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The First Draft: Crossing the Grey Line By Tabassum Zakaria (Front Row Washington)
Afghanistan war are all on his mind — “I would be lying if I said that those aren’t weighted Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:29:24 AM questions that I carry around on President Barack Obama admits my shoulders every day.” he has crossed the grey line. As for questions about whether In the well-worn tradition of he is losing weight under the those who entered the White stress of the office, Obama says House before him, the president’s his weight is about the same. hair has greyed. And it’s only his “My weight fluctuates about five first year in office. pounds - it has for the last 30 Perhaps not exactly the change years, it’s unchanging, I still he was hoping for. wear the same stuff when I got “My hair has gotten a lot greyer married 17 years ago,” the because I was at the age where president told NBC. my hair was going to start getting (Perhaps it may be time to update grey. Having said all that, you the wardrobe?) k n o w t h i s h a s b e e n a n But after the initial splash of on some of the morning TV extraordinary year,” Obama said Obama’s round of TV interviews, shows that Sarah Palin’s book tour was about to begin. in an interview with NBC. the president still couldn’t The economy, healthcare, command the obvious excitement NBC’s Andrea Mitchell was out
near Grand Rapids, Michigan, where she talked about how some people had camped OVERNIGHT so they could get a wrist band so they could meet Palin. ABC showed more of Barbara Walters interview with Palin. And Hillary Clinton has landed in Afghanistan. It’s her first visit to the country as Secretary of State. Click here for more Reuters political coverage Photo credit: Reuters/Jim Young (Obama in Shanghai this week), Reuters/Mike Segar (Obama when presidential candidate with former President Bill Clinton in September 2008)
ADVERTISEMENT: (BloggingStocks) Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:30:00 AM
Chase commits $5 million to Facebook charity campaign By Caroline McCarthy (Webware.com) Submitted at 11/17/2009 4:04:00 PM
Members of the social network are encouraged to install an app that lets them vote on which local nonprofit should get the grand prize in contest. Originally posted at The Social
Northeast Utilities: A safe port amid uncertain seas By Joseph Lazzaro (BloggingStocks)
hence I'm reiterating my buy rating for the company, first recommended on May 6, 2009 at Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:40:00 AM a price of $21.48. Filed under: Stocks to Buy It Don't look for mega revenue goes without saying that I favor growth or gargantuan customer the electric power generation gains with NU, just predictable, sector, and among them, fewer steady earnings growth, evenly are steadier than Connecticut- split between the company's based Northeast Utilities ( NU), generating/distribution business
growth, moving forward. NU serves about 1.9 million customers, primarily in Connecticut, but also in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. Continue reading Northeast and its transmission business; Utilities: A safe port amid l o o k f o r t h e c o m p a n y ' s uncertain seas transmission sector to play an Northeast Utilities: A safe port increasing role in revenue amid uncertain seas originally
appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Email this| Comments
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In the words of a football coach, philosopher, father…
Apple's Macs aren't safe from phishing attacks
By Tabassum Zakaria (Front Row Washington)
By Tom Johansmeyer (BloggingStocks)
Submitted at 11/17/2009 11:28:36 AM
Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:20:00 AM
At the start of Sarah Palin’s “Going Rogue,” before the words begin, there’s a map: “The View from the Top of the World.” It shows Alaska closer to the center of the top of the world than Washington, D.C. — deliberate perhaps? Then wandering through the book, the quotes at the start of each chapter caught our eye. There’s the famous words from college football coach Lou Holtz: “I don’t believe that God put us on earth to be ordinary.” Greek philosopher Aristotle: “Criticism is something we can avoid by saying nothing, doing nothing, being nothing.” That is followed by chapters that feature wise words from
Filed under: Internet, Google (GOOG), Microsoft (MSFT), Yahoo! (YHOO), Apple Inc (AAPL), Technology Once upon a time, Mac users could brag they were much safer from malicious electronic attacks. After all, in the days before Google ( GOOG), when Microsoft ( MSFT) was the only uber-player in town, Windows was the perpetual malware target. Phishers, however, aren't discriminating; they're just looking for an account to plunge. So, both Apple ( AAPL) and Microsoft users are threatened. Virus writers do tend to focus on the Windows operating system, which owns 90% of the OS market, but phishers are platform independent. Phishing involves attempts to get a user to reveal information about their accounts. Once the soon-tobe victim clicks that link or fills out a form, the "transaction" is complete -- no operating system
basketball coach John Wooden, Christian pastor Charles Swindoll, humor columnist Dave Barry and American author Mark Twain. The lead in for Chapter 6 is a quote from Palin’s father, Chuck Heath Sr.: “Sarah’s not retreating; she’s reloading!” What do these quotes say about
Palin? Click here for more Reuters political coverage Photo credit: Reuters/Mike Segar (Rodin sculpture “The Thinker” outside Philosophy Department of Columbia University)
The Bigfoot of Ereaders surfaces By John Biggs (CrunchGear) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:00:27 AM
An anonymous tipster send us in this image of an e-reader running Android OS and explained that it came from a company that has never been in the tablet/e-reader business. Interesting… I suspect this is some sort of
music device for composers/performers because of
all the musical notes on the top of the screen and some things we saw in the background of the image. Any guesses as to what this could be? My suspicion is that someone like Yamaha is creating a control system for their MIDI devices, allowing folks to make music (Little Green Footballs) away from the PC.
Onion: Obama Home Teleprompter Malfunctions Submitted at 11/17/2009 5:29:04 PM
[Video]
interaction necessary. As a result, there really isn't any advantage to using a Mac over a PC. Continue reading Apple's Macs aren't safe from phishing attacks Apple's Macs aren't safe from phishing attacks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
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Cuban repression 'has increased under Raúl Castro' By Rory Carroll (World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
clandestine fact-finding mission in June and July that conducted dozens of in-depth interviews in seven of Cuba's 14 provinces. It Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:56:33 AM spoke to human rights activists, Fidel Castro's brother has j o u r n a l i s t s , c l e r i c s , t r a d e crushed dissent since taking over unionists and former political power, according to Human prisoners and their relatives. Rights Watch The report was scathing about President Raúl Castro has the international community's crushed dissent and intensified policies towards Cuba. The repression in Cuba since taking d e c a d e s - o l d U S e c o n o m i c over from his brother Fidel, embargo gave Havana a pretext according to a Human Rights to crack down on dissenters as Watch report published today. US-backed saboteurs, it said, and The government has extended should be abandoned. use of an "Orwellian" law that The EU and Canada preached allows the state to punish people human rights but failed to before they commit a crime on pressure Havana for compliance, suspicion they may do so, a tactic it added. "Worse still, Latin designed to cow actual and American governments across potential opponents, it said. the political spectrum have been The report, New Castro, Same reluctant to criticise Cuba, and in Cuba, paints a near-dystopian s o m e c a s e s h a v e o p e n l y image of an island where those embraced the Castro government. who step out of line risk being [This] silence … perpetuates a beaten and jailed in horrific climate of impunity that allows conditions which verge on repression to continue." torture. There was no immediate Since taking over from Fidel in r e s p o n s e f r o m t h e C u b a n July 2006 Raúl has expanded government. In the past it has repression and kept scores of accused Human Rights Watch of political prisoners locked up, it being a pro-US mercenary group. said. "Raúl Castro's government When an intestinal illness forced has used draconian laws and Fidel to step aside there were sham trials to incarcerate scores cautious hopes for greater more who have dared to exercise openness and tolerance after their fundamental freedoms." almost half a century of The New York-based group said communist one-party rule. Raul, i t s r e p o r t w a s b a s e d o n a a veteran defence minister, did
not promise such change but did call for honest debate about the island's severe economic problems. In fact, according to the report, he tightened repression with greater use of a provision in the criminal code which allows people to be convicted for "dangerousness", defined as behaviour which contradicts socialist norms. "The most Orwellian of Cuba's laws, it captures the essence of the Cuban government's repressive mindset, which views anyone who acts out of step with the government as a potential threat and thus worthy of punishment," the report said. It documented more than 40 cases in which individuals were jailed for "dangerousness", including such things as handing out copies of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, staging rallies, writing news articles critical of the government, and attempting to organise independent unions. The report suspected there were many more cases. "We found that failing to attend pro-government rallies, not belonging to official party organisations, and being unemployed are all considered signs of 'antisocial' behavior, and may lead to 'official warnings' and even incarceration in Raúl Castro's Cuba."
Jails were overcrowded, unhygienic, and unhealthy, leading to extensive malnutrition and illness, the report said, and political prisoners were routinely subjected to extended solitary confinement, beatings, restrictions of visits and the denial of medical care. "Taken together, these forms of cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment may rise to the level of torture." Fear permeated the lives of dissidents and their families. "Some stop voicing their opinions and abandon their activities altogether; others continue to exercise their rights, but live in constant dread of being punished." Human Rights Watch acknowledged advances in education and healthcare for the general population but lamented that they were not matched by respect for civil and political rights. Most ordinary Cubans tend to complain more about food shortages and making ends meet with monthly wages of £20. Students and academics in Havana recently told the Guardian there was more open debate than before but also frustration that Raul's economic reforms had stalled. One European diplomat, speaking on condition of
Verizon Accused of Remote Controlling Droid: Truth Somewhat Stranger By Charlie Sorrel (Wired Top Stories)
A rather odd bug in the Droid phone has been mistaken for a
secret, silent, over the air invasion by Verizon’s software
update police.
anonymity, said that while repression continued the mood had lightened. "As Fidel's power wanes, people are less scared. There is a perception you can speak more freely. But we haven't seen the turnaround we had hoped for under Raul." Brian Latell, an analyst at Institute for Cuban and Cuban American Studies and author of After Fidel: Raúl Castro and the Future of Cuba's Revolution, said that apart from an apparent suspension of the death sentence, human rights had not improved. "Raúl's imperatives for remaining in power are no different from what Fidel's always were. That is to say, no organised or potentially threatening opposition of any kind is tolerated. And there is virtually no disagreement about that within the top ruling circle of gerontocrats surrounding the Castro brothers." • Cuba • Raúl Castro • Fidel Castro • Human rights Rory Carroll guardian.co.uk© Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
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ABC at the TUC | Stephen Beer By Stephen Beer (World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
and mutual sympathy. All human beings begin in a state of dependency and the human family is the indispensable Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:00:00 AM foundation for this, with In his speech to the TUC, u n c o n d i t i o n a l f a m i l y l o v e Rowan Williams called for 'self- mirroring the love of God. We critical awareness and concern are imaginative beings who can for balanced universal welfare' l o o k t o b r o a d e n o u r "Without a stable economy, the understanding. We have the rest is idle dreaming." So argued capacity to sympathise with Rowan Williams, the Archbishop o t h e r s , w h i c h c h a l l e n g e s of Canterbury, in a speech at a individualism. Christians believe TUC/Guardian conference on the that if one suffers, all suffer. economy on Monday. Entitled " Echoing Gordon Brown's call for Beyond Crisis", the conference m o r a l v a l u e s i n m a r k e t s , w a s a b o u t d e v e l o p i n g a Williams called for a rediscovery p r o g r e s s i v e a n s w e r t o t h e of virtue: " ... the qualities of challenges faced by the financial courage, intelligent and generous meltdown and the consequent foresight, self-critical awareness recession. Rowan Williams was a n d c o n c e r n f o r b a l a n c e d t h e k e y n o t e s p e a k e r . I n a universal welfare which, under thoughtful speech, he argued for other names, have been part of the promotion of virtue in the vocabulary of European society. However, the way ethics for two and half thousand markets are organised can work y e a r s : f o r t i t u d e , p r u d e n c e , against this. temperance and justice. In the The Archbishop noted that the Christian world, of course, they word "economy" in Greek means have been supplemented by, and "housekeeping" and he expanded grounded in, the virtues of faith, on this theme. Thinking about the hope and love that, in their full economy in terms of family meaning, are bound up with housekeeping was a good way of relation to God." keeping economic discussions Recognising that a stable rooted in the real world. He economic environment was suggested the economy should n e c e s s a r y , t h e A r c h b i s h o p enable people to make and challenged the British Labour sustain a home and continue to movement to "revive the passion flourish as human beings. for humane social existence; to Williams argued we should reflect on what human character promote "three-dimensional is needed for stability and justice humanity", formed of three to prevail; and to resist the components: family, imagination, barbarising and dehumanising of
economic life which jeopardises natural and human capital alike." In this speech, Williams built on his call for repentance in the financial community by focusing on the values required for a moral and better balanced society and economy. He moved the values debate on by linking values now with a vision of a better society in the future. The promotion of virtue is an essential part of a rebuilt economy. However, this argument can sound as if we wish people had behaved better in the past and not got us into this financial mess, and as if we are imploring them to behave differently in future. This is also seen in practical calls for, say, pension funds to vote against more executive pay packages. Even if we managed to persuade all of the current generation of bankers, fund managers, pension fund trustees and advisers to behave differently, there would be no guarantee better practices would be passed on to new participants. Financial memories are short. We certainly need to reform the culture in which banking operates. But ethical behaviour needs to be entrenched and supported by institutional reform to help prevent another systemic crisis with devastating consequences for millions. People of integrity are required, but they need to be running new banking institutions. Otherwise surely, "the rest is idle
dreaming." In a panel discussion after the Archbishop's speech, John Kay repeated his calls for banking activities to be separated (also a Christian Socialist Movement campaign) but this was the only institutional reform mentioned. Many campaign and faith groups claim to "speak truth to power". As Kay noted, the financial services sector is a powerful political force in the UK and US. The Archbishop was speaking along the lines of his predecessor William Temple, outlining the values and broad policy aims needed in our society but not claiming specific policy expertise. Nonetheless, he could reflect further on how we should engage with people in powerful organisations such as banks and how we can identify institutional structures which hinder virtue. The church, often an institution which has learned such hard lessons itself, should have much to teach us. • Religion • Rowan Williams • Anglicanism • Christianity • Economic policy • Banking • Credit crunch Stephen Beer guardian.co.uk© Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
Music Card: Credit card -like MP3 player with built-in speaker (video) By Serkan Toto (CrunchGear) Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:00:16 AM
Japan-based gadget maker Strapya is offering the so-called Music Card MP3 Player(the link leads to their English store), an MP3 player that houses a speaker and an earphone plug but is still just 5mm (0.20) thin. Sized at 5.4×8.6cm, the player weighs 20g. Strapya says the headphone jack is just 2.5mm and ships fitting earphones with the player itself, but they’ll also give buyers an adapter so they can use their 3.5mm headphones as well. You can connect the player to your PC or Mac via USB and store MP3 or WMA files in its 2GB internal memory. If you don’t use the built-in speaker, you can listen to music for about 15 hours before the battery needs to be recharged. Strapya is selling various versions of the Music Card (gold credit card, three chocolate bartype models, vintage camera (?), and cassette tape). The player costs $26.40, with Strapya shipping ready to ship it worldwide. Here’s the weird – but official – promo video for the device (subbed in English):
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Broken promises on aid | David Cronin By David Cronin (World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
live up to their hype but they did at least wheedle firm commitments on aid increases from EU nations beforehand. Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:00:00 AM These required that the EU-15 Bono called Blair and Brown the (the fifteen countries in the union 'Lennon and McCartney' of prior to its eastward expansion in international development. But 2004) would give 0.56% of their they have let their fans down gross national incomes to the Google the word "begrudgery" world's poor by 2010 and that and you're told it is a " peculiar this proportion would then be disease of the Irish which increased to 0.7% by 2015. seemingly renders them unable to This week the EU's development feel good about the success of ministers are poring over a their fellows". In the recent past, progress report on delivering I have tested positive for this those pledges. It says that only ailment. The tell-tale symptoms five EU governments appear are that I have trouble keeping likely to meet or exceed the my dinner down sometimes when 0.56% target they had set for next I listen to Bono or Bob Geldof. year. The five are Sweden, My queasiness isn't caused by Denmark, the Netherlands, t h e d o u b l e s t a n d a r d s o f Ireland and Luxembourg. excessively paid rock stars Britain's absence from this list mouthing off about poverty (its development aid is around (those contradictions aside, both 0 . 4 % o f n a t i o n a l i n c o m e ) have paid a valuable role in highlights how there has always raising awareness about issues been a moral vacuum at the core like debt and Aids that are too of the New Labour project. Blair important to be left to "experts"). and Brown have placed greater It is caused by how my illustrious emphasis on fighting dubious compatriots continue to lavish wars than on fighting poverty. To undeserved praise on Tony Blair say anything favourable about and Gordon Brown. their record on world affairs, it's In 2005, the " Lennon and necessary to resort to conjecture: McCartney" of international things might have been even development (as Bono once worse had the Tories remained in dubbed Britain's then prime power beyond 1997. minister and chancellor) claimed Although the EU's progress that the fight against poverty was report on aid will generally go their top priority for the G8 overlooked, it is actually a timely s u m m i t t h e y h o s t e d i n document. It appears the same Gleneagles. The results of this week as the world food summit gathering were never going to in Rome, which is supposed to
address how for the first time in recorded history the number of people suffering chronic hunger is higher than 1 billion. While all EU states have formally recognised that nutrition is a basic human right, the union has shown no inclination to address the underlying causes of the global food crisis. Some $40bn per year is needed to help stimulate agriculture in poor countries, according to the UN. So far, though, G8 governments (half of which are also EU member states) have only promised $20bn over a three-year period; the food summit isn't offering any clarity on how this sum will be spent. The EU's progress report coincides, too, with preparations for the climate change talks in Copenhagen in a few weeks. Last month the union's leaders agreed that up to €50bn per year should be allocated by industrialised countries to help developing countries adapt to global warning by 2020. Yet the leaders did not specify precisely how much of this cash the union would provide. The sums under discussion are so inadequate they verge on the offensive. The World Development Movement has calculated that Britain alone should be giving $30bn in annual climate-related aid to reflect the harm it has caused to the atmosphere. Justice demands that all of this
aid must be additional to existing development aid, as decided by participants at a previous UN climate conference in Bali two years ago. Not one cent should be taken from aid earmarked for schools or clinics in Africa or Asia and then repackaged as environmental assistance. Given the EU's refusal to honour its existing aid promises, it is hard to be optimistic that it will provide extra resources to confront the challenges posed by global warming. Despair won't do much good, however. Just because the aims of the Make Poverty History campaign four years ago have not been attained, that doesn't mean that the efforts were in vain. On the contrary, the small aid increases that have occurred can mainly be attributed to public pressure. The task now is to build an even broader movement that addresses the links between human suffering and ecological destruction and to ratchet up the pressure to levels that our governments can no longer resist. • International aid and development • European Union • Labour David Cronin guardian.co.uk© Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
PS3 firmware 3.10 released with Facebook support, 'richer' trolling experience By Joseph L. Flatley (Engadget) Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:24:00 AM
If you've been lusting to indulge in all of those new social networking possibilities that the new PS3 firmware provides, today is your lucky day. And you know what that means: the firmware 3.10 update! Are you ready to post trophies to your Facebook page, signaling your gaming prowess to the world at large? Then you'll want to travel over to the System Update option in your console. But first, make sure you hit up the Sony PR after the break for all the crucial details. You're welcome. Continue reading PS3 firmware 3.10 released with Facebook support, 'richer' trolling experience Filed under: Gaming PS3 firmware 3.10 released with Facebook support, 'richer' trolling experience originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
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African chiefs urged to apologise for slave trade By David Smith (World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
formally apologise to the descendants of the victims of their collaborative and exploitative slave trade." Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:48:59 AM Estimates vary that between 10 Nigerian civil rights group says million and 28 million Africans tribal leaders' ancestors sold were sent to the Americas and people to slavers and should say sold into slavery between 1450 sorry like US and Britain and the early 19th century. Traditional African rulers whose More than a million are believed ancestors collaborated with to have died in transit across the European and Arab slave traders so-called "middle passage" of the should follow Britain and the A t l a n t i c d u e t o i n h u m a n e United States by publicly saying conditions aboard slave ships and sorry, according to human rights the brutal crushing of any organisations. resistance. The Civil Rights Congress of Three years ago Tony Blair Nigeria has written to tribal described Britain's participation chiefs saying: "We cannot as a "crime against humanity" continue to blame the white men, and expressed his "deep sorrow". as Africans, particularly the The US Senate voted for an t r a d i t i o n a l r u l e r s , a r e n o t apology this year. blameless." Shehu Sani, head of the The appeal has reopened a congress, said it was calling for sensitive debate over the part traditional rulers to apologise some chiefs played in helping to now because they were seeking capture their fellow Africans and inclusion in a forthcoming sell them into bondage as part of constitutional amendment in the transatlantic slave trade. Nigeria. The congress argued that the "We felt that for them to have the ancestors of the chiefs had helped moral standing to be part of our to raid and kidnap defenceless constitutional arrangement there communities and traded them to are some historical issues for Europeans. They should now them to address," he told the apologise to "put a final seal to BBC World Service. "One part of the history of slave trade", it said. which is the involvement of their "In view of the fact that the institutions in the slave trade." Americans and Europe have He said that on behalf of the accepted the cruelty of their roles buyers of slaves, the ancestors of and have forcefully apologised, it the traditional rulers "raided would be logical, reasonable and communities and kidnapped humbling if African traditional people, shipping them away rulers ... [can] accept blame and across the Sahara or across the
Atlantic". Many slaves captured inland in Africa died on the long journey to the coast. The position was endorsed by Henry Bonsu, a British-born broadcaster of Ghanaian descent who examined the issue in Ghana for a radio documentary. He said some chiefs had accepted responsibility and sought atonement by visiting Liverpool and the United States. "I interviewed a chief who acknowledged there was collaboration and that without that involvement we wouldn't have seen human trafficking on an industrial scale," said Bonsu, the co-founder of digital station Colourful Radio. "An apology in Nigeria might be helpful because the chiefs did some terrible things and abetted a major crime." The non-government organisation Africa Human Right Heritage, based in Accra, Ghana, supports the campaign for an apology. Baffour Anning, its chief executive, said: "I certainly agree with the Nigeria Civil Rights Congress that the traditional leaders should render an apology for their role in the inhuman slavery administration." He said it would accord with the UN's position on human rights. But the issue was not a high priority for most African citizens, according to Bonsu. "In my experience it's mainly the African diaspora who want an apology.
People aren't milling around Lagos or Accra moaning about why chiefs don't apologise. They are more concerned about the everyday and why they still have bad governance." Fred Swaniker, the founder of the African Leadership Academy, said: "I'm not sure whether an apology is needed, but it would be worth looking at and acknowledging the role Africa did play in the slave trade. Someone had to find the slaves and bring them before the Europeans." The shameful history of some traditional leaders remains an awkward subject on which many politicians prefer to maintain silence. One exception was in 1998 when Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda, told an audience including Bill Clinton: "African chiefs were the ones waging war on each other and capturing their own people and selling them. If anyone should apologise it should be the African chiefs. We still have those traitors here even today." • Nigeria • Human trafficking • Human rights David Smith guardian.co.uk© Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
The Real Reason the Droid's Camera Fixed Itself [Fixes] By Adam Frucci (Gizmodo) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:41:27 AM
When the Droid was shipped, it was plagued with a lousy autofocus bug. But then, it magically seemed to fix itself. Did Verizon secretly update all the phones from afar? Nope. The explanation is much weirder than that. There's a rounding-error bug in the camera driver's autofocus routine (which uses a timestamp) that causes autofocus to behave poorly on a 24.5-day cycle. That is, it'll work for 24.5 days, then have poor performance for 24.5 days, then work again. The 17th is the start of a new "works correctly" cycle, so the devices will be fine for a while. A permanent fix is in the works. But of course! I understand perfectly why a camera would be dependent on the date. Chances are good that this will have a legit fix before 24.5 days are up, but man, what a weird bug. [ Engadget via GadgetLab]
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Somali pirates beaten off in second attack on Maersk Alabama (World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:19:53 AM
Private guards return fire to help US container ship evade hijack, while pirate says captain of a seized vessel is dead Somali pirates attacked the container ship Maersk Alabama today for the second time in seven months. Private guards on board the US-flagged ship repelled the attack with gunfire and a high-decibel noise device. A US surveillance plane was monitoring the ship as it continued to its destination, Mombasa in Kenya, while a pirate said the captain of a chemical tanker, the Theresa, hijacked on Monday with 28 North Korean crew had died of his wounds. Pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama last April and took ship captain Richard Phillips hostage, holding him at gunpoint in a lifeboat for five days. Navy Seal sharpshooters freed Phillips while killing three pirates in a night-time attack. Four pirates in a skiff attacked the ship again today at about 6.30am local time, opening fire with automatic weapons from about 300 yards away, a statement from the US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain said. A security team repelled the attack by using
evasive manoeuvres, small-arms fire and a Long Range Acoustic Device, which can beam earsplitting alarm tones. Vice Admiral Bill Gortney of the US naval forces central command said the Maersk Alabama had followed the maritime industry's best practices in having a security team on board. "This is a great example of how merchant mariners can take proactive action to prevent being attacked and why we recommend that ships follow industry best practices if they're in high-risk areas," he said in a statement. Roger Middleton, a piracy expert at the Chatham House thinktank in London, said the international maritime community was solidly against armed guards, but that American ships have taken a different line. "Shipping companies are still pretty much overwhelmingly opposed to the idea of armed guards," he said. "Lots of private security companies employ people who don't have maritime experience. Also, there's the idea that it's the responsibility of states and navies to provide security. I would think it's a step backward if we start privatising security of the shipping trade." A pirate who gave his name as Abdi Nor told the Associated Press from the Somali town of Haradhere that colleagues at sea had called at about 9am – two
hours after the attack. "They told us that they got in trouble with an American ship, then we lost them. We have been trying to locate them since." A US Navy P-3 surveillance aircraft "is monitoring Maersk Alabama and has good voice communication with the vessel," said Lieutenant Nathan Christensen, spokesman for the 5th Fleet in Bahrain. "Everything is safe and secure and Maersk Alabama is proceeding to their intended destination," he said. Maritime experts said it was not unprecedented that the Maersk Alabama had been targeted in a second attack. "It's not the first vessel to have been attacked twice, and it's a chance that every single ship takes as it passes through the area," Commander John Harbour, a spokesman for the EU naval force. "At least this time they had a vessel protection detachment on board who were able to repel the attack." Phillips' ordeal last spring brought home to the US public the dangers faced by merchant ships in the Horn of Africa, one of the busiest sea lanes in the world. Underscoring the danger, a pirate, Sa'id, who gave only one name for fear of reprisals, said today that the captain of the Theresa had died of wounds suffered during the hijacking on Monday of the Virgin Islands-
owned chemical tanker. He said the captain died last night from internal bleeding. Pirates have increased their attacks in recent weeks after seasonal rains subsided. Yesterday a pirate said Somali hijackers had been paid $3.3m (£1.9m) for the release of 36 crew from a Spanish vessel held for more than six weeks – a demonstration of how lucrative the trade can be for impoverished Somalis. Phillips told AP last month from his farmhouse in Vermont that he was contemplating retiring from sea life. He has been given a book deal and a film could be in the works. Phillips was hailed as a hero for helping his crew thwart April's hijacking before he was taken hostage, but says he never volunteered, as crew members and his family reported at the time. He says he was already a hostage when he struck a deal with the pirates – trading him for their leader, who was taken by the Maersk Alabama's crew. • Piracy at sea • Somalia • United States • US military
This Is not a Photoshop Collage, It's a Wood Carving [Retromodo] By Jesus Diaz (Gizmodo) Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:10:00 AM
This morning, Ron van der Ende left me speechless with these tapes. They are not pasted in Photoshop. They are not giant three-dimensional tapes. They are bas-relief mosaics made with old wood cuts. His other gadgets are even more impressive: According to Ron van der Ende: I collect old doors and stuff. Old painted wood that I find in the street. I take it apart and skin it to obtain a 3mm thick veneer with the old paint layers still intact. I construct bas-reliefs that I cover with these veneers much like a constructed mosaic. I do not paint them! I want some of these so badly. [ Ron van der Ende via Diskursdisko via Neatorama]
Traveling with electronics (Scripting News)
guardian.co.uk© Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
Submitted at 11/18/2009 4:48:10 AM
See the Droidie site for observations on the tools I carried with me on my latest trip.
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Queen's speech 2009: crime and security bill By Alan Travis (World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
maximum security prison in London using a smuggled mobile phone. A justice ministry spokesman Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:17:23 AM said that it was already a criminal The crime and security bill offence to smuggle a mobile includes new rules on the phone inside, but "the objective retention of DNA profiles and of this clause is to act as an s t r o n g e r p o w e r s t o t a c k l e additional deterrent to those who antisocial behaviour consider trafficking a mobile Prisoners who get hold of phone and/or its component parts unauthorised mobile phones into a prison or to have them in w h i l e i n j a i l w i l l f a c e their possession and to punish prosecution, and a new legal those that do". requirement will mean airguns The new bill covers a ragbag of must be stored out of the reach of anti-crime measures including children under new measures in new rules on the retention of the the crime and security bill. DNA profiles of the innocent, T h e p o s s e s s i o n o f a n stronger powers to tackle unauthorised mobile phone inside a n t i s o c i a l b e h a v i o u r , t h e prison is already against jail rules scrapping of stop and search but the decision to make it a forms and the introduction of a c r i m i n a l o f f e n c e f o l l o w s licensing regime for private mounting concern that some wheelclamping businesses. offenders are continuing to Its most controversial elements operate major drugs rings and are probably yet to emerge, with other criminal enterprises while a policing white paper to tackle behind bars. the thorny issue of local police More than 8,600 smuggled accountability expected to be mobile phones or sim cards were published shortly. Both Labour found inside jails in England and and Conservatives are promising Wales in the 12 months to June. t o i n t r o d u c e m o n t h l y b e a t They included 255 found in high meetings for the public in every security prisons. neighbourhood, but Alan O n e g a n g s t e r , D e l p h o n Johnson, the home secretary, has Nicholas, was even found guilty already ruled out the options of last year of orchestrating the an elected police commissioner execution of a former childhood and elected police authority friend from within Belmarsh members.
The police white paper is also expected to introduce more measures to cut police red tape arising out of the yet-to-be published review of bureaucracy carried out by Jan Berry, the former chairman of the Police Federation. The bill is already pledged to include powers to reduce the reporting requirements on stop-and-search forms while retaining the ability to monitor the ethnicity of those who are stopped. Johnson, who has made clear his reluctance to introduce more Home Office legislation than is absolutely necessary, will continue to focus on the drive to tackle antisocial behaviour over the next six months. The antisocial behaviour package ensures that a mandatory assessment is carried out on the parents of every child aged 10 to 15 who is considered for an asbo, and that automatic parenting orders are imposed on those whose teenage children breach the asbo. Other possible areas of controversy that have yet to publicly emerge are the future of anti-terror control orders, which the home secretary is pledged to review in the new year, and new measures to tackle violence against women and girls. New powers to bring in domestic
Penguins Evolving Faster Than Believed By Tina Hesman Seay (Wired Top Stories)
Scientists discover that Adleie penguins are evolving, on a molecular scale, between two and
six times faster than previously believed.
violence protection orders or "go orders", which exclude violent men from the family home for 14 days, will be added to the bill. But ministers are also looking at police proposals for a domestic violence register with possible new criminal offences. The bulk of the bill as it stands at present is made up of measures relating to the national DNA database. It will include powers to hold the DNA profiles of innocent people for up to six years, which the Tories will oppose by arguing that the Scottish model of up to five years for serious violent and sexual offences would be sufficient. The bill also includes the power to retrospectively add profiles of those convicted of serious offences before 2004 to the database to enable the police to tackle "cold cases". • Queen's speech • Crime • Terrorism policy • Global terrorism • UK security and terrorism • Prisons and probation
The HourTime Podcast talks about the Golden Hand watch awards By John Biggs (CrunchGear) Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:33:10 AM
Here’s another episode of my little side project, the HourTime Podcast. This time we talk about a $500K sports watch and the history of timekeeping and some of your favorite brands. Hope you’re enjoying this and we’d love some feedback. Download MP# Subscribe in iTunes
USB Heated Burger Massager Cures Its Own Induced Stomach Ache [Peripherals] By Mark Wilson (Gizmodo)
Alan Travis guardian.co.uk© Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:40:00 AM
I prefer a rub down with the real thing, myself, but this $12 plastic USB burger massager, with heat, will have to do until my next quarter cow is delivered. From Brando, natch. [ Brando]
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China Says Microsoft Violates IP With Windows, Bars Sales
Time to clean up Britain's reputation | Chandrashekhar Krishnan By Chandrashekhar Krishnan (World news and comment from the Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
– score very well. What's interesting is that the vast majority of countries – including the G8 nations – are at neither extreme. Russia is an Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:53:56 AM astonishingly low 146th in the The MPs' expenses scandal has table. France is ranked 24th and weakened Britain's authority in Italy is placed at number 63, the eyes of the world community, alongside Saudi Arabia. as the corruption index reveals It might be tempting to view Transparency International's c o r r u p t i o n r a n k i n g s a s a n corruption perceptions index, the academic exercise, but the sad annual corruption ranking of 180 truth is that corruption has c o u n t r i e s , w a s p u b l i s h e d victims. It is estimated that 25% yesterday. What does it tell us of African states' gross domestic about corruption and the UK's output, amounting to $148bn, is position in relation to other lost to corruption each year – nations? embedding poverty, deterring TI's annual index measures investment and holding back perceptions of corruption in economic development. The government, politics and the problem is made worse when public sector. It is perhaps not developed nation companies pay surprising that Iraq, Sudan, bribes to get business contracts Myanmar, Afghanistan and and western banks are used to Somalia are at the bottom of the l a u n d e r t h e p r o c e e d s o f table. They are characterised by c o r r u p t i o n . conflict, weak and unaccountable Although developed countries i n s t i t u t i o n s a n d g e n e r a l l y tend to have higher scores on the dysfunctional political economies TI index, this is not to say that – the traditional accompaniments they do not have their problems. to corruption. At the other end of The UK's position underscores the scale, countries with a high this. Last year, for the first time, degree of political stability and the UK's score fell below eight, strong economies and institutions and it slipped from 12th to 16th – n o t a b l y N e w Z e a l a n d , place. This year, the UK's score Denmark, Singapore and Sweden remains unchanged, but it has
slipped one place further in the index. The MPs' expenses scandal will have done nothing to help the UK's reputation, though the long-running sore of the Blair government's decision to drop a bribery investigation into a BAE Systems Saudi arms deal is what still rankles in international circles. On the other hand, the UK government is committed to modernising antiquated antibribery laws, and it is to be hoped that a new law will be enacted before the 2010 general election to make the UK fully compliant with the OECD antibribery convention. The UK is also in the forefront of international efforts to give some teeth to the UN convention against corruption (UNCAC). This is where the UK's role in the wider world becomes important. The world needs powerful economies that are anticorruption champions in forums like the UN, the G20 and the Commonwealth. But if the UK is going to exhort developing countries to improve their governance and reduce corruption, it must first put its own house in order. The UK should be aspiring to a
By Mike Masnick (Techdirt) Corruption Perceptions index score which puts it in the top 10, not struggling to make the top 20. How can this be done? Today, Transparency International UK has published Zero Tolerance for Corruption, an agenda for anticorruption action in the UK. This includes measures directed at MPs, peers, ministers, crown servants, anti-bribery legislation, resources for law enforcement, the private sector and overseas aid. Simple but effective measures can help the UK to turn the corner and restore its credibility as a champion of good governance both at home and abroad: this will give Britain the authority it needs to be credible when it calls on others to be less corrupt. • United Nations • The BAE files • BAE Systems • MPs' expenses Chandrashekhar Krishnan guardian.co.uk© Guardian News & Media Limited 2009 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions| More Feeds
Six Apart releases tiny blog tool, TypePad Micro By Rafe Needleman (Webware.com)
New Chroma theme, designed for short posts, available for free
under the new TypePad Micro brand.
