth of the reservation settlements of modular housing. was flooded by the federal Although other tribes around the government to create Lake nation have oil interests, industry Sakakawea, a 180-mile-long officials said none has likely reservoir. experienced a recent windfall of Oil companies are now drilling this scale. beneath the big lake, using an The reservation is occupied by a d v a n c e d h o r i z o n t a l d r i l l the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara technique. Recently completed tribes, known as the Three regulatory paperwork removed Affiliated Tribes, who were the last obstacle. placed in west-central North Since the boom began, lease D a k o t a b y t h e f e d e r a l payments of more than $179 government in the 1800s — long million have been paid to the before anyone knew of the oil. tribe and its members on about "If they knew there was billions half of the reservation land, tribal of barrels of oil here, they would record show. Millions of dollars Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:40:04 AM

more in royalties and tax revenue are also rolling in.

Levings said the tribe will use its money to pay off debt, and bankroll such things as roads, health care and law enforcement.

The reservation contains portions of six counties, covering more than 1,500 square miles. It lies atop a portion the oil-rich Bakken shale formation, which the U.S. Geological Survey estimates holds 4.3 billion barrels of oil that can be recovered using current technology. The agency said the Bakken was the largest oil deposit it has ever assessed.

In addition to the oil money, the tribes get $60 million to $70 million in federal aid annually from the federal government.

"This is an opportunity for us to help ourselves as much as we get help," Levings said. About 4,500 of the approximately 12,000 tribal members live on the reservation, one of about 300 in the United States.

State demographer Richard Rathge said 28 percent of people on the reservation were living in poverty in 2000, the latest figures available. More than 40 percent did not have a job at that time.

The opening of the casino in the 1990s added about 200 jobs. But

oil's impact has been huge.

"Anybody who wants to work can work," said Levins, with jobs available on rigs and in support industries such as oil supplies and trucking.

The reservation was the last area to be targeted by companies in the state's oil patch because of onerous federal requirements.

But a 2008 tax agreement standardized the rules for oil drilling.

Dozens of wells have been drilled and more than 500 could be operating within five years.

Lovina Fox hopes at least one winds up on her land near Mandaree, a town of about 500 on the reservation. Lights from nearby drill rigs and flares burning off excess gas already illuminate her home.

"Everybody knows everybody here," she said. "If people are getting rich they're not saying anything and keeping it hushhush. But it's not hard to figure out who's getting money — it's the people who have haven't worked in years and all the sudden, they're driving new vehicles."

Tribal member Rose Marie Mandan, who admits to earning "a nice little cushion" from oil payments, said she moved away from the reservation more than

50 years ago to find a job, then returned after retiring. "In the 1950s there were no jobs here," said Mandan, 80. Now she's seeing tribal members moving to the reservation for work.

Chuck Hale worked as a roughneck in other states before returning to his home near New Town to take a good-paying oilfield job. "It's tough work and it's damn cold," Hale said. "But it's worth it."

Mandan worries about the effects of the instant wealth. "It can be good but only if people know how to use the money," she said.

Wilkinson Jr., the casino general manager, said casino revenue jumped from $4.5 million in 2008 to $7.2 million in 2009.

He said he had advised tribal elders "to have fun at the casino but don't spend it all there. I've told them to invest it in something useful, like ... their house and kids and grandkids, and send them to college."

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NYPD: Zazi planned to kill commuters at rush hour (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News)

without parole when he's sentenced in June, though his cooperation with authorities Message from fivefilters.org: If could earn him leniency. you can, please donate to the full A law enforcement official -text RSS service so we can f a m i l i a r w i t h t h e Z a z i continue developing it. investigation told The Associated NEW YORK – A man who Press that authorities were most admitted plotting to bomb the interested in learning about city's subway system wanted to Zazi's time in Pakistan and when do so with the help of at least al-Qaida recruited him. The two other bombers during rush official said authorities also hour, when the most people wanted information about the could be killed, police said leadership and structure of the Tuesday. group that recruited him, al" T h i s w a s p a r t i c u l a r l y Qaida's tactics and names of any disturbing," p o l i c e contacts.

Commissioner Raymond Kelly Authorities weren't searching for said. "It was his intention to be other suspects in the bomb plot, on trains during rush hour period said the official, who spoke on and to kill New Yorkers. No the condition of anonymity question about it." because the case is ongoing.

The man, 25-year-old Najibullah Kelly promised more details Zazi, pleaded guilty Monday to about the plot would emerge as charges including conspiracy to o t h e r s c h a r g e d p r o c e e d e d use weapons of mass destruction through the courts. He said law and supporting al-Qaida, which enforcement officials were he said trained him in Pakistan. confident they had identified the The jailed Zazi has been plot's participants. cooperating with investigators "It is a very significant case," he since offering information about said. "This was the real deal." the bomb plot earlier this month, Kelly's remarks echoed those of a law enforcement official has U.S. Attorney General Eric said. He faces life in prison Holder, who said on Monday in Submitted at 2/23/2010 7:18:10 PM

Washington that the planned bombings "could have been devastating."

On Monday, Zazi, a former Colorado airport shuttle driver, told a judge he traveled to New York last September with explosive materials he planned to use to assemble bombs to attack city subways after the Sept. 11 anniversary. He was arrested before he could carry out the suicide mission.

During his plea in Brooklyn federal court, Zazi admitted using notes taken at an al-Qaida training camp in Waziristan, Pakistan, to build homemade explosives with beauty supplies purchased in the Denver suburbs and cooked up in a Colorado hotel room. He said he dumped the explosive material when he realized he was being trailed by law enforcement.

Zazi said he originally went to join the Taliban and fight the U.S. military in Afghanistan, his native land, because of civilian deaths there but al-Qaida recruited him for the subway bombing plot.

Others charged in the case include Zazi's uncle and father

and two of Zazi's friends, Zarein Ahmedzay and Adis Medunjanin, who traveled to Pakistan with him in 2008.

Medunjanin has pleaded not guilty to charges he conspired to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

His lawyer, Robert C. Gottlieb, said Tuesday he didn't know if Zazi told prosecutors anything about his client but Zazi's decision to plead guilty "obviously affects the overall prosecution."

Ahmedzay has pleaded not guilty to charges that he lied to the FBI during the probe about places he visited during the 2008 trip.

Zazi's father was accused this month of trying to get rid of chemicals and other evidence.

Prosecutors, after initially demanding that he be jailed in Brooklyn without bail, agreed to a deal on Feb. 17 releasing him on $50,000 bond and allowing him to return to his home in suburban Denver.

Attorney Ron Kuby, who represents Ahmad Wais Afzali, an imam authorities claim tipped off Zazi about the investigation, predicted Zazi's case would lead

to more pleas.

"As a general rule in these cases, once the alleged mastermind takes the plea, the miniminds sign on as well," he said.

Fordham University School of Law Professor James Cohen said Zazi represents a cautionary tale.

He said Zazi, like other Muslims, felt isolated and unhappy with the actions of the United States around the world and its perceived favoritism of Israel.

"They are feeling left out and are very angry about it," Cohen said.

"That's what we have to come to grips with. An identifiable part of the Muslim population is willing to do just about anything in terms of suicide bombings.

Believe it." ___ Associated Press writers Larry Neumeister and Colleen Long contributed to this report.

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JVC’s ultra-slim PC speaker for business use

by Serkan Toto (CrunchGear) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:21:27 AM

JVC in Japan today announced[JP] the NC-SP1, an ultra-slim active speaker that’s

just 34mm thick and can be connected to your computer via USB. Marketed as a device that’s particularly suitable for presentations, it supports Windows XP/Vista/7 and Mac

OS X 10.4 machines and

requires just one USB port.

The 12W×2ch (4) speaker is sized at 300×34×186mm.

Because it weighs just 1.2kg, JVC is marketing the NC-SP1 as being “portable”.

The device will go on sale in Japan at the end of March for $400. JVC hasn’t said yet if it ever will become available outside Japan as well.

20

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1st round of storms blankets Northeast (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News)

the weekend.

"The storm really isn't going to go away quickly," said Message from fivefilters.org: If meteorologist Hugh Johnson of you can, please donate to the full the weather service's Albany -text RSS service so we can office. "It might sit and spin for a continue developing it. few days. It might not be until ALBANY, N.Y. – Hundreds of early next week that we get rid of schools were closed and more the storm completely." than 160,000 customers were The storm began Tuesday and without power Wednesday in the caused numerous accidents on Northeast as a storm that's New York interstate highways in expected to "sit and spin" the Hudson Valley, but state brought wet, heavy snow to police said no serious injuries some areas that have had a were reported. relatively snowless winter until The storm ended a long stretch now. without a major snowfall in Nearly two feet of snow fell eastern New York and northern outside Albany, according to the New England, which had been National Weather Service, which spared from much of the severe expected another 2-4 inches to weather that socked the midfall by the end of the day. Atlantic with several feet of Forecasters said Wednesday's snow in recent weeks. storm would be followed by In fact, some New England a n o t h e r e x p e c t e d t o s t a r t areas were forced to cancel Thursday and dump a foot or winter festivals, dog sled races more on some areas by Friday, and snow sculpting events this accompanied by high winds. year due to the lack of any snow Meteorologists said some areas at all. of New York's Adirondack and Before Wednesday, the Albany C a t s k i l l m o u n t a i n s a n d area had received just 28 inches Vermont's Green Mountains of snow, well below its average could get as much as 2 feet by snowfall total of 46 inches for Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:20:56 AM

this time of year. Wednesday's snow was particularly wet and thick.

Pat McDonough and her stepson spent more than a half hour shoveling the snow off their driveway and front walk in Voorheesville, a village just west of Albany.

"We tried the snowblower and it didn't work," McDonough said.

"It keeps clogging up."

Due to a forecast that calls for significant snowfall in the metropolitan region, many carriers have already begun canceling flights, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said on its Web site Wednesday.

Travelers were advised to check with their airline before departing for the airport.

New York's power outages topped 135,000 Wednesday morning and were climbing as utility crews reached rural areas of the Hudson Valley and Catskills where up to 18 inches of snow had fallen. Another 26,000 outages were reported in Vermont and western Massachusetts. Schools were

closed around eastern New York, Vermont, New Hampshire and western Massachusetts.

More snow is on the way for parts of New Jersey and Pennsylvania still digging out from back-to-back blizzards earlier this month. As much as 6 inches was predicted over the central portion of New Jersey, and Philadelphia could get up to 8 inches by Thursday.

Contractor Jim Conde spent the morning plowing eight private roads outside Albany, getting stuck several times in the deep, compressed snow. With more on the way, he was likely to stay busy.

"That's what scares me the most," he said. "If we do get more, where are we going to put it?" __ Associated Press writer Michael Hill contributed from Albany, N.Y. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

The committee also heard from Rhonda Smith - who fought back tears as she told of a "near death" experience in October 2006 after the Toyota Lexus she was driving would not slow down.

Mrs Smith said the company "chose to blatantly ignore" her

concerns and told politicians that Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: both Toyota and the National PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, H i g h w a y T r a f f i c S a f e t y Term Extraction.

Administration had dismissed her belief that the vehicle's electronics were to blame.

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They Don't Make Cameras Like They Used To [Cameras]

by Adam Frucci (Gizmodo) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:20:00 AM

This is the Kodak Bantam Special, a limited-edition camera designed by Teague and released in 1936. It's totally art deco and totally beautiful. [ Monoscope via Kottke]

TOYOTA continued from page 17

100mph" "We now understand that we must think differently when investigating complaints and communicate faster, better and more effectively with our customers and our regulators," he added.

Mr Lentz also became choked with emotion when talking about the death of his brother in a car accident more than 20 years ago.

"There's not a day goes by that I don't think of that," he said. "So I know what these families go through."

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'Rubbish patch' blights Atlantic (BBC News | Americas | World Edition) Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:50:30 AM

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Scientists have discovered an area of the North Atlantic Ocean where plastic debris accumulates.

The region is said to compare with the well-documented "great Pacific garbage patch".

Karen Lavender Law of the Sea Education Association told the BBC that the issue of plastics had been "largely ignored" in the Atlantic.

She announced the findings of a two-decade-long study at the Ocean Sciences Meeting in Portland, US. The work is the conclusion of the longest and most extensive record of plastic marine debris in any ocean basin.

Scientists and students from the SEA collected plastic and marine debris in fine mesh nets that were towed behind a research vessel.

The nets dragged along were half-in and half-out of the water, picking up debris and small marine organisms from the sea surface.

The researchers carried out 6,100 tows in areas of the Caribbean and the North Atlantic - off the coast of the US. More than half of these expeditions revealed floating pieces of plastic on the water surface.

These were pieces of lowdensity plastic that are used to make many consumer products, including plastic bags.

Dr Lavender Law said that the pieces of plastic she and her team picked up in the nets were generally very small - up to 1cm across.

"We found a region fairly far north in the Atlantic Ocean

where this debris appears to be concentrated and remains over long periods of time," she explained.

"More than 80% of the plastic pieces we collected in the tows were found between 22 and 38 degrees north. So we have a latitude for [where this] rubbish seems to accumulate," she said.

The maximum "plastic density" was 200,000 pieces of debris per square kilometre.

"That's a maximum that is comparable with the Great Pacific Garbage Patch," said Dr Lavender Law. But she pointed out that there was not yet a clear estimate of the size of the patches in either the Pacific or the Atlantic.

"You can think of it in a similar way [to the Pacific Garbage Patch], but I think the word 'patch' can be misleading. This is widely dispersed and it's small pieces of plastic," she said.

The impacts on the marine

environment of the plastics were still unknown, added the researcher.

"But we know that many marine organisms are consuming these plastics and we know this has a bad effect on seabirds in particular," she told BBC News.

Nikolai Maximenko from University of Hawaii, who was not involved in the study, said that it was very important to continue the research to find out the impacts of plastic on the marine ecosystem.

He told BBC News: "We don't know how much is consumed by living organisms; we don't have enough data.

"I think this is a big target for the next decade - a global network to observe plastics in the ocean."

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Jay Leno's 'Tonight Show' Promo Gets a Music Makeover

by Danny Gallagher (TV Squad) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:00:00 AM

NBC has been recycling their'Jay Leno Show' promos to prep for Leno's return to 'The Tonight Show' slot. Could there be a clearer metaphor?

Anyway, the new promos have been using a cover version of the Beatles' "Get Back" to not-sosubtly greet the host back from prime time hell. But one very clever YouTube user found a much more appropriate song to accompany Jay on his return back to 11:30 p.m. [via Buzzfeed] Filed under: Video, Celebrities, Reality-Free, Jay Leno Permalink| Email this| | Comments

Unsexing the Oscars?

(Holy Kaw!) Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:21:24 AM

At about hour three of the Oscars, most folks have either passed out from the Academy Award drinking game or given up any hope of the endless parade of botoxed starlets ending

before 2:00am, but what if the Academy could cut about fortyfive minutes of action? NPR suggests axing the separation of actors and actresses in the major acting categories and combining them together to give the top “performer” honors. The Academy doesn’t separate the

Best Director from the Best

Direct-ette (or Deicrectress?), so why split up actors and actresses?

Imagine Sandra Bullock and Jeff Bridges battling it out for “Best Performer” honors. Or Mo’Nique going head-to-head with that multi-lingual evil dude from Inglorious Bastards. Heck,

let’s just throw an arm wrestling category for good measure and excitement.

Full story at NPR. Grab some popcorn and check out the top movie news and views.

Permalink| Leave a comment »

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Falklands oil dispute goes to UN (BBC News | Americas | World Edition) Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:01:25 AM

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Argentina is seeking United Nations support in its new row with the UK over oil drilling off the Falkland Islands.

Argentine Foreign Minister Jorge Taiana is set to meet UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon to call for his help in opening talks on the islands' sovereignty.

The British government says the islands have a "legitimate right" to develop an oil industry within their waters.

Argentina and the UK went to war over the islands in 1982, after Buenos Aires invaded them.

The current Argentine government has ruled out any military action over the islands, which it calls Las Malvinas, but is stepping up its diplomatic offensive to try to pressure

Britain into negotiations.

Buenos Aires says the UK has broken a UN resolution forbidding unilateral development in disputed waters.

Mr Taiana is expected to urge the UN secretary general to use his position to press the UK to begin talks.

A summit of Latin American and Caribbean nations ended in Mexico on Tuesday with a statement reaffirming "backing for Argentina's legitimate rights in its sovereignty dispute with the United Kingdom relating to the 'Malvinas Question'".

The statement also urged the two governments to "renew negotiations in order to find in the shortest time possible a just, peaceful and definitive solution to the dispute".

Explanation Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva urged the UN to debate Argentina's claim to sovereignty.

"What is the geographic, the political or economic explanation

for England [sic] to be in Las Malvinas?" he asked.

"Could it be because England is a permanent member of the UN's Security Council [where] they can do everything and the others nothing?"

The British-contracted rig Ocean Guardian began drilling 100km (62 miles) north of the Falklands on Monday.

The drilling operation in the disputed waters off the Falkland Islands could yield millions of barrels of oil and the British government says it will take all necessary measures to protect the archipelago.

UK forces wrested back control of the Falkland Islands, held by Britain since 1833, after a sevenweek war that killed 649 Argentine and 255 British service personnel.

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The Grammy Award-winning singer will play Tiffany, a pharmaceutical sales rep who Carrie Underwood makes her becomes a love interest for Ted ( sitcom acting debut on CBS' Josh Radnor).

"How I Met Your Mother" -- and When the gang brings it to Ted's ET has a sneak peek as she attention that he is being strung shows off her acting chops. along by Tiffany, they reflect Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:06:00 AM

(BBC News | Americas | World Edition) Submitted at 2/24/2010 12:37:16 AM

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Cuban political prisoner Orlando Zapata Tamayo has died in hospital after 85 days on hunger strike.

Mr Zapata, 42, had been transferred to a Havana hospital from a smaller clinic in the central province of Camaguey after his condition worsened on Monday.

Amnesty International declared him a prisoner of conscience after his arrest in March 2003 in a crackdown on opposition groups.

He had been refusing food in protest at jail conditions.

Mr Zapata, whose family announced last week that he was seriously ill, died on Tuesday in Havana's Hermanos Ameijeiras hospital.

His death marks the first time in nearly 40 years a Cuban activist starved himself to death to about relationships where each protest against government of them has been in the same abuses. situation, and, of course, Barney The last political prisoner to die ( Neil Patrick Harris) has his on hunger strike in Cuba was own unique take on the situation. Pedro Luis Boitel, a poet and student leader, in 1972.

'Better future' Mr Zapata's mother, Reina Luisa

Carrie Underwood Goes Prehistoric on 'How I Met Your Mother' (ETonline - Breaking News)

Cuban prison hunger striker dies Tamayo, told the Miami newspaper El Nuevo Herald by telephone that her son had been "murdered" by Cuba's authorities.

"They managed to do what they wanted," she said. "They ended the life of a fighter for human rights.''

Laura Pollan, a dissident from the group known as Ladies in White, told the BBC: "He wasn't a murderer. He wasn't a thief. He wasn't a rapist. He was simply a young man who wanted a better future for Cuba."

Mr Zapata was among a group of some 75 dissidents jailed by the authorities in 2003. He was initially sentenced to three years in prison, but this was increased to 25 years in subsequent trials.

Cuba's illegal but tolerated Human Rights Commission says there are about 200 political prisoners still held in Cuba, about one-third less than when Raul Castro took over as president from his brother Fidel.

But if anything harassment of dissidents has increased over the past year, the group says.

Cuba designates prisoners of conscience as mercenaries sympathetic to the United States.

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23

The Science of Building Trust With Social Media

by Greg Ferenstein (Mashable!)

information is available.

For instance, psychologists have found that when judging our own Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:22:42 AM mistakes, we tend to blame the The Internet-era has made situation (traffic, a problem at establishing trust an increasingly work, an overbearing partner, complicated issue. Our finely etc.). When others make a tuned ability to read facial mistake, we tend to blame their expressions does not apply to e- personality (they’re selfish, mail, and emoticons are, at best, incompetent, uncaring, etc). an imperfect substitute for Why? For ourselves, we have a sarcastic inflection (raise your full plate of information to link hand if you’ve ever gotten into any series of situations to the trouble for typing something that cause of our misbehavior. For was meant to be a joke). So, how others, we see only the mistake can we establish trust when our itself; constructing a personality online identities are often little in explanation of that mistake is more than an avatar and few the shortest path from confusion lines of text? to simplicity.

F o r t u n a t e l y , s o m e i n t h e This fact leads Olson to one of scientific community have taken her most important findings. it upon themselves to help us Responsiveness Is Key for through the confusion. Through Digital Communication both laboratory studies and field In e-mail, Linkedin and observation of people conversing Facebook messages, much of the over the Internet, scientists can traditional markers of trust, such survey when participants are as voice intonation and body likely to trust word-of-mouth or language, are hidden. Olson stab an absent colleague in the finds that when only text is back. I sat down with a leading available, participants judge figure in this field, Professor trustworthiness based on how Judy Olson, to talk about the quickly others respond. So, for essentials of building trust with instance, it is better to respond to digital communication. The a l o n g F a c e b o o k m e s s a g e Psychology of Trust “acknowledging” that you Olson’s findings are based on a received the message, rather than pillar of psychological research: to wait until there’s time to send People are willing to pass a more thorough first message. judgment, with or without good Wait too long and you are likely information. Where examples of to be labeled “unhelpful,” along one’s competence or reputation with a host of other expletiveare lacking, people will construct filled attributions the mind will whole profiles of another’s happily construct. personality from what little Psychologically speaking,

major airline’s public relations.

The Veggie Grill, an up-andcoming vegetarian restaurant in Southern California, responded to a customer’s request for a particular dish via Twitter: Veggie Grill’s responsiveness seems to have paid off: @quarrygirl devoted an entire responsiveness makes it easier blog post to reviewing her meal. for others to attribute our She sealed the experience with a misdeeds to the situation, rather statement that must have made than our personality. If you find V e g g i e G r i l l q u i t e h a p p y , keeping up with multiple inboxes “Please take my advice and get difficult, you might consider out to the veggie grill el segundo having sites such as Linkedin location NOW. and if you can’t and Facebook send e-mail alerts. go now, be sure to go ASAP.” Then, only archive the e-mail T h e H i e r a r c h y o f T r u s t e d once the message has been C o m m u n i c a t i o n responded to.

Not all forms of communication The same advice holds true for a a r e c r e a t e d e q u a l . F o r medium such as Twitter, where establishing trust, video is better one’s identity is represented by than audio (with no video), and little more than a small square audio is better than a chat avatar and 140 characters of text. window. The logic of this E a r l i e r t h i s m o n t h , w h e n hierarchy seems intuitive: People Southwest and director Kevin communicate as much, if not S m i t h w e n t h e a d t o h e a d , more, with how an idea is Southwest’s social media team conveyed, than with what it said. jumped into the fray immediately Shifty eyes and raised shoulders with this tweet: can reveal anxiety; intonation While reactions to Southwest’s can convey passion. The more decision to eject Smith from his non-substantive information the flight have been mixed, its medium can convey, the more i m m e d i a t e r e s p o n s e o n a data a listener has to decide how Saturday night allowed the trustworthy the speaker is. company to be perceived as For instance, when Governor committed to a controversial Arnold Schwarzenegger wanted policy, rather than a much worse to thank his Twitter followers for a l t e r n a t i v e : a m b i v a l e n t t o sending useful ideas on how to customer concerns. reduce government waste, he There are also other great went straight to video: examples of responsiveness, for It’s all too common for those of us not in charge of a politicians to send out a “thank

you” statement to constituents.

Schwarzenegger, with rolled-up sleeves and clearly unscripted message, took a giant leap forward on the scale on authenticity.

Schwarzenegger is not alone in the video-making department. In 2009, Domino’s Pizza president, Patrick Doyle, twice went in front of a camera to express his frustration, once to apologize for a nauseating employee YouTube prank, and again to pledge to make a tastier pizza. Below is a video of Doyle’s apology overlaid with a graph of user reaction. Notice how the confidence meter spikes and dips along with his inflection.

Curiously enough, the use of video has been absent from many of social media’s biggest crises. Facebook’s privacy blunder and Southwest’s aforementioned tiff with Kevin Smith both sought to redeem shattered trust with a disembodied message. When so much of our trust is based on body language and inflection, why not use video? What do you think, should Facebook and Southwest have used video to respond to critics? Conclusion Few, if any, educational institutes teach the art of proper digital communication. Most of us have simply made up an impromptu strategy and crossed our fingers in the hopes that SCIENCE page 26

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FOWA: It's like summer camp for coders (CNET News.com) Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:00:00 AM

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Nerds hit South Beach: A spotlight hovers over the Future of Web Apps afterparty on Tuesday night in Miami.(Credit: Caroline McCarthy/CNET) MIAMI--It's not fancy, nobody talks about "monetization," and there are no "breakout sessions" on the schedule.

Despite, or perhaps because of this, dozens of young Web developers swear by the annual Future of Web Apps conference in Miami, an annual winter event put on by tech events firm Carsonified. They came from up and down the East Coast, from local tech start-ups in Florida and even from Europe--for the most part, hailing from locales well outside Silicon Valley, hoping to soak up a bit of that insider knowledge.

Many in the developer community say that Carsonified simply gets things right. This, after all, is the conference that's all about them. Marketing is kept to a minimum, leaving word-ofmouth among past attendees and speakers as the primary source of publicity. There are no panels, only brief lectures, and that's only for the second of the conference's three days: the first is a "beach party" (OK, so it rained) geared toward

socialization, and the third is a series of hands-on seminars. If you show up in a suit, people will assume it's an ironic costume. Did I mention it's a

block away from the beach?

"This is my kind of conference; lots of developers and entrepreneurs and not much else," venture capitalist Fred

Wilson of Union Square Ventures, who gave the first big talk of FOWA's program on Tuesday morning, wrote in a post on his blog earlier in the

week in which he solicited feedback on his talk about the top ten "golden principles" for FOWA: page 26

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Patent Attorney Highlights How Intellectual Ventures Syphons Money Away From Innovation

by Mike Masnick (Techdirt) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:21:24 AM

It's amazing how many patent attorneys, when you talk to them, will actively volunteer how screwed up the patent system is.

While there are still some who make so much money abusing the system that they don't care, those who actually got into the business because they believe in promoting actual innovation are increasingly admitting that the system is a disaster and widely abused, and rarely instrumental in actual innovation. Venture capitalist Brad Feld has convinced one such patent attorney -- who has decided to appear pseudonymously -- to write his response to the recent Nathan Myhrvold profile in the NY Times that, yet again, plays up Intellectual Ventures in a very one-sided manner. Feld's friend, who is writing as "Sawyer" rips the concept of Intellectual Ventures to shreds. The reasoning likely is familiar to our regular readers, as it's exactly what we've been saying for a decade, but it's nice to see a patent attorney speaking up.

First, he notes the lack of any evidence that patents promote innovation (he suggests there's an exception in biotech, but the studies there are actually quite

been sunk by the costs of patent litigation? Think about it this way -- if Facebook had been sued on a social networking mixed). From there, he notes products. They apparently don't unquestionably innovate, to patent within a year of its that Myhrvold's goal has nothing funnel ideas to anyone else who speculators and investors who existence, would it be around to with actual innovation or makes products. This is a huge don't. I don't think that baseline today? It's doubtful. Sawyer also promoting progress, but about problem if the point of the patent fact is something anyone would points out that, contrary to building a system that just gets system is to create incentives for question. IV dresses that up in c l a i m s o f t h e s y s t e m ' s him more money via patents: a c t u a l i n n o v a t i o n , a s t h e the clothing of "invention," but supporters, that "having a patent P e r h a p s M r . M y r h v o l d Constitution requires. But what's t h e y ' r e r e a l l y j u s t o u t t o doesn't mean that you really recognizes this, because in the the impact of a system that capitalize on a broken patent invented anything, or that the article he says "I'm trying to get encourages patents for the sake system like every other non- person you're suing would inventions that kind of respect as of encouraging more patents? practicing entity ("NPE" as we actually infringe in a rational an economic entity." (Emphasis Well, it drives money away from call them -- they hate being world." Some of you may have added).

I V a p p a r e n t l y actual innovation: Now think called trolls). What kinds of cool s e e n s o m e o f t h e r e g u l a r i n c e n t i v i z e s i n n o v a t i o n about where this money would products and technologies would commenters here claim that there on...inventions? "Inventions" are go otherwise. Microsoft, Apple, that money be used to develop? the only way to prove you've actually a term of art in patent and Google, not to mention other We'll never know, I suppose. At invented something is if you get law, they are the things for which large technology companies, the very least we can presume a patent on it -- and that anyone one can legally be granted patent have sizable legal departments that the pace of innovation in accused of infringing has clearly rights. IV, therefore, seems to with teams of attorneys focused technology is being slowed by "stolen" the idea. Neither of admit that it wants to enforce full-time on managing the 50+ this net outflow of capital to non- those things are true. What p a t e n t r i g h t s s o t h a t w e software patent cases they each innovating parties. And, despite Sawyer is pointing out is that can...have more patents. Mr. are a defendant on. My guess is what the regular peanut gallery getting a patent is just a sign that Myhrvold wants to create an that they individually spend of patent system supporters will you were able to convince the entire economic category based hundreds of millions of dollars claim in the comments, these USPTO (through a "pseudoon payments to entitles that don't defending and settling such suits lawsuits aren't just focused on a d v e r s a r i a l a d m i n i s t r a t i v e build, produce, sell, etc, any per year. Most of the suits are big companies, but the really procedure") that you deserved products, or create anything of backed by investment funds innovative startups that are being such a monopoly privilege. It value (i.e., that don't innovate, at through shell entities. Many of strangled by patent lawsuits: One doesn't mean you actually least in any useful way that these funds are backed (with no thing I haven't mentioned is that invented anything -- and it advances human progress), in transparency) by traditional it isn't just big companies who certainly doesn't mean you've exchange for not being sued on investment banks and hedge get sued. Startups, especially in done anything to promote the exclusionary patent rights. funds. What we have, then, is a software, are constantly targetted p r o g r e s s o r i n n o v a t i o n i n Let's internalize that for a net outflow, on a yearly basis, of by patent suits, especially by g e n e r a l . second. IV has collected over a at least several hundred million pseudo-competitors who want to Permalink| Comments| Email billion dollars so that it can get d o l l a r s , f r o m t e c h n o l o g y kill more innovative upstarts. This Story more patents. They make no companies who "make stuff" and How many great companies have

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FOWA:

SCIENCE

continued from page 24

developing Web apps. "And Miami in February sure adds to its appeal."

