Internet News Record 31/08/09 - 01/09/09 LibertyNewsprint.com U.S.

Edition

Where former Attorney General Gonzales is now….

By Jeremy Pelofsky (Front enhanced interrogation techniques One final interesting tidbit from
Row Washington) authorized by the Bush Justice the interview is a rather stark
Submitted at 8/31/2009 2:25:56 PM Department — which are in the contrast between Gonzales and
spotlight now as the new Obama Vice President Dick Cheney over
Alberto Gonzales was probably administration is examining who is chief U.S. law
one of the most controversial U.S. whether they broke the law — enforcement officer.
attorneys general in history and Gonzales said it was natural that In a Fox News interview on
left in a swirl of controversy about such guidance is revised over Sunday, while discussing the
fired federal prosecutors and his time. Obama administration’s decision
role in authorizing harsh “What the lawyers tried to do to appoint a special prosecutor to
i n t e r r o g a t i o n o f t e r r o r i s m (during the Bush years) was to examine whether there was any
suspects. define, to give boundaries to what wrongdoing in the harsh
After keeping a relatively a low the statute allowed,” Gonzales interrogations, Cheney said the
profile since resigning in the s a i d . “ W h e n I w a s i n t h e president is the chief law
summer of 2007, he has now administration I encouraged enforcement officer in the
begun his stint as a visiting lawyers to continually look at our administration. But Gonzales said
professor at Texas Tech legal position and to get the attorney general holds that
University in Lubbock, where he comfortable if we were in fact on title and must fulfill that
will teach a course entitled solid ground. And if people obligation.
“Contemporary Issues in the wanted to continue to revise, I went at President George W. However, at the time, the deputy The Justice Department’s
Executive Branch” that will think that was the appropriate role Bush’s behest. attorney general, James Comey, website offers the historical
encompass crafting legislation for lawyers.” “The reason we went to General was in charge (and he was also support for Gonzales’ position,
and shepherding a Supreme Court As White House counsel, Ashcroft is because he is the one confirmed by the U.S. Senate) here.
nominee through the Senate Gonzales made a controversial who had been approving this while Ashcroft recovered from Click here for more Reuters
He sat down with Texas Lawyer visit to the hospital bed of then- program and these activities for a surgery. political coverage.
for one of the most wide-ranging Attorney General John Ashcroft number of years. And he had been Gonzales in the interview also - Photo credit: Reuters/Jonathan
interviews he has given since to push for approval of a secret the Senate-confirmed attorney again strenuously defended his Ernst
leaving office in which he offers surveillance program. Gonzales general, and as far as the president role in the firing of several federal
i n s i g h t s i n t o m a n y o f t h e said he would discuss the incident was concerned, that’s the person prosecutors and said he had been
controversies. in greater detail in his he wanted us to talk to,” Gonzales cleared of wrongdoing by the
On the issue of so-called forthcoming book but that he said. inspector general.
Police identify victims in Ga mobile home slayings (AP) The Grapes of Wrath revisited
(Yahoo! News: U.S. News) Eezy buzzed up: World's oldest 2 seconds ago 2009-09- By Chris McGreal, Glenn In the final instalment of our
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:58:00 AM dog dies in NY at 21 — or 147 01T07:09:48-07:00 Osten Anderson (World news series, Chris McGreal meets an
(AP) and comment from the original 'Okie' Chris McGreal
Guardian | guardian.co.uk) Glenn Osten Anderson
Submitted at 9/1/2009 7:17:40 AM
2 Politics/ Finance/ Internet News Record

Democrats seem certain to retain Kennedy’s Target to increase

Senate seat
By Thomas Ferraro (Front Row
Washington)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 1:52:43 PM
If history and emotion are any
indication, Democrats seem
certain to retain Edward
Kennedy’s Senate seat, which the
Massachusetts liberal held for
nearly a half century before
succumbing last week to brain
cancer.
Political analysts note that
Massachusetts has traditionally
voted Democratic, including in
last year’s U.S. presidential
election. The last time
Massachusetts elected a
Republican to the Senate was
1972 when it gave Edward
Brooke a second six-year term.
Analysts also point out that
Kennedy’s death created a tidal
wave of emotion, one that his
party will likely ride to victory in
a special election to replace him.
Massachusetts Governor Deval
Patrick announced on Monday
that the special election would be
held on Jan. 19 and he also made
a plug for one of Kennedy’s final
pleas — that state law be changed
to allow for the governor to
appoint an interim senator until a
special election is held.
If the governor is permitted to
name a temporary successor to
Kennedy, the new senator would
become the sixth appointed rather
than elected lawmaker in the 100-
member Senate.
If Democrats keep Kennedy’s
old seat, they would potentially
retain the 60 votes needed to clear
Republican procedural
roadblocks. But the Senate
Democratic caucus has already
split on a number of issues,
including Kennedy’s efforts to
provide all Americans health
insurance.
Nathan Gonzales, who tracks
Senate races for the nonpartisan
Rothenberg Political Report, said
he expects Democrats to prevail
in the special election.
Joseph Kennedy, 56, a former
member of the House of
Representatives and a nephew of
the late senator, is seen as a
leading potential contender.
“Joe Kennedy would be an early
favorite and would diminish the
field of competitors,” said
Gonzales. “He would give some
potential candidates pause who
would otherwise jump in.”
Jennifer Duffy, who tracks
Senate races for the nonpartisan
Cook Political Report, said she
puts the pending contest in
Massachusetts in the “solid-
Democratic column.”
“Joseph Kennedy would be an
early but not necessarily a
prohibitive favorite,” Duffy said.
She noted that during his House
stint from 1987 to 1999, Kennedy
was not seen as a congressional
heavyweight and could be
vulnerable.
Possible Democratic candidates
include Representatives Ed
Markey, Stephen Lynch, Mike
Capuano, William Delahunt and
former Representative Marty
Meehan. Potential Republican
contenders include Jeff Beatty,
who lost a 2008 Senate bid,
former Massachusetts Lieutenant
Governor Kerry Healey and
former Massachusetts U.S.
Attorney Michael Sullivan.
Gonzales said the Republican
most likely to be able to mount a
serious challenge has already said
he isn’t interested: former
Massachusetts Governor Mitt
Romney.
Click here for more Reuters
political coverage
Photo credit: Reuters/Adam
Hunger (Kennedy at rally for
Deval Patrick in 2006)
marketing spending for
the remainder of 2009
By Brian White
(BloggingStocks)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:30:00 AM
Filed under: Wal-Mart (WMT),
Marketing and advertising, Target
Corp. (TGT) Target Corp.(NYSE:
TGT) wants to up the game a bit
in the second half of 2009 as it
seeks to increase its marketing
and hopefully prop up sales. One
area of focus for its marketing
efforts for the remainder of 2009
will be on Target's in-store
pharmacies.
Target will increase marketing
as a percentage of sales for the
last four months of 2009, sating
that "For the year, our marketing
plan is right on, but we've saved
some money here in the front half
for the express purpose of being
able to invest it in the back half."
Continue reading Target to
increase marketing spending for
the remainder of 2009
Target to increase marketing
spending for the remainder of
2009 originally appeared on
BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Sep
2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see
our terms for use of feeds. Read|
Permalink| Email this| Comments

Ford's Fusion sees record sales for fifth consecutive month

By Brian White passenger car set a sales record Accord, it's impressive to see the breaking into one of the largest for fifth consecutive month
(BloggingStocks) for itself for the fifth consecutive Fusion doing so well. segments of the U.S. auto market, originally appeared on
Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:00:00 AM month in August. In addition, the The Fusion is all-new for the though, would be a huge plus for BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Sep
average selling prices have been 2010 model year, so it could the automaker. 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see
Filed under: Good news, Ford increasing. In the playing field continue selling well into the Continue reading Ford's Fusion our terms for use of feeds. Read|
Motor (F) Ford Motor Co.(NYSE: w i t h t h e T o y o t a M o t o r latter half of 2009 when the new sees record sales for fifth Permalink| Email this| Comments
F) continues to sell a ton of the Corp.(NYSE: TM) Camry and model arrives on dealer floors. consecutive month
Fusion mid-size sedans, as the Honda Motor Co.(NYSE: HMC) Anything Ford can do to continue Ford's Fusion sees record sales
Internet News Record Politics/ Gadgets/ 3

The First Draft: Blago’s new groove:

published author
By David Morgan (Front Row
Washington)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:42:20 AM

Ousted Illinois Governor Rod

Blagojevich, whose corruption
case put the national spotlight on
big male hair and crooked
Chicago politics, has reinvented
himself as the author of a book
that claims to offer insights into
White House Chief of Staff Rahm
Emanuel’s political ambitions.
Blagojevich, who faces
trial after allegedly trying to sell
President Barack Obama’s U.S.
Senate seat, says in the book,
“The Governor,” that Emanuel
asked him for help in reclaiming
his congressional seat after two
years with the Obama
administration, according to NBC
News.
Emanuel, who entered the U.S.
House of Representatives in 2002
as the Democratic representative
for the North Side of Chicao,
apparently hoped to regain his
seat in the 2010 congressional
elections.
NBC said an Emanuel
spokesman declined comment.
The Chicago Tribune’s account
of the new Blagojevich book says
the former governor blames
Video: The ins and outs of Windows Home Server Power
Pack 3 beta
By Matt Burns (CrunchGear)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:10:48 AM
Windows Home Server Power
Pack 3 beta has been out for just
over a month and it’s a welcomed
update. It adds a whole slew of
overzealous prosecutors and
political enemies for his
spectacular downfall.
He also says his guiding light in
selecting a new senator to replace
Obama was the question: “How
much do I love the people of
Illinois?”
He wound up
choosing Democrat Roland
Burris, the book says, because of
Burris’ famously big ego — no
one but him would accept the
appointment and fight to be seated
Windows 7 and Media Center
functions, along with fixing a ton
of little bugs. But if you’ve been
on the fence about installing the
beta release, check out this
extensive video tour by the Power
Pack 3 beta Program Manager, CJ
under the circumstances,
according to the Tribune.
After his arrest in December,
Blagojevich was impeached,
convicted by the Illinois Senate
and ousted from office. His
corruption trial is scheduled for
next year.
Click here for more Reuters
political coverage
Photo credit: Reuters/Frank
Polich (Blagojevich in April after
arraignment hearing)
Saretto. If you’re already rocking
the beta, you still may wanna
check out the video for some
undiscovered functions. [via
mswhs]
Obama tees up his
“staycation”
By Patricia Zengerle (Front colleague, the late Senator
Row Washington) Edward Kennedy.
Submitted at 8/31/2009 12:36:38 PM But the president appears to
be doing his best to relax. He
President Barack Obama is squeezed in four golf outings last
following up his busy week in week on the Massachusetts island,
Martha’s Vineyard with … and on Monday he headed out at
another holiday. But, like many l u n c h t i m e , b e g i n n i n g h i s
A m e r i c a n s i n t h i s t i m e o f “staycation” with another round
economic recession, he is taking a of golf, this time at a country club
“staycation” — time off without outside Washington.
leaving home. The first family heads to Camp
In Obama’s case, home is the David, the presidential retreat in
White House, and as president he Maryland, for part three of his
cannot truly leave his work break on Wednesday.
behind. His “break” on Martha’s Click here for more Reuters
V i n e y a r d w a s i n t e r r u p t e d political coverage.
repeatedly by breaking news, Photo credit: Reuters/Yuri
including his renomination of Ben Gripas (Obama family comes
Bernanke as chairman of the home from Martha’s Vineyard)
Federal Reserve and the death of
Obama’s friend and former
4 Politics/ Tech News/
Cheney touches a nerve at the White
House
By Steve Holland (Front Row
Washington)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 12:26:17 PM
Well there he goes again. Former
Vice President Dick Cheney has
got ‘em all riled up again at the
Obama White House over his Fox
News Sunday interview.
Cheney feels strongly that the
tough interrogation techniques
employed against terrorism
suspects by the Bush
administration worked, in spite of
the complaints about human
rights.
He went on Fox to sharply
criticize Attorney General Eric
Holder’s decision to launch an
investigation into the alleged
abuse of prisoners held by the
CIA during the Bush
administration.
Cheney cried foul at what he
called an “intensely partisan,
politicized look back at the prior
administration.”
So it came up at Monday’s
White House news briefing, and
Obama’s press secretary Robert
Gibbs was armed with a response.
“This is the same song and dance
we’ve heard since literally the
first day of our administration. So
I don’t have … a lot to say. I think
Why Disney Buying Marvel May Not Be a Bad
Thing
By John Madden (Wired Top
Stories)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:50:00 AM
Word that Disney would buy
Marvel Entertainment for $4
billion was met with nearly
universal horror in the geek
Internet News Record
8 years after 9/11, Flight 93
memorial moves forward
By Tabassum Zakaria (Front ground for a grateful nation,”
the vice president, if you watched predictions on foreign policy have
some of his interview, was clearly borne a whole lot of fruit over the Row Washington) Salazar said.
Submitted at 8/31/2009 2:48:46 PM “We have reached this important
— clearly had his facts on a last eight years in a way that have
number of things wrong,” Gibbs been either positive or, to the best milestone in properly honoring
Eight years after the Sept. 11 the courage and sacrifice of the
said. of my recollection, very correct,”
Like what, for instance? Gibbs said. attacks, the U.S. government and men and women who gave their
landowners in Somerset County lives that day,” he said. “The
Gibbs said Cheney’s assertion Click here for more Reuters
that the White House would be political coverage have reached an agreement that Flight 93 Memorial will soon
will allow the building of stand in their honor.”
making interrogation decisions for Photo credit: Reuters/Joshua
a high-value detainee Roberts (Cheney speaking about a memorial to the passengers and The National Park Service
crew of hijacked Flight signed agreements with eight
interrogation group at the FBI was national security at AEI in May),
wrong. Reuters/Kevin Lamarque (Gibbs 93 that crashed into the fields of landowners and expects
rural Pennsylvania. construction to begin after
“I would add this — I’m not making a point in February)
entirely sure that Dick Cheney’s Interior Secretary Ken Salazar groundbreaking in November
says the memorial will cost about with an eye to completing the
$20 million, which includes $9.5 memorial by Sept. 11, 2011.
million for the land. Photo Credit: Reuters/Jason
“The fields of western Cohn (Flight 93 temporary
world. Wired.com even quoted Pennsylvania, where the heroes of memorial)
one affected party as saying: Flight 93 perished, are hallowed
" H u l k m a d ! Andreessen Among Buyers of Skype: New York Times
HrrrraaaAAAARRRR!" I’ve been
thinking about this, and well — By John C Abell (Wired Top EBay plans to announce a deal to firm, the New York Times is
I’m an optimist. Stories) sell Skype to a group of private reporting.
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:11:00 AM investors which likely includes
Marc Andresseen’s boutique VC
Internet News Record Top News/ 5

Girl's alleged abductor had rape desire (AP)