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Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:52:00 AM
For years, Microsoft has been among the loudest complainers concerning"piracy" in China, so it's a bit of a surprise to see things switched around a bit. Mesanna was the first of a few to alert us that a Chinese court has found Microsoft guilty of violating the intellectual property of a local firm, Zhongyi Electronics, and demanded that the company cease selling Windows XP throughout China. The issue is the Chinese character fonts. According to Zhongyi, Microsoft licensed them for Windows 95, but not other versions. Microsoft, of course, insists that it is not infringing, and says it will appeal the ruling. Still, with this ruling, as well as the recent attack on Google for violating copyright in China, it makes you wonder if China is doing this in an attempt to show American firms what might happen if they actually get what they "want" in terms of stronger copyright enforcement in China. Permalink| Comments| Email This Story
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Yes, Bad Cramer on BloggingStocks: President Obama Use Ag and shippers are the cautions against double- People Facebook Too newest bull markets dip recession By Mike Masnick (Techdirt) By Jim Cramer (BloggingStocks)
Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:30:00 AM
By Mark Fightmaster (BloggingStocks)
Reader Tina alerts us to an article about how some students in Venezuela have been arrested Filed under: Employees, Politics, for using Facebook to monitor Recession other students' activities, and then Although some members of his rob them while they were out. administration don't hold Fox Of course, it appears the plan News in too high of regard, President Barack Obama did sit noted that it is important "to wasn't that foolproof, considering down with the news outlet to recognize ... that at some point, they were caught. The rest of the discuss the economy. In the people could lose confidence in article discusses Facebook and interview, President Obama the U.S. economy in a way that Twitter usage in Venezuela, and offered what some are calling his could actually lead to a double- h o w t h e p o l i c e a n d t h e government are trying to use " s t e r n e s t w a r n i n g " a b o u t dip recession." those tools to crack down not just containing deficits. President Continue reading President on crime, but also on dissent... at Take) -- looked like a genius. Obama believes that a further Obama cautions against doublethe same time that government Beginning midyear last year, you compilation of government debt dip recession protesters are using the tools to looked like a moron. could lead to a double-dip President Obama cautions make themselves more widely Continue reading Cramer on recession. against double-dip recession heard (and organized). There BloggingStocks: Ag and shippers The president believes that his originally appeared on are the newest bull markets administration faces a "delicate BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov isn't that much surprising -- and it seems that the role of social Cramer on BloggingStocks: Ag balance of trying to boost the 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see networks is merely to amplify and shippers are the newest bull economy and spur job creation," our terms for use of feeds. what is going on already in the markets originally appeared on but the administration has to set Permalink| Email this| Comments country, which is about what BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov the economy on "a path toward you'd expect. Still, it is 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see long-term deficit reduction." He interesting to see this sense of our terms for use of feeds. wonder that some people have Permalink| Email this| Comments over the fact that not everyone who uses Facebook uses it for "good" reasons. Permalink| Comments| Email This Story Over the last several months upstart Microsoft seeing the fewer and fewer searches have benefits. been performed on Yahoo's sites, Originally posted at Relevant with market leader Google and Results Submitted at 11/18/2009 11:00:00 AM
Filed under: Deere and Co (DE), Stocks to Buy, Cramer on BloggingStocks, Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan (POT) From TheStreet.com Network • Union Pacific, FedEx Lead High-Flying Stocks • Obama the Spender Warns on Debt: Today's Outrage TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer says it's not too late to get on board these rocket ships. During the great narrow bull market that was 2006-2007, anyone who hitched a ride on any bulk or oil carrier, any DryShips ( DRYS) ( Cramer's Take) or Diana ( DSX) ( Cramer's Take), or any Frontline ( FRO) ( Cramer's Take) or Nordic American Tanker ( NAT) ( Cramer's Take), or anyone who bought anything ag-related -Deere ( DE) ( Cramer's Take), Monsanto ( MON) ( Cramer's Take), Potash ( POT) ( Cramer's
Google, Bing continue gains at Yahoo's expense By Tom Krazit (Webware.com) Submitted at 11/17/2009 3:13:00 PM
Submitted at 11/17/2009 7:02:00 PM
Finance/ Gadgets/ Tech/
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Boeing receives yet another big plane order By Mark Fightmaster (BloggingStocks) Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:00:00 AM
Filed under: Before the bell, Deals, Boeing Co (BA) Late Tuesday, aerospace firm Boeing ( BA) announced its first major deal at the Dubai Airshow. While this is good news for BA, the bad news is that the majority of the $2 billion of deals available at the show went to rival Airbus. BA revealed nearly $900 million of deals with Algerian airlines, while Airbus announced $1.25 billion of confirmed orders. These orders bring the total dollar amount of orders at the Airshow to $5.67 billion for 42 aircraft. This total is a mere pittance compared to the $155.5 billion worth of deals scored in 2007. BA's Randy Tinseth noted,
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Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit to rake in $1 salary
Don't Post Comments On StlToday.com Or They Might Tell Your Boss
By Elizabeth Harrow (BloggingStocks)
Via Romenesko comes this little gem of how the online editor of StlToday.com got upset about a "vulgar" comment that was left on a story. The editor, Kurt Greenbaum, noticed that the commenter in question's IP address was a local school, and contacted the school to alert them that someone from there had left a comment. And then:"About six hours later, I heard from the school's headmaster...The headmaster confronted the employee, who resigned on the spot." Lesson of the day? Don't post comments on StlToday.com or its editors may call your boss. Permalink| Comments| Email This Story
Submitted at 11/18/2009 11:20:00 AM
Filed under: Management, Employees, Citigroup Inc. (C) A few lucky executives at "it's a completely different market from two years ago," Citigroup ( C) received base pay s e n t i m e n t a g r e e d u p o n b y raises this year, but CEO Vikram Airbus's CEO Tom Enders. Pandit isn't among them. The C o n t i n u e r e a d i n g B o e i n g bank announced that it will receives yet another big plane compensate Pandit exactly $1 for his services, with no stock salary. order Boeing receives yet another big Last year, the chief executive plane order originally appeared collected a modest salary (by on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 W a l l S t r e e t s t a n d a r d s ) o f Nov 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please $ 9 5 8 , 3 3 3 . see our terms for use of feeds. Meanwhile, Chief Financial Permalink| Email this| Comments Officer John Gerspach's base compensation was hiked from $400,000 to $500,000 effective Nov. 1. James Forese, co-head of global markets, enjoyed an even heftier pay raise -- his base salary
jumped from $225,000 to $475,000. Continue reading Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit to rake in $1 salary Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit to rake in $1 salary originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Email this| Comments
By Mike Masnick (Techdirt) Submitted at 11/18/2009 4:01:00 AM
The Asus G51J 3D Laptop Is '3D Done Right' [Laptops] By Mark Wilson (Gizmodo)
laptop to feature NVIDIA's new 3D vision technology, and it takes advantage of a high We reviewed Acer's 3D laptop performance, 15.6-inch 120Hz not so long ago. We found it fun, LCD that, when coupled with but reeking of gen 1 quirks. Now shutter glasses (yup, you still Laptop Mag has played with a need glasses) garnered these new 3D laptop by Asus and praises from Laptop: found it to be pretty fantastic. ...unlike the TriDef technology titles optimized for 3D vision The Asus G51J 3D is the first that powers Acer's 3D laptop, give you a great sense of depth Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:42:53 AM
without negatively affecting gameplay. On first person shooters, for example, we found it difficult to aim when using the Acer 5738DG. On the Asus G51J 3D, you don't make any compromises in terms of control or accuracy. For the 3D tech, you'll take a resolution hit (there's no 3D
1080P display option) and pay a $200 premium, making the full gaming $1,700. Keep in mind that Acer's system, while utilizing only rudimentary polarized glasses 3D, costs under $800. [ Laptop Mag]
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Kmart pre-Black Friday Thanksgiving sale By Doug Aamoth (CrunchGear)
Electronics Audiovox Under-Cabinet 10 HDTV & DVD Player – $179.99 Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:45:00 AM Belkin HDTV Starter Kit – Yeah, seriously. Who wants to $34.99 wait for Black Friday? Not Coby 1.5 Digital Photo Kmart! Even though the store K e y c h a i n s – $ 9 . 9 9 will indeed be having a Black DieHard Batteries (8 AA or Friday sale, you’ll also be able to AAA, 4 C or D, 2 9V) – $5.50 get your gravy-covered mitts on a GPX Under-the-Counter bunch of goodies Thanksgiving AM/FM CD Clock Radio – day. So choke down that turkey, $24.99 scoot your chair back, and head Jazz T55 Digital Camcorder – to the store before the tryptophan $49.99 has a chance to kick in. Here’s a Kodak 7 Digital Photo Frame – list of the geek-centric items: $49.99 Blank Media Kodak 8 Digital Photo Frame – Maxell 50-Pack DVD+R or $99.99 DVD-R Media – $9.49 Maxell Headphones (Assorted Digital Cameras Colors) – $2.79 Fujifilm A170 10.2MP Digital Memorex Ambient iPod / CD Camera – $69.99 Shelf System – $79.99 GE A1250 12.2MP Digital Net 10 Motorola Prepaid Slider Camera – $69.99 Phone – $29.99 Kodak M341 12.2MP Digital Pandigital 7 Digital Photo Frame Camera – $129.99 – $49.99 Vivitar V8025S 8.1MP Digital Portable Karaoke System w/ Camera – $49.99 Microphone – $29.99 Digital Media Cards RCA iPod Docking CD Shelf SanDisk 2GB microSD Memory System – $59.99 Card – $6.49 Sakar iSpeakers for MP3 Players SanDisk 2GB Secure Digital B1G1F – $9.99 Memory Card – $6.49 Sony BDP-S360 Blu-ray Player DVD Players – $149.99 Curtis Compact DVD Player – Vtech DECT 6.0 Cordless 2$17.99 * Handset Phone – $29.99 GPX 8 Portable DVD Player w/ Wireless Gear Bluetooth Car Kit Remote – $79.99 – $19.99
GPS Systems Magellan RoadMate 1440 GPS Navigation System – $119.99 TomTom One 130 Portable 3.5 GPS System – $79.99 MP3 Players GPX 4GB Portable MP3 Player – $24.99 Mach Speed 2GB Clip MP3 Player – $11.99 Portable USB Storage PNY 8GB USB 2.0 Mini Flash Drives – $9.99 SanDisk 2GB USB 2.0 Flash Drive – $6.49 Televisions AOC Envision 24 Widescreen 1080p LCD HDTV – $229.99 Element 40 Widescreen 1080p LCD HDTV – $549.99 Samsung 50 Widescreen Plasma HDTV – $699.99 Sylvania 32 LCD HDTV w/ Built-in DVD Player – $349.99 Venturer 17 Widescreen LCD HDTV – $119.99 Video Games A Boy and His Blob for Nintendo Wii – $29.99 Assorted Nintendo DS Video Game 2-Packs – $14.99 Assorted Nintendo Wii Video Game 2-Packs – $14.99 Assorted Sony PS2 Video Game 3-Packs – $9.99 Assorted Sony PS3 Video Game 2-Packs – $24.99 Assorted Xbox 360 Video Game
2-Packs – $24.99 EA Active for Nintendo Wii – $39.99 Forza Motorsport 3 for Xbox 360 – $39.99 Guitar Hero Metallica for All Platforms – $39.99 Guitar Hero Smash Hits for All Platforms – $39.99 Guitar Hero World Tour for All Platforms – $29.99 Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Bundle for PS3 – $49.99 Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Bundle for Wii – $49.99 Guitar Hero World Tour Guitar Bundle for Xbox 360 – $49.99 Halo 3 ODST for Xbox 360 – $39.99 Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2010 for Nintendo Wii – $29.99 Nintendo Wii w/ Free $25 Nintendo Gaming Coupon – $199.99 Sony PSP 3000 Core System w/ Free $25 Gaming Coupon – $169.99 Sony PSP Gran Turismo Pack w/ Free $25 Gaming Coupon – $199.99 Wii Fit Plus with Balance Board for Nintendo Wii – $99.99 Kmart Thanksgiving Black Friday Ad[BlackFriday.info] See more Black Friday posts here…
Yahoo stopping mobile 'Go' app in 2010 By Jessica Dolcourt (Webware.com)
Yahoo to pull the plug on a mobile app it cannibalized with the introduction of Yahoo
Mobile, its optimized site and mobile app. Originally posted at The
Download Blog
Just Because People Say They'll Pay For Something, It Doesn't Mean They Will By Mike Masnick (Techdirt) Submitted at 11/17/2009 8:56:17 PM
I've been ignoring this one, but people keep submitting it. BCG came out with a report over the weekend on a survey it did, claiming that about half of all people would pay for online news. It was amusing to see people react to this, as some reported it as "most won't pay for news" and others reported it as "oh my goodness, a lot of people will pay for news." Of course, the reality is that this is just a survey of what people say they'd pay for -- and history has shown that surveys are notoriously poor indicators in terms of getting people to accurately reflect what they will and will not buy. Besides, just a day later, a totally different survey claimed that 80% of people wouldn't pay for news online. The answer is that no one knows how many people would pay for content online, but I'd bet that the number is lower than what both of these surveys predict, and we'll see that soon enough. Permalink| Comments| Email This Story
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Gifts for People Who Think They're The Next Scorsese [Gift Guide] By Mark Wilson (Gizmodo) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:00:00 AM
Maybe you know someone in film school, or just some guy who really likes going to movies and cutting YouTube mash-ups? Here's what you can buy them—and also what you shouldn't: BTW, if you hate the gallery format as much as the Grinch hated Christmas, click here. Flip Ultra HD: We tested basically every pocket camcorder in existence, and this was the best one we found. It shoots 720p HD and is easy enough for your grandma to use. If you're buying a gift for someone looking to experiment on a budget or simply shoot vacation videos, this is a great little cam.$150[ Flip] Clapboard: No, I'm serious. Though this might just look like a cheesy prom prop (and that's what it is), little has changed about the most recognized icon of the film industry. And for filmmakers, it's still extremely handy in tracking good takes, and syncing sound, if needed. The novelty ones are cheap (and many are probably more for show); but splurge on a fancy dry erase version if you really love the recipient.$2 to $30[ Prom Wishes; B&H] Vintage Hollywood Photographs from Life Magazine: Vintage
posters are neat, but I'd contend that these Life prints feel a tad more heart-felt. From Kubrick working on 2001 to Marilyn Monroe doing her thing, there are many gems to be found in Life's archives. About $100[ 2001 Series; More Life Photos] Iron Man Arc Reactor: Most people's latent super powers are still off in hiding, but you never know when a nemesis will rip out your power core, forcing you to crawl across your home for a spare. Don't look at the Iron Man
spaceships.$2,000[ Kodak] DON'T BUY Back to the Future 2 Hat: I know, it's neat you can buy this hat. But it looked dumb on Marty McFly and it will look even worse on whoever you give it to. [ Amazon] 4K Red One Camera: Yes, the body itself starts at nor far under $20,000—without lenses, mounts, CF modules or pretty much anything you'll need to use it. Yes, this camera is just as hard to shoot with as any full-fledged film camera (if not even harder). But it's also the cheapest 4K camera you can acquire, and for the price of one extended 35mm camera rental, you'll have a system that's "free to use" again and again. Just make sure to gift those cinematography classes first.$17,500 and Up[ Red] Don't forget to recommend your Arc Reactor as a superfluous serve any young filmmaker own favorite gift ideas for movie buffs in comments—include pic purchase; see it as an investment well.$485[ B&H] your loved one's health.$150[ Kodak F i v e - D a y and pricing if possible. Museum Replicas] Cinematography Workshop: Few All Giz Wants is our annual S o n y U W P - V 1 W i r e l e s s of us will ever have the chance to round-up of favorite gift ideas, Lavalier Mic: During my tenure shoot on real, 35mm film. But including amazing attainable in broadcast and commercial Kodak's boot camp will teach o b j e c t s a n d a f e w f a r - o u t production, I found a good, y o u t h e b a s i c s o f 3 5 m m fantasies. We'll be popping wireless lavalier mic to be the cinematography and give you a guides catered to different most versatile tool in my bag. It chance to burn some 35mm stock interests several times per day for can be hidden anywhere on a while experts hold your hand. the next week, so keep checking body/prop, and the pickup The tuition is by no means a non- back. frequencies are surprisingly factor, but come on, it's pretty decent for foleying. Sony's entry much the coolest fantasy camp level mic, the UWP-V1, should without Michael Jordan or
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Microsoft Office 2010 Beta Is Now Available [Microsoft] By Dan Nosowitz (Gizmodo) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:00:00 AM
The next version of the bestselling software of all time, Microsoft Office 2010, is finally available in beta today. Get used to the new Office: We're all going to use this stuff at some point or another. There's a lot new about Office 2010: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook all come with evolved UIs, taking cues from Office 2007's "ribbon" UI by using tabs instead of traditional menus. Word offers the new "backstage view," which replaces the old File menu with a sort of visual representation of it: You'll get a sidebar with live previews, which could come in handy for things like print preview. Besides that, Word (along with PowerPoint and Excel) also adds minor photo and video editing tools like color adjustment, cropping and trimming. PowerPoint brings the new "broadcast slideshow" feature, allowing you to beam a presentation to any connected PC with a one-click interface; and Excel adds some smart
RETRO: A Twitter Client for Mac OS Classic By Barb Dybwad (Mashable!) Submitted at 11/17/2009 8:22:25 PM
Who needs modern, new-fangled amenities like powerful processors and Adobe Air platforms when you can tweet right from Macintosh System 6? If tweeting from the command line just isn’t quite geeky enough for you, the Grackle68k Twitter enhancements like automatically version of Office 2010, you get come free with many new PCs. client can have you sending shading the highest numbers in a 25GB of storage space. That With either option, you'll get the status updates from your ancient given chart, and Sparklines, storage gives you the ability to 25GB of storage space and old Mac. which are word-sized graphs that create and edit Word, Excel and access to SkyDrive. Office 2010 This is true no-frills Twitter for can be added inside charts. PowerPoint documents on the will be released sometime in the the die-hard geek, which will There are a boatload of minor fly, with simultaneous group first half of 2010. allow you to update your Twitter changes in Office 2010, and we editing, just like in Google Docs. Right now, it's just technically status from Macs running System won't go into them all. The There are two main versions of available for Technet and MSDN 6 through OS 9 — nothing more, biggest change, and the one that's Office 2010: The full version, the subscribers, but you should be nothing less. If you’re one of most exciting to us, has been price of which has not yet been able to get a copy in another way, those packrat types who has a around for awhile in some form announced, and the Starter if you know what we mean. [ c l o s e t o r a t t i c f u l l o f o l d or another: SkyDrive, Microsoft's version, which offers limited- Microsoft] machines you can’t bear to part online storage, now includes feature (we might say crippled) with (you know who you are), what's essentially the Office take versions of the three main perhaps this app will inspire the on Google Docs. With any programs in the suite, and will setup of a living, Twittering museum. Be sure to clear it with your significant other first. [via Gizmodo] Reviews: Twitter Opera releases its most recent browsing design--for Windows Download Blog Tags: mac classic, macintosh, mobile browser--complete with Mobile phones. twitter Speed Dial and a new tabbed Originally posted at The
Opera Mobile 10 beta now browsing Windows phones By Jessica Dolcourt (Webware.com)
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IBM simulates cat's brain, humans are next By Vladislav Savov (Engadget) Submitted at 11/18/2009 11:11:00 AM
Almost exactly a year ago we noted DARPA pouring nearly $5 million into an IBM project to develop a computer capable of emulating the brain of a living creature. Having already modeled half of a mouse's brain, the researchers were at that time heading toward the more ambitious territory of feline intelligence, and today we can report on how far that cash injection and extra twelve months By John Herrman (Gizmodo) movement, whether it be simple The nature of the personal have gotten us. The first big X/Y gestures around a flat plane, computer is simply not fully announcement is that they have Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:53:48 AM or more complex gestures that understood by companies like indeed succeeded in producing a B a g - b a s e d ? S a c k - b a s e d ? take into account prod pressure. Apple (or anyone else for that computer simulation on par, in Balloon-based? Balloon- boy- Technically interesting, but I feel m a t t e r ) . A p p l e m a k e s t h e terms of complexity and scale, based? There's no shortage of like this concept needs a little arrogant assumption of thinking with a cat's brain. The second, ways to describe Microsoft something extra: that it knows what you want and perhaps more important, is that Research's new tactile interface [A researcher said] making a need. It, unfortunately, leaves the "jaw-dropping" progress has concept, which lets people device that could switch between "why" out of the equation - as in been made in the sophistication interact with prods, pokes, an input and output device would "why would I want this?" The and detail level of human brain massages and squeezes instead of be challenging. While moving Macintosh uses an experimental mapping. The reverse clicks or taps. ball bearings using magnetic pointing device called a ‘mouse'. engineering of the brain is hoped The bag you see above isn't fields shouldn't be too hard, There is no evidence that people to bring about new ways for actually the core component of "[moving] ferrous fluid bladders want to use these things. I dont interface device—that'd be the would be trickier," he says. want one of these new fangled sensor tile at its base, which W H O S A I D A N Y T H I N G devices. g e n e r a t e s a n d m o n i t o r s a ABOUT OUTPUT? Consider Just replace "mouse" with magnetic field. Any disturbances this, mouse jockies: a few years "undulating sack of ferrofluid" in the field—that's where the bag, from now, your Intellipoint might and then tell me I'm crazy. filled with some kind of magnetic be an actively pulsating pouch of Anyone? [ Technology Review] By Tom Krazit (Webware.com) substance, like iron filings, magnetic fluid. John C Dvorak, comes in—can be translated into 1984: Submitted at 11/17/2009 2:35:00 PM
Microsoft's Bag-Based Computer Interface, For Poking [Interfaces]
building computers that mimic natural brain structures, an endeavor collectively termed as "cognitive computing." Read link will reveal more, and you can make your own cyborg jokes in the comments below. Filed under: Science IBM simulates cat's brain, humans are next originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
Google hosting Chrome OS demo event Thursday Chrome OS engineers are ready to demonstrate the lightweight
browser-based operating system, although it's not expected to launch until next year. Originally posted at Relevant Results
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Sony Ericsson closing four facilities, laying off 2,000 employees worldwide By Darren Murph (Engadget) Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:58:00 AM
Sony Ericsson has yet to make this public, but we've learned that the flagging handset maker has caved once more to the pressures of the modern phone market place. If you'll recall, 450 employees were nixed from the company's payrolls in September of last year, and now the entire Research Triangle Park facility is being shuttered. In an internal announcement made this morning, SE is fixing to close four total sites: RTP in North Carolina, a smaller Miami facility and operations in Kista (Sweden) and Chennai. All told, 2,000 employees will be trimmed, with severance packages being offered to those who qualify. As of now, the departing individuals have yet to be chosen, with employees in RTP given the opportunity to apply for jobs elsewhere (likely in Atlanta or California). We're told that the cuts will happen "in stages," with project teams being assembled as we speak to work out the logistics. Frankly, we aren't as shocked as we are saddened to hear the news -- SE
MSI launches 21.5-inch Wind Top AE2220: 1080p and multi-touch starting at $750 By Doug Aamoth (CrunchGear)
GeForce 9300 chip with 256MB of RAM • 4GB of DDR2 RAM Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:20:00 AM • Double-layer DVD burner (Blu Ooh la la, this looks to be an -ray optional) has refused to keep pace with the headquarters shifting from RTP interesting machine right here. • Wi-Fi (b/g/n), webcam, card other handset makers, and its to Atlanta and its research and Starting at $750, MSI’s latest reader decision to wait until next year to d e v e l o p m e n t o p e r a t i o n “Wind Top” all-in-one features a • VGA and HDMI outputs. 6 ship an Android device is t r a n s i t i o n i n g f r o m R T P t o big 21.5-inch 1920×1080 multiUSB ports indicative of the choices that Redwood Shores, California. t o u c h L C D , N V I D I A I O N • Wall-mountable (VESA) have kept it in the shadows these Filed under: Cellphones graphics, Windows 7 Home • 5.1-channel surround sound past few years. Here's hoping this Sony Ericsson closing four Premium, and a wireless mouse • Windows 7 Home Premium restructuring effort actually gets facilities, laying off 2,000 and keyboard set. • Optional TV tuner things headed in the right employees worldwide originally That’s pretty aggressive pricing direction. appeared on Engadget on Wed, an attractive all-in-one with a big Various configurations are Update: And it's official. SE will 18 Nov 2009 08:58:00 EST. multi-touch display. slowly appearing on online retail also be shutting down small Please see our terms for use of Full feature list includes: sites ( this one on offices in Seattle and San Diego, feeds. Permalink| Email this| • Intel Core 2 Duo T6600 CPU ZipZoomFly.com, for instance) w i t h i t s N o r t h A m e r i c a n Comments at 2.2GHz or Pentium dual-core s o w e s h o u l d s t a r t s e e i n g T4300 at 2.1GHz (depending increased availability soon. upon configuration) Press Release| Product Page • NVIDIA ION, NVIDIA
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Win $10,000 of audio related things from Sennheiser By Jimin Brelsford (CrunchGear)
guys over at Sennheiser. Their Sound Tour Hookup Challenge can give you and five friends the Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:00:12 AM chance to spend ten thousand Hey everybody! Let’s play the bucks on whatever crazy audio “What would you do if you had a scheme you can think of. m i l l i o n d o l l a r s ? ” g a m e ! Entries so far range from flying Unfortunately, due to recent to a festival in Europe, having changes in corporation policy and your favorite band play a private budget cuts, you’ll only have party, building a recording 10,000 USD to play with. And it studio, etc. But there’s no limit w i l l h a v e t o g o t o w a r d s on what you can ask for. The something music / audio related. entry mediums are pretty openWait, that’s still totally awesome. ended too. YouTube videos, But don’t tell me what you would essays, photo journals. You have do with the cash. Go and tell the until December 23rd to get yours
25% • Entry must show the integration of 5 friends – 10%
in. The winner will be picked sometime in January 2010 by a panel of Sennheiser executives based on the following criteria.
• Sennheiser product integration – 40% • The ability to show appreciation of sound – 25% • Creativity and overall appeal –
But wait! There’s more! You can go and vote for other submissions that you like, entering you in a weekly drawing for a pair of Sennheiser headphones. As for me, I’d probably buy an analog Neve 88R console. Ten grand should be enough to buy maybe one channel strip.
NewTek’s new mobile HD video production vehicle. As opposed to those unmobile HD video production vehicles. By Jimin Brelsford (CrunchGear) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:30:11 AM
Is CrunchGear gradually turning into a car blog? We test drove a Chevy Volt concept, saw the Subaru snowtank, and tested the Telsa Roadster Sport. I sense a disturbing trend… But at least this next car we looked at is
100% geek through and through. It’s the world smallest HD video production studio, crammed inside of a Mini Cooper. This rolling HD rig is a Clubman S with a turbocharged 16-valve engine. It’s a part of NewTek TriCasts America: Stream or Die Tour, a coast to coast trek showcasing NewTek’s new line prove that you no longer need of HD video gear. Setting out to massive production trucks to do
on-the-spot video streaming, NewTek put their new TriCaster XD300 unit along with the rest of a HD studio in 9.2 cubic feet of cargo space. It’s capable of taking three HD video streams, manipulating them just as you would in a full-sized studio, and streaming them live in glorious glorious high definition. For podcasters or anyone who
wants to stream to the internet, the XD300 allows you to do so in HD essentialy as a one-man show. You can manipulate the video / audio in real time using the included control surface even while the cameras are rolling. You can expect these units before the year is out.
Google Earth 2.0 for iPhone Hoffman and Beck Storming the Castle (Little Green Footballs) After some tabulating errors number could be far less; 10,000 imports My Maps were discovered, Owens’ lead absentee ballots were requested Submitted at 11/17/2009 12:06:36 PM
By Jessica Dolcourt (Webware.com) Submitted at 11/17/2009 2:14:00 PM
An update to Google Earth for
iPhone lets you plot your saved My Maps from Google.com onto Google Earth. Originally posted at iPhone Atlas
Prodded by Glenn Beck, far right candidate Doug Hoffman has‘unconceded’ in New York 23.
over Hoffman shrunk to 3,026 votes. But there are as many as 10,000 oustanding absentee and paper ballots that only today will begin to be counted. (And that
… we don’t know exactly how many were returned.) Hoffman “unconceded” today on Glenn Beck’s national radio show.
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Umazone UMA-ISO drive enclosure takes the sting out of mounting disk images By Joseph L. Flatley (Engadget) Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:47:00 AM
Hey, man -- aren't you sick of all the pain and expense of mounting disc images from the desktop? OK, we weren't either -- until we saw this: Umazone's UMA-ISO is a drive enclosure (supply your own 2.5-inch HDD) that features a small display and jog wheel for scrolling through CD / DVD image files. Simply select the file
of your choice and plug it into your machine via USB or eSATA and the disk will be mounted, the same as if you'd inserted an optical disc. It's that simple! There is also a mode for mounting as a standard external hard drive. Be forewarned, however: this guy is only compatible with a few flavors of Windows (XP, Vista, Windows 7), and it's only available in [Via SlashGear] Continue reading Umazone Japan -- for the princely sum of UMA-ISO drive enclosure takes ¥9,980 yen (about $111).
the sting out of mounting disk images Filed under: Storage Umazone UMA-ISO drive enclosure takes the sting out of mounting disk images originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
Nokia's Maemo 5-equipped N900 on sale in America for $649 By Darren Murph (Engadget)
home? Filed under: Cellphones Nokia's Maemo 5-equipped N900 on sale in America for $649 originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:02:00 AM
We've already given you a glimpse at the N900, but as of today, you Yanks in the crowd can wrap your own limber paws around Nokia's hero device. Admittedly tailored for enthusiasts and developers to use while the company maneuvers Maemo into its product line, the N900 is now available through Nokia Flagship stores in New York and Chicago, the firm's
website and "various independent retailers and e-tailers." A tidy sum of $649 (or $510 if you're smart enough to check Amazon) nabs you an unlocked version with a 5 megapixel camera,
32GB of internal storage and a bombastic, Flash-lovin' web browser. Ain't no shame in lusting after one, but tell us earnestly -- are you forking out nearly seven bills to bring one
Huntsman: 'It's a Good Time to Be in Beijing' (Little Green Footballs) Submitted at 11/17/2009 8:33:09 AM
NBC News political director Chuck Todd is in China with a team covering Barack Obama’s visit, and when they asked US ambassador Jon Huntsman about the craziness wracking the Republican Party back in the States, Huntsman laconically replied, “ It’s a good time to be in Beijing.” By the way, when one of us asked ex-Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, a Republican serving as Obama’s ambassador to China, about the current ideological fight in the GOP, he answered, “It’s a good time to be in Beijing.” He seemed genuinely bemused by Palin-palooza, and said every time he gets sucked into paying a tiny bit of attention, he throws himself back into work on China issues. Do remember that Huntsman, a moderate who at one time was seen as a possible 2012 GOP candidate, saw a local Michigan GOP chapter cancel an event with Huntsman due to his centrist views (like his support for civil unions).