The program of each Future of Web Apps conference, both those each year in Miami and their bigger London-based siblings, aims to take the oftheadache-inducing technicalities of programming, pull in some notables to talk about them, eschew the marketing banter that dominates traditional conferences, and give the whole thing a go-get-'em attitude that seems more like summer camp than anything else. Carsonified founder Ryan Carson, indeed, took the stage at the beginning of the day and gives a quick talk that sounds like he should be directing the residents of Cabin 10 to the mess hall--"If you need anything, just shout!"

Typically, there's a talk about launching a company (this year it was from Mint founder Aaron Patzer), a few that pitch different programming languages, a talk about mobile apps, one or two about different slants on marketing--but not too much about marketing.

"I feel like all the marketers here should just walk around with big

continued from page 23

targets on them," one publicist complained to me at the FOWA afterparty on Tuesday, referring to several talks that had taken obvious digs at traditional startup marketing. That's about right: This is about the programmers, not the people who tell them how to hone their message to the world.

At the end of the day there was what might as well have been a campfire powwow by FOWA regular Gary Vaynerchuk, who parlayed a New Jersey wine emporium into a wildly popular video blog and motivational speaking series. Looking out at the army of glowing MacBooks in front of him in the auditorium, Vaynerchuk mused, "If you had an Apple in 1984, people were stuffing you in lockers. Today, it's how you pick up chicks."

Music to their ears, I'm sure.

Some may claim that a conference structured like FOWA doesn't do much beyond getting young coders fired up.

There aren't many potential clients or investors present, there's no press-friendly pitch angle in the manner of a TechCrunch50, and product announcements are few and far

between. And FOWA has lost a little bit of its luster since its original Miami stop two years ago, where Web 2.0's celebrity faces abounded and gossip blogs started to report which girls were spotted canoodling with Digg founder Kevin Rose. Plus, there was no tug-of-war competition this year.

But in a business as regularly frustrating as Web development, sometimes getting budding young minds excited is all a conference needs to do. "FOWA has left me laying on the beach with a million new ideas," conference attendee Matt Vears posted to Twitter on Thursday afternoon. "Almost can't wait to leave paradise so I can get coding."

Many of the onstage speakers at FOWA are far from their days as indie programmers; they come from companies on the scale of Microsoft, eBay, Facebook, and Amazon. But the representatives from those companies don't tend to be the big marquee names who would keynote a Web 2.0 Expo or AdTech; rather, they're the ones who speak the same language as small-time developers, not Madison Avenue

buyers or big-time investors.

And Carsonified seems to put a good deal of effort into ensuring that it picks speakers who will want to stick around and actually talk to attendees rather than checking their watches to see when they can catch the next plane back to San Francisco.

The event company's successful grip on bootstrapping start-up attitude was invariably behind Twitter's decision to enlist the company to help put together its first-ever developer conference, called "Chirp," which will take place in April. Because of Twitter's high profile, it'll be a few notches up in terms of execution, and may lose a little bit of the chummy camaraderie as a result.

One thing's for sure, though: those developers will still show up.

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disaster doesn’t strike. With a bit of help from our friends in the fields of psychology and information technology, we can apply the age-old intuitions of face-to-face conversation to whatever advances in technology come our way. More social media resources from Mashable: - 3 Ways Educators Are Embracing Social Technology - Top 5 Must-Read Social Media Books - Social Media Can Change The World Through Common Ground - 5 Ways Social Media Is Changing Our Daily Lives - How Social Media is Taking the News Local Images courtesy of iStockphoto, CHRISsadowski, pavlen Tags: arnold schwarzenegger, business, communication, e-mail, kevin smith, MARKETING, politics, psychology, Science, social media, social networks, Southwest, Trust, twitter, video, youtube

CrunchDeals: 40% off all ScottEVest Goodness

by John Biggs (CrunchGear) Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:00:10 AM

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massive 40%-off sale. They have plenty of great stuff including the Quantum and Evolution jackets and my favorite, the cotton hoodie.

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some stuff up. I wear this gear travelling all the time and it really works well, considering “working” for clothing involves “covering the body and

protecting you from the elements.”

Sale Page

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Google Italy Executives Found Guilty Over Offensive Video

by Stan Schroeder (Mashable!)

which the Internet is built.

Common sense dictates that only the person who films and Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:35:27 AM uploads a video to a hosting An Italian court in Milan has platform could take the steps found three Google executives m y s e l f a n d m y G o o g l e necessary to protect the privacy guilty (and acquitted the fourth) colleagues who had nothing to and obtain the consent of the of privacy violations, convicting do with the harassing incident, p e o p l e t h e y a r e f i l m i n g . them to suspended six-month its filming or its uploading onto European Union law was drafted s e n t e n c e s . T h e G o o g l e Google Video can be held specifically to give hosting employees were sued over a criminally liable solely by virtue providers a safe harbor from video posted to Google in 2006, of our position at Google, every liability so long as they remove showing four youths bullying a employee of any Internet hosting illegal content once they are service faces similar liability.” kid with Down syndrome. notified of its existence. The T h i s d e c i s i o n s e t s a Forcing service providers to belief, rightly in our opinion, disconcerting legal precedent. As police content uploaded by users was that a notice and take down we wrote before, there are four is one thing (arguably wrong, but regime of this kind would help Google executives implied in that’s another matter), but creativity flourish and support this case: David Drummond, sentencing employees of those free speech while protecting Google’s senior vice president service providers to jail over personal privacy. If that principle and chief legal officer; George such content is at the very least is swept aside and sites like Reyes, Google’s former chief bizarre and shows a blatant Blogger, YouTube and indeed financial officer; Peter Fleischer, misunderstanding of how the every social network and any Google’s global privacy counsel; Internet and various social community bulletin board, are and a fourth unidentified Google content sharing services work. If held responsible for vetting employee. None of them have not overturned, this decision every single piece of content that directly handled the video, and m i g h t h a v e l o n g l a s t i n g is uploaded to them — every the video had been removed after consequences on all content- piece of text, every photo, every Google received complaints; sharing services on the Internet. file, every video — then the Web however, the prosecutors claim *Update: Google wrote a blog as we know it will cease to exist, that Google should never have post detailing the incident. From and many of the economic, allowed the video to be posted in the post: social, political and “We are deeply troubled by this technological benefits it brings the first place.

David Drummond plans to conviction for another equally could disappear.” appeal the verdict, summing it up important reason. It attacks the Tags: Google, italy, privacy, nicely: “If individuals like very principles of freedom on trending, video

27

SellaBand Bankruptcy Shows Poor Execution; Not A Condemnation Of Fan Funding

by Mike Masnick (Techdirt)

complaints with Sellaband was that it wasn't well setup to handle much of that. Separately, unlike With the news that SellaBand other fan funding options, has filed for bankruptcy, we've Sellaband used to require a band been seeing some gloating to raise $50,000 -- which is a lot among those who don't believe more than many bands might in direct-to-fan or fan-supported need. Eventually this changed, business models for music -- but it made things slow going for suggesting that Sellaband's Sellaband. Furthermore, one of failure is an indication that those t h e b i g g e r p r o b l e m s w i t h models don't work. Of course, Sellaband was that it didn't quite that's kind of like arguing that have the model right. It did very the personal computer industry is l i t t l e t o e n c o u r a g e a c t u a l a failure because Osborne went connecting with fans, and never out of business. Sellaband did a really good job setting wasn't the first in the market, but things up so fans had a good certainly was a pioneer in reason to buy. Sellaband seemed promoting fan-focused business to assume that people would just models. But a lot of Sellaband's s u p p o r t a b a n d f o r a n troubles came down not to the "investment" in their album. But model, but to actual execution. t h a t m u c k e d u p t h e f a n Every time we'd post about relationship a bit. Fans support a Sellaband, we'd receive a bunch band because they want quality of emails and comments from product (music, experience, people who had really bad access) back, not potential experiences working with the monetary returns. company.

The failure of Sellaband is a Unlike the more recent crop of failure of execution, but certainly companies in this space, that not of the idea that you can appear to be a lot more flexible, create models that allow content Sellaband was pretty rigid in its creators to build business models setup. Rather than designing by getting fans to support them itself as a platform for fan via more creative business funding, it tried to position itself models. as a label that also used fan Permalink| Comments| Email funding -- but that required This Story doing a lot of stuff that labels help with, and one of the Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:25:28 AM

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Incredible: Google Execs Found Guilty More TVs hopping onto Because Of YouTube Video; Given Six the Internet Month Suspended Sentences (CNET News.com)

YouTube to online services like Hulu, consumers increasingly are turning to the Internet for video

by Mike Masnick (Techdirt) video, the video came down. In or less get suspended sentences, Message from fivefilters.org: If entertainment," iSuppli other words, the company acted so the suspended sentence part Submitted at 2/24/2010 2:12:09 AM promptly when questions about isn't surprising. But, of course, you can, please donate to the full television systems analyst Tina T h i s i s j u s t d o w n r i g h t the video were raised. But, even given how many videos are -text RSS service so we can T s e n g s a i d T u e s d a y i n a statement. "And these consumers ridiculous. We see all sorts of more importantly, the video itself uploaded, it seems likely that continue developing it. jaw-dropping legal rulings was used as evidence to punish there will be second, third and Eager to watch the likes of Hulu want to view Internet content on around here, but I still can't the taunting teens. Now imagine further offenses of this nature as and YouTube on the big screen, their primary displays in their fathom how Italian law allowed if they hadn't been able to upload well. It seems like Italy has just more people are hooking up their homes--their televisions--rather the following case to be decided the video. Then the kids likely suggested Google block all TVs to the Internet, says a new than being relegated the small screens of their desktop and in this manner. As you may would have gotten away with the access to YouTube, while also report from iSuppli. recall, a couple years ago, Italian t a u n t i n g , w i t h o u t a n y o n e increasing the liability for pretty A survey of 800 U.S. consumers notebook PCs." p r o s e c u t o r s f i l e d c r i m i n a l knowing about it. Why would much any other company to who bought TVs in January Global sales of IETVs will hit charges against four Google you ever want to blame Google operate there or have any foreign found that 27.5 percent of them 87.6 million units by 2013, up have connected their new sets to from 14.7 million last year, the execs. What was the crime? for providing a tool that allows execs visit the country.

Apparently, some kids had stupid people to give proof of Honestly, I can't see how the Internet, either through the market researcher predicts. And taunted another boy with Down's their own illegal activities? And anyone would make a ruling in TV itself or via an external around 60 percent of all flatSyndrome, and filmed the whole even then, rather than filing a this manner and think that it device such as a game console or panel TVs shipped in the U.S. in episode. In the video, the kids suit against Google the company, makes sense. As I said when the digital video box. That compares another three years will be IETVs. apparently threw a tissue box at Italian prosecutors chose to file case first came up, you would with 24.3 percent in December. the boy. They then uploaded the the lawsuit against four execs at think that suing the execs of the Almost 42 percent of the sets "IETVs provide easy, integrated video to YouTube, along with the company, most of whom had company that made the tissue that were purchased in January Internet access, attracting the the countless other videos nothing to do with the company's box would make more sense than and are now connected to the interest of consumers," noted uploaded to the site. Nearly a Italian operations. suing Google's execs. Why not Internet are Internet-Enabled Tseng. "Because of this, all the year ago, YouTube noted that 20 You might think that a judge charge the execs of the company TVs (IETVs), which can jump major brands now are offering hours of video are uploaded to would toss this sort of lawsuit that made the camera that was online using their own built-in more flat-panel sets with Internet the site every minute. To think out really quickly, but that didn't used to film the incident? It's wired or wireless capabilities. connectivity, including Samsung, that Google should automatically happen, and now, amazingly, the hard to hear about this ruling and T h a t i s a h u g e r i s e f r o m Sony, LG Electronics, Vizio, have knowledge of what's court has found three of the four not consider the Italian legal December when new IETVs Sharp, and Panasonic." Dropping accounted for 27.7 percent of the prices and a greater selection of included in every video uploaded execs to be guilty and given system to be a joke. to YouTube is ludicrous. them six month suspended jail Permalink| Comments| Email c o n n e c t i o n s . V i d e o g a m e screen sizes are behind the surge consoles were the next most as well, Tseng said.

But it's even more ridiculous sentences. I vaguely remember This Story popular way of accessing the Net Five Filters featured article: when you realize the full story. r e a d i n g t h a t " f i r s t t i m e through a TV, followed by Blu- Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: Within hours of Google being o f f e n d e r s " g i v e n p r i s o n ray players, digital video boxes, PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, alerted to the problems with the sentences in Italy of three years and PCs. Term Extraction.

"From video-sharing sites like Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:17:01 AM

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YouTube gives up on original 'Rickroll' (CNET News.com)

lamented. (Sarcastically, I hope.)

The music industry is notoriously complex and Message from fivefilters.org: If bureaucratic, and the copyrights you can, please donate to the full associated with it are often quite -text RSS service so we can arcane, so it also isn't particularly continue developing it. clear as to why the song was In what's either the saddest or pulled now--after being such a most fantastic news of the week, high-profile video on the site for the YouTube video for Rick years.

Astley's "Never Gonna Give You But there's already been some U p " h a s b e e n d e e m e d a controversy over it. Last spring, copyright violation. one of the song's co-authors said Yes, that means the cheesy '80s he'd barely made a cent off its pop video with tens of millions YouTube notoriety and said that of views--the center of the Y o u T u b e p a r e n t c o m p a n y " R i c k r o l l i n g " I n t e r n e t Google effectively "exploited" p h e n o m e n o n - - i s n o m o r e . him. The industry just hasn't yet It's not quite clear when it was figured out how to handle removed, but the blog Neowin Internet cult fame, as evidenced noticed it early Wednesday. b y W a r n e r M u s i c G r o u p ' s "Never Gonna Give You Up" s i l e n c i n g o f a v i d e o t h a t comes from the Astley album superimposed the Web meme " W h e n e v e r Y o u N e e d "Keyboard Cat" into the video Somebody," which was released for Daryl Hall and John Oates'

by RCA Records, currently a "You Make My Dreams." d i v i s i o n o f S o n y M u s i c Then there's OK Go, the pop Entertainment. group whose video for "Here It "Unbelievable. The song that put G o e s A g a i n " w a s o n e o f me to sleep every night. What YouTube's first breakout hits; the am I supposed to listen to now?" band's label, EMI, has disabled o n e N e o w i n c o m m e n t e r video embeds for all its artists.

Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:20:00 AM

OK Go has made it clear that it's not happy but has acknowledged the label's right to do what it did.

On the flip side, Astley was a more or less forgotten pop star when forum community 4Chan began "Rickrolling" one another; by fall 2008, the pop-culture prank was so mainstream that Cartoon Network enlisted Astley himself to jump out of a float in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

There are still multiple other copies of the "Never Gonna Give You Up" video on YouTube, so basically you aren't safe yet. And you can, luckily, still watch " Never Gonna Give Your Teen Spirit Up," a German DJ's mashup of "Never Gonna Give You Up" with a song that's just about its polar opposite--Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit."

It works alarmingly well.

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Pendulum Swings Back: Insource Your IT To Save Money

by Mike Masnick (Techdirt)

swing back the other way.

So here we are with articles popping up about how a This post is part of the IT company has saved millions of Innovation series, sponsored by dollars by "insourcing" its IT and Sun & Intel. Read more at t a k i n g i t b a c k f r o m a n ITInnovation.com.

Of outsourced provider. Of course, course, the content of this post the more cynical among you consists entirely of the thoughts might suggest that the trend and opinions of the author. It's towards outsourcing was pushed k i n d a f u n n y h o w v a r i o u s mainly by consultants who made "trends" in IT get taken so far their money making those deals that they reach the point where work -- and the trend in the other finally people realize the extreme direction may be equally pushed might not have made sense. For by those same consultants years, "outsourcing" was all the looking for new business. The r a g e a n d i t m a d e a f e w real story, of course, is that companies an awful lot of depending on the business and money. While many warned that what a company is trying to do, outsourcing something as critical there are always pros and cons to as IT could lead to unintended outsourcing or keeping IT inconsequences, many execs h o u s e , b u t t h e c l a i m s o f swallowed the kool-aid and did miraculous savings in either deals without thinking through direction tend to overstate the all of the consequences. This benefits while ignoring the isn't to say outsourcing IT never downsides. works. In many cases, it does. Permalink| Comments| Email But it seemed to be taken to such This Story an extreme that that you knew eventually the pendulum would Submitted at 2/23/2010 11:58:38 PM

America Ferrera on the End of 'Ugly Betty' (ETonline - Breaking News) Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:02:00 AM

All good things must come to an end, and so is the case with

"Ugly Betty." America Ferrera talks to ET about the close of her popular ABC show -- and her new big-screen role! "'Ugly Betty' has been such a big

part of my life for the last four years -- like almost my entire adult life," she says.

America says she's looking forward to taking a little breather

29

– and a few souvenirs from the show, namely those famous "Betty" glasses.

30

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Need a job? Learn Drupal (CNET News.com)

nine years, it's become more credible over the last several due in part to a dedicated community Message from fivefilters.org: If and the fact that high-profile you can, please donate to the full government Web sites such as -text RSS service so we can whitehouse.gov and corporations continue developing it. like Warner Bros. records have The economy may be getting adopted the open-source contentbetter, but unemployment is still management system. high. Companies slashed budgets I recently learned that there are and personnel last year, but as more jobs available working the economy begins to recover, with Drupal than there are the creation of jobs is not falling e m p l o y e e s t o f i l l t h e m . in line.

According to John Faber, COO The lack of new jobs continues at AF83, a Drupal development to be an issue even for San shop, they're so busy with F r a n c i s c o B a y A r e a t e c h projects that they've had to turn c o m p a n i e s . S o , h o w a r e away business. And it's the same unemployed developers and for many other Drupal specialists technologists supposed to find in San Francisco. There's a clear work? One solution: learn new need for bodies skilled in Drupal skills. and other open-source software, Drupal is a free software including Linux. package that makes publishing Faber and other Drupal users are and managing social content on o r g a n i z i n g t h i s y e a r ' s the Web easy. It's been DrupalCon, the Drupal downloaded more than 2 million community conference being times to date. And though Drupal held April 19 to 21 in San has been around for more than Francisco, hosting training Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:01:00 AM

sessions for anyone who wants to learn Drupal. Training from the world's best Drupal shops that normally costs more than $1,500 will cost $150 to $350 at DrupalCon. That includes everything from introductory courses for novices just getting started to more advanced sessions for people wanting to brush up. And it's all available the day before the conference begins, April 18 at Moscone Center.

Inexpensive training for a desirable technology that is useful for jobs is a great idea.

And Drupal is easy enough to use that virtually anyone in technology can get up to speed quickly. It's worth checking out-especially if it leads to a spanking new job.

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‘SuperNanny’ Gives Parenting Advice to Tiger Woods and Elin (ETonline - Breaking News) Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:30:00 AM

Jo Frost digs deep into her parenting expertise to tell ET what approach she believes Tiger Woods and his wife Elin should take in raising their two children in the aftermath of his scandal.

The SuperNanny understands that celebrity families are "scrutinized for every little move that they make." But, when it comes down to it, "a family is a family" and whether a family is in the spotlight or not, everyone has to weather storms as a cohesive unit and not get

knocked down by the turbulent times.

She reiterates that "they have a commitment in raising these children together." In order to do that successfully, communication is key for the benefit of their daughter and son.

Tim Cook: Yes, we're a "mobile device company"

by Mike Schramm (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:00:00 AM

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Hardware, Steve Jobs, Apple I caught this back when Steve Jobs said it on stage at the event a few weeks ago, and I was surprised that more people hadn't yet. Jobs called Apple "the largest mobile device company in the world," and I had to do a double-take. Mobile device company? But don't you sell computers? Aren't you the top premium PC brand in the world?

Pass, says Apple. Tim Cook confirmed at a Goldman Sachs press conference yesterday that Apple is calling themselves a "mobile device company" officially. The "traditional model" of having companies sell different things -- hardware, software, peripherals -- just doesn't work on today's world, according to Cook. So Apple is no longer a computer company, or an OS maker (though he does say that OS X scales just fine down to the smaller devices), or a media giant. Its main focus is mobile devices. Side projects like the AppleTV are "just a hobby."

Somehow, Apple's focus

changed when we all weren't looking (though we had hints -Steve did take the "Computers" out of the name at the event a while back). The reasoning makes sense, though, even if it is a little disappointing that the company that makes the best computers in the world isn't even calling them computers any more.

[Via TechCrunch] TUAW Tim Cook: Yes, we're a "mobile device company" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 3 available now

by Erica Sadun (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)) Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:05:00 PM

Filed under: Apple, iPhone, SDK The new beta version of the 3.2 SDK (beta 3, for those of you keeping track) is now available for download. The Apple developer site will likely be getting slammed over the next hour or two, so plan your downloads accordingly. The beta is available to all paid members of the iPhone developer program, with at least the $99/year membership. You will need your credentials to sign in and download the new SDK. As usual, the new beta SDK is under NDA, so please go check out the details for yourself to get further information about the

changes between this beta and the last. Good luck, and happy programming!

Update: 6PM Pacific. It's baaaaaaaack.

Update: Here then gone?

Readers report that Apple seems to have pulled Beta 3 for the moment and when I returned to Apple's iPhone developer site, I saw the same. Watch this space.

We'll update as we find out more.

Update: This was not an accidental upload, per Michael Jurewitz, the Mac and IPhone Applications Frameworks and Developer Tools Evangelist: TUAW iPhone SDK 3.2 Beta 3 available now originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 23 Feb 2010 21:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments

Steve Jobs turns 55

by Steven Sande (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:30:00 AM

Filed under: Steve Jobs, Apple It's February 24, 2010, which means that Steve Jobs has his 55th birthday today.

Not many people get to start up a company and then develop several completely new markets during their lives. Steve Jobs has been intimately involved with popularizing a number of devices

the media tablet (iPad).

All of the Apple fans here at TUAW wish Steve a happy birthday and many more years of Thinking Different.

TUAW Steve Jobs turns 55 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. during his lifetime: the personal Read| Permalink| Email this| computer (Apple II and Mac), Comments the MP3 player (iPod), the smartphone (iPhone), and now

Report: iPhone is number three smartphone platform worldwide

by Mike Schramm (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:00:00 AM

Filed under: Hardware, Software(Chart by Apple Insider) A new Gartner report puts the iPhone at number three on the list of smartphone platforms in use worldwide, right behind Nokia's Symbian OS and the RIM software used in Blackberry devices. More importantly, the report has Apple's device gaining market share -- its unit share has more than doubled in the last year, from 11.4 million units in 2008 to more than 24 million in 2009.

Android is also on the list, and while it's not quite competing with iPhone yet, that brand experienced even greater growth, from less than a million phones

in 2008 up to almost 7 million in 2009. And perhaps the most interesting takeaway is that while Symbian experienced a nearly 10% drop in market share, both its and RIM's totals actually rose.

While cellphone sales at large are down, smartphone sales are up across the board. I don't know how much you can thank Apple for this, but clearly more people are doing more things with their cell phones than just the usual calling.

TUAW Report: iPhone is number three smartphone platform worldwide originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Half of Messages on How Hard Is It To Realize Twitter Aren’t in English [STATS] That One-Click Buying

Test Your Celeb Knowledge! Can You Guess the Celebrity Tattoos?!

Doesn't Deserve A Patent?

Think you know your star stats?

Take a look at the Hollywood's most sizzlin' tattoos! Put your celeb knowledge to the test and guess which famous name goes with the body art! Some ink is demure, some funny, some wild -- do you think you have what it takes to figure out who's who!?

Click on each tattoo to find out which celeb's skin you are staring at!

by Mike Masnick (Techdirt)

patents) have aggressively fought to keep the patent alive. And so Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:49:39 PM we've now entered the fifth year For many, many, many years, of the review process, which Amazon's clearly ridiculous one- seems to involve some rather click patent has been exhibit a n n o y e d U S P T O p a t e n t number one in a patent system examiners, who are fed up with gone mad. And yet... the what appears to be Amazon USPTO and Amazon cling to it. simply dumping busywork on After some earlier challenges at the examiners to avoid a final the beginning of the last decade rejection of the patent. So, not went nowhere, in 2005, an only is the one-click patent a actor/blogger dug up some prior great example of how patents art that resulted in the USPTO that never should have been reconsidering, and finally, the granted still get granted, but it's USPTO realized that maybe a also demonstrating the ridiculous patent on single-click buying lengths to which one must go to didn't make sense. But, for some invalidate a bad patent. reason, Amazon and Jeff Bezos Permalink| Comments| Email (who a decade ago was a founder This Story of a project to bust bogus

by Stan Schroeder (Mashable!)

Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:07:32 AM

Data intelligence and research company Semiocast conducted a study, based on 2.8 million tweets gathered over a period of 48 hours in February, which showed that only half of messages on Twitter are in English.

To identify the languages, Semiocast used technology that can identify the language in which short messages are written, differentiating between 41 languages in all major writing systems.

Besides English, which accounts for some 50% of all messages on Twitter, the other most prominent languages on Twitter are Japanese (14% of messages), Portuguese (9%), Malay (6%)

and Spanish (4%). Looking even further, Italian, Dutch and German each account for 1% – 2% of all messages on Twitter.

The folks at Semiocast claim that English had a two-third share on Twitter back in the first half of 2009, which points out to strong international growth for Twitter in the last six or so months. It’s good news for Twitter, which has lately been struggling to retain its high growth rates from 2008.

Tags: social media, social networking, twitter

(ETonline - Breaking News) Submitted at 2/24/2010 3:00:00 AM

OMG, They Killed (the Original) Rickroll!

by Stan Schroeder (Mashable!)

Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:09:57 AM

Wanna Rickroll someone? No problem, there are thousands of copies of the video of Rick Astley’s legendary song, “Never Gonna Give You Up,” on the

Internet. However, if you want to use the original Rickroll video, which should be located here, you’ll be greeted by an ugly message: This video has been removed due to terms of use violation.

Rickrolling, in case you haven’t and now, is the practice of been online between early 2008 tricking someone into opening

the aforementioned video, and it’s considered to be one of the most popular Internet memes of all time.

Yes, it’s a popular and copyrighted song, but it’s also been viewed millions of times precisely because it became such a popular online meme. How

removing it from YouTube will help copyright owners is a mystery to me. Props to Neowin for noticing this one.

Tags: rick astley, rickroll, trending

Tech/ Politics/ Sports/

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33

In Vancouver, This You????: Yet Got Another Phishing Attack Everyone’s Mitten Fever Hits Twitter [WARNING] (WSJ.com: The Daily Fix)

by Stan Schroeder (Mashable!)

Submitted at 2/23/2010 10:20:09 PM

Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:29:19 AM

How to turn an 8-track into a speaker dock

by Mike Schramm (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW))

keeping around anyway.

The sound quality, as he says, is "interesting," too. But there are probably benefits -- disco just Submitted at 2/24/2010 8:00:00 AM doesn't sound the same through a Filed under: Accessories, crystal clear set of speakers Humor, iPod Family, Cult of playing a digital file as it does Mac, Odds and ends, Music I'm a going through the dusty old 8fan of both silly iPod docks and track wires. The funkiness re-purposing old tech gear, so works, in this case. this how-to at Unpluggd hit me [Via Cult of Mac] in just the right spot. It's really TUAW How to turn an 8-track more of a hack than a how-to -- into a speaker dock originally the guy fixed his 8-track player appeared on The Unofficial just by replacing a corroded belt, Apple Weblog (TUAW) on and then used a cassette adapter Wed, 24 Feb 2010 08:00:00 to connect the 8-track to his EST. Please see our terms for iPod's audio output. But it does use of feeds. sound like a fun Saturday Read| Permalink| Email this| project, taking apart an old Comments player, and the retro design of the thing is probably worth

In the last couple of weeks, Twitter users have been the target of several large-scale phishing attacks, and according to security experts over at Sophos, the latest one is no different.

The attack spreads via messages with the text “This you????” followed by a link that sends the user to a fake Twitter login page.

Don’t fall for the trick. If you enter your credentials there, you’re not actually logging into

Twitter, you’re just sending your username and password to the attacker.

If you suspect you’ve fallen victim of this attack, you should change your Twitter password immediately. Check out a video demonstration of the attack (created by Sophos) below.

Tags: phishing, trending, twitter

For months now, there’s been one Olympic item at the top of to-buy lists across Canada: Hudson’s Bay Company red mittens, which have been flying off the shelves at the Olympic superstore here in Vancouver.

Canadians and foreigners alike have been snapping up mittens for themselves, their family, their friends — and HBC has now sold out of all adult sizes. WSJ’s Jessica Marmor asks: Is all this red-mitten fever among nonCanadians unpatriotic?

Mark Levin Withdrew from CPAC Because of the Birchers (Little Green Footballs) Submitted at 2/23/2010 11:46:53 AM

I have big disagreements with Mark Levin about all kinds of stuff, but I’ll at least give him props for being one of the few conservative pundits to take a stand against the John Birch Society.

I was invited to be the opening

speaker at Saturday’s CPAC session. I had accepted but then, to my amazement, I learned that the John Birch Society would be one of many co-sponsors. This takes the big-tent idea many steps too far for me. So, I withdrew. Apparently, others were not so moved. That’s fine.

But it wasn’t for me. Bill Buckley and Barry Goldwater,

among others, chased the Birchers from the movement decades ago. And they’re not a part of the movement. So, to give them a booth at CPAC was boneheaded.

In his Facebook post, Levin also takes a few swings at Glenn Beck’s “incoherent” politics (which he’s done before).