(Yahoo! News: U.S. News) sweetheart, Christine Murphy, shed filled with pornography, sex described Garrido as tall, thin and himself as "very happily" married
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:04:02 AM said he went into a jealous rage toys and a mattress. "unkempt." at the time. "She is beautiful," he
once when he saw a man flirting "He roughed me up, but I pretty Gerow said Garrido was the said of his wife.
SAN FRANCISCO – The man with her. much blocked out all the rape," second of two siblings, reported He said he started using
accused of abducting and sexually "He took a safety pin and went she told ABC. emotional conflict with his marijuana and LSD within a
abusing Jaycee Lee Dugard after my eyes," Christine Murphy The Associated Press does not parents in his formative years, and month of high school graduation
t e s t i f i e d d u r i n g a p r e v i o u s told " Inside Edition." "He left a usually identify victims of rape, later worked on and off as a and that he was arrested in 1969
kidnapping and rape case that he scar on my face." but Hall has given public musician and increasingly abused for drug use. He said he also used
prowled through residential In the kidnapping trial from interviews allowing herself to be drugs, including LSD. He was cocaine and other "uppers and
neighborhoods as a Peeping Tom more than three decades ago, identified. married at the time to a casino downers."
and fantasized about raping Garrido admitted to abducting and She told the jury that she asked dealer. He said he did not believe he
women. raping the woman he was accused Garrido why she was chosen, and "He was preoccupied with the was harming his victim, even
During his 1977 kidnapping of kidnapping, saying: "I have had he responded: "It just happened idea of sex and admitted to a though he handcuffed her, bound
trial, Phillip Garrido also said he this fantasy, and this sexual thing that you happened to be attractive, history of several sexual her and taped her mouth shut
leered at girls as young as seven that has overcome me." and that is a fault in this case in disorders," the doctor said, adding before raping her.
and 10, and he admitted to He testified that he did not think your case, you know, at this that he believed Garrido suffered "I don't go breaking into people's
exposing himself to some of them. what he did was wrong. time." from "a mixed sexual deviation houses," he said. "I don't go to
He testified that LSD and "I had this fantasy that was The prosecutor, outside the and chronic drug abuse." hurt anybody."
c o c a i n e a c t e d a s s e x u a l driving me to do this, inside of presence of the jury, told the court "The latter may be responsible in He said he was working with a
stimulants, and that he frequently me; something that was making that Garrido was suspected of part for the former," he said. minister in jail "getting close to
masturbated and often in public me want to do it without no way attempting to kidnap another In a neurological report on Jan. God." He told his own attorney
places including the "side of to stop it," he said. woman an hour before he 6, 1977, Dr. Albert F. Peterman that before finding God, "I
schools, grammar schools and The victim testified that Garrido succeeded. That woman escaped, found no hard evidence of brain couldn't feel shame," for the rape.
high schools, in my own car while also discussed his sexual fantasies according to the prosecutor. damage. "I didn't even realize the reality of
I was watching young females." while driving her to the storage Garrido served 10 years in a "LSD made him quite shame for what I was doing."
The portrait of the 58-year-old area, where he assaulted her for federal prison in Leavenworth, aggressive, which he realizes," the He talked briefly about his
G a r r i d o c o m e s f r o m t r i a l more than five hours until a police Kan., before being granted parole. doctor noted. "He had used LSD upbringing, testifying that his
transcripts and a psychiatric report officer knocked on the unit's door He then served seven months for prior to his alleged offense, but parents never beat him and
from unrelated case files made after becoming suspicious of the the rape conviction in a Nevada remembers the details of the stopped disciplining him after he
public Monday, as well as TV victim's car parked nearby. prison before being granted an abduction and sexual activity turned 10.
interviews broadcast Tuesday. In She said she was taking dinner early release in August 1988. Less quite well." "My father never did take any
that case, Garrido was convicted to her boyfriend's house when than three years later, he allegedly The doctor said Garrido had restrictions of beating me or
in Reno, Nev., of kidnapping a Garrido tapped on her window as kidnapped Dugard in 1991 when appropriate concern about his disciplining me, and my mother
stranger. He later admitted to she was pulling out of a food she was 11. criminal case. "He states that he is spoiled me," he said.
raping her in a rented storage unit market and told her his car broke He was returned to prison in looking forward to going to court, Hall, Garrido's former victim,
described by investigators as a down. He asked for a ride and April 1993 for an undisclosed and has found religion and feels told ABC that with Garrido
"sex palace" with items for attacked her shortly afterward, parole violation and was released his life will change for the better." behind bars again, she can live her
playing out his sexual fantasies. handcuffing and binding her again four months later. Shortly before Garrido took the life without fear.
Garrido and his wife Nancy are before driving her to his Reno The court documents come from witness stand in his trial, the Her advice in Dugard's case:
being held in El Dorado County storage unit. his testimony on Feb. 10, 1977, prosecutor told the judge, "We "Let her cry, let her talk. It's going
on charges that they kidnapped "He slammed my head into the after a judge turned down his think by pointing to and to be a long road."
and raped Dugard, then held her steering wheel. He grabbed my attorney's bid to declare him questioning the defendant about ___
captive at their Antioch home for keys and threw them onto the insane because of his heavy drug prior specific acts prior to this Associated Press Writer Scott
the past 18 years even as parole floor," Katie Callaway Hall said use. incident, we can show he is Sonner contributed to this story
officers and police occassionally o n A B C ' s " G o o d M o r n i n g Dr. Lynn Gerow, a court- following a pattern of attempting from Reno.
turned up at his house. America Tuesday. appointed psychiatrist examined to kidnap and attempting to, and
Other women have reported Hall said Garrido handcuffed him in December 1976 and found raping, other women." He did not
violent attacks in the past. her, tied her head to her knees and him competent to stand trial. His elaborate.
Garrido's ex-wife and high school took her to a warehouse storage three-page report to the judge Garrido was 25 and described
6 Top News/ Tech News/
Fire near Los Angeles grows in size (AP)
(Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:46:29 AM
LOS ANGELES – A relentless
Southern California wildfire raged
Tuesday with 53 homes up in
smoke, thousands more threatened
and new rounds of evacuations as
towering flames crackled close to
foothill neighborhoods in the path
of the blaze.
Flames plowed through half-
century-old thickets of tinder-dry
brush, bush and trees just 15 miles
north of downtown Los Angeles.
Firefighters awaited daybreak to
learn the new extent of the 6-day-
old fire, which is now expected to
burn for weeks.
The size of fire in the Angeles
National Forest grew to more than
190 square miles overnight, U.S.
Forest Service Cmdr. Mike
Dietrich said.
It was spreading in all directions
early Tuesday, from Sunland on
the western front of the fire to the
high desert ranchlands of Acton
on the northeast.
"Pretty much everywhere, right
now, is the hot spot," forest
spokesman Shane Rollman said.
Firefighters planned to set
backfires to protect the Sunland
area and will try to halt its
northeastern spread with
bulldozers to carve eight miles of
firebreak in the Acton area,
Rollman said.
Firefighters were keeping a
close eye on the weather.
Hurricane Jimena roared toward
Baja California, but was not
forecast to have much of a factor
in firefighting efforts because it is
expected to dissipate by the time
Wired's Favorite Sci-Fi Films of All Time
By John Scott Lewinski (Wired
Top Stories)
it hits Southern California.
Meteorologist Curt Kaplan says
there is a 20 percent chance of a
thunderstorm in the fire area
Tuesday, but that could end up
being a bad thing because the
storm could spawn 40-mph wind
gusts. The one factor that's helped
firefighters this week has been the
lack of wind to drive the flames.
Kaplan says temperatures will
begin slowly cooling later in the
week.
The blaze threatened some
12,000 homes but had already
done its worst to the suburban
Tujunga Canyon neighborhood,
where residents returned to their
wrecked homes.
Bert Voorhees and his son on
Monday fetched several cases of
wine from the brackish water of
their backyard swimming pool,
about all he salvaged from his
home.
"You're going to be living in a
lunar landscape for at least a
couple of years, and these trees
might not come back," the 53-
year-old Voorhees said. "Are
enough of our neighbors going to
rebuild?"
About 2,000 people were chased
from their homes in triple-digit
heat as fire bosses said it could
take weeks to contain the fire.
Fire spokesman Paul Lowenthal
said Tuesday that the blaze is
expected to be fully surrounded
Sept. 15. Only 5 percent of the
fire, the largest of several
California wildfires, was
contained so far.
Some people wouldn't leave.
Authorities said five men and one
woman refused several orders to
They're not necessarily the best
science fiction films ever made
evacuate a remote ranch in a
canyon near Gold Creek. The Los
Angeles County sheriff's office
had initially said the people were
trapped and could not be rescued.
"When we tried to get them out,
they said they're fine, no problem,
they didn't want to leave," said
fire spokesman Larry Marinas.
Crews fighting the blaze also
were contending with favorable
fire conditions such as high
temperatures topping 100 degrees
and low humidity. Temperatures
near the fire were expected to hit
102 degrees Tuesday, the
National Weather Service said.
The swath of fire extends from
the densely populated foothill
communities of Altadena, La
Canada Flintridge, La Crescenta,
Tujunga and Sunland in the south
to Acton.
Beth Halaas knew her creekside
home in Big Tujunga Canyon was
gone when she saw her favorite
Norwegian dishware on television
news. But she was desperate to
see for herself and cajoled fire
officials to escort her through
barricaded roads.
"It's just stuff," she murmured,
as her 5-year-old son Robert
kicked at a deflated soccer ball in
his sandbox. She raked ceramic
cups from the ashes.
Two firefighters Capt.
Tedmund Hall, 47, of San
Bernardino and firefighter
Specialist Arnaldo "Arnie"
Quinones, 35, of Palmdale were
killed when their vehicle
plummeted off a mountain road
on Sunday. Quinones' wife is
expecting a child any week, and
Hall has a wife and two adult
(although some are), but these are
our favorites. Have a look and
children.
The 53 homes destroyed
included some forest cabins, said
U.S. Forest Service spokesman
Dennis Cross. He did not know
how many were full-time
residences.
Fire crews set backfires and
sprayed fire retardant at Mount
Wilson, home to at least 20
television transmission towers,
radio and cell phone antennas, and
the century-old Mount Wilson
Observatory. It also houses two
giant telescopes and several
multimillion-dollar university
programs in its role as both a
landmark for its historic
discoveries and a thriving modern
center for astronomy.
If the flames hit the mountain,
some cell phone service and TV
and radio transmissions would be
disrupted.
T.J. Lynch and his wife,
Maggie, were among residents
who evacuated late Monday after
the eerie orange glow on the
horizon turned into flames
cresting the hill near their
Tujunga home.
"It's pretty surreal, pretty
humbling, how your life is
represented in these objects that
you collect and then you have to
whittle them down," he said,
describing the difficulty of
choosing what to bring with them.
He said his wife would miss the
1965 Mustang that she has owned
since she was a teenager. He
would miss the antiques that
decorate their home.
"It's a beautiful place is? Was? I
don't know anymore," he said of
their home.
chime in with your own picks.
Internet News Record
The blaze in the Los Angeles
foothills was the biggest but not
most destructive of California's
wildfires. Northeast of
Sacramento, a wind-driven fire
destroyed 60 structures over the
weekend, many of them homes in
the town of Auburn.
The 340-acre blaze wiped out an
entire cul-de-sac, leaving only
smoldering ruins, a handful of
chimneys and burned cars.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger
on Monday toured the Auburn
area, where only charred remnants
of some homes remained. At
some houses, the only things left
on the foundation are metal
cabinets and washers and dryers.
East of Los Angeles, a 1,000-
acre fire damaged one home,
threatened 2,000 others and
forced the evacuation of a scenic
community of apple orchards in
an oak-studded area of San
Bernardino County. Brush in the
area had not burned for a century,
fire officials said. Flames burning
like huge candles erupted between
rocky slopes of the San
Bernardino Mountains and the
neat farmhouses below. A few
miles away, a 300-acre wildfire
that erupted on the edge of
Yucaipa forced the evacuation of
200 homes.
___
Associated Press Writers John
Antczak, Daisy Nguyen and
Solvej Schou in Los Angeles and
Samantha Young in Auburn
contributed to this report.
Internet News Record
Swine flu: 10 things you need to know (AP)
(Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:15:51 AM
ATLANTA – Since it first
emerged in April, the global
swine flu epidemic has sickened
more than 1 million Americans
and killed about 500. It's also
spread around the world, infecting
tens of thousands and killing
nearly 2,000.
This summer, the virus has been
surprisingly tenacious in the U.S.,
refusing to fade away as flu
viruses usually do. And health
officials predict a surge of cases
this fall, perhaps very soon as
schools reopen.
A White House report from an
expert panel suggests that from 30
percent to half the population
could catch swine flu during the
course of this pandemic and that
from 30,000 to 90,000 could die.
So how worried should you be
and how do you prepare? The
Associated Press has tried to boil
down the mass of information into
10 things you should know to be
flu-savvy.
1. No cause for panic.
So far, swine flu isn't much
more threatening than regular
seasonal flu.
During the few months of this
new flu's existence,
hospitalizations and deaths from it
seem to be lower than the average
seen for seasonal flu, and the
virus hasn't dramatically mutated.
That's what health officials have
observed in the Southern
Hemisphere where flu season is
now winding down.
Still, more people are
susceptible to swine flu and U.S.
health officials are worried
because it hung in so firmly here
during the summer a time of year
the flu usually goes away.
2. Virus tougher on some.
Swine flu is more of a threat to
certain groups children under 2,
pregnant women, people with
health problems like asthma,
diabetes and heart disease. Teens
and young adults are also more
vulnerable to swine flu.
Ordinary, seasonal flu hits older
people the hardest, but not swine
flu. Scientists think older people
may have some immunity from
exposure years earlier to viruses
similar to swine flu.
3. Wash your hands often and
long.
Like seasonal flu, swine flu
spreads through the coughs and
sneezes of people who are sick.
Emphasize to children that they
should wash with soap and water
long enough to finish singing the
alphabet song, "Now I know my
ABC's..." Also use alcohol-based
hand sanitizers.
4. Get the kids vaccinated.
These groups should be first in
line for swine flu shots, especially
if vaccine supplies are limited
people 6 months to 24 years old,
pregnant women, health care
workers.
Also a priority: Parents and
caregivers of infants, people with
those high-risk medical conditions
previously noted.
5. Get your shots early.
Millions of swine flu shots
should be available by October. If
you are in one of the priority
groups, try to get your shot as
early as possible.
Check with your doctor or local
or state health department about
where to do this. Many children
should be able to get vaccinated at
school. Permission forms will be
sent home in advance.
6. Immunity takes awhile.
Even those first in line for shots
won't have immunity until around
Thanksgiving.
That's because it's likely to take
two shots, given three weeks
apart, to provide protection. And
it takes a week or two after the
last shot for the vaccine to take
full effect.
The regular seasonal flu shot
should be widely available in
September. People over 50 are
urged to be among the first to get
that shot.
7. Vaccines are being tested.
Health officials presume the
swine flu vaccine is safe and
effective, but they're testing it to
make sure.
The federal government has
begun studies in eight cities
across the country to assess its
effectiveness and figure out the
best dose. Vaccine makers are
doing their own tests as well.
8. Help! Surrounded by swine
flu.
If an outbreak of swine flu hits
your area before you're
vaccinated, be extra cautious.
Stay away from public
gathering places like malls, sports
events and churches. Try to keep
your distance from people in
general. Keep washing those
hands and keep your hands away
from your eyes, nose and mouth.
9. What if you get sick?
If you have other health
problems or are pregnant and
develop flu-like symptoms, call
your doctor right away. You may
Top News/ Finance/
be prescribed Tamiflu or Relenza.
These drugs can reduce the
severity of swine flu if taken right
after symptoms start.
If you develop breathing
problems(rapid breathing for
kids), pain in your chest, constant
vomiting or a fever that keeps
rising, go to an emergency room.
Most people, though, should
just stay home and rest. Cough
into your elbow or shoulder. Stay
home for at least 24 hours after
your fever breaks. Fluids and pain
relievers like Tylenol can help
with achiness and fever. Always
check with a doctor before giving
children any medicines. Adult
cold and flu remedies are not for
them.
10. No swine flu from barbecue.
You can't catch swine flu from
pork or poultry either (even
though it recently turned up in
turkeys in Chile). Swine flu is not
spread by handling meat, whether
it's raw or cooked.
Source: U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention,
New York City Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene.
___
On the Net:
CDC swine flu basics:
http://www.cdc.gov/H1N1flu/qa.h
tm
New York City Department of
Health and Mental Hygiene's
FAQ's:
http://www.nyc.gov/html/doh/do
wnloads/pdf/cd/h1n1(underscore)f
lu(underscore)basic(underscore)fa
q.pdf
7
Research in Motion
Limited and Motorola
receive upgrades
By Mark Fightmaster
(BloggingStocks)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 10:10:00 AM
Filed under: Analyst upgrades
and downgrades, Motorola
(MOT), Research in Motion
(RIMM), Alcatel-LucentADS
(ALU), QUALCOMM Inc
(QCOM) Bright and early
Tuesday morning, Credit Suisse
issued upgrades to
Motorola(NYSE: MOT) and
Research in Motion
Limited(NASDAQ: RIMM),
lifting both of them from Neutral
to Outperform. The brokerage
cited a recovery at MOT's mobile-
phone division along with
growing demand for RIMM's
BlackBerry as reasons for the
upgrades. In addition, Credit
Suisse elevated the price targets
on both, upping MOT to $9.50
from $7 and RIMM to $95 from
$76.
Credit Suisse did not stop there,
issuing downgrades to MOT and
RIMM competitors
QUALCOMM(NASDAQ:
QCOM) and Alcatel-
Lucent(NYSE: ALU) from
Outperform to Neutral.
Continue reading Research in
Motion Limited and Motorola
receive upgrades
Research in Motion Limited and
Motorola receive upgrades
originally appeared on
BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Sep
2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see
our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Comments
8 Top News/ Finance/ Gadgets/
US agriculture interests split over energy bill (AP)
(Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:28:51 AM
OMAHA, Neb. – Legislation to
confront climate change could be
an economic godsend to farmers
and ranchers. Or it could be an
enormous financial burden.
It depends on whom you ask,
and not even farmers and ranchers
agree on the matter.
Those who are against the bill
say it would lead to skyrocketing
fuel and fertilizer costs, cutting
into farmers' and ranchers' already
unpredictable profits. Those who
support it contend any losses
would be more than made up for
through a provision that would
allow companies to meet their
pollution targets by investing in
offset projects, such as farms that
capture methane or plant trees.
The legislation would cap
emissions from major industrial
sources, including power plants,
factories, refineries and electricity
and natural gas distributors.
Emissions from agriculture would
be excluded.
A U.S. Department of
Agriculture report concluded that
if the proposal passed, farmers
and others in agriculture could see
an initial 1 percent to 7.2 percent
loss in income due to increased
costs in energy and, therefore,
fertilizer which requires a great
deal of energy to be produced.
Those losses would be far
How Many Solar Panels Would It Take to Power The Entire World? [Data]
By Jesus Diaz (Gizmodo)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:40:00 AM
After seeing how many nukes
would it take to obliterate
humanity instantly, I wanted some
outweighed by the tens of billions
of dollars farmers are expected to
rake in for projects to reduce
greenhouse gases in years to
come, the report said.
But Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Neb.,
said the report is incomplete and
believes the USDA rushed the
study to address senators'
concerns after the House passed
its bill in June. The Senate is
expected to vote this fall.
"We still have a question about
how is this going to impact
livestock, corn, soybeans and
wheat in our state," said Johanns,
who was agriculture secretary
from 2005-2007 under President
George W. Bush. "This makes no
sense to me whatsoever. Why
would the leadership of the House
... put a bill out when they hadn't
had analysis on the ag sector?
That not only impacts farmers and
ranchers, it impacts consumers."
However, the National Farmers
Union backs the legislation,
provided the USDA administer
the agriculture offset program and
that those already practicing
carbon-reducing techniques be
rewarded for their efforts.
"These guys that are screaming
that it's going to drive costs
through the roof ... all of the
credible economic research that's
been done really disproves that,"
said National Farmers Union
president Roger Johnson.
He also said that energy costs
good news. Like, how many solar
panels would it take to power the
entire world? The entire surface
of Africa, maybe? Actually, it's
surprisingly less. That's less than the surface of
Just 496,905 square kilometers.
could soar even without the
legislation and noted that global
warming could wreak havoc on
the food supply.
"All of the climate change
research says we're going to see
more flooding, we're going to see
more droughts, we're going to see
higher temperatures, we're going
to see more pests, we're going to
see more diseases," he said. "All
of these things are going to
require significant adaptation cost
increases for agriculture."
Other farm groups share
Johanns' view on the legislation,
as do a number of farm-state
lawmakers in Iowa, Kansas,
Missouri and South Dakota.
Leaders in Southern energy-
producing states, such as Virginia,
West Virginia and Kentucky, also
have voiced concern that their
coal and natural gas industries
will be hurt.
The American Farm Bureau
Federation has denounced the
legislation as an energy tax in
disguise, saying energy costs
alone could spike well beyond the
20 percent estimated by the
federal government.
Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., said
the USDA report grossly
underestimated the increases in
natural gas and fertilizer costs
likely to be sparked by the climate
legislation.
"This bill puts a chokehold on
the local economy," Roberts said.
"Bottom line ... this bill is a wet
dog that is not welcome in any
farm or ranch house."
Don't tell that to Conde, S.D.,
cattle producer and grain farmer
Doug Sombke, who has been
employing environmentally
friendly techniques like no-till
planting for more than a decade
on his 2,500-acre operation.
"People are so afraid of this
energy cost thing; that just amazes
me," Sombke said. "In the last
two years, we've still seen energy
costs go up, and not just the 15 or
20 percent like they're predicting.
We've seen it go up 200 percent.
"We survived that; we'll survive
this small increase."
On the other side of the debate
is Sallie Adkins, who owns a
15,000-acre ranch with her
husband near Halsey in the
Nebraska Sandhills.
"I just think the major concern in
agriculture today is how we can
keep our cost of production
affordable to stay in business and
still be competitive with other
markets," she said.
___
On the Net:
National Farmers Union:
http://nfu.org/
American Farm Bureau
Federation: http://www.fb.org/
U.S. Department of Agriculture:
http://www.usda.gov/wps/portal/u
sdahome
Spain (504,030 square kilometers) BloggingStocks on Tue, 01 Sep
c o v e r e d w i t h s o l a r p a n e l s , 2009 08:30:00 EST. Please see
distributed across deserts and our terms for use of feeds. Read|
areas with almost 24/7 sun, all Permalink| Email this| Comments
year around.
Internet News Record
Does the Disney/Marvel
deal mean that CEO
Bob Iger is out of ideas?
By Steven Mallas
(BloggingStocks)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 8:30:00 AM
Filed under: Deals, Walt Disney
(DIS), News Corp'B' (NWS),
Electronic Arts (ERTS), Media
World, Marvel Entertainment
(MVL), Lions Gate Entertainment
(LGF)
Monday, August 31, 2009, will
go down as one strange trading
day. Disney(NYSE: DIS) buys
Marvel(NYSE: MVL).
BloggingStocks reported the
details of the deal here.
As a long-time shareholder of
Disney, I have to ask: Does CEO
Bob Iger know what the heck he's
doing anymore? I thought the
news was quite surreal. I suppose
we all knew that Marvel would be
a takeover target someday but,
honestly, I thought some other
media conglomerate, like maybe
News Corp. (NASDAQ: NWS),
would do a deal before the Mouse
would.
Continue reading Does the
Disney/Marvel deal mean that
CEO Bob Iger is out of ideas?
Does the Disney/Marvel deal
mean that CEO Bob Iger is out of
ideas? originally appeared on
Internet News Record Top News/ Finance/ Economy/ 9