Tuesday Afternoon Music: Antoine Dufour and Tommy Gauthier, 'Solitude' (Little Green Footballs)
Antoine Dufour (harp guitar) and Tommy Gauthier (violin)
play “Solitude,” from their latest album Still Strings. (Here it is at
the iTunes Store.)[Video]
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Wash. Times Editor: Obama's Mother Was 'Attracted to Men of the Third World' (Little Green Footballs) Submitted at 11/17/2009 12:38:10 PM
Malata's R108T netvertible embraces touch, Windows 7 By Darren Murph (Engadget)
megapixel camera, WiFi, Ethernet, a pair of USB sockets, Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:47:00 AM VGA output and a 3-in-1 card It's been nearly three full years reader. We're told that the asking since we've heard a peep from price on this one will hover Malata, but the outfit has chosen around $439, though there's no an opportune time to reemerge clear indication that it'll ever into the spotlight. The R108T head stateside. netbook is one of the convertible [Via Slashgear] variety, boasting a swiveling 10- Filed under: Laptops, Tablet PCs inch touchscreen (similar to Malata's R108T netvertible A S U S ' E e e P C T 9 1 ) a n d embraces touch, Windows 7 Windows 7 to boot. Internally, originally appeared on Engadget things get a lot more boring -- on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:47:00 there's a 1.6GHz Atom N270 EST. Please see our terms for processor, 1GB of DDR2 RAM, use of feeds. Read| Permalink| a 1 6 0 G B h a r d d r i v e , 1 . 3 Email this| Comments
Sony's 3G-enabled Reader Daily Edition up for pre-order, content deals coming next month By Darren Murph (Engadget) Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:24:00 AM
Amazon and Barnes & Noble may be swiping the limelight, but Sony's clearly playing for keeps with its$399 Reader Daily Edition. The 7-inch e-book reader has just been listed for pre -order over at SonyStyle, and with it will come wireless access (via AT&T) to the company's own eBookstore. We're told that the company will "announce newspaper and magazine content providers within the next month," and of course, no monthly fees
will be tacked on from browsing and buying books. If plans stay on track, we should see the first shipments leave next month -- so, is Santa treating you with one, or what? Filed under: Displays, Handhelds Sony's 3G-enabled Reader Daily Edition up for pre-order, content deals coming next month originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
Washington Times editor Wesley Pruden sums up Barack Obama in racially charged language, saying Obama has no “blood impulse” to be an American. This kind of stuff is becoming more and more open in “conservative” media. It’s no fault of the president that he has no natural instinct or blood impulse for what the America of “the 57 states” is about. He was sired by a Kenyan father, born to a mother attracted to men of the Third World and reared by grandparents in Hawaii, a paradise far from the American mainstream.
Review: 'New Super Mario Bros. Wii' Is Nostalgic, Chaotic By Chris Kohler (Wired Top Stories) Submitted at 11/17/2009 3:21:00 PM
A manic multiplayer mode makes this Nintendo retread a compelling game for up to four friends. While single-player gameplay fails to innovate, or even live up to previous Mario gems, there's still a rip-roaring good time to be had with Nintendo's perky plumber.
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A tale of two Diggs (CNET News.com)
latest YouTube sensations. It's a dual identity that seems to be tough for the industry, or the five NEW YORK--You had two -year-old company itself, to options if you wanted to hang out reconcile. with Digg founder Kevin Rose at At the Web 2.0 Expo, both the Web 2.0 Expo conference this Diggs--and the tension between week: head over to the lobby bar them--was on full display in a of the trendy Standard Hotel on dual keynote by Adelson and Monday night, where Digg was Rose on Tuesday afternoon. And picking up the tab for several the executives were both vocal dozen of the city's blogger elite; about the fact that Digg has got or pack into Manhattan Center to change. Studios on Tuesday night along "We're about 40 million users with about a thousand other today, (with) about 20,000 young, predominantly male New submissions a day going into the Yorkers for a live taping of Rose Digg system," Adelson said and co-host Alex Albrecht's " onstage. "It's certainly achieved Diggnation" video show. huge things for us. It's what Geek heroes: Jay Adelson (left) we've set out to do, but we have a and Kevin Rose in a screenshot ways to go." from one of their regular 'Digg Rose added, "We've pretty much Dialogg' videocasts with Digg stayed the same over the last users. couple years." Those are, after all, the two There's a revamped Digg D i g g s . T h e r e ' s D i g g t h e coming, a complete overhaul company, the name that first put using the Cassandra database "social news" into the mouths of management system, which was New York media both old and developed and then released as new, the BusinessWeek cover open source by Facebook. In the story that established the shaggy- new version will be "instant haired Rose as digital media's Digging" that doesn't require poster boy, the start-up that was registration or a login, better once talked about as a huge filtration of topics to fit any acquisition target for the likes of number of niche interests, and a Current Media, News Corp., and "smarter" way to gauge story even Google amid CEO Jay popularity so that both the Adelson's coy insistence that it number of "diggs" and the wasn't for sale. But then there's number of times a link was Digg the brand: haven for the submitted in the first place are wackiest of the Web, with a front taken into account. page dominated by anything Adelson told CNET later on Apple, oddball science, insidery T u e s d a y , j u s t o u t s i d e t h e tech and politics news, and the auditorium where hundreds of Submitted at 11/18/2009 4:00:00 AM
rowdy young Diggers were awaiting Rose and Albrecht to walk onstage for the live Diggnation taping (a coproduction of Revision3, the video outlet that Rose and Adelson also co-founded), that this will arrive in the first half of next year. "I can't say with certainty when, because there are so many infrastructure components that have to come first," he said. This talk of change and versatility is exactly the message that the San Francisco-based Adelson and Rose want to convey while they're visiting New York, the center of the global publishing industry. This is Digg the media company on parade, the Digg that picked up the tab for the cocktail-swilling
which haven't proven to be as popular or ubiquitous as Digg but which proved that it's not particularly difficult to build your own social news service. "It makes me very proud," Jay Adelson said of the Digg influence evident in TweetMeme buttons and, now, Facebook sharing buttons. He added, "I think that the sophisticated publisher understands the difference between sharing within a social network, sharing on Twitter, and sharing on Digg." Influential, sure. But when it comes to making a lasting footprint in the media world, Digg hasn't yet been able to get past the common wisdom that the footprint in question will be from media insiders at the Standard on a beer-soaked Converse All-Star. Monday night; and this is the And that's the Digg that was Digg that's taken a bit of a showcased on Tuesday night as beating recently. True, its traffic Rose and Albrecht, both in isn't plummeting, and by most trendy fitted plaid shirts, received measures continues to grow at a a r o c k - s t a r w e l c o m e f o r decent pace, but as a news- D i g g n a t i o n . sharing destination it's been More than a thousand people eclipsed by both Facebook and had showed up at the Manhattan Twitter. Center Studios venue, a smaller Digg's once-gossiped-about crowd than the show's last taping valuation may have taken a hit in New York, but a company rep simply because the market for pointed out that the previous s o c i a l n e w s h a s g r o w n s o taping had been in the summer, saturated, and as a result the and this one was on a school company is no longer a novelty. night. Someone in the audience Take third-party Twitter app excitedly waved a sign that said TweetMeme, for example, which "WINDOWS 7 FTW!" (That's takes the links shared all over "for the win," in case you stepped Twitter in "retweets," and in late.) Another sign read "I compiles them into something SKIPPED CLASS FOR THIS!" that looks an awful lot like Digg. TALE page 23 Or the likes of Yahoo Buzz,
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The case for the open-source Goliath (CNET News.com)
to follow suit or die, a curse/blessing that the National League doesn't share. Despite the broad and deep trend The stronger Red Hat is, by toward open-source software, it's analogy, the better-positioned it telling that Red Hat remains the is to set the pace of spending and only large, pure-play open-source innovation for other open-source vendor. companies. Without a strong, standalone The same is true in football, i.e. o p e n - s o u r c e l e a d e r , w i l l soccer. " Soccernomics" traces commercial open source endure? the importance of the Manchester The obvious answer is yes, but Uniteds, Arsenals, and Real there are reasons to think that the Madrids for pulling in fans: fans industry would benefit from a flock to watch the big teams, b i l l i o n - d o l l a r o p e n - s o u r c e either to cheer for them or against company. Actually, several. them. The prospect of cheering It might seem counterintuitive to on Hull City to best Bolton suggest that open source, which simply isn't that appealing. by its very nature tends to be In a similar manner, Red Hat decentralized and bottom-up in serves as a beacon for would-be its growth, would benefit by open source buyers. It may be concentrating wealth in a few hard to get excited about buying hegemons. into No-Name Open-Source David is nice, but the fact is that Vendor X, but buying from an Goliath generally wins. established brand-name vendor Open source needs a few more like Red Hat? Much more of these. appealing. Take baseball, for example. The The problem, however, is that New York Times on Monday Red Hat is still a minnow in the reported on the importance of the global software pool, and its spending power of the New York f i x e d f o c u s o n b a s e l i n e Yankees and Boston Red Sox to infrastructure leaves it illthe overall strength of the equipped to lead the open-source American League. A rising tide market. Most open-source startmay raise all boats. But in the ups simply don't need Red Hat to case of baseball, a few dominant thrive, and they derive little value teams force the rest of the league from a partnership with the Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:30:00 AM
It would be ideal to have a large open-source applications vendor, but it's unlikely we'll get one anytime soon, particularly since successful open-source companies keep getting swallowed by proprietary vendors before they can crack the $100 million mark, much less than $1 billion mark. It's also possible that we don't need IBM-sized, pure-play opensource companies. After all, we have IBM and its ilk already company. A lot of companies make money funding open source. in the shadow of Microsoft. Not It's equally likely that getting to such a size with a pure-play open so in Red Hat's. Nor is Red Hat a viable exit for -source model simply isn't most open-source companies. possible. Google, IBM, and others actively But I think we need a few openc o n t r i b u t e t o o p e n - s o u r c e source hegemons, companies that projects--and arguably contribute can offer a clear alternative to even more to the continued Oracle and Microsoft for both health of the commercial open- buyers looking for open-source source ecosystem by offering software solutions and vendors healthy exits for open-source looking for open-source software partners. Such hegemons can also start-ups. Tim O'Reilly called out this help to fund the growth of the phenomenon years ago when he next generation of open-source suggested that the likely exit for innovation. most open-source companies But from where will they come? w o u l d b e a c q u i s i t i o n s b y I'm not sure. Your thoughts, proprietary software vendors. please. This is good for the open-source This content has passed through companies, but it may not be fivefilters.org. good for open source.
New Site Tracks How Stimulus Dollars Flow to Science By Alexis Madrigal (Wired Top Stories) Submitted at 11/17/2009 11:33:00 AM
More than $20 billion of stimulus money has gone to universities for science research, the biggest single increase in that
type of spending ever. New data released by most of the major research institutions in the country reveals the breadth and
depth of the grant-making's impact.
mmKeys.dll Makes iTunes Work with Multimedia Keyboards [Downloads] By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker) Submitted at 11/18/2009 4:30:00 AM
Windows: iTunes doesn't work with all keyboards with multimedia play/pause/skip controls, and those it does recognize can only control its playback when it's open and focused. A free plug-in makes iTunes respond to your keystroke shortcuts at any time. This tiny .dll file has to be dropped into your iTunes plug-in directory. Once it's there, and you've restarted iTunes, there's a good chance iTunes will start responding to play/pause, skip, stop, and (sometimes) volume commands. That's about all there is to it—it fixes, on my Lenovo ThinkPad, at least, a key missing feature of iTunes that makes it worth keeping open in the background. mmKeys.dll is a free download for Windows systems with iTunes only. Got another multimedia key wrangler to recommend? Share it in the comments. mmKeys.dll – Use a multimedia keyboard with iTunes[Everything iTunes via Lifehacker Australia]
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MobBase Helps Musicians Create Their Own iPhone Apps By Christina Warren (Mashable!) Submitted at 11/17/2009 10:47:11 PM
This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark. Name: MobBase Quick Pitch: MobBase is a new service for musicians that makes it easy for them to create, launch and manage their own, custom iPhone applications. Genius Idea: MobBase lets musicians and bands create their own iPhone app to connect fans with upcoming shows, music, news, Twitter feeds and videos. The iPhone app is quickly becoming a common tool that bands and music artists use to promote themselves and their music. Death Cab for Cutie, Snow Patrol, Lady Gaga, T-Pain, Wilco and countless others have apps — both free and paid — available for fans who want to stay abreast of the latest band news and show information plus
access video and song discographies. MobBase lets smaller artists take advantage of the platform and build customized apps that offer social features and integrate with existing channels, all for a low price. The app can be customized, but the basic idea is that a band or artist plugs in the details and MobBase uses a pre-created app template if you will, to create an app that can be submitted to the App Store. You can provide music tracks that can be streamed from the app, connect your YouTube channel, put in news and blog RSS feeds, show off your Twitter account and input show and ticket information so that fans can buy tickets or find out when you’re playing next. You can also show off photos, merchandise and discographies. Paint-by-numbers iPhone apps don’t make sense in all cases, but for something promoting a band or artist — I can see this as being very beneficial, without requiring the full investment that largerscale custom iPhone apps can require.
MobBase lets you create your app for free but if you want to activate the app, it’s $20. Free apps then cost $15 a month for the first 500 installs, with additional 1000 installs priced at just $5 a month. If you want to charge for your app, MobBase charges $20 a month for the first 500 installs and $6 for each 1000 installs thereafter. You can make updates to your app, often without requiring the app to go through the resubmission process. MobBase handles the listing and submission aspect, which cuts down on the dev time for groups just starting up. As mobile applications become more common, it’s only natural for some types of apps to become more commoditized. For the musician just starting out, we think MobBase is a great
concept. What do you think about mobile app creation services? Spark of Genius Series Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today. Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the Azure Services platform for their website hosting and storage needs. Microsoft recently announced the“new CloudApp()” contest– use the Azure Services Platform for hosting your .NET or PHP app, and you could be the lucky winner of a USD 5000* ( please see website for official rules and guidelines).” Reviews: App Store, PHP, Twitter, YouTube, iPhone Tags: app store, bizspark, iphone, mobbase
Senate Panel: 80 Percent of Cyber Attacks Preventable By Kim Zetter (Wired Top Stories) Submitted at 11/17/2009 1:48:00 PM
At least 80 percent of cyber attacks could be prevented if network administrators simply implemented best-practice
configurations and network monitoring, a Senate committee heard on Tuesday. But the public is as much to blame as network
operators for the state of cyber security.
Convert Outlook Emails to Plain Text, One-byOne or Permanently [Outlook Tip] By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker) Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:00:00 AM
Wired's How-To Wiki points out that HTML emails rendered by Outlook are not only occasionally hard to format, they'll look different (and broken) in many clients. They follow up with tips on turning some or all emails to plain text. If you're generally emailing inside a closed circle with Outlook users, HTML-formatted emails are probably fine. But reaching outside Outlook's very specific HTML confines can cause broken graphics and strange formatting. Hit the link for the menu options and shortcuts that set Outlook 2003 and 2007 to send in "the telegram simplicity of raw text that ensures your message will be received clearly on any device." Change from HTML to Plain Text in Outlook[ Wired How-To Wiki]
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TALE continued from page 20
and still another, which Rose and Albrecht seemed especially proud of, was a green sign that read "GO HIPPIE!" with a massive, hand-drawn marijuana leaf. Adelson says that the company's merry band of fanboys--yes, most of them are male--doesn't get in the way, strategy- or image-wise. "Our core Digg enthusiasts frankly provide a tremendous amount of our feature ideas and feedback, and are the ones that we can count on to be there even when we screw up," Adelson told CNET on Tuesday night. "I don't think they hold us back. I think that's the power of the product." Kevin Rose's essential Diggnation props: Mac laptop, open bottle of beer(Credit: Revision3) There have been some good signs. Adelson says that Digg's experimental advertising system, in which unpopular ads are penalized with higher costs ("We charge the advertisers more money when their ads start
sucking," Rose explained in the Web 2.0 Expo keynote) have been a runaway success. The company also absorbed a Rose side project, Twitter directory WeFollow, which could have interesting implications. Their mission is still precarious. The hordes of Digg loyalists propelled the company to fame, but they're known to be volatile: if they hate something, they'll make it obvious. In 2007, when Digg pulled down a number of news links in response to a ceaseand-desist complaint (the links directed to instructions for cracking a digital rights management code in the nowdefunct HD DVD format), avid users flooded its system with even more links to the code. Digg admitted defeat, and restored the censored links. Earlier this year, when a new URL-shortening feature called the DiggBar garnered a negative reaction, the company made some significant modifications. If they don't like the yet-to-be-unveiled Digg
revamp, it could get really ugly. But perhaps the most difficult part of Digg's dual-identity wrangling is the fact that the company's executives and figureheads really do seem to have an affinity for its mischievous roots. Take Tuesday night, when a few excited audience members at the Diggnation taping started waving around the pink tickets they'd received from local cops for downing booze while waiting in line outside to see the show. "Open container in line? That is awesome!" Rose exclaimed, reaching for one of the tickets and displaying it in front of the crowd. Co-host Alex Albrecht chimed in. "You should get that framed!" This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Concept Art Offers Peek at Tim Burton's Twisted Mind By Hugh Hart (Wired Top Stories) Submitted at 11/17/2009 5:00:00 PM
Sketches, paintings and assorted surreal doodles from an
upcoming book and art exhibit demonstrate the expansive visual vocabulary of one of Hollywood's most interesting filmmakers.
Jenzabar Finds 'Expert Witness' Who Will Claim Google Relies On Metatags, Despite Google Saying It Does Not By Mike Masnick (Techdirt)
Jenzabar, and included the word "Jenzabar" in the metatags, which Jenzabar insists violates its It's been widely known for years trademarks. that Google does not use metatag The documentary makers description comments in ranking brought on Public Citizen lawyer its search results. Indeed, this Paul Alan Levy, who noted in a simple fact is part of what made blog post the simple fact that Google more reliable than other even Google says it does not rely search engines, since many on metatags, and in response, w e b s i t e o w n e r s u s e d f a k e Jenzabar tried to block his being metatags to "optimize" their brought into the case, by saying results in search engines. While that Levy's pointing to the this was quite obvious for many Google blog post was hearsay. years, Google had never publicly Now, the company has gone admitted it (it doesn't like to talk even further. It's found an about its algorithm) until just a "expert witness" who will claim few months ago. Still, the t h a t m e t a t a g s d o , i n f a c t , company was just confirming influence Google results, even as exactly what was widely known the company itself insists they for the better part of a decade or don't. The guy in question, Frank so. Farance, claims in his affidavit And yet, for years, people would that "metatags are used by every bring trademark infringement Web search engine to determine lawsuits, insisting that metatags search results and rankings." It's represent some sort of trademark not clear how he has expertise in violation. In one recent case, that this particular realm or how he we've discussed, the CEO of knows that Google uses metatags software company Jenzabar, Ling when pretty much everyone in Chai, has sued the makers of a the space has known for years it d o c u m e n t a r y a b o u t t h e does not and Google itself has Tiananmen Square uprising. publicly denied using metatags to Chai had been involved in the rank results. uprising and doesn't like how the Permalink| Comments| Email filmmakers portrayed her role. This Story The filmmakers, on their website, mention that Chai works for Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:30:00 AM
Interesting: What Google's search suggestions say about newsp... on Twitpic By twitter:@jeffsonderman (TweetMeme)
http://twitpic.com/pzd43 Interesting: What Google's search
suggestions say about newspapers' future
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2 comments Source: twitpic.com
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Facebook Comes to the PlayStation 3 Carriers to sell majority Soon of mobile devices by '13 By Barb Dybwad (Mashable!) Submitted at 11/17/2009 6:35:50 PM
We caught wind of some sort of Facebook integration coming to Sony’s flagship Playstation 3 console last week, and now the news is official. Facebook support will be introduced to the console in the next firmware update, version 3.10, and Sony provided some details on what that will entail in a short video preview (embedded below). Once you link your PlayStation Network account to your Facebook account, you will be able to turn on options to automatically update your Facebook profile in 3 different areas: trophy information, purchasing information, and game event information. You’ll have to manually sync your Trophy Collection to send the information to Facebook, but when you do your PS3 will update your Facebook profile with any of the new trophies you’ve earned since your last sync. Enabling the second option will
update your Facebook profile when you make purchases from the PlayStation Network, while the latter option will vary by game. Sony left it up to game developers to enable support for Facebook updates and determine what game events qualify for a post, whether it be specific ingame accomplishments, stat milestones, or other event. In each case, you’ll always be presented with the option of declining any particular Facebook update if for whatever reason you don’t want to make it public to your contacts. Sony also made some improvements to the built-in web browser to render Facebook profiles more accurately, and helpfully reminded users they can access their Twitter accounts from the browser as well. And
yet, considering that today Microsoft launched a more thorough Facebook integration as well as significant Twitter and last.fm support, it’s hard not to read the PS3 social network integration news as weak by comparison. On the other hand, support for Facebook updates from within games is something the Xbox 360 doesn’t offer (yet — although Microsoft has indicated that will be coming in a future update). Not to mention that Microsoft’s console doesn’t even have a built-in web browser. At the end of the day, it will still be a nice bonus for PlayStation 3 users on Facebook when it launches, on a date we only know will be “soon.” Check out the video below and let us know your thoughts: will you be excited to generate Facebook updates from your gameplay and PSN purchasing activities on the PS3? [via NewTeeVee] Reviews: Facebook, Twitter Tags: facebook, playstation 3, PS3, PSN, trophies
Format a Hard Drive on Windows XP By How-To Wiki (Wired Top Stories) Submitted at 11/17/2009 3:30:00 PM
Sometimes, just emptying the Recycle Bin on your Windows desktop isn't enough. For better security, you might want to wipe
the slate clean with a fresh hard drive. Here's how.
(CNET News.com)
as carrot sticks to attract more mobile customers. Verizon is selling Netbooks from HewlettMore mobile carriers are Packard and Gateway. AT&T is offering Netbooks as a way to selling Dell, Acer, and Lenovo lure new customers--a trend that's Netbooks, as well as a Nokia likely to surge and encompass Booklet 3G. Sprint is also selling notebooks as well. a Dell Netbook. By 2013, more than 60 percent Thanks to the success of lowof all mobile devices, including cost Netbooks, U.S. carriers are Netbooks and notebooks, are further testing the waters by expected to be sold directly by bundling full-size notebooks wireless carriers, according to along with a two-year contract. research released Wednesday by The strategy isn't just limited to In-Stat. Almost 31 percent of the United States, noted In-Stat. notebooks alone will be sold Carriers in Europe and Asia are through carriers, In-Stat predicts. giving out Netbooks with a data B u n d l i n g a n i n e x p e n s i v e plan, but often at lower prices Netbook or notebook is a small than in the U.S. Asian carriers price to pay for a carrier, which have also been offering the can then charge customers for a kissing cousins of Netbooks: monthly data plan. mobile Internet devices and "In the U.S., carriers are charging ultramobile PCs. up to $60 per month for a twoThis trend will intensify as year contract with the subsidized carriers boost the number of purchase of a Netbook," In-Stat services offered and cut prices on analyst Jim McGregor said in a those services due to higher statement. "While the subsidy c o m p e t i t i o n a n d b e t t e r costs the carrier $50 to $100, it bandwidth, In-Stat said. The generates $1,440 or more in mobile market itself is also service fees over the life of the e x p e c t e d t o b e c o m e m o r e contract." attractive, with richer content and C a r r i e r s s u c h a s V e r i z o n increased bandwidth. Wireless, AT&T, and Sprint have This content has passed through already been dangling Netbooks fivefilters.org. Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:56:00 AM
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Found on eBay: An original Apple-1 with wonderful documentation By Steven Sande (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW))
by the third founder of Apple, Ronald Wayne. Wayne also wrote the Apple-1 manual. Finally, you'll get a photograph Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:30:00 AM of every other owner of this Filed under: Apple History, This computer. The existing owner Old Apple A few months ago, we has a picture of himself, the provided details of an auction computer, and Steve Wozniak that featured a Mac that had been that he's including. software from cassette tapes. The given to Star Trek creator Gene If you're the successful bidder, card comes with a manual and a Roddenberry by Apple. If you you are asked to travel to cassette with a typed label that missed your chance to pick up Roseville, California to pick it up says "BASIC" on it. that prime item, now you have an due to the irreplaceable nature of If you're a fan of Steve Jobs, opportunity to own an Apple that the Apple-1. A gallery of the you'll want two of the items that is even more rare: an Applephotos included in the auction are included. The first is a letter 1(also known as the Apple I) can be viewed below. And signed by Steve Jobs that that's currently on auction on remember, this could be the explains how to connect a eBay. perfect holiday gift for that keyboard and monitor to the The starting bid for the Apple-1 special someone... computer, and telling the buyer is US$50,000. What do you get Gallery: Apple I eBay Auction (someone who wanted to be a with your winning bid? A nonTUAW Found on eBay: An dealer) when dealer applications working Apple 1 motherboard, original Apple-1 with wonderful would be available. The second is the original shipping box (with documentation originally a hand-typed invoice for the the return address being the home appeared on The Unofficial computer, showing "Steven" as of Steve Jobs' parents), and the Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, the salesman for the machine. original manual, complete with 18 Nov 2009 08:30:00 EST. The original full-page schematics on how to take the Please see our terms for use of advertisement for Apple was motherboard and build a feeds. included with each Apple-1. This workable computer out of it. Read| Permalink| Email this| features the original Apple "Isaac There's also a tape interface Comments Newton" logo that was designed card, used to load or save
Past & Present 'Star Trek' Stars Beam Down for Star-Studded Bash! (ETonline - Breaking News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 3:00:00 AM
Your favorite 'Star Trek' stars
from the past and the present mixed and mingled at the 'Star Trek' DVD and Blu-ray release party at the Griffith Observatory
in Los Angeles. Keep clicking to take a look at the star-studded, intergalactic soiree!
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Crackdown On Loyalty Program Scams Shows How Ridiculously Sucessful They Were By Mike Masnick (Techdirt)
need. It's a bit surprising, by the way, that the investigation was done It's no secret that there are a by the Senate Committee on bunch of companies out there C o m m e r c e , S c i e n c e a n d that trick users into signing up Transportation, rather than the f o r a r e g u l a r m o n t h l y FTC, who you would think subscription service that's usually would be in charge of stopping nothing more than an excuse to these sorts of activities. Of charge your credit card every course, perhaps that's because the month. Many of these are FTC has been quite busy with incredibly sneaky, such that o t h e r s c a m m e r s , s u c h a s many users have no idea they BlueHippo, who the FTC had signed up for it until they get already reached an agreement their credit card statements. with before and then decided to Even worse, many of the "tricks" ignore it. The company basically involve getting legitimate sites to c o l l e c t e d m i l l i o n s f r o m offer these "services" to their individuals without ever sending users -- and those included the promised computers. At one C o n t i n e n t a l A i r l i n e s , point, BlueHippo had delivered Classmates.com, Priceline, 1-800 just one computer. After the -Flowers and many others. The FTC started investigating more government is finally cracking thoroughly, suddenly BlueHippo down on some of these, but its found more computers to send, latest investigation -- into just b u t s t i l l w a s n ' t d e l i v e r i n g three such services (and there are computers to many of the people a b u n c h m o r e ) n a m e d who qualified. W e b l o y a l t y , V e r t r u e a n d It's really stunning how many Affinion -- found that those three blatant scammers there are out alone brought in over$1.4 billion. there, who are able to get away Not surprisingly, the folks who with these things for so long. work there know quite well that Permalink| Comments| Email they're misleading users and This Story tricking them into signing up for stuff they don't want and don't Submitted at 11/17/2009 11:01:18 PM
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Modern Warfare 2 tops entertainment industry, not just games (CNET News.com) Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:58:00 AM
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is enjoying big success.(Credit: Infinity Ward) If you think Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 has had a major impact on just the video game industry, you may need to adjust your expectations. According to Activision Blizzard, the game's publisher, Modern Warfare 2 has set records across the entire entertainment industry. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the "biggest entertainment launch in history," Activision said in a statement. In its first five days of availability, the game set a worldwide record with about $550 million in sales, according to internal Activision figures. It's impressive. But more
impressive is the list of launches that it beat out. In the first five days of availability, Modern Warfare 2 has eclipsed the largest worldwide box-office opening, held by "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," which tallied $394 million over its first five
days. It also beat "The Dark Knight," which holds the U.S. box-office record with $203.8 million in first five-day sales. The game also narrowly trumped Grand Theft Auto IV, which captured $500 million in sales in its first five days of availability. In other words, Modern Warfare
2 has had a major release. The game's success also translated to major numbers on Xbox Live. Activision reported that "more than 5.2 million multiplayer hours were logged playing Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 on the first day alone." On November 10, 2.2 million
unique gamers played on Xbox Live, setting a new one-day record for the online-gaming platform. Of course, it should be noted that all these figures come from Activision's internal estimates, which might differ from the NPD Group's official totals when it announces November videogame sales. But until then, Activision can (rightfully so) celebrate Modern Warfare 2's success. And maybe the video-game industry, which has always received second billing to film in the entertainment space, can finally stake its claim to the top spot. Video games are, based on Modern Warfare 2's success, just as viable an entertainment platform as movies. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Intel sees opportunities in wind, electric cars (CNET News.com)
manufacturers and this would be an expansion of that business. Adoption of wide-scale wind S A N F R A N C I S C O - - power would rely on accurate Technology giant Intel is seeing forecasting, such as when the b i g o p p o r t u n i t i e s i n w i n d wind would blow and how fast, forecasting for power generation, he said. and in information management "There's a lot of opportunities for for electric vehicles, John sensor technology and highSkinner, Intel's director of performance computing," he said m a r k e t i n g f o r i t s E c o - in an interview on the sidelines of T e c h n o l o g y d i v i s i o n , s a i d an industry conference. "We are Tuesday. starting to explore it." I n t e l a l r e a d y s e l l s Intel has said it wants to grow its microprocessors to wind turbine processor and software presence Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:55:50 AM
blows. "We see numerical forecasting [in wind] as very interesting outside the traditional markets opportunity," he said, adding that and has invested in a number of "every extra bit of granularity green technology companies and predictability" on wind through its venture capital arm, power is very valuable. Intel Capital. Another sector that Intel is Wind and solar power have eyeing is electric vehicles. gained in popularity but mass Skinner said that transportation adoption has been hindered by industry is "very ripe" for the the fact that neither power works application of microprocessors. around the clock. Solar panels "Electric vehicles are going to don't work at night and wind contain a lot of electronics," he turbines only spin when the wind said, adding that Intel could see
itself being involved certain aspects of the electric car such as energy management and range prediction. "It would be an extension of our business in telematics," he said. Story Copyright (c) 2009 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Firefox 3.6 Beta 3 Available with 90+ Bugs Squashed [Downloads] By Adam Pash (Lifehacker) Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:00:00 AM
OnLive claims to run gaming service on iPhone By Mike Schramm (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW))
done on a remote server, but with signals flowing from your controller, it'll seem like you're just playing Xbox at home. It all Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:30:00 AM works in theory, but in practice, Filed under: Gaming, Hardware, Internet connections aren't solid Rumors, Software, Odds and o r s t a b l e e n o u g h t o s e n d ends, iPhone commands and full HD video OnLive is a company that has back and forth without enough b e e n c l a i m i n g t o d o t h e lag to make things unplayable. seemingly impossible -- they plan Still, without actually releasing a to set up a sort of "cloud gaming" product so far, OnLive claims c o n s o l e , w h e r e i n s t e a d o f they can do it, and now they're hardware in individual houses claiming to do it on the iPhone as (like we have now; you buy a well. AppleInsider reports that at console for your home), they'll a recent event in New York, have hardware over the Internet, OnLive showed off the same and stream your game to you like game service running on "2 watching television. All of the iPhones, a tv, and a computer" processing and coding will be simultaneously, with gamers on
all the devices able to communicate and watch each others' gameplay. CEO Steve Perlman admits it's a "tech demo," but doesn't go into detail on what that means (it could simply be a demo running separately on the devices, to show what it would be like, or I've heard of OnLive events where the server is sitting in the room next door). And of course, there's no date or information on an actual release yet. OnLive's service definitely sounds possible someday -- as Internet connections get faster and hardware gets even cheaper, it's not a stretch to think we'll eventually move the heavy
processor lifting to another location, leaving much tinier consoles and PCs taking up space on our desks and TV stands at home. But so far all it seems they've got is an idea (and the money that excited financiers have put into the project). We'll have to believe it works when we see it. TUAW OnLive claims to run gaming service on iPhone originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
Windows/Mac/Linux: The folks at Mozilla continue their steady march towards the release of Firefox 3.6, today releasing an update to Firefox 3.6 Beta 3. The update addresses 90+ bugs from the beta 2 release. Weblog Mozilla Links also notes that, unfortunately, support for some of the best new Windows 7 features has been removed from 3.6 at this point, meaning no tab previews, jump lists, and download progress in the task bar. (Bummer.) Still, if you're an early adopter who's been riding the beta train for 3.6, you'll want to grab the latest beta from Mozilla. Firefox 3.6 Beta 3[via Mozilla Links]
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Adobe pre-release of Flash Player 10.1 now available By Chris Rawson (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW))
CPU utilization of the Flash Player plug-in. I compared both versions of Flash and saw a significant drop in CPU Submitted at 11/17/2009 4:00:00 PM utilization: Filed under: Multimedia, Video, Flash 10.0.32.18: 450% Internet Adobe's Flash Player has Flash 10.1.51.45: 190% long been a notorious CPU hog Going from roughly 450% down on Macs. Every time I hear my to 190% (or a bit over 10% of wife's MacBook's fans going off total CPU utilization across 16 like a cyclone on the other side of threads) made full-screen Hulu the living room, I know it's playable on my machine. In the because she's playing Bejeweled access to the required APIs" past I always had to run it in a Blitz or some other crazy Flash- according to Adobe -- but even smaller window, but thanks to based game that's pegging her without hardware-accelerated Flash 10.1 I don't have to any poor machine's CPU to infinity video decoding, this pre-release longer. and beyond. build of Flash boasts significant Continue reading Adobe preThings are a bit rosier with CPU load improvements over its release of Flash Player 10.1 now Adobe's pre-release of Flash predecessor. available Player 10.1. The Windows A n a n d t e c h t e s t e d t h e TUAW Adobe pre-release of v e r s i o n h a s s i g n i f i c a n t performance improvement of the Flash Player 10.1 now available improvements, namely support pre-release version of Flash originally appeared on The for hardware-accelerated video Player with the following results: U n o f f i c i a l A p p l e W e b l o g decoding of h.264 video, but the I took the same Office clip I'd (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 Mac and Linux versions do not been using for all of the other 16:00:00 EST. Please see our include support for this feature. tests and ran it on my Mac Pro at terms for use of feeds. As usual, Adobe blames Apple full screen (2560 x 1600). Using Permalink| Email this| for "not being open enough" -- Activity Monitor I looked at the C o m m e n t s "Mac OS X does not expose
Johnny Depp Named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive (ETonline - Breaking News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:34:00 AM
Captain Jack Sparrow has beat
out the likes of sexy stars George Clooney and Brad Pitt for People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive honor for 2009. See what makes
this 46-year-old father of two so irresistible as ET has the pics of Johnny Depp through the years.