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Shooting Banks

by Simon Johnson, Peter Boone (The New Republic All Feed) Submitted at 3/11/2010 12:03:18 PM

Message from fivefilters.org: If you can, please donate to the full -text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

On January 21, in an abrupt change of policy, President Obama announced his intention to take on the big bankers who have brought us so much trouble.

“If these folks want a fight, it’s a fight I’m ready to have,” he said with a clenched jaw at a press conference.

The president’s conviction seemed genuine in no small part because at his back, figuratively and literally, the president had Paul Volcker, the former Fed chairman and economic éminence grise. Arguably the most respected man in all of finance--and a lion held at bay (or in a far away office) over the past year by the president’s closest advisers--Volcker has devised two simple rules to defang our financial system.

First, no bank would be allowed to engage in “proprietary trading,” in which it takes risks using its own capital in ways that are completely separate from services provided to clients.

Second, there would be a cap on the size of our largest banks, relative to the size of total liabilities in the banking system.

“Too big to fail” would finally become “too big to exist.”

After a long struggle, it would seem the president has become convinced that our financial sector has grown dangerous and needs to be reined in. It has long been clear that the framework in which bank executives are rewarded for taking huge risks during boom times, and taxpayers are punished for such excesses during bad times, is not sustainable. And now, the hubris of top bankers--spurning audiences with the president and paying themselves huge bonuses, despite White House protests-has finally caught up with them.

Even Wall Street cannot moon the giant and get away with it.

The course of financial-sector reform is corrected.

Yet, for all of Volcker’s good analysis, his presence does not necessarily change anything. To determine if the Obama administration is serious about solving the underlying crisis in finance, we need to get past Volcker’s totemic visage and examine the substance of his rules. Burrowing a bit deeper, unfortunately, we find out how little would actually change.

The president is absolutely correct that our priority should be to limit the size of our largest banks and to reduce substantially the risks that can be taken by any financial entity that is backed, implicitly or explicitly, by the federal government. As a result of the crisis and various government rescue efforts, the largest six banks in our economy

now have total assets in excess of 63 percent of GDP (based on the latest available data). This is a significant increase from even 2006, when the same banks’ assets were around 55 percent of GDP, and a complete transformation compared with the situation in the United States just 15 years ago, when the six largest banks had combined assets of only around 17 percent of GDP. If the status quo persists, we are set up for another round of the boom-bailout-bust cycle that the head of financial stability at the Bank of England now terms a “doom loop.”

Unfortunately, the specifics of the so-called Volcker Rules wouldn’t address this problem.

For one thing, proprietary trading is but a small part of what these banks do. For most of the major banks, such activity accounts for less than 5 percent of total revenue--even at Goldman Sachs, which is, in some senses, the largest hedge fund in the world (backed by the U.S. government through its access to the Fed’s discount window), proprietary trading accounts for only around 10 percent of total revenue on average. Even if we could strip this activity from the banks, it would reduce their size only slightly--and the too-big-to-fail banks would find ways to take similar-sized risks because their upside during a boom would still be big, and their downside in a bust would dramatically damage

the economy, thereby forcing the government into some sort of rescue.

Implementing the proposed nominal size cap would not make any difference either. The Riegle -Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act of 1994 specified a size cap for banks: No single bank may hold more than 10 percent of total retail deposits. This cap was not related to antitrust concerns, as 10 percent of a national market is too low to imply pricing power.

Rather, this was a sensible macro -prudential preventive measure-don’t put all of your eggs in one basket. Unfortunately, since 1994, two limitations of RiegleNeal have become clear: (1) The growth of big banks was not fueled by retail deposits, but rather by various forms of “wholesale” financing (in which financial institutions lend to other financial institutions); (2) The cap was not enforced by lax regulators, so Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo all received waivers in recent years.

Responding to this failure by limiting the size of individual banks relative to total nominal liabilities of the financial system does not make sense, as this would not be “bubble proof.” For example, if housing prices were to increase tenfold, the nominal assets and liabilities of the financial system would presumably also increase markedly relative to the size of

the real economy--as was the case in Japan during the 1980s.

When the bubble bursts, it is the size of individual banks relative to GDP that is the more robust indicator of the damage caused when that bank fails--hence the degree to which it will be regarded as too big to fail.

Even in the most generous interpretation, the administration is proposing only to freeze the size of our largest banks, not to reduce their scale. The evening after the announcement of the Volcker Rules, when Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner appeared on “NewsHour” and was asked whether the new rules implied that the largest banks would be “broken up” as they divested their proprietary trading operations and complied with the size cap, his response was clear: “No, this does not propose that.”

And a senior administration official explained, “The liability cap will be structured in such a way that it constrains future growth that leads to excessive concentration in our financial system. It’s not designed to reduce the share of any existing firm.”

Why would anyone regard 20 years of reckless expansion, a massive global crisis, and the most generous bailout in recorded history as the recipe for creating “right-sized” banks?

There is absolutely no evidence, SHOOTING page 36

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UnHAMPered

by Brad Miller (The New Republic - All Feed)

mortgage. HAMP has hardly made a dent in fixing this mess.

By the end of January, the Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:00:00 PM program had completed 116,000 Message from fivefilters.org: If permanent loan modifications, you can, please donate to the full far short of the program’s goals.

-text RSS service so we can What can the Obama continue developing it. administration do to alleviate this The government response to the suffering? Turns out, it doesn’t financial crisis has been a need a new plan to modify spectacular success for the mortgages, since there’s a very financial industry. Big banks are good old plan on the shelf. n o w s o l v e n t — o n p a p e r a t The Great Depression did not least—and have returned to begin with predatory mortgage paying bonuses that strike most lending, but economic conditions Americans as, well, vulgar. Their predictably led to a foreclosure recovery stands in sharp contrast c r i s i s . M o r e t h a n 2 5 0 , 0 0 0 to the millions still trapped in families lost their homes to mortgages that they cannot foreclosure in 1932. And every afford. day brought a thousand new I t ’ s n o t t h a t t h e O b a m a foreclosures in the early months Administration hasn’t tried to of 1933. a d d r e s s t h e p l i g h t o f t h e As part of its initial legislative homeowner. Its foreclosure barrage on the economic crisis, prevention plan, the Home the Roosevelt administration A f f o r d a b l e M o d i f i c a t i o n created the Home Owners’ Loan Program (“HAMP”), offers Corporation (“HOLC”) in June s u b s i d i e s t o t h e f i n a n c i a l of 1933, just three months after industry to modify mortgages. entering office. The HOLC B u t t h a t n u d g e f r o m t h e purchased distressed mortgages g o v e r n m e n t h a s n o t b e e n from banks, and then negotiated e n o u g h . I n 2 0 0 9 , t h e U . S . new, more affordable mortgages experienced a record 3.9 million with the homeowner. Before it foreclosure filings. That number ran out of capital in 1935, the will rise to 4.5 million filings HOLC purchased a little more this year, and by the end of 2010, than one million mortgages, or experts think it is likely that fully about one in six of the urban three million will see their homes home mortgages. (There was a r e p o s s e s s e d . A b o u t o n e similar program for farm mortgage-holder in four is m o r t g a g e s ) . “underwater”—that is, owes Homeowners applied to the more on their home than their HOLC to buy their mortgage, so home is worth—and one in the HOLC was able to pick and s e v e n i s b e h i n d o n t h e i r choose salvageable mortgages.

HOLC mortgages required less equity than banks required (20 percent instead of 35 percent) and had lower interest rates (five percent instead of eight percent).

The HOLC was indulgent of late or missed payments, and patiently worked with struggling borrowers to prevent default.

Still, times were hard and almost 20 percent of HOLC’s mortgages ended in foreclosure.

When the last mortgage was paid off in 1951, the HOLC had turned a slight profit. Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., wrote that the HOLC “averted the threatened collapse of the real estate market and enabled financial institutions to return to the mortgage-lending business. … Most important of all, by enabling thousands of Americans to save their homes, it strengthened their stake both in the existing order and in the New Deal. Probably no single measure consolidated so much middle-class support for the Administration.”

The Obama plan, by contrast, has misunderstood the calculus faced by homeowners facing foreclosure. An underwater homeowner has little incentive to save their home from foreclosure, even if the monthly payment is reduced. Mortgage modifications that reduce the principal are far more successful than modifications that reduce the interest rate. A homeowner with equity to protect will find a way to pay the mortgage. In contrast, for underwater

homeowners a mortgage payment is just expensive rent.

A mortgage modification that reduces the principal, however, results in an immediate accounting loss for the mortgage holder. Mortgage holders often will “extend and pretend.” They negotiate payment schedules and lower interest rates. But 70 percent of voluntary modifications add missed payments and penalties to the loan balance, actually resulting in higher principal.

Also, roughly half of troubled mortgages now have “second liens,” a second mortgage or a home equity line of credit.

Second liens are secured by the value of the home in excess of the first mortgage. Home values in many markets have declined by well more than the amount of most second liens. A reduction of principal on the first mortgage would often just be a gift to the second lien holder, still leaving the homeowner with negative equity in their home.

What’s more, banks and other investors now own pathologically complicated securities, the “toxic assets” on which the financial crisis was blamed. These securities pool together mortgages, car loans, credit card debt, student loans and whatever else, usually in combination with various derivatives. A decision to modify a mortgage may be in the best interest of some investors, but a decision to foreclose would be

more advantageous to others.

The “servicers” who decide to foreclose or modify mortgages have their own interests. The four biggest banks—Bank of America, J.P.Morgan Chase, Citigroup and Wells Fargo—control two-thirds of all servicing. The same four banks hold $442 billion in second liens.

So the failure of the industry to modify mortgages voluntarily, even with the inducements of HAMP, should not be terribly surprising.

That’s why there’s a need for a much stronger government role in this crisis. Some in the financial industry may be more willing to sell mortgages to the government at a discounted price than they are to modify mortgages themselves. Servicers fear that if they offer affordable mortgage modifications to struggling homeowners, many more homeowners will stop paying and wait for an offer.

Selling a mortgage to the government may avoid that problem because the government would modify the mortgage, not the servicer.

But for many of the same reasons that the financial industry has not modified mortgages voluntarily, others in industry would not likely sell many mortgages voluntarily either, at least not at a realistic discount. So how can a new UNHAMPERED page 41

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for example, that the increase in bank scale since the mid-’90s has brought social benefits. (There are no economies of scale for banks above $100 billion in total assets, but our biggest banks are now in the $800 billion$2 trillion range--and those figures do not properly account for their holdings of and potential losses on derivatives.) By contrast, the huge social costs are readily apparent--in terms of direct financial rescues, the fiscal stimulus needed to prevent another Great Depression, and the appalling number of lost jobs (eight million gone since December 2007, and still counting). Volcker Rules or no, the president apparently still doesn’t get this.

Unfortunately, even if he did, it might not make much difference.

The banks understand that if they are large enough and all get into trouble in a roughly similar manner at about the same time, there will be incredibly generous bailouts. When forced to choose between global economic collapse and expensive financial system rescue, they reckon that no government will really let them fail. And they have every basis for this belief--the people who run our mega-banks have, with very few exceptions, kept their jobs, their bonuses, their pensions, and most of their social prestige.

The banks have the power to preserve this arrangement. While the U.S. financial system has a

long tradition of functioning well with a relatively large number of banks and other intermediaries, in recent years, it has been transformed into a highly concentrated system for key products. The big four have half of the market for mortgages and two-thirds of the market for credit cards. Five banks have over 95 percent of the market for over-the-counter derivatives.

Three U.S. banks have over 40 percent of the global market for stock underwriting. This degree of market power brings with it not just antitrust concerns, which this administration has declined to act on, and a huge amount of economic risk--but great political influence as well.

The banks are going to use that power to block legislation containing any meaningful financial reform. And they are likely to succeed. Their current political donations surpass those given by most other interest groups, and the limit on their future donations has just been lifted by the Supreme Court.

These banks and their allies are already targeting at least one member of Congress who supported the 2009 credit card bill. Chris Dodd, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee and long-standing champion of the financial sector, recently railed against the big banks for not cooperating with financial reform; but he is freer to speak out now that he is no longer seeking reelection. Senator

Richard Shelby, the committee’s ranking minority member, is steadfastly opposed to reform; he and other top Republicans eagerly await the arrival of largesse from big banks. Hill staffers remark that the financial Godfathers’ message is quite clear: If you cross us, we will bury you at the polls. Nothing in the Volcker Rules would change this relationship between Wall Street and Washington.

It is still possible that the White House could go all-in against the distorted incentives at large banks and the corrupted regulatory structures that have created our “doom loop,” and make this the central campaign issue for November. Branding opponents as supporters of too big to fail could get traction, at least if led by an articulate and impassioned president. The gamble would be that pro-reform representatives and senators could swim against the tide of big bank campaign contributions.

But, even here, there is a problem. After the Volcker Rules announcement on January 21, the White House went all out for the reconfirmation of Ben Bernanke. Bernanke did well during the “rescue” phase of the economic crisis--hence the case for reappointing him. But he was also deeply involved in the disastrous regulatory failures and excessively loose credit policies of 2003-2008, at the Fed and in the White House. And, most disconcerting, in his testimony--

and even more in his written answers to follow-up questions-he played down the problem of too big to fail, arguing that regulation could prevent the big banks from getting into trouble.

Unfortunately, solutions that depend on smarter, better regulatory supervision and corrective action ignore the political constraints on regulation and the political power of today’s large banks. The idea that we can simply regulate huge banks more effectively assumes that regulators will have the incentive to do so, despite everything we know about regulatory capture and political constraints on regulation. It assumes that regulators will be able to identify the excess risks that banks are taking, overcome the banks’ arguments that they have appropriate safety mechanisms in place, resist political pressure (from the administration and Congress) to leave the banks alone for the sake of the economy, and impose controversial corrective measures that will be too complicated to defend in public.

And, of course, it assumes that important regulatory agencies will not fall into the hands of people like Alan Greenspan (or Ben Bernanke), who believe that government regulation is rendered largely unnecessary by the free market.

Gently backing away from Bernanke--or at least not being so enthusiastic--would have sent

a clearer signal that the president is truly prepared to be tough on big banks and their supporters.

Unless Bernanke unexpectedly changes his stripes, his reappointment gives up a major hostage to fortune--and to those Democrats and Republicans opposing serious financial reform. Here lies the crux of the problem: The Obama administration lacks an inner core of smart, well-informed advisers who are deeply skeptical of big banks and eager to do whatever it takes to break a cycle that points to financial and fiscal doom. While Paul Volcker’s belated ascension from the basement is an encouraging sign, he remains a lone voice in an otherwise inertial regime.

Rahm Emanuel famously said, “You never want to let a serious crisis go to waste.” But, as the White House begins to campaign for the November midterms, what has it done differently than any other administration would have? How will it counter anyone who argues, simply and truthfully, that the crisis is over and we wasted it? The Volcker Rules are not the answer.

Peter Boone is a research associate at the London School of Economics Center for Economic Performance, a principal in Salute Capital Management Ltd., and chair of Effective Intervention. Simon Johnson is a professor at MIT SHOOTING page 38

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THE READ: Settle Down Now

by Ruth Franklin (The New Republic - All Feed) Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:00:00 PM

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Now that Valentine’s Day is safely around the corner and all the romantic breezes have blown out to sea, let’s take a cold, hard look at Lori Gottlieb, the marriage maven of the post- Sex and the City era. Savvy enough to publish a book about marriage in time for V-Day and reap the subsequent media blitz, Gottlieb has suffered from poorer timing in her love life. Two years ago, she lamented her ill-advised dating strategy in The Atlantic: Rather than “settle for” (read: marry) one of her numerous boyfriends during her twenties or thirties, she kept holding out for “something better,” convinced she had not yet met her “soul mate.” But still alone at age 40, with a sperm-donated baby and no husband prospects on her horizon, Gottlieb doubted the wisdom of her choice. “Marrying Mr. Good Enough might be an equally viable option, especially if you’re looking for a stable, reliable life companion,” she wrote. “Madame Bovary might not see it that way, but if she’d remained single, I’ll bet she

would have been even more depressed than she was while living with her "tedious but caring" husband.

Now she’s spun the article into one of those books whose argument doesn’t go much further than the title: Marry Him: The Case for Settling for Mr. Good Enough. Women today, Gottlieb explains, have unrealistic expectations of the qualities they want in a mate, bringing a checklist 30 items long to the dating table and automatically excluding anyone who doesn’t perfectly conform.

(He’s blond; she prefers tall, dark, and handsome. Next!) If you really want to get married, she writes, you should stop looking for qualities immediately a t t r a c t i v e i n a boyfriend—passion, intensity, brilliance—and open your mind to men who on the surface might be less scintillating but in the long run would make better partners.

What’s interesting about all this isn’t the dating advice Gottlieb offers, which is nothing new.

Among the old standards she falls back on is the wisdom of the arranged marriage, in which partners unite owing to a meeting of values rather than minds or hearts and fall in love later (ideally). While her evidence is largely anecdotal, buffered with

statistics from the National Marriage Project and various psychological studies, her research methods are clever. At the book’s start, she interviews a group of single women in their late 30s and early 40s. A friend tells Gottlieb, “Even if he’s not the love of your life, make sure he’s someone you respect intellectually, [who] makes you laugh, appreciates you. … I bet there are plenty of these men in the older, overweight, and bald category (which they all eventually become anyway).”

But it’s not “settling” to marry a guy who is intelligent, funny, appreciative, and so on, if you connect with him intellectually and emotionally—as many of these women, even Gottlieb herself, say they did with their boyfriends. To marry a man you “adore,” even if sparks didn’t fly at the first meeting, sounds like a rational start for a happy relationship, not a radical way to readjust your priorities. What is settling is to accept a vision of marriage utterly different from the one you thought you wanted.

This happens to be exactly what Gottlieb originally suggested, perhaps inadvertently, in her Atlantic article. Charles Bovary, after all, wasn’t “tedious but caring"; he didn’t respect Emma, make her laugh, or appreciate her. To suggest that the Bovary

marriage might have had a happier ending if Emma had just readjusted her expectations is like saying Werther could have been cured by a little Prozac.

Gottlieb never devotes her considerable analytic skills to the most obvious question: Why does she assume that being married is better than being single? In the article, she acknowledged that marriages might not always be ideal, and even admitted the possibility that her life alone “is better (if far more difficult) than the life I would have in a comfortable but tepid marriage.” But she made it clear that she’d still rather be unhappily married than on her own. “My married friends with kids don’t spend that much time with their husbands anyway (between work and child care), and in many cases, their biggest complaint seems to be that they never see each other,” she explained. “So if you rarely see your husband—but he’s a decent guy who takes out the trash and sets up the baby gear, and he provides a second income that allows you to spend time with your child instead of working 60 hours a week to support a family on your own—how much does it matter whether the guy you marry is The One?” But I would venture that rarely seeing your husband isn’t what most women

envision when they think about marriage. We can take out the trash and set up the baby gear ourselves; that’s not why people want partners.

In Gottlieb’s unashamedly marriage-boosting book, I counted all of two references to unhappy marriages. Marriage is simply presumed to be a good, better by definition than being single. There is no awareness of domestic violence and other abuse—not to mention other far more minor grievances that seem petty on the surface but erode a person’s well-being: the daily squabbles, the claustrophobia, the loneliness of discovering that the person you thought would be your constant companion no longer has the interest or ability to meet your needs. In ten years, will Gottlieb’s comfortably, tepidly married subjects reunite for the sequel, Divorce Him? That’s a book I’d be curious to read.

Ruth Franklin is a senior editor of The New Republic.

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Hutchison: Perry's Tactics Tough On Her Campaign (Newsmax - Politics) Submitted at 2/23/2010 6:29:18 PM

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Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison acknowledged Tuesday that Republican Gov. Rick Perry has succeeded at casting her as a Washington insider, hindering her effort to kick him out of the Texas governor's mansion.

Trailing in the polls with less than a week before the March 2 primary, Hutchison assessed the state of her campaign to The Associated Press as she toured through towns in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Hutchison's remarks about Perry's anti-Washington tactics appeared to be her first acknowledgment that the governor has done some damage to her election bid.

"It definitely has made it more difficult for me. I didn't think that people would buy that because I've been so effective for Texas," Hutchison told the AP on her campaign bus. "I didn't think that anyone could turn my success in producing results for Texas into a negative, but I think that he has attempted to do that and that what I've been having to

fight against."

In the interview, Hutchison talked up her own record of bringing federal dollars to Texas and said she's working hard to turn out grass-roots supporters to boost her into an April 13 runoff with Perry.

"I have protected Texas," she said. "I've voted with Texas values. ... I'm not Washington — I'm Texas."

Perry seems to be riding a national wave of frustration directed at Washington politicians — the same anger that has fueled the "tea party" movement and complicated the Democrats' plans to overhaul the nation's health care system. The long-serving governor who has campaigned as populist has repeatedly criticized Hutchison for pushing earmarks and voting for the $700 billion Wall Street bailout.

Hutchison, who has been in the Senate since winning a special election in 1993, spent much of the day Tuesday spreading her message that Perry's attacks aren't true, accusing the governor of cronyism and assailing his mostly abandoned Trans Texas Corridor toll road network that threatened private property.

"We appreciate the senator

acknowledging our message is resonating with Texas voters," Perry campaign spokesman Mark Miner said in a statement e -mailed to the AP. Back in Austin, Perry saved up his response to her continuing cronyism charges until the last few days of the campaign, providing the AP with records purporting to show that the law firm where Hutchison used to work with her husband, Ray, was found by a federal civil jury to have defrauded investors in a 1990s-era private prison deal.

Hutchison's campaign called the move an 11th-hour dirty trick, saying the court had already absolved Ray Hutchison and his firm and that the civil jury was acting without proper authority.

The research book released by Perry revisits a controversy over private prisons in six Texas counties — prisons that were built with bond financing that the Hutchison law firm helped put together. The project was a financial disaster and the state wound up buying them at a fire sale price. While Perry released the 1994 verdict, ordering defendants to pay almost $80 million, the Hutchison campaign released a 1993 court order that dismissed Hutchison and his firm

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Sloan, a senior fellow at the BANKERS. Term Extraction.

Peterson Institute, and co-author, Five Filters featured article: w i t h J a m e s K w a k , o f t h e Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: f o r t h c o m i n g b o o k , 1 3 PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS,

from the case after a settlement was reached. Neither campaign could explain the discrepancy.

Hutchison told the AP that Perry's been in office long enough.

"It's just wrong for somebody to stay 14 years and become arrogant," Hutchison said of Perry's tenure in office. He is the state's longest-serving governor, having moved up to the executive post in December 2000 when George W. Bush resigned to became president. Perry then won two terms on his own in 2002 and 2006.

Hutchison considered running for governor in 2006, but she said Tuesday she decided against it to keep the Republican Party united. She said that at the time, Perry signaled he wanted to run for only one more term. She said now he has gone back on his word.

"So I did step aside when I could have won," Hutchison said.

GOP activist Debra Medina is also in the March 2 primary, but she may have lost steam since refusing to say there was no U.S. government involvement in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Medina later tried to back away from those statements.

Hutchison said she is not sure

where voters who may abandon Medina are going — to her campaign or to Perry's. One of them showed up Tuesday at a boot factory in the north Texas town of Justin. Alan Charles, 61, said he dropped his support for Medina and switched to Hutchison even after donating to her campaign because of her remarks about the terrorist attacks.

A poll conducted Feb. 2-10 for major Texas newspapers found Perry leading with 45 percent support among likely Republican voters. Hutchison had 29 percent and Medina 17 percent. The rest were undecided. The telephone survey was conducted before Medina's 9/11 remarks.

——— Associated Press Writer Jay Root contributed to this report from Austin, Texas. © Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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No Hire Power

by Dean Baker (The New Republic - All Feed) Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:00:00 PM

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The latest unemployment statistics show a much worse story than had been previously accepted. The Obama administration is now projecting that the unemployment rate will average 10 percent this year, 9 percent in 2011, and more than 8 percent in 2012. It is not projected to get back to a more normal rate until 2016.

The severity of the problem would easily justify another stimulus package as large or larger than the one passed last year. Instead, it looks like we are going to get a $15 billion jobs package based on a proposal from Senators Charles Schumer and Orrin Hatch. Not only is the Schumer-Hatch bill too small by a factor of 30 or 40, its design is so flawed that it may not lead to many new jobs at all.

The basic deal is that the bill will exempt employers from the 6.2 percent employer side of the payroll tax for any worker they hire in 2010, if the worker has not been working for at least 60

days. If the business keeps the worker on the payroll for a year, then they would get an additional $1,000 tax credit.

The most obvious problem with this proposal, and most other “new jobs” tax credits, is that it ignores the enormous churning in the U.S. labor market. Every month, roughly four million workers leave their jobs, half voluntarily and half because they’ve been laid off or fired.

Employers in turn hire roughly 4 million workers to offset these lost jobs. This translates into the net job growth figure that we hear reported by the Labor Department every month (we lost 20,000 jobs on net in January), but all of the employers adding jobs would in principle be eligible for the Schumer-Hatch tax credit.

This means that we could be giving the tax credit for all of the 4 million hires that would have taken place anyway. The Schumer-Hatch bill does stipulate that the new hire can’t have worked for the last 60 days, but this is a very small limitation.

Not only do the unemployed and underemployed qualify (new hires could have worked about 30 hours in this period), but new entrants to the labor market do as well. The vast majority of the

beneficiaries of the credit will be businesses that would have hired workers even without the credit.

There is also an easy way to game the legislation. Employers can bring contracted workers, like custodial services and kitchen staff, onto their payroll and get a check from the government. This is just shuffling jobs, not creating new ones.

Finally, we know that employment does not change substantially in response to small changes in the price of labor.

There has been extensive research on the impact of the minimum wage on employment, almost all of which finds that the 15-20 percent increase in the cost of labor that resulted from recent hikes in the minimum wage have led to no measurable decline in employment. If a 15-20 percent increase in the cost of labor does not cause firms to cutback employment, then we can’t believe that the 6.2 percent decline in the cost of labor from the Schumer-Hatch bill will lead to any noticeable increase in employment.

There are alternatives that will create employment. Germany and the Netherlands have successfully used work sharing to keep unemployment from

rising in this downturn, in spite of the fact that their downturns have been steeper than the one here. The basic logic is simple: Instead of paying out unemployment benefits to workers who have lost their jobs, the government divides up these benefits among workers putting in shorter hours. Under the German system a typical worker in the program may be working 20 percent fewer hours and taking home 4 percent less pay.

This would likely mean a 4-day workweek. The savings on transportation and childcare would likely swamp the lost pay.

Congress is showing no such creativity. But faced with campaigning during a period of near double-digit unemployment, members are content to brag about passing a “bipartisan jobs bill.”

Dean Baker is the co-director of the Center for Economic and Policy Research. His most recent book is False Profits: Recovering from the Bubble Economy(Polipoint Press, 2010.)

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Future iPads to have front-facing cameras, flash (bulbs, not software)

by John Biggs (CrunchGear) Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:51:37 AM

9to5Mac found these delightful buttons.

What the deuce? It seems that the new iPad SDK 3.2 Beta 3 has some very interesting bits of code and UI components that point to a front facing camera – a boolean called hasFrontCamera– and a boolean for a flash LED (not Adobe Flash) called hasFlash. There are also two buttons in the interface for accepting and declining video chats.

Now remember: the iPad has a little spot for a front-facing camera in it already but all signs point to the fact that it won’t be implemented in this first version.

Unless there’s some amazing October surprise that pops up when they ship final hardware, don’t expect to be commscreening with J.F. Sebastian using your futuristic videophone this time around.

Not a lot of meat here, but plenty of potatoes. More as we get it. via MacRumors

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Lone GOP Healthcare Backer's Campaign Cash Dips (Newsmax - Politics)

percent black. Like Louisiana's Indian-American governor, Bobby Jindal, Cao was hailed as Message from fivefilters.org: If a next-generation Republican you can, please donate to the full who could put a more diverse -text RSS service so we can face on the party's predominantly continue developing it. white image.

The lone Republican lawmaker But Cao's victory was unique. It to support Democratic health came only after his Democratic care legislation has seen his opponent and predecessor, Rep. fundraising drop by nearly 40 William Jefferson, was found percent since his vote, and he is with $90,000 in his freezer and quickly burning through a indicted on bribery charges. dwindling bank account after Republicans acknowledge that resorting to a costly national Cao will have a tough time fundraising operation. holding the seat.

Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao, the Even in a favorable political unlikely congressman from New climate for Republicans, Cao's Orleans, is facing the perils of contributions have fallen sharply bipartisanship unlike any other since he was alone among 178 lawmaker in Washington — GOP House members to vote for trying to please a heavily the health care bill on Nov. 7. He Democratic constituency while raised less than $250,000 during relying on core conservatives for the three months surrounding the money to fuel his campaign. vote, compared with nearly Although Republican leaders $400,000 the previous quarter. have continued supporting Cao At the same time, he spent more with money from their campaign than he raised — with nearly $9 committees despite his health of every $10 going to buy care position, the conservative conservative donor databases, donors he's courting around the send solicitations and pay for country may not be so forgiving. consultants and other fundraising A Vietnamese-American, Cao expenses, according to an (pronounced gow) won his seat Associated Press review of his in 2008 even as President Barack campaign finance report.

Obama took 75 percent of the There are no rules governing vote in the district, which is 60 how much a candidate should Submitted at 2/23/2010 11:30:39 PM

spend on fundraising, but Cao's ratio is unusually high, particularly for a sitting congressman.

Since starting his re-election campaign last year, at least $640,000 of the $874,602 Cao has reported spending has gone toward fundraising — about 75 percent. Instead of promoting him in the district, most of the money went to a network of conservative Washington-area consultants.

Heading into the midterm election season, Cao had just $315,000 in the bank — a weak tally in an age when incumbents frequently stockpile $1 million or more. One of Cao's two Democratic opponents, state Rep. Cedric Richmond, is gaining on him, with about $225,000 cash on hand, in part from self-financing.

In an interview with the AP, Cao acknowledged his contributions are down and fundraising expenses are eating up a large portion of them. But he said he expects his investment in direct-mail solicitations outside his district to start paying dividends.

"We use those organizations to build up a donor list, and obviously to do that requires a

lot of outreach and mailing," said Cao. "The cost is high in the beginning, but as you go through the campaign the returns will be a lot better."