Russia's Putin dodges WWII criticism ... - Reuters Annals of Pay

(Most Popular - Google News)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:03:01 AM
* Russia, Poland to look into made by all sides," Putin told a
darker parts of shared past
* At odds over Stalin's role
* "Huge number of mistakes by
understand it does not have just
one colour. It was diverse and a
huge number of mistakes were
news conference after talks with
Tusk in the resort of Sopot.
"And all these actions created
blamed the deaths on the Nazis,
but after the fall of the Soviet
Union it acknowledged they had
been shot on Stalin's orders.
At a ceremony held before dawn
on Tuesday at Westerplatte on the
Baltic coast, where the Germans
Prime Minister Putin's declaration
means that for Russia, seeking the
truth about those events is not a
humiliation but a thought-out,
wise strategy to reach an
understanding for the future, then
we are happy," he said.
Transparency,
BofA Edition
(Financial Sector and Stocks
Analysis from Seeking Alpha)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:46:19 AM

all sides" - Putin the conditions for the large scale fired the first shots against Poland Poles and other east Europeans
(Recasts with news conference, aggression by Nazi Germany." on Sept. 1, 1939, Polish President are keenly awaiting Putin's speech Bank of America is negotiating
changes dateline; pvs GDANSK) Russians are deeply proud of Lech Kaczynski compared Katyn on the war later in the day, though with Treasury (ie taxpayers): It
By Gabriela Baczynska and their country's victory over Hitler to the Nazi genocide against the Moscow has made clear he will wants to pay a few hundred
Denis Dyomkin in 1945, but Poles, Balts and Jews. not apologise for Stalin's actions million dollars to get out from
SOPOT, Poland, Sept 1 others say Stalin also bears direct "There's one thing linking those of 70 years ago. under the most intense
( R e u t e r s ) - R u s s i a n P r i m e responsibility for the outbreak of crimes, though their scale was German Chancellor Angela government oversight, and it
Minister Vladimir Putin rebuffed war, for carving up Poland with different. Jews perished because Merkel, the prime ministers of wants to set a new pay scheme,
criticism on Tuesday of Moscow's Hitler and also annexing the they were Jews. Polish officers Italy and France and Britain's involving something called
role just before World War Two Baltic states. perished because they were Polish foreign secretary were among the “phantom stock units”, at the
during ceremonies marking the Putin cited efforts by Britain officers," he said. guests attending Tuesday's same time. Naturally, it’s happy
7 0 t h a n n i v e r s a r y o f N a z i and France to appease Hitler in Tusk's centre-right government commemorative events in Poland. to share with taxpayers (and its
Germany's invasion of Poland. 1938, resulting in their acceptance is keen to improve ties with Poland lost about a fifth of its own shareholders) all the details
But Putin and Polish Prime o f t h e d e s t r u c t i o n o f Russia, an important trade partner population, including the vast of this scheme. Not.
Minister Donald Tusk agreed that Czechoslovakia, as well as which provides nearly all of majority of its three million A bank spokesman declined to
their countries' historians should Poland's own seizure of a strip of Poland's oil and almost half of its Jewish citizens, as well as a fifth discuss details of the pay package
work more closely to uncover Czech territory shortly before it natural gas. of its territory during World War but said “it is important to see the
darker parts of their shared past too faced German invasion. Tusk said he hoped Poland Two. After the war, it remained package in its entirety to
which still cloud relations 20 Putin and Tusk agreed to set up would agree a contract with under Soviet domination until understand the total thrust of what
years after the collapse of joint teams of historians to study Russia's Gazprom on new 1989. we are doing.”
communism in eastern Europe. the murder of Polish officers in a supplies of gas early this autumn. Some 27 million Soviet citizens This kind of arrogance is
Russia and former satellites forest at Katyn in the western He also reiterated Poland's perished in the war after Hitler endemic to big banks, and
such as Poland are at loggerheads Soviet Union in 1940 -- an event opposition to the Nord Stream reneged on his pact with Stalin unfortunately Treasury seems to
over the role of Soviet dictator which for Poles symbolises what project, which would transport and invaded the Soviet Union in have no problem with it. As ever,
Josef Stalin in 1939, when he they see as Stalin's treachery and Russian gas via the Baltic Sea to 1941. (Writing by Gareth Jones; the people who ultimately pay for
clinched a non-aggression pact cruelty. Germany. Editing by Charles Dick) these things — shareholders and
with Nazi Germany that opened APOLOGY SOUGHT On history, Tusk trod cautiously © Thomson Reuters 2009 All taxpayers — are left out in the
the way for the invasion of Poland Poland wants Russia to but firmly, stressing the need for rights reserved cold, while Important Men in
and world war. apologise for Stalin's decision to honesty in facing up the past. Suits work everything out behind
"If we are going to speak have the entire Polish officer "The truth can be painful but it closed doors. Depressing.
objectively about history we must corps shot. For decades, Moscow should not humiliate anybody... If

eBay may be selling Skype -- can it get what it wants?