NSeries Nokias Say Goodbye to Symbian, Hello to Maemo By Stan Schroeder (Mashable!) Submitted at 11/18/2009 4:35:49 AM
Here’s a bold statement: Symbian S60 is simply not good enough. I’m sure that many Nokia owners and analysts who know that Symbian currently holds around 50% of the smartphone OS market would disagree. But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the new generation of smartphones – primarily Androids, the iPhone, and webOS based devices – are simply better than Symbian S60 and Windows Mobile (up to) 6.5 when it comes to doing what the today’s users want from a smartphone: browsing the web, using Facebook and Twitter, gaming, and finding simple apps that will satisfy their specific needs. And now, at the official N900 meet-up in London, Nokia has pretty much admitted it. Nokia’s NSeries devices – i.e. most of their high-end smartphones – will all be powered by Linux-based Maemo by 2012. While this doesn’t mean that Symbian is going away completely, it’s a major focus shift from a platform that Nokia has been pushing for so long.
Nokia has probably recognized that Symbian will not be able to compete with Android and the iPhone in the foreseeable future, so they’ve decided to build their own Android (Maemo, just like Android, is Linux-based) and push their flagship devices on it, while Symbian will probably keep powering the video and photo focused X and E-series devices. Furthermore, Nokia will first run its Maemo app portal, Maemo Select, alongside Ovi Store (Symbian app store), but plans to merge them into one later on. While we’re thrilled to see more Nokias on the powerful Maemo platform, running two mobile smarpthone OSs and two separate app stores will definitely cause confusion to the customers. Reviews: Android, linux Tags: Maemo, N900, Nokia, Symbian
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Recording Industry Making It Impossible Surveillance: New For Any Legit Online Music Service To Online Get A Mac Ad Survive Without Being Too Expensive By Josh Pigford (TheAppleBlog)
By Mike Masnick (Techdirt) Submitted at 11/18/2009 1:50:00 AM
You just knew it would happen again. Every time the recording industry finally agrees to license a new music service to try to take the "sting" out of "piracy," it demands licensing terms that are ridiculous. From the execs at the labels' perspective, unless you pay an arm and a leg, you don't get to offer music. So, a few companies agree, and then realize it's impossible to make any money and shut down. In the meantime, the whole point of those legal licensed music services (to compete with "pirate" sites and services) is lost
entirely. Wired is chronicling how all of the legal music sites are finding it impossible to survive and offer a free music service -- including MySpace music (which beyond not offering much of value in terms of user experience) "is struggling to keep up with its own payments to music copyright holders." Of course, it's really no surprise that most of these sites have struggled. Beyond the ridiculously high licensing rates that the labels forced on them (often by negotiating through lawsuits), none of these sites put together a well thought-out business model. Instead, they all seemed to think that they could
just slap ads on the site and that would be enough. But, of course, when you're listening to music, you're not looking at that website or paying attention to the ads -and if the ads got too intrusive, they'd just go elsewhere. A real business model would have been setting up something more comprehensive, that gave listeners a real reason to buy associated with the music. Eventually we'll get there, but in the short-term, the graveyard of failed "licensed" music startups will grow, just as more and more "unauthorized" sites grow in popularity. Permalink| Comments| Email This Story
Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:17:16 AM
Today, on CNN.com I noticed a new online Get A Mac ad that I’ve lovingly named “Surveillance.” Apple has done these sort of multi-banner ads on large news sites like CNN and NY Times before where the two ads cleverly interact with one another.
Growl updated to 1.2, adds 64-bit support By Aron Trimble (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW))
support. While most of the updates in 1.2 are "behind the scenes," the biggest user-facing improvement Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:10:00 AM is in the upgrade to 64-bit. What Filed under: Software, Freeware, this means is that for Snow O p e n S o u r c e E v e r s i n c e Leopard users, selecting the upgrading to Snow Leopard, the Growl preference pane does not one remaining 32-bit niggle I require Preferences.app to rehave has been with Growl's launch in 32-bit compatibility p r e f e r e n c e p a n e . T o d a y , mode. however,* Growl has announced In addition to the Growl and released v1.2 of its famous preference pane, GrowlMail and application notification system GrowlSafari have been updated with, among other things, 64-bit to 64-bit and are now Snow
In this ad, Mac and PC are talking about Windows 7 and above them a number of surveillance cameras are showing people going in and out of Apple stores presumably switching from PC to Mac. PC can’t stand the thought so he runs to one of the stores and is observed on one of the surveillance cameras stopping people form going in to the Apple store.
No. 2 Spartans escape Gonzaga's upset bid By Associated Press (ESPN.com) Submitted at 11/17/2009 8:46:32 PM
Fast Facts • Michigan State rebounded from Leopard compatible. Further, the out that version 1.2, while the a five-point halftime deficit to Growl framework has been re- current version, wasn't released beat Gonzaga and claim its 41st consecutive home victory against written in Cocoa dropping today. Our apologies. support for the Carbon-based TUAW Growl updated to 1.2, nonconference opponents. API. adds 64-bit support originally • Durrell Summers led the way You can see the full list of appeared on The Unofficial for MSU with a team-high 21 changes over at Growl's version Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, points -- 17 of them in the second history page. Growl users should 18 Nov 2009 08:10:00 EST. half. have received a notification to Please see our terms for use of • Four players reached double figures for Gonzaga, including d o w n l o a d t h e u p d a t e . feeds. Alternatively, you can head over Read| Permalink| Email this| Robert Sacre tying a career high with 17 points. to Growl's homepage and click Comments -- ESPN Stats & Information "download" to get your ticket to This content has passed through the notification express. fivefilters.org. * Several readers have pointed
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Opera Mobile 10 Beta Now Available for Windows Mobile
Bebo’s Abuse Button: Should Facebook and MySpace Follow Suit?
By Stan Schroeder (Mashable!)
Submitted at 11/18/2009 3:57:36 AM
By Stan Schroeder (Mashable!)
Social network Bebo which has seen a rapid decline in popularity but is still one of the biggest such A couple of weeks ago, Opera services around, has added a tiny released the latest beta version of but important new feature: a its mobile browser, Opera Mobile button that helps children report 10, but only for Nokia’s Symbian abuse or bullying. phones. Now, the same beta is The button is called the CEOP available for Windows Mobile Opera Mini, which works on Report button, (CEOP stands for users, too. most Java-enabled smartphones, UK’s Child Exploitation and A short digression: I own a Sony including my P1i. Online Protection Centre), if you Ericsson P1i, once the company’s Back to Opera 10 Mobile Beta! click on it, you’ll get advice and flagship smartphone, that’s based W h a t w e s a i d a b o u t t h e help about issues such as child on a now abandonded strain of Nokia/Symbian version, stands abuse (but also viruses and Symbian known as UIQ 3. And for the Windows Mobile version. hacking), as well as details on while I know that things change The new version brings a better, how to inform the police and fast in the mobile industry, I still finger-friendly keyboard, tabbed CEOP. use the device, and it’s not very browsing, a redesigned speed While all that sounds nice and pleasant to see that no one cares dial, faster operation, and of d a n d y , t h e r e ’ s a l w a y s t h e about it anymore – the handful of course, support for Opera’s problem of abusing the abuse apps that are available for the Turbo mode which speeds up button. If you make it easy for device will remain just that, a browsing by compressing web people to report a site or an handful. If you plan to use your p a g e s o n O p e r a ’ s ( O p e r a ) individual as a child abuser, smartphone for over a year or s e r v e r s . simply by clicking a button, two, you would do well to choose You can download Opera a platform that’s not likely to Mobile 10 Beta here. Reviews: disappear within that time frame. Opera Luckily, Opera also develops Submitted at 11/18/2009 2:04:33 AM
some users could become trigger happy and do it even when it’s unwarranted. In any case, Bebo isn’t the only social network where child abuse and bullying are common occurences; we can remember several examples on other major social networks such as MySpace and Facebook. We’d like to hear your opinion: do you think that Bebo’s “panic
Nielsen Ratings Delay In Haiku II By Bill Gorman (TVbytheNumbers) Submitted at 11/17/2009 2:08:39 PM
Last May’s multi-day Nielsen ratings delay motivated a haiku
contest. Not sure if this delay will last that long (no more information till Wednesday AM at the earliest), but composing haiku can be quite calming. Three Rivers still on,
It’s the accountants. Go for it. This content has passed through fivefilters.org. despite terrible ratings,
button” can really be helpful? And if so, do you think that Facebook and MySpace should take similar action? Please share your thoughts in the comments. Reviews: Bebo, Facebook, MySpace Tags: bebo, facebook, myspace
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Star Wars: Trench Run for the $5 Jedi in all of us By TJ Luoma (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW))
Apple to open 2 New England stores this weekend By Dave Caolo (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW))
Submitted at 11/17/2009 4:30:00 PM
Filed under: App Store, App Review Simply put: Star Wars: Trench Run [ iTunes link] is awesome. The idea is fairly simple: you are re-enacting the final battle scene from the first Star Wars movie, and if you think that refers to The Phantom Menace, may God have mercy on your soul. There's a dogfight, with you in your Xwing versus several TIE Fighters. That's followed by your descent into the trench on the Death Star where you face off against TIE Fighters, cannons, and obstacles that you have to fly over or under, all while avoiding being lined up Darth Vader's crosshairs. When you get to the end of the trench, you have to try to hit the
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Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:30:00 AM
exhaust port and blow up the Death Star. My method of evaluating games is simple: 1. Is it fun to play? 2. Is it something that I'll still want to play after I've played it for awhile? Continue reading Star Wars: Trench Run for the $5 Jedi in all
of us TUAW Star Wars: Trench Run for the $5 Jedi in all of us originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail Attention, New Englanders: Nashua, New Hampshire and Greenwich, Connecticut will host new Apple Stores as of this weekend. Apple Store Pheasant Lane will open at 310 Daniel Webster Highway in Nashua. You'll find it on the 1st floor of the Pheasant Lane Mall near the Food Court. Doors open at 10:00 AM on Saturday, November 21st. The weather will be in the 50's so you needn't bundle up too tightly. You'll find full travel information here. At the same time (10:00 AM on the 21st), Apple Store Greenwich Avenue will open in Greenwich, CT. This store is located at 356 Greenwich Avenue. Again, the weather will be nice. We're always happy to see your
photos and hear your stories from Apple Store openings, so let us know how it went. Here's hoping a little shopping therapy will erase last week's Patriots loss from your memories. [Via MacDailyNews] TUAW Apple to open 2 New England stores this weekend originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
Google Holding Chrome OS Overview and Launch Plans Thursday [Operating Systems] By Adam Pash (Lifehacker) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:00:00 AM
According to tech weblog TechCrunch, Google is hosting a
Chrome OS event tomorrow in which they'll provide a complete overview of the thus far topsecret operating system they announced in July. In fact, some
early version of the operating
system may be available this week. This isn't the first time we've heard rumors of a Chrome OS event, but we're hopeful we'll get to take a look at some of what
Chrome OS has to offer very soon. [ TechCrunch]
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Save Your Lungs, Blow Real Air With Your iPhone [Video] By Stan Schroeder (Mashable!)
This just in: MacBooks are more reliable than netbooks By Aron Trimble (The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)) Submitted at 11/17/2009 5:30:00 PM
Filed under: Portables, Odds and ends Excel nerds rejoice! What you see above is the result of a laptop reliability study conducted by third-party warranty shop Squaretrade. The study looks at over 30,000 notebooks over the course of 3 years to determine the final reliability statistics. The results may not surprise you; for instance, netbooks fail 40% more often than premium laptops and Apple's MacBook line has aboveaverage reliability. The report itself is fascinating to read and the graphs are simple to
understand. Also, it is nice to see an independent study confirm what I've known for years: HP makes low quality laptops. A note of personal interest, had I purchased a Vaio all those years ago rather than a Presario, I might never have switched to Mac. [via Engadget] TUAW This just in: MacBooks are more reliable than netbooks originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
By Associated Press (ESPN.com) Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:39:41 AM
Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:35:40 AM
We know how hard it is: birthday after birthday, those stubborn candles aren’t extinguishing themselves, and your poor lungs aren’t getting any younger. You know the drill: there’s an app for that! The iPhone app is called Blower and it works by moving air through the speakers of your iPhone (strictly speaking, the same thing happens when you play music through those speakers, but let’s not be too harsh on the novelty part of the application). The list of usage scenarios for the app is never ending.
Aldrich, No. 1 Kansas avoid upstart Memphis
According to the official set of images on the iTunes page of the app, you can use it to blow candles on your cake and blow herbs away (!?). I don’t know about you, but whenever I see herbs crushed into tiny particles that need to be blown away, I’ll reach out for my iPhone. Blower is available in the App Store for $0.99. Tags: Blower, iphone
Fast Facts • Kansas won the rematch of the 2008 national championship game to start the season 2-0 for the third straight season. • Cole Aldrich led the way for Kansas with 18 points and 11 rebounds, and Sherron Collins finished with 12 points despite battling leg cramps. • This is Kansas' first win since 2007 when scoring fewer than 60 points. • With the loss, Memphis is now 0-9 all-time vs. the top-ranked team in the country. -- ESPN Stats & Information This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
McSteamy Joins 'Twilight' Star in 'Burlesque' Show (ETonline - Breaking News)
The "Grey's Anatomy" star plays a successful business man who attempts to buy out a Los TV star Eric Dane has joined the Angeles neo-burlesque club new musical drama 'Burlesque,' owned by Cher's character and which stars two pop star divas where Aguilera's character, a and one 'Twilight' star. small town girl with a big voice, In addition to Dane, the film cast performs, according to The Christina Aguilera, Cher and Hollywood Reporter. He also vampire bad boy Cam Gigandet. seeks to romance Aguilera in the Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:08:00 AM
process. Other actors to star in the musical movie include Kristen Bell, Alan Cumming and Stanley Tucci. Production for 'Burlesque began last week in Los Angeles and has a release date of Thanksgiving 2010.
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ADL Special Report: A Year of Growing Animosity (Little Green Footballs)
trample on individual freedoms and civil liberties, due to some sinister agenda, and they see his The Anti-Defamation League economic and social policies as has released a detailed report on manifestations of this agenda. In the increasing anger and hostility p a r t i c u l a r a n t i - g o v e r n m e n t among the right wing, singling activists used the issue of health o u t m a n y o f t h e s a m e care reform as a rallying point, personalities and issues on which a c c u s i n g O b a m a a n d h i s LGF has been focusing recently. administration of dark designs This is the index page with r a n g i n g f r o m “ s o c i a l i z e d summaries of the main points: medicine” to “death panels,” Rage Grows in America: Anti- e v e n w h e n t h e O b a m a Government Conspiracies. administration had not come out Since the election of Barack with a specific health care reform Obama as president, a current of plan. Some even compared the anti-government hostility has O b a m a a d m i n i s t r a t i o n ’ s swept across the United States, intentions to Nazi eugenics creating a climate of fervor and programs. activism with manifestations Some of these assertions are ranging from incivility in public motivated by prejudice, but more forums to acts of intimidation common is an intense strain of and violence. anti-government distrust and What characterizes this anti- anger, colored by a streak of government hostility is a shared p a r a n o i a a n d b e l i e f i n belief that Obama and his conspiracies. These sentiments administration actually pose a are present both in mainstream threat to the future of the United and “grass-roots” movements as States. Some accuse Obama of w e l l a s i n e x t r e m e a n t i plotting to bring socialism to the government movements such as a United States, while others claim resurgent militia movement. he will bring about Nazism or Ultimately, this anti-government fascism. All believe that Obama anger, if it continues to grow in and his administration will intensity and scope, may result in Submitted at 11/17/2009 10:06:12 AM
an increase in anti-government extremists and the potential for a rise of violent anti-government acts. The ADL is right on target when they identify Glenn Beck as one of the primary mainstream media promoters of extremist ideologies and conspiracy theory paranoia: The most important mainstream media figure who has repeatedly helped to stoke the fires of antigovernment anger is right-wing media host Glenn Beck, who has a TV show on FOX News and a popular syndicated radio show. While other conservative media hosts, such as Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity, routinely attack Obama and his administration, typically on partisan grounds, they have usually [But not always… --ed.] dismissed or refused to give a platform to the conspiracy theorists and anti-government extremists. This has not been the case with Glenn Beck. Beck and his guests have made a habit of demonizing President Obama and promoting conspiracy theories about his administration. On a number of his TV and radio programs, Beck has even
gone so far as to make comparisons between Hitler and Obama and to promote the idea that the president is dangerous. The whole thing is very much worth reading, so here are direct links to all of the report’s sections: Index / Summary Introduction Part One: Anger in the Mainstream The Tea Parties The Town Hall Meeting Disruptions A Building Anger The “Birther” Movement The Influence of the Mainstream Media Part Two: Anger on the Fringes Alex Jones, the Conspiracy King Conspiracy Theories Imagine Government Plots Conspiracy Theories Prompting Action: The Iowa National Guard Conspiracy Theories Prompting Action: Richard Poplawski Resisting the Government The Oath Keepers The Three Percenters The Resurgence of the Militia Movement
SC ethics panel weighing Gov. Sanford charges (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:54:42 AM
Joy S buzzed up: Obama, Holder defend plan to try 9/11 defendants
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Legend of the Seeker season two premiere averages 2.58 million viewers By Robert Seidman (TVbytheNumbers) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:41:10 AM
The season two premiere of Legend of the Seeker averaged 2.583 million viewers the weekend of November 7-8 with a 1.7 household rating. By household rating it was ranked tied for 45th out of 129 syndicated shows measured for the week. The 2.583 million was the average audience, but you might wind up seeing the number 3.528 million thrown around, too. That’s the gross average audience for the premiere. Gross average audience is a metric commonly used in syndicated ratings where viewing of repeat broadcasts during the measured period *is* counted. But for apples-toapples purposes of comparing to other shows you should use the 2.583 million number. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Greenland Ice Melting Faster Than Ever (Little Green Footballs)
research team led by Michiel van den Broeke from the University of Utrecht reported in the most Germany’s Spiegel Online recent edition of the journal reports on new research on the Science that the two processes Greenland ice sheet (crossare contributing equally to the checked with two different disappearance of the ice sheet. methods that yielded the same According to the new report, result), showing that the ice is Greenland lost an estimated disappearing much faster than 1,500 gigatons (one gigaton is to rising ocean levels — with previously believed. equal to 1 billion tons) of ice The dimensions of this frosty p o t e n t i a l l y d r a m a t i c from the year 2000 to 2008. giant go way beyond human consequences for millions across “That is at the upper end of imagination. With a surface area the globe. recent estimates of Greenland spanning some 1.7 million square Were Greenland to lose all of its mass loss using various other kilometers (656,000 square ice, sea levels would rise some methods,” van den Broeke told miles), a view of Greenland’s ice seven meters higher than today’s SPIEGEL ONLINE. Between above the Sermeq-Kujalleq levels. Such a scenario will not 2006 and 2008, the loss in weight glacier near Ilulisat makes it become reality overnight — totaled 273 gigatons per year, he seem endless. The idea that this indeed the process could last said. sheet of ice, which is up to three hundreds of years. But new The scientists are convinced kilometers thick in parts, is results from a team of Dutch their results are accurate because melting seems absurd in the r e s e a r c h e r s s u g g e s t t h a t they arrived at their numbers conservative estimates as to the extreme. using two fundamentally But the large number of gigantic speed with which the ice is different methods — both of icebergs — and the valley into melting should be shelved. w h i c h r e t u r n e d t h e s a m e which they are slowly sliding — According to the study, the rate conclusion. On the one hand, tell a different story. Here, as at which Greenland’s ice is they monitored the movement of e l s e w h e r e i n G r e e n l a n d , a m e l t i n g h a s a c c e l e r a t e d the ice which they fed into a gigantic upheaval is underway. In substantially in recent years. regional computer model. For a recent years, the glacier has There are, strictly speaking, two second data source, they used the receded by around 15 kilometers; parallel processes responsible for Grace observation satellites, the ongoing meltdown appears the ice’s retreat. On the one hand, which measure the Earth’s unstoppable. Just how quickly rising temperatures melt the ice gravitational field. Greenland’s ice is melting on land while warmer ocean remains a matter of some debate, currents eat away at the glaciers but the melting ice is contributing that jut out into the ocean. A Submitted at 11/17/2009 2:06:50 PM
Quick Steps Looks Like Office 2010's Killer Feature [Office 2010] By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:30:00 AM
Microsoft's Office 2010 has rolled out to trusted testers, and among the screenshots coming back, nothing seems so promising as the Quick Steps buttons. They're like highpowered Send & Archive buttons that can be tweaked to do any multi-step action. Sure, Office 2010 includes automatic SkyDrive document synchronization, native PDF creation, advanced video editing in PowerPoint, and a lot of other tweaks—detailed, in screenshots and text, by the Digital Inspiration blog. But what's really exciting to our email-handling reptile brains is
the ability to create Quick Step buttons for any kind of email. You can create your own Send & Archive, but have it archive into any Outlook folder. You can also have Send & Delete, or bulkforward messages to somebody with a subject of "FYI." Six or more of your custom Quick Steps appear in the Office 2010 ribbon, and they seem fairly open-ended in what they can accomplish, as described at the Office Outlook Team Blog. We're looking forward to trying out Office 2010 soon. If you're already giving it a go, tell us what else is worth a look in the comments. Microsoft Office 2010 - A Visual Guide to New Features of Office 2010[Digital Inspiration]
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Seesmic Desktop Now Available as a Native Windows Client [Twitter] By Jason Fitzpatrick (Lifehacker) Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:30:00 AM
Windows: If you've wanted a desktop-based Twitter client but were shying away because most were built with Adobe Air and you're not a fan, Seesmic Desktop is now available as a native Windows client. Click on the above image for a closer look. For the unfamiliar desktop-based Twitter clients bring an increased level of functionality to your Twitter use right to your computer as an application as opposed to using the relatively feature-bare Twitter interface or a web-based alternative. Seesmic Desktop for Windows includes
many of the popular features from the Adobe Air version as well as some new features. Seesmic Desktop for Windows supports new Twitter features like Twitter lists with drag and drop manipulation and
geolocation. It has support for plugins and extensibility like Firefox to allow for integration with popular 3rd-party Twitter services including Tweetmeme and MrTweet. Seesmic Desktop for Windows does not currently
support Facebook as the Adobe Air version does but will shortly. You'll need to visit the link below and sign up for beta testing to access the Windows client. Confirm your registration and within a minute or two you'll receive an email with a download link for the beta client. It's within 24 hours of the beta launch so be patient if the download link times out a few times before connecting. Seesmic Desktop Beta for Windows is Windows only. Seesmic also has a web and Adobe Air based Twitter client. Have a Twitter client or tool you can't live without? Let's hear about it in the comments. Seesmic[via Download Squad]
Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:34:00 AM
Gretchen Mol, who was last seen in last season's short-lived American television version of Life on Mars and in the feature An American Affair, will be going to HBO for the series Boardwalk Empire. She's scheduled to have a recurring role as a showgirl. The series is
being produced by Martin Scorsese. Gretchen Mol was on Life on Mars with Michael Imperioli, who was also on The Sopranos on HBO and was in Scorsese's Goodfellas. Boardwalk Empire star Steve Buscemi also appeared on The Sopranos. In short, all these people know each other and anything wrong with that. it's definitely a case of cast Seriously, Gretchen Mol is a inbreeding. Not that there's terrific actress and was fantastic
By Allison Waldman (TV Squad) Submitted at 11/18/2009 2:00:00 AM
(S07E08) NCIS did something so great on tonight's episode that I'm surprised I haven't seen it done on another procedural until now. If you haven't seen the show yet, I won't spoil it, but I will say that it was a complication that really made the show. There were moments for DiNozzo to reference all kinds of in The Notorious Bettie Page. TV shows from the past, a Given the talent already behind chance for Gibbs to prove that Boardwalk Empire, it was likely there's nothing he can't handle to be a fantastic series. Now its with aplomb, and even the volume just went up to 11. opportunity for Abby to show F i l e d u n d e r : I n d u s t r y , that sans Cafe Pow, she's still the Programming, OpEd, Celebrities, sharpest lab tech in NCIS. More Casting, Reality-Free on the case after the jump. P e r m a l i n k | E m a i l t h i s | | Continue reading Review: NCIS Comments - Power Down Filed under: OpEd, NCIS, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free Permalink| Email this| | Comments
Gretchen Mol to join Boardwalk Empire By Brad Trechak (TV Squad)
Review: NCIS Power Down
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Hone Up on Gift Card Tricks and Review: V - A Bright Traps for the Holidays [Gift Giving] New Day By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker)
By Jason Hughes (TV Squad)
Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:30:00 AM
Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:29:00 AM
The default gift for the picky, the not-well-known, and the indecisive, gift cards are available for just about every store. Consumer Reports reminds holiday shoppers of many traps, but also some new protections, available to gift card buyers and spenders. Photo by robinsonsmay. Seemingly simple gift cards often have a lot of rules and stipulations attached, some of which reduce the value of the card and restrict when and on what the balance can be used. Consumer Reports' Shopping & Money blog points out two catches worth noting this year: • When buying a gift card from an individual merchant, be sure to ask if the card is valid for online use. While it's not an issue for most retailers, some companies such as CVS, T.J. Maxx, and Marshall's do not allow their gift cards to be used online, Bankrate says. • The federal Credit CARD Act
(S01E03) When you're mounting a resistance against an alien presence that way outclasses you in technology, and even outclasses you in propaganda and being good-looking, you're going to need help, and preferably of the "inside" variety. With V scheduled to go on a long hiatus after next week's episode, it's important that the resistance come together by then. While we made good progress this episode, and learned some more good information, I fear they won't get us to a compelling hook before they go into hibernation for the winter. People will forget about this show if we don't get hooked in good next week. Unless ABC wants to
pertaining to gift cards takes effect on Feb. 22, and the regulations require that the cards remain valid for at least 5 years, unless that information is clearly disclosed on the card. Dormancy, or inactivity, fees will still be allowed after 12 consecutive months of inactivity.
as a gesture of good will toward shoppers. What gift cards will you absolutely avoid at all costs this year? Which cards aren't all that painful to give or receive? Gather 'round the hearth in the comments. A reminder of giftcard gotchas[Consumer Reports Money & Shopping Blog]
promote its relaunch like another new series, they need to grab us by the jowls and sink their teeth in ... or at least unhinge our jaws and cram a guinea pig of awesome down our gullets. Continue reading Review: V - A Bright New Day Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, V Permalink| Email this| | Comments
The post also reminds gift card holders to never give up—some stores will take an "expired" card
Get a Handle on the Perfect Clutch By ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog) Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:00:00 AM
The perfect night-out clutch should be sleek and compact, but
still roomy enough to fit all the essentials. The small leather version by brand new label Reece Hudson, in stores and online in January, adds some function to Designer Reece Solomon (shown this fashionable closet staple.
at left) has cleverly added a crisscross strap to the otherwise strapless bag, making the sometimes-cumbersome clutch a breeze to carry. —Violet Moon Gaynor
Designer Reece Solomon carrying her clever little clutch Follow ELLE on Twitter.
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The Top 10 Mobile Applications of 2012 By Sarah Perez (ReadWriteWeb)
time you paid someone or paid at checkout through your mobile phone? Never? That sounds Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:29:32 AM about right. The List Research firm Gartner has just The full list is as follows: put out a list of the top ten mobile • Money Transfer: This refers to applications of the future. Well, people sending money via SMS not the distant future, but the far messages. Like mobile payments, off year of 2012. Nothing on the this service has more appeal in list is all that surprising or, in developing markets for now. many cases, even all that new. However, there may come a time Instead, the list includes the sorts when even using your debit card of technologies that are just now seems passé, while paying for coming into their own and something with actual cash seems haven't yet seen widespread downright ancient. adoption as well as the already • Location-Based Services: As common technologies that are mentioned above, there are still still experiencing growth. far too many services to choose Sponsor from when it comes to locationFor many of the categories on b a s e d s o c i a l n e t w o r k i n g , this list, there are a number of fragmenting the market. Your mobile apps that are already friends on Loopt are often available today. But what Gartner different than those on Brightkite makes clear is that we're just and that list is different than getting started when it comes to those on Foursquare. But LBS their use. extends to more than social For example, location-based networks - it includes any services (LBS) - there still isn't application that taps into your one single app which everyone phone's GPS capabilities to offer uses to find each their friends out up location-based services of any in the real world via their mobile k i n d , w h e t h e r t h a t ' s l o c a l phones. Instead, we have a business reviews or directions to number of similar but competing the nearest Starbucks. Gartner applications all vying to be the says this will be one of the most Facebook of location-based apps. disruptive technologies in the Another example is money future, with a user base growing payments - this type of service is from 96 million in 2009 to 526 having more of an impact in the million in 2012. developing world right now • Mobile Search: No, mobile where access to banks is more search isn't new, but on the difficult than here in the Western mobile platform, it may get world where people just want the shaken up a bit. Gartner predicts convenience of paying through that consumers won't necessarily their mobiles. When was the last be sticking with the search
services they know and use on the Web (think Google, Bing, Yahoo) and instead experiment with using a few different search providers that have "unique technologies" for mobile search. While that statement is a little vague, it sounds like good news for services like Taptu who have entered this field with search offerings designed from the ground-up for mobile devices. • Mobile Browsing: Saying that mobile browsing technologies will be heavily used in the future sounds a little bit like stating the obvious. But as Gartner notes, mobile browsing capabilities currently exist only on 60%+ of handsets today. By 2013, that number will climb to 80%, meaning that those who are still using the app-less,more basic feature phones will still be joining the mobile web in mass numbers over the coming years. That's also good news for web developers who can build mobile web applications to cater to this bunch as opposed to focusing all their efforts into building apps for the numerous mobile platforms like the iPhone, Android, RIM, and others. • Mobile Health Monitoring: Another technology whose impact will be felt more heavily in developing markets, mobile health monitoring is still at an early stage of maturity and implementation says Gartner. Project rollouts have been limited to pilot projects for now, but in
the coming years the industry will begin to monetize these efforts by offering mobile healthcare monitoring products, services, and solutions to various care delivery organizations. • Mobile Payments: Like mobile transfers, mobile payments are more common in developing markets at the moment, but that is quickly changing. Yet even as this type of service grows, Gartner admits there will be challenges. Mobile payments will be a "highly fragmented market" where there will not be "standard practices of deployment," notes the report. That makes it sound like this is one technology that will still need some work, even when 2012 rolls around. • Near Field Communications (NFC): More popular in some European and Asian markets than in the U.S., NFC still isn't a standard feature on many of today's phones. That may be about to change, too. In late 2010, Gartner says that NFCenabled phones will begin to ship in volume, with Asia leading deployments, followed by Europe and North America. • Mobile Advertising: Also not new but growing fast, mobile advertising is one of the most important ways to monetize mobile content. Total spending on mobile advertising in 2008 was $530.2 million and it will grow to$7.5 billion in 2012. And mobile advertising will also be used by companies alongside their other campaigns including
TV, radio, print, and outdoors. • Mobile Instant Messaging: Gartner says that latent user demand and market conditions are conductive to mobile IM's future adoption. It will appeal to developing markets where mobile phones are often the only connectivity device a user owns. But will it be a major app by 2012? It seems that SMS is still the service to beat, especially in the developing world. We'll have to wait and see on this one. • Mobile Music: Sure, you have the iPhone, but what about your other options? What about mobile music services especially those for non-iPhone devices? We're still waiting on Spotify in the U.S., for example, and their competition too. Gartner says that we're beginning to see new innovative models in this area that will include both device (think "Comes with Music") and service bundles. What's Missing? A glaring omission from this report is that of Augmented Reality. Gartner had even placed this technology on their " Hype Cycle for Emerging Technologies, 2009" report earlier this year. Do they not think that AR will have a major impact by 2012? Considering that's only a little over a year away, it could just be too soon for AR to see the widespread adoption that we hoped it would TOP page 38
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Leaving a Vulgar Comment Online Might Cost You Your Job By Sarah Perez (ReadWriteWeb)
things you've ever eaten. The headline was practically asking for a juvenile response and, Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:47:34 AM thanks to the anonymity of the A backlash against anonymous internet, that's exactly what commenters and trolls seems to happened. In the comments be underway. Only last month, a section of the article, one user court case was settled where posted a single word response anonymous commenters ended referring to a part of a woman's up having to pay big fines to the anatomy. Of course, the site's women who they defiled using moderators quickly deleted the vulgar, derogatory remarks on a comment but it soon reappeared internet forum. And previously, obviously this juvenile was intent an anonymous blogger in the on having their say. modeling industry was forced to But this time, instead of just reveal her identity after numerous d e l e t i n g t h e c o m m e n t i n malicious posts about a colleague question, the site's director of showed up on her blog. Now the social media, Kurt Greenbaum, latest scandal in this new trend of did a little sleuthing too. He "giving the trolls what they found that the commenter's IP deserve" is causing a controversy address was coming from a local all of its own. And this time, the school...and that's where this nasty comment didn't just lead to story starts to get interesting. an embarrassing reveal or a Greenbaum contacted the school heavy fine, it cost someone their and made them aware of the job. situation. In his defense, he Sponsor probably thought he was simply A One-Word Comment Cost a tattle-telling on a naughty student School Employee His Job who would learn a valuable A vulgar comment was made by lesson about internet anonymity a reader of the St. Louis Post- and would have to sit through a Dispatch's website on Friday on week's detention or something of an article about the strangest the like. Instead, he cost a school
employee his job. Yes, as it turns out, the commenter in question wasn't a juvenile after all, just someone with a juvenile mind. Greenbaum learned of the firing when the school phoned him back six hours later to report their findings. They had confronted the employee and he had resigned. Crossing the Line? Or Justice Served? The question being hotly debated now is did Greenbaum go too far? Or did the commenter get what they deserved? Mathew Ingram, the blogger and communities editor for Toronto's The Globe and Mail, writes on his personal blog that his paper's site has seen hundreds or even thousands of comments, most of which are much worse than the one Greenbaum saw, but he would never - and has never contacted someone's workplace about them. He calls Greenbaum's actions "over-thetop" and apparently, many commenters on STLtoday.com's website agree, calling out
TOP continued from page 37
have by then. Or it's possible that - as some have suspected - AR is simply a "cool" way to see and interact with the world around you, but hasn't produced any "must-have," highly useful applications just yet. For
example, seeing AR views of local businesses and user recommendations is fun, but is it a markedly better experience than using a service like Yelp? For many, that answer today is "no." AR needs to grow out of being an
technology you use "because you can" to one you use "because you have to." Until it's the best option to perform a particular task, it may not make Gartner's next list, either. Discuss
Greenbaum over this incident. And yet Greenbaum seems to show no remorse, responding to one commenter who accused him of hating moderating so much that he decided to get someone fired by saying:"Yeah, you caught me! I made him log on to his computer at work, visit STLtoday.com's Talk of the Day, read the item, type a vulgarity and hit the 'submit' key." Sixteen pages of comments now follow that initial interaction, and the majority of them seem to agree that Greenbaum crossed a line, save for the occasional concerned parent who didn't like the idea of this vulgarity-posting person hanging around their children instead of doing his job. Lesson to Be Learned: Watch What You Say! We can't blame Greenbaum for the sleuthing bit - any blogger will tell you they've been tempted to hunt down the identities of nasty commenters from time to time. But calling someone's work? That's just wrong. Yet while Greenbaum may have been seriously misguided to do what he did, this should be
another sobering reminder to anyone trolling the net that what you type may come back and haunt you one day. There's no such thing as true anonymity on the net these days, and thanks to new technologies like Facebook Connect, the days where you can hide behind a made-up web handle may be numbered. In fact, Facebook itself may even owe its success to how it forces users to post with their "real" name and identity notes blogger Kent Newsome. "With a name comes accountability, and there is a direct correlation between accountability and behavior," he writes. That may be true, but the fact of the matter is that the STLtoday website allows anonymous comments. When you make that choice, then you have to expect that some of them will need moderation - it's just part of the job. Regardless of the site's policies about vulgarity, phoning the employer seems like an overreaction to the incident. But that's just our opinion. What do you think? Discuss
Tech News/ Entertainment/
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Facebook Adopts New Privacy Policy By Jolie O'Dell (ReadWriteWeb) Submitted at 11/17/2009 7:00:44 PM
After a predefined period designed to increase transparency and maximize user feedback, Facebook has announced that, with fewer than 7,000 user comments, it will proceed to implement its proposed amended privacy policy. With adequate user information, Facebook hoped to become better stewards of "the unnaturally uncontrollable nature of communication," as we called their general user-data privacy dilemma in June. And this revision also makes a nod to Canadian objections to Facebook's policies. What's in store for users, and how did the thousands of units of user data impact Facebook's governance and privacy policy? Read on to get the full story. Sponsor The latest revision of the policy can be found here, and the current policy is available here. According to the site's governance, fewer than seven thousand user comments, the revised policy will be shortly enacted and will be official. "While a lot of people participated," wrote IP counsel Michael Richter, "the total number of people commenting
did not reach the threshold of 7,000 that makes a vote necessary according to our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. Because of this - and the fact that many of the comments were positive - we've decided to adopt the revised policy." The new method of determining policies based on user feedback stems from the site's desire to foster a culture of transparency and engagement. Here are the old policy and revised policy changes, which, again, will be enacted shortly: Old: When you update information, we usually keep a backup copy of the prior version for a reasonable period of time to enable reversion to the prior version of that information... Even after removal, copies of User Content may remain viewable in cached and archived pages or if other Users have copied or stored your User Content... Access and control over most personal information on Facebook is readily available through the profile editing tools. Facebook users may modify or delete any of their profile information at any time by logging into their account. Information will be updated immediately. Individuals who wish to deactivate their Facebook account may do so on the My
and restore your profile in its entirety. When you delete an account, it is permanently deleted. You should only delete your account if you are certain Account page. Removed you never want to reactivate it. information may persist in You may deactivate your account backup copies for a reasonable on your account settings page or period of time but will not be delete your account on this help generally available to members page. of Facebook. Limitations on removal. Even New: Viewing and editing your after you remove information profile. You may change or from your profile or delete your delete your profile information at account, copies of that any time by going to your profile information may remain page and clicking "Edit My viewable elsewhere to the extent Profile." Information will be it has been shared with others, it updated immediately. While you was otherwise distributed cannot delete your date of birth, pursuant to your privacy settings, you can use the setting on the or it was copied or stored by info tab of your profile other users. However, your name information page to hide all or will no longer be associated with part of it from other users... that information on Facebook. Deactivating or deleting your (For example, if you post account. If you want to stop something to another user's using your account you may profile, and then you delete your deactivate it or delete it. When account, that post may remain, you deactivate an account, no but be attributed to an user will be able to see it, but it "Anonymous Facebook User.") will not be deleted. We save your Additionally, we may retain profile information (friends, certain information to prevent photos, interests, etc.) in case you identity theft and other later decide to reactivate your misconduct even if deletion has account. Many users deactivate been requested. their accounts for temporary Future updates will be reasons and in doing so are announced via the site's asking us to maintain their governance page. Discuss information until they return to Facebook. You will still have the ability to reactivate your account
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Peter Bergman Dishes on his 20 Years on 'The Young and the Restless' (ETonline - Breaking News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 12:01:00 AM
On Nov. 27, it will have been 20 years ago that Peter Bergman made his debut on "The Young and the Restless" as Jack Abbott. Now he talks to ET about the rivalry between Jack and Victor Newman ( Eric Braeden), soapopera sluts, the MTV effect and why his soap has been No. 1 for so many years. ET: When you first joined "Y&R" did you have any idea that you would still be there 20 years later? Peter Bergman: Not a clue. As a matter of fact, I came from "All My Children," and on "All My Children" when you replaced someone ‌ I replaced Terry Lester on "Y&R" ‌ any replacements on "AMC" didn't work. What I didn't realize was what a success "Y&R" had made of their replacements: Melody Thomas Scott is a replacement; Jess Walton is a replacement. There are a few on the show that have been very successful. I figured I could make the job last six months if I worked really hard at it, and here we are 20 years later.