That may be wishful thinking.

Cao's network of fundraising consultants is led by a company called Base Connect, which has a track record of taking huge fees while sometimes leaving its candidates with little in return.

Cao has gone along with its strategy — casting himself as a Ronald Reagan conservative and a threat to the Democrats' agenda. But he knows he can take the approach only so far without alienating voters hit hard

by Hurricane Katrina. He said he put a stop to one early mailing because it was too strident.

"I have always stressed bipartisanship and that includes when we do campaign fundraising," he said. © Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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Every PlayStation 3 Now Has 70MB More RAM During Gameplay [PS3]

by Mark Wilson (Gizmodo) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:52:40 AM

When the PS3 launched, 120MB of its 512MB of RAM were dedicated at all times to the OS. (To put that footrpint in perspective, the Xbox 360's OS only used 32MB.) Luckily, Sony has refined their system.

Over the course of several updates, the PS3's OS has been weaned off RAM, its dependence cut to just 50MB—including the i n - g a m e X M B upgrade—meaning that an additional 70MB of RAM is available for game developers to use as they see fit.

No, that's not enough extra oomph to revolutionize the PS3 as a brand new console, but it's likely we'll see a slightly nicer lighting effect (or an equivalent) some time because of it. [ PlayStation University and Joystiq]

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HOLC work if mortgage holders will not voluntarily sell mortgages?

The new HOLC could buy mortgages by eminent domain.

Eminent domain powers are most commonly used to purchase land for highways or public buildings, but also to renew “blighted” neighborhoods or clean up contaminated land. And existing law allows the use of eminent domain to purchase property interests other than the outright ownership of land.

Some uses of eminent domain have resulted in public wariness and resentment. The Supreme Court’s 2005 decision in Kelo v.

City of New London allowed the condemnation of family homes for an “economic development” project from which private developers profited. A mortgage in a securitized pool is no one’s castle.

The toxic assets backed by mortgages are impossible to value. The concern that taxpayers would get fleeced buying toxic assets from the financial industry was well justified. Whole mortgages are not hard to value at all. There are

frequent, well-publicized auctions of mortgages with a sufficient number of informed, sophisticated buyers. The auctions are an almost perfect pricing mechanism. The problem for the financial industry is not the difficulty of valuing troubled mortgages; the problem is that many mortgages are not worth much. There are obviously many considerations in the price, but distressed mortgages generally sell for about 30 to 50 cents on the dollar at auction. And any honest valuation of many second liens would be pennies on the dollar.

If the government could purchase, either by voluntary sale or by eminent domain, distressed mortgages for 30 to 50 cents on the dollar, there would be ample room to reduce the principal to make the mortgage affordable. In other cases, the government could buy the home in exchange for cancelling the mortgage and enter into a longterm lease with the former homeowner.

Like the original, a revived HOLC could pick and choose the mortgages it buys. The new

HOLC should only buy mortgages on owner-occupied homes, and should refuse to buy reasonable mortgages that homeowners can afford. So no homeowner should expect that the HOLC will buy their mortgage if the homeowner stops paying.

The Obama administration can establish a new HOLC without any additional action by Congress. The Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP) legislation already gives the Treasury Department the power to acquire financial assets, specifically mortgages, and Treasury could fund the program with the $75 billion of the TARP appropriation allocated for HAMP. That should be plenty to buy enough discounted mortgages to put a dent in the foreclosure problem. Most important, the prospect of eminent domain acquisitions of mortgages at a deep discount will motivate servicers to reduce principal voluntarily. Every government foreclosure mitigation effort so far, including HAMP, has depended exclusively on carrots

for the industry, usually designed by the industry itself. The industry’s lobbying efforts have successfully denied any stick to go with the carrots, notably the judicial modification of mortgages in bankruptcy (“cramdown”). The acquisition of mortgages by eminent domain will provide foreclosure mitigation efforts with a badlyneeded stick.

In normal times, HAMP would better suit our preferences for limited government than HOLC. But the HAMP experiment has failed—and the foreclosure crisis is more dangerous now than it Rare Snooki Monster was a year ago. Fortunately, we Seen Selling Snacks at have a proven method for solving it. We should use it. the Airport [Open Brad Miller is a Democrat Caption] representing North Carolina’s

by Richard Lawson (Gawker) 13th congressional district.

Five Filters featured article: Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:24:26 AM Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, [ T h a t ' s S a m m i " S c r e e c h " Powers and the Snooki Monster, Term Extraction. of PBS' "Bleak House," headed off to Los Angeles yesterday; image via INF]

'White Collar' - 'Bottlenecked' Recap

by Bob Sassone (TV Squad) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:28:00 AM

(S01E12) "Pinot. You've seen 'Sideways'." - wine expert, to Peter So, I'm sure you were fascinated

by the story Neal told Peter tonight, about how bottles of wine bottled before 1945 are different than those bottled after because of the atomic bomb that was dropped in that year. I was wondering if it was true, and

thanks to the web, I found this

article about how cesium 137 and how it doesn't exist naturally, it's a result of nuclear fallout, and wine bottled before nuclear testing wouldn't have it. I love learning stuff like that.

Continue reading'White Collar' -

'Bottlenecked' Recap Filed under: Other Drama Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free Permalink| Email this| | Comments

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Senate to Vote On Modest Jobs Bill, Passage Likely (Newsmax - Politics)

make a $20 billion cash deposit into the highway trust fund to make up for shortfalls from Message from fivefilters.org: If lower-than-anticipated gasoline you can, please donate to the full tax revenues.

-text RSS service so we can The measure cleared a key continue developing it. hurdle Monday when the C o m p a n i e s t h a t h i r e t h e Senate's newest Republican, unemployed would claim new Scott Brown of Massachusetts, t a x b r e a k s u n d e r a j o b s - and four other Republicans broke promoting bill that's expected to party ranks to defeat a filibuster. pass the Senate on Wednesday. Republican leaders said Reid had It's the first of several jobs bills used strong-arm tactics in promised by Democrats, and bringing the measure to the floor. passage would give President Reid's $35 billion proposal — Barack Obama and Majority blending $15 billion in tax cuts Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., a and subsidies for infrastructure much-sought victory. But the b o n d s i s s u e d b y l o c a l measure's impact on hiring is governments with the $20 billion likely to be relatively modest, in highway money — is a far economists say. smaller measure than the $862 T h e b i l l u p f o r a v o t e billion economic stimulus bill W e d n e s d a y w o u l d e x e m p t enacted a year ago. b u s i n e s s e s h i r i n g t h e House Democrats passed a far unemployed from the 6.2 percent larger $174 billion jobs measure Social Security payroll tax in December and many consider through December and give them the pending Senate measure too an additional $1,000 credit if puny. But they may simply adopt new workers stay on the job a the Senate measure in order to full year. It would also extend get the win. f e d e r a l h i g h w a y p r o g r a m s The new hiring tax credit could through the end of the year and spur about 250,000 new jobs, Submitted at 2/23/2010 11:13:07 PM

according to economist Mark Zandi of Moody's Economy.com.

In addition to the hiring tax incentives and highway funding, the bill would extend a tax break for small businesses buying new equipment and modestly expand an initiative that helps state and local governments finance infrastructure projects.

Separately, Reid announced Tuesday that he wants upcoming legislation to extend unemployment benefits and health insurance subsidies for the jobless through December and help cash-strapped states with their Medicaid budgets. Taken together, these proposals would cost about $100 billion.

Republicans and some Democrats were unhappy that Reid brought the jobs bill to the floor after abruptly dumping about $70 billion worth of tax breaks for businesses and individuals, help for the unemployed and additional Medicare payments to doctors that had been unveiled earlier this month by Sens. Max

Baucus, D-Mont., and Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, the chairman and ranking Republican on the Finance Committee.

Most, if not all, of those ideas are expected to return in subsequent legislation.

While lawmakers in both parties promise to focus on jobsproducing legislation, their options are limited by cost considerations and rules that require new initiatives to "paid for" so they don't increase the deficit. But other measures, such as a passel of expired tax breaks for individual and businesses, are competing for the available dollars. © Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

What's Old Is New Again With Latest Nvidia Graphics Cards [Nvidia] by matt buchanan (Gizmodo) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:34:02 AM

Not the first time Nvidia's slapped bigger numbers on older cards, PC Perspective reports that a bunch of the 300 series cards are reincarnated versions of previous cards.

The GeForce 310 is the same as the GeForce 210, using the GT218 core; the GeForce 315 uses the same GT216 core as the GT 220; and the GT 340 is basically a GT 240. And then there's the GT 320 and GT 330, which use the G92b core, which has roots going back to the GeForce 8800 GT (a card that debuted in 2007).

Man, those new Fermi-powered chips can't come fast enough. [ PC Perspective]

Cavs Snap Skid Despite Sloppy Play

by Pat McManamon (FanHouse Main) Submitted at 2/23/2010 3:30:00 PM

Filed under: Cavaliers, Hornets CLEVELAND -- It's not tough

to know which team came out of Tuesday night's game at Quicken Loans Arena feeling better about its play.

The New Orleans Hornets, without standout point guard Chris Paul, gave the Cleveland

Cavaliers everything they could handle.

Led by the rookie tandem of Darren Collison and Marcus Thornton, the Hornets were that close to giving Cleveland its

second loss in a row at home.

The Cavs ended a three-game losing streak with a 105-95 win that was nearly as deceptive as Bush over Gore, 2000.

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'Conservatives Can Kiss Off Hot Air Senior Senate Blog' Democrats Named to Deficit Panel (Little Green Footballs)

common sense statement at CPAC that homosexual sex cannot lead to reproduction. For For months, Hot Air listed Little t h i s o b v i o u s l y c o r r e c t Green Footballs under “Left observation, he was booed off Channels” before delinking us the stage. And “Hot Air,” now altogether, as a way of punishing under Christian management, has me for leaving the right wing made Sorba out to be the bad reservation. guy.

So imagine the sweet sweet Sorba showed the courage of his irony as the religious right convictions by simply declaring begins to reject Hot Air — the truth. Said Sorba, “Civil b e c a u s e t h e y ’ r e n o t rights are grounded in natural “ c o n s e r v a t i v e ” e n o u g h : rights, and natural rights are Conservatives can kiss off ‘Hot grounded in human nature…and Air’ blog. the intelligible end of the Apparently it’s not enough for r e p r o d u c t i v e a c t i s Hot Air to be “All Obama- reproduction…civil rights, when Hatred, All the Time” — they they conflict with natural rights, should be hatin’ on gays too. are contrary…” At this point, his Wow. Just as soon as the “Hot remarks were drowned out by a Air” blog was purchased by the chorus of vitriolic, angry boos.

Christian conglomerate Salem (View video of his remarks C o m m u n i c a t i o n s f r o m here.) c o n s e r v a t i v e c o m m e n t a t o r Consequently, Sorba said, “I’d Michelle Malkin, it has suddenly like to condemn CPAC for become an advocate for all bringing GOPRIDE (he meant things gay. What in the world is “GOPROUD”) to this event.” up with that? …

For speaking truth to power, A S a t u r d a y p o s t , f r o m “Hot Air” accused Sorba of Repurblican, takes one of my “bombthrowing,” and said his new heroes, Ryan Sorba of r e m a r k s r e p r e s e n t e d a California Young Americans for “gratuitous and public…slam on Freedom, to task for making the homosexuals.”

Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:51:26 AM

The lead blogger of “Hot Air,” Ed Morrissey, has apparently experienced a new-found freedom under Salem’s Christian leadership to bash proponents of morality grounded in natural law.

Said Morrissey, “At some point, Republicans will need to get over their issues with homosexuality.”

Sorba was certainly right to condemn CPAC for this move.

The bottom line here is if conservatives are looking for an annual convocation of genuine conservatives — those who are fiscal, national security and social conservatives — the place to be is the Values Voter Summit.

VVS, sponsored each fall by the Family Research Council and the American Family Association, will never waver on the truth that protecting one man — one woman marriage is the most fundamental conservative value of all.

That’s the problem when you start purging the unfaithful monkeys — it can be hard to know when to stop.

(Hat tip: avanti.)

(Newsmax - Politics)

Alan Simpson of Wyoming, last week.

The panel will have 18 members Message from fivefilters.org: If in all; the rest remain to be you can, please donate to the full named.

-text RSS service so we can An administration official said continue developing it.

Obama will name the four Three senior Senate Democrats additional members he can have been named to a bipartisan appoint in the next few days. The panel established by President official spoke on the condition of Barack Obama to find a plan to a n o n y m i t y b e c a u s e t h e wrestle the budget deficit under appointment process is ongoing. control.

Many Washington insiders think Senate Majority Leader Harry the panel is doomed to gridlock R e i d h a s n a m e d B u d g e t in this partisan midterm election Committee Chairman Kent year.

C o n r a d o f N o r t h D a k o t a , —— Finance Committee Chairman Associated Press writer Julie Max Baucus of Montana and Pace contributed to this report.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick © C o p y r i g h t 2 0 1 0 T h e Durbin of Illinois to the panel, Associated Press. All rights w h i c h i s c h a r g e d w i t h reserved. This material may not recommending spending cuts b e p u b l i s h e d , b r o a d c a s t , and possible revenue increases to r e w r i t t e n o r r e d i s t r i b u t e d . bring the deficit to managable Five Filters featured article: levels by 2015.

Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: Obama named the panel's co- PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, chairs, Democratic former White Term Extraction.

House Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles and former GOP Sen. Submitted at 2/23/2010 6:29:16 PM

Kobe drains game-winning 3 in return to Lakers

by Associated Press (ESPN.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 10:58:59 PM

Message from fivefilters.org: If you can, please donate to the full -text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

Top Performers 14 Reb, 3 Ast, 4 Stl, 3 Blk Term Extraction.

Los Angeles: K. Bryant 32 Pts, Five Filters featured article: 7 Reb, 6 Ast, 3 Stl, 2 Blk Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: Memphis: Z. Randolph 20 Pts, PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS,

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Detailed Reliability data pinpoints problems

by Consumer Reports Shopping Blog (Consumer Reports)

itself, while “Minor Engine” includes oil leaks, accessory belts and engine mounts.

All online subscribers can Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:10:24 AM access a car’s reliability history D e t a i l e d R e l i a b i l i t y d a t a by hitting the Reliability tab on a pinpoints problems given model-overview page.

Ever want even more insight That history shows a grid of our into the problems reported familiar red and black scoring t h r o u g h o u r A n n u a l A u t o icons covering each of the 17 Survey? A new feature online trouble areas, going back up to gives ConsumerReports.org Cars 10 model years. The Reliability Best Deals Plus subscribers tab on new and used cars will access to the most frequent show that some ratings are problems behind the familiar flagged with a gold corner trouble spots featured online and t r i a n g l e w i t h a “ + ” s i g n in our print publications. That indicating that more specific extra level of detail could tip off details are available. Users who current owners on what to be upgrade to a Cars Best Deals wary of, and it could influence Plus subscription can click on purchase decisions for new and that triangular corner tab to see used car buyers. information on the problems The survey conducted by the owners have experienced.

Consumer Reports National As an example, looking at the R e s e a r c h C e n t e r q u e r i e d Ford F-150 pickup, we can see respondents about 17 general that the 2008 model had climate problem areas, each of which system problems. Clicking on covers a host of possible faults. the flag reveals that the major For instance the category “Power gripe was the automatic climate Equipment” includes keyless system control rather than, say, a entry, dashboard warning lights, problem with the air conditioner. tire-pressure monitor, and other Not all trouble spots are flagged. things. “Major Engine” problems That’s because either no or very include cylinder head and timing few specific problems were belt besides replacing the engine reported, or because nothing

stood out enough in the subcategories to warrant special mention.

The reliability details available to Cars Best Deals Plus subscribers should prove especially valuable for used-car shoppers. By getting a sharper picture of what has gone wrong, they can judge whether this is something to be concerned about or something they can live with.

If, say, a particular model has needed an inordinate number of transmission replacements, a shopper might look at a different one. Or as in the example with the F-150, the problem may not relate to the trim or equipment you are considering.

Information is power, and for the 2010 model year, ConsumerReports.org has more horses under its hood. If you’re in the market for a new or used car, Cars Best Deals Plus can be a powerful research tool.— Gordon Hard Subscribe now!

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Q&A: Do multiple Xrays increase my risk of developing cancer? by rss@consumerreports.org (Consumer Reports) Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:14:27 AM

Q&A: Do multiple X-rays increase my risk of developing cancer?

In search of a diagnosis for my persistent low-back pain, my doctor recently ordered several X -rays of my spine. Do multiple X -rays increase my risk of developing cancer? — P.B., Clemson, S.C. Yes. While nearly all X-rays expose you to radiation that increases your cancer risk, a lowback X-ray can expose you to relatively high doses. Moreover, those tests are often unnecessary, since nearly all low-back pain stems from muscles, ligaments, and nerves, which don’t appear on X-rays. And most low-back pain eventually resolves on its own with simple self-help measures, including including mild painkillers and cold packs.

In general, agree to imaging tests only if the pain doesn’t respond to self-help methods or physical therapy and lasts for more than a month, or if you also have any of the following: leg weakness; pain radiating from

the buttock to the thigh, knee, or lower leg; a history of osteoporosis, or a recent fall or accident; fever, night sweats, or unexplained weight loss; or a history of cancer or incontinence.

Find out which imaging tests are necessary and which are not, take a look at which low-back pain treatments our readers say helped the most, and see our comparison of 23 low-back pain treatments(subscribers only), including acupuncture, over-thecounter medication, and massage. Subscribe now!

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Smarter OSs coming for Palm and Android smart phones

by Michael Gikas (Consumer Reports)

will enable all users of the Palm Pre (though not of the Palm Pixi, its smaller cousin) to view a Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:34:41 AM wider range of videos on the Smarter OSs coming for Palm Web, including movie trailers. and Android smart phones Android 2.1. This latest version Like a computer, the capabilities of Google's popular operating of a smart phone can depend as system debuted last month on much or more on its operating HTC's Nexus One, and has since s y s t e m a s o n i t s d i s p l a y , left owners of other Android p r o c e s s o r , a n d o t h e r phones salivating for an upgrade. components. In the coming Most Android phones will be weeks, two notable smart phone eligible for the free update to 2.1 platforms will get OS upgrades. sometime this year, beginning Here are the details: this month.

P a l m 1 . 4 . T h i s u p d a t e , New features include Voice scheduled for February 25, will command that supports all text give the Palm Pre the ability to fields, allowing you to dictate shoot and edit video. An editing your Tweets on Twitter and tool in the bottom right-hand command the phone to get you side of the screen will break up d r i v i n g d i r e c t i o n s t o a n y your video into bite-sized location. There's also an Android segments, much as iPhone 3GS version of Google Earth, as users can do now. After the Motorola Droid users just video is shot and edited, you’ll received. And the trademark be able to send your clip directly Android pull-down screen for to YouTube or Facebook, or to viewing all the apps has been a t t a c h i t t o a n e - m a i l o r replaced by a 3-D navi-cube, multimedia message with one which you can flick up or down push of a virtual button. to see up to five different pages An upgrade to Adobe Flash 10 of applications. You can also

summon a mini-icon view of all the application pages so that you can jump directly to the page you want. Wallpapers also move and react to touch.

The bad news: some of the aforementioned 2.1 features, such as the reactive wallpapers, won't work on certain phones.

— Mike Gikas Next Steps • Cell Phone Buying Advice: • Types of Cell Phones| • Cell Phone Features| • Cell Phone Brands All Cell Phone Ratings Subscribers can view and compare all Cell Phone Ratings.

Recommended Cell Phones Look at the ones that we chose as the best of the best. Subscribe now!

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Submitted at 2/23/2010 8:04:03 PM

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Top Performers New Orleans: M. Thornton 37 Pts, 2 Reb, 2 Ast, 2 Stl Cleveland: L. James 20 Pts, 5

by Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker) Submitted at 2/24/2010 5:30:00 AM

Windows: Like its original webapp, the Inbox2 beta for Windows does a great job of combining your email, Twitter, Facebook, and other social messages into one sortable stream. It also respects your email labels and stars and adds simple task management tools.

To Inbox2's credit, setup is very, very simple. Enter in a few usernames and passwords, hit the authentication buttons, and everything starts streaming in.

The benefit to a tool like Inbox2 Reb, 13 Ast, 2 Stl Five Filters featured article: is that you can take all your Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: communication and process it PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, the way you would email, so Inbox2 has three buttons—Todo, Term Extraction.

Waiting For, and Someday—that help manage your communiques

Cavs' skid ends despite Thornton's monster 2nd

by Associated Press (ESPN.com)

Inbox2 Desktop Combines and Task-ifies Your Email and Social Networks [Downloads] and seem a lot like, well, the Trusted Trio.

Inbox2 also aggregates contacts across all your chosen accounts, which is convenient for reaching out to that person you know you know, somehow, but don't have time to hunt down. At first, Inbox2 only grabs the last 50 messages from each of your accounts, but a quick trip to the Options and you can download everything you've got, making the attachment and image aggregation tabs far more useful, and something like a socialmedia-aware Postbox.

Inbox2 is a free download for Windows systems only, but Mac and Linux users feeling left out can stick to the webapp or Facebook application, launched from the same site. Inbox2

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Best batteries for toys, baby gear, digital cameras

by Artemis Dibenedetto (Consumer Reports) Submitted at 2/24/2010 1:59:59 AM

Best batteries for toys, baby gear, digital cameras You may not go through as many batteries as diapers during your baby’s first couple of years, but it will seem pretty close. Batteries aren’t usually included when you buy toys and baby gear with music, lights, vibration, or sound effects, and some toys or baby products may require more than one size battery. Not every battery is right for every job, either.

Here’s a rundown of what to consider before your next visit to the battery section of the store, based on our recent tests of AA batteries—the most common type used in toys.

Buy rechargeables for high-use items. For often-used toys, digital cameras, and other devices drawing bursts of power, make the greener choice:

rechargeables. Another option is a single-use lithium battery. The downside of rechargeables? They discharge when they’re not in use, so they’re not the best choice for battery-powered toys that sit idle. You also may have to charge the battery before the first use. Don’t mix rechargeable and disposable batteries, however. And use a suitable recharger. For flashlights, remote controls, and other devices drawing little power, consider single-use alkaline batteries, which should have a shelf life of several years.

Keep disposable batteries around as a backup, even if you plan to use rechargeables.

Among disposables, lithium batteries, which are expensive, are the best for getting the most shots from your digital camera.

Follow manufacturer recommendations. No disposable battery is a deal if the toy or baby product’s manufacturer recommends another type. Be

wary of knockoff brands that seem like a great value. Some have been defective.

Store and dispose of batteries properly. You should store batteries separate from one another and from other metal objects in a cool, dry place (no need to store in the refrigerator).

Don't mix battery types, sizes, or ages. Rechargeable batteries should be recycled to keep their heavy metals out of landfills. To find out where to recycle, go to the Web site of the nonprofit Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp.

Learn more in the full AA batteries Ratings report in the December 2009 issue of Consumer Reports.

Subscribe now!

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Olympic Chat With Former Gymnast Dominique Dawes (WSJ.com: The Daily Fix) Submitted at 2/23/2010 6:04:45 PM

Dominique Dawes, former gymnast, three-time Olympian

and member of the gold-medal winning “Magnificent Seven,” talks with WSJ’s Jessica Marmor about what it’s like to go from athlete to spectator, gives her

take on figure-skating judging and looks back on her favorite Vancouver moments:

SugarSync Adds Email Attachment Synchronizing [File Syncing]

by Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker)

account size, which is 2 GB by default. Take note that the email service isn't enabled by SugarSync is a worthy Dropbox default—you have to head to competitor, offering finer- your "Account" page after grained file management tools, signing into SugarSync, then more mobile app access, and enable upload by email and grab other advantages. Now it's added your private address. another convenient feature: send SugarSync pitches this tool as a a file to your personal SugarSync way to help clean up and clear address, and your attachment is out file attachments, which is synced to your account. true for the small percentage of It works just like the "secret webmail users bumping up email" that services like Flickr or against their storage limits. For E v e r n o t e p r o v i d e — i t ' s a n everyone else, it's a convenient address you don't share with upload method when you're not anybody but your email client, running SugarSync's desktop and it only synchronizes to your software. No More Attachment own account. Attach as much as Clutter - Upload By Email is your outgoing mail will allow, Live Today[SugarSync Blog via and it shows up in an "Uploaded TechCrunch]

by Email" folder in your "Magic Briefcase." The only limit is your Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:30:00 AM

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47

Check your credit-card bill carefully for "stereo" charges

by Consumer Reports Shopping Blog (Consumer Reports) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:59:06 AM

Check your credit-card bill carefully for "stereo" charges Maybe I look like a sucker or like I have some disposable income that needs to be quickly disposed. Maybe I’m just doing something wrong or I committed some act to anger the God of Electronic Payments. Whatever the reason, in the last months two different merchants charged my credit card twice for the same purchase.

In August, Radio Shack twice charged my MasterCard for $42.95 in connection with my purchase of stereo headphones.

After months of fighting to straighten out those “stereo” charges, an A&P supermarket

twice billed my card for a $9.17 grocery trip. Disposable income or not, no way am I paying $18.34 for three cans of frozen grape juice cocktail, two packages of sliced bread, and a 3 -liter bottle of ginger ale.

In the Radio Shack case, I remember the salesperson asking

for my card a second time, saying his initial attempt to process the transaction didn’t go through. I guess that should have set off an alarm in my head. But I didn’t give it a second thought, as I handed back my card and actually signed the electronic signature pad again. That’s the

last time I’ll do that without asking a lot of questions.

I don’t remember anything unusual happening during my purchase at A&P. The employee who researched the problem was at a loss to explain why the double-billing occurred, saying that it was only the second time

she had ever seen that happen.

Well, it’s now happened to me twice in a short time. And it illustrates why we all need to check those credit card statements carefully when they arrive and report any problems immediately. (And we'll have more incentive now that creditcard companies must disclose how long it will take to pay back our bills with just the minimum payment.)

In all the decades I’ve been checking, it’s odd how retailers have never made a mistake in my favor.—Anthony Giorgianni Subscribe now!

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Flavors.me Is a Simple and Elegant Personal Portal [Personal Promotion]

by Jason Fitzpatrick (Lifehacker)

splash page for your virtual identity, routing viewers towards the aspects of your online Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:30:00 AM persona you want to share. You If you're looking to set up an can pull from over a dozen elegant portal for your online services including Facebook, identity that brings together T w i t t e r , F l i c k r , L i n k e d I n , social networks and other aspects Tumbl.r, Last.fm and more. o f y o u r o n l i n e p r e s e n c e , Rather than mire you down in Flavors.me is as simple and easy the guts of coding a page, to use as it gets.

Flavors.me offers a simple drag Photo by Tyson. and drop interface with menu Flavors.me is inteded to act as a selections for a variety of things

ranging from fonts to positioning the background photo. Check out the video below to see it in action from intial sign up to

completed product: As we mentioned above it really doesn't get much easier than that when it comes to designing a

simple splash page for your online persona. If you're planning on setting up a Flavors.me page you'll defiinitely want to check out the directory section to see how users are using the simple elements of Flavors.me to create some really catchy pages.

Flavors.me[via Tech Crunch]

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Never Mind the Valley: Here's Washington DC

by Dana Oshiro (ReadWriteWeb) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:33:22 AM

The words "fat cats in Washington" have been uttered in every corner of the nation from Texas to the Bay, yet DC's tech scene is anything but sluggish. Companies like AOL, Nextel, MCI and Uunet found early success in the region and since then, a slew of young entrepreneurs have emerged to follow suit. Some of the companies include LivingSocial, Clearspring, CareerBuilder, OPower and iPhone app development service PointAbout.

ReadWriteWeb caught up with some of the industry's movers and shakers to find out what the DC scene has to offer for entrepreneurs.

Sponsor RWW's Never Mind the Valley series: Funding and Resources Technosailor editor and author of the WordPress Bible Aaron Brazell believes that the funding scene in DC is still in its infancy.

Brazell mentions email tool AwayFind, advocacy platform Grasshopr and Africa Rural Connect as some of the great DC projects that have been passed up for VC investment.

Says Brazell, "There are compelling stories of entrepreneurs and startups struggling to exist in a policy/advocacy based world.

We're not getting the support of VCs, particularly in the Valley -

who have myopia about what a successful startup should look like...We need more entrepreneurs. We need more big names to attract funds. We need people who can see beyond Twitter and see bigger societal and cultural issues."

But it's a Potomac Falls company named Summize who recently made headlines after being acquired by Twitter to become the real-time service's search feature. Still, the region's startups are by no means Twittercentric. It's defense, government and telecommunications that make up the majority of the industry plays.

When asked how the government influence shapes a company's business development and funding pitch Zoetica Media cofounder and Now Is Gone author Geoff Livingston replies, "If you want to sell to the government, you can't act like a flippant startup pushing 'free'.

Free doesn't fly with taxpayers or conservative public servants who are constantly under fire for overspending. FortiusOne is a great example of a startup that's 2.0, but also sells to the government. If you visit Google or Microsoft's west coast HQ you have a very free work culture, but conversely their DC offices are large, hip, but still conservative DC." That being said, Livingston sees enormous opportunity for startups in the DC area as$80 billion dollars of the President's

budget is expected to be invested in the region for new technology and IT infrastructure.

Some of the existing government-related funding sources include DARPA, The National Science Foundation and the CIA venture fund In-Q-Tel. Meanwhile firms like Novak Biddle, Valhalla Partners and Grotech offer opportunities for large-scale investment. Other sources include the Maryland Venture Fund and the Center for Innovative Technology.

Mentorship and Mindshare The region's best known accelerator program is Launchbox Digital.

Launchbox's founders Matt Jacobsen, Mark McDowell and John McKinley are heralded as the mentors that are bringing the YCombinator-model to the nation's capital. The group offers entrepreneurs modest seed funding and similar to many of the region's incubators, participants also receive space and mentorship. Some of the group's advisors include former FCC Chairman Reed Hundt,

AOL's Ted Leonsis and General Manager of Microsoft Mobile Eric Engstrom.