By Tom Johansmeyer Internet auction company said to be a likely participant in a can it get what it wants? originally
(BloggingStocks) eBay(NASDAQ: EBAY) owns transaction. Index Ventures of appeared on BloggingStocks on
Submitted at 9/1/2009 8:00:00 AM Skype now but is said to be London and Silver Lake Partners Tue, 01 Sep 2009 08:00:00 EST.
selling the online telephony are also rumored to be involved. Please see our terms for use of
Filed under: Deals, Rumors, provider to private investors. Continue reading eBay may be feeds. Read| Permalink| Email
eBay (EBAY) Andreessen Horowitz, a selling Skype -- can it get what it this| Comments
It looks like Skype is going to recently formed venture capital Marc Andreessen at the helm, is wants?
wind up with a new owner. fund with Netscape co-founder eBay may be selling Skype --
10 Top News/ Gadgets/ Tech News/
Fritzl Case Offers Hope, Warning for ... - ABC
News
(Most Popular - Google News)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:32:44 AM
The tragic abduction,
imprisonment and rape of Jaycee
Dugard is strikingly similar to the
ordeal suffered by Elisabeth
Fritzl, an Austrian woman who
was confined to her own
basement for 24 years while
bearing seven children with her
father.
The rescue of Fritzl in April
2008 and the subsequent therapy
for her and her children provides
hope and warnings for the future
of Jaycee Dugard and the two
children she bore as a result of
being raped by her captor, Phillip
Garrido.
Fritzl, now 43, and Dugard, 29,
endured similar hells, largely cut
off from the rest of the world,
living in squalid conditions, and
their children growing up without
any schooling or contact with
doctors.
While Dugard was confined to a
backyard slum of sheds and tents,
Fritzl lived in a basement, a
windowless dungeon that was
without any natural light or even
hot water.
Medical experts have gone to
enormous lengths to protect
Elisabeth Fritzl and integrate her
and her children back into society.
Vudu Instant 1080p Streaming Goes Live On Connected LG TVs [VoD]
By John Herrman (Gizmodo)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:13:11 AM
Check your sets, LG people: the
Sept. 1, 1902: Earliest Science-Fiction Flick Sticks It to the Moon
By John Scott Lewinski (Wired
Top Stories)
It has not been easy and it has not
been without setbacks.
Thanks to the intensive
psychological care she was given
since her release, Elisabeth Fritzl
seems to have made a remarkable
recovery from her unspeakable
ordeal.
Of the seven babies that
Elisabeth Fritzl gave birth to, one
died only three days after he was
born and three of her children
were allowed to live upstairs with
her father Josef Fritzl and his wife
Rosemarie as "foundlings."
Three other children were
forced to live with their mother in
the basement prison and grow up
in complete isolatation. Their only
knowledge of the outside world
was brought to them by a TV,
which Josef Fritzl eventually
allowed them to have.
Immediately after her rescue,
Elisabeth was reunited with all of
her children and taken into the
care of the neuropsychiatric clinic
in Amstetten.
The family was completely
shielded from the public and the
media for their own well-being
and security.
They were given their own,
private living quarters separate
from other patients at the clinic,
where they were treated by a team
of medical doctors and
Vudu widget, which lets you buy
Georges Méliès’ A Trip to the
Moon debuts. It's the earliest-
psychiatrists, counseling them on
how to come to terms with their
unimaginable ordeal.
Dr. Berthold Kepplinger,
director at the clinic, has become
so protective that he declilned to
discuss the Fritzl case with
ABCNews this week. The
therapist had told ABC News last
year that despite decades of abuse,
Elisabeth Fritzl and her childlren
had a smooth reunion at
Amstetten and were doing well
under the circumstances.
"The family members were
enjoying talking to each other, the
family was undergoing a kind of
bonding phase. It was an
important step in the healing
process," he said in the days after
their relese from their dungeon.
"Mom (Elisabeth) and Grandma
(Rosemarie) fixed breakfast for
the children, trying to bring some
normalcy into their life and the
children were making their own
beds. It was truly remarkable to
see them bonding and growing
together."
Hospital staff reportedly had
built a windowless chamber for
the children, so they had a place
to retreat to when coping with
their new life became too much
for them.
Kepplinger also said last year
that "it was fascinating to see how
1080p films for instant streaming
known science-fiction film.
Internet News Record
a few days of fresh air, daylight
and good food were already
making them feel better."
He declined, however, to
provide any details about
Elisabeth's mental condition. He Bugbase WiFi module
would only say, "It was definitely
a dreadful ordeal for her and for threatened by large
her children." yellow antenna at FCC
Austrian newspapers, however,
revealed that Elisabeth and her By Tim Stevens (Engadget)
children were more traumatized Submitted at 9/1/2009 8:56:00 AM
than initially thought.
The family remained under When the Hiro P BUGbase from
Bug Labs shipped last year it did
psychiatric care at the clinic for a
few months before they were so without 802.11, leaving this
given a new identity and moved to piece of homebrewers hardware
sadly disconnected from the
a villa at a secret location, which
authorities had set up for them. groovy microwaves all around it.
A few months later, in July That looks set to change in the
2008, it emerged that Rosemarie very near future with the FCC
testing of the BUGwifi module,
Fritzl was ordered out of the villa
by Elisabeth, who could not cope an add-on announced way back in
with "the issue of her mother's January then never heard from
passiveness during Elisabeth's again. There's still no word on
upbringing, when her father when we might expect this stubby
abused her for the first time whenopen wundermodule to start
she was only 11 years old," hosting wireless Guitar Quake
according to Austrian media deathmetalmatches, but things
outlet Osterreich 24. usually don't take long once the
Rosemarie now lives in a small FCC has done its deed.
apartment on her own, but Continue reading Bugbase WiFi
module threatened by large
Elisabeth allows the three kids she
raised to visit her regularly. yellow antenna at FCC
Filed under: Misc. Gadgets,
Wireless
Bugbase WiFi module
threatened by large yellow
antenna at FCC originally
without any kind of subscription, appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01
has been quietly pushed out into Sep 2009 08:56:00 EST. Please
the world. see our terms for use of feeds.
Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
Internet News Record
Cooler temperatures may help in battl... - CNN
(Most Popular - Google News)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:23:39 AM
LOS ANGELES, California
(CNN)-- Cooler temperatures
Tuesday could help firefighters
slow down a fast-moving, deadly
wildfire that has charred more
than 105,000 acres in Southern
California.
Firefighters stand by Monday as
a wall of flames from a backfire
light up a hillside in La Crescenta,
California.
Two firefighters lost their lives
Sunday trying to get control of the
Station Fire, which is burning
through steep and rugged terrain
in the Angeles National Forest.
This area north of Los Angeles
has not seen a major fire in more
than 60 years.
The Station Fire, the largest of
at least five burning in the state,
consumed more than 62,000 acres
in the past 24 hours, the National
Interagency Fire Center said early
Tuesday.
More than 3,600 firefighters are
trying to get a handle on the blaze,
which is 5 percent contained,
according to the center.
It is unclear what caused the
fire, which began Wednesday and
has destroyed 53 structures so far.
At least 10,000 homes, 500
businesses and 2,000 other
structures are threatened.
At times, flames reached 100
feet into the sky, racing up
hillsides just a stone's throw from
some houses, destroying some
buildings while leaving others
unscathed. Watch as firefighters
are forced on the defensive »
"This ridge was really bad; there
[were] fire tornadoes going up
into the skies," said Mike
Sarkissian, describing video
footage he shot of the fire raging
in Tujunga Canyon, where he
rents a home.
In some areas, the fire is
scorching miles of land in a
matter of hours. It could take
another week for firefighters to
control the blaze fully, authorities
have said. See images of the
wildfire »
Fire officials have issued
mandatory evacuation notices for
10,000 homes under threat. Most
residents have heeded the orders
and left, but a few have stayed
behind, including Scott Hanley
who was trapped inside his home
by a wall of fire.
"It was something you can't even
describe, being stuck in a house
with the flames and laying on the
floor," Hanley said.
He said the firemen on the scene
Top News/ Gadgets/
smoke spiraling as much as
20,000 feet into the air, is creating
its own wind patterns, officials
said. As a result, it has become
unpredictable. See how these
wildfires grow »
Weary firefighters labored early
Tuesday, hacking away at bone-
dry tree limbs and laying down
fire retardant as they tried to beat
back the 6-day-old wildfire.
Triple-digit temperatures
combined with low humidity
helped the Station Fire more than
double in size on Monday from at
least 40,000 acres to more than
100,000 acres. Watch how the fast
-moving wildfire has grown »
California Gov. Arnold
Schwarzenegger declared a state
of emergency Friday as a result of
ordered him to "stay down [and] the Station Fire.
don't move." "The challenge is going to be
going back to reality, because I've
The blaze leaked through every
crack in the house, he said. been looking at the fire and the
"Every window you look out is mountains from where I am," said
just solid wall of flame," Hanley Elsa Aguirre, who was at a Red
said. "It was like a tornado with Cross shelter in a high school
fire." Monday.
Aguirre, 57, left her ranch home
The steep terrain has made it
nearly impossible for firefighters in Altadena early Saturday with
to attack the the blaze from the her husband and her cat. She took
ground. See where the fire is with her a box of mementos,
burning » including her mother's tea seat
"We are waiting for the fire to from Argentina.
burn to a location where we can "The mountains look pretty
control it," Los Angeles County spooky right now without any
Fire Capt. Mark Whaling said. vegetation. ... I'm just taking it
"The same terrain would take you one day at a time," she said.
a day to move through, and this CNN's Sonya Hamasaki, Rob
Marciano, Chad Myers, John
fire can move through in two
hours. So we can't put our people Torigoe and Stephanie Chen
on the ground in a situation where contributed to this report.
they can be easily overrun by the All About California• Wildfires•
Los Angeles
fire."
The fire, which has sent thick
11
Samsung's WB5000
24x camera shoots
RAW, gets real
By Tim Stevens (Engadget)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 8:27:00 AM
Hey, remember that squat
WB5000 superzoomer that got
spotted over the weekend?
Samsung has seen fit to make it
official, with specs that line up
perfectly with the earlier report,
including a 12.5 megapixel
sensor, a 24x optical zoom lens
(26mm - 624mm equivalent), and
the ability to shoot 720p video
recorded in H.264. It also includes
a suite of intelligent modes for
detecting faces, smiles, dimples,
beards, and genetic abnormalities
(just kidding about those last
three) and can capture them all to
JPEG or RAW files. Samsung
hasn't officially announced
availability details, but word on
the street is this one will ship later
this month (yes, it's September
already) at a price of around $550.
Filed under: Digital Cameras
Samsung's WB5000 24x camera
shoots RAW, gets real originally
appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01
Sep 2009 08:27:00 EST. Please
see our terms for use of feeds.
Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
12 Top News/ Gadgets/
Heat fuelling California wildfire
(BBC News | Americas | World
Edition)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:34:30 AM
Please turn on JavaScript. Media
requires JavaScript to play.
Residents speak of their fears as
the fires continue to spread
Firefighters tackling an intense
wildfire north of Los Angeles say
the blaze remains "very
dangerous".
Fuelled by hot weather and
dense, dry brush, the blaze
doubled in size in a day to spread
over 134 sq miles (347 sq km) of
forest.
About 12,000 buildings and key
communications masts are under
threat, and officials say the fire
could easily double again over the
coming days.
Two firefighters died on Sunday
after their vehicle was overrun by
flames.
Inspector Frederick Stowers of
LA County Fire Department told
the BBC that only 5% of the fire
had so far been contained.
He said it could take until after
the next weekend to bring the
blaze under control.
"We are working around the
clock and using every resource we
can," Insp Stowers said.
'Burning everywhere'
More than 10,000 residents have
fled the flames, and some 6,600
homes are under mandatory
evacuation orders.
At least 18 houses have been
North America to get black Wii remotes, not the black Wii - yet
By Matt Burns (CrunchGear)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:50:16 AM
Nintendo! What are you doing?
Don’t get us wrong, it’s great that
you’re shipping the black Wii
Internet News Record
being fuelled by extremely dry
brush that has not burned in more
than 40 years.
A number of other fires are also
burning in southern and central
California.
A new fire in Placer County,
north-east of the state capital,
Sacramento, has destroyed 60
structures, many of them homes in
the town of Auburn.
Have you been given an
evacuation order? Are you
concerned about the spread of the
fire? Send us your comments
using the form below:
You can also send your pictures
and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk
or text them to+44 7725 100 100.
If you have a large file you can
upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
At no time should you endanger
yourself or others, take any
destroyed, and that number was clearing brush and spraying fire Arnold Schwarzenegger, has unnecessary risks or infringe any
expected to grow, officials said. retardant in preparation for the declared a state of emergency and laws.
T h e f i r e s a l s o t h r e a t e n fires, which are approaching the urged people to comply with A selection of your comments
may be published, displaying your
communication towers housing transmitters. evacuation orders.
transmitters for Los Angeles' Fire department officials say the Wildfires are a feature of the name and location unless you
major TV stations. area's steep, rugged hills are Californian summer, but it is state otherwise in the box below.
Mount Wilson, where the making it difficult for the 3,600 unusual for them to break out so The BBC may edit your
towers are located near the city of firefighters. close to major population centres. comments and not all emails will
Pasadena, is also home to a "It's burning everywhere," US Please turn on JavaScript. be published. Your comments
historic solar observatory. Forest Service spokeswoman Media requires JavaScript to play. may be published on any BBC
Mike Dietrich, of LA County Dianne Cahir told Associated The latest fire broke out on media worldwide.
Fire Dept, said: "We are making Press news agency. Wednesday and its cause remains Print Sponsor
progress. But it is... slow and very "When it gets into canyons that under investigation.
dangerous. We have to wait for haven't burned in numerous years, But it is not being fanned by the
the fire to come to us." it takes off." Santa Ana winds that typically
Firefighters are on the mountain The Governor of California, kick up in October. Instead, it is
remote to North America special Pokemon? Beat Reggie at peripherals different than the
sometime this month. Our white Mario Kart? What is it? Because, current white ones. That’s
ones are getting kind of dingy yes, the black controllers are nice, something Sony and Microsoft
after a couple years of drunk Wii but the black system is hotness would do and you don’t wanna be
bowling. But what do we have to defined. Also, don’t even think like them, right?
do to get the black Wii? Do we have to unlock some about pricing the black
Internet News Record Top News/ Tech News/ Sports 13

Huge storm nears Mexican resorts Iran MPs back 1994

(BBC News | Americas | World
Edition)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:11:36 AM
family, board a vehicle or head to
the nearest shelter," firefighter
Ricardo Villalobos said through a
(OECD) conference on tax havens
had been due to take place in Los
Cabos on Tuesday and
Argentina bomb suspect
loudspeaker. But few seemed Wednesday. (BBC News | Americas | World Red notice
Mexico's Baja California keen to leave. It was "transferred to Mexico Edition) Interpol says Mr Vahidi has
peninsula is on alert as Hurricane Many tourists, meanwhile, have City because of the threat of Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:52:09 AM been subject to a "red notice" - or
Jimena nears, packing winds of been heading out of the area severe damage posed by international wanted persons alert
250km/h (155mph). rather than spend a couple of days Hurricane Jimena", the OECD Iranian MPs have strongly - since 2007. The Argentine
The storm is just below the in a storm shelter. said. backed the defence minister- authorities are seeking his arrest
maximum category five strength, In La Paz, the capital of the Do you live on the Baja designate, in defiance of along with that of five other
according to the US National state of Baja California Sur, peninsula? Are you moving out of Argentine demands for his arrest suspects.
Hurricane Center. residents rushed to stockpile the area to avoid Jimena or are over a 1994 bombing in Buenos Israel and Argentina have
Jimena is expected to reach the goods as the most powerful you planning to stay in the area Aires. condemned the nomination of Mr
Los Cabos resort area later on hurricane of the year so far and brace for the hurricane? Have Ahmad Vahidi faced no Vahidi, with Buenos Aires calling
Tuesday or early Wednesday, approached, AFP news agency you been stocking up on supplies? opposition from MPs on the third it "an affront to the victims" of the
forecasters say. reported. Let us know if you are about to be day of a debate on President attack 15 years ago.
Residents have been boarding The US National Hurricane affected by the events in this story Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's choices Iran has denied any involvement
up homes and schools are closed, Center warned of a "storm surge by filling in the form below. for his new cabinet. in the blast at the Israeli-
and emergency officials are along with large and dangerous You can send your pictures and Interpol has distributed Argentine Mutual Association
urging people to leave the areas battering waves" which could video to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or Argentina's warrant for his arrest (AMIA) and says the case against
most at risk from the storm. "produce significant coastal text them to +44 7725 100 100. If for an attack on a Jewish centre it is politically motivated.
Francisco Cota, the head of the flooding along the Baja California you have a large file you can that killed 85 people. Mr Vahidi is a long-serving
civil protection agency in Los peninsula". upload here. Mr Ahmadinejad's line-up will member of Iran's elite
Cabos, said evacuation plans The agency said that although Read the terms and conditions be put to a confidence vote on Revolutionary Guards and he
would focus on the most densely- Jimena's strength was likely to At no time should you endanger Wednesday. served as deputy defence minister
populated areas. fluctuate, it would make landfall yourself or others, take any During Mr Vahidi's speech to in Mr Ahmadinejad's outgoing
"It will place special emphasis as a major hurricane. unnecessary risks or infringe any parliament, one MP who had been government.
on the more than 20,000 families The peninsula is largely desert laws. expected to object to his He was the commander of a
who live in high-risk areas," he and mountains but also has resorts The BBC may edit your nomination interrupted to say he special Guards unit known as the
said. and fishing villages. comments and not all emails will had changed his mind in the light Quds Force at the time of the
Stockpile goods The US issued an alert to be published. Your comments of "Zionists' allegations". 1994 attack.
Police, firefighters and navy American citizens, urging them to may be published on any BBC The comment from Hadi The red notice informs
personnel have been going reconsider travelling to areas of media worldwide. Qavami was greeted by loud Interpol's 187 members that an
through slum areas to try to Mexico and the United States Print Sponsor applause and shouts of "Death to arrest warrant has been issued by
persuade people to leave their lying in its path. Israel", reports say. a judicial authority, and it is not
flimsy shacks, AP reported. The Organization for Economic Under parliamentary rules, two an international arrest warrant in
"For the safety of you and your Co-operation and Development MPs can speak in opposition to itself.
ministerial appointments. Argentine prosecutors allege
What the Wireless Industry Will Tell the Feds, the During two days of stormy that Vahidi "participated in and
Wired.com Interview (Part 3) debates, many of Mr approved of" the decision to
Ahmadinejad's nominees have attack the Jewish centre.
By Ryan Singel (Wired Top installment in a three-part faced bitter opposition on the Print Sponsor
Stories) interview, why text messages grounds of their experience,
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:00:00 AM aren't so expensive and why the qualifications or gender.
feds need to auction more
The spokesperson for the bandwidth. Rib doesn't stop Favre as run game leads Vikes
nation's wireless carrier tells By Associated Press Favre: Doesn't throw long However, his stats show an
Wired.com, in the final (ESPN.com) Vikings QB Brett Favre had a inability to throw the ball down
Submitted at 9/1/2009 7:01:24 AM good outing in almost three the field:
quarters on Monday night.
14 Top News/ Gadgets/ TV Internet News Record
Patton Oswalt on
Apple Announces Sept. 9 Event - Stella D'Oro
InformationWeek Breakfast Treats
By Bob Sassone (TV Squad)
(Most Popular - Google News) of the holiday shopping season. Microsoft, have failed to build
Submitted at 8/31/2009 9:02:00 PM
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:29:46 AM Launched in 2001, the iPod much of a business. Apple,
eventually redefined the market however, is not expected to Nick posted a review of Patton
Apple has sent to the media for portable music players, and release a tablet PC at the Download Final (and Oswalt's latest special, My
invitations for a Sept. 9 event that evolved into a device capable of September 9th event. Faster) Opera 10 Now Weakness Is Strong. This clip
many industry watchers expect to also playing video. Apple has sold Generating as much speculation below is from an earlier special,
feature a refresh of the the well over 200 million iPods as new iPods in the upcoming [Opera] and I'm posting it here not just
company's iPod line. worldwide. event is whether Apple's star By matt buchanan (Gizmodo) because I think he's a very funny
Sent Monday, the invitation However, iPod sales have pitchman, chief executive and co- guy but also because he talks
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:48:16 AM
features a dancing silhouette of a slowed considerably as the market founder Steve Jobs, will make an about a classic TV commercial
person wearing an iPod, the well- for portable media players has appearance. Jobs returned from a You can download the final from the late 70s/early 80s. Wish
known figure used in iPod ads. matured. In July, Apple reported six-month medical leave in June version of Opera 10, with a new I could find the original ad online
The invitation bears the tag line, that sales slid during the quarter and is reportedly directing nearly interface, compression (like the but I can't.
"It's only rock and roll, but we ended June 27 by 7% from the all his attention to the highly trick it pulls on phones) and other (By the way, this clip is UNSFW
like it," which is a line inspired by same period a year ago to 10.2 anticipated tablet PC. features, like, now. [ Opera via - Unbelievably Not Safe For
a Rolling Stones tune, but gives million units. Attend a Webcast on optimizing Lifehacker] Work).
no indication what Apple will While the success of the iPhone business performance by building Filed under: Video, Celebrities,
introduce at the San Francisco has helped counter slowing iPod a smarter enterprise, featuring Reality-Free
event. sales, Apple is reportedly author James Surowiecki and Permalink| Email this| |
The event has been anticipated planning to release a tablet PC, IBM chief marketing officer Jon Comments
for some time, given that Apple which would send the consumer Iwata. It happens Sept. 16. Find
has typically released upgrades of electronics company into a market out more and register.
the iPod in September, in advance in which other companies, such as