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Tech News/ Entertainment/
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Top Internet Trends of 2000-2009: Democratization of News Media By Richard MacManus (ReadWriteWeb)
blogging services was Blogger.com, launched by Evan Williams (who subsequently Submitted at 11/18/2009 2:34:01 AM became a co-founder of Twitter) It's November 2009 and we're and Meg Hourihan in August nearing the end of a decade. It's 1999. The service was acquired been a tumultuous time of change by Google in February 2003, a for many industries, much of it c o u p l e o f m o n t h s b e f o r e driven by the Internet. The ReadWriteWeb began. At that newspaper industry has been point, 2003, blogging was still particularly affected by the Web. seen as an informal diary-type of Over the past 10 years, news publishing. media has undergone a seachange Around 2004-05, blogging akin to the invention of the started to become accepted as a printing press in 1440. legitimate news source. This was Just as Johannes Gutenberg's a r o u n d t h e t i m e t h a t printing press brought books to ReadWriteWeb began to publish the mainstream public in the 15th tech news, as well as analysis. century, Tim Berners-Lee's By the end of the decade, many W o r l d W i d e W e b b r o u g h t blogs were directly challenging commercial publishing to the newspapers - proving that a solid people. news brand, such as Huffington Sponsor Post, can be created from almost The Web has always been a nothing in a few years. RSS medium where people could just Blogging software was one part as easily write as read (yes, the of the democratization of media. read/write Web), however it R S S ( " R e a l l y S i m p l e didn't reach its potential until Syndication") was another. There blogging came along earlier this were and still are different decade. Blogging versions of RSS, created by Dave Blogging not only allowed Winer and others. But whatever anybody to publish easily to the the flavor, syndication has had a Web, it ended up shaking up the major impact on media. print media world. Basically RSS allowed people to Blogging began in the 90s as a subscribe to updates from blogs form of online diary - Rebecca and other publications. Using Blood wrote a good pre-history RSS Aggregators, people could in 2000. One of the early popular read news from a selection of
There is much talk of the mainstream media "dying" and blogs usurping traditional media companies like the New York Times. While it's true that blogs sometimes report breaking news stories or analyze them better than newspaper websites, I'm a big believer in the power of brand. Washington Post, Wall St Journal, New York Times - these are all powerful brands and they n i c h e a n d g e n e r a l n e w s reach a much wider audience than the vast majority of blogs. publications. Blogs were the first to utilize The challenge of course for RSS, but mainstream media m a i n s t r e a m m e d i a i s t o followed during the 2005-06 (drastically) reduce their costs, period. Today it is very rare for a because few people want to pay major news website - whether it for content these days - news or be the New York Times or a otherwise. However, in my view the leading blog - not to use RSS. Twitter & The Real-Time Web traditional news media industry is The next major development in in much less danger of extinction news media occurred towards the t h a n t h e m u s i c i n d u s t r y . end of this decade. It was of Musicians can bypass record course Twitter and the Real-Time labels completely nowadays, but there will always be a need for Web. To be fair, this has challenged news to be questioned, put in not only traditional media - but context and analyzed. The best blogs as well. Now anyone, media publications of the next 10 whether they're a writer or not, y e a r s w i l l d o t h a t a n d b e can publish 140 characters to the successful, the ones that don't Web. And it might end up as will fade away. breaking news, as the Hudsen See also: Top Internet Trends of River plane crash proved earlier 2 0 0 0 - 2 0 0 9 : O n l i n e M u s i c Discuss this year. Media in the Next Decade
Great Memories Made & Relived on 'Dancing with the Stars' (ETonline - Breaking News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 3:30:00 AM
With just one week to go before a new champion is crowned on "Dancing with the Stars," model Joanna Krupa and partner Derek Hough fell short of dancing on towards earning the mirror ball trophy. After the judges' scores and the viewer's votes were tallied, the couple was honorably sent home. Following the announcement of their elimination, host Tom Bergeron asked them to perform an encore of Monday night's Viennese Waltz. Derek graciously told ET, "We couldn't have asked for a better dance to finish on. I think it was very appropriate and it was beautiful. A nice beautiful sendoff and the little bow at the end." Joanna learned from this experience, saying, "I definitely became more confident as a person just knowing there's challenges that if you put 150% into it, you can get far." She hopes to continue dancing, with Derek offering to be her "private teacher."
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Microsoft Uses Geek Elite To Make Azure Launch A Smash Hit
Breaking News: Aaron Carter's Manager Responds to Pop Star's Back Tax Lien
By Alex Williams (ReadWriteWeb)
(ETonline - Breaking News)
Submitted at 11/17/2009 7:13:19 PM
When you launch a make or break initiative like Windows Azure, you better get it right. Well, from our vantage point, Microsoft got it right. How? In front of a sea of developers at the Professional Developers Conference, Microsoft trotted out a group of geek all-stars who showed how they are using Azure to do some pretty cool stuff. Sponsor It's a sure way to show your chops when you get Matt Mullenweg from Wordpress, Loic LeMeur of Seesmic and the CTO for the Cheezburger Network ( I Can Has Cheezburger) to show off what they created on the Azure platform. Mullenwegg appeared on stage to show that his company, Automattic, is fully supporting Azure. Automattic is the
company behind Wordpress. His presence drove home how Azure will support PHP, MySQL and other open-source tools in additon to .NET. That's a great way to show how a company, built on proprietary technologies, is accepting the open nature of the web. Showing off the geeks can only get you so far. You have to show the goods. And for about two hours, Microsoft showed repeatedly that Ray Ozzie's vision may be right on. The code-named Dallas project may be the most interesting. It's a data service that provides access to information from the Associated Press, data.gov and other sources. That's the power of cloud computing that we expect to see more of from companies across the enterprise. Azure is a window into how cloud computing changes everything simply by speeding up the delivery of actionable information. We see it time and again with the
cloud world. Amazon, Rackspace companies that come knocking and of course, Google, have a good step on Microsoft. here at ReadWriteWeb. F o r e x a m p l e , F u s i o n O p s But this launch should give launched an on-demand, business competitors pause. It's no easy intelligence service today. The feat to garner support from company has the potential to people like Mullenweg. You disrupt the business intelligence better have something good, market for ERP applications. damn good in order for him to How do they do it? They take get on stage in front of his peers. huge models from SAP, put the He has everything on the line in data in the cloud and then such a situation. integrate their rules based But Mullenwegg said it himself systems to visualize the data that a few years ago when talking sits deep in ERP systems. The about Wordpress. He said that application can be launched in a when you launch a company, the day. That's what's amazing. feeling is awesome. In best cases, Using traditional tools, it would there are rave reviews. You feel take a company six months to a elated. But then the moment year to do something similar at a passes and you are now in the significant cost. Ozzie and the desert where no one really cares about the launch anymore. You Developers Ozzie needs support from have to get across that desert to developers. Bringing in the geek achieve success. elite gives developers a reason to For Ozzie - it's time for that walk into the wild. Welcome to relate to what Azure provides. Still, Microsoft is in no position the desert. Discuss to cheer too loud. They face competition at every turn in the
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Submitted at 11/18/2009 3:49:00 AM
It was revealed in papers filed by the Internal Revenue Service that pop star Aaron Carter owes more than $1 million in back taxes. His manager reacts to this surfacing news, citing that the former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant's money was "mismanaged" when he was a minor. He turns 22 next month. Manager Johnny Wright told ET in an exclusive statement, "It is unfortunate that while Aaron was a minor, his finances were grossly mismanaged by his previous team which has lead to the current situation of which he was unaware of until today. Aaron is working with a new team to take appropriate actions towards speedy resolution of the matter and looks forward to putting this behind him and moving forward with the next stage of his music career." Keep checking back to ET online for updates on this story.
Zebra Report: Bucs, Fans Still Peeved By Matt Snyder (FanHouse)
because most fans think they could do a better job than the NFL officials, yet definitely by Matt Snyder could not. Click here for an Filed under: NFL Referees introduction as to how we do Zebra Report is FanHouse's things. analysis of actual NFL rules and Once again, we can't escape the how they are to be applied ... g h o s t o f L o u i s M u r p h y . Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:40:00 AM
Remember, back in Week 1 he lost control of a would-be touchdown pass when contacting the ground even though he had already had both feet touch the ground. Ridiculous theories ensued and the paranoid contingent of Raider Nation cried
conspiracy. In Week 10, we, once again, saw the rule applied in a consistent manner. The only difference is that it resulted in an interception. Check it out: Zebra Report: Bucs, Fans Still Peeved originally appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog on Wed, 18
Nov 2009 10:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Email this| Linking Blogs| Comments
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Digg Sees the Light of Profitability at the End of the Startup Tunnel By Jolie O'Dell (ReadWriteWeb)
attention - data that would be highly valuable for old media to have and that might actually Submitted at 11/17/2009 4:56:26 PM contribute to a better user Digg CEO Jay Adelson told experience - might be more in FOX Business tonight that ever line with what Digg execs are since rolling out Digg Ads, the willing and able to sell. social link-sharing service has And what about the possibility been making money and that of an IPO? Hold onto your hats, profitability is right around the opposed to necessarly expecting day traders. Adelson says that, corner. that consumer to subscribe to while he feels he owes it to Although advertising continues some sort of micropayment investors and employees to "go to be the only seemingly reliable public at some point," he's system." model for monetizing contentThis sort of talk would surely waiting for two factors: A centric websites, Adelson reports come as good news to Rupert valuation he likes and the day that click-through rates are higher Murdoch, who was referenced in that Digg needs "hundreds of than expected. That being said, the interview and has stated plans m i l l i o n s o f d o l l a r s f o r typical rates for online to charge search engines - and something." In other words, we're advertising are generally perhaps aggregators - that index not shaking the quarters out of abysmal, so if Digg's ads are a n d s h a r e s n i p p e t s o f t h e our piggy banks just yet. working better than most, good relevant, timely, and expensive So, what is coming next for for them, and let's all study their content that traditional news Digg? It seems the company is model. Read - and watch - for the outlets still struggle to integrate planning to follow in Twitter's rest of the story on how Digg has with modern Internet-enabled f o o t s t e p s a n d r e l e a s e grown and will continue to international versions of the site. user behavior. expand and monetize. What about selling anonymized, "About 40% of our traffic comes Sponsor aggregate user data? Adelson from international, but we have The FOX interviewer asked says he doesn't want to sell that no other languages on Digg right Adelson if micropayments were information unless users are now, so why not go there," said considered as a monetization generally cool with the idea. "I Adelson. option, "I think that think that users are pretty Check out the whole interview micropayments is interesting," he sensitive now; they're pretty below: replied. "I think that if it works savvy and they understand the Watch the latest business video though - the level that it's going idea that they have to be private." at FOXBusiness.com Discuss to work is between somebody But data on trends and user like Digg and the newspaper, as
Review: Sons of Anarchy - Service By Jonathan Toomey (TV Squad) Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:13:00 AM
( S02E11)"If Gemma had gotten raped on John's watch, he'd have written a whole different book." Jax Forgiveness can be a funny thing. Assuming you're on the receiving end of something awful, It's not always easy to determine if you'd even be willing to forgive. That's the beauty of forgiveness though -the act that led you to it might have been sincere, but that doesn't mean your capacity to
Pa. swim club accused of bias files for bankruptcy (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
B buzzed up: Senate Democrats plan to unveil healthcare bill
3 seconds ago 2009-1118T08:21:47-08:00
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forgive has to be. Unlike quietly accepting a situation, forgiving a situation has the power to pacify the parties at fault. As we learned with Opie last night on Sons of Anarchy, his capacity to forgive is huge, but that doesn't mean he ain't lying through his teeth when it comes to his true intentions. Continue reading Review: Sons of Anarchy - Service Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Sons of Anarchy Permalink| Email this| | Comments
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The Battle for Tweet Dashboard Supremacy: Brizzly versus Br.st
Review: The Biggest Loser - Week Ten
By Dana Oshiro (ReadWriteWeb)
By Jason Hughes (TV Squad)
4. Commenting: Users can comment on your images and files Submitted at 11/17/2009 6:08:00 PM 5. Analytics: In addition to realIn late August Br.st was nothing time links on your stats you can more than a URL shortener also set up Br.st to notify you service with link stats and every time a person leaves a malware filters. While the comment or downloads your files company allowed users to cross 6. Follow: The service allows post to social networks like you to find people and instead of Twitter, Myspace and Digg, it scrolling through people you can was simply too late to the space search for a person and either to be considered a contender. As c o n c e n t r a t e s o n i t s U R L unfollow them or add/remove of today the caterpillar has shortener roots. The company them from a list. transformed into a butterfly. Br.st does a great job of ensuring 7. Conversations: Users can is spreading it's new wings with a against malware through inline create conversation threads slew of features and instead of link, image and video previews. around a specific message and resembling Bitly, it's looking a Additional key features include: keep all of those replies in one lot closer to the current social 1. GeoTags: Images with place. media reader of choice Brizzly. g e o t a g s a r e a u t o m a t i c a l l y While there's a great deal of Sponsor displayed alongside a map of overlap between Brizzly and Br.st offers the basic features of their location Br.st, the two companies are Brizzly including the ability to 2 . T e x t S h o r t e n e r : B r . s t clearly close competitors. Test edit your status, view your automatically reduces your word Br.st by registering here and let Twitter feed, direct message count with Twitter shorthand ("2" us know your favorite Twitter friends, retweet great content, for too, "u" for you) tool in the comments below. view trending topics and save 3. Image Upload: You can Discuss searches. But where Brizzly also upload images and files up to incorporates Facebook statuses, 10MB each Br.st forgoes Facebook and
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Submitted at 11/18/2009 2:13:00 AM
(S08E10) This week, as usual, The Biggest Loser knew how to manipulate the audience's emotions. They even did it with a live audience, as Tim Gunn and Tabatha Coffey gave the contestants makeovers and then pushed them onto a stage to give a speech about their journey, both before the Ranch and since. As always, the makeovers are a lot of fun, and a great reminder of all the amazing work these contestants have done in reshaping their lives and physical appearance. The prize for the most dramatic transformation goes to Rudy, though I thought Danny spit-polished up quite nicely. All of the ladies were lovely, but I didn't really think Rebecca's new hairstyle worked, and in fact I thought it framed
and hid more of her face than her old 'do. Continue reading Review: The Biggest Loser - Week Ten Filed under: OpEd, The Biggest Loser, Episode Reviews Permalink| Email this| | Comments
Chelios Fights Father Time for Last Shot By Greg Couch (FanHouse) Submitted at 11/18/2009 1:00:00 AM
by Greg Couch Filed under: Red Wings, NHL Free Agency, Minor League Hockey HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. --
You park your car, walk in the side door of the Hoffman Estates Community Center in suburban Chicago, and the first thing you see is some gray-haired, slightly hunched guy standing under a sign that says, "Senior Center. 50+ club."
Chris Chelios is not aging well.
What? Oh, wait, that wasn't Chelios. Chelios was around the corner, a mere 47 years old, still 26 months from 50+ eligibility, not playing checkers, but instead playing in a hockey scrimmage with the Chicago Wolves minor league hockey team.
Chelios Fights Father Time for Last Shot originally appeared on Fanhouse NHL Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Email this| Linking Blogs| Comments
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TweetDeck for iPhone Gets Facebook Integration By Darrell Etherington (TheAppleBlog) Submitted at 11/17/2009 11:20:48 AM
The iPhone isn’t capable of true multitasking if you’re running a legit, non-jailbroken device, so you can’t do something like, say, have Facebook and Twitter open at the same time. Thanks to the latest update, though, for TweetDeck for the iPhone(free, iTunes link), you can experience most of the advantages of that hypothetical situation using only one app. The newest version of TweetDeck for iPhone has lots of new features, but by far the most significant is the ability to add columns that show updates from your Facebook friends (and MySpace, too, if you’re a musician or a 13 year-old who somehow got transported to the future from the year 2000). You can read updates, yes, but you can also do wall posts, comment on things, and update your own status, all without leaving the app. You can even “Like” someone’s status update from the zoomed in view. Really, if you use
Facebook the way I do these days (never opening the inbox, browsing the news and live feeds like they were slightly broken Twitter feeds and occasionally doing a wall post or two if something catches my eye that needs direct address. My Inbox has become a wasteland of lost and unread missives, and I rarely look at event or other invitations,
unless prompted to do so in real life or on Twitter. When you hit the compose button, you’re taken to the usual window, but now at the top you can opt to post your status update to one, some, or all of the accounts associated with your TweetDeck installation. It’s very handy if you want to post an update across more than one
Twitter account, or if you’d like to selectively push some of your Twitter updates to your Facebook without using an extra plugin and the #fb tag, for instance. Other new features include landscape keyboard support (via a button, not the accelerometer, which is actually better in my opinion), 12seconds.tv integration for 3GS video tweeting, and an option to save draft tweets you’re working on. Should give you a chance to rethink that disparaging comment about your workplace you’re thinking about posting. Bit.ly URL shortening with click tracking is also a new feature, as is the ability to add a column devoted exclusively to trending topics. It’s a good update, but I still don’t think it can replace Tweetie 2 as my primary client. If I was a social media manager at a company in charge of maintaining multiple Twitter streams for different lines of business, TweetDeck would be my go-to application, but as it stands, it’s just more meat than I can generally chew.
Street Chic: New York By ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog) Submitted at 11/18/2009 4:00:00 AM
A brass-adorned belt adds flair
to a chocolate-hued dress. Photo: Kelly Stuart Think you are Street Chic? Email us your photo and you could appear in ELLE.com's Street
WEC 44: Preview and Predictions on Mike Brown vs. Jose Aldo, More By Michael David Smith (FanHouse) Submitted at 11/18/2009 1:43:00 AM
by Michael David Smith Filed under: WEC There's a lot of good MMA in November, but there's no better MMA match-up this month than the one that will take place Wednesday night in Las Vegas, when World Extreme Cagefighting featherweight champion Mike Brown defends his title against Jose Aldo at WEC 44. We've got the full preview and predictions below. WEC 44: Preview and Predictions on Mike Brown vs. Jose Aldo, More originally appeared on Fanhouse MMA Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Email this| Linking Blogs| Comments
NJ cops: Driver texting about drug deal hits biker (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:54:42 AM
Follow ELLE on Twitter. Become our Facebook fan! Chic Daily.
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Apple Has Been Working on OS X 10.7 for At Least a Month
Fred Willard checks in to Modern Family
By Darrell Etherington (TheAppleBlog)
By Allison Waldman (TV Squad)
Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:24:29 AM
Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:02:00 AM
Snow Leopard has barely gotten its paws wet, and now news comes that Apple is already working on its replacement. It’s not really surprising, since Apple is basically always either working on the next iteration of its products or releasing them, but still, it does whet the appetite for the next version of OS X. The suggestion of the new operating system appeared in an entry posted early this morning in a change database for “launchd,” an open source framework that controls the booting of OS X and administers running processes. The new entry includes an error message with the string “11A47 in it, which is a reference to what version of Mac OS X is being used. Previous versions of OS X have all followed the same numbering scheme. The number at the start of the string references which version of OS X is being used, with the letter indicated the minor release number and finally another number at the end
There's an old adage in show business that says something to the effect that casting is half the battle. If you cast a part well, indicating the development No news yet on what to expect you're sure to have a winning progress of said minor release. in 10.7, although there is reason finished project. If that's true, So, for example, Snow Leopard to believe that the upcoming then the casting of Fred Willard at release was represented by the iteration of OS X will bring more on Modern Family is sure to be a string 10A432, and Leopard was major changes than the last hit. I won't reveal what role Fred 9A571. 11A47, then, would seem update. Traditionally, Apple will be playing til after the jump, to indicate that an early build of introduces far more GUI and so if you don't want to know, 10.7 was being used. basic functionality changes in don't read on. Suffice to say, the According to MacRumors, the major point releases, but Snow very funny Mr. Willard is being “47 part of that number would Leopard was a special exception given a great opportunity to suggest that Apple has already to that rule, a fact reflected in the shine. been working on the new version price. It’s possible that Apple Willard, who was terrific on of OS X for at least a couple of will release OS 11 at some point, Everybody Loves Raymond, not months now. It’s still very early but as of right now, it seems to mention all the Christopher days, though, and probably even likely that it will continue with Guest films like Best In Show a long way off from a release to the current numbering scheme. and A Mighty Wind, was on the developer community. We Anything in particular you’d like sitcom TV just last season on saw a two-year span between to see in 10.7? Maybe something Fox's Back to You. In fact, it was 10.4 and 10.5, but only a one you were disappointed wasn’t on that show that Fred worked year gap between the release of there in OS X 10.6? Personally, I 10.5 and 10.6, because 10.6 still think Finder could use some represented mainly performance further fine-tuning, but otherwise u p g r a d e s a n d r e f i n e m e n t s . I’m at a loss at the moment. Chances are, 10.7 is at least another year and a half off.
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with Modern Family's Ty Burrell. Now they get to do it again. Continue reading Fred Willard checks in to Modern Family Filed under: OpEd, Casting, Reality-Free, Modern Family Permalink| Email this| | Comments
Apollo sets sights on NYSE listing (Financial Times - US homepage) Submitted at 11/17/2009 4:00:13 PM
Apollo Management, the big
private equity firm headed by former Drexel Burnham Lambert executive Leon Black, is planning to list on the New York Stock Exchange in the coming
weeks, according to people familiar with the matter. Apollo, which has $38.3bn in assets under management, would be the second buy-out firm to list
in New York, after Blackstone. This content has passed through Since its public offer in 2007, fivefilters.org. Blackstone shares have lost about half their value, giving it a market value of about $17bn.
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Apple Ranks a Lackluster Fourth in Notebook Reliability Study By Darrell Etherington (TheAppleBlog) Submitted at 11/17/2009 1:03:43 PM
Apple is fairly reliable, but not the most reliable company of all when it comes to notebooks, according to a new study by research firm SquareTrade. The top honor goes to Asus, which surprised me, but I suppose shouldn’t have when I consider the build quality of my fairly inexpensive Eee PC. Toshiba and Sony rank next most reliable, with Apple coming in a close fourth. I remember a time not too long ago when IBM and Apple would top the list every time, with other manufacturers coming in a fair distance behind them. IBM sold its hardware business to Lenovo,
which seems to be having some effect on quality, but is Apple also slipping as it grows? I don’t think there’s enough data to identify a trend, but it is a little worrying. Still, at least Apple is still under the 20 percent mark for three-
25.6 percent. That means Apple is still showing better-thanaverage performance overall. Electronista suggests that the reason for the divide between top -tier manufacturers and those that fall below the average is that the companies with greater than 20 percent malfunction rates tend to do much of their business in the budget laptop and notebook categories, which see higher failure rates overall than premium-priced laptops, where Apple exclusively does its year laptop malfunction rates, business. It’s possible NVIDIAwhich is the measure that gate accounted for some of those indicates reliability in the study. failures, although SquareTrade Dell is the only company below doesn’t go into detail about it, also under 20 percent, with malfunction causes in this report. 18.3. After that, things take a significant turn for the worse, with HP coming in ninth place at
sent to us and provide answers in the column. If your question is not picked for a column, it may Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:02:00 AM be answered in a subsequent The " Ask TV Squad" column, column or in TV Squad's APB published every Wednesday, Podcast. answers your questions about To submit questions to the "Ask current and past TV shows, as TV Squad" column, you can post well as about the celebrities them below in comments or This week, I answer questions appearing on TV. Every week, I e m a i l t h e m t o about Chuck, Katherine Heigl, will pick a question (or more) a s k t v s q u a d @ g m a i l . c o m .
(FOXNews.com) Submitted at 11/18/2009 3:36:59 AM
The father of the boy who once accused Michael Jackson of molestation has committed suicide, authorities said Tuesday. Beverly Hills dentist Evan Chandler, 65, was found dead in Jersey City, N.J., in a luxury waterfront apartment. A Jersey City official said Chandler was found in bed with a single gunshot wound to his head. He was still holding the gun when the body was found. A source confirmed the death, which occurred on Nov. 5. Police said it does not appear that he left behind a suicide note. The former dentist and aspiring screenwriter had several cosmetic procedures, rendering him virtually unrecognizable from the way he looked since the Jackson matter, a family source said. In the early 1990s, Chandler reported Jackson to the authorities in both Los Angeles and Santa Barbara, claiming the and where to legally watch shows King of Pop molested his son, online for the U.S. and Canada. Jordan, who was just 13 at the Continue reading Ask TV time. Squad: Chuck, Katherine Heigl Click to continue reading at the and where to watch shows online New York Post Filed under: Grey's Anatomy, This content has passed through Ask TV Squad, Chuck, Reality- fivefilters.org. Free Permalink| Email this| | Comments
Ask TV Squad: Chuck, Katherine Heigl and where to watch shows online By Isabelle Carreau (TV Squad)
Dad of Michael Jackson Molestation Accuser Kills Self
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Apple Ranks a Lackluster Fourth in Notebook Reliability Study By Darrell Etherington (TheAppleBlog) Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:18:55 AM
Apple is fairly reliable, but not the most reliable company of all when it comes to notebooks, according to a new study by research firm SquareTrade. The top honor goes to Asus, which surprised me, but I suppose shouldn’t have when I consider the build quality of my fairly inexpensive Eee PC. Toshiba and Sony rank next most reliable, with Apple coming in a close fourth. I remember a time not too long ago when IBM and Apple would top the list every time, with other manufacturers coming in a fair distance behind them. IBM sold its hardware business to Lenovo,
which seems to be having some effect on quality, but is Apple also slipping as it grows? I don’t think there’s enough data to identify a trend, but it is a little worrying. Still, at least Apple is still under the 20 percent mark for three-
25.6 percent. That means Apple is still showing better-thanaverage performance overall. Electronista suggests that the reason for the divide between top -tier manufacturers and those that fall below the average is that the companies with greater than 20 percent malfunction rates tend to do much of their business in the budget laptop and notebook categories, which see higher failure rates overall than premium-priced laptops, where Apple exclusively does its year laptop malfunction rates, business. It’s possible NVIDIAwhich is the measure that gate accounted for some of those indicates reliability in the study. failures, although SquareTrade Dell is the only company below doesn’t go into detail about it, also under 20 percent, with malfunction causes in this report. 18.3. After that, things take a significant turn for the worse, with HP coming in ninth place at
'New Moon''s Kellan Lutz Confesses: Is He Single? (ETonline - Breaking News)
minds of legions of fans, Kellan says that he's "very single." He explains, "I'm just very busy right Kellan Lutz, who plays Rob now. ... I am a relationship guy, I Pattinson's on-screen brother in like being in a relationship, just the 'Twilight' franchise, talks to don't have time." He tells ET's ET about his relationship status, Samantha Harris that the main whether he can bench-press more woman in his life is his pet than co-star Taylor Lautner, and pooch, and expresses regret that why he gets mistaken for a bank he couldn't bring her to the set of robber when he's out in public. 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon' Answering the question on the in Vancouver, Canada, due to Submitted at 11/18/2009 12:30:00 AM
international regulations. He also tells Samantha that he can "definitely" bench press more than his co-star Taylor, who famously bulked up for 'The Twilight Saga: New Moon,' which hits theaters this Friday. He says that he's proud of Taylor for going the extra mile to play Jacob Black: "I was very proud of him. ... Taylor went from a boy to a man and I know a lot of
that deals with growing up -from 16 to 17 you get that growth spurt -- but then again, he was fighting for his job in a way, and the studio didn't pay people to train him or to keep him on a high calorie diet. He did that on his own, he fought for his role and he proved that he can be this manly Jacob."