In addition to Launchbox's mentors, DC entrepreneurs gain new insight from Aaron Brazell's Technosailor, Frank Gruber's Somewhat Frank, Nick O'Neill's Social Times, Jared Goralnick's TechnoTheory and Ernesto Gluecksman's consultancy Infamia. iStrategy Labs founder CEO Peter Corbett is an active mentor and strategist in the governmentrelated startup scene.

Says Corbett, "[Entrepreneurs] should be following what our government leaders are thinking and saying. For example, Minds in the Cloud is a new project we're working on to help people understand the present and future possibilities of cloud computing.

If you're working on cloud technology, you need to be listening to what people like Aneesh Chorpa (Federal CTO) and Vivek Kundra (Federal CIO) are doing so you can build your products and services in such a way that they'll integrate well with the administration's technology strategy."

Challenges like Apps for America and iStrategy Lab's Apps for Democracy also allow technologists to play a role in government initiatives while O'Reilly's Gov 2.0 Conference is always a huge draw for the region. The Ups and Downs of Capitol Hill With so many great companies in the region, Mixx

founder Chris McGill sees DC as a challenging but positive place to run a startup. Says McGill, "The government, defense and telecom industries infrastructure provide an extraordinary business opportunity. The best thing [about DC] is the diversity of people. The worst thing is the distance from the new media epicenter in Silicon Valley and the inability to walk down the street and form a strategic partnership. " When asked about how the DC scene has shaped his web-based real estate site, HotPads CEO Douglas Pope replied, "HotPads has tried to use its location and its interest in politics to generate buzz. Each election year we produce Congressional Housing Heat Maps. [We] show the foreclosure rates and home prices by districts and the rates of the parties based on how the districts they control are doing.

It's pretty fun and dorky but it gets some good attention and we probably wouldn't think to do that if we didn't see the President's helicopter out our window every day."

Pope regularly attends events like Tech Cocktail, Twin Tech and Ignite DC to meet other entrepreneurs. Other great networking events include Bootstrap Maryland and HacDC. Says Peter Corbett, "By being in the nation's capital you gain a NEVER page 49

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Despite Tough Talk, Google Still Censoring in China

by Richard MacManus (ReadWriteWeb)

state, or those acting on their behalf.

According to a podcast from Submitted at 2/24/2010 1:19:25 AM veteran East Asia correspondent On January 12 Google claimed for The World, Mary Kay that hackers from China had Magistad, Google appeared to attempted to break into its unblock search terms and content infrastructure, in order to access after their announcement - at the Gmail accounts of Chinese least for a short time. She said human rights activists. Because that search results seemed of those hacks, along with other unfiltered for about 3 hours and malware attacks on Gmail then "came and went" in an accounts and ongoing concerns intermittent way, which she about the Chinese government thought was because "China's limiting free speech on the Web, censors scrambled to keep up Google said in its blog that it w i t h G o o g l e c h a n g i n g t h e was "no longer willing to g a m e . " continue censoring our results on Despite Magistad's report, Google.cn" and that it would Google said on January 14 that d i s c u s s w i t h t h e C h i n e s e Google.cn was still censoring its g o v e r n m e n t o p e r a t i n g " a n results to comply with China's unfiltered search engine." If law and protect its employees unsuccessful, Google said that it there. might close down or cut back its A New York Times report came operations in China. out on January 18, claiming that It's now over 6 weeks since "at least two foreign journalists Google's original blog post, but living in Beijing have had their there are no signs that the Google e-mail accounts hacked". company has stopped censoring The Times also noted that its search results in China - let several human rights advocates alone shut down Google.cn. in China had their Gmail Sponsor accounts compromised. Among Chinese Government Blamed those was Ai Weiwei, an artist Immediately after Google's post, and prominent blogger in China. reports circulated that the China Attacks "Irresponsible" Chinese government was behind Accusations the attacks on Google and over Despite so much media attention 30 other companies. Security in the West, on February 9 we company Verisign iDefense wrote that Google had not made claimed that the attacks came any moves to withdraw its from either agents of the Chinese Chinese search operations.

have ulterior motives."

In an editorial, Xinhua editor Mu Xuequan adds, "The New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Financial Times and some other newspapers have published articles indicating that cyber attacks targeting Google and several other U.S. companies were from China. Such allegations are arbitrary and What's more, censored results biased."

According to the Wall St. were still appearing on Google's Journal, Google is about to Chinese portal, Google.cn.

This week, Western media "resume discussions" with the reported that U.S. authorities had C h i n e s e g o v e r n m e n t . tracked down the hacker who C o n c l u s i o n : G o o g l e I s n ' t wrote the code behind the attacks W i n n i n g T h i s B a t t l e on Google last month. However, The upshot is that Google has he was not blamed for launching actually done very little since its the attacks. The man was said to announcement on January 12. It be a freelance security consultant may have modified the censor w i t h t i e s t o t h e C h i n e s e settings for a few days, but g o v e r n m e n t a n d m i l i t a r y . they've been complying with the These latest reports appear to Chinese government ever since. h a v e a n g e r e d t h e C h i n e s e Talks are resuming, but despite g o v e r n m e n t . A c c o r d i n g t o Google CEO Eric Schmidt's Chinese news site Xinhua, China claims that it will "apply some has denied government links to pressure" to China, it doesn't cyber attacks against Google. seem likely that the Chinese Xinhua quotes China's Foreign government will back down.

Ministry spokesman Qin Gang as Will Google need to eat some s a y i n g t h a t t h e v a r i o u s humble pie and continue the accusations against China were status quo of a censored search "irresponsible and calculating." engine in China? Schmidt's The interpretation was slightly comments over the past month different in China Daily, which indicate that Google doesn't want translated Qin Gang as saying to leave China, so that's the that the accusations against probable scenario - despite all of China were "irresponsible and its big talk in January. Discuss

49

NEVER continued from page 48

perspective on 'how things work' to a much greater degree than anywhere else. By combining knowledge of government, politics, global NGOs and the technology community, we're able to see opportunities that just aren't visible if you're not here day to day."

Photo Credit: TechCocktail event by Shawn Duffy Discuss

Greeks take to the streets against austerity plans (Financial Times - US homepage) Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:41:59 AM

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By Dimitris Kontogiannis in Athens Published: February 24 2010 10:18 | Last updated: February 24 2010 12:41 Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

50

Tech News/ Sports/

E-reader News Edition

Wordpress.com Founder Matt Mullenweg: The Cloud is Marketing Speak

by Alex Williams (ReadWriteWeb)

Wordpress.com:"There was a latent misconfiguration, specifically a cable plugged Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:18:05 AM someplace it shouldn't have The Wordpress.com network been, from a few months ago. went down last week. In the Something called the spanning wake of the outage, we started tree protocol kicked in and looking at what infrastructure started trying to route all of our Wordpress.com uses for serving private network traffic to a its 10 million blogs. public network over a link that Wordpress.com is run from data was much too small and slow to centers in Chicago and San handle even 10% of our traffic Antonio. Layered Technologies which caused high packet loss.

(LayeredTech) manages most of This "sort of working" state was the W o r d p r e s s . c o m much worse than if it had just infrastructure. According to gone down and confused our LayeredTech materials, in 2005, systems team and our failsafe Wordpress.com had five servers. systems. It is not clear yet why Today, LayeredTech manages the misconfiguration bit us a b o u t 1 , 0 0 0 s e r v e r s f o r yesterday and not earlier."

Wordpress.com.

We took a long look at the issue Sponsor and still it bugged us that it is so Wordpress.com founder Matt vague about the differences Mullenweg said in a blog post between a data center network that a routing issue in the data a n d a c l o u d c o m p u t i n g center caused the outage. environment.

The cloud gets blamed for Well, Mullenweg is clear. We almost any online outage these asked if Wordpress.com is days. It used to be that we'd just hosted through a traditional data say the service went down and center or if it is on a grid, which there was a failure at the host or would qualify it to some respect the data center. as a cloud S u r e e n o u g h , t h e computing environment.He took Wordpress.com outage is not a our question and shot it right cloud disaster. Instead, it's what back. And in many ways, we happens when failover does not think he is right: work in a data center. According "That's a silly question, like to Founder Matt Mullenweg, asking whether Facebook is a t h a t ' s w h a t h a p p e n e d a t cloud computing environment,"

Mullenweg said. Most "clouds" besides Amazon's are just marketing BS. WordPress.com is a collection of many physical servers across multiple datacenters to create a scalable, resilient environment for our customers. You could call it a grid, or cloud, we just call it service."

Cloud computing is over-hyped.

No doubt. It's interesting to hear this from someone like Mullenweg, who knows first hand the challenges of scaling.

Who cares if it is cloud or not.

It's just cheaper to do it yourself at some point.

Here's how Mullenweg answered the rest of the questions we posed: Question: Wordpress.com uses traditional hosting. Why not use the cloud or does part of your service rely on a public cloud service?

Answer: We use cloud services where appropriate but always have a fall-back to local services.

The best we've used is Amazon S3.

Question: I saw you present at Microsoft PDC about Windows Azure. Are you using Windows Azure? How? Answer: We aren't.

Question: Are you planning to move more of your service to a public cloud environment? Why? Why not?

Answer: No, in fact we're going the other direction so we can have more control and lower our costs.

Question: But if it is a cloud, how could one router take it down? I saw your explanation but a clarification would be most helpful.

Answer We have dozens of hardware and networking issues each week, and our system adapts and works around them so they're invisible to users. This particular failure broke all of that. For an explanation of why, please check out my blog post on en.blog.wordpress.com.

So, really what is the difference?

There may be very little difference at all. The only distinction being that cloud computing remains difficult to define and sometimes is just marketing speak. Discuss

Joannie Rochette Perseveres, Inspires

by Kevin Blackistone (FanHouse Main) Submitted at 2/23/2010 5:30:00 PM

Filed under: Figure Skating, Canada VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- In the middle of last football season, Bengals coach Mike Zimmer suffered a horrific blow: His wife Vikki died suddenly at home.

That was on a Thursday.

Zimmer coached that weekend, nonetheless.

Seven years ago, quarterback Brett Favre suffered the same blow: His father died on a Sunday. The next night, on Monday Night Football, Favre famously stood up to his grief to create one of the most memorable moments in his storied career. He led the Green Bay Packers to victory in what was called in some circles a transcendent performance.

Those weren't the first times we've witnessed athletes soldier on in the face of a most personal tragedy and loss. They won't, of course, be the last.

Tech News/ Game/

E-reader News Edition

Open Thread: Old Fogeys v. Young Whippersnappers, Ageism in Tech

by Jolie O'Dell (ReadWriteWeb)

Journal of Selection and Assessment explored how older and middle-aged programmers Submitted at 2/23/2010 10:50:13 PM fared in the tech workforce.

In the past, we've talked a bit Results showed "that age was about issues of gender and negatively associated with both technology, but today, this blog annual salary and job benefits post brought another important levels." aspect of tech and discrimination But in 2009, another study to our attention. showed what could have been We polled some of our friends seen as a turning tide. "The on Google Buzz and asked s t u d y , ' T h e C o m i n g whether ageism is something Entrepreneurship Boom,' found they've seen at work or that has that... the United States might be effected their lives. And the o n t h e c u s p o f a n responses were interesting - entrepreneurship boom - not in although some say they try to be spite of an aging population but as even-handed as possible, because of it... The average age o t h e r s s a i d t h a t a g e of U.S.-born technology discrimination exists at both ends founders when they started their of the spectrum, especially when companies was 39." What People it comes to landing a job. Let us on the Ground Say know your experiences and Perhaps the graying set are opinions in the comments. doing well as entrepreneurs, but Sponsor what about when they apply to What Experts Say be programmers, information A 2001 article from CIO started architects, web designers or other a conversation about ageism in traditionally "young" jobs?

IT. The response was dramatic. In a lively conversation on our "Within days of being asked 'Do Buzz account, Aaron Hayes told CIOs Discriminate Against Older us that ageism is alive and well, Workers?' about 200 readers had saying, "I turned 40 this year, posted answers; a majority of and even though I can write them gave a resounding yes... Python circles around some... workers age 55 and older make [and] have run several of my up only 6.8 percent of the IT o w n s m a l l b u s i n e s s e s workforce." somehow, because the metabolic A couple years later, a 2003 process of my cells has been study from the International occurring for several solar

pleased with their fit and performance or - in one case not hired someone because of age and regretted it ever since.

What Do You Say? We're interested to know what your experience has been, either as a younger startup exec faced with hiring decisions or as an older programmer working in IT. On a personal level, I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the older techies in my life - especially as I begin to earn a few gray hairs of my own. My old-as-dirt dad is a fabulous network engineer, and a lot of the best developers and entrepreneurs I know have lived long enough to have a mature, realistic and stable view of their abilities, the ecosystem and their rotations beyond a subset of colleagues. u n s p o k e n r u l e s , I c a n b e And in an amendment of the dismissed by some as a viable famous "Never trust anyone over candidate for a startup.

30" quotation, I'd have to say I'd "And this apparently because gladly take the word of a 50-year people that have experience -old who knew his stuff over a clearly can't have youthful 25-year-old entrepreneur starting enthusiasm, or passion." his first company. And the Even though, as Ruggero hypothetical 25-year-old would Domenichini said in the same d o w e l l t o t a k e h i s o l d e r thread, older employees might colleague's advice seriously, as have "less ego, nothing to prove, well. been through failure [and] lived As always, let us know what more." you think in the comments.

And person after person said Discuss that they had either hired older programmers and been totally

51

Infinite Space lands on DS March 16

by JC Fletcher (Joystiq) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:48:00 AM

Ready to leave your boring home planet and take off on a grand, spacefaring adventure in your very own spaceship? Like, with a crew and everything?

Sega has issued the North American release date for Platinum Games and Nude Maker's Infinite Space for DS. You'll be able to build onto your spaceship, engage in space battles and do other space things on March 16. There's a new trailer above -- not as far above as space, just at the top of this post.

For some reason, every game from Platinum has been released in the first quarter of the year -MadWorld in March 2009, Bayonetta in January 2010, and now Infinite Space in March.

Will Vanquish debut in Q1 2011?

Infinite Space lands on DS March 16 originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments

52

Tech News/ Fashion/

E-reader News Edition

Synchronize Google Voice with Your GPS Location [Google Voice]

by Chad Smith (Lifehacker)

Voice could be improved is if it magically knew where I am and make my phones ring Ed. note: When we saw that accordingly – so that's exactly Wichita-based coder Chad Smith what I made it do. had automated Google Voice You can too with an Android phone ringing with GPS, we had phone, the Locale app, and a web to ask for details. With an server. The overall goal: Have Android phone, a $10 app, and Google Voice know which some web server space, here's phones to ring, based on your how he pulled it off. current location or situation.

It's also worth noting that Chad's Requirements trick doesn't just work with GPS • Google Voice (if you lack an location. Using Locale's settings, account, or a friend with an you can have Google Voice ring account with invitations, try certain phones at certain times of requesting an invite. day, when you're within range of • Android phone w/ data plan a certain Wi-Fi network, when and GPS you're phone's low on battery • Locale for Android p o w e r , a n d t h r o u g h o t h e r ($9.99—here's a barcode-scanconditions. This isn't an easy 1-2 able QR code) -3 hack, but if you can upload • Locale GPS Plug-In (Free, QR files to a personal web server code) space, you can probably pull it • HTTP Poster and Locale Plug• Upload the script to a secret off.

In (Free, QR code) About a month ago I purchased • Web server w/ PHP 5 (uses location on your web server one of those awesome Nexus cURL and json_decode) Part 2 – Configure Locale One Google phones and started • Create a new Situation with a tinkering to see what cool things Part 1 – The PHP I could make it do. I love the • Download googlevoice- condition of where or when your Google Voice settings should phone, and as many of you locale.php know, absolutely love Google • Open that file for editing, add c h a n g e ( i e : w h i l e y o u ' r e Voice too. your Google Voice login and sleeping, at home or in the I figure the only way Google password to the top, and save. office)

sub-folder you've put your googlevoice-locale.php file on, naturally). Select GET Save • Name, save and activate the Situation.

Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:00:00 AM

The PHP script is set to toggle numbers using the names you assigned them on the Google Voice settings page, so if your phone is named "Work" use "work" (lowercase) in the URL. The possibilities with Google Voice and Locale are endless. In addition to toggling phones based on your location, you can toggle them when you're with your mistress, when your phone is charging or about to die, and can even route your calls through Gizmo when you're connected to your home WiFi. My favorite trick is to forward all calls to my wife by turning • Add a Setting using the HTTP my phone face down.

Post plugin to tell your server Chad originally wrote up his which phones to turn off or on. instructions at his own site, HTTP Post settings: URL: where you can find his other http://yourawesomeserver.com/g projects and hobbies, like a o o g l e v o i c e - Google Voice add-on for locale.php?on[]=home&off[]=w F i r e f o x . o r k ( r e p l a c i n g yourawesomeserver.com with your real domain name, and any

Street Chic: London Fashion Week

by ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog) Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:00:00 AM

Break up an all-black ensemble with an ultra-chic fur.

Photo: Josie Gealer Click here for our complete fall

2010 Fashion Week coverage

Think you are Street Chic? Email us your photo and you could appear in ELLE.com's Street Chic Daily.

Follow ELLE on Twitter.

Become our Facebook fan!

Tech News/ Fashion/

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53

2 Ways to Sync Google Buzz with Twitter

by Sarah Perez (ReadWriteWeb)

the tool you want to chose.

In addition to bit.ly integration, Buzz Can Tweet offers a few more customization options, too, including: • Selective tweeting - that is, only tweet buzz with keyword #twitter (customizable) • Exclude text after keyword (customizable) • No link back to Buzz when under 140 characters (customizable) • Access settings via the control panel.

Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:00:34 AM

Have you ever wanted to sync your Google Buzz"status updates" from Google's new social networking service over to the popular microblogging network Twitter? At launch time, that isn't possible using Buzz's interface. It doesn't allow you to sync your native Buzz posts to Twitter manually or automatically and you can't reply to others' Buzz updates via Twitter, either. However, there are a couple of new third-party tools that at least tackle the first part of the part of this problem syncing Buzz updates to Twitter.

Sponsor 1) Buzz2Twitter The first tool we discovered (and one I use myself) is a web app from the creator of Reader2Twitter, the tool that automatically syncs Google Reader Shared Items to Twitter.

His new Buzz sync service, Buzz2Twitter, uses the pubsubhubbub protocol so that the synchronization between the

two services occurs in real-time.

However, in our tests, there were some delays which the developer attributed to the particular pubsub hub he was using at the time.

The other features of Buzz2Twitter include: • The ability to bind your bit.ly account to the service for link shortening • The ability to format your

synced tweets For a longer review of Buzz2Twitter, check out Louis Gray's post.

2) Buzz Can Tweet The second service we came across that allows for Buzz to Twitter synchronization is Buzz Can Tweet. This service takes a slightly different approach than Buzz2Twitter. Instead of syncing

the exact text from your Buzz update over to Twitter, Buzz Can Tweet syncs your Buzz post with a link that directs your Twitter followers back to your Buzz update itself. This is especially handy for Buzz posts that are longer than the allowed 140 characters available in Twitter. If you're looking to encourage more discussion over on your Google Buzz profile, this may be

Those are the only two services we've found so far that integrate this often-requested functionality with Buzz. In the future, the Google Buzz team plans to offer Twitter synchronization as an option, but for now, they have to focus on bug-fixing and design issues. When all the glaring issues have been addressed, they can then worry about adding new features. (In other words, it may be a while!)

If you've tried either of the services above, let us know about your experiences in the comments. Discuss

Hot Off the Runway Looks at the ELLE Style Awards

by ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog) Submitted at 2/23/2010 2:32:45 PM

What better place to debut a hotoff-the-runway look than the ELLE Style Awards? Everyone’s

favorite Brit girl, Carey Mulligan, chose a denim-blue python jacket by The Row for last night’s festivities in London (in stark contrast, Agyness Deyn wore an eye-popping House of Holland frock from fall, Daisy

Lowe wore a belly-baring spring

runway look from Miu Miu, and the usually demure Ashley Olsen showed more than a little skin in a plunging Christian Lacroix gown). What do you think of Carey’s covered-up look for evening?

—Violet Moon Gayn or Photos: Getty Images Follow ELLE on Twitter.

Become our Facebook fan!

54

Tech News/ Gadgets/ Economy/

E-reader News Edition

Another look at the Astri MyID – a diminutive Android dual-screened MID

by Tablet (BestTabletReview.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 7:49:18 PM

Don't Be Afraid to Shoot in Low Light Without a Flash [Quotables]

by Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker)

thing about is that I've been awakened to see just what digital Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:00:00 AM cameras can do in low-light Scottish photojournalist Harry situations. It digs right into Benson, who's captured some spaces that I never thought a amazing frames of The Beatles, camera could penetrate. world leaders, and historic The post offers a few nitty-gritty events, gives the New York details for manual-settings types, Times his best tip for shooting at b u t h e ' s r i g h t — t h e b e s t night or in low natural light. photographs I've seen from He doesn't lighten or otherwise parties, weddings, and news touch his photos with image events come from shooters who editors, and his secret to shooting simply stand steady, shoot what in low light is simple: they can frame, and shoot a lot.

Don't be afraid. You'll be How to Take Better Low-Light surprised just how good your P h o t o s [ G a d g e t w i s e photos will be. Make sure there B l o g / N Y T i m e s . c o m ] is some light on your subject's face. But be brave about it. The

Message from fivefilters.org: If you can, please donate to the full -text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

We first heard about the Astri MyID a little over a month ago after it being shown at CES. At the time we called it a mini Entourage Edge or a Nintendo DS on HGH. While that opinion hasn’t necessarily changed, we did uncover some more spec information and hands-on video thanks to Nate the Great(formerly of MobileRead)

through his new blog Nate’s Ebook News.

To recap, the Astri MyID (which stands for “My Internet Device”) has a 5-inch E-Ink screen on the left and a 4.8-inch 800 x 480 resolution LCD touchscreen on the right. It runs a basic form of Android that features many different MID functions, most noticeably FBReader (for eBook reading) which turns the MyID into a fairly capable eReader. A major plus could be the price, which according to an Astri representative could retail for around $130 to $150. Production could start as soon as 2Q 2010.

Nate commented on the design, which he thought was intuitive and well-engineered. There is a rather long boot and load time, but that seems to balance out with the easy navigation, a handy control system and the ability to have multiple eBooks open at one time (up to six which can be selected by dial control). Read the rest of his write-up here.

Source: Nate’s Ebook News Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Threading a needle with yarn

by Peter Boockvar (The Big Picture) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:49:22 AM

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The MBA said purchases for the week ended Friday fell to the lowest level since May ‘97. After buying $1T+ of MBS and instituting the home buying tax credit all we got was a temporary boost that now seems to be flaming out. The data is

seasonally adjusted so its not just ‘that time of the year.’ Hopefully though as spring time hits and people realize that the housing stimulus will soon end, buying will pick up again. It is with this backdrop that Bernanke today will reiterate that rates will stay very low for a while. They must face the tail end of QE and its eventual reversal before they start adjusting rates. Bullard last night said they may hold off on moving rates thru ‘10. Threading a needle with yarn is what they face. ABC confidence followed

yesterday’s # by falling 1 pt to 50, the lowest since Nov. Portugal sold 5 yr notes with a bid to cover of 1.8, down from 2.02 2 weeks ago. Greece will be selling 10 yrs sometime in the next week.

II: Bulls 41.1 v 35.6 Bears 23.3 v 27.8 Correction 35.6 v 36.6 Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

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55

Engadget for iPhone / iPod touch 2.0.1 now available!

by Nilay Patel (Engadget) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:00:00 AM

Hey guys, some fun news to share: Engadget for iPhone / iPod touch 2.0.1 was just approved by Apple and is now available on the App Store! The big new feature is landscape mode in article, comment, and sharing views, but we've also bumped up font sizes, made some improvements to the commenting experience, and added the ability to edit tweets directly in the app. Oh, and you can also now email photos from

galleries from within the app, and customize the toolbar. Of course, that's in addition to our regular features like offline viewing, built in streaming for The Engadget Show, and in-app tip submissions -- you know, for when you see the iPhone 3GT leak out.

So what are you waiting for?

You can download the app right here, or just click the image above -- if you've already got it installed the update should be waiting for you right this second.

Full changelog after the break.

Once again, a big thanks to the

team at AOL that makes these apps happen: Sun Sachs, Andy Averbuch, Hareesh P, Anibal Rosado, Rajesh Kumar, Rich Foster, Claudeland Louis, Mike

BlackBerry and webOS apps should hit in March, and that's also when we're scheduled to launch our Android app -- stay tuned!

Continue reading Engadget for iPhone / iPod touch 2.0.1 now available!

Engadget for iPhone / iPod touch 2.0.1 now available! originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:00:00 Wolstat, Eric Wedge, Vikas B R, EST. Please see our terms for Milissa Tarquini, Asha Indira use of feeds. Permalink| | and Bob Gurwin. High fives all Email this| Comments around.

P.S.- Updates for the

Preorders on the Spring Design Alex eReader open first week of March

Monetary policy to the fore as Bernanke testifies

by Tablet (BestTabletReview.com)

(Financial Times - US homepage)

Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:14:28 AM

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The Spring Design Alex The Spring Design Alex, also known as “a nook that works,” had a slight push back in their original release date of February 22nd. Now Spring Design says that the highly anticipated Alex will be available for preorder starting next week so get those

359 smackaroos ready.

All the hands-ons on talk says that the Alex is pretty darned speedy and suffers from none of the eons of load time common to the nook. It also has a menu system that is somewhat intuitive and not the software quagmire representative of B&N’s offering. After all, Spring Design is a pioneer in the two-screensone-slate concept (perhaps the pioneer depending on which side of the Spring Design vs. Barnes & Noble lawsuit you believe) so they’ve had time to test the product and improve on the

concept. eReaders still face a huge uphill battle, even for LCD/E-Ink hybrids like the Alex and nook.

The lower costs of tablet PCs and MIDs are getting within the same ballpark as these dedicated gadgets and it will be a hard temptation not to put another cnote or two on the price you’re paying for eReaders and get yourself a Notion Ink Adam, Apple iPad or MSI Harmony.

Source: Engadget Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:22:46 AM

Message from fivefilters.org: If you can, please donate to the full -text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

By Jamie Chisholm, Global Markets Commentator Published: February 24 2010 08:23 | Last updated: February 24 2010 14:22 Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

56

Gadgets/

E-reader News Edition

Increase fuel efficiency with something that plugs into your car’s DC outlet?

by Doug Aamoth (CrunchGear)

service showed the unit increased a test vehicle’s average fuel efficiency from 23.8 to 28.1 Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:30:40 AM miles per gallon in two weeks.”

I n t e r e s t i n g . F o r $ 8 0 , Here’s more: Hammacher Schlemmer will sell “The device simply plugs into a you something that you plug into v e h i c l e ’ s D C o u t l e t a n d your car’s cigarette lighter to stabilizes the electrical current improve your gas mileage “by up flowing to the electrical control to 18%.” unit (ECU)–the computer that There are some caveats, of c o n t r o l s t h e e n g i n e ’ s f u e l course. It’s “for use with injection and ignition systems–to vehicles that are at least two improve gas mileage. The device years old and have 12-volt mitigates electrical interference systems,” and it appears that the from the stereo, lights, air claims are based on testing conditioning, and more that can performed on one vehicle: “An negatively affect the ECU’s independent automotive testing ability to optimize fuel injection

Flash 10.1 beta 3 released, adds support for Intel GMA 500 and and Broadcom Crystal HD chips

by Nilay Patel (Engadget)

our review HP Mini 210 and it managed 720p YouTube just fine, although 1080p was a no-go Rejoice, owners of netbooks -- we're waiting on some updated with Intel GMA 500 graphics: Broadcom drivers though, so and fuel efficiency.”

I’m no engineer but it seems Flash Player 10.1 Beta 3 is here, don't take that as gospel quite odd that electrical interference complete with hardware video yet. We'll have much more on from the stereo, lights, air acceleration for your machines. that in our full Mini 210 review; conditioning, and more would be That should Hulu and YouTube for now you should all get strong enough to cut a car’s fuel HD usable on machines like the downloading and let us know efficiency by almost five miles to Sony VAIO P and VAIO X, the how it's going in comments. the gallon. Again, I’m no Nokia Booklet 3G, and the Flash 10.1 beta 3 released, adds engineer. I’m barely a writer. previous-generation Dell Mini support for Intel GMA 500 and Any automotive experts out 10. The new build also bring and Broadcom Crystal HD chips there care to weigh in on this? s u p p o r t f o r t h e B r o a d c o m originally appeared on Engadget Crystal HD accelerator found in on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:44:00 Does it seem plausible?

The Current Regulating Vehicle Pine Trail Atom machines like EST. Please see our terms for F u e l E f f i c i e n c y the newest Dell Mini 10 and HP u s e o f f e e d s . P e r m a l i n k B o o s t e r [ H a m m a c h e r Mini 210-- support we found Netbooked| Adobe| Email this| sorely lacking when we reviewed Comments Schlemmer] the Dell. We just tried it out on Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:44:00 AM

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Take-Two taking its business to Japan

by JC Fletcher (Joystiq) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:15:00 AM

Take-Two is starting an office in Japan to publish its games.

Previously, Take-Two and Rockstar games have been published by partners like Capcom, Cyberfront and, most recently, D3 Publisher. It always seemed a bit weird to see a GTA game with a Capcom label, and now we'll be spared that minor cognitive dissonance.

The first game to be released under the new Japanese branch of Take-Two Interactive is Grand Theft Auto: Episodes from Liberty City. The publisher has yet to offer a date for this B a r n e s a n d N o b l e C E O Japanese release, or even specify describes Nook as 'single best- if it will be on both PS3 and selling product,' critical to Xbox 360. success originally appeared on Take-Two taking its business to Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 Japan originally appeared on 09:16:00 EST. Please see our Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 t e r m s f o r u s e o f f e e d s . 10:15:00 EST. Please see our Permalink| Barron's| Email this| terms for use of feeds.