Favre's illegal block draws mixed rev... - Minneapolis Star

Tribune
(Most Popular - Google News) "I liked it," Vikings tight end who did not see the hit coming. me, were not to hurt anyone, "Actually he kind of scared me
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:14:11 AM Visanthe Shiancoe said. "Hey, it's Wilson immediately grabbed his including myself. ... But I think because I kind of forgot he was
man eat man out here. You better left knee in obvious pain and left had I not blocked anyone and just out there," Harvin said. "After I
HOUSTON - Quarterback Brett keep your eyes on a swivel. He the game. Favre was called for an got out of the way and Percy gets turned the corner I saw him flash
Favre created perhaps a bigger saw Brett out there and said, 'Ah, illegal crackback block. hit and gets hurt, I think that looks across my face. It was good to see
buzz with a block than he did Brett ain't going to do anything.'" Afterward, Favre said he didn't worse. But once again I hope he's him still get down a little. I
directing the Vikings offense in a The play came in the third intend to injure Wilson but felt he OK. Believe me, my intentions appreciated the block."
17-10 victory over the Houston quarter with the Vikings lined up had little choice but to protect were not to be cheap. Said running back Adrian
Texans at Reliant Stadium on in the Wildcat formation. Percy Harvin. "... I'll be 40 years old in October Peterson: "He's just playing ball.
Monday night. Harvin lined up in the backfield "Percy was running my way," and was weeding 13 days ago. I I'm sure he wouldn't do anything
Favre's illegal block to safety while Favre split out wide left. Favre said. "Believe me, I hope wasn't thinking about throwing to intentionally hurt the guy. He's
Eugene Wilson's knees drew a 15- Harvin took the snap and ran to [Wilson] is OK. I hope it didn't blocks." just out there playing ball."
yard penalty and was a hot topic his left. Favre peeled back to look as bad on film as it may have Harvin said he appreciated the
inside the locker room afterward. block and went low on Wilson, seemed but my intentions, believe help.
Internet News Record Top News/ Tech Tips/ 15

Guatemala sees
landmark sentence
(BBC News | Americas | World disappearances of six people in
Edition) the Chimaltenango region
Submitted at 9/1/2009 2:47:18 AM between 1982 and 1984.
At the time, which was the
A G u a t e m a l a n c o u r t h a s height of the long-running civil
sentenced an ex-paramilitary war between government forces
officer to 150 years in prison for and left-wing guerrillas, he was a
the forced disappearance of military commissioner, a civilian
civilians in the civil war. working with the army.
Felipe Cusanero, found guilty "We weren't looking for
over the disappearance in the vengeance but for the truth and
1980s of six indigenous Maya justice," Hilarion Lopez, whose
farmers, is the first person to be 24-year-old son was taken by
jailed for such crimes. soldiers in 1984 and never seen
Human rights groups have again, told Reuters news agency.
hailed the verdict as a Rights groups believe Cusanero
breakthrough in the fight against w a s i n v o l v e d i n t h e
impunity in Guatemala. disappearances of more people
Some 250,000 people were but only six families came
killed in the 36-year conflict, forward to testify against him.

Colombian hostage videos emerge which ended in 1996. A UN-backed truth commission
The court in Chimaltenango, found that between 1960 and
about 40km (25 miles) west of 1996 some 200,000 people were
(BBC News | Americas | World In the videos, the nine men Mr Uribe insists that the rebels Guatemala City, was packed as killed and more than 45,000
Edition) greeted their families, told them must release their hostages the judges read their verdict and disappeared.
Submitted at 9/1/2009 3:23:55 AM not to worry and said that they unilaterally. sentence - 25 years for each Most of those who died were
still loved them. The latest footage follows last victim. civilians.
Colombian rebels have released All called on President Alvaro month's release of two videos Cusanero was found guilty in Print Sponsor
videos of nine kidnapped soldiers Uribe to negotiate a prisoner showing a soldier and a police connection with the
and police officers, who appeal to exchange. officer, who appealed to people
the government to negotiate their One of the hostages, Corporal not to forget them. Google Chrome Dev Channel Updates for
release. Jose Libio Martinez, made an Members of the security forces
The footage shows the men, emotional address to the son he are regarded as "high-profile" Snow Leopard [Google Chrome]
some of whom have been held for has never seen. hostages but ordinary Colombians By Adam Pash (Lifehacker)
more than a decade, in the jungle The highest-ranking hostage in are also kidnapped, usually for Submitted at 8/31/2009 4:30:00 PM
or in front of a curtain. guerrilla hands, Luis Mendieta, ransom.
The videos, apparently filmed in who was promoted from police Please turn on JavaScript. If you've been keeping up with
April, were handed over to colonel to general in April, called Media requires JavaScript to play. the latest Chrome releases for OS
Senator Piedad Cordoba, who has for efforts to secure the return of The footage shows the men in X and you just upgraded from
in the past helped to arrange "the living dead". the jungle or in front of a curtain Leopard to Snow Leopard, you
hostage releases. The Farc have long pressed for Print Sponsor may have been disappointed to
The rebels want to press the a swap of 23 members of the learn that Snow Leopard
government to accept a prisoner security forces for imprisoned introduced quite a few bugs into appearance, crashes, and more.
exchange. guerrillas. Chrome. Luckily, Google's just You can download the latest dev
released a dev channel update for release here. [ Google Chrome
Chrome on OS X fixing issues Releases]
related to keyboard shortcuts,
16 World/ Gadgets/ Entertainment Internet News Record

US general hits out at Afghan tactics

By Ewen MacAskill, Nicholas killed yesterday, compounding which alienated farmers, to given waning support for the war
Watt (World news and what is the deadliest year for attacking drug traffickers. in the US. In his article,
comment from the Guardian | foreign troops since the 2001 A key part of this approach is Cordesman also hinted at in-
guardian.co.uk) invasion. The deaths of the advocating that US, British and fighting between US commanders
Submitted at 9/1/2009 3:54:13 AM soldiers from The Black Watch, other international forces not only and civilians based in Kabul and
3rd Battalion The Royal Regiment train Afghan forces but operate those in Washington.
General Stanley McChrystal of Scotland, took the total number alongside them. US officials and advisers
acknowledged drawbacks of the of deaths of UK service personnel The basis of McChrystal's involved with Afghanistan see
approach used for the past eight since operations began in 2001 to assessment is contained in little salvation in the recent Samsung's WB5000 24x
years 210. The soldiers were killed in a guidelines he sent to troops last presidential election, especially
The top US commander in blast while on patrol north of week in which he said: "The with questions raised about its Optical Megazoom Gets
Afghanistan, General Stanley L a s h k a r G a h , i n H e l m a n d conflict will be won by legitimacy. Vote tallies released Official [Digital
McChrystal, yesterday called for a province, the Ministry of Defence persuading the population, not by yesterday showed Hamid Karzai, Cameras]
complete revamp of military said. Two American soldiers were destroying the enemy." the president, with a strong lead
strategy in the country, in a also killed in an explosion, the US He compared the recent over the top challenger, Abdullah By Danny Allen (Gizmodo)
sweeping review of operations military said. approach as equivalent to a Abdullah. Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:20:39 AM
that acknowledges the disastrous Britain is not expected to bullfight. "A military force, Karzai had 45.8% of votes
approach of the last eight years announce a major increase in the culturally programmed to respond counted, while Abdullah had The 12.5-megapixel WB5000
and may pave the way for a n u m b e r o f i t s t r o o p s i n conventionally (and predictably) 33.2%, with ballots from almost combines the compact size of a
demand for more troops. Afghanistan, whatever the US to insurgent attacks, is akin to the half of the country's polling pocket camera with the larger
The revised strategy, in the face does. Senior British military bull that repeatedly charges a stations counted. Karzai needs zooms more common to DSLRs:
of the Taliban's expanding sources say Britain has effectively matador's cape – only to tire and 50% to avoid a runoff. a 26mm wide-angled lens with
influence and waning support for increased its contribution by eventually be defeated by a much David Lidington, the shadow 24x optical zoom, in this case. It
the Kabul government, changes maintaining the extra number of weaker opponent. This is Foreign Office minister, said: "I can also shoot 720p HD video in
the emphasis from engaging troops sent to Afghanistan this predictable, the bull does what think McChrystal appears to be H.264 format.
directly with militants to winning year to help with the elections. comes naturally. While a bringing together the criticisms There's no HD output, though.
the hearts and minds of the After sending his report to the conventional approach is that a number of different On the upside, the WB5000 can
Afghan population, officials in Pentagon and Nato headquarters, instinctive, that behaviour is self- commentators … have been handle uncompressed RAW
W a s h i n g t o n a n d N a t o McChrystal said yesterday that, defeating." saying over the last year or more. images, in addition to standard
headquarters said. despite the lost ground, victory The US has 63,000 soldiers in But we have been saying for a JPEG files.
McChrystal portrayed the recent was still possible. "The situation Afghanistan, with another 5,000 long time that there needs to be Aside from manual controls,
strategy of western forces as the in Afghanistan is serious, but on the way. much better coordination of the aided modes include optical and
equivalent of a lumbering bull s u c c e s s i s a c h i e v a b l e a n d Anthony Cordesman, a international effort in digital image stabilization, smart
attacking a matador's cape, d e m a n d s a revised Washington-based strategist who Afghanistan." face recognition, blink detection,
gradually tiring and finally being i m p l e m e n t a t i o n s t r a t e g y , has been an adviser to • US foreign policy and automatic adjustments to
killed off. The general, appointed commitment and resolve, and McChrystal, said in the • Afghanistan accommodate the color,
earlier this year, is to go to increased unity of effort." Washington Post yesterday that • United States brightness and movement of what
Washington later this month to McChrystal has already begun the US deployment would need Ewen MacAskill Nicholas Watt you're shooting.
advise Barack Obama on whether to implement the new strategy, about three to eight more guardian.co.uk© Guardian The WB5000 will hit the U.K
h e n e e d s m o r e t r o o p s i n ordering his forces not to fire or brigades, which would mean News & Media Limited 2009 | later this month for about £349
a d a d d i t i o n t o t h e 1 0 8 , 0 0 0 drop bombs if there is a risk of anything from 7,000 to 40,000 Use of this content is subject to ($565). U.S availability is quite
international troops already there. civilian casualties. He has also more troops. our Terms & Conditions| More likely, but we'll have to let you
The recommendations came as s h i f t e d t h e f o c u s f r o m t h e Sending more troops would be Feeds know when we know more. [
two further British soldiers were eradication of the poppy crop, politically difficult for Obama, Digital Photography Review and
Pocket-Lint]
Fierce Fashions: Stars Show Skin with Sizzlin' Summer Styles!
(ETonline - Breaking News) For this season's past heatwave, traded them in for short shorts, stars' sizzlin' summer styles!
Submitted at 9/1/2009 3:17:00 AM celebs have said "goodbye" to whitest whites, bold colors, micro
their long dresses, blackest blacks -minis and a whole lotta leg!
Summer is coming to a close! and stuffy sweaters, and have Take a look at your favorite
Internet News Record
Libya salutes Gaddafi the 'knight'
By Ian Black (World news and
comment from the Guardian |
guardian.co.uk)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:51:16 AM
Dazzling display at airbase
launches 40th anniversary tributes
to Libyan leader
Libya's celebrations marking
Muammar Gaddafi's four decades
in power got off to a spectacular
start this morning with a colourful
extravaganza lauding his
achievements as the heroic
"knight" of the country's
revolution.
Dancing, singing, marching and
feats of horsemanship were
combined in a dazzling display at
Tripoli's Mitiga airbase in the
early hours of the morning in a
lavish tribute to the one man who
will forever be identified with the
coup on 1 September 1969.
Gaddafi, in mottled beige suit
and matching cap, sat in the
centre of a dais under a striped
awning as African, Arab and other
VIPs were disgorged from black
limousines and ranked according
to their importance before the
show began after the Ramadan
iftar meal.
Green laser beams cut through
the humid night sky to announce
the "Knight and Men" salute to "a
great leader, a maker of great
events" – first in Arabic and then
English, French, Italian and
Spanish for the many foreign
guests.
A troupe of Italian girls took
How Do You Claim Antitrust Against Someone Who Has A Smaller Marketshare?
By Michael Masnick (Techdirt)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 11:41:44 PM
Last week, we noted that Italian
investigators were looking into
part in the dancing sequences, but
the horse riders were Libyans,
men and women in tribal dress,
strutting and cantering across the
Astroturf repeatedly to shake their
fists and hail the man on the
podium.
Large parts of the programme
were devoted to Libya's struggle
against Italy, which occupied the
country from 1911 until the
second world war. One tableau
recreated a mass hanging –
designed to crush the anti-colonial
resistance – complete with
wooden gallows and dangling
corpses.
Libya's modern military might
was represented by soldiers in
camouflaged armoured vehicles
and others waving green banners
and chanting Allahu akbar (God is
great). Flaming hoops and torches
added deep orange flashes to the
kaleidoscopic scene.
The event was broadcast live on
TV, but few ordinary Libyans
were in the crowd. Huge numbers
are expected to turn out for the
heavily trailed main anniversary
event – likened to an Olympic
opening ceremony – in Tripoli's
Green Square early tomorrow.
The overall message was of
immense pride in the country's
achievements, but it was a blunt
one. "Libya is Paradise,"
proclaimed one giant slogan
adorning Gaddafi's image. "In
blood and spirit we will redeem
our leader," children in national
costume chanted as he beamed
Google News for alleged antitrust
violations in not telling
newspapers how it ranks stories.
As ridiculous as that assertion is
in the first place, it looks even
back at them.
Produced by an international
events company in co-operation
with Libyan state broadcasting,
the Gaddafi show was a
sophisticated display of adulation
and agitprop, Libyan-style. But
there was no mention of
Abdelbaset al-Megrahi, the man
convicted of the Lockerbie
bombing, who was freed by
Scotland last month and is dying
from prostate cancer.
The regime appears to have
decided to try to limit the
international damage caused by
Megrahi's welcome home, though
film of his return is broadcast
constantly on TV.
Gaddafi made clear that the
choice of the location was
deliberate: until September 1969
Mitiga had been an American
airbase that Libyans – even army
officers like him – had been
forbidden to enter, he mused in
his low, growling voice. "The
revolution that restored it to the
Libyan people," he said, "was our
zero hour."
• Muammar Gaddafi
• Libya
• Abdelbaset al-Megrahi
Ian Black
guardian.co.uk© Guardian
News & Media Limited 2009 |
Use of this content is subject to
our Terms & Conditions| More
Feeds
more ridiculous when you realize
(as Erick Schonfeld figured out)
that Google News is actually a
much smaller presence online
than Italy's two largest
World's oldest dog dies
– at 147
By Adam Gabbatt (World news
and comment from the
Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:10:29 AM
Peanut butter-loving dog from
New York passes on her canine
crown
The world's oldest dog has
passed away. Chanel, variously
described as a wire-haired
dachshund or dachshund mix, was
21 – or 147 in dog years. She died
of natural causes last Friday, at
her owners' home in Port
Jefferson Station, a suburb of
New York.
Denice and Karl Shaughnessy
yesterday described Chanel as one
of "God's angels" as they spoke of
her penchant for wearing tinted
goggles and jumpers – to combat
cataracts and her aversion to the
cold.
Chanel was nominated by Karl
for the title of world's oldest dog
after her keen-eyed owner noticed
the Guinness World Records book
had no record.
Officials presented the
dachshund with a certificate
recognising her as oldest living
canine at a Manhattan bash in
May. Denice said today that
Chanel had loved the party, and
particularly enjoyed the cake –
which Denice fondly recalled as
having a peanut butter flavour and
newspapers online. It makes you
wonder how you claim an
antitrust violation against
someone, when your own
marketshare is larger and you
World/ Tech/ 17
had been made especially for
dogs.
"Dogs are God's angels sent here
to look out for us," Denice
asserted, rather eerily.
But Chanel didn't survive on
peanut butter dog-cake alone. She
reputedly kept herself in shape
with a regime of daily exercise
and ate home-cooked chicken
with her dog food.
But like so many in old age,
Chanel had retained some vices.
Denice recalled how, as a younger
bitch, Chanel would steal butter
from the kitchen, and was also
partial to chocolate.
"She once ate an entire bag of
Reese's peanut butter cups and,
you see, she lived to be 21, so go
figure," said Denice.
As Chanel's all-too-brief reign
as the world's oldest dog comes to
an end then, the search is on for
the next holder of the title. An
early contender is a dog called
Max, currently residing in
Louisiana, who is allegedly 26
years old. World record officials
are investigating.
Watch this space.
• United States
Adam Gabbatt
guardian.co.uk© Guardian
News & Media Limited 2009 |
Use of this content is subject to
our Terms & Conditions| More
Feeds
control the established brand
names in the market.
Permalink| Comments| Email
This Story
18 World/ Finance/ TV Internet News Record