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Missing Florida Law Student Called 911, Police Say (FOXNews.com) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:30:11 AM
MIAMI Authorities have learned a missing 28-year-old Florida International University law student called Miami Beach police three days after he was last seen by his friends. According to a news release, Tom Daniels wasn't reported as a missing person when he called 911 on Nov. 5. He was transported to a local hospital, but the medical center doesn't have any record of treating or registering him at the facility. Daniels' friends last saw him at a pizza restaurant on Nov. 2. He reportedly appeared upset. FIU police are searching hospitals, shelters and other facilities for Daniels, who was reported missing last week. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Launch It, Fling It, Hurl It, Chunk It, Science Channel’s Punkin Chunkin Returns On Thanksgiving Day By Bill Gorman (TVbytheNumbers)
set a new world record with a 4,483.51 foot chunk. Can the team modify their machine to Submitted at 11/17/2009 1:37:08 PM blast a pumpkin the extra 800 (Silver Spring, MD) – Along feet? Will Chunk-N-Ology, with the traditional possibilities, Emancipator, Ozone Blaster or from carving and decorating to another rival air cannon emerge delicious pie making, pumpkins to take the world record and take on an alternative fall identity possibly the one mile mark? as high-flying projectiles in As teams prepared for this year’s Science Channel’s second annual WCPCA event, Science Channel Thanksgiving Day PUNKIN sent hosts Zach Selwyn and Mike CHUNKIN. Fresh off last year’s Senese – of CATCH IT, KEEP explosive premiere, Science IT fame – to the center of the Channel is expanding its high- action as teams engineered bigger definition coverage of the a n d s t r o n g e r a i r c a n n o n s , D e l a w a r e - b a s e d W o r l d trebuchets, torsion machines, Championship Punkin Chunkin catapults or centrifuge machines. A s s o c i a t i o n ( W C P C A ) THE ROAD TO PUNKIN competition to two thrilling, fun- CHUNKIN brings viewers an f i l l e d h o u r s o n T h u r s d a y , “inside chunkin” look at what it November 26, 2009, with the all- really takes to compete in the new THE ROAD TO PUNKIN w o r l d c h a m p i o n s h i p s i n CHUNKIN at 8 PM (ET/PT) and Delaware. The all-new one hour PUNKIN CHUNKIN 2009 at 9 special captures the high pressure PM (ET/PT). blowups, breakdowns and sparks The 24 th consecutive year of throughout the journey for competition is sure to be as chunkin glory. Selwyn and intense as ever as teams across Senese explored the headquarters t h e c o u n t r y d e s c e n d u p o n of select teams from Denver, Delaware in hopes of capturing Colo. to Greenfield, N.H. and championship glory and possibly Cary, N.C. to reveal the secrets achieving the holy grail of of how they triumphed in past Punkin Chunkin: launching a competitions, as well as what pumpkin one mile. Intense they have planned for the 2009 drama has been building since competition. With the coveted last year, when Young Glory III mile-mark and famed chunkin
trophy on the line, teams will stop at nothing to go higher, farther, and faster than ever before. PUNKIN CHUNKIN 2009, also hosted by Selwyn and Senese, takes viewers behind the firing lines of the 2009 WCPCA event. From the mechanics of trebuchets and air cannons to determining the perfect pumpkin’s mass, Science Channel examines every scientific angle of the competition including how teams factor in wind speed, pitch and launch elevation to get the best chunk possible. Selwyn and Senese scour the three-day event, providing chunk-by-chunk perspective and tracking the results of the 110 competitors from 20 states in this year’s competition. The duo also lends their engineering knowledge to break down teams’ efforts, as well as interview team members and several boisterous fans. “Science Channel’s PUNKIN CHUNKIN celebrates (one of the few pieces of) Americana that is truly steeped in engineering and science,” said Clark Bunting, president and general manager, Discovery’s Emerging Networks. “We’re excited to again spotlight the incredible talents and
mechanical ingenuity of the competitors who build these astonishing machines.” V i s i t o r s t o sciencechannel.com/punkinchunk in will find exclusive video tours of some of the best machines with commentary from team members, as well as a unique look at the other events – chili cook-off, beauty contest, concerts, etc. – happening throughout the Punkin Chunkin weekend. The website also will feature exclusive interviews with select contestants, judges and spectators; quizzes and puzzles; photos and biographical information about some of the top teams; information on the rules and history of Punkin Chunkin; and exclusive, behindthe-scenes video from all three days of the competition. PUNKIN CHUNKIN is produced by Sharp Entertainment. Matt Sharp is executive producer for Sharp Entertainment. For Science Channel, Michael Sorensen is executive producer, Debbie Myers is general manager and Clark Bunting is president, Discovery Emerging Networks. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Obama warns of ‘double-dip’ danger (Financial Times - US homepage) Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:35:39 AM
US President Barack Obama on Wednesday warned the US economy could head into a “double-dip recession” unless urgent steps were taken to rein back America’s mounting levels of public debt. Mr Obama’s remarks, which were made in an interview with Fox News in Beijing towards the end of his eight-day tour of Asia, come just a few weeks after data showed the US economy had emerged from recession in the third quarter of this year. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Hershey, Ferrero flag interest in Cadbury (Financial Times - US homepage) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:29:09 AM
Hershey, Ferrero flag interest in Cadbury By Adam Jones, Vincent Boland and Rachel Sanderson Published: November 18 2009 11:52 | Last updated: November 18 2009 15:29 This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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TV Ratings: The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men, Castle up; Heroes down By Robert Seidman (TVbytheNumbers) Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:13:57 AM
The fast national data for Monday is in (these are the preliminary fast national numbers, and are not the final numbers). In the interest of time/data backlog, I’ll spare you the analysis and let you get right to the numbers. Here are last Monday’s preliminary numbers for comparison. Full details: You can see TV ratings from other recent Overnight ratings reports here. All numbers are Live+SD. Nielsen TV Ratings: ©2009 The Nielsen Company. All Rights Reserved. Definitions: *Fast Affiliate Ratings: These first national ratings, including demographics, are available at approximately 11 AM (ET) the day after telecast, and are released to subscribing customers daily. These data, from the National People Meter sample,
are strictly time-period information, based on the normal broadcast network feed, and include all programming on the affiliated stations, sometimes including network programming, sometimes not. The figures may include stations that did not air the entire network feed, as well as local news breaks or cutaways for local coverage or other programming. Fast Affiliate ratings are not as useful for live
programs and are likely to differ significantly from the final results, because the data reflect normal broadcast feed patterns. For example, with a World Series game, Fast Affiliate Ratings would include whatever aired from 8-11PM on affiliates in the Pacific Time Zone, following the live football game, but not game coverage that begins at 5PM PT. The same would be true of Presidential debates as well as
live award shows and breaking news reports. Rating: Estimated percentage of the universe of TV households (or other specified group) tuned to a program in the average minute. Ratings are expressed as a percent. Share (of Audience): The percent of households (or persons) using television who are tuned to a specific program, station or network in a specific
Gold at new high as dollar resumes slide (Financial Times - US homepage) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:49:08 AM
15:35 GMT: Gold hit another
peak on Wednesday but stocks struggled for traction as the dollar resumed its slide. Bullion struck a fresh peak of $1,152.75, though it later traded
up 0.5 per cent at $1,147.20 an ounce. It had advanced strongly late on Tuesday in spite of the dollar also gaining ground. The move challenged recent market
convention that a weak dollar was good for riskier assets and vice versa. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
area at a specific time. (See also, Rating, which represents tuning or viewing as a percent of the entire population being measured.) Time Shifted Viewing– Program ratings for national sources are produced in three streams of data – Live, Live+Same Day(Live+SD) and Live+7 Day. Time shifted figures account for incremental viewing that takes place with DVRs which are currently in approximately 24.4% of all U.S. TV households. Live+Same Day(Live+SD) include viewing during the same broadcast day as the original telecast, with a cut-off of 3:00AM local time when meters transmit daily viewing to Nielsen for processing. Live+7 Day ratings include incremental viewing that takes place during the 7 days following a telecast. For more information see Numbers 101. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Syndicated Ratings Top 25: Two and Freddie Roach Still a Half Men, Judge Judy and Oprah Going After Big Win By Robert Seidman (TVbytheNumbers)
By Lem Satterfield (FanHouse)
Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:44:17 AM
Submitted at 11/17/2009 11:21:00 PM
Below is the table of top 25 syndicated shows for the week ending November 8, 2009. Please note that the syndicated weekly results are delayed versus normal reporting. While we get the broadcast and cable ratings for the prior Monday-Sunday period every Tuesday, there is an extra week of lag time with the syndicated ratings and these numbers are not for last week, but for the week before last. So while Friday Night Smackdown! is now counted as a syndicated show and we are seeing the numbers again, they are delayed. The numbers below are for Friday November 6, not November 13. Legend of the Seeker fans, the show’s season two premiere didn’t make the top 25, below, but I did a separate post on those numbers(average audience of 2.58 million viewers). Top 25 Syndicated Shows for the week ending November 8, 2009: Please note that the #s for Monday Night Football are the total number both for the ESPN airings and the local markets
by Lem Satterfield Filed under: WBC, WBO, HBO, FanHouse Exclusive Two days after guiding Manny Pacquiao to Saturday night's historic victory over Miguel Cotto in Las Vegas, trainer Freddie Roach was back in Los Angeles, where he runs the famous Wild Card Boxing Club. And even as he worked with another world champion, Amir Khan, as well as other prospects, the Hall of Fame trainer and three -time Trainer Of The Year took where the games are syndicated BUENA VISTA items are the time, on Tuesday, to answer to one of the local affiliates (a syndicated packages of old the gym's telephone. rule to ensure the markets D i s n e y m o v i e s . F o r m o r e "I'm a little bit tired, and a little bit drained right now, but I can't playing the game can watch i n f o r m a t i o n c l i c k h e r e . them, even if they don’t have DAD = Disney ABC Domestic show that to the fighters," said ESPN). As a result Monday Television, SPT= Sony Pictures Roach, speaking against the Night Football will be at the top T e l e v i s i o n , 2 / T = T w e n t i e t h gym's background noise of the of the syndicated lists until Television, ESP = ESPN, CTD = bustling boxers pounding on the heavy-, and speed-bags, as well football season is over. It’s sort CBS Television Distribution. of bogus, but since I can’t break Nielsen TV Ratings Data: as the ringing bells of those who the syndicated portion out, I’m ©2009 The Nielsen Company. were sparring. "Once I get into the gym, I work through it." just reporting it as Nielsen does, All Rights Reserved. but you can figure most of the This content has passed through A former trainer for Bernard Hopkins, Mike Tyson, Oscar De viewing is actually directly on fivefilters.org. La Hoya, Virgil Hill and James ESPN. Toney, among others, Roach For syndicated shows which air took a break long enough to on multiple days, the viewership shown is the average of all telecasts.
share Q&A time with FanHouse. The 49-year-old boxing guru shared his views on Pacquiao's overall talents, Cotto's future, his intense relationship with Cotto's trainer, Joe Santiago, and how he would like his pound-for-pound best fighter to close out his illustrious career. Freddie Roach Still Going After Big Win originally appeared on Fanhouse Boxing Blog on Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Email this| Linking Blogs| Comments
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Buffalo Bills fire head coach Dick Jauron after 3-6 start By John Clayton (ESPN.com)
will make his debut on Sunday when the Bills travel to play Jacksonville. Bills Fire Head Coach Dick "I am announcing today that I am Jauron Bills Fire Head Coach relieving Dick Jauron from his Dick Jauron duties as our head coach, The Buffalo Bills fired head effective immediately," Bills coach Dick Jauron on Tuesday owner Ralph Wilson said. "I have after a 3-6 start in which the tremendous respect for Dick and offense has been one of the worst thank him for all of his efforts in the NFL. during these past four years. Mike and Mike in the Morning While this was a very difficult Former Buffalo Bills QB and decision, I felt that it is one that Hall of Famer Jim Kelly says he's needed to be made at this time not surprised that Dick Jauron for the best interest of our team. was fired as coach in Buffalo. We will now focus on moving Kelly suggests the Bills need a forward and preparing for our coach who has some "pep" and is game this week in Jacksonville." not afraid to get in a player's Jauron was blindsided by the face. firing, an NFL source told ESPN More Podcasts  NFL Insider Adam Schefter. Jauron was 24-33 since being AFC East blog hired by former general manager ESPN.com's Tim Graham writes Marv Levy in 2006 to be head about all things AFC East in his c o a c h . H e h a s t w o y e a r s division blog. remaining on his contract that • Blog network: NFL Nation will pay him a total of $6 million Jauron traveled to Detroit on in 2009 and 2010. Monday to meet with Wilson; the "I really don't have anything to last time he traveled to Detroit say," was all Jauron would say was last summer, when the team when reached on his cell phone fired offensive coordinator Turk by The Associated Press. Schonert. Jauron and Wilson met Defensive coordinator Perry Monday and again Tuesday. Fewell was named interim head The former head coach of the coach on Tuesday afternoon, Chicago Bears, Jauron finishes becoming the team's first black with a 60-82 record as a head head coach. Fewell, who's never coach in the NFL. He was also an been a head coach at any level, interim coach in Detroit in 2005. Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:27:37 AM
Buffalo, which has not made the playoffs since 1999, has now gone through four coaches since the end of the 2000 season, when Wade Phillips was dismissed. Gregg Williams was not rehired after his three-year contract expired, while Mike Mularkey abruptly resigned after a frontoffice shakeup following the 2005 season. Fewell shared a simple but blunt philosophy in taking over as the interim head coach. "Play like hell and win," Fewell said. That's the plan and also the challenge for Fewell, following the defensive coordinator's promotion. He has seven games left in the season to prove that he's capable of turning around a struggling team and a franchise that's now on its fifth coach in nine years and in jeopardy of missing the playoffs for a 10th straight season. Fewell showed he's smart enough to not make any guarantees, when asked to assess how much he can do to fix an offense that's sputtered for most of the season despite the presence of Terrell Owens. "We are who we are," Fewell said, adding he'll wait until Wednesday to announce whether quarterback Trent Edwards or
Clinton in Kabul on eve of Karzai inauguration (Financial Times - US homepage) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:13:44 AM
Clinton in Kabul on eve of Karzai inauguration By James Blitz in Kabul Published: November 18 2009
15:13 | Last updated: November 18 2009 15:13 This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
backup Ryan Fitzpatrick will start this weekend. "We have that identity. We're going to try to give a little spark, but we are who we are." Under Jauron, the Bills couldn't get over the 7-9 mark. The team was 7-9 during his first three years. During the offseason, the Bills entered minicamps with optimism they could improve on offense. They signed Owens to take away coverage from Lee Evans, the team's No. 1 receiver. Jauron and Schonert decided to go to a no-huddle offense. The team didn't huddle during the offseason or training camp. Before the season started, the Bills fired Schonert and handed the offensive coordinator job to Alex Van Pelt, who had been the quarterbacks coach. The Bills are averaging 15.6 points a game this season. They haven't generated 300 yards of offense in eight of nine games this season, including their past seven. They also haven't had a quarterback generate 200 yards passing since Edwards had 230 yards in a 33-20 win over Tampa Bay in Week 2. Defensive end Chris Kelsay was shocked to learn of the move happening this late in the season, but not entirely surprised. Kelsay was well aware before the start of
the season that changes were in store if the Bills faltered. "I think everybody understood this was a big year and there was lots at stake," Kelsay told the AP, adding he maintains his respect for Jauron. "I feel a little responsible for it, and most players do. I feel like I let him down because we, as players, are the ones to blame." Jauron becomes the first NFL coach to be fired this season and first Bills coach to be fired midseason since Hank Bullough was fired nine games into the 1986 season and replaced by Levy. Fewell has been the Bills' defensive coordinator since 2006. "Perry has done a great job with our defense and has demonstrated excellent leadership skills as defensive coordinator," Wilson said in a statement. "Our players and staff have a lot of confidence in him and that is important as we look forward to these next seven games." John Clayton is a senior NFL writer for ESPN.com. Information from ESPN NFL Insider Adam Schefter and The Associated Press was used in this report. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Notre Dame Fighting Irish coach Charlie Weis says he doesn't believe a decision has been made yet on whether he'll be back By ESPN.com news services (ESPN.com) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:04:17 AM
Will Weis Coach Irish In 2010? Will Weis Coach Irish In 2010? SOUTH BEND, Ind. -- Charlie Weis is going about his job as Notre Dame coach as normal, saying he doesn't think a decision about his future has been made. "Oh no, I don't think that any decision's been made because I probably would know, and I don't know," Weis said Tuesday. "With that being said, it's full speed ahead to UConn, full speed ahead to Stanford and full speed ahead to recruiting. That's exactly the way we're approaching it." Athletic director Jack Swarbrick has said he will evaluate the program after the season. Last season Swarbrick caught up with Weis during a recruiting trip, meeting in San Jose, Calif., three days after the season ended. Swarbrick agreed to bring Weis back for a fifth season because they agreed on what steps needed to be taken to restore the program to prominence. "The question you're ultimately asking yourself is: Is he in a position to help direct the changes in the program, to help steer it back to where he and I
really want it to be?" Swarbrick said at the time. This past summer, Swarbrick said there is a list of factors by which Weis will be measured, beyond wins, losses and graduation rates. Swarbrick said there are certain statistics he pays attention to more than others. He wouldn't disclose those statistics but used third-down conversion rates on both offense and defense as examples. The Irish are 53rd in the nation offensively in converting on third downs and 55th defensively. Overall, the Irish rank well in most categories offensively and are below average in most areas defensively. In five seasons under Weis, the Irish have never been strong defensively, never ranking higher than 39th in total defense or 34th in rushing defense. This season, the Irish are 83rd in total defense, giving up 391 yards a game. The only time the Irish ranked lower was in 1956, when they ranked 103rd during a 2-8 season. The Irish (6-4) head into their game Saturday against Connecticut on a two-game losing streak that has left Weis with a 35-25 career record, a .583 winning percentage. That's the
same record Bob Davie was fired with and the same winning percentage Tyrone Willingham was fired with. Asked whether Weis should return for another season, Notre Dame junior wide receiver Golden Tate said, "Absolutely. I think he's a great coach. I'm planning on him being here awhile." Names of possible replacements have emerged in recent days. Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops on Tuesday dismissed media reports he could be a candidate. "Notre Dame has a coach, and I have a great job. People just make stuff up. I don't need to comment on that," he said. "If there's some basis to anything, I'd gladly comment on it." Stoops denied a report that he has told "confidants" he'd be interested in coaching Notre Dame if the job opened up. "That's some guy making something up. I'm not answering stuff like that," Stoops said after practice Monday. "There's not even a job up there at Notre Dame. That's ridiculous." As he has the past two weeks, Weis declined to answer most big -picture questions about his five years as coach of his alma mater. "I'm not going back and
reflecting about anything right now," he said. "I think when the season's over, that's when you go back and analyze this season and go backtrack to previous years." Weis did joke that New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick took some of the pressure off him by going for it on fourth-and-2 while leading against the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday. "I was only the story for a day, instead of two days," Weis said, laughing. Unfortunately for Weis, though, speculation about his future has been the top story in South Bend since a 23-21 loss to Navy two weeks ago. Weis met with team leaders on Monday, telling them he is counting on the seniors to keep the team focused. "I said, 'I'll coach football, but when it comes time to talking to the team, I want the senior leaders of the team to be the ones expressing their voices this week,'" he said. Information from The Associated Press, ESPN college football reporter Joe Schad and ESPN's George Smith was used in this report. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Try not to scream! By Zack Sheppard (Flickr Blog) Submitted at 11/18/2009 1:05:31 AM
Photos from Dave G Kelly, beatnikside, Chezas, valentinokh, King Power Cinema, candiwam, ardenstreet, and Compmouse. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
MediaDailyNews: Power Outage Delays Nielsen Ratings Release (MediaPost | Media News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:45:16 AM
A power outage at Nielsen Co.'s data processing facility in Oldsmar, FL, delayed the release of ratings for the days of Monday, Nov. 16th, and Tuesday, Nov. 17th, according to several client and press notices issued by the TV audience researcher. Nielsen said it expected the data to be processed and released early this morning. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Elizabeth Lambert of New Mexico women's soccer regretful for violent play By ESPN.com news services (ESPN.com)
"I still deeply regret it and will always regret it and will carry it through the rest of my life not to Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:20:03 AM retaliate," Lambert said, Lambert Suspended For Actions a c c o r d i n g t o T h e T i m e s . Vs. BYU Lambert Suspended Lambert said when she sees the For Actions Vs. BYU VIDEO video of her hauling Shumway to PLAYLIST the ground by her hair, she still • Lambert Suspended For does not recognize herself, Actions Vs. BYU Lambert according to the report. Suspended For Actions Vs. BYU "I look at it and I'm like, 'That is • BYU Fights Off New Mexico, not me,' " Lambert said, the 1 - 0 B Y U F i g h t s O f f N e w newspaper reported. "I have so Mexico, 1-0 much regret. I can't believe I did that." Elizabeth Lambert, the New Lambert says she has been Mexico women's soccer player shaken by the reaction she's whose rough play in a Mountain gotten in e-mails and phone West Conference tournament messages and in blogs, including game earned her an indefinite the publishing of her parents' s u s p e n s i o n a n d n a t i o n a l home phone number and one notoriety, says she will "always suggestion that "I should be taken regret" what she did, The New to a state prison, raped and left York Times reported. for dead in a ditch," according to Video footage of the game the report. showed Lambert, a junior, "I'll be angry with myself that I c o m m i t t i n g a s e r i e s o f did this, to my team, my e x c e s s i v e l y r o u g h p l a y s , university, that I did this to including yanking BYU forward women's soccer, a sport that Kassidy Shumway to the ground many females have worked very by her ponytail. hard to get respect for," Lambert The video clip made her an said of her conflicting emotions, Internet sensation and opened her The Times reported. "And I'll be up to scathing criticism. sad that people want to see me
suffer." Lambert says some of her actions on the video have been blown out of proportion because they occurred in a women's game, or taken out of the context of the give-and-take of what was a physical contest. In one sequence in the video, she is elbowed by a BYU player before responding with a forearm to her opponent's back. "I think the way the video came out, it did make me look like a monster. That's not the type of player I am,' Lambert said, according to The Times. "I'm not just out there trying to hurt players. That's taking away from the beauty of the game. And I would never want to do that." Lambert says she is seeing a psychologist to better understand what caused the hair-pulling incident. She also plans to speak to youth soccer players about acceptable behavior. Both are among steps she is taking to seek reinstatement to New Mexico's team in the spring, according to the report. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
All Is Well in Homesick Delle Donne's Delaware Debut By David Steele (FanHouse)
contribute to the team the best I can to my ability, I'll try it,'' said Delle Donne, the redshirt by David Steele freshman who, on her way back F i l e d u n d e r : W o m e n ' s to her favorite sport, had once Basketball been the best high school player LORETTO, Pa. -- Delaware in the country, then one of its women's basketball coach Tina best-known victims of intense Martin let the phrase "triple- homesickness. double'' creep into her comments "We'll see what the future holds,'' following her team's season she added. opener Tuesday night, and once it All Is Well in Homesick Delle was out, she couldn't reel it back D o n n e ' s D e l a w a r e D e b u t i n . B u t a n y b o d y w h o h a d originally appeared on Fanhouse watched the highly anticipated, NCAA Basketball Blog on Wed, unusually delayed college debut 18 Nov 2009 10:28:00 EST . of Elena Delle Donne wouldn't Please see our terms for use of have needed prodding to envision feeds. such feats in the future. Permalink| Email this| Linking "If Coach says it, then yes, I can, Blogs| Comments definitely. Whatever I can do to Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:28:00 AM
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Sports/ Media/ Twitter Trend/
Bosh Will Consider Joining Wade By Chris Tomasson (FanHouse)
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Steelers Fan Claims He Was Poisoned, Blinded in Chicago Bar
Submitted at 11/18/2009 1:00:00 AM
By Adam Gretz (FanHouse)
by Chris Tomasson Filed under: Heat, Raptors, FanHouse Exclusive DENVER -LeBron James is the first choice. But Chris Bosh certainly would be a solid backup for the Miami Heat next summer in free agency. And he's willing to consider it. The Heat, which figures to have more than $15 million of salarycap room, is looking for a superstar to pair with Dwyane Wade. And Wade, who talked last week about possibly luring James to South Florida while also mentioning Bosh, is positioning himself as a recruiter. "Anything is possible, I guess,'' Bosh, the Toronto star who can become a free agent next summer, told FanHouse in an interview before Tuesday's game at Denver about the possibility of going to Miami. "I guess that seems to be an attractive place, you know, playing with Dwyane
Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:33:00 AM
by Adam Gretz Filed under: Chicago Bears, Steelers, NFL Fans If you've ever seen the Pittsburgh Steelers play a road game, it's not uncommon to see thousands of fans in black and gold in the stands (much to the chagrin of the local fans/writers), while you can probably find a "black-and-goldbar" in just about every major city in the United States. and playing in Miami and Needless to say, if the Steelers everything. I guess if they had are playing, there's going to be a the right chemistry, the right lot of fans with Pittsburgh-ties in guys, that they could persuade the area. Their Week 2 game in guys to get there. But we'll see.'' Chicago, a 17-14, loss was no Bosh Will Consider Joining different, and one fan, 46-yearWade originally appeared on old Zack Eddinger, claims he was Fanhouse NBA Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 01:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Email this| Linking Blogs| Comments
poisoned (and blinded) in a Chicago bar after an altercation with a group of Bears fans. Steelers Fan Claims He Was Poisoned, Blinded in Chicago Bar originally appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:33:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds. Permalink| Email this| Linking Blogs| Comments
NSeries Nokias Say Goodbye to Symbian, Hello to Maemo By twitter:@MarisRelins (TweetMeme) Submitted at 11/18/2009 3:36:06 AM
Here’s a bold statement: Symbian S60 is simply not good enough. I’m sure that many Nokia owners and analysts who know that Symbian currently holds around 50% of the smartphone OS market would disagree. But I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: the new generation of smartphones – primarily Androids, the iPhone, and webOS based devices – are simply better than Symbian S60 and… 0 comments Source: mashable.com
MediaDailyNews: Mediabrands Adds COO To CFO Comonte's Role (MediaPost | Media News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:45:16 AM
In an indication of the role finance is playing in the restructuring of big media agency holding companies, Interpublic's
Mediabrands division Tuesday announced that Tara Comonte has been promoted to the dual role of COO and CFO. Comonte, who had been CFO, has been part of the core team reshaping Mediabrands products,
services, and business models. The announcement coincided with her induction into the American Advertising Federation's "Hall of Achievement. Among other things, Comonte
created Mediabrands' Venture Fund, which provides financial support to fund venture-worthy ideas from any of the Interpublic unit's 6,500 employee's worldwide into business enterprises.
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Toys R Us expands layaway to include consoles, adds hardware to trade-in program By Alexander Sliwinski (Joystiq) Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:17:00 AM
Toys R Us announced today that its "Big Gift" layaway program will now include video game hardware. TRU CEO Jerry Storch states that it was the "number one" request from customers. For those who don't know what layaway is: it's the practice of a company holding onto a "purchased" product until the customer has paid for the item in full. For the TRU program, customers must deposit 20% of the console's total purchase, including tax, and a
"$10 service charge." Payments can be made at the store in cash, check, credit card ... wait, what? If someone has a credit card, then -- nevermind. Payment must be made in full before December 6. There will also be a fee for canceled orders and the program is not available in Maryland. The retailer is also expanding its video game trade-in program, which began in September, to include video game hardware. The program begins this Friday, November 20, and works almost the same way as the software trade-in: customers go to the "guest service desk," their items are scanned, an offer is made and
they receive a gift card if all is approved. We've listed all consoles and handhelds available for trade-in after the break. Continue reading Toys R Us expands layaway to include consoles, adds hardware to tradein program Toys R Us expands layaway to include consoles, adds hardware to trade-in program originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 09:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
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Activision: Modern Warfare 2 earned $550 million in first five days By Justin McElroy (Joystiq)
five-day record by $50 million. If there were any tears to shed about that, Activision could dry Activision has announced that, them with some other impressive a c c o r d i n g t o i t s i n t e r n a l statistics, such as 5.2 million estimates, Modern Warfare 2 has multiplayer hours logged and 11 racked up $550 million in its first million achievements unlocked f i v e d a y s o n t h e m a r k e t . on the game's first day. It could Considering that$310 million of also presumably dry any tears that was in the game's first 24 with crisp bajillion dollar bills. hours, it means that it took Activision: Modern Warfare 2 another four days for the game to earned $550 million in first five make another $240 million -- a days originally appeared on great example of the big-bang Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 s t a r t s e n j o y e d b y m a n y 09:45:00 EST. Please see our blockbuster games before their terms for use of feeds. sales steadily decline. Still, Read| Permalink| Email this| Infinity Ward's latest managed to Comments squeak by Grand Theft Auto 4's Submitted at 11/18/2009 9:45:00 AM
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Krome Studios lays off 'undisclosed number' of staff By David Hinkle (Joystiq) Submitted at 11/18/2009 11:15:00 AM
It's always sad when our layoffs tag claims another victim and, today, Australia-based Krome Studios is the latest. The developer responsible for the PS2, PSP, Wii and DS ports of Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, recall that Valve claimed that it and who recently wrapped up actually boosted retail sales). development on Star Wars: The Holtman stated that it's possible Clone Wars - Republic Heroes, t o r u n s e v e r a l p r o m o t i o n s has been forced to release an without "sacrificing" either "undisclosed number" of its staff, downloadable or retail sales, and Industry Gamers reports. added, "You don't have to hurt Krome CEO Robert Walsh somebody to win." attributes the action to declining Valve: Short-term Steam deals game sales industry-wide and don't hurt long-term performance originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
Valve: Short-term Steam deals don't hurt long-term performance By Richard Mitchell (Joystiq)
game's price, people are reticent to ever pay a higher price again, but downloadable games are Speaking to GI.biz, Valve's head different. "You can have sales of Steam, Jason Holtman, had that are dramatically low and some interesting things to say bring the price back up and about the company's frequent people don't care," said Holtman, deals and their effect on long- "They don't care at all." term game sales. According to Regarding the $2.49 Team Holtman, Steam's quick game Fortress 2 sale last month, sales -- offering Team Fortress 2 Holtman said that sales actually for $2.49 for only a few hours increased the following weekend last month, for example -- don't -- after it went back to full price. have a negative impact on a He also mentioned Steam's game's long-term performance. previous half-off sale of Left 4 Holtman notes that once a brick- Dead, noting that it didn't hurt and-mortar retailer reduces a retail sales at all (readers will Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:15:00 AM
says the company has "worked really hard to minimize the impact" on its staff. Walsh does give some of these ex-employees hope, stating that he's currently "pursuing several business opportunities which, if secured, will enable Krome to reemploy some of the staff given notice." Krome Studios lays off 'undisclosed number' of staff originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email this| Comments
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KidZui’s Newest Browser For Kids Is All About Sharing By twitter:@eyedip (TweetMeme) Submitted at 11/18/2009 2:48:33 AM
PS3 firmware 3.10 offering Facebook integration today By JC Fletcher (Joystiq)
(PS3[TM]) computer entertainment system owner." Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:45:00 AM Other, less marquee features, Sony announced that the next include a new grid layout for iteration of the PlayStation 3's photos and an updated friends list firmware will be available for with the ability for users to download starting today. Version change the background color of 3.10 adds Facebook functionality profiles. You can see the update to the PS3, including automatic in action on video here. Trophy and purchase updates. It PS3 firmware 3.10 offering also allows developers to include Facebook integration today "trigger points" for Facebook originally appeared on Joystiq on integration in their PS3 games. Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:45:00 Sony calls this Facebook service EST. Please see our terms for "the first phase of a variety of use of feeds. new features to further connect Read| Permalink| Email this| and enhance the online social Comments experiences of PlayStation(R)3
Direct2Drive slashes prices on LucasArts games By Richard Mitchell (Joystiq)
$49.99 to $24.49, while the massive bundle has been reduced from $99.87 to $39.95. Not bad Direct2Drive is offering some for LucasArts fans. The sale ends pretty good deals on LucasArts November 23 at 10:00am PT. games this week. Three bundles See details of each bundle after are on offer, one catering to the the break. adventure gamers out there, Continue reading Direct2Drive a n o t h e r f o r S t a r W a r s slashes prices on LucasArts afficionados, and a third that games combines the first two into a Direct2Drive slashes prices on massive LucasArts love fest. The LucasArts games originally bundles include the likes of Dark appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 18 Forces, Indiana Jones, KOTOR, Nov 2009 05:15:00 EST. Please Jedi Knight, Monkey Island, see our terms for use of feeds. Armed and Dangerous, and Read| Permalink| Email this| plenty more. The smaller bundles Comments have been discounted from Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:15:00 AM
Have young children? You might want to check this out, particularly if they’re taking their first steps on the Web right about now.KidZui, the web browser that’s built for kids, is today launching KidZui 5.0, featuring more functionality for parents and children to discover and share the Internet together.With one click, children can now send KidZui-approved videos, websites, and pictures to… 1 comment Source: www.techcrunch.com
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What is Kristen Stewart’s Signature Style? By ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog)
girl. Some think she’s a moody Judy, Submitted at 11/17/2009 12:37:10 PM others think she’s the apex of Last week, a friend posted on her a n g s t y c o o l , w h i l e s t i l l Facebook wall a photo of the others—probably those who’ve new magazines that had been read and seen the Twilight saga delivered to her apartment that m o r e t h a n i s r a t i o n a l l y d a y . H e r c a p t i o n r e a d : necessary—think she’s just like “Apparently there's some movie B e l l a S w a n : t r a g i c a l l y about vampires coming out.” The m i s u n d e r s t o o d . four books, left to right, included I don’t really care about any of a g o s s i p m a g , a s m a r t that. I like Kristen as much as I entertainment mag, a glossy like any actress I’ve never met fashion book, and a high-brow and whose films are worth a reader. Despite normally having couple of hours and the $4.99 On four very different focuses, not to Demand fee. What I do care mention four very different about, though, is what she and thresholds for championing pop her stylist talk about in the leadBy Alexander Sliwinski We've placed the two K&L2 culture, apparently the Twilight up to her multi-city premiere (Joystiq) viral videos after the break. The lure reaches beyond the tween dates. Like Carrie Bradshaw, game will release in 2010 under truants skipping school this week K r i s t e n i s c h a r m i n g l y y e t Submitted at 11/18/2009 10:15:00 AM the Eidos brand for Xbox 360, to wait in line at their local confusingly all over the place. S q u a r e E n i x E u r o p e h a s PlayStation 3 and PC. Loews (seriously, have you seen Also like Carrie, her lack of any officially announced Kane and Continue reading Kane & Lynch the local TV footage of this?), shred of consistent red carpet Lynch 2: Dog Days, confirming 2 : D o g D a y s o f f i c i a l l y because all four editors in chief signature seems to be getting that the trademark application a n n o u n c e d f o r 2 0 1 0 made Kristen Stewart their cover more extreme with age. I don’t from July and the recent viral Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days video portended the return of the officially announced for 2010 notorious duo -- well, "notorious" originally appeared on Joystiq on for all the wrong reasons. The Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:15:00 action vets at IO Interactive EST. Please see our terms for claim to have infused Dog Days use of feeds. sites like Google and Facebook with "a new visual experience ... Read| Permalink| Email this| By twitter:@TechCrunch (TweetMeme) want you to live in.Though i n s p i r e d b y d o c u m e n t a r y Comments they’d never admit to such a filmmakers and the userSubmitted at 11/18/2009 2:08:26 AM thing, the reasoning should be generated era." Imagine a world where you sit at obvious: The longer you’re at your computer and you never go your computer, the more time outside. This is the world that you’re spending on their sites.