Comments Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments

Barnes and Noble CEO describes Nook as 'single best-selling product,' critical to success

by Vladislav Savov (Engadget) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:16:00 AM

In a conference call with investors yesterday, Steve Riggio described the Nook as a great success and the company's best selling product. The former is predictable, but the latter is kinda weird. You typically wait to have more than one own-brand product in order to describe

anything as "best-selling," but we'll give him the benefit of the doubt and assume he's comparing the Nook against books published under the B&N name. It's still disappointing that, much like Amazon, Barnes and Noble refuses to issue actual sales figures. The closest we get to that is Steve's boast that the Nook's release has fueled a 67 percent increase in online ebook sales -- an effect that would have

been even greater if the company had more stock of the device to sell. In the long term, he sees the Nook as a stimulant of traffic and sales, both in its retail and online stores, and a central component of his company's strategy. As to the iPad? Steve skirted that question by noting that B&N ebooks are also available on PC, Mac, iPhone and BlackBerry devices. Which is good to know.

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PTPT touchscreen interface sounds little, could be huge (video)

by Tim Stevens (Engadget) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:41:00 AM

We've been working with mice and keyboards for so long, clicking on the same 'ol icons and typing in the same 'ol boxes, that it's nice to see something fresh come along -- even if it looks a little cumbersome to use.

Such is PTPT, pronounced "petite petite," a concept touchscreen interface from ExB, a company that focuses on text input prediction. The input starts with three icons representing

people, things, and places, and then the top bar represents time.

You can, for example, longtouch on the people icon, select an individual person, and then drag them up to a specific time to get e-mails from that person. Or, you can drag that person icon down to things to see pictures of them. Or, drag the pictures "thing" up to a time to see pictures from that time, or.... well, you get the picture. There's an expository video below that will help you tie it all together, one that we'd advise watching --

Titanium iPhone Body Is Nice, Too Bad It's Not Real [Concept]

by Jesus Diaz (Gizmodo)

radio insulating material, which is why the Titanium PowerBook Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:43:53 AM G4 had such a crappy Wi-Fi I like the idea of this titanium reception. Sadly, the alleged if only because this probably iPhone body replacement, and alloy simply doesn't exist. And if won't be showing up on a tablet that's why it's too bad is just a it does, you would only find it at anytime soon. nice hyper-realistic 3D render. Boeing or Lockheed Martin's C o n t i n u e r e a d i n g P T P T The fact is that, despite what the secret development facilities. Or touchscreen interface sounds student who made it claims, it's Area 51. little, could be huge (video) not real.

But if he discovered it, I suggest PTPT touchscreen interface Not only the manufacturing of he patents the hell out of it and sounds little, could be huge custom large titanium parts like sell it to the military. They would (video) originally appeared on this is an extremely expensive love it. There's the issue of Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 and complex process, reserved having the mute button in the 09:41:00 EST. Please see our only to aerospace companies, but wrong direction too, but it's ok. t e r m s f o r u s e o f f e e d s . there is not such a thing as a If you can create objects from Permalink| netbooknews.de| "special titanium alloy that is RF nonobtamium, you can rearrange Email this| Comments transparent." Titanium makes the circuitry inside the machine radio signal reception and too. [ Modmyi via Engadget] emission very difficult. It's a

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59

Olympus PEN E-PL1 Micro Four Thirds camera now shipping for $600

Lenovo Mini Wireless Keyboard now available from Brando for $64

by Doug Aamoth (CrunchGear) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:30:28 AM

This may very well be the first time I’ve ever seen Brando sell a product from a big name manufacturer. Normally known for whimsical crap gadgets from faraway lands (and I mean that in the best way possible), the web store is now selling the HTPCfriendly Lenovo Mini Wireless

Keyboard for $64.

As previously reported, the device mixes a thumb keyboard and a trackball into the body of an oversized remote control. It uses a 2.4GHz wireless connection and works up to 30 feet away, making it a good candidate for Windows Media Center, Boxee, or just about any other media center application that runs on a PC. It’s powered by two AAA batteries and the

USB receiver fits right inside the battery compartment.

If you’d rather order directly from Lenovo, you can get it there for $60 instead. Might be a better idea, no? Lenovo’s always got some coupon codes floating around, too.

Lenovo Mini Wireless Keyboard[Brando]

by Darren Murph (Engadget) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:22:00 AM

Next month? Psshh. For those hankering for a slice of that ohso-tempting Micro Four Thirds pie, Olympus' new and improved PEN E-PL1 is now shipping (in blue and gold, anyway) from Amazon. If you'll recall, the company told us that it wouldn't be available until March when it launched three weeks ago, but hey, you won't find us kvetching about early availability. For those who've forgotten, this compact camera touts the same

12.3 megapixel image sensor as the E-30 and E-620, and the $599.99 asking price also nets you a 14-42mm f/3.5-5.6 Zuiko zoom lens. Good luck resisting.

[Thanks, Ron] Olympus PEN E-PL1 Micro Four Thirds camera now shipping for $600 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Amazon (blue),(gold)| Email this| Comments

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Apple/

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Apple’s Billions and Billions

by Liam Cassidy (TheAppleBlog)

develop your own groundbreaking processor doesn’t seem quite such a Submitted at 2/23/2010 3:30:49 PM mammoth undertaking. And I’ll Yesterday, the New York Times be the first to admit I’m likely published an article examining oversimplifying the whole thing, what it refers to as the upcoming but y’know, that Jobs fellow is a “war” between computer chip wily old fox…(Chip) War is Hell manufacturers. It’s an interesting From the New York Times; read if you’re desperately into Now, the chip wars are about to that sort of thing, but what’s become even more bloody. In most compelling is the assertion t h i s n e x t p h a s e , t h e that Apple probably invested at manufacturers will be fighting to least a billion dollars in the supply the silicon for one of the iPad’s custom silicon. fastest-growing segments of As we reported here, Apple computing: smartphones, tiny bought chip manufacturer P.A. laptops and tablet-style devices.

Semi back in April 2008 for a The fight pits several big chip cool $278 million, ostensibly to companies — each trying to put a c q u i r e t h e c o m p a n y ’ s its own stamp on the same basic e n g i n e e r i n g t a l e n t a n d design for mobile chips — manufacturing expertise, and, against Intel, the dominant maker perhaps, the use of its existing of PC chips, which is using an facilities to produce its own entirely different design to enter custom-designed chips. Perhaps a market segment in which it has this helped save Apple a little a minuscule presence. money up-front, if the NYT’s is Of course, Intel’s favorite chip correct about the development for mobile devices is still the costs of the chips alone; Atom processor, commonly E v e n w i t h o u t t h e d i r e c t found nestling at the heart of investment of a factory, it can netbooks everywhere. The Atom cost […] about $1 billion to processor is small, energycreate a smartphone chip from efficient — and terribly slow. scratch.

The challenge, then, is clear: Does this mean Apple saved a make a smaller, ever-morecool seven hundred million energy-efficient chip that doesn’t dollars when it bought P.A. trade performance for low-power Semi? If you’re a company with -consumption. Steve Jobs, when almost forty billion dollars in the announcing the iPad to the world bank, finding the ready cash to in January, hinted that the iPad’s

“$1 billion” investment speaks volumes about Apple’s commitment to the iPad and iPhone product families. (We all fully expect the A4 to wind up in an iPhone sooner or later, yes? I A 4 p r o c e s s o r m i g h t h a v e mean, that much is obvious, a c h i e v e d t h i s l o f t y g o a l ; right?) iPad is powered by our own The iPhone set the stage for custom silicon. We have an mobile touch-based computing incredible group that does and the iPad will soon step into custom silicon at Apple. We the spotlight. Let’s not forget, have a chip called A4, which is also, that Jobs very deliberately our most advanced chip we’ve (re)defined Apple as a mobile ever done that powers the iPad. devices company. Apple is It’s got the processor, the taking its touch-based, mobilegraphics, the I/O, the memory computing strategy seriously controller… Everything in this enough that it’s prepared to one chip. And it screams. spend real money investing in it.

Mind you, Steve Jobs is the Billions and Billions King of Hyperbole, so we should Impressively, this isn’t the only take his claims of speed with a billion-dollar investment Apple grain (or ten) of salt. It’s has made recently. I wrote here encouraging, then, that the back in May 2009 how Apple’s feedback from level-headed still-under-construction server reporters, and specifically, farm in North Carolina also b e l o v e d M a c - h e a d A n d y represents an estimated $1 Ihnatko, confirms that, at least billion investment. Apple hasn’t when compared to the iPhone confirmed what the server farm 3GS, the iPad is unquestionably will be used for, but it’s sensible nimble; to assume Apple is looking to This thing is FAST. I stretch- improve and expand its cloudzoom a webpage and it keeps up based services. with me now [sic] matter how You see, a great many of fast I zoom and scroll. When you Apple’s mobile devices are turn a page in iBook, it’s not “an going to be connected to the animation of a page turning”… web, so it makes sense that you are TURNING a freaking Apple should want to provide PAGE. end-to-end software and services I think, most importantly, this for its iPhones, iPads and

MacBooks. Aside from the obvious aesthetic niceties of Apple-software running on Apple-hardware, the “it just works” ease-of-use of MobileMe and iWork on a MacBook or iPad more than make up for their expense.

Apple knows that if its software works exceptionally well, and is a pleasure to use, people will pay for it despite the existence of free alternatives. Sadly, MobileMe and iWork.com can only be described as “decent” and “adequate.” Perhaps the server farm is one step toward making them “exceptional?”

However you look at it, the facts speak for themselves; Apple is gearing-up for a future that is focused on mobile computing hardware and services, and its recent sizeable investments and acquisitions are bold steps toward that goal. $2 billion in two years doesn’t sound like a lot for a company as wealthy as Apple. But make no mistake, it’s still a huge bet, and a particularly brave one, too, given how many tech pundits and punters have failed to understand the utility of the iPad and what it means for the future of computing.

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My Big Question: iPad 3G or Verizon MiFi?

by Mark Crump (TheAppleBlog)

get a file onto the iPad, the rumored mounting solution would work.

Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:00:23 AM So, assuming I always have my B e c a u s e I h a i l f r o m iPhone with me, the odds are M a s s a c h u s e t t s , w h e r e o u r very good I’ll not be without politicians are famous for being Internet access. The problem, against something before they though, is the more I check my e are for it, I’ll just state this: I was -mail, read blogs, Twitter, watch dead set against another data a video, etc. on the iPhone, I’m plan for wireless Internet before I running the battery down and was for it. I pay $70 a month for can’t use it as a phone. This is m y E d g e i P h o n e c o n t r a c t . problematic for emergency uses, Adding in any sort of additional and a hassle when you get home data plan would jump my “out of and your wife asks, “Did you get house” Internet access costs to my voice mail about picking over $100/month. something up for me?” As a However, as I look to use an result, I have a support line of iPad to supplement my iPhone charging cables (one by the bed, usage — or have a device that one in my home office, one in does sit between an iPhone and my work office, two in my bag, my MacBook Pro — I’ve been one in my truck) because the giving this question a lot of iPhone battery life is so abysmal. t h o u g h t . I ’ m n o t a h e a v y Which gets me to thinking: if traveller. Most of my “travel” the iPad can handle that and the time is spent on the commuter battery dies down, I’m not crap rail, and the MBTA has at least out of luck. I can wait until I get one or two Wi-Fi-equipped home, to the office etc. to charge coaches per train. The service it. Plus, there’s enough times isn’t great — Edge access on my during the year I want a device iPhone is faster — but it’s handy larger than an iPhone to get if I need to get my laptop online. online with: My dad and I take Due to security reasons, I can’t road trips, and I’d like to leave get a device on the wireless my MacBook at home and not network at work, so I would worry about getting online if the have to hope that if I needed to hotel doesn’t have free Wi-Fi. A

month’s worth of iPad data usage is roughly 2-3 nights of paid Wi-Fi in a hotel. So, I came around to the idea that additional “always on” Internet isn’t a bad thing. Once I had that paradigm shift, I started debating the idea of a Verizon MiFi vs. the iPad 3G. The MiFi is an interesting device. It’s about the same size as a credit card and can get up to five devices online, Without a two-year contract it’s $269 and then $60 a month. With a twoyear contact, it’s $99 and $60/month. The iPad 3G is $130 more, and no-contract plans range from $15 (for an almost

that simply don’t work on 3G (like placing Skype Calls) now do. The extra frosting is it’s not on AT&T, so I’m doubly covered for data access.

In the end, I’m going to just get the 3G iPad. It’s cheaper with no contract, and if I really have to, I can use it as a bridge to getting data to and from my MacBook — I can’t tether, but if needed I can exchange Word files via sync. It’s also an all-in-one device; I won’t have to worry about extra charging cables or another battery life. Were I a useless amount of data) to $30 more heavy traveller, carrying all for what they claim is unlimited. three devices with me, I would On the surface, the 3G seems be giving the MiFi serious like a better economic model. If thought. As an aside, for the rare financial hardships befall me, I times I need to get my MacBook can cancel the 3G plan and suffer online, I might look at the Virgin l i k e t h e r e s t o f t h e g r e a t Broadband2go. It’s only $100, unwashed masses, or, if I don’t and pay-as-you-go prices range use it much, I can just activate it from $10-50. when I need to. It’s very flexible. How about you? Are you getting Where the MiFi starts to shine is the iPad 3G, or looking into a connecting more than one device device like the MiFi? , and each of those devices thinks Related GigaOM Pro Research: it’s on a Wi-Fi network. This is • 5 T i p s f o r D e v e l o p e r s very key when you think of the T a r g e t i n g t h e i P a d restrictions Apple has placed on • Web Tablet Survey: Apple’s the iTunes store. Want do iPad Hits Right Notes download an album that’s over • With The iPad, Apple Takes 20MB? You can’t. Also, apps Google To the Mat

Modern Vintage Boots

by ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog) Submitted at 2/23/2010 1:10:00 PM

Kristen Shirley, Fashion Assistant, in Modern Vintage boots "These go with everything."

Follow ELLE on Twitter.

Become our Facebook fan!

Photo: Kelly Stuart

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The App Store Gets a Little Smaller: ngmoco Acquires Freeverse

by Darrell Etherington (TheAppleBlog) Submitted at 2/23/2010 8:13:12 AM

Big news today as two of the iPhone’s biggest game makers become one through acquisition. ngmoco, makers of such hits as Rolando 2 and Eliminate Pro, has purchased Freeverse, another hit game maker with some significant successes under its belt, including many early App Store hits. Flick Fishing and Moto Chaser might ring some bells, sitting as they did on the top 25 list for long stretches.

The acquisition brings together two of the most significant developers in App Store history, both of which have built their considerable reputations exclusively through their efforts with the iPhone and iPod touch.

It’s a step that represents a big milestone in the life of the App Store’s maturing ecosystem.

On the surface, it doesn’t appear at this point as though the merger will affect what most App Store users see. According to ngmoco’s CEO Neil Young: Freeverse, much like us, is comprised of true game-makers.

Now with our combined forces, their titles can reach more people and the talented folks at Freeverse can keep doing what they do best, which is making great games.

Freeverse won’t undergo any changes in terms of its name, branding or management now that its owned by ngmoco. All Freeverse games will likely now include Plus+ network features, which allow gamers to have a more social experience akin to an Xbox live for iPhone users.

Freeverse was already a partner involved in that ngmoco-started endeavor, beginning with Flick Fishing.

Even if the effects of this acquisition aren’t immediately apparent or even visible to the average consumer, that doesn’t mean this doesn’t represent a significant change in how the App Store operates. Freeverse is just the beginning for ngmoco, and a way to diversify its brand.

The maker of Eliminate Pro and Touch Pets Dogs has itself

acknowledged a shift towards producing primarily free-to-play games in the press release announcing the acquisition, which depend on additional purchases of in-app content to generate revenue: Last year ngmoco added top executives from the games, platform technology and web sectors and launched its leading player network, Plus+. The company shifted its production structures to build free-to-play games.

Now it can offer more traditional single-purchase games via Freeverse to get the best of both worlds while establishing strong, coherent brand identity. It will also quite easily be able to adopt and implement one model over the other if either one becomes much

more obviously profitable or preferable to consumers.

Mergers and acquisitions will help smaller studios like ngmoco that made their name on the App Store go toe-to-toe with big production studios like EA Mobile and Gameloft, which were established players long before Apple’s mobile gaming device lineup ever existed. It’s good news for App Store shoppers, since ngmoco has been nothing but innovative to date and should now be better able to continue bringing quality titles to market.

But it’s also a sign that the tumultuous, super-heated forge that was the App Store in its inception is cooling, and that the landscape is taking on a much more static guise. A status quo is asserting itself, and with that, a

definite aristocracy of content providers that will become harder and harder to knock off their perches. Games will become more less varied and surprising, but quality will improve.

I hesitate to comment on whether or not this is ultimately a good thing for iPhone users, but I think it is. As with any new market, the frontier days are fun, but maturity and establishment brings with it more focused efforts at improving quality and lowering cost for consumers. It’s time the App Store started getting much better at what it does well, even if some innovation is lost in the bargain.

Related GigaOM Pro Research: Is There Any Demand For a True Gaming Phone?

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E-reader News Edition

CBS and WB Backing Roland Emmerich's Sheen After He Goes to '2012' Series Shelved Rehab

by Mike Moody (TV Squad) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:02:00 AM

by Brad Trechak (TV Squad)

It seems a potential disaster has been averted.

Director Roland Emmerich, Drug and alcohol abuse is not a known to some as Michael Bay's new problem in Hollywood, so top rival in the "who can make the studios are fairly used to it by the crappiest blockbuster?" now when one of their stars goes contest, says a TV series based to rehab. Thus, it's no surprise on his latest movie,'2012', has that both The WB and CBS, the been shelved. studios behind'Two and a Half Speaking to Movieweb, Men', are behind Charlie Sheen Emmerich said budget and support him in his recovery constraints have halted preefforts. production on the show, which What choice to they have? 'Two would have served as a direct and a Half Men' is responsible follow-up to his special effectsfor CBS dominating Monday heavy disaster flick. The series nights and Sheen is going to was described as being similar in t a k e o v e r M o n d a y n i g h t s rehab for his problem. Being theme to'Lost'. The plot would (although it could be argued that unsupportive at this stage would the ratings are from the strong have followed survivors of the be something of a dick move. events depicted in the movie Despite the show's high ratings, lead-in by 'Two and a Half attempting to rebuild in Africa.

Men'). this could be a sign to wrap up "It was just too big for TV, what production and go out on a high Filed under: Industry, OpEd, we wanted to do," Emmerich Celebrities, Reality-Free note, particularly considering P e r m a l i n k | E m a i l t h i s | | said. that Angus T. Jones is getting to Continue reading Roland that "no longer a cute kid" C o m m e n t s age.'The Big Bang Theory' gets high ratings on its own and could

63

Bernanke faces grilling over ‘exit strategy’ (Financial Times - US homepage) Submitted at 2/23/2010 3:31:41 PM

Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:25:00 AM

Message from fivefilters.org: If you can, please donate to the full -text RSS service so we can continue developing it.

By James Politi in Washington Published: February 23 2010 18:09 | Last updated: February 23 2010 23:31 Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Emmerich's '2012' Series Shelved Filed under: Other Drama Shows, Other SciFi/Supernatural Shows, Industry, Reality-Free Permalink| Email this| | Comments

Karen Bizer's Covetable Jewelry

by ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog)

creates unique collectible jewelry. I had lunch with her a few weeks ago, where she Submitted at 2/23/2010 1:14:22 PM showed off some of her Karen Bizer, a former fashion covetable pieces. Some of my editor and jewelry publicist, favorites include this shagreen

cuff with champagne and white

diamonds. The rings are to die for—I slipped on an emerald cabochon and immediately wanted to place a personal order. Karen's pieces are available at Barneys and

Bergdorf.

—Ellyn Chestnut, Accessories Director Follow ELLE on Twitter.

Become our Facebook fan!

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TV/ Entertainment/

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Lost WTF of the Week: Through the Looking Glass, and What Jack Found There [Clips]

by Richard Lawson (Gawker)

name and showed his childhood home. So, it's a magic mirror?

Magic lighthouse? Magic Last night brought us to a everything? Also, who was mysterious Alexandria-esque going to be at 108 degrees? Is lighthouse, one that didn't there an actual person coming to necessarily lead the way for the island, as Ghost Jacob incoming ships. No, it seemed to murmured in his serene way to serve another purpose entirely. A Hurley, or was it all a ploy to magical purpose. actualize Jack? And as for Jack's There was a big wheely thing off-island flash sideways, is that with names written on it — a happy life, with his pianoby Jason Hughes (TV Squad) introspective and thoughtful Jack names like we saw in Jacob's playing son and sad, cold pizza cave. And Jack saw, in the waiting at home? I'm starting to that it's frustrating to see him Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:18:00 AM lighthouse's reflective mirror, wonder if all the Lost kids are succumb so completely to that images of things, houses, flash in going to have to choose, between (S06E05) Jack took center stage mule side of his personality. the glass as each name and this synthesized world, where the this week, in more ways than Through the use of the Jack story number passed. Then it got to his island is sunken underwater and one. The character of Jack has we saw in tonight's flashalways been frustrating to me, sideways, we actually got to and I've realized it's because he's witness both versions of Jack in s o w e l l w r i t t e n a n d w e l l - one episode. rounded. With many of the Continue reading'Lost' characters, you can safely ' L i g h t h o u s e ' R e c a p anticipate their behavior, but Filed under: OpEd, Lost, by Hamilton Nolan (Gawker) Jack has thrown in a few Episode Reviews, Reality-Free Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:30:46 AM surprises along the way.

Permalink| Email this| | Yes, his default setting seems to C o m m e n t s Americans: Why are we so be stubborn, bull-headed anger, nasty? Appliance scientists but we see enough of the (appliantists) say that our average countrymen only clean their refrigerators once or twice a year—which is once or twice more than you do. We just don't know what we're doing, fridge- t r u t h s o f o u r c o l l e c t i v e wise. refrigeration failures: "In Kudos to the WSJ for directing Whirlpool's 2005 refrigerator the nation's eyes to the hard h a b i t s s u r v e y o f 2 , 5 7 1 Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:55:10 AM

'Lost' - 'Lighthouse' Recap

things are pretty OK, and the real world, where things are harder and crueler, but are real and earned. And maybe the true war between Jacob and Smoky the Bear (he's certainly not a twink!) isn't one of good vs. evil, but one where Jacob will bring people, over and over again, to the island to test them. He's still awaiting perfect results and won't stop meddling with people's lives until he gets them, while Smoky wants to just embrace the chaos of life and stop this stupid game.

Or, you know, backgammon?

Refrigerignorance: America's Plague [Trendwatch] consumers, 33% said they don't spend any time cleaning the refrigerator before grocery shopping. In order to make room for items just purchased, 27% reported shoving everything in and not worrying about organization." Mmm hmm. And you wonder why there's a whole blog about vomit-and-pooping sickness? Wake up, America.

[Pic: Flickr]

Entertainment/ Economy/

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65

Which Celeb Couple Will Stage a Reunion for the Press? [Blind Items]

by Brian Moylan (Gawker) Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:03:19 AM

They'll get over their recent break up but just for the PR. This actress gets good publicity for being nice on set, and this actor is looking to avoid negative notices for plastic surgery. All press is good press!

1."Just like we predicted in an earlier blind, this couple just broke up. The relationship was doomed from the start, but don't give up on them just yet. The couple has more to milk out of the relationship, at least from the girl's perspective. We know we say a lot of couples and celebs pull stunts for PR reasons, but that's just the way it works in Hollywood. Although this girl has an additional motive, she wants the world to know she's a whole lot better than the boyfriend's ex-girlfriend. Not Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel." [ BuzzFoto] 2."This A list Academy Award winner/nominee actress was on a set recently and had just finished

a shot. As she was walking back to her trailer she noticed no one was talking to her or looking in the eye. When she walked up to the set designer to talk to him he seemed unsure of himself. At that point our actress turned around and yelled at one of the producers and said, 'Did you put up those damn signs for people not to talk to me or look me in

bout of insecurity. He has recently consulted with at least three different plastic surgeons about having his face freshened up. He doesn't want a nose job or cheek implants or botox. He just wants to look like a younger version of himself. More specifically, he gave each surgeon the following guideline: He doesn't want to look like Rupert Everett. We are assuming he means that he doesn't want to look overdone. Then again, he would also probably never accept a role as the gay best friend of Julia Roberts in any film." [ Blind Gossip] 4."Which tiny actress refused to touch her beef wellington and the eye? I told you I hated those also left her chocolate pud things. They make me look like a uneaten, claiming her appetite b**ch." Now that that is settled, had mysteriously vanished - no dinner and drinks are on me for doubt helped on its way by the the cast and crew tonight. I'm five trips to the loos to snort half sorry for the signs.'" [ CDaN] of Colombia's finest..." [ UK 3 . " T h i s a c t o r h a s m a n y Mirror] successful films to his credit.

Since his last couple of films didn't do so well at the box office, though, he is having a

My Newest Facebook Friend: FCIC

by Barry Ritholtz (The Big Picture) Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:00:25 AM

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How is it possible that the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission has less than 400 people following them on Facebook?

Please do me a favor and add them to your friend list: click to go to FCIC Facebook page Hat tip Solanic Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Fade the Bum

by Barry Ritholtz (The Big Picture) Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:30:02 AM

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continue developing it.

Don Luskin says now is not the time to invest overseas: Thinking of Investing Abroad? Think Again: “All I’m saying is that you’re making a huge mistake if you

mindlessly send all your money overseas — just because all those other economies are the devil you don’t know. The devil you do know may be your best bet.”

Luskin’s track record and forecasting history suggest he is

a reliable one man contrary indicator.

Contrary-interpretation of Smart Money article: One of the greatest overseas investing trades — in the history of mankind — is very likely about to begin.

You read it here first . . .

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66

Entertainment/ Sports/

E-reader News Edition

Arthur Kade Pops His TV Cherry [This Guy]

by Hamilton Nolan (Gawker) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:48:41 AM

While all you "Gen Poppers" were sleepwalking through your bland lives, Arthur Kade—our favorite thespian, author and vagina ponderer—was making his mainstream television debut!

We're having a little trouble figuring out what's going on in this clip because of Arthur Kade's very own personal voiceover track in the background. Luckily, he had this to say on his blog about the orgasmic experience of

appearing on Showtime's "La La Land:" "Popping The Cherry" (The Term we working actors in "The Biz" use to refer to our first spoken lines on National TV) can be a nerve wracking experience for most working actors, but what makes Arthur Kade so special, so in demand, so sexy, and so superior is that he may get an Emmy nomination in his first turn on TV because of what one fan called, "The most entertaining and funny thing I have seen on TV in forever", and this will be an added step to

opening doors to touching Lil' Oscar like no one else ever has.

The Brand decided to watch his "Cherry Popper" by himself in Chateau Kade because I wanted to savor all of the hard work, the hours of practice on The Craft, the sacrifices of money, vagina, and life frills that it took to get to this moment, and I wanted to savor it with the one person I love more than anyone, Arthur Kade.

I don't know, Arthur. You seem a little flat. Do you really want it? Next time, with passion!

NCAA finds Michigan was not in compliance with practice time rules under coach Rich Rodriguez

by Associated Press (ESPN.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 4:59:42 PM

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The NCAA is accusing Michigan Wolverines of five potentially major rules violations under coach Rich Rodriguez, who admitted making "mistakes" but will be back for a third try at putting the Wolverines back into

the national title hunt.

Incoming athletic director David Brandon disclosed the NCAA conclusions Tuesday, while expressing full support for his coach, who is just 8-16 in two seasons heading the nation's winningest football program.

"Rich Rodriguez is our football coach, and he will be our football coach next year," Brandon said.

In its notice of allegations -which Michigan received Monday -- the NCAA said NCAA page 67

Snow at Cypress Mountain: Too Little, Too Late (WSJ.com: The Daily Fix)

As snow started to fall on Cypress, a Vanoc spokesman for the Vancouver Organizing The kind of steady snow that Committee said it would hurt fell on Cypress Mountain today m o r e t h a n i t h e l p e d t h e would have been welcome there remaining events. The best any time between December and conditions for ski cross and this about 10 days ago. Reuters weekend’s parallel giant slalom Canada’s Ashleigh McIvor, left, snowboard competitions would l e a d s N o r w a y ’ s J u l i e be hard, smooth snow instead of Brendengen Jensen during their fresh, slushier snow that’s not quarterfinals heat in women’s ski packed down. Fresh snow also cross. would slow down aerialists who But snow actually hurt more require speed for their jumps. than it helped the hard-luck West As much as a heavy snowfall Vancouver mountain home of would have helped shore up the Olympic snowboarding and courses on Cypress before the freestyle skiing, including this Games, now the amount of air in d a y ’ s w o m e n ’ s s k i c r o s s a heavy fall would just require competition. workers to remove it.

Submitted at 2/23/2010 4:32:28 PM

today. She also said the jumps at the top were harder to get started on because of the snow.

“As you can see, the girls were really skating at the top of that jump,” she said. That fresh powder really makes a difference.”

“Now it’s almost like too little, Spaniard Rocio Delgado ended too late,” the spokesman said. up sliding at the very bottom of “[Workers have] brought in her quarterfinal heat, crossing the enough snow. With the limited finish line head first before amount of time left in the events signaling “safe” like a baseball it’s not going to be an advantage umpire to let the crowd know she any longer. It’s just going, in a was fine. Despite that, she called way, create more work to do, to the conditions “perfect.” remove the snow or compact it.” Even on the clearest day, ski Canadian Julia Murray said that cross is a sport that makes its from her limited vantage point, best athletes look accident-prone. there were “quite a few” spills Four competitors race down a

series of jumps, often close enough to each other to resemble stock cars bumping each other on a turn.

Canadian Ashleigh McIvor became the first female recipient of a gold in her sport, which made its Olympic debut here.

“Ski cross is the newest sport, but in it’s essence it’s been around forever, racing your friends from the top of the mountain to the bottom,” McIvor said.