Californian wildfires slow down PetroChina in $1.7bn

By Haroon Siddique (World
news and comment from the
Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
flames. Two firefighters were
killed at the weekend on the
blaze's north-western front when
foothills was the biggest but not
most destructive of California's
wildfires. North-east of
Canadian project stake
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:03:08 AM they lost control of their vehicle. Sacramento, a wind-driven fire (Financial Times - US China Investment Corporation
"This is a very angry fire that destroyed 60 structures over the homepage) paid C$1.7bn for a 17 per cent
Fire crews 'not overly optimistic' we're fighting right now," the US weekend, many of them homes in Submitted at 8/31/2009 3:16:59 PM interest in Teck Resources, the
of calming blazes before more Forest Service commander, Mike the town of Auburn. Vancouver-based metals producer
homes are destroyed Dietrich, said last night. "I'm not The 138-hectare (340-acre) PetroChina has agreed to pay that has a minority interest in the
The onslaught of wildfires that overly optimistic but yet at the blaze wiped out an entire cul-de- C $ 1 . 9 b n ( U S $ 1 . 7 b n ) f o r a Fort Hills oil sands project.
have destroyed 53 homes in same time, our firefighters are sac, leaving only smouldering majority stake in two oil sands Mr Svarte said PetroChina “told
California slowed today as calmer going to be taking every action to ruins, a handful of chimneys and projects in northern Alberta in the us they had looked at all the
winds prevented the flames from keep this fire from burning more burned cars. l a t e s t o f s e v e r a l C h i n e s e players [around the world] over
spreading into the dense north- destruction." The state governor, Arnold investments to help develop the the past 10 years. They decided to
east of Los Angeles. The 53 homes destroyed Schwarzenegger, toured the w o r l d ’ s s e c o n d - b i g g e s t o i l go for it once prices were more
Despite the temporary reprieve, included some forest cabins, said Auburn area yesterday. At some reserves. reasonable”.
the US Forest Service said it was a Forest Service spokesman, houses, the only things left on the The two projects, known as Athabasca owns leases to
"not overly optimistic" as the Dennis Cross. He did not know foundations were metal cabinets Mackay River and Dover, are reserves totalling an estimated
weather forecast pointed to h o w m a n y w e r e f u l l - t i m e and washers and dryers. being developed by Athabasca Oil 10bn barrels, about half of which
continued hot, dry conditions. A r e s i d e n c e s . East of Los Angeles, a 400- Sands, a privately held Calgary- are included in the two projects.
fire brigade spokesman, Paul TJ Lynch and his wife, Maggie, hectare fire damaged one home, based group. Production at full capacity is
Lowenthal, said the blaze was not left their Tujunga home for an threatened 2,000 others and “Oil sands projects are very projected to reach 300,000-
expected to be contained for a evacuation centre last night. "It's forced the evacuation of a capital-intensive, long-term 500,000 barrels a day at a total
couple of weeks. pretty surreal, pretty humbling, community in San Bernardino investments and difficult to fully capital cost of C$15bn-C$20bn.
Some 12,000 homes remained how your life is represented in County. Brush in the area had not finance in the traditional equity The first phase of Mackay River
under threat from the fires that these objects that you collect and burned for a century, fire officials m a r k e t , ” B i l l G a l l a c h e r , is due to come on stream in 2014
have already burned at least 18 then you have to whittle them said. Four hundred exotic animals, Athabasca’s chairman said on with a daily output of 35,000b/d
homes and 134 sq miles of brush down," he said. including lions and tigers, were Monday. “[We] therefore decided at a cost of about C$1.1bn.
and trees and were moving north, "It's a beautiful place – is? was? evacuated from the Wildlife to look for joint venture partners.” Athabasca estimates the two
south and east through the – I don't know any more," he said Waystation nature reserve, north PetroChina will acquire a 60 per projects are viable at an oil price
foothills north-east of the city. It of their home. of Los Angeles, to the city zoo cent stake in the two projects. of US$50-$60 a barrel.
was 5% contained and was Fire crews set backfires and and other facilities. But Sveinung Svarte, Oil was trading on Monday at
feeding on dry brush that had not sprayed fire retardant at Mount • California Athabasca’s chief executive, told about $69 a barrel.
burned for 40 years, fire officials Wilson, the site of at least 20 Haroon Siddique the Financial Times that “both of The reversal in oil prices over
said. television transmission towers, guardian.co.uk© Guardian us have to reach decisions on the the past year has caused the
At least 6,600 homes were radio and mobile phone antennas, News & Media Limited 2009 | major issues”. postponement of many oil sands
under mandatory evacuation and the century-old Mount Wilson Use of this content is subject to The bitumen-like oil sands have p r o j e c t s . T h e C a n a d i a n
orders and more than 2,500 Observatory. our Terms & Conditions| More drawn growing interest from A s s o c i a t i o n o f P e t r o l e u m
firefighters were battling the The blaze in the Los Angeles Feeds Chinese energy groups. Producers has lowered its 2020
Total, the French energy group, production projections from 3.8m
sold a 10 per cent take in the b/d two years ago to a maximum
Northern Lights oil sands project of 2.9m b/d.
to Sinopec this year, giving each
company a 50 per cent interest.
Sneak Peek: tonight's series premiere of Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World
By Bob Sassone (TV Squad) eating bizarre things, now he has World. He's trying to create a Documentary, Reality-Free
Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:00:00 AM to go around the world to media empire based on the word Permalink| Email this| |
introduce us to bizarre people "bizarre." Here's a sneak peek of Comments
It's not enough that Andrew doing bizarre things (bizarrely). tonight's debuts ( more here).
Zimmern goes around the world It's Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Filed under: Video,
Internet News Record World/ Finance/ Entertainment 19

Iran offers to resume nuclear talks AIG and former

By Julian Borger (World news
and comment from the
Guardian | guardian.co.uk)
transmission."
After assuming office in
January, Barack Obama offered
The pressure grew last week
when the International Atomic
Energy Agency said in a report
executives agree
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:48:57 AM Iran talks without precondition,
and the six-nation group – made
Leading nuclear negotiator in up of the US, Britain, France,
that Iran continued to install
centrifuges at its Natanz uranium
enrichment plant and had failed to
arbitration
Iran offers talks with six-nation Germany, Russia and China – met answer questions about alleged (Financial Times - US Greenberg won a high-profile jury
group but west remains cautious in April and restated their offer of development work on designing a homepage) ruling in July in a $4.3bn legal
Iran said today that it was ready economic aid and technical warhead. Submitted at 8/31/2009 4:53:34 PM battle with AIG. AIG had claimed
to resume negotiations over its assistance in return for Iran's Reaction to today's that Starr International, an
nuclear programme and a broad s u s p e n s i o n o f u r a n i u m announcement was cautious. Iran AIG and former executives agree investment group run by Mr
range of other issues with a six- enrichment. The "E3 + 3" has also has put forward its own set of arbitration Greenberg, was liable for $4.3bn
nation group of major powers. put forward a "freeze-for-freeze" proposals before, in July last year, By Julie MacIntosh in New worth of shares held for a long-
Said Jalili, the country's lead p r o p o s a l , u n d e r w h i c h t h e but they were vague, said nothingYork term AIG compensation plan that
nuclear negotiator, issued a international community would about the suspension of Published: September 1 2009 was terminated four years ago.
statement saying Tehran had stop extending sanctions if Iran enrichment, and seemed to 00:53 | Last updated: September 1 A judge issued a final ruling on
completed a package of proposals stopped expanding its enrichment involve extended "talks about 2009 00:53 that case on Monday and found
for dialogue "regarding all facility in Natanz, as a precursor talks" to agree what the agenda AIG agreed with two of its top AIG’s arguments to be “without
security, political and economic for a more lasting settlement. for full negotiations might be. former executives on Monday to merit”. AIG had no comment on
issues, in addition to the nuclear The Iranian response was "We are cautious, careful, but accept binding arbitration in legal the ruling. The parties said they
issue". delayed by the controversial ever hopeful," a European matters involving more than $1bn would “consider whether to
However, the EU's foreign presidential elections in June and diplomat said. claims. arbitrate” claims related to that
policy chief, Javier Solana, who their violent aftermath, but since • Iran The insurer said it would work case.
heads negotiations for the six- t h e n p r e s s u r e o n I r a n h a s • Nuclear weapons with Hank Greenberg, former In August, Mr Greenberg and
nation group, had not been m o u n t e d . T h e O b a m a • European Union chief executive, and Howard other former executives of the
informed of the Iranian package administration has made it clear • Middle East Smith, former chief financial company agreed to pay $115m to
by this afternoon. Solana is that it expects signs of Iranian Julian Borger officer, to arbitrate claims related settle lawsuits by shareholders
travelling around the Middle East, compromise by the UN general guardian.co.uk© Guardian to suits filed by shareholders who who claimed they lost money
b u t a s p o k e s w o m a n i n h i s assembly, which begins on 23 News & Media Limited 2009 | claimed they lost money because after AIG restated five years of
Brussels office said: "There are September, and it would lead a Use of this content is subject toAIG restated its financial results profits in 2005. Mr Greenberg
plenty of people here ready to p u s h f o r f u r t h e r s a n c t i o n s , our Terms & Conditions| More during the time Mr Greenberg and also agreed to settle a civil lawsuit
take the call. I am not aware of including measures aimed at Iran's Feeds Mr Smith led the company. by the Securities and Exchange
a n y c o n t a c t o r m e s s a g e o r oil and gas sector. The agreement to arbitrate the Commission for $15m, neither
claims involving AIG and the two admitting nor denying SEC
Shania Twain Thanks Fans for Support executives leaves room for the allegations that involved AIG’s
parties to reach a settlement accounting.
(ETonline - Breaking News) great deal. I consider myself on a alleged affair between Thiebaud before a decision by an arbitrator. Copyright The Financial Times
j o u r n e y o f d i s c o v e r y a n d and Lange was uncovered last The company also said AIG, Mr Limited 2009. You may share
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:20:00 AM
recovery. I don't accept to be held year. Of Fred, Twain says, Greenberg and Mr Smith were using our article tools. Please
Country music star Shania down by the past, nor do I expect "…having gone through the still considering whether to don't cut articles from FT.com
Twain gave fans a gift on her 44th too much of the future. This suffering of his family splitting arbitrate claims relating to other and redistribute by email or post
birthday. After taking the last allows me to dream freely with no apart at the same time under the cases. to the web.
several months to collect herself strings attached." same extreme circumstances, he In one of those matters, Mr
following devastating news that Twain found a travel companion u n d e r s t o o d m e b e t t e r t h a n
her husband, Robert "Mutt" in Frederic Thiebaud, ex-husband anyone." Twain's son Eja and
Lange, was guilty of infidelity, o f M a r i e - A n n e T h i e b a u d . Fred's daughter Johanna joined
Twain speaks out. Thiebaud is her former friend and their parents on several of the
In a letter to fans on her website secretary and manager of her trips.
she says, "Traveling has helped a chateau in Switzerland. An
20 Finance/ Gadgets/ Internet News Record