Kane & Lynch 2: Dog Days officially announced for 2010
judge—after all, she looks damn good in everything she wears—but her recent wardrobe selections have made me scratch my head a bit. As someone who clearly pays attention to fashion and wears hard-edged clothing by Acne, Rock & Republic, and Phi in her day to day, why does she often go so far in so many other directions on the red carpet? Exhibit A: last year’s Twilight premiere wardrobe Simple fringe in Temperley London, colorblocked in Balenciaga, bubble hemmed in La Perla, striped and strapless in Camilla & Marc And now this year’s: Ladylike in J. Mendel, Crayola playful in Proenza Schouler, lady leather in Elizabeth and James, and full-length froth in Oscar De La Renta Follow ELLE on Twitter. Become our Facebook fan!
Location Is The Missing Link Between Social Networks And The Real World The more time your spending on their sites, the more ads you’re being served. The more… 1 comment Source: www.techcrunch.com
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Vivienne Westwood Presents Anglomania By ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog)
backstage, and parked herself with her husband to watch the show. Submitted at 11/17/2009 9:30:16 AM The affair started with a cocktail In the true rebellious style that is reception, followed by the V i v i e n n e W e s t w o o d , t h e Anglomania collection, and d e s i g n e r p r e s e n t e d h e r ended with a live acoustic set by Anglomania collection last night up-and-comer Dionne Bromfield. at the Selfridge's car park, sans Why all the fanfare? Because Fashion Week, making it clear Anglomania is expanding their that Dame Viv still walks to the space at Selfridge's and also beat of her own drum. because it's the 100th anniversary The collection was attended by of the department store, both of more than five hundred well- w h i c h d e f i n i t e l y c a l l f o r wishers and fans who included c e l e b r a t i o n . Julia Restoin-Roitfeld, British —Rebecca Suhrawardi Austin singer Little Boots, and a bevy of Tracey Emin and Vivenne loyal Selfridge's customers, who Westwood w e r e i n v i t e d t o e n j o y t h e Photo: Ian West spectacle. Dame Viv took a back Follow ELLE on Twitter. seat, or rather a front-row seat, Become our Facebook fan! opting out of the production
Justin Timberlake Opens a Trio of West Coast William Rast Shops By ELLE.com (ELLE News Blog) Submitted at 11/17/2009 3:20:48 PM
During Justin Timberlake’s Britney years, my husband would often get mistaken for the pop singer. (I’d still like to apologize to a particular group of out-oftheir-mind tourists who ran away screaming that they’d just gotten Timberpuss’s autograph, only to
realize a few blocks later that their love notes were signed by one Kevin Vargas.) So it is that any time the mega star does something new, I perk up. Drum roll....Timberlake has just opened three William Rast clothing stores with buddy Trace Ayala in California. The shops, like the Culver City location shown here, feature the duo’s down-home take on denim as well as their
tougher motorcycle jackets and buffalo plaids. Girls, wherever you may be, if you see a curlyhaired all American in the aisles this time around, odds are he’s the real deal. —Whitney Vargas Follow ELLE on Twitter. Become our Facebook fan!
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City trying to make sense of brutal gang rape (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
say the attackers often are bonded males ranging from gang members and neighborhood pals RICHMOND, Calif. – Not far to teammates and fraternity from the pulsating music and brothers. dancing of the high school "Everybody was asking why did homecoming, young men were this happen?" said Peggy Reeves drinking in a dimly-lit courtyard S a n d a y , a U n i v e r s i t y o f out of sight of chaperones. Pennsylvania anthropologist who A friend invited a 16-year-old has written extensively about girl to join them, and she started gang rape. "It's very clear if you drinking hard liquor, too. Soon look at the male culture and the another group of young men bonding culture of young males came over. and the adventure and bravado of The ingredients for tragedy all a social situation." were present, experts say. A Authorities said the suspects bunch of men. A vulnerable knew each other from either young woman. Alcohol. attending or having ties to the What happened next, authorities high school. However, they said say, degenerated into a two-hour- any apparent bonds quickly long gang rape by as many as 10 eroded during police questioning m a l e s . A n o t h e r 2 0 p e o p l e as the suspects attempted to shift allegedly watched as the victim b l a m e t o t h e i r a l l e g e d was assaulted, beaten bloody and a c c o m p l i c e s . robbed of her jewelry but they "Just pointing the fingers at other did not stop it or call police. suspects places them at the scene The attack late last month led to of the crime," said Steven Clark, six arrests, captured nationwide a defense attorney and former headlines and put this community prosecutor. "I'm sure they're of 103,000 on the eastern San thinking about cooperating with Francisco Bay shoreline through the district attorney if they could spasms of self examination. get a lesser sentence." Hundreds attended support rallies In many gang-rape cases, for the victim. Sanday said, the victim is drunk, Some saw the crime as an mentally disabled, lured by outgrowth of Richmond's street someone she has a crush on or violence and poverty. But experts considers a boyfriend. say gang rapes happen in all The victim here was a Richmond segments of society — white and High School student. minority, rich and poor. And they After leaving the dance early, Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:55:48 AM
she was waiting outside for her father to pick her up when she heard a familiar voice. A classmate invited her to hang out with him and a few guys in the shadowy courtyard. She hopped a short gate and began drinking with them. More young men joined them. "That's when the dynamics changed," said Richmond Police Lt. Mark Gagan, noting the assault soon began. In gang rapes where bystanders are egging on the others, Sanday said, "it is part of the male ritual. It involves proving their sexual prowess." School officials and authorities said the victim felt betrayed because she knew a few of her alleged attackers and considered one a trusted friend. "She is a young girl who's impressionable and, I think, wonders if this is what the world is really like," said Richmond police Sgt. Lori Curran, a lead investigator. The victim has since been flooded with gifts and letters of support. In a letter read by her family pastor during a vigil, she urged the community to remain calm and "let that anger cause change." As the investigation continues, disturbing questions hang over the tragedy: Why didn't anyone stop the attack or tell the dance's
10 chaperones, four police officers among them? "Where were our neighbors, our fellow country-people who witness such a horrific crime and are afraid to call 911?" asked Terry O'Neill, president of the National Organization for Women. In many sexual assaults, the larger the crowd watching, the less likely someone will intervene, said Sharyn Potter, a sociology professor at the University of New Hampshire. "They worry about retaliation, their social status among their peers, being labeled as a 'snitch' and their own physical safety," said Potter. It took someone who was nowhere near the dance to alert police. Margarita Vargas, 18, a former Richmond high student, called 911 from her house, after her brother-in-law heard two guys bragging about that attack. Vargas was honored Tuesday by the Richmond City Council for her "act of humanity." "I didn't think twice about it," Vargas recently told reporters. "I immediately grabbed the phone because that's something I wouldn't want anybody to go through, or if I were in that situation, I would want someone to do the same for me." Officers found the victim
semiconscious and half-naked, curled up in a fetal position near a picnic bench shortly before midnight. She was hospitalized for several days. Police have arrested Cody Ray Smith, 15, Ari Abdallah Morales, 16, and Marcelles James Peter, 17, Jose Carlos Montano, 18, Manuel Ortega, 19, and Elvis Torrentes, 21. All face rape and other charges that could lead to life in prison upon conviction. Messages left for their attorneys Tuesday afternoon were not immediately returned. The defendants have not entered pleas. The juveniles all are charged as adults. In the aftermath, the school district has installed new courtyard lighting and is purchasing 120 surveillance cameras and improved fencing. Sgt. Curran said the victim is showing remarkable resiliency, even while suffering vivid flashbacks and awful nightmares. "Quite honestly, she's voiced several times that she just wants to put this behind her," Curran said. "Unfortunately, she can't, because her emotional healing is still in the recovery process." This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Obama admits delay on Guantanamo (BBC News | Americas | World Edition) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:35:48 AM
US President Barack Obama has for the first time admitted that the US will miss the January 2010 deadline he set for closing the Guantanamo Bay prison. Mr Obama made the admission in interviews with US networks during his tour of Asia. He said he was "not disappointed" that the deadline had slipped, saying he "knew this was going to be hard". Officials are trying to determine what to do with some 215 detainees still held at the US prison in Cuba. Mr Obama's announcement follows considerable speculation that the deadline would slip, as the administration wrestles with the issue of how to deal with those inmates who cannot either be freed or tried in US courts. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. January 2009: Obama orders Guantanamo closure He did not set a specific new deadline for closing the camp, but said it would probably be later in 2010. "We had a specific deadline that was missed," he told NBC television. And he told Fox News: "People,
I think understandably, are fearful after a lot of years where they were told that Guantanamo was critical to keep terrorists out." Closing the facility was "also just technically hard", he added, and depended on co-operation from Congress. Domestic opposition Moving to close Guantanamo was one of Mr Obama's first acts in office. The problems have proved more complex than expected. Most difficult of all is what to do with those prisoners against whom
there is not enough presentable evidence to use either in a civilian or a military court. The US government is trying to get foreign countries to take them but has had limited success. There is some domestic opposition to their transfer to the US itself. A nearly-empty prison in rural Illinois is being considered to house them. The president's statement is an acceptance that this will not be resolved in time. On 22 January 2009, just two days after inauguration, he set a deadline of a year for closing the
heavily-criticised prison. His administration says it will try some detainees in US courts and repatriate or resettle others not perceived as a threat. This process is already under way. Last week, Attorney General Eric Holder announced the alleged mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, and four other defendants would face trial in a New York federal court. Another five detainees had been ordered to face military commission trials, Mr Holder said at the same news conference.
A number of inmates, including several Chinese Muslim Uighurs, have been cleared by investigators for release and resettled overseas. But the issue of detainees assessed as dangerous but who for legal reasons could not be successfully prosecuted in US courts remains unresolved. The White House is also facing domestic opposition to holding trials of detainees on US soil, with some lawmakers and relatives of 9/11 victims arguing it puts Americans at risk. The BBC's Jonathan Beale, who is at Guantanamo Bay, says the announcement of the delay has come as no surprise. The question of where to put those detainees who cannot be freed or tried remains a huge political obstacle, he says. Are you in the US? What is your reaction to this delay? You can send us your views using the form below: The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Print Sponsor This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Trade talks end Obama China trip (BBC News | Americas | World Edition) Submitted at 11/18/2009 2:10:44 AM
Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Obama visits China's Great Wall US President Barack Obama has met Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on the last day of his muchwatched visit to the rising Asian powerhouse. Trade disputes were expected to be on the agenda during Mr Obama's lunch with China's third -highest leader, who is responsible for the economy. Reports quoted the Chinese premier as having urged a "steady balancing" of trade with the US during the talks. Mr Obama later visited China's Great Wall, before heading to South Korea. The US president, who is on a week-long tour of East Asia, is expected to focus on North Korea's nuclear ambitions during talks in Seoul. Protectionism Before Wednesday's meeting with the Chinese prime minister, Mr Obama said the WashingtonBeijing relationship was now about more than trade and economics. He said it also covered climate, security and other matters of
international concern, the Associated Press news agency reported. The issue of North Korea was expected to be discussed in the meeting with the Chinese premier. Both the US and China have been urging the reclusive nation to return to nuclear talks, and last month Mr Wen visited Pyongyang to meet leader Kim Jong-il. Reuters said the Chinese Foreign Ministry website had reported that Mr Wen told Mr Obama
Beijing objects to US tariffs on Chinese imports, including steel and tyres. Washington, meanwhile, is concerned by the huge bilateral trade imbalance and accuses China of keeping its currency weak to make its exports more attractive. Speaking after their meeting, Mr Hu called on the US to "reject protectionism", while Mr Obama urged Beijing to relax controls on the yuan. Both sides acknowledge the need to reduce economic tensions, reports the BBC's Chris Hogg from Beijing, but so far Mr Obama's trip has not produced any breakthroughs. Are you in China? What is your reaction to the agreement during their talks that China and operate on matters such as between the China and the US to the US ought to "oppose trade climate change and North Korea. work together to tackle the and investment protectionism". Mr Obama said he had also world's most pressing problems? "China does not pursue a trade raised human rights issues, Send us your comments using the surplus," Mr Wen was quoted as including Tibet, during two hours form below. s a y i n g , a d d i n g t h a t h i s of talks between the pair. The BBC may edit your g o v e r n m e n t w a n t e d " t o 'No breakthroughs' comments and not all emails will encourage a steady balancing of Mr Hu said the two nations be published. Your comments bilateral trade". could discuss such issues "in a may be published on any BBC " L i v e l y g l o b a l t r a d e a n d spirit of equality... and non- media worldwide. investment will help to overcome interference in each other's Print Sponsor the international financial crisis internal affairs". This content has passed through and accelerate global economic Despite the show of goodwill, fivefilters.org. recovery," he added. correspondents said the issue of On Tuesday, Mr Obama and trade appeared to be a thorny one President Hu Jintao agreed to co- between Mr Hu and Mr Obama.
Ultimate Dark Package Design Inspiration | Abduzeedo | Graphic Design Inspiration and Photoshop ... By twitter:@prosam (TweetMeme)
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Obama 'close' to Afghan decision (BBC News | Americas | World Edition)
Clinton's presence here as a ringing endorsement of his second term as leader. Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:06:32 AM But for Washington it is a President Barack Obama says he qualified endorsement. is "very close" to deciding A US official travelling with the whether to send more troops to secretary of state said the Afghanistan and will announce electoral process in Afghanistan his decision within "several had produced this result and weeks". Washington had to deal with the Mr Obama also told CNN in facts on the ground. China his new strategy would But he also said Mrs Clinton emphasise an "end game". would make clear to the Afghan The top US military commander president that the US and its in Afghanistan, Gen Stanley allies expect him to do better in McChrystal, wants at least the coming years. 40,000 more US troops. She adds that both Mr Obama Meanwhile, US Secretary of and Mrs Clinton have made very State Hillary Clinton has arrived public statements about the need i n K a b u l t o a t t e n d t h e to fight corruption. inauguration of President Hamid Mrs Clinton has also warned Karzai after a fraud-marred poll. civilian aid will not continue to Her visit is a clear sign that the flow to Afghanistan unless these US and its Nato allies have no issues are addressed. choice but to work with Mr She will make those points when Karzai and he knows it, the she has dinner with Mr Karzai on B B C ' s S t a t e D e p a r t m e n t Wednesday evening before his correspondent Kim Ghattas says. inauguration, our correspondent President Karzai will see Hillary says.
Mr Obama said he did not want his successor as president to inherit the Afghan conflict, adding that a "multi-year occupation" would not serve US interests. The US president made his comments during his trip to Asia, in interviews with NBC News, CNN and CBS News. He pledged to make clear to Americans the reasoning behind his new strategy and its costs. "The American people will have a lot of clarity about what we're doing, how we're going to succeed, how much this thing is going to cost, what kind of burden does this place on our young men and women in uniform and, most importantly, what's the end game on this thing," he said. In the wake of the political upheaval that surrounded President Karzai's disputed reelection, Mr Obama also expressed concerns about the Afghan government's ability to
be an "effective partner". "I'm less concerned about any individual than I am with a government as a whole that is having difficulty providing basic services to its people in a way that confers legitimacy on them," Mr Obama said. "We also have to make sure that we've got an effective partner in Afghanistan. And that's something that we are examining very closely and presenting some very clear benchmarks for the Afghan government." An ABC News/Washington Post poll suggests 44% of US adults believe the Afghan war is worth fighting, the lowest proportion since polls began in 2007. The US currently has about 68,000 troops in Afghanistan, contributing to a coalition force of more than 100,000. Print Sponsor This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Obama: Too much debt could fuel double-dip recession| Markets| Markets News| Reuters By twitter:@slkbrooke (TweetMeme) Submitted at 11/18/2009 2:30:20 AM
BEIJING, Nov 18 (Reuters) President Barack Obama gave hissternest warning yet about the need to contain rising U.S.deficits, saying on Wednesday that if government debt were topile up too much, it could lead to a double-dip recession. 0 comments Source: www.reuters.com
Coding Clean and Semantic Pirates strike US-flagged ship again (BBC News | Americas | Templates World Edition) By twitter:@dzinetweets (TweetMeme) Submitted at 11/18/2009 3:01:41 AM
If you are the guy who uses tag for everything, this post is for you. It focuses on how you can write clean HTML code by using semantic markups and minimize the use of tag. Have you ever
edited someone’s templates, don’t those messy tags drive you crazy? Not only writing clean templates can benefit yourself, but your team as well. It will save you time when you have to debug and edit… 0 comments Source: www.webdesignerwall.com
Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:04:03 AM
The captain of a ship seized earlier this week off the Seychelles has died of gunshot wounds he suffered during the hijacking, Somali pirates say. They say the captain, whose name is not yet known, died on Tuesday.
The MV Theresa VIII, a Singaporean-operated tanker with a crew of 28 North Koreans - was seized about 180 nautical miles north-west of the Seychelles. The news comes as Somali pirates attacked a US-flagged ship for the second time. Crew from the MV Maersk Alabama had returned fire after pirates had fired automatic weapons at the ship, about 350
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nautical miles east of Somalia, the EU's naval force said. There were no casualties reported. A patrol aircraft flew from neighbouring Djibouti to the area. The MV Maersk Alabama's captain was held hostage for five days in April. The attack came a day after pirates released a Spanish fishing PIRATES page 64
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Shuttle nears space station, looks 'beautiful' (AP) (Yahoo! News: U.S. News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:38:39 AM
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Atlantis closed in on the International Space Station on Wednesday for a high-flying linkup and supply drop. Astronaut Nicole Stott, a space station resident for the past 2 1/2 months, was thrilled to see her ride home. She spotted Atlantis from three miles out, a couple hours before its scheduled late morning arrival. "I have my ticket all ready and stamped, waiting for you guys when you get here," Stott radioed to shuttle commander Charles Hobaugh. "Who is this?" Hobaugh teased. "It's your favorite passenger," she replied. "You look beautiful out there." Just before docking, Hobaugh
was going to guide Atlantis through a pirouette for the space station cameras, for a final check to make sure there's no damage to the thermal tiles on its belly. NASA says so far, all indications are that the shuttle made it through Monday's liftoff just fine. The astronauts surveyed their ship Tuesday for any signs of launch damage. A quick look at the laser images shows everything in good shape. Experts will continue to analyze the data, as well as all the photos that will be taken of Atlantis before it docks. Atlantis will remain at the orbiting outpost for a week, enough time for the two crews to unload nearly 15 tons of spare parts. The six astronauts on the shuttle and six on the station will make for one big crowd.
"We're crashing the party," Hobaugh called out as the shuttle drew to within a mile. Atlantis is loaded with pumps, tanks, gyroscopes and other huge spare parts for the orbiting outpost, as well as some small, fragile science experiments. Perhaps the most delicate of all are four butterfly larvae, a student experiment. The plan is for the larvae to develop into Painted Lady butterflies over the next week or two and return on the next shuttle flight in February. ___ On the Net: N A S A : http://www.nasa.gov/mission(un derscore)pages/shuttle/main/inde x.html This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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boat and its crew after holding it for six weeks. Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero said on Tuesday that the pirates had abandoned the Alakrana tuna boat and that all 36 crew on board were "safe and sound". The pirates earlier told reporters they were leaving the ship after being promised a ransom of $3.5m (£2.1m), although there was no government confirmation of this. Upsurge in attacks "The captain of the chemical tanker died last night from gunshot wounds he got during the hijack," a pirate who identified himself as Muhammad told Reuters news agency on Wednesday. "The ship is headed for Harardhere with the dead captain," he said, in an apparent reference to a coastal town in central Somalia. So far there there have been no independent confirmation of the captain's death. His nationality is not yet known. The tanker, whose owner is based in the Virgin Islands, had
been sailing to the Kenyan port of Mombasa, but changed course after the hijacking. More than 10 ships and 200 hostages are currently being held by pirates operating in waters off Somalia. Many of the pirates began as fishermen and say they are stopping illegal foreign fishing boats stealing Somali fish, BBC international development correspondent Mark Doyle reports. The upsurge in piracy in the region is a consequence of the failure to find a solution to Somalia's political disputes, our correspondent adds. The weak central government faces an Islamist insurgency and parts of the country have broken away to form autonomous regions. Print Sponsor This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Mike O’Callaghan—Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now)
winds capable of felling cranes, an 890-foot drop below: “Inhospitable” doesn’t begin to describe conditions at the Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:00:23 AM Colorado River’s new Mike A 1,900-foot span across the O ’ C a l l a g h a n – P a t T i l l m a n Colorado River shadows the M e m o r i a l B r i d g e . Hoover Dam A 1,900-foot span designed to switchback-laden road across the Temperatures upward of 115°F, divert traffic from the narrow, Hoover Dam, it will be the
longest concrete arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere when it opens next fall, with 106 segments of ultra-high-strength concrete forming a twin-rib arch. Workers scaled the canyon’s walls, digging notches for concrete foundation columns. To construct the 1,060-foot-long
arch, they cast 24 feet of concrete at a time, while a separate, temporary cable-stayed bridge held up the unfinished ends until the gap was closed this year. hooverdambypass.org
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Cops Hunt for Hostage-Takers at Florida T.J. Maxx
Not so wonderful Copenhagen
(FOXNews.com)
(The Economist: News analysis)
Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:04:24 AM
Police were searching early Wednesday for two armed men at a T.J. Maxx clothing store in a southwest Florida shopping mall after they allegedly held eight employees hostage for at least 3 hours. Seven of the eight hostages were freed after dozens of SWAT team members, backed by two helicopters, surrounded the store in Venice. The final hostage reportedly hid from the gunmen and was injured after being shoved to the ground by the attackers. SWAT members were seen dragging her out of the store
on a blanket. At one point a police car drove to within 10 feet of the entrance of the store behind a concrete pillar and several SWAT officers wearing body armor appeared to be talking to the gunmen. Shortly before midnight, there were reports that a single gunshot was heard inside the store. According to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune, the gunmen tied up employees using Ziptape while making their demands. It was unclear what those were. As of 2 a.m. ET, police and a K9 unit had not located the assailants and were still searching for them. The workers who had been held
in the store gave police conflicting information about the incident. Witnesses said they saw three people running out of the store, and they appeared to be tied up. According to the Venice Police Department, about 15 employees were at the store closing up around 9:30 p.m. when the two gunmen entered. A manager for the store said that, at most, $12,000 cash could be on hand. Venice, a coastal community, is located 70 miles south of Tampa. More from HeraldTribune.com More from MyFoxTampa.com This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
the conference. There is now no hope of new legal targets for emissions-reductions to replace Submitted at 11/18/2009 12:42:48 AM those set out in the Kyoto Nov 18th 2009 | NEW YORK Protocol and which will lapse in F r o m E c o n o m i s t . c o m A 2012. Instead the pair suggested forthcoming climate-change that the best to be expected is a summit will not produce a p o l i t i c a l d e a l o n c u t t i n g binding deal on emissions e m i s s i o n s . E X P E C T A T I O N S f o r t h e Some of the blame for this must Copenhagen climate conference, be directed at Capitol Hill. Not held next month in Denmark, only will Mr Obama now not have been steadily dwindling. On sign a cap-and-trade bill before Sunday November 15th, as Copenhagen; the Senate is not Barack Obama toured Asia, he even expected to pass one. The and the Danish prime minister, House of Representatives passed Lars Lokke Rasmussen, quietly in June its version of cap-anda g r e e d w h a t m a n y h a d trade but the Senate, preoccupied anticipated—that no binding NOT page 65 agreement would be reached at
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Ruling on Zelaya 'after election' (BBC News | Americas | World Edition)
poll unless Mr Zelaya is restored beforehand. He was ousted in June, but Submitted at 11/17/2009 2:42:48 PM returned to Honduras in secret in Congress in Honduras will not September. vote on whether to restore ousted Since then he has taken refuge in President Manuel Zelaya until the Brazilian embassy in the after elections this month, a capital, Tegucigalpa. senior lawmaker said. The US helped to broker a Congressional president Jose power-sharing deal between Mr Alvedro Saavedra said Congress Zelaya and interim President would meet in early December to Roberto Micheletti, but the decide if Mr Zelaya will be accord collapsed earlier this allowed to serve out his term. month. Some regional states say they Mr Zelaya warned last weekend will not recognise the presidential that he would not return to the
presidency if Congress voted to restore him after the elections. He said doing so would legitimise his removal from office in June. His term of office is due to end in January. As the feuding continued, senior US diplomat Craig Kelly arrived in Honduras on Tuesday to meet the two sides, a spokeswoman for the US embassy in Tegucigalpa confirmed. It is Mr Kelly's second trip in less than a week to try to revive the deal. Mr Zelaya was ousted after
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planning to hold a non-binding public consultation to ask people whether they supported moves to change the constitution. His critics said the move was unconstitutional and aimed to remove the current one-term limit on serving as president and pave the way for his possible reelection. Print Sponsor This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
by a debate over the reform of health care, has left climate talks to inch along slowly behind. John Kerry, one of the Senate’s capand-trade champions, now says he hopes for a vote on the bill only in the spring. But American congressmen are not alone in shouldering responsibility. Each tortuous round of negotiations ahead of Copenhagen has lengthened the list of issues up for debate. The negotiating text is now a snarl of material that few parties can agree upon. And big developing countries have been almost as NOT page 66
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immovable as America, at least publicly. China’s president said in September that his country would in time cut the amount of carbon dioxide it emits per unit of GDP by a “notable amount”. But Sun Guoshun, a Chinese diplomat in Washington, says that a figure is unlikely to emerge before Copenhagen. India (a much smaller polluter) has steadfastly resisted binding targets for poor countries. Many in Washington believe that America, just as it did at Kyoto, will not accept a deal that requires nothing concrete on emissions from the developing world. Yet this does not mean that America will never get around to cutting emissions. During Mr Obama’s trip to China climate change was at the top of the agenda. Some had hoped that Mr Obama and Hu Jintao, China’s president, might announce a means of breaking the negotiating deadlock. Instead they unveiled some practical measures on energy. These include the creation of a
Sino-American clean-energy research centre, with initial funding of $150m, and an electric-vehicles initiative. A plan was also aired to increase energy efficiency, especially in buildings. By some estimates, China will add housing and office space equivalent to America’s entire stock over the next 20 years. The two countries also promised to work together on “cleaner” coal (both countries sit on huge reserves of the stuff). Carboncapture-and-storage technology for coal-fired power plants does not yet work at the scale and cost required. But James Rogers, the head of Duke Energy, a big American utility, says optimistically that perhaps only China has the resources to develop a workable system of carbon-capture, and America could reap the benefits. Last, the two agreed to co-operate on finding and using natural gas from shale. Gas power emits just half the carbon-dioxide of coal. Focusing on measures like efficiency and cleaner power
rather than targets may be the only way to get a bill through the Senate and thus make a binding international deal possible. But the interplay between international negotiations and the Senate’s deliberations is delicate. The Senate wants proof that developing countries will not get off the hook while China and India will avoid commitments as long as it seems that the Senate is unwilling to move. Copenhagen is now unlikely to be celebrated as the city where the world took big steps towards tackling climate change. A binding deal will have to wait until 2010, perhaps at a mid-year meeting in Bonn or in December in Mexico City. Back to top ^^ Readers' comments The Economist welcomes your (Popular Science - New views. This content has passed through Technology, Science News, The Future Now) fivefilters.org.