E-reader News Edition

67

NCAA continued from page 66

Rodriguez "failed to promote an atmosphere of compliance within the football program." He tracked neither what his staff was doing nor whether his players were following NCAA rules, particularly those limiting the time spent on practice and football-related activities, the report said.

It also said the athletics department failed to make sure its football program was complying with NCAA regulations. Brandon said the department "clearly made mistakes," but "there was no charge of loss of institutional control" -- an allegation that in previous cases has led to severe NCAA sanctions for other schools.

An accompanying letter from the NCAA to university President Mary Sue Coleman said Michigan "should understand that all of the alleged violations set forth in the document" are considered to be "potential major violations of NCAA legislation, unless designated as secondary."

Brandon said he wasn't sure he understood "the difference between 'major' and 'minor' and 'secondary' and 'primary.'"

"They spell it out very specifically in their own

language," he said.

Another possible problem for Michigan is that it could be subject to the NCAA's "repeat violator rule" because it was sanctioned in 2003 for wrongdoing within the basketball program.

"We will make all necessary changes," Coleman said. "What we will not do is make excuses."

Michigan has 90 days to respond and will appear at an NCAA hearing on infractions in August. The school will see how its internal investigation matches up with the NCAA findings and will consider implementing selfimposed sanctions, a move that could reduce NCAA penalties.

The NCAA said last October that it was looking into the Wolverine program following a report in the Detroit Free Press citing anonymous football players that said Michigan exceeded NCAA limits regarding practices and workouts in 2008 and 2009.

Rodriguez, who signed a sixyear deal worth $2.5 million per season, tearfully defended his program just five days before the season-opener, saying he and his staff have followed the rules. He suggested the complaints were an attempt to "tear up" his rebuilding effort following a 3-9

season.

On Tuesday, the coach said if the football staff misinterpreted NCAA rules, "That's on us."

"We're looking at it to see why we misinterpreted and why we made mistakes," he said.

NCAA regulations allow players to spend eight hours a week on mandatory workouts during the offseason. Players told the Free Press they spent two to three times that amount on required workouts, though the NCAA report released Tuesday said players more often exceeded the limit by two hours per week.

The players also said the amount of time they spent on football activities during the season exceeded the weekly limit of 20 hours and often exceeded the daily limit of four hours. They said football staff often watched offseason scrimmages that are supposed to be voluntary.

Near the end of last season, the school released embarrassing details of an internal audit that discovered Rodriguez's team failed to file forms tracking how much time players spent on football during his first season and the following offseason.

The audit noted "a concern" that the football program failed to file monthly forms created by the school to comply with NCAA

rules by tracking how much players work out and practice.

The school report did not find issues of noncompliance -- a key issue for NCAA investigators -but acknowledged the practice logs for football were not available to be reviewed when the audit was conducted. The forms since had been turned in on a timely basis, according to the school.

"My reading of the situation is we had a breakdown of communication," Brandon said Tuesday. "We found we were not being vigilant in the way those [time records] were being filled and managed."

The time record system that the football staff designed "was too cumbersome to manage" and is being changed.

The decision to hold the infractions hearing in August means Michigan will have a distraction just as the Wolverines are getting set to kick off a new season in their refurbished stadium.

Brandon, who takes over as athletic director on March 8, called Tuesday "a tough day" and said the univeristy was taking "full responsibility for those events that brought us to this point."

"We will dedicate ourselves to

learning from this and doing everything we can to prevent it from happening again in the future," said Brandon, the outgoing chairman and CEO of Domino's Pizza.

Rodriguez stumbled to a 3-9 season in his debut at Michigan, the team's first losing season since the late 1960s and his 4-0 Wolverines stumbled down the stretch last season, leading to speculation about his tenure in Ann Arbor.

According to his contract, Rodriguez can be fired for cause if the NCAA, the Big Ten or the school determines he has committed a major violation of NCAA rules or he has intentionally committed any other type of violation of NCAA rules.

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68

Sports/

E-reader News Edition

Philadelphia Eagles release Brian Westbrook

by Associated Press (ESPN.com) Submitted at 2/23/2010 4:51:58 PM

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PHILADELPHIA -- Brian Westbrook could break open a game from almost anywhere on the field.

Lined up in the slot, he could run a slant, beat a linebacker and take off with no one able to catch No. 36. His defining moment with the Philadelphia Eagles came on an 84-yard punt return that stunned the New York Giants in 2003.

Out of the backfield, he was a 1,000-yard rusher who always kept defenses guessing -- and flailing.

ON-FIELD DOWNSIZING Brian Westbrook accounted for nearly 37 percent of the Eagles' total offense in 2007. But in each of the past two seasons, Westbrook's part of the Eagles' offensive attack was diminished.

But in his later years, it was injuries that defined Westbrook more than his dynamic offensive skills. His age, salary and lengthy list of beaten body parts led the Eagles to release him

Tuesday and save the team $7.5 million due next year.

"I think we all know that Brian is one of the all-time great Philadelphia Eagles," coach Andy Reid said. "For what we've done here over the years, Brian has been just a huge part of building this program to the level that we're at now. My heart will always be a Brian Westbrook fan as we go forward here."

A former All-Pro, the 5-foot-10 Westbrook led the league in yards from scrimmage in 2007 with 2,104. He rushed for 1,333 yards and accounted for 12 touchdowns that season.

But he spent much of last season on the sidelines, missing eight games with a pair of concussions and an ankle injury. Westbrook had only two touchdowns in 2009.

Reid said he called Westbrook with the news Tuesday morning.

Reid said Westbrook should still have an opportunity to play for another team. Reid said he thinks Westbrook still wants to play.

"I don't know that for a fact, but I think he might want to do that," Reid said.

LeSean McCoy, who rushed for 637 yards with four touchdowns in 16 games as a rookie, will become Philadelphia's No. 1

running back.

NFC East blog ESPN.com's Matt Mosley writes about all things NFC East in his division blog. • Blog network: NFL Nation "That's who's going to take the ball from here," Reid said.

Westbrook's season went south on Oct. 26 when his helmet collided with Washington linebacker London Fletcher's right knee and he suffered a concussion. Westbrook missed the last five games after suffering his second concussion in three weeks against San Diego on Nov. 15. He was cleared to return for the postseason.

He has rushed for 5,995 yards in eight seasons in Philadelphia and caught 426 passes for 3,790 yards. The 30-year-old Westbrook has scored 68 touchdowns rushing, receiving and on punt returns.

"He had no weaknesses," Reid said. "There wasn't any one thing that you could pick out that he was not good at; he was brilliant.

There are just certain guys that are just football smart and he was one of those guys."

Westbrook, a third-round pick out of Villanova in the 2002 draft, is Philadelphia's career leader in yards from scrimmage

(9,785). He also ranks second in yards rushing (5,995) behind Wilbert Montgomery and third in receptions (426) behind Harold Carmichael and Pete Retzlaff.

He is third in team history behind Carmichael and Steve Van Buren in touchdowns and holds the franchise single-season record for most scrimmage yards in a season (2,104 in 2007) and most receptions in a season (90 in 2007).

He eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark 20 times (including playoffs) during his career, tying for second-most in club history.

"Brian Westbrook is one of the most electrifying players in the history of this franchise and is certainly also one of the most popular," Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie said. "He was personally one of the my favorite players to watch each and every Sunday, and his playmaking abilities, leadership and values will be missed."

Westbrook is the second highprofile running back to be released in two days following LaDainian Tomlinson being shown the door by the San Diego Chargers. Both Westbrook and Tomlinson turned 30 last summer and have been sidelined by injuries that kept them from

performing at the level they displayed in their primes.

Westbrook's signature moment came in 2003. The Eagles appeared headed to a 2-4 start on Oct. 19, when they trailed 10-7 late in the fourth quarter against the Giants. But Westbrook returned a punt 84 yards for the winning score with 1:16 left in one of the more memorable plays of the Reid era.

He never played 16 games because of a variety of injuries to his knees, ankles, ribs and triceps. He practiced sparingly, if at all, in his final seasons.

If Westbrook fails to sign with another team, Reid would welcome him back to the organization in an unspecified role.

"He, to me, is a Philadelphia Eagle and he's the kind of people that you want in your organization," he said.

Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Sports/ Economy/ PopSci/

E-reader News Edition

69

Can US Ride Momentum to Winter Sports Dynasty?

by Jay Mariotti (FanHouse Main)

is a little like sleeping with an elephant. You always wonder if they will roll over on you.''

Submitted at 2/23/2010 4:15:00 PM Guess what, Pierre? America just Filed under: USA, Medals, rolled over on Canada, storming Canada VANCOUVER, British t h e p o d i u m t o d o m i n a t e Columbia -- Tempted as I am to V a n c o u v e r w i t h s t i r r i n g excoriate NBC for excessive performances from Vonn, Evan o o h i n g a n d g o o i n g o v e r Lysacek, Shaun White, Shani America's Olympic stars -- did Davis, Apolo Ohno, the men's Matt Lauer really give Lindsey and women's hockey teams and Vonn a chocolate gold medal and even Bode Miller. Not since the flowers, then hug her and say he 1932 Games in Lake Placid has "adored'' her? -- I'll somehow the U.S. hauled in the most refrain this time. It's easy to see medals at a Winter Games, but as w h y e v e n j o u r n a l i s t s a r e an eventful fortnight finally captivated by the relentless storm winds down, the Americans are of U.S. success at the Winter favored to win the competition in Games. If you'll recall, Canada a close finish with Germany. was the nation that vowed to, Who knew we were so good on ahem, "Own The Podium'' on its ice and snow, huh? Seven gold soil, only to flop and concede medals, nine silver, 10 bronze, defeat this week after spending 26 total -- with five days still left $117 million the last five years to beat the U.S. record of 34 at to boost the medal count. the 2002 Salt Lake City Games.

Own the Podium? Try Blown "It's so exciting to be part of the Podium. And who has made s o m e t h i n g t h a t f e e l s s o the hosts suffer the most? Their American,'' said Ohno, the neighbors to the south, bringing charmer who is off to a career in to mind a quote from former Hollywood, politics, whatever he Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau: wants in life.

"Living next to the United States The collective production has

been so inspirational, it has led to the best U.S. television ratings for a Winter Olympics on foreign soil since 1994, when Tonya Harding carried her organized-crime soap opera with Nancy Kerrigan onto the ice. In fact, the combination of high performance, huge interest and charismatic star power begs a question: Is it possible America is developing into a winter sports force that might extend into an Olympic dynasty?

I can see kids taking up snowboarding because of White and his Double McTwist 1260,

though I'd urge them not to try that at home. I can see a new surge in youth hockey, always helped by international success. I can see young short-track and long-track skaters inspired by Ohno and Davis and budding figure skaters jazzed by Lysacek, even if he didn't attempt the quadruple jump in a decision that has the silver medalist and exgold medalist, Evgeni Plushenko, whining and calling Lysacek something less than a man. And though it's hard to find serious ski slopes in much of America, many children will aspire to the results of Vonn, from Minnesota, and Miller, from New England. It's not that Americans haven't won gold in the past. It's just that now, with a nation searching for true and untattered sports heroes like never before, the triumphant moments have come with an aura that should have staying power for quite some time.

Japanese Point of No Return

by Barry Ritholtz (The Big Picture) Submitted at 2/24/2010 6:00:57 AM

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Be sure to see Vitaliy N. Katsenelson’s Japan: P ast the Point of No Return Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

Guess This Tool, Win a Tool #6

by Mike Haney (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now) Submitted at 2/23/2010 1:36:41 PM

Tell us what this is, win a Stanley FatMax level All right, smarty pantses, give this one a go. Lately, you brilliant DIYers have been making short work of our Guess

This Tool contest, so we're going

to mix it up a little and see if we can't stump you for more than 10 minutes. This is a tool of sorts, but it's in the early stages of a PopSci Dissection. As usual, the first and most precise answer in

the comments will win something from our friends at Stanley: a FatMax 24-inch level.

Good luck.

70

Sports/

Swiss Don’t Miss Chance at Team USA Rematch (WSJ.com: The Daily Fix)

say they’re ready for a rematch.

“It was the first game of the tournament and we were both It took a shootout tough enough nervous,” said Swiss defender to do William Tell proud, but in Yannick Weber. “We had our the end Switzerland defeated chances and will do better.”

Belarus 3-2 Tuesday to advance Both teams are built in to a quarterfinal showdown with somewhat similar styles. They Team USA. Getty Images Swiss Belarusians 43-22 but both had both feature strong goaltending, goalie Jonas Hiller and Co. get g o o d c h a n c e s a n d t h e with Team USA boasting one of another chance to scare the goaltenders had to be sharp. the NHL’s hottest goalies in daylights out of a hockey power. Fans from both side were loud Ryan Miller and the Swiss Neither team was loaded with and excited but without any of relying on Hiller to bail them National Hockey League stars, the bellicose nationalism that out. They are also both strong but the Swiss boast Anaheim plagues some international sports d e f e n s i v e l y a n d p h y s i c a l , Ducks goalie Jonas Hiller and tournaments. although the U.S. team has more he made the difference, stoning It was the first of four games high-profile offensive talent. one of the Belarusians’ few Tuesday among the eight teams Swiss players said their goal NHL players, Montreal Canadien that didn’t earn a bye to the was to reach the quarterfinals, so Sergei Kostitsyn. The young quarterfinals. The four winners in a sense their mission is winger pulled left but Hiller from Tuesday advance to play accomplished. tracked him the entire way and again Wednesday. The semis are “ T h e w e i g h t i s o f f o u r stuffed his attempt at a deke.

Friday, bronze medal game shoulders,” said Swiss captain The game was a tribute to the S a t u r d a y a n d g o l d g a m e M a r k S t r e i t , a N e w Y o r k rising level of international play S u n d a y .

Islanders defenseman. “We’re in the tournament, with both For the U.S. team, the result going to play as hard as possible teams playing an entertaining, means a familiar opponent. The and take it to them.” fast-paced game. The Swiss team Americans beat the Swiss to h i t m o r e a n d o u t s h o t t h e open group play, but the Swiss Submitted at 2/23/2010 4:14:57 PM

E-reader News Edition

Canada Sets Up RipRoaring Showdown With Russia

by Lisa Olson (FanHouse Main) Submitted at 2/23/2010 7:00:00 PM

Filed under: Ice Hockey, Germany, Canada VANCOUVER, British Columbia -- By late in the third period, they were in full party mode, a packed arena singing and chanting and screaming for the devil in the red jersey. This is what it sounds like when a nation gets its mojo back. This is what it looks like when the mother country reconnects with its roots.

"We want Russia," they crooned loud and hard, and somewhere in the city Alexander Ovechkin smirked and Evgeni Malkin rubbed his hands.

Get the cotton puffs ready, to ward against broken eardrums.

After an unexpected tilt, the hockey world is back on its proper axis, and it will be a major upset if Wednesday's game between Canada and Russia doesn't whip this city's epicenter into the most rollicking, electric, wild frenzy of any Olympics, ever.

Turns out it really was just a slight detour the Canadians took en route to the men's quarterfinals. Team Canada needed an extra game to finetune its lines, to iron out some defensive kinks and figure out which of its mighty talented goalies would be the best fit between the pipes. Sure, we'll go with that, because only a fool would argue with Sidney Crosby and pals now that they've rediscovered their groove.

Sports/ E-reader News/

E-reader News Edition

In Messy Big East, Georgetown Holds Off Louisville

A Visit With Some Japanese Figure-Skating Fans

by Brett McMurphy (FanHouse Main)

(WSJ.com: The Daily Fix) Submitted at 2/23/2010 6:09:06 PM

Submitted at 2/23/2010 3:10:00 PM

Filed under: Georgetown, Louisville, Big East LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- The Big Mess.

That's how Georgetown sophomore center Greg Monroe described the Big East conference. What other conference in America can a league have a team tied for sixth place that is still ranked 11th in the nation?

That's why the Hoyas knew the significance of their 70-60 victory at Louisville Tuesday night, halting Georgetown's twogame slide.

"It's big," said Monroe (pictured), who came up even bigger with 16 points, 14 rebounds and five assists while playing in front of 13 NBA scouts. "Right now, you're playing for seeding. The Big East is a big mess and the only way you can you stay out of trouble with this mess is keep on winning."

At halftime the Hoyas (19-7, 9-6 Big East) appeared headed for a third consecutive defeat, trailing 35-29. However, Georgetown -and more specifically junior guard Austin Freeman-- decked the Cards with a 24-3 run to open the second half. Austin powered the Hoyas, accounting for 16 of Georgetown's 24 points in the run, including the Hoyas' first eight points after the half.

Freeman finished with 29 points, hitting nine of 12 shots.

Ever wondered about those Japanese fans at Olympic figureskating competitions, dressed in the red-and-white of the national flag and waving banners at their favorite athletes? Phred Dvorak We caught up with one group, led by Kimie Yamazaki, 67, a spiritual healer from Osaka, Japan. For 28 years, she’s been shepherding a band of friends and family to competitions around the world to cheer Japanese athletes and honor her deceased sister, a big sports fan.

This is Ms. Yamazaki’s third Olympics — sort of. (After the 1964 Tokyo games, she tried to get to Moscow in 1980 but decided it was too risky.) These games, she’s here with two brothers and numerous friends,

71

Acer already backtracking on ereader plans (MacNN) (Yahoo! News Search Results for e-readers) Submitted at 2/23/2010 1:57:20 PM

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Acer is reconsidering its plans to launch an e-book reader, company chairman Wang Jengtang stated later on Monday. all decked out in matching white The company had already given caps with red pom-poms and signals that it would unveil a 6white padded Japanese robes inch reader by June and even has with the rising-sun flag on their a prototype but is now hesitant as shoulders. it's not convinced the market is They’re cheering the Japanese ready. E-readers are still a small figure-skating team: Mao Asada, field and don't have a 'proven' Miki Ando and Akiko Suzuki. strategy, the Acer chairman said.

“We’re sending the athletes He hesitated to rule Acer out of positive energy,” said Ms. the market entirely but said it Yamazaki’s younger brother, would wait until there was clear Masafumi, sporting a headband demand and that it could make r e a d i n g “ M u s t W i n ! ” i n the e-reader profitable.

Japanese.

The hesitation comes despite a rapid growth in the field, which now includes southeast Asian rivals like Fujitsu, LG and Samsung as well as American counterparts like Amazon, Barnes & Noble and now Apple.

With the exception of Apple, however, all of these have had relatively limited releases or planned releases. [ via E-Reader -info] Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

72

Game/ Picture/

E-reader News Edition

Hands-on: Nintendo DSi XL

by Andrew Yoon (Joystiq)

One can't help but question why the device exists in the first place. To whom does the DSi Left to Right: DSi XL, DSi, DS X L a p p e a l ? C e r t a i n l y , i t s P h a t P e r h a p s i t w a s n o gargantuan size makes it stand c o i n c i d e n c e t h a t N i n t e n d o out as the least portable handheld stopped by New York City to system we've seen in quite some show off the Nintendo DSi XL, t i m e , t a k i n g a c o m p l e t e l y one day after Apple made its not- opposite approach to that of s o - e a r t h - s h a t t e r i n g i P a d Sony's PSP Go. Thanks to its announcement. Like the iPad, the larger screen size, it takes up DSi XL is a larger version of an e v e n m o r e s p a c e t h a n t h e already successful handheld original DS Phat -- strange, device, but unlike the iPad, the considering one of the primary DSi XL promises no added complaints held against the Phat functionality, nor does it alter the was its unwieldy girth. electronics landscape in any way. What the XL excels at (sorry!)

It is, quite succinctly, a bigger are games that require extensive DSi. use of the stylus. The massive Submitted at 2/24/2010 11:01:00 AM

stylus that's included with the system is easy to handle, making earlier stylus pens feel cheap and flimsy. The larger screen real estate makes it easier to draw on the system, perfect for intense Pictochat sessions or a round with WarioWare DIY. Gallery: Nintendo DSi XL Continue reading Hands-on: Nintendo DSi XL Hands-on: Nintendo DSi XL originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Commons welcomes the University of Washington Libraries!

by Cris Stoddard (Flickr Blog) Submitted at 2/23/2010 8:56:14 AM

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Welcome the University of Washington Libraries Digital Collection to The Commons!

They join The Commons with a special treat in honor of the Olympics: Winter Sports!

They’ve got all the great sports from curling to hockey to dog sled teams (huskies, anyone?) to toboggans galore. These historic photos from the Pacific

Northwest showcase the athletic prowess of former champions; some are quite whimsical, too.

Take a break from Olympic coverage by checking out their fabulous winter images; these images have No Known Copyright Restrictions and are waiting for you to comment, annotate, and tag.

Photos from the University of Washington Libraries Digital Collection.

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73

ESRB rates 'Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse' for PS3 [update]

by Alexander Sliwinski (Joystiq) Submitted at 2/24/2010 9:15:00 AM

The bunny was already out of the velvet hat regarding Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse Episode 1: The Penal Zone, but here's a twist: it's coming to the PS3, according to the ESRB. If true, this would be the first time Sam & Max bring their special style of police work to Sony's console. Oddly, no ratings for other consoles (nor PC) have been published on the ESRB's

online database.

We're currently following up with developer Telltale and the ESRB for clarification on platforms. After all, nobody should be left out when it comes to the Sam & Max adventure games.

Update 2: The ESRB rating has been pulled. According to the ESRB, "The platforms listed on our site are those that have been identified to us by game publishers. As it turns out, this title has been removed from our website today at the request of

the publisher, but will be reposted at a later date. Any question related to this title and what platforms it will be available on should go to its

speculate on Mac too for this series, given our announcements at Macworld earlier this month.

Real official news is expected very soon."

ESRB rates 'Sam & Max: The Devil's Playhouse' for PS3 [update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. publisher."

Read| Permalink| Email this| Update: A Telltale rep tells us, Comments "It's fine to say multi-platform, including PC and a selected console platform. And one might

Yakuza 3 loses hostess clubs, quiz game in Western release

by JC Fletcher (Joystiq)

alloted for us to do so," a Sega rep told IGN. "The parts we Submitted at 2/24/2010 10:47:00 AM ended up taking out were parts [ GAME Watch] There's a good that we felt wouldn't make sense chance that many of you were (like a Japanese history quiz going to play through Yakuza 3 game) or wouldn't resonate as without messing with the hostess much (such as the concept of a club segments or the Answer x hostess club)."

Answer arcade quiz game. Now, You may have gone on a it's a certainty. karaoke date with Rina in the "The content between Yakuza 3 demo. In the original game, you US/UK and Yakuza JP is a little meet her in a hostess club, and different in that we took out have to buy her gifts and learn certain bits in order to bring the about her in conversations. Now, game to the west in the time we suppose, she'll just randomly

call you like she did in the demo. was the same as the Japanese Somehow, the dating won't be version." affected, as the Sega rep assured Who can blame Sega for cutting IGN that "the story experience some of the more culturally

Japanese elements from this roleplaying game about modern Japanese culture? After all, it must have been in a rush to release on the same day as Final Fantasy XIII. Yakuza 3 loses hostess clubs, quiz game in Western release originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 24 Feb 2010 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fashion/ E-reader News/ Economy/

E-reader News Edition

Trend Crush: Looks I Love But Will Probably Never Wear

Google faces Brussels antitrust scrutiny

by ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog)

(Financial Times - US homepage)

Submitted at 2/23/2010 11:17:29 AM

There’s no denying that a major trend (so far) in the fall/winter ‘10 Fashion Week is wearability.

From Prabal Gurung to Marc Jacobs in New York to the usually over-the-top designers who show in London, there are more looks this season that have evoked an ‘I could totally wear that’ reaction than any other in recent memory. From the plethora of simple sheaths to easily-incorporate-able separates, designers are reacting no doubt to the sad economic mood—both their companies’ and ours—by offering less fantasy, more ready to wear to work reality.

There are, however, a few notable exceptions. And perhaps it’s because they are fewer and

farther between this season, but I can’t get enough of them. My favorite collection of NY Fashion Week came from threeASFOUR each of whose 16 looks are an executed feat of Adi Gil, Angela Donhauser, and Gabi Asfour’s beautiful, bizarre imaginations. Would I wear a

gown that actually provides no coverage? Even if I had an appropriately avant garde occasion and the model figure required to not look completely tragic in one or any of these exhibitionist looks, I probably still wouldn’t.

Then again, maybe shedding one’s sartorial inhibitions takes time—what do you think? Has your personal style become more or less cautious with age?

—Johanna Cox Love ‘em, but not sure if I’d ever wear ‘em fall/winter ’10 spandex body stocking with l o o k s , courtesy of crescent-shaped peek-a-boos at t h r e e A S F O U R , J e n K a o , the knees, hips, and crotch, Antonio Berardi, and Ann-Sofie o v e r l a y e d w i t h a g i l t e d Back breastplate nightgown? Could I Photos: Imaxtree find a way to make a leather-and -mesh bodysuit appropriate for public consumption? Am I going to invest in a full-coverage lace

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The European Commission has launched a preliminary antitrust investigation into Google’s search engine and its searchadvertising service.

The European Commission on Wednesday said it had contacted the US internet company about two weeks ago about three complaints it had received and that the commission itself was examining them.

The authorities in Brussels stressed that they had not opened a formal investigation in the company or its practices at this stage.

According to Google, one of the three complaints was from rival Microsoft. That protest, from an online service called Ciao that was recently bought by the (including images) -- nothing at software company, echoes a complaint that had already been all to scoff at.

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PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, The Commission added that it had asked Google to comment Term Extraction. on the complaints and that it was co-operating closely with national competition authorities.

GOOGLE page 76

Gadgetlust: The List of E-readers So Far (UGO UnderGroundOnline) (Yahoo! News Search Results for e-readers) Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:20:31 AM

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Of the alternative casual e-

readers on the market (e.g., Bookeen Cybook Opus, Hanlin V5, Hanvon N518, COOL-ER), Ectaco's JetBook Lite stands out because it is the cheapest. At around $150, this e-reader cuts serious corners. Instead of the standard E Ink screen, this one uses a more reflective LCD

screen. Rather than an internal battery, the JetBook Lite holds four AA batteries that last 23 hours. Internal storage is a measly 100 MB. But you do get an SD slot, access to e-books in the massive Barnes & Noble store, portrait and landscape modes, and a slew of file formats

Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:42:25 AM

Economy/

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Business.view: Brilliant inventor or patent troll?

(The Economist: Daily columns)

byproducts. The reactor’s other benefits include never having to be refuelled despite a potential Submitted at 2/23/2010 9:44:10 PM lifespan of several hundred Message from fivefilters.org: If years. you can, please donate to the full If Mr Myhrvold did not exist, it -text RSS service so we can would be necessary to invent continue developing it. him—if only to show the public B u s i n e s s . v i e w N a t h a n what a genuine inventor looks Myhrvold's proposal for a market l i k e . T h e f o r m e r c h i e f in “invention capital” technology officer of Microsoft Feb 24th 2010 | From The h a s a n i n f e c t i o u s , w o n k y Economist online enthusiasm and an unlimited W I T H h i s e n t h u s i a s t i c curiosity. His projects have endorsement of nuclear power as included trying to defeat malaria the key to a green, energy- by zapping mosquitoes with abundant future, Bill Gates lasers, seeking intelligent life on grabbed the headlines at the TED distant planets and barbecuing, a conference, a gathering of field in which he was at one wealthy nerds (plus a smattering point the world champion. of celebrities) held in California What’s not to like about him? this month. What has inspired Well, quite a lot, some people Mr Gates to give nuclear energy think. both his moral and financial Writing in the latest Harvard support is a new design of Business Review Mr Myhrvold reactor developed by Intellectual complains that his company is Ventures, a firm run by an old “misunderstood”. He says: “We friend and business partner, have been reviled as a patent Nathan Myhrvold. troll—a renegade outfit that buys Mr Myhrvold’s new method of up patents and then uses them to generating power from uranium, hold up innocent companies.” the travelling-wave reactor, is Critics of the patent system, being taken up by TerraPower, a including many who work in firm in which Mr Gates is open-source technology, are investing. One of the features of indeed worried about the $5 the technology he finds most billion that Mr Myhrvold has attractive is the difficulty of raised to buy up thousands of making nuclear bombs from its patents, fearing that it will throw

sand in the wheels of innovation.

Amar Bhidé, author of “ The Venturesome Economy”, compares invention to writing a book: imagine if authors had to buy intellectual-property rights for every idea that they referred to in their work, rather than simply acknowledging it in a footnote.

Mr Myhrvold, in contrast, believes that he is helping to create a lively, well-funded market in intellectual-property rights that will help solve a problem of under-invention that he thinks even afflicts America, the world’s most inventive country. The root of the problem, as he sees it, is the current reliance on a “charity model” of funding research—in particular, universities’ dependence on government grants. The solution, he argues in his Harvard Business Review article, “The Big Idea: Funding Eureka”, would be a world in which inventors are encouraged to invent by the presence of investment funds that compete to buy their intellectual property and sell it on—perhaps bundled with other patents—to buyers who know how to put it to good use.

Some of those taking part in this market could be industrial

companies—Qualcomm, a designer of microchips for mobile telecoms—already does much of what Mr Myhrvold talks about. But he foresees it being dominated by fund-management firms, such as his own Intellectual Ventures, collectively constituting a new alternative asset class that he calls “invention capital”.

The idea of raising money to invest explicitly in creating patents is not new, Mr Myhrvold notes: that is what Thomas Edison did. But firms such as his will seek to institutionalise the process so it is not dependent only on a single inventor.

Intellectual Ventures has 650 employees, not all of them patent attorneys, and as well as buying patents it develops ideas inhouse. In 2009 it applied for about 450 patents for its own inventions—more than Boeing, 3M or Toyota—putting it among the world’s top 50 patent-filers.

Even so, Mr Myhrvold’s critics will be hard to convince. Mr Bhidé, for instance, points out that “a great many new products are combinations of innumerable ideas, some patentable and some not. ‘Creating a market’ in the patentable bits (and implicitly expanding the scope of patent protection) hurts the process of

creating new combinations, adding both uncertainty and expense.” Mr Myhrvold champions the software industry’s conversion to the merits of patents from the 1970s as a model of what might happen in other industries. However, Mr Bhidé argues that the great breakthroughs in computer software, such as the spreadsheet, were developed when software could not be patented.