German joblessness falls in August

(Financial Times - US Germany took economists aback Unicredit in Munich. ”Since one relative to other eurozone
homepage) last month by reporting it had cannot beat fundamentals, this is countries.
Submitted at 9/1/2009 2:54:14 AM escaped recession in the second simply a mission impossible,” he Along with their counterparts in
quarter – ahead of the UK and said. France, German manufacturers
German unemployment fell US. Germany’s latest unemployment reported the fastest rate of
unexpectedly in August, helped Seasonally-adjusted German numbers were also flattered by improvement in August, with its First Windows Mobile
b y g o v e r n m e n t a c t i o n t o unemployment fell by 1,000 to one-off statistical changes which index leaping from 45.7 in July to 6.5 Phones and
safeguard jobs, as the country’s 3.48m in August. That followed a masked an underlying rising an upwards revised 49.2 in
economic rebound left rival 5,000 fall in the previous month. trend, economists said. August. That brought it close to Windows Marketplace
eurozone economies trailing. Unemployment as a share of the Trends in German the 50 level, above which the Descend on October 6
Although modest, the second labour force remained unchanged unemployment in the coming index indicates an expansion in
s u c c e s s i v e m o n t h l y f a l l i n at 8.3 per cent in August. months could now prove decisive activity. [Windows Mobile]
seasonally adjusted joblessness in Berlin has expanded in determining the strength of the At the other end of the scale By matt buchanan (Gizmodo)
Europe’s largest economy will significantly publicly funded eurozone’s recovery. If rises are were Italy, Spain and Ireland, Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:10:36 AM
come as a boost to Angela schemes allowing companies to only modest, domestic demand – which reported lower levels of
Merkel, Germany’s chancellor, as p u t w o r k e r s o n s h o r t - t i m e coupled with a pick-up in exports output. The best part about this post on
s h e s e e k s r e - e l e c t i o n o n working. Earlier in the crisis, powered by a revival in global “Italy was by far the weakest the Windows Team blog
September 27. many economists – including at demand – may see Germany performer overall and the only announcing that Windows Mobile
It will also encourage hopes that the European Central Bank – leading a broader recovery across nation to report a steeper 6.5 phones start landing on
Germany will avoid a dramatic feared such measures would continental Europe. contraction in production than inOctober 6?
shake-out in its labour market as a s i m p l y s l o w a n i n e v i t a b l e However, divergences remain July,” according to Markit, the "Interestingly enough, we
result of the steep collapse in economic restructuring process in across the eurozone – possibly information group, which discovered that most people who
economic output since late last G e r m a n y ’ s h e a v i l y e x p o r t - exacerbated by the strength of the produces the survey. carry a Windows phone don't
year. dependent economy. Economic euro, which appears to be Spain, meanwhile, has the worstrealize it's running Windows
In contrast, the eurozone forecast wreaking less damage in unemployment situation in the Mobile."
seasonally adjusted Interactive feature on the Germany. European Union, with its Well. I'll just leave it at that.
unemployment rate rose from 9.4 outlook across Europe The fall in German unemployment rate rising from Except to wonder precisely which
per cent in June to a 10-year high Even if fears of German unemployment coincided with 18.2 per cent in June to 18.5 perWindows Mobile 6.5 phones we'll
of 9.5 per cent in July, according unemployment hitting 5m next revised purchasing managers’ cent in July, according to the see on Oct. 6—T-Mobile is oddly
to separate figures from Eurostat, year were looking misplaced, indices for August that Eurostat figures. missing from the list of North
the European Union’s statistical further rises were inevitable, said highlighted the strength of the American carrier partners—and
office. Andreas Rees, economist at country’s manufacturing rebound, um, when, dear god, will we see
Windows Mobile 7? And please
Cramer on BloggingStocks: Don't fear September tell me they've come up with a
better plan than this.
By Jim Cramer mindful that stocks tend to come last 3,000 points, but that's OK Update: Also opening Oct. 6 is
(BloggingStocks) back. too. the Windows Marketplace,
Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:50:00 AM Anyone approaching the month Continue reading Cramer on Microsoft's app store for all 6.X
of September long will feel BloggingStocks: Don't fear Windows phones, which we're
Filed under: Market matters, pressured to sell given the history September interested to see how it pans out. [
Cramer on BloggingStocks, of the month. We all know that Cramer on BloggingStocks: Windows Team]
M B I A I n c ( M B I ) F r o m September's been brutal for years Don't fear September originally
T h e S t r e e t . c o m N e t w o r k in markets that are up, and we appeared on BloggingStocks on
• New York Broker Sees Signs know that everyone's expecting Tue, 01 Sep 2009 09:50:00 EST.
of Recovery bad things to come in. We have Please see our terms for use of
• Top 50 Online Retailers now read a gazillion articles about feeds. Permalink| Email this|
Revealed how it is impossible to have a real incredibly compelling. Comments
TheStreet.com's Jim Cramer rally based on earnings with no Of course, you could have
believes we'll get a selloff, but is sales, and each article sounds written the same article for the
Internet News Record Finance/ Gadgets/ Entertainment 21