TKTS, Times Square is 100 times the strength of typical laminates and binds sheets together into structural pieces that are five times as Submitted at 11/17/2009 12:30:35 PM strong as a wooden frame. The The beginning of all-glass TKTS booth is a window onto buildings new structural uses for glass, The largest load-bearing glass inspiring the firm to drape steel structure in the world, the new canopies on glass columns at TKTS booth in Times Square, New York’s Lincoln Center for supports glass benches atop two- the Performing Arts this year. inch-thick windows. Sounds Are all-glass towers next? Says delicate, but it regularly holds structural engineer Michael 500 foot-stomping Jumbotron Ludvik, “You could literally watchers. For reinforcement, make a skyscraper.” e n g i n e e r s a t D e w h u r s t dewmac.com Macfarlane used a plastic film called SentryGlas Plus. The film
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Research Brief: Recession's Lasting Effects on Consumers (MediaPost | Media News)
There are four distinct consumer segments emerging from the recession according to the study, A n e w s t u d y , e n t i t l e d identified as: "Marketing to the Post-Recession • Steadfast Frugalists, C o n s u m e r s , " b y D e c i t i c a , • Involuntary Penny-Pinchers, addresses the lasting effects of • Pragmatic Spenders and t h e r e c e s s i o n i n t h e w a y • Apathetic Materialists. American consumers have internalized the recession Steadfast Frugalists are experience. It's particularly committed to self-restraint, r e l e v a n t i n d e v e l o p i n g engaging in prudence with "positioning" a n d unequivocal enthusiasm. They marketing/merchandising/adverti make up about one-fifth of the sing strategies. American consumers, Dr. Val Srinivas, Principal at representing all income and age Decitica, says, "This research... groups. decisively shows that marketers 80% of Steadfast Frugalists say need a fresh lens through which the new behaviors they have to view consumers in the post- adopted will likely stay with recession world..." them for a long time. This is in Specifically, this research contrast to 24% of Apathetic concludes that: Materialists who feel this way. • The effects of the Great The main characteristics of the Recession on consumer behavior Steadfast Frugalists are: are so profound that many of • 6 in 10 are women. the assumptions underpinning • Composed of people from consumer segmentation are no all age groups; however, fewer longer valid; and from Gen X and Gen YThe most • Marketing strategies that do disciplined in their behaviors and not fully recognize the diversity seriously committed to selfof consumers' recession restraint Many of these experiences won't have the individuals deemed themselves desired potency in the post- t i g h t w a d s e v e n b e f o r e t h e recession world. recession • Many have accepted this • 29% of individuals in this radical change as the "new group considered themselves n o r m a l , " a n d n o t j u s t a tightwads in this survey cyclical phenomenon. • The recession has caused a "Marketers will find this group to profound, deep-rooted change in be the most challenging, as they consumers' spending habits in are the least brand loyal and most favor a more restrained approach. likely to discount marketing messages," notes Dr. Srinivas. Submitted at 11/18/2009 5:15:47 AM
Involuntary Penny-Pinchers, about 29% of the population, have been severely affected by the recession, and are mainly made up of households with less than $50,000 in income, with more women than men. This segment has been forced to embrace thrift like never before. Presently, their actual behaviors do not differ widely from those of Steadfast Frugalists. Where they drastically diverge is in their aversion to expending effort in money-saving strategies. Only 17% find buying store or generic labels to be satisfying, compared to 59% of Steadfast Frugalists. 77% of Involuntary PennyPinchers admit to being more scared by the recession, 81% stressed, and 87% more worried about the future than other groups. The main characteristics are: • 6 in 10 are women. • Over-represented by people in their 30s and 40s. • Involuntary Penny-Pinchers are the most severely affected, financially and emotionally, by the recession. • Their new-found frugality for the most part has been forced upon them. Half have not saved any money for emergencies • 38% in this group exceeded their income last year, indicating that they were not that disciplined to begin with • Marketers will find this group to be quite challenging to influence mainly due to their
lower/diminished capacity to spend. "Pragmatic Spenders are the most attractive group for marketers because of their higher spending power," says Dr. Val Srinivas. "While it is true that they have also curbed their spending, they are the most capable, both psychologically and financially, to willfully resurrect their past spending patterns," he added. This group comprises 29% of consumers whose income has blunted the effects of the recession on this segment. Only 28% of Pragmatic Spenders feel the recession has changed what and how they will buy in the future, compared to 55% of Steadfast Frugalists. The main characteristics of this group are: • 6 in 10 are men • Over-represented by people in their 60s, and from the Northeast and West • Over a third of the people with greater than $75,000 HHI are in this group • Pragmatic Spenders have the greatest capacity, both financial and psychological, to willfully resurrect their past spending patterns • Their approach to spending is tempered with caution; they have cut back and are engaging in thrift like others but seem less troubled by the recession. • Pragmatic Spenders will be the most attractive to marketers given their above-average
financial wherewithal Apathetic Materialists seem least changed by the recession. They have not embraced the new frugality to the same extent as others and get minimal satisfaction from such behaviors. Only about 6% in this group find price comparison to be satisfying, in contrast to 85% in the Steadfast Frugalists camp. The Apathetic Materialists segment has more men (55%) and younger consumers (72%) are below the age of forty. Only 8% admit to being very focused on value compared to 30% of Pragmatic Spenders and 52% of Involuntary Penny-Pinchers. The main characteristics are: • 22% in the population. • Slightly more men than women. • Over-represented by people in their 20s (Gen Y) • The least changed in terms of their spending habits and future intentions • More younger, single people with limited disposable income at the moment • Apathetic Materialists will be an attractive target for youthoriented marketers What makes this research particularly unique, says the report, is the examination of consumers' self-efficacy (the belief in one's abilities to successfully achieve certain RESEARCH page 68
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outcomes) in practicing spending restraint. Evident from this chart is that Steadfast Frugalists and Pragmatic Spenders are the most confident in controlling spending, resisting the temptation to spend now and worry later, save money and stick to a budget. Apathetic Materialists have the least confidence in successfully restraining themselves, Satisfaction from Frugal Behaviors and Self-Confidence in Practicing Restraint Behavior Total Steadfast Frugalists Involuntary Penny-Pinchers Pragmatic Spenders Apathetic Materialists Percent Who Find each Activity "satisfying" Buying on sale or using coupons 40% 87% 37% 34% 11% Buying store labels 22 59 17 15 6 Shopping at discount stores 29 77 24 19
8 Surfing the Internet for coupons and discounts 30 73 24 24 10 Comparing prices before purchase 35 85 32 26 6 Percent Who are Highly Confident in their Ability to Practice Restraint Resisting the temptation to spend now and worry later 53 87 46 73 5 Saving money 35 70 18 54 5 Sticking to budget 44 87 46 73 5 Source: Decitica, November 2009 Self-Efficacy Income, Gender
and Age Differences • Age is positively correlated with self-efficacy in controlling spending • Both men and women 40 years or older, irrespective of income, are significantly more confident about restraining spending • 40+ women with greater disposable income are the most confident about resisting the temptation to spend now and worry later, indicating they are more long-term focused • This finding is not good news for marketers whose traditional audience are mainly boomer women Percent Who are Highly Confident in Controlling Spending Income Group Gender Age % Highly Confident >$75K Females 21-39 37% Females 21-39 42% Males 21-39 43% >$75K Males 21-39
47% Males 40+ 57% Females 40+ 58% >$75K Males 40+ 60% >$75K Females 40+ 61% Source: Decitica, November 2009 Percent Who are Highly Confident in Resisting the Temptation to Spend Now and Worry Later Income Group Gender Age % Highly Confident Males 21-39 37% Females 21-39 41% >$75K Males 21-39 41% >$75K Females 21-39 43% Females
40+ 63% >$75K Males 40+ 66% Males 40+ 67% >$75K, Females 40+ 72% Source: Decitica, November 2009 Price has become the dominant consideration in the purchase of all kinds of products, concludes the study. Of considerable significance is the fact that half of Pragmatic Spenders are looking at price before other features and one-third say that brand name products are not worth the extra price, heralding what will likely be a long uphill struggle by marketers to shift the focus away from price, says the report Please visit here for highlights of the report. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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TV Board: Media Insights QandA with Jim Spaeth (MediaPost | Media News)
the number of individual programs and titles, stations, the number of devices that people In this interview. Sequent use are just remarkable. Partners' Jim Spaeth goes on A year and a half ago or so we record with how he views were working with Ball State. i n d u s t r y c h a n g e , h o w h i s We did the Video Consumer c o m p a n y a d d r e s s e s R O I Mapping Study for the Nielsenmeasurement, radio engagement funded Council For Research and the inherent silos between Excellence (CRE). One of the media and creative at agencies. most interesting findings was that His work at Y&R, ScanAmerica, if you compare people 65 and the ARF and now at his own older with people 18-24, the 18firm, has provided Jim with a to 24-year-olds consumed twice unique perspective on research as many media platforms at a applications and solutions. significant rate as do the older Links to the full interview videos group. So, just the way that new can be found a t platforms have been adopted by http://weislermedia.blogspot.com consumers is remarkable. Now in /search?q=spaeth contrast to that, the way media Here is an excerpt: plans, advertisers, agencies have CW: What would you say is the adopted new platforms is a little biggest change in the industry in less than impressive. the past five years? CW: Can you tell us about your JS: I'm tempted to say that the project on engagement radio? biggest change in the industry is JS: Yeah, this one is really no change because it's just interesting. Engagement is a amazing the things that haven't topic that I have always had a lot changed. But maybe the biggest of heart for. At least going back change is how omnivorous to my General Foods days, we consumers have become. I can always understood that different remember, and I'm dating myself media had different value above now, three networks -- and I can and beyond their ability to remember people listening to d e l i v e r i m p r e s s i o n s ; t h a t only six radio stations.... and now impressions in one medium were Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:15:43 AM
not of the same value as impressions in another medium or even within the medium. For example, we know we pay more for prime time than we do for daytime in television and part of that is prime time's ability to build reach. [It's also] things like the level of attention, the level of commercial exposure and something else that we all presume to be there. And we also know it on a personal basis because we experience it -- but I don't know if we have been really able to define it. And I think the concept of engagement gets to the heart of it. I was very happy a couple of years back when ARF, after I left, tackled this topic. It's a really tough one. And I know a lot of people have been less than delighted with the outcome. I think they expected a simple answer, but it's a very complex problem and I think simply letting us all think about it has been tremendously valuable. We were approached by Arbitron to help them with an engagement metric in radio, which is really kind of interesting on a couple of levels. One, you would sort of expect this work to
be led in television or the Internet or something like that. So it's interesting that radio has taken up the call. But even more interestingly, radio is among those media that I think arguably has a unique relationship between the station and the listener -- or maybe it's the on-air personality and the listener. It's almost intimate. You know when you are in your car and they whisper in your ear or in your earbuds or whatever? So it's a very unique relationship and we are right in the middle of this, so I don't really know what the outcome is going to be. But we are wrestling with the issue of what this means. We have a group of industry experts that help us, because I don't think we want to venture into this alone. But we are trying to define exactly what this means, how it can be measured and, fingers crossed, we will have some early results right after the first of the year. CW: C an you give me three predictions for the next five years? JS: Umm. Well, here's the easy one: There will be less change than any of us can possibly
imagine. There will still be an upfront. But to be a little less cynical and a little more positive, the thing that I have the greatest hope for are mobile-locationbased services. I think the thing we have seen over the years is that technologies and services that offer real value to consumers are the ones that get picked up. So people love their iPhones because they do so many things. People love their DVRs because after years of their VCR flashing 0-0-0 or 12-12-12 or whatever, they actually have something that works and does what they need it to do. And I think location-based services on a mobile phone are going to be tremendously valuable because we are just this society increasingly on the go. So I am really anxious to see those come to fruition. There are challenges -- I mean there are engineering challenges, design challenges, working with a little tiny screen, and so forth -- but I think the potential for value is just tremendous. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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TV Watch: 'Polarizing' TV -Political Or Otherwise -- Really Means 'Engaging' TV (MediaPost | Media News) Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:30:58 AM
The Obama administration's tussle with Fox News Channel might be headed to a place where TV business and research intersect. Fractionalized TV -- some may call it polarizing TV -- makes sense for everyone. Traditional wisdom says political parties in power should never target the press , since the press can always get the last word in, especially these days. Some say the aim of the Obama administration is to transform those in the minority (in this case those who voted for McCain, the losing Republican candidate) into a fringe-like group. If some seem like they are on the periphery, that's good for the White House. For Fox, it's also a benefit. "Fringe" status also means more engaged viewers. That means they'll have higher recall when it comes to advertisers' ads. In TV terms, this is what most marketers want: consumers who,
to use a more colloquial term, are passionate. Other may argue Fox News isn't fringe. Fox is easily the leader in TV news programming on a daily basis -- with two to three million average viewers a night in prime time. But this is a fraction of what network TV news shows did years ago. And, looking at the average viewership versus the whole voting electorate, it's a tiny piece. Having a passionate viewership works for today's age of fractionalization Recent stories in The New Yorker talk about how current TV news operations are unlike those in the past, which tried to provide some balance, as well as a broader and bigger viewership. One article notes that today's Democrats' strong opinions on changing health care tend to get even stronger after talking to or seeing other like-minded Democrats -- say, on MSNBC. When Republicans want to grouse that President Obama is fast bankrupting the country with
big federal spending supporting failing industries, they become more adamant when talking to or seeing other Republicans voice the same concerns --say, on Fox News. But polarizing TV has a problem. People can lose sight of the facts, focusing instead on opinions spouted by overdramatic, attention-grabbing opinion-meisters. Here's the good news for a polarizing, fractionalized TV world: You don't need to get everyone in your tent to make a buck, just the right people. Polarizing TV also means more engaged advocates for a cause, likely to contribute to increased word-of-mouth marketing. It's not as clear what TV polarization means as the end game for political parties. One thing's for sure: Fox News and MSNBC are making more money than ever. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Gallery: Confessions of an Electronics Junk Collector By Vin Marshall (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now)
some future project, some really crucial bit of hijinks, hinges entirely on my having a switch designed to discharge massive capacitors? Then what, huh? Submitted at 11/18/2009 7:40:35 AM Am I supposed to just assume Some of it I really do plan to my local Radio Shack will have use. Some of it I can't even my back? Not likely. identify. I was doing better, I really was, Hi. My name is Vin and I'm an and then I visited the DeAnza addict. I can't stop buying flea market in Cupertino last electronic junk. I know it's only year, and it all fell apart again. I filling up bins in my shop and don't know, maybe I'm beyond taking money I could be pouring help. Check the photo gallery for into more productive hobbies, some electronics-nerd eye candy, like drinking and shooting guns. the detritus of my demon. But what if the completion of
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71
Library in a Pocket (New York Times) (Yahoo! News Search Results for e-readers)
versatile gadgets like mobile phones? So far, e-book software for phones does not appear to Submitted at 11/17/2009 11:29:48 PM have cut into demand for singleWith Amazon’s Kindle, readers function e-readers. According to can squeeze hundreds of books the Codex Group, a consultant to into a device that is smaller than the publishing industry, about 1.7 most hardcovers. For some, million people now own one, and that’s not small enough. that number could rise to four Many people who want to read million by the end of the holiday electronic books are discovering season. that they can do so on the But there are already 84 million smartphones that are already in s m a r t p h o n e s t h a t c a n r u n their pockets bringing a whole applications in the United States new meaning to “phone book.” alone, according to IDC, a And they like that they can save research firm. Apple has sold the $250 to $350 that they would more than 50 million iPhones and otherwise spend on yet another iPod Touches, which both run egadget. book software. “These e-readers that cost a lot of Apple itself doesn’t see the money only do one thing,” said iPhone as the ultimate reading Keishon Tutt, a 37-year-old device. Next year, it is likely to pharmacist in Texas who buys 10 further stir up the e-book market to 12 books a month to read on if, as expected, it introduces a her iPhone, from Apple. “I like to tablet computer a device bigger have a multifunctional device. I than a phone that will most likely watch movies and listen to my run e-reader software along with songs.” other programs intended for the Over the last eight months, iPhone. Amazon, Barnes & Noble and a People once scoffed at the idea range of smaller companies have of reading a book on a 3.5-inch released book-reading software mobile screen. For many readers, for the iPhone and other mobile t h o u g h , s h e e r c o n v e n i e n c e devices. One out of every five t r u m p s e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . new applications introduced for “The iPod Touch is always at the iPhone last month was a hand,” Shannon Stacey, who has book, according to Flurry, a written several romance e-novels, research firm that studies mobile said. “It’s my calendar, it’s my trends. everything, so my books are All of that activity raises a always with me.” Ms. Stacey, question: Does the future of book who also owns an early Sony reading lie in dedicated devices Reader model, said she had now like the Kindle, or in more bought twice as many e-books
for her iPod Touch as for her Sony. While the Kindle, the Reader and the Nook, the Barnes & Noble device that will reach the market later this month, feature screens that use very little power and are close to the size of a page in a trade paperback, they have comparatively limited features, like gray-and-white reading displays and either partial Internet access or none at all. Ian Freed, vice president for the Kindle division at Amazon, said customers still bought more books to read on the Kindle than they did for its iPhone application, though he declined to disclose figures. Amazon is working on e-reading software for the BlackBerry and for Macintosh computers; it introduced software for Windows PCs last week. “It’s a surprisingly pleasant experience to read on a small screen,” said Josh Koppel, a founder of ScrollMotion, a New York company that has made some 25,000 e-books available through Apple’s App Store and has sold more than 200,000 copies. Companies like ScrollMotion and BeamItDown sell books in the form of individual applications, so novels like “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer show up right in the App Store. Amazon and Barnes & Noble give away e-reading software instead; users buy the actual
books through the browser on a phone or PC. Publishers are now rushing to develop new forms of books to cater to readers who will see them on smartphones books that will not work on today’s standalone e-readers. When Nick Cave, the rock musician, wrote his second novel, “The Death of Bunny Munro,” he and his British publisher, Canongate, worked with a multimedia company to develop an app for the iPhone that incorporated not just the text but also videos, music composed by Mr. Cave and audio of the author reading the book. “What you can do with graphics and moving images creates a lot of possibilities for a publisher that have never existed before,” said Jamie Byng, Canongate’s publisher. Of course, e-readers like the Kindle and the Nook will evolve as well, most likely adding color to their reading screens. But in the meantime, Amazon executives say that the limitations of the Kindle actually make it more attractive for reading. “The Kindle is for people who love to read,” Mr. Freed of Amazon said. “People use phones for lots of things. Most often they use them to make phone calls. Second most often, they use them to send text messages or e-mail. Way down on the list, there’s reading.” Indeed, Sarah Wendell, an
administrative assistant in Manhattan who blogs about romance novels, said that although she used the iPhone to read while on a coffee or lunch break, she still used her Kindle during her one-hour commute from New Jersey. For long reading sessions, she said, the iPhone is “a small screen, and my eyes would start to hurt, even though I crank the text up to grandma or greatgrandma size.” Travis Bryant, director of digital products for Keen Communications, a small publisher in Birmingham, Ala., said he had gotten a surprising amount of reading done while waiting in lines. Mr. Bryant said he had recently read “The Shack,” the best-selling Christian allegorical novel, as well as “The Templar Legacy,” a historical thriller by Steve Berry, on his iPhone. But Mr. Bryant acknowledged that the iPhone, while convenient, did not serve every reading purpose. “I’ve got a 3year-old at home, and he really digs books,” Mr. Bryant said. “I remembering pilfering my parents’ shelves, and if everything is on the iPhone, he’s just not going to have that visual temptation. So we keep the shelves loaded.” This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Library in a Pocket (New York Times) (Yahoo! News Search Results for e-readers)
versatile gadgets like mobile phones? So far, e-book software for phones does not appear to Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:14:06 AM have cut into demand for singleWith Amazon’s Kindle, readers function e-readers. According to can squeeze hundreds of books the Codex Group, a consultant to into a device that is smaller than the publishing industry, about 1.7 most hardcovers. For some, million people now own one, and that’s not small enough. that number could rise to four Many people who want to read million by the end of the holiday electronic books are discovering season. that they can do so on the But there are already 84 million smartphones that are already in s m a r t p h o n e s t h a t c a n r u n their pockets bringing a whole applications in the United States new meaning to “phone book.” alone, according to IDC, a And they like that they can save research firm. Apple has sold the $250 to $350 that they would more than 50 million iPhones and otherwise spend on yet another iPod Touches, which both run egadget. book software. “These e-readers that cost a lot of Apple itself doesn’t see the money only do one thing,” said iPhone as the ultimate reading Keishon Tutt, a 37-year-old device. Next year, it is likely to pharmacist in Texas who buys 10 further stir up the e-book market to 12 books a month to read on if, as expected, it introduces a her iPhone, from Apple. “I like to tablet computer a device bigger have a multifunctional device. I than a phone that will most likely watch movies and listen to my run e-reader software along with songs.” other programs intended for the Over the last eight months, iPhone. Amazon, Barnes & Noble and a People once scoffed at the idea range of smaller companies have of reading a book on a 3.5-inch released book-reading software mobile screen. For many readers, for the iPhone and other mobile t h o u g h , s h e e r c o n v e n i e n c e devices. One out of every five t r u m p s e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . new applications introduced for “The iPod Touch is always at the iPhone last month was a hand,” Shannon Stacey, who has book, according to Flurry, a written several romance e-novels, research firm that studies mobile said. “It’s my calendar, it’s my trends. everything, so my books are All of that activity raises a always with me.” Ms. Stacey, question: Does the future of book who also owns an early Sony reading lie in dedicated devices Reader model, said she had now like the Kindle, or in more bought twice as many e-books
for her iPod Touch as for her Sony. While the Kindle, the Reader and the Nook, the Barnes & Noble device that will reach the market later this month, feature screens that use very little power and are close to the size of a page in a trade paperback, they have comparatively limited features, like gray-and-white reading displays and either partial Internet access or none at all. Ian Freed, vice president for the Kindle division at Amazon, said customers still bought more books to read on the Kindle than they did for its iPhone application, though he declined to disclose figures. Amazon is working on e-reading software for the BlackBerry and for Macintosh computers; it introduced software for Windows PCs last week. “It’s a surprisingly pleasant experience to read on a small screen,” said Josh Koppel, a founder of ScrollMotion, a New York company that has made some 25,000 e-books available through Apple’s App Store and has sold more than 200,000 copies. Companies like ScrollMotion and BeamItDown sell books in the form of individual applications, so novels like “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer show up right in the App Store. Amazon and Barnes & Noble give away e-reading software instead; users buy the actual
books through the browser on a phone or PC. Publishers are now rushing to develop new forms of books to cater to readers who will see them on smartphones books that will not work on today’s standalone e-readers. When Nick Cave, the rock musician, wrote his second novel, “The Death of Bunny Munro,” he and his British publisher, Canongate, worked with a multimedia company to develop an app for the iPhone that incorporated not just the text but also videos, music composed by Mr. Cave and audio of the author reading the book. “What you can do with graphics and moving images creates a lot of possibilities for a publisher that have never existed before,” said Jamie Byng, Canongate’s publisher. Of course, e-readers like the Kindle and the Nook will evolve as well, most likely adding color to their reading screens. But in the meantime, Amazon executives say that the limitations of the Kindle actually make it more attractive for reading. “The Kindle is for people who love to read,” Mr. Freed of Amazon said. “People use phones for lots of things. Most often they use them to make phone calls. Second most often, they use them to send text messages or e-mail. Way down on the list, there’s reading.” Indeed, Sarah Wendell, an
administrative assistant in Manhattan who blogs about romance novels, said that although she used the iPhone to read while on a coffee or lunch break, she still used her Kindle during her one-hour commute from New Jersey. For long reading sessions, she said, the iPhone is “a small screen, and my eyes would start to hurt, even though I crank the text up to grandma or greatgrandma size.” Travis Bryant, director of digital products for Keen Communications, a small publisher in Birmingham, Ala., said he had gotten a surprising amount of reading done while waiting in lines. Mr. Bryant said he had recently read “The Shack,” the best-selling Christian allegorical novel, as well as “The Templar Legacy,” a historical thriller by Steve Berry, on his iPhone. But Mr. Bryant acknowledged that the iPhone, while convenient, did not serve every reading purpose. “I’ve got a 3year-old at home, and he really digs books,” Mr. Bryant said. “I remembering pilfering my parents’ shelves, and if everything is on the iPhone, he’s just not going to have that visual temptation. So we keep the shelves loaded.” This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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73
Library in a Pocket (The Hendersonville Times-News) (Yahoo! News Search Results for e-readers)
function e-readers. According to the Codex Group, a consultant to the publishing industry, about 1.7 Submitted at 11/18/2009 8:21:55 AM million people now own one, and Many people who want to read that number could rise to four electronic books are discovering million by the end of the holiday that they can do so on the season. smartphones that are already in But there are already 84 million their pockets — bringing a whole s m a r t p h o n e s t h a t c a n r u n new meaning to “phone book.” applications in the United States And they like that they can save alone, according to IDC, a the $250 to $350 that they would research firm. Apple has sold otherwise spend on yet another more than 50 million iPhones and gadget. iPod Touches, which both run e“These e-readers that cost a lot of book software. money only do one thing,” said Apple itself doesn’t see the Keishon Tutt, a 37-year-old iPhone as the ultimate reading pharmacist in Texas who buys 10 device. Next year, it is likely to to 12 books a month to read on further stir up the e-book market her iPhone, from Apple. “I like to if, as expected, it introduces a have a multifunctional device. I tablet computer — a device watch movies and listen to my bigger than a phone that will songs.” most likely run e-reader software Over the last eight months, along with other programs Amazon, Barnes & Noble and a intended for the iPhone. range of smaller companies have People once scoffed at the idea released book-reading software of reading a book on a 3.5-inch for the iPhone and other mobile mobile screen. For many readers, devices. One out of every five t h o u g h , s h e e r c o n v e n i e n c e new applications introduced for t r u m p s e v e r y t h i n g e l s e . the iPhone last month was a “The iPod Touch is always at book, according to Flurry, a hand,” Shannon Stacey, who has research firm that studies mobile written several romance e-novels, trends. said. “It’s my calendar, it’s my All of that activity raises a everything, so my books are question: Does the future of book always with me.” Ms. Stacey, reading lie in dedicated devices who also owns an early Sony like the Kindle, or in more Reader model, said she had now versatile gadgets like mobile bought twice as many e-books phones? So far, e-book software for her iPod Touch as for her for phones does not appear to Sony. have cut into demand for single- While the Kindle, the Reader
and the Nook, the Barnes & Noble device that will reach the market later this month, feature screens that use very little power and are close to the size of a page in a trade paperback, they have comparatively limited features, like gray-and-white reading displays and either partial Internet access or none at all. Ian Freed, vice president for the Kindle division at Amazon, said customers still bought more books to read on the Kindle than they did for its iPhone application, though he declined to disclose figures. Amazon is working on e-reading software for the BlackBerry and for Macintosh computers; it introduced software for Windows PCs last week. “It’s a surprisingly pleasant experience to read on a small screen,” said Josh Koppel, a founder of ScrollMotion, a New York company that has made some 25,000 e-books available through Apple’s App Store and has sold more than 200,000 copies. Companies like ScrollMotion and BeamItDown sell books in the form of individual applications, so novels like “Twilight” by Stephenie Meyer show up right in the App Store. Amazon and Barnes & Noble give away e-reading software instead; users buy the actual books through the browser on a phone or PC.
Publishers are now rushing to develop new forms of books to cater to readers who will see them on smartphones — books that will not work on today’s stand-alone e-readers. When Nick Cave, the rock musician, wrote his second novel, “The Death of Bunny Munro,” he and his British publisher, Canongate, worked with a multimedia company to develop an app for the iPhone that incorporated not just the text but also videos, music composed by Mr. Cave and audio of the author reading the book. “What you can do with graphics and moving images creates a lot of possibilities for a publisher that have never existed before,” said Jamie Byng, Canongate’s publisher. Of course, e-readers like the Kindle and the Nook will evolve as well, most likely adding color to their reading screens. But in the meantime, Amazon executives say that the limitations of the Kindle actually make it more attractive for reading. “The Kindle is for people who love to read,” Mr. Freed of Amazon said. “People use phones for lots of things. Most often they use them to make phone calls. Second most often, they use them to send text messages or e-mail. Way down on the list, there’s reading.” Indeed, Sarah Wendell, an administrative assistant in
Manhattan who blogs about romance novels, said that although she used the iPhone to read while on a coffee or lunch break, she still used her Kindle during her one-hour commute from New Jersey. For long reading sessions, she said, the iPhone is “a small screen, and my eyes would start to hurt, even though I crank the text up to grandma or greatgrandma size.” Travis Bryant, director of digital products for Keen Communications, a small publisher in Birmingham, Ala., said he had gotten a surprising amount of reading done while waiting in lines. Mr. Bryant said he had recently read “The Shack,” the best-selling Christian allegorical novel, as well as “The Templar Legacy,” a historical thriller by Steve Berry, on his iPhone. But Mr. Bryant acknowledged that the iPhone, while convenient, did not serve every reading purpose. “I’ve got a 3year-old at home, and he really digs books,” Mr. Bryant said. “I remembering pilfering my parents’ shelves, and if everything is on the iPhone, he’s just not going to have that visual temptation. So we keep the shelves loaded.” This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
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Costs, Gov't Involvement Top Healthcare Reform Concerns (All Gallup Headlines)
amendment included in the House bill became a major focus of news coverage. Seventeen PRINCETON, NJ -- Asked to percent do not mention any name their concerns if a new concerns about a new healthcare healthcare bill is eventually bill. passed into law, Americans say Differences Between Those Who they would be worried about the Support and Those Who Oppose potential costs of new healthcare a New Bill l e g i s l a t i o n , t h e i n c r e a s e d In a separate question included government involvement a new in the survey, respondents were law would mandate, the possibly asked if they would advise or negative impact on current lean toward advising their healthcare delivery, and concerns member of Congress to vote for that the bill won't go far enough or against the legislation. in expanding access to The accompanying table healthcare. displays the concerns about new This open-ended question was healthcare legislation among the included in Gallup's Nov. 5-8 resulting two groups. Health and Healthcare survey, There is relatively little and the responses were coded difference between those who into categories, as displayed in favor and those who oppose new the accompanying table. healthcare legislation in terms of Americans' worries can be concerns about costs, although grouped into four broad areas: each group may have different • takes on the aspects of costs they • are worried about. • The biggest differences between • those who support and those who oppose a new healthcare bill "The biggest differences between relate to government involvement those who support and those who and access to healthcare. Those oppose a new healthcare bill who oppose a new healthcare relate to government involvement plan are much more likely to be and access to healthcare. " concerned about government A s m a l l p e r c e n t a g e o f involvement than are those who Americans mention coverage of favor it. On the other hand, those illegal immigrants as a top who favor the plan are much concern about new healthcare more likely to be concerned legislation. Two percent mention about the plan's not going far abortion, although the majority of enough in increasing access to interviews in this survey were healthcare. A much higher c o m p l e t e d b e f o r e t h e percentage of reform proponents c o n t r o v e r s i a l " S t u p a k " than detractors (21% vs. 9%) do Submitted at 11/17/2009 8:00:00 PM
not indicate anything about the potential healthcare legislation that concerns them. Discussion The debate over new healthcare reform legislation has moved to the Senate, where lawmakers will continue to wrestle with what could become one of the most far -reaching pieces of domestic
legislation in decades. Americans remain split on the potential impact of such new legislation on the U.S. healthcare system and there is a generally even public divide between those who say they would advise or lean toward advising their representative in Congress to vote for a new healthcare bill and those who
would advise their representative to vote against it. The current findings help illuminate the specific concerns Americans would have if such a new bill is passed into law. Although House lawmakers put the word "affordable" in the title of their bill, Americans nevertheless remain worried about the cost implications of healthcare reform -- to them personally, to businesses, and to the government and system as a whole. Lawmakers are working on a new bill with the obvious conviction that it will improve the healthcare situation in the country, but many Americans appear to be worried about the possible negative effects of healthcare reform on their own situations, or simply are not clear what its impact will be. Some Americans, particularly those who oppose a new bill, remain worried about the burgeoning role of government in healthcare that would result from the passage of a new bill. And Americans who support a new bill are worried that it may not go far enough in expanding access to healthcare to those who currently don't have it. Sign up for Gallup e-mail alerts or RSS feeds Get Gallup news on Facebook and Twitter Survey Methods Results are based on telephone COSTS, page 75
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COSTS, continued from page 74
interviews with 1,008 national adults, aged 18 and older, conducted Nov. 5-8, 2009. 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. This content has passed through fivefilters.org.
Liquid Cooling Bags For Data Centers Could Trim Cost and Carbon By 90 Percent
Guess This Part Revealed: The Tank Bung By Vin Marshall (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now) Submitted at 11/18/2009 4:22:00 AM
Fun with pressure vessels This is a weld-on tank bung; a means of attaching pipe threads to a vessel. It is intended to be welded onto the wall of a tank or pressure vessel, providing solid pipe threads in a material typically too thin to be tapped for pipe threads. On some occasions I've used them for that purpose. On others, I've found that they make a great component in pneumatic cannons. More on this obscure part after the jump. There are several ways to put NPT (National Pipe Thread, which is a tapered, sealing thread used in plumbing; it is the US
standard for pipe threads) in a drum, tank, or pressure vessel. The obvious is, of course, to use or adapt any threads already provided on the vessel. Another is to drill and tap a pipe-threaded hole, although this only works if the wall of the vessel is
sufficiently thick to create enough threads; often it is not. A third is to use what's known as a through-wall fitting, which assembles around a hole drilled in the tank and does not require welding. These are rated for mild pressure and can be useful. And
finally, there is the item pictured, a weld-on tank bung. Assuming that you can weld an airtight seam, these are a great way to add threads to a tank or vessel. However, a strong note of caution applies: Do not even think about using these fittings unless you are a competent welder and versed in the risks of welding on pressure vessels. A pressure-vessel failure is not an event you want to be around. If you are building a pneumatic cannon, you can pick a suitably sized pipe and weld a tank bung into one end of the pipe to create the perfect firing chamber. All of the pressure vessel risks and warnings stated above apply as well as the new risks of exploding windows, police, etc...
By Clay Dillow (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now) Submitted at 11/17/2009 11:47:29 AM
Server farms are undeniably awesome in that they store huge pools of data, enable such modern phenomena as cloud computing and Web-hosted email, and most importantly, make the Internet as it stands today possible. The downside: data centers get very, very hot. Cooling huge banks of servers doesn't just cost a lot, it eats up a lot of energy, and that generally means fossil fuels. UK-based Iceotope hopes to cut those costs by about 93 percent by wrapping servers in liquid coolant. Iceotope works by wrapping individual components inside each server in a kind of ice-pack filled with synthetic coolant. The system also employs water to carry excess heat out of the data center, either releasing it into the atmosphere or channeling it to offices or other areas as a form of heating during cold weather. LIQUID page 76
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Robotic Surrogate Takes Your Place at Work By Clay Dillow (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now) Submitted at 11/17/2009 1:16:26 PM
Having one of those days where even a hearty bowl of Fruit Loops and Jack Daniels can't get you out of bed? A telepresence robot can come into the office for you, elevating telecommuting to a decidedly new level. The somewhat humanoid 'bots, produced by Mountain View, California-based Anybots, are controlled via video-game-like controls from your laptop, allowing you to be "present" without actually being in the office. The robots are equipped with a screen displaying your smiling
mug to your co-workers, as well as a camera that beams a feed straight to your computer screen. They're also mobile, so you can still drop by co-workers' offices unannounced, presumably to let them know that a robot will be filling in for you today. There are
a few variations that Anybots is toying with, including one with long arms and hands, and another with a laser pointer that, while useful for pointing things out in a physical environment, will prove slightly less cool than Johnny 5's shoulder-mounted laser cannon.
In all seriousness, Anybots plans to have a telepresence robot to market in the second half of next year. While it may seem to be little more than an expensive videoconferencing link (the product is expected to retail between $10,000 and $15,000), it could be a valuable tool in workplace environments where a more physical presence is handy, such as for U.S. businesses trying to keep an eye on manufacturing floors overseas. After all, you never know when a surrogate might come in handy. All right, all right. See QA operating from both sides of the link in the (real) videos below. [ Anybots via Technology Review]
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into less space without the need for large air cooling devices. Far from an independent assessment, we know, but a glance at the video below betrays no reason why the system shouldn't, at the very least, keep inefficient ambient air coolers working at low intensity. Not bad for a bag of anti-freeze. [ eWeek via SlashDot]
Submitted at 11/18/2009 6:33:47 AM
each other. That's why you keep getting fragged in Modern Warfare; until you become very familiar with the controls, your knee-jerk reactions aren't necessarily the ones programmed into the game. By making the robot respond to commands that the user already knows, they've created a sort of universal remote that anyone can pick up and start using. On that note, the team at Keio thinks their software could also be employed in controlling digital characters -- think on-
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increased efficiency. The ease of integration and added efficiency should make it easier for more data centers – from large data farms to small businesses running just a few server banks – to liquid-cool their operations. The end result: a huge savings in both carbon and cost. Iceotope estimates a standard 1000-server center spends $788,400 on cooling costs over three years, while an Iceotope-equipped data center can cut those expenses down to just $52,560. It should also cut down on the physical footprint of data centers as well, as more servers can be packed
By Clay Dillow (Popular Science - New Technology, Science News, The Future Now)
Adding a new wrinkle to the 'droid versus iPhone debate, a project at Keio University in Tokyo have created iPhone software specifically designed to control androids. More specifically, they've created an interface that puts control of a humanoid robot right at your fingertips. "Walky" takes advantage of an iPhone or iPod's touchscreen to create an intuitive interface that requires virtually no learning. Your fingers simulate the robot's legs: a walking motion using the index and middle fingers makes the robot walk, tapping the screen makes it jump up and down, and a flicking motion with one finger elicits a kicking motion. The idea is to make the robot's motion as intuitive as possible. Most controller commands, like joysticks, paddles and buttons, don't have any natural relation to
LIQUID Iceotope claims the system eliminates the need for chillers or CRAC units, as the water does all the work, carrying the heat away from where it can do damage. Though not the first attempt at liquid server cooling, Iceotope's approach is unique. Supercomputers designed by IBM use water to ferry waste heat away, and other liquidcooled cabinets cool the frame and rack assembly with liquid but air-cool the electronics. Iceotope's technology brings coolant to the very center of server cores, wrapping individual components in cooling packs for
iPhone Touchscreen Interface Puts Robot Control At Your Fingertips
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screen avatars in video games -- Company] but for now it's best suited to bipedal robots. While it won't be integrated into gadgets this holiday season, it will debut officially in December at SIGGRAPH Asia in Yokohama. [ DesignBoom via Fast
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