This debate seems certain to run and run, at least until Intellectual Ventures delivers proof that its approach can deliver the goods.

Alas, this may take some time—as Mr Gates pointed out at the TED conference, new reactor designs like TerraPower’s can take 20 years to invent and another 20 to deploy. So Mr Myhrvold may find that the suspicions against him of patenttrollery have a long half-life.

Readers' comments The Economist welcomes your views.

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GOOGLE continued from page 74

This procedure is standard practice when complaints are received in Brussels, and it can take some time – often months – before a decision is made either to begin a formal probe or to drop the matter.

Google has faced antitrust reviews on both sides of the Atlantic. However, no government agency has previously started an official inquiry into its search and search -advertising services, in spite of indications from officials in both Brussels and Washington that such a review might become necessary.

In a blog post on Tuesday night revealing the official review, Google sought to depict it as a consequence of its growing market power. “This kind of scrutiny goes with the territory when you are a large company,” said Julia Holtz, the company’s senior competition counsel for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Trouble in Brussels for US corporate giants 1997: Boeing’s $16bn purchase of McDonnell Douglas runs into problems with the European Commission, which only approves the deal after lastminute concessions from the aerospace company.

2001: GE’s $45bn bid for Honeywell is opposed by the

European Commission, and conditions offered do not suffice.

2004: Commission imposes €497m fine on Microsoft, for abuse of a dominant market position.

2006: Commission imposes€280.5m fine on Microsoft for failing to comply with 2004 ruling.

2008: Commission pursues new complaint against Microsoft over alleged tying of its Internet Explorer browser to Windows operating system. It later fines the company a further €899m for failing to comply with the 2004 ruling. Microsoft appeals over the fine.

2009: Commission fines Intel €1.1bn for abusing its dominant position and using illegal sales practices to encourage computer manufacturers and distributors to cold-shoulder rival products.

Intel appeals.

2009: Commission accepts Microsoft’s legally-binding commitments, designed to address allegations of unlawful ’bundling’ of its software products.

Ms Holtz on Wednesday defended Google’s algorithm system for ranking web search results and said the company was optimistic that the authorities would not find a problem. ”We’re hopeful we can convince

them not to pursue this further,” she said.

The algorithm, she insisted, was a mechanical tool for ranking according to relevance. ”The algorithm does the ranking, not us,” she said, adding that companies had to “work on a good page to go up in the rankings”.

Once the algorithm is established, ”every webpage is treated in the same way,” she said.

Ms Holtz said she did not believe the company would need to offer any kind of remedies to help satisfy the antitrust authorities. ”It’s not necessary,” she said.

At an estimated 90 per cent, Google’s share of search advertising in Europe is higher even than its home market in the US, where most analysts put it at up to 80 per cent.

The complaint from Ciao, now part of Microsoft’s Bing search engine, centres on Google’s advertising system. While it has always maintained that advertising prices are set by auction, leaving it without any direct influence over pricing, it has faced complaints from a number of companies over its practice of setting minimum bid levels.

Sparked by two separate

complaints, Google said that Brussels was also looking into its search rankings. It said the complaints had come from Foundem, a UK price comparison service, and ejustice.fr, a French legal search engine, both of which had complained that they had been relegated to an unfairly low place in Google’s search rankings.

Google denied that it deliberately disadvantaged specialised, or “vertical”, search services like this, and pointed to others that appear high in its rankings.

“We understand how important rankings can be to websites, especially commercial ones, because a higher ranking typically drives higher volumes of traffic,” said Ms Holtz. “We are also the first to admit that our search is not perfect, but it’s a very hard computer science problem to crack.”

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E-readers: Would it kill vendors to provide sales stats? (ZDNet) (Yahoo! News Search Results for e-readers) Submitted at 2/24/2010 2:49:29 AM

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Latest Post| Last 10 Posts| Archives Previous Post: News to know: Google-EU; China; Microsoft; Intel; HP; Yahoo-Twitter Next Post: Intel: We were hit with cyberattack E-readers: Would it kill vendors to provide sales stats?

Posted in: • Amazon • Ebook • General • Personal Technology Barnes & Noble's nook is its "best-selling product" and has the potential for a halo effect that will drive sales, digital and physical. Sounds great except sales figures are a no-show.

E-READERS: page 77

Gallup Poll/

E-reader News Edition

77

E-READERS: continued from page 76

Sound familiar? Welcome to the e-reader playbook. Sales are just swell, but no one will give you any hard data. A few weeks ago Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, obviously prodded by the Apple iPad announcement, said there are millions of Kindles sold.

That statement may have helped guesstimates, but not by much.

we see this as evidence that we already strongly positioned to be major player. We therefore submit, we firmly believe that this is not a two-horse race by any means, as some in the press have written. We're still very early, it is the first lap. Our core technology is in place. Our digital catalog is growing fast. It boasts the largest collection of On Tuesday, it was time Barnes ebooks and digital content & Noble CEO Steve Riggio to anywhere. And our ereader give a data-free nook update. software, getting better every "Due to the strategic nature of day, powers more platforms, the whole digital business we i n c l u d i n g P C s , M a c s a n d won't be breaking out ebook iPhones than any other company. sales or sales of the Nook We're expanding content at a device," said Riggio. Get email lightning pace. Our content alerts on breaking e-books and e- catalog, important to note is not reader news Also: Apple’s iPad just about ebooks. We see major, vs. Amazon’s Kindle: It’s not major growth opportunities zero sum Funny that's what ahead in the digital newsstand Amazon says. And Sony isn't arena. And I will note that that is coughing up units either. Why? very familiar territory to us as we These businesses just aren't a r e t h e l a r g e s t r e t a i l e r o f material to companies that are specialty magazines in America, huge. So we're left to guess. with very strong relationships with hundreds and hundreds of More from Riggio: Ebook sales very fine publishers that want to are simply exploding at Barnes see their content distributed in and Noble. And we all, are digital format to their customers. already seeing signs that our And. Nook is a great product. It market share in some categories has garnered great reviews. It is of ebooks will soon exceed our now our single best-selling market share of physical books product. And we believe the halo in those same categories. This is effect of Nook is soon going to consistent with our view that the be shown. It is building traffic in ebook market will be less o u r s t o r e s , e s p e c i a l l y , w e fragmented. Less fragmented envision, a strong fourth quarter, than that of physical books and when consumer electronics

become one of the most wanted gift items in a customer's shopping list. Barnes & Noble execs also said that Apple's iPad isn't a foe and that it can be a compliment to e-book sales via apps.

• Disney's Web sites hit with outage(02-24) • Intel: We were hit with cyberattack(02-24) • E-readers: Would it kill vendors to provide sales stats?

(02-24) • News to know: Google-EU; China; Microsoft; Intel; HP; Yahoo-Twitter(02-24) • Yahoo and Twitter partner to mesh the content from both worlds(02-23) • HP launches Singapore research hub, eyes sustainable data centers(02-23) • Google: EU opens investigation with Microsoft prodding(02-23) • Google talks search, mobile and, briefly, China at tech conference(02-23) • HP has another round of layoffs underway(02-23) • Now you can follow ZDNet on Google Buzz(02-23)

Support for Israel in U.S. at 63%, Near Record High

At this point, you can take Barnes & Noble's comments about the nook ( all resources), attribute them to Amazon and (All Gallup Headlines) not know the difference. There's Submitted at 2/23/2010 7:00:00 PM a playbook that e-reader manufacturers are following and Message from fivefilters.org: If that means we may not get real you can, please donate to the full data on sales for quite a while.

-text RSS service so we can Related: Macmillan's continue developing it.

DynamicBooks demo: PRINCETON, NJ -- For the first Textbooks to the 'Wii era'? time since 1991, more than 6 in • Apple iPad e-book pricing: 10 Americans -- 63% -- say their Publishers can't get too cocky sympathies in the Middle East • Amazon losing the e-book situation lie more with the pricing battle: Will content Israelis than with the trump distribution?

Palestinians. Fifteen percent side • Amazon vs. Macmillan: more with the Palestinians, down Capitulation will lead to higher e slightly from recent years, while - b o o k p r i c e s , A p p l e i P a d more Posts (Archives) momentum WordPress Mobile Edition a combined 23% favor both sides, favor neither side, or have • Special Report: Apple tablet: available at alexking.org. no opinion.

It’s an iPad powered by WordPress.

• Report: E-reader sales will Five Filters featured article: The 63% sympathizing with surge at the $150 price point Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: Israel today is statistically PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, unchanged from the 58% to 59% seen from 2006 to 2009; posted by Larry Dignan Term Extraction. however, it is considerably February 24, 2010 @ 2:30 am higher than most of the previous Previous Post: News to know: readings on this Gallup measure Google-EU; China; Microsoft; since 1993. The trend includes Intel; HP; Yahoo-Twitter two 38% readings in 1996 and Next Post: Intel: We were hit 1997. with cyberattack Last 10 posts: Only in January 1991 -- shortly SUPPORT page 78

78

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SUPPORT continued from page 77

after Israel was hit by Iraqi Scud missiles during the Gulf War -did U.S. support for Israel register as high as it does today."Americans' attitudes about the prospects for peace are little changed from last year, but are among the more pessimistic Gallup has found since initiating the question in 1997."

Over the last five years, support for Israel has increased slightly among Republicans (rising from about 77% for each of the past several years to 85% today) and independents, but has stayed roughly the same among Democrats. Since 2001, however, there has been a more dramatic shift in partisan attitudes: a 25-point increase in sympathy for Israel among Republicans and an 18-point increase among independents.

Even on this longer-term basis, support for Israel among Democrats has been relatively flat.

The latest findings come from Gallup's annual World Affairs survey, updated Feb. 1-3, 2010.

In the same poll, Americans were asked to give their opinions of 20 countries, including Israel and the Palestinian Authority.

Israel's 67% favorable rating ranks among the highest and the Palestinian Authority's 20% among the lowest. However, current favorability toward Israel is similar to where it has been for

the last several years, and favorability toward the Palestinians is on the high end of the range since 2000.

Outlook for Peace Additionally, the poll asked Americans about the chances that peace will eventually come to the Middle East. Currently, 30% think "there will come a time" when "Israel and the Arab nations will be able to settle their differences and live in peace"; 67% are doubtful.

Americans' attitudes about the prospects for peace are little changed from last year, but are among the more pessimistic Gallup has found since initiating the question in 1997. The only time fewer Americans were optimistic about Arab-Israeli peace (27%) was in July 2006, during the Israeli-Hezbollah war in southern Lebanon. While public optimism has since remained low, it has shown longer-term variations, and has a history of rebounding -particularly after U.S.-brokered peace talks in 1999, 2003, and 2005.

With 39% of Democrats saying peace will come about, this group is more optimistic than either Republicans (25%) or independents (26%) are about Arab-Israeli peace. This has been the general pattern for the past decade; however, the gap between Democrats and others

has expanded in recent years.

Independents have become significantly less optimistic about the chances of peace since President Obama took office: the percentage believing peace will come about fell from 41% during the last year of the Bush administration (in February 2008) to 30% in May 2009, and stands at 26% today. Optimism among Republicans fell below 30% in 2007 and has since remained low. Democrats' views have been fairly steady since 2001, except for a brief spurt of optimism in 2005 -- seen among all three party groups (a major Israeli-Palestinian peace summit that resulted in a truce agreement was underway at the time of that survey).

Bottom Line In the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, a striking 63% of Americans currently say their sympathies lie more with the Israelis, the highest level in nearly 20 years. Support for the Palestinians, at 15%, is about average for the same period. At the same time, Gallup finds Americans' fundamental views of Israel no more favorable than they have been for the past several years. Israel does continue to enjoy a substantial advantage over the Palestinian Authority in its general image, a fact that clearly colors the ways Americans view the conflict.

Americans are no more optimistic today than they were last year that peace can be reached between Israel and the Palestinians -- and they are, in fact, less optimistic than they were toward the end of the Bush administration. This is largely owing to a drop in optimism among independents.

Survey Methods Results are based on telephone interviews with a random sample of 1,025 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Feb. 1-3, 2010. For results based on the total sample of national adults, one can say with 95% confidence that the maximum margin of sampling error is Âą4 percentage points.

Interviews are conducted with respondents on land-line telephones (for respondents with a land-line telephone) and cellular phones (for respondents who are cell-phone only).

In addition to sampling error, question wording and practical difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce error or bias into the findings of public opinion polls.

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Will Brain-Scanning Lie Detectors Free the Innocent or Jail Them?

by Justin McLachlan (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now) Submitted at 2/24/2010 7:37:47 AM

Two companies say their brainscanning technology can find the truth in criminal cases It was a courtroom first. Late last year, an Illinois judge allowed functional magneticresonance imaging (fMRI) as evidence during the sentencing phase of a murder trial. Defense attorneys argued that the scan showed signs of mental illness and hoped it would convince the jury to show mercy. It didn't.

They sentenced Brian Dugan to death for killing a 10-year-old girl. Despite the inability to sway a jury, many lawyers say the case is a watershed moment: It opens the door for all kinds of fMRI WILL page 79

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WILL continued from page 78

analysis, including the work of two companies that say they can read brain activity to detect deceit. In essence, fMRI could someday become an unbeatable lie detector. The reality, though, is a little more complicated. fMRI scanners detect variations in the magnetic properties of blood as oxygen levels change in response to neural activity. The more a section of the brain works, the more oxygen it demands and the brighter it glows on the scan. When a person is recalling a memory or formulating a lie, the part of the brain doing that work will light up. The next step is decoding what activity in each part of the brain means. Researchers are developing "deceit patterns" based on tests with peopleimages of the way a deceitful brain looks in fMRI scans-that computers analyze to determine whether the person was answering truthfully. But because no two brains are exactly alike, standardizing the

incriminating patterns and delivering consistent results has so far proved elusive.

The two companies marketing fMRI lie detectors, No Lie MRI in California and Cephos in Massachusetts, have reported accuracy rates from 75 to 98 percent. That's not good enough, says Joy Hirsch, director of the Program for Imaging and Cognitive Sciences at Columbia University: "Someone's life could be in the hands of this technology."

Joel Huizenga, the founder and CEO of No Lie MRI, agrees and notes that, with acceptance of fMRI evidence growing, his company is participating in more studies than ever to improve recognition of deceit patterns.

"Are we as good as we can be?

No, of course not," he says. His counterpart at Cephos, Steven Laken, says that no matter the error rate, jurors have to be told that fMRI results are not infallible and should be interpreted only for supporting a

judgment, not as definitive evidence of guilt.

Even so, studies show that jurors focus on salient points of evidence and downplay the probability of error-they tend to believe that scientific-looking results, presented by experts, are true. The answer is to make the fMRI as reliable as it can be, says F. Andrew Kozel, a researcher at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center who studies lie detection through fMRI. That will take more research.

His latest study, partially funded

by Cephos and published last year, used fMRI to test people who had participated in a mock crime as part of the experiment.

Although the test caught guilty parties who lied, sometimes it nailed innocent folks who were telling the truth. Kozel is seeking funding to test scenarios that are as close as possible to ones an fMRI might be used to evaluate in court.

"Might" is still the operative

word. Despite the decision in Illinois, judges typically scrutinize the merit of new scientific methods before admitting them in an actual trial.

"I believe there will be more attempts to have this testimony introduced in court," says Michael Perlin, a law professor at New York Law School who studies how courts use fMRI results. But if attorneys can't prove it's reliable and relevant, they'll probably fail.

The real test will come when prosecutors try to use fMRI to bolster their cases. Experts tend to agree that, for now, the technology delivers mixed results. Using a picture of someone's brain to justify a prison sentence-or worse-may be too much to ask.

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PopSci/ Energy/

E-reader News Edition

Next for NASA: Inflatable Space Stations, In-Orbit Refueling, Space UAVs and More

A New Role for Salt in Solar Thermal

by Stuart Fox (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now)

Submitted at 2/23/2010 12:22:41 PM

than current models for the same weight, provide just as much protection, and even be tested with the currently deployed ISS. Plus, private sector companies Submitted at 2/23/2010 1:39:33 PM have already started developing As we've been hearing for the technology. months, 2010 is going to be a NASA also wants to automate year of belt-tightening for many of the tasks currently NASA. But now, with the p e r f o r m e d b y h u m a n s , release of the new NASA essentially replacing the Space budget, we can see that even S h u t t l e w i t h u n m a n n e d with substantially less money, autonomous spacecraft. This new NASA still has some cool budget dedicates money for a technologies on the way. In remote rendezvous and docking particular, this budget allocates s y s t e m , a s w e l l a s a n money for inflatable space autonomous precision landing stations, research into mid-orbit and hazard avoidance system. refueling, and the development And, like every American who's of a slew of new autonomous getting hit at the gas pump, space vehicles.

NASA wants to spend less on Inflatable space station modules fuel. In the new budget, they rank high on NASA's wish list approach that problem in two for an important reason: they're ways. The first is by paying for cheap. However, don't let the the development of an in-orbit price fool you. Despite costing refueling system. This could less, the modules can be larger significantly increase the lifespan

of currently existing satellites, and save NASA the time and money required to launch a new mission every time something runs out of gas. Additionally, NASA is allocating more funds to programs that would make fuel out of materials already found on the Moon and Mars. By only having to bring half the fuel for the trip, and gassing up with material found at the destination, NASA hopes to significantly cut the cost of interplanetary exploration.

The new budget contains a number of other interesting programs, some of which seem like reactions to the new age of lower cash flow, and others that appear to signal a true coming of age in automation technology.

Either way, it's as interesting as any 517-page government report can be.

by info@greentechmedia.com (Greentech Media: Headlines)

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There's a new fluid coming to traditional solar thermal systems.

Tyco Flow Control has come up with a way to replace therminol, the oil in the tubes in parabolic solar thermal, with molten salt.

Solar thermal developers already use tanks of molten salt to store heat collected in the daytime to produce power in the evening or night.

By deploying salt as the heat transfer mechanism inside the pipes of parabolic solar thermal parks, the efficiency of solar thermal power plants could inch up incrementally, because molten salt retains heat longer than therminol. This approach may also help parabolic solar technology, the reigning but aging standard in solar thermal, better compete against heliostats and some of the other new solar thermal architectures.

Iberdrola is already experimenting with this and Tyco is receiving orders from other developers, says Frank Gilhooly, Director of Global Sales and Marketing for the Power Business Unit of Tyco Flow Control. Molten salt will

first be deployed in this manner in Spain, but may wind up being used in solar thermal parks in India and North Africa.

In a traditional parabolic solar thermal system, curved mirrors collect heat from the sun and concentrate it on a pipe filled with therminol, an oil. The therminol absorbs the heat and later transfers it to water. The water turns into steam, the steam turns a generator, and electricity is made.

"The challenge is that therminol flows rather easily. Molten salt does not because it sets up," said Gilhooly. "You need to keep it hot enough to keep it flowing."

To that end, Tyco's Vanessa division, which makes valves, has worked with a thermal division in Belgium to devise a pipe that is wrapped with a cable called a heat tracing unit that keeps it warm. Everything is then wrapped in insulation.

Some other companies have tried to heat the pipe with a companion steam pipe. Leakage, however, is a problem, along with the fact that most solar thermal parks are located in areas prone to water shortages and droughts.

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NSF Puts Up $25 Million to Research Biological Machines

by Clay Dillow (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now) Submitted at 2/23/2010 2:36:22 PM

What would you do with $25 million? If you answered "create a center to research the development of programmable, highly sophisticated biological machines," we regret to inform you the National Science Foundation and MIT have beaten you to the punch. The Emergent Behaviors of Integrated Cellular Systems Center (EBICS), will not only advance research in the emerging experimental discipline of engineered biological systems, but will lay an extensive educational groundwork for research in the field going forward.

In other words, it appears the NSF thinks this sci-fi-tastic arena is among science's most promising frontiers. And why not? The implications of advanced biological machines are vast, impacting everything from experimental biology to regenerative medicine to energy and materials sciences.

Though headquartered at MIT, research will also take place at the University of Illinois at

Urbana-Champaign and Georgia Institute of Technology, as well as at various minority-serving academic institutions, as one goal of the grant is to involve groups traditionally underrepresented in scientific research. Working together, the three universities and their partners hope to figure out the best means to create a series of sensors, actuators, processors and the like with architectures rooted in biology, eventually throwing back the curtain on a field of research that has thus far been only lightly explored.

Underscoring its commitment to pushing forward with biological systems research in the longterm, the EBICS initiative will create undergraduate- and graduate-level programs that will seed future growth at this crossroads of engineering in biology. So while EBICS has yet to declare a firm deadline for producing advanced regenerative organs or self-healing materials, the NSF is putting its money on the idea that we can get there if we put our best minds to it.

Weight Lifting Ant Hefts 100 Times Its Body Weight, Photo Contest Gold

by Clay Dillow (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now) Submitted at 2/23/2010 3:05:51 PM

There's not a whole lot to we can say to preface this photo except yes, it is real. The image of the tiny Asian weaver ant clinging upside-down to a

smooth surface holding a 500 mg weight - that's 100 times its body weight - captured first prize in the first Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) science photo competition, and with good cause; not only is it an amazing close-up of a tiny creature, but it WEIGHT page 82

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captures some pretty amazing biology as well.

The weaver ants' feet sport tiny wet pads that take advantage of the same properties of surface tension that cause wet microscope slides to stick together, allowing them to scale even the smoothest surfaces. But the real biological trick is in the ants' control of surface area; when their load is light, they can fold up their feet to decrease surface contact, reducing their adhesion and allowing them to move freely. But when hauling a heavy payload like the ant above,

they can unfurl those feet to lay down a lot of surface tension, creating a body-weight-topayload ratio that is pretty incredible.

While the static image above is the award-winner, the video below captures these sticky little workhorses in action. [ Cambridge]

An Auction House For Smart Grid Services by info@greentechmedia.com (Greentech Media: Headlines)

the ISO (independent service provider) and now they are finding customers," said Phil Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:00:42 AM Adams, World's president.

Message from fivefilters.org: If The utility gets a better handle you can, please donate to the full on peak power demand, sellers -text RSS service so we can earn money from giving up continue developing it. power they didn't really need, World Energy Solutions has set and the CSP earns money for out to put a market price on ensuring that the utility gets its nothing. negawatts. In other words, the The company -- which provides seller and CSP work together to services for auctions of carbon make sure the utility can give the certificates and energy-- has seller less. World Energy, formally launched the World DR meanwhile, collects a fee from Exchange, an online auction sites the CSP. for selling and buying capacity The two most prominent for demand response networks. demand response companies to It works like this: a potential date are EnerNoc and Comverge, seller conducts an internal audit but more companies are entering to determine if it can voluntarily the field. So far, World Energy curb power consumption during has conducted three auctions by info@greentechmedia.com the customers are typically the peak afternoon hours. If so, it w i t h t w e l v e p a r t i c i p a n t s .

(Greentech Media: Headlines) i n s t a l l e r s , m i d d l e m e n a n d quantifies the amount of power it Gerber's Poultry, a seller in an can curb and offers it on the site. e a r l y a u c t i o n , s a i d i t h a s utilities, not consumers who pass Submitted at 2/24/2010 4:06:21 AM Demand response companies or garnered $100,000 in unforeseen it along through word-of-mouth.

Message from fivefilters.org: If All of the above are true, but curtailment service providers revenue by auctioning off excess you can, please donate to the full Microsoft has set out to change ( C S P ) t h e n b i d o n i t a n d capacity.

-text RSS service so we can some of the picture with Hohm, effectively resell it to a local "We found watching the auction utility under a contract the CSP unfold very exciting: there wasn't continue developing it. the energy management console much bidding activity at first, but For the past five years, pundits, it released last year. In fact, the has likely already signed.

"They've promised capacity for as the end point of the auction investors, companies and others more you examine Hohm, the have gone out of their way to m o r e t h e w h o l e s t r a t e g y explain why the energy business resembles an Internet business isn't like Web 2.0. plan. Why? The videos with Energy companies require a p r o d u c t m a n a g e r T r o y tremendous amount of capital, Batterberry provide more but nearly all of the products have to here's a quick run-down: go through rigorous testing cycles, free distribution models VIDEO: page 83 often are not realistic options and

Video: How Microsoft Will Make Energy Like the Internet

drew near, the bids were flying, driving up our overall share of revenue," said Gerber's CEO John Metzger in a prepared statement.

Ideally, auctions will lead to more accurate market prices for both buyers and sellers. Now, sellers often only learn about demand response or curtailment services when they get cold calls from sales representatives.

Competitors, though, argue that there's a heck of a lot more going on here than cold calling and offering low prices. It's an ongoing relationship.

"Auctions aren't well suited for business relationships in which value is realized during the entire business relationship, versus prior to receiving the good or service when the price one pays to get the good or service is the sole (or nearly sole) driver of value," wrote Gregg Dixon, a senior vice president at EnerNoc. Five Filters featured article: Chilcot Inquiry. Available tools: PDF Newspaper, Full Text RSS, Term Extraction.

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Chevron Teams up With a Frontiersman to Develop CPV by info@greentechmedia.com (Greentech Media: Headlines)

case, have always been Chevron Corp-owned sites such as refineries, offices, and oil fields.

Submitted at 2/23/2010 3:25:16 PM CES has about 22 MW of Message from fivefilters.org: If operational PV capacity and at you can, please donate to the full least another 50 MW in the -text RSS service so we can pipeline. Its largest planned continue developing it. project is s 45 MW system in Today, Chevron Mining Inc., a Lucerne Valley, Calif. With a subsidiary of oil major Chevron signed PPA from Southern Corp, announced that sister California Edison, it is expected company Chevron Technology to begin construction this year Ventures(CTV), will build a one and begin operation in 2012. The m e g a w a t t C o n c e n t a t i n g project will use First Solar CdTe photovoltaic (CPV) project on modules and will be constructed CMI's molybdenum mine in in two phases (20 MW and 25 Questa, New Mexico to begin MW). operation later this year.

Now, on to today's Confused yet? If not, then how announcement. In the presence about this: the project represents of Governor Bill Richardson, a departure from Chevron's Chevron Mining Inc. announced n o r m a l s o l a r d e v e l o p m e n t that its New Mexico site would strategy, which is to use its other soon be home to a one megawatt subsidiary Chevron Energy C P V i n s t a l l a t i o n u s i n g a Solutions(CES) to construct and Concentrix Solar GmbH system. finance projects. This is what Although a one megawatt project h a p p e n s w h e n a c o m p a n y is nothing to scoff at, it isn't Chevron's size gets into the solar usually big news. But this project development game. announcement warrants Let's take a step back. Chevron consideration for four reasons: has been developing PV projects, First, once operational it will mostly through CES, for years. become the largest CPV project Its primary clients, as in this in the United States. This says as

much about the CPV industry as it does about the project itself.

The CPV market has been slow to grow, and significant cost reductions are hard to achieve with no real manufacturing volume. But there have been a number of recent high concentrating PV project announcements, so it's unlikely the Chevron project will retain the title for long.

Second, the fact that the project is being developed by CTV, rather than CES, tells us something. CTV is essentially the venture capital arm of Chevron, and its announced solar investments to date have been Brightsource Energy(CSP) and Konarka(Organic PV). CTV's mission is to "identify, acquire, test, and validate and - if appropriate - help integrate" new technologies into the rest of Chevron's business.

Concentrating PV is indeed a new technology, so it makes sense that CTV would develop this project. But if this project goes well, I wouldn't be surprised to see CTV announcing an investment in or acquisition of

a CPV company.

Third, the project is yet another example of New Mexico's rapid ascension as a state solar market, as we've been saying for months.

Given its high insolation and unique incentive structure, New Mexico is poised to become one of the main second tier solar markets despite having only one megawatt cumulative installed at the end of 2008. Since we predicted this in our December report The United States PV Market Through 2013: Project Economics, Policy, Demand and Strateg y, New Mexico's utilityscale PV project pipeline has grown to over 400 MW. And finally, power from the Chevron project will be sold through a PPA with local utility Kit Carson Electric Cooperative.

Seriously.

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1. All you need is a computer.

Hohm essentially creates a computerized simulation of your home through data submitted by the consumer-square footage, the number of windows, utility expenses, the year built, etc.accumulated data and simulations from other users and household simulations in part developed from technology licensed from Lawrence Berkeley Lab. Hohm then tells you how you compare in energy consumption against your neighbors and gives recommendations on how to reduce consumption. New features this week also let you figure out your neighbor's power consumption, Zillow-like, by popping in their address and other info.

No smart meters or networked thermostats needed, just like how the increasing performance of PCs made smart set-top boxes and interactive TVs non-starters.

2. It revolves around computers talking to computers. Again, the recommendations are based on simulations and submitted data.

Smart appliances and thermostats can be added to beef up performance--and devices are coming soon--but they aren't necessary to get some benefit from Hohm.

3. It may not work that well.

Mylackey.com. Pets.com. Many thing work better in the real world than on the Internet. Less VIDEO: page 84

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reliance on smart meters and thermostats may cut the effectiveness. Google's PowerMeter relies on thermostats. On the other hand, simulations make it easier to track gas and water consumption too. Consumer feedback will be crucial to determine which is better.

4. It's free! Everyone's favorite word. Microsoft will not charge consumers, Batterberry says so on tape.

5. Most of the money will come from advertising and leads.

When Hohm gives its recommendations to improve energy efficiency, it will also disgorge a handy list of contractors who can do the work.

The contractors pay Microsoft advertising fees as well as for lead generation. Even more money may come from utilities: once Microsoft gets a large number of consumers in a given region, utilities will pay to get access to those customers to buy new energy efficient appliances and cut down their consumption.

The company can use it as a way to schedule electric car charging too, another way to hit up utilities.

5. The underlying technology is ultimately Bayesian. Thomas Bayes, the 18 th century English clergyman, is the father of search and artificial intelligence because he believed that averages could predict future outcomes. ( Read

this article on the subject that coincidentally I wrote.) For Hohm to work, Microsoft will take the data from the experiences of its users, make it anonymous to ensure privacy, and then data mine the bejeezus out of it.

6. It's social. Around 8,000 early adopters are trading tips on Twitter and Facebook.

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