China’s manufacturing continues to

grow
(Financial Times - US substantially lifted, as indicated might reinforce concern of
homepage) by significant improvements in overcapacity, economists said any
Submitted at 8/31/2009 8:30:46 PM the output and new orders policy tightening in the near term
indexes, both of which are close was unlikely.
China’s manufacturing sector to series record highs.” “[The reading was] not too hot,
expanded for a sixth straight The monthly purchasing not too cold, supporting our view
month in August to a 16-month managers’ index published by the that while Beijing will continue to
high according to two indices China Federation of Logistics and withdraw some of the stimulus
p u b l i s h e d o n T u e s d a y , a n Purchasing rose to 54 last month, that has done its job (lending and
indication that economic recovery from 53.3 in July, as domestic infrastructure spending) and is not
has continued. demand and strong spending in longer needed, we will not see
Fears that government curbs on heavy industries - fuelled by any measures designed to slow
bank lending could stall the Beijing’s stimulus measures - economic growth. In other words,
r e c o v e r y h a v e l e d t o h i g h spurred growth. A reading above no ‘tightening’”, said Andy
volatility in the Shanghai stock 50 signals an expansion, while Rothman, China macro strategist
market. Chinese shares fell 6.7 o n e b e l o w t h e t h r e s h o l d at CLSA.
per cent on Monday in their r e p r e s e n t s a c o n t r a c t i o n . Manufacturing activities also
biggest fall in more than a year, A breakdown of the PMI expanded in other Asian
though the index rose 0.6 per cent showed that new orders, output,
to 2,683.72 on Tuesday. imports and employment all
countries. In Taiwan, the HSBC
PMI rose for the sixth successive Pleo lover and former Ugobe CTO
Pointing by Tuesday’s data, expanded while exports remained
economists said China’s recovery flat.
month, from 53.8 in July to 55 in
August. In South Korea, the index
John Sosoka separates robo-mind and
was still on track thanks to strong “It suggests the manufacturing
domestic spending and a rebound sector is still expanding, mainly
stood at 53.6 in August, the
second-highest reading for 19
robo-body with two new companies
in exports. because of strong activities in months, though down from 54 in By Tim Stevens (Engadget) can not only look cute but perhaps
“China’s recovery is keeping up heavy industries such as cars, July. Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:52:00 AM forage for food or do something
strong momentum,” said Qu s t e e l a n d , i n c r e a s i n g l y , Japan said this week that the useful. Sosoka is now focused on
Hongbin, chief China economist c o m m o d i t y , ” s a i d B e n seasonally adjusted Why did Pleo-maker Ugobe fail? creating companion robots of the
at HSBC. Simpfendorfer, economist at RBS. Nomura/JMMA PMI rose from There are many reasons, but sort that could perhaps provide an
“With ... construction works The HSBC China PMI, 50.4 in July to 53.6 in August, its former CTO John Sosoka thinks alternative to therapy dogs. And
being implemented at full speed published separately, rose to 55.1 highest level since November one of them is that the one here we thought dancing to
to generate demand for industrial from 52.8 in July. 2006. company tried to do too much, Britney Spears was the pinnacle
goods, domestic demand has been While the strong PMI readings working on both hardware and of robo-evolution.
software for the lovable little Filed under: Robots
Megan Fox Grows Fangs in 'Jennifer's Body' paleolithic guy. Live and learn, as Pleo lover and former Ugobe
they say, and so his next venture CTO John Sosoka separates robo-
(ETonline - Breaking News) she plays Jennifer Check. Fox Jennifer to ensure their success in is not one but two companies: the mind and robo-body with two
Submitted at 9/1/2009 12:10:00 AM describes her character as, "that the music business. However, first, Vita Robotica, to develop a n e w c o m p a n i e s o r i g i n a l l y
narcissistic, selfish, self-obsessed they were supposed to sacrifice a "completely new implementation appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01
Megan Fox of 'Transformers' girl that everyone knows in high virgin, which Jennifer is not. This of a brain for robots;" the other, Sep 2009 09:52:00 EST. Please
fame is hitting the big screen for school." causes a demon to overtake Pulse-Robotics, to work on a sort see our terms for use of feeds.
the second time this summer, this Longtime friend Needy, played Jennifer's body and she begins to of robo-OS for the thing. It Read| Permalink| Email this|
time as a man-eating high school by Amanda Seyfried, joins e a t h e r m a l e h i g h s c h o o l sounds smart, but don't get your Comments
cheerleader. Jennifer at a local rock concert in classmates. hopes up for a next-gen Pleo that
Her latest flick is a horror film their hometown of Devil's Kettle.
titled ‘Jennifer’s Body,’ in which In a ritual, the band sacrifices
22 Finance/ Gadgets/ TV
Wall Street set for early slide
(Financial Times - US
homepage)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:44:22 AM
US stocks were set for further
declines on Tuesday as investors
prepared for what is traditionally
one of the gloomiest trading
months of the year.
But Tuesday’s trading is likely
to be determined by a series of
economic reports expected by mid
-morning, including data on
manufacturing, construction
spending and home sales. Reports
on car sales are also expected
from midday.
Less than an hour before the
opening bell, S&P 500 futures
were down 5.4 points at 1,014.3
and were trading below fair value
of 1,019.78.
Nasdaq futures were down 6.25
points at 1,618.75, well below a
fair value reading of 1625.17.
Futures for the Dow Jones
Industrial Average were also
down 52 points at 9,434.
Stocks tumbled on Monday
after declines in China and
concerns over inflated commodity
values triggered a global flight to
Nip/Tuck secures Joan Rivers for its last episode
By Jason Hughes (TV Squad)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 7:09:00 PM
This isn't her first time, but I
can't think of a better guest star
for the final episode of Nip/Tuck
than Joan Rivers. What her role
will be in the finale remains to be
seen; hopefully it won't have to do
with semen-based facial creme.
Rivers says even she doesn't know
what the episode will be,
explaining that " they only send Nip/Tuck has had its shockers Comments
you your pages for what you're
filming."
Internet News Record
safety. The Nasdaq Composite index was down 10.14 points, or
was the biggest casualty, falling 1.4 per cent, at 961.88.
0.9 per cent, while the Dow lost Asian equity markets closed
0.5 per cent and the S&P 500 was mainly higher, boosted by a
0.8 per cent lower. rebound in Chinese stocks
In pre-market trading on following evidence of expansion
Tuesday, Ebay, the online in manufacturing activity.
marketplace, was up 1.6 per cent In the bond market, the yield on
at $22.49 after reports that it had the two-year Treasury note was 1
reached a deal to sell its Skype basis point down at 0.960 per cent
internet phone unit. while the benchmark 10-year
After declines on Monday, Bank Treasury note was unchanged at
of America was up 0.9 per cent at 3.396 per cent.
$17.59 on reports that it is The dollar firmed slightly as
planning to repay part of the investors moved away from
$45bn aid package it received riskier currencies following
from the US government at the further declines on the stock
height of the financial crisis. market.
Elsewhere in the financial Sterling receded after early
sector, AIG looked set to come gains against the dollar following
under further pressure as investors a report showing an unexpected
become increasingly concerned drop in UK manufacturing
that the stock is overvalued. In pre
-market trading, the government-
activity during August.
Gold was trading up 0.1 per cent
Rumor: Tegra-based devices
controlled group was down 5.76
per cent at $45.33. The declines
at 953.6.
US crude prices were up 0.23
running Chrome OS this
followed its record gain of 245
per cent throughout the month of
August.
per cent at $70.19 a barrel after
hovering below the critical $70
level on Monday and earlier on
month?
By Doug Aamoth of thunder from a certain
European stocks were mainly Tuesday. (CrunchGear) company based in Cupertino,
down ahead the open on Wall California that’ll be announcing
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:51:42 AM
Street. The FTSE Eurofirst 300 new products on September 9th.
Here’s a nice, juicy rumor to I’ve no doubt that Tegra+Chrome
start the day off on the right (or OS smartbooks (or MIDs or
wrong) foot. After those recent
coming, they've certainly had time supposed screenshots of Google’s netbooks or whatever) will
to prepare. Supposedly Rivers upcoming Chrome OS, Taiwan’s eventually make it to market, but
won't be the only star making an Shanzai.com is now reporting the to see one or more of them this
appearance. "Star-studded" is the following: month would be a bit surprising
word I've seen being thrown considering we’ve been hearing
“According to our reliable m i d - 2 0 1 0 f o r j u s t a b o u t
about. sources on the Mainland, both
Continue reading Nip/Tuck Lenovo and Acer are planing to e v e r y t h i n g e l s e .
secures Joan Rivers for its last launch Tegra-based devices As always, take this news with a
episode grain of salt until it can be
running Google’s Chrome OS,
Filed under: OpEd, Nip/Tuck, and the word on the streets is that officially substantiated.
Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free it could even happen sometime Exclusive: Lenovo and Acer to
That's like Lost-level secrecy. Permalink| Email this| | later this month.” launch Tegra devices with
Google’s Chrome OS[Shanzai]
through the years, and since the If true, that would be pretty
wild. It’d also serve to steal a bit
creators knew this ending was
Internet News Record
Six Million Home Foreclosures: Are FDIC Insured Banks the
Next Time Bomb? (Part 1)
(Financial Sector and Stocks
Analysis from Seeking Alpha)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:46:49 AM
Over a year ago Hank Paulson
declared "The US Banking
System Is A Safe and Sound
One", the market's reaction to that
piece of news was to short Fannie
( FNM) and Freddie ( FRE) into
oblivion. A key issue there was
holdings of mortgaged backed
securities, specifically RMBS;
valuations of those things
depended on (a) their credit
rating, (and once the LTV started
to slip the rules said they had to
be downgraded, so the price
tanked), and (b) there was a rule
of thumb that the value of those
things was what an equivalent
Treasury cost, less the cost of a
CDS to insure them; when fear
took over, the cost of a CDS went
through the roof, the "market" (it
never was a real market), froze.
Then there was Lehman.
What drove that crisis was fear
of the future, and the reason so
much money was required to bail
out the players ($2.7 trillion so
far) was that previously if you had
a "good credit score" you could
borrow short-term Treasures, and
buy an RMBS on 100% margin,
and make a fortune; then the
margins got called.
What happened was nothing
different from a gambler going
into a casino, borrowing from the
house, using that money to bet on
a "sure thing", and losing. Lucky
for the gambler the "house"
decided he was too big to fail - if
you or I were to do something like
that, we would be lucky to get
away with a pair of broken legs.
Now the future is threatening to
arrive:
There are two issues, (a) how
much of that $2.7 trillion paid out
mainly by the Fed (largely
without any oversight by
Congress) will get paid back, and
(b) what's going to happen to the
legacy banks who (then) had the
luxury of being able to "take a
view" on their portfolios of
"originate and hold", and make a
provision.
Right now the "reserves for
losses" of FDIC insured banks is
$211 billion on a portfolio of
$7.625 trillion of loans and leases
plus another $1.365 trillion of
RMBS. In the circumstances that
looks a tad light.
But the die is still rolling, and
where it ends up will determine
how much the "Too Big To Fail"
card-sharks pay back, and how
much of the $1.422 trillion of
equity capital of the FDIC banks
gets destroyed.
It's sometimes easy to forget
that in this war the front line is
foreclosures; although you
Economy/ 23
Like a ticking bomb?
Perhaps the bottom in house
prices was in May or perhaps
there will be another leg down,
but that's starting to be academic;
a bottom is somewhere in the
neighborhood. The story now is
foreclosures; that's what drove
house prices down to where they
are now and that's what will keep
them down. The acid on that cake
and the nightmare for anyone in
negative equity, is how many
there will be by the time this is all
over?
Since January 2005 over two
million homes in USA have been
foreclosed, that's about 1.7% of
the total housing stock.
Many of those were family ho
mes, so that's probab ly already
directly affected about 3.5% of
the American population.
This is the Bomb:
Right now in the USA there are
over two million mortgages in
either the first stage or the second
stage of foreclosure; a large
majority of those will end in
foreclosure. At the current rate of
"clearance" it will take two years
for all of those to be processed.
wouldn't think that from the news. And that's not counting new
All you get is occasional pretty ones getting added to the pipeline
charts from the Mortgage Bankers at a rate of about 100,000 a
Association with percentages (it's m o n t h . T h a t ' s c l e a r l y n o t
never quite clear of what), plus something that anyone thought
sound bites from the rating worth mentioning in the one
agencies like"the cure rate went hundred pages of turgid drivel
d o w n l a s t m o n t h " o r f r o m "The Industry" shoveled out over
RealtyTrac:"total filings went up the past three months; that I
last month". ploughed through to make sure I
From that trickle of managed, got it right (dear reader - just for
m a s s a g e d a n d c e n s o r e d you). And you wonder why there
dispatches, it sounds suspiciously is a credit crunch?
like somebody (or some-bodies),
is trying to hide something.
SIX page 25
24 Economy/
Six Million Home Foreclosures: Are FDIC Insured Banks the
Next Time Bomb? (Part 2)
(Financial Sector and Stocks
Analysis from Seeking Alpha)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:47:18 AM
How Many More to Come?
The issue is whether slowing
down foreclosures is simply
delaying the inevitable, or really
helping to mitigate the long-term
damage.
It's perhaps worth remarking
that when an "originate-to-hold"
mortgage goes bad (I estimate
those account for about 30% of
mortgages that are at risk), the
lender (directly) loses the
difference between the amount
outstanding on the loan and
whatever is recovered from
foreclosure. Theoretically they
also lose the prospect of future
income from interest payments,
but that's theoretical, that is not a
loss that they have to write down.
For an RMBS a foreclosure is
more damaging; obviously the
damage is initially concentrated
on the lower tranches; but a
significant part of the "face" value
of an RMBS is the capitalization
of future income streams.
That's why the analysts were
always so concerned about the
"deadbeats" who might pay their
mortgages back in full, in
advance; although that's not
something many people are
staying up all night worrying
about these days.
The rate of foreclosure thus hits
owners of RMBS (toxic assets) a
lot harder than "originate-to-
hold"; it is perhaps significant
(and alarming) that the Stress
Tests did not explicitly model
foreclosure rates, because that's
the real driver of losses.
What is clear now is (a) there is
a backlog, (b) it is likely to spill
over, and (c) there is a clear link
between the drivers of foreclosure
and negative equity, and although
there is "hope" that prices may
rise, it is highly likely that once
the moratorium gets lifted, final
foreclosures will rise, and that
will drive house prices down
more.
Where will it end up?
The "score" day-by-day is just a
distraction, what matters, is in the
end, where it ends up.
This chart shows the cumulative
number of 1st and Final filings,
the most likely outcome is that
that the "shape" of the cumulative
graph will be an "S" curve.
The shape of the 1st Stage line
pretty much perfectly "normal"
going up and it's likely it will be
"normal" going down, that is
shown in the dotted blue line,
suggesting that by the "end of
play" there will have been about 8
million 1st Stage filings.
The "Best-Case" dotted red line
is a "normal" progression from
where Final Stage foreclosures
ended up. The "Worst Case" is
based on the assumption that the
moratorium achieved about
nothing long term and the trend
will at some point revert to the
"natural" progression is driven by
the negative equity index, the line
is based on an average 0.5%
increase in the S&P Case-Shiller
going forward.
If the "worst-case" comes to
pass probably about 10% of the
population of USA will have been
evicted from their homes by the
Internet News Record
end of the credit crunch.
Working out what the final
score might be
A set of accounts is presented
like something set in stone, as if
for a moment time stood still and
those numbers reflect the true
financial position of a company.
In a world where not much
changes, that works great, but a
snapshot of a suicide bomber the
second before he pulls the trigger,
tells you nothing about what will
happen next. Evidence includes
the glowing financial statements
of Bear Stearns, Lehman, AIG,
Freddie ( FRE), and Fannie (
FNM), moments before they
exploded.
A set of accounts is a prediction
with all the uncertainty of a
crystal ball, particularly in the
case of a bank. The prediction is
how much assets held on the
books will be able to be sold for at
some unspecified time in the
future. Even a mark-to-market
valuation is a blind prediction of
the future, because that tells you
what you could have sold an asset
for yesterday, with the implicit
assumption that that is a
reasonable prediction for what
you could sell it for tomorrow.
Accountants, auditors, bankers,
bank regulators, will all tell you
that is not true, and that a set of
accounts is simply a catalogue of
events that happened in the past.
That is a dangerous delusion.
An example:
The Q2-2009 FDIC Quarterly
Banking Profile contains a line
item for MBS (probably mainly
RMBS), which are valued at
SIX page 27
Internet News Record
SIX
continued from page 23
The News Is, It Ain't Pretty
The headline data that is
typically released, for example by
RealtyTrac(i.e."360,000 Filings In
July") is an aggregation that has
to be disaggregated to make any
sense of it, there are three stages:
• Stage 1: A notice of default is
posted in the County Recorder's
Office
• Stage 2: A Notice of sale is
announced
• Final Stage: A public auction
supervised by the trustee who
transfers the deed.
The borrower can normally
"cure" the process at any point,
typically up to five days before
the date of sale, although some
mortgages give the lender the
power to push through to disposal
of the property as soon as the loan
becomes delinquent. In most
cases the process is non judicial
and governed by the wording of
the mortgage so there is no
requirement to involve the Courts
and the only option the borrower
has to stop or delay the process is
to pay up.
It's hard to get data, the best
source I found was Mark Hanson
plus there was data here and there
from RealtyTrac. This is what I
managed to cobble together:
That's not complete data,
presumably that exists somewhere
but it's not in the public domain.
The reason there are more 1st
Stage than 2nd Stage than Final
Stage is (a) because some
mortgages are cured (no hard data
on how many) and (b) because the
flow through from 1st to 2nd and
Final is not linear.
An optimist might say that it
looks like there is a top
developing since Stage 1 and
Final Stage are flattening; here are
some theories:
• That could perhaps be due to
the recent moratorium from Q-4
2008 through Q-2 2009; but
perhaps all that did was increase
the backlog, and cure rates for
those are going down (according
to Fitch).
• Another possible reason could
be that the "system" just can't
handle more than about 80,000
final foreclosures a month,
perhaps that's about the limit. In
2005 the average was less than
20,000 a month, 80,000 is a 400%
increase. For every foreclosure
somebody from the lender has to
show up and make decisions, the
trustee has to show up and
administer the auction and
transfer the deed, perhaps there
just aren't enough "somebody's"
who understand the procedures to
go round?
• There again it might be that the
lenders could be trying harder to
look for ways to modify loans so
that foreclosure can be avoided;
that takes time (putting together
an offer, squaring it away -
particularly if the loan is part of a
pool and the pool has covenants,
then getting an answer back from
the borrower, perhaps
negotiating).
• Or could it be that when a loan
goes from "Non-current" to "loss"
the banks or the service providers
in the case of RMBS or CDO,
have to book that number as a
loss, not a provision? And that
really messes up "mark-to-
fantasy" accounting.
Which?
This is a plot of the difference
between the S&P Case-Shiller 20
City Index and the final
foreclosure number with a six-
month lag, starting at the top
where it was 207 (i.e. in January
2008 the Index was 181, so the
difference is 26 and that's
compared to foreclosures in June
2008 on the chart (six months
later)). That's a measure of the
Negative Equity of households.
This is the way I read that chart:
• There is clearly a relationship
between Final Stage foreclosures
and the amount of"negative
equity"; also the moratorium had
an effect, if the trend line had
continued by now there would be
160,000 final foreclosures a
month (assuming there had been
enough capacity to deal with
them), so in that sense the
moratorium was a success, it
"saved" 570,000 homes from
foreclosure.
• It looks as if the moratorium
also slowed down the number of
1st Stage filings which appear
also to have stepped down from
where they were headed in July
and August last year, but are
clearly driven by the "negative
equity index", although thanks to
the moratorium, the effect of that
was from a lower base. So
perhaps 400,000 1st Stage filings
were "saved" there.
That appears to go against the
theory that the moratorium
encouraged or encourages people
to default.
It's interesting how bankers,
accountants and rating agencies
never seem to miss an opportunity
to blame their incompetence on
the innate dishonesty, lack of
personal ethics and downright
crookedness of ordinary
Americans, as if this whole thing
was caused by Liar Loans, i.e.
Liars. One of the turgid self-
satisfied reports I read was about
how the FBI "ought" to mobilize
up to catch the people who "lied"
as if that was what caused this
disaster. Well I've met a lot of
bankers, accountants and people
from rating agencies, and I've also
met a lot of ordinary Americans,
and I don't think that I need to
explain where my sympathies lie
in that department. The track of
the blue dots appears to prove my
point.
It is likely also that easing off
on foreclosures, was one, and
perhaps the only reason for the
recent "bounce" in the S&P Case-
Shiller Index (helped perhaps by
seasonal factors).
The Effect Of The Moratorium
The problem is that over the
past nine months, despite the
moratorium, another 1.2 million
new 1st Stage Fillings were made,
yet "only" 850,000 "left" the
system to foreclosure, so that's
another 350,000 in the system on
top of the estimated 1,750,000
that were in the system in the first
place (1st and 2nd Stage).
So that's 2,100,00 still "stuck" in
the system, less the "cures", which
are hard to gauge, I could not find
consistent data on that.
Although if you have gone past
the 1st Stage to once an auction
date has been set (2nd Stage), the
chances of modification or cure
are much less; and from the first
chart it is clear that the
moratorium had little or no effect
on the progression from 1st Stage
to 2nd Stage. That suggests that
unless new measures are brought
in, the system might simply be
playing catch up.
Part 2 >>
Gadgets/ 25
Thanko’s
peeing USB
wee man
By Serkan Toto (CrunchGear)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 2:41:07 AM
It’s Thanko time again. Today
the Tokyo-based crap gadget
company released another of their
weird inventions, the
Shoubenkozou[JP], a cupid-like
mini figure that for some reason is
able to “pee”. And needless to
say, the thing can be connected to
your computer’s USB port.
Thanko says the thing is
actually supposed to be a small
pump. Put the little guy on top of
the 1-liter tank that comes with
him and press a button. As a
result, the wee man starts peeing.
And this even works without
USB, as you can use batteries as
an alternative. Brilliant stuff again
from Thanko.
The Shoubenkozou is available
in four colors and costs $20. If
you live outside Japan and really
want to get one (I doubt it), wait
for Thanko to list the gadget in
the official English online store.
26 Economy/ Entertainment
What's Really Going on With Foreclosures?
(Financial Sector and Stocks
Analysis from Seeking Alpha)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:59:30 AM
Apparently I was wrong about
the impact of foreclosures when I
said that banks were holding onto
the properties and not placing
them on the market. It came to
light via Diana Olick, who I
respect at CNBC, in a report
yesterday. It is not that banks are
simply holding onto the
properties, they are just so
backlogged that they cannot get
them into the market fast enough.
According to the report, banks
are waiting as long as possible to
try keeping people in their homes
by using the Obama 'Making
Home Affordable' plan.
Unfortunately, people cannot
simply refinance when they are
unemployed or underemployed
which is the primary problem
now. Bank of America ( BAC)
told Diana that since most of the
properties are owned by third
party investors, the bank has an
obligation to place properties on
the market as soon as possible.
However, the sheer number of
foreclosures are the problem,
slowing the process of getting the
inventory on the market. What the
report did not comment on are the
homes that the banks still hold
mortgages on. For example my
bank actually holds my mortgage,
but if I was foreclosed on the
bank might not place my home on
the market and hold it until the
market improved. Clearly, most
Monday’s 'Jon & Kate Plus 8': A Family Divided
(ETonline - Breaking News)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 8:08:00 PM
Monday night's episode of "Jon
banks do not hold these
mortgages now as they were
securitized, but it raises the
question that if banks actually
held the mortgages would we
have these problems to begin
with. Furthermore, if the banks
held these mortgages would the
loans have been made and if they
were made would the bank work
harder to keep people in their
homes.
I think the answer is clear, if
banks held these mortgages we
would have less pain because
foolish loans would not have been
made. It's funny how banks
become more conservative with
their own money than they are
when they package the mortgages
up and sell them off to yield-
hungry investors. Unfortunately
we will never have a true answer
to that question as banks, mostly,
sold these mortgages off and
continue to do so.
LPS Applied Analytics says
there is no clear evidence of
purposeful accumulation by the
banks of these foreclosed
properties. They are, he believes,
working through the huge
onslaught of new defaults as fast
as possible, but it takes time. He
says they are selling REOs at a
fast clip as well, within about
three months of taking them as
REO.
Then he offered the following
very detailed chart of what’s
called “roll rates” or the rate at
which troubled loans are moving
through the system. Note the
& Kate Plus 8," found the family
split up between two parts of the
country.
Kate Gosselin took her three
Internet News Record
market is.
Let us not forget we still have
commercial real estate to contend
with which even the Fed is
worried about. That market is
much larger than the residential
market and there are lots of
institutions that hold these bonds.
It is said that the majority of CRE
outstanding will not be able to
refinance because values have
dropped so badly, 36% or so year-
over-year. Ordinarily the rollover
of commercial property into new
debt or loans was not a problem,
but when the existing loan value
is so much higher than the value
of the property no one will
refinance it. Actually, I am betting
the Fed will figure some way out
to refinance these properties. Why
not, since at this point it’s only
“average” is a four year average, are emerging. our money they are playing with.
and two of those years were the ( click to enlarge) The bottom line is that there are
worst ever in the mortgage Regardless, the foreclosed still major problems and while
market, so as Jadlos notes: h o m e s o n t h e m a r k e t a r e some data looks positive the
Just getting to the average isn’t approximately 1.5 million, which remaining data is negative. The
saying all that much. We need to sounds like a lot, and it is. negative data pretty much trumps
be close to the four year low to be However, the number of problem the positive data and points to
fully entrenched in a meaningful h o m e s t h a t a r e ‘ s e r i o u s l y lower prices. I know we will get a
recovery. Based upon foreclosure delinquent’ total an astounding much better view of this when the
and REO timelines, it’s going to 3 . 5 m i l l i o n . U n f o r t u n a t e l y incentives go away in November.
take at least 18 months to flush unemployment is still on the rise However, I am willing to bet there
t h e s y s t e m o f o u r c u r r e n t and that number should easily will be another program rolled out
problems. But to flush the increase in the near future which in either early winter or spring to
problems in only 18 months, more is a major problem. It also boost sales again. I am wondering
problem loans need to leave the indicates that the real estate how many people are suffering
system relative to the new market is still not even remotely from buyer’s remorse about their
problem loans of today and healthy and there will be more new home purchase especially
tomorrow. That does not appear to pain on the way. Once that tax when they get the property tax
be the case right now—we aren’t credit is gone I think we will see bill.
clearing faster than new problems just how weak the real estate
sons to a Wyoming dude ranch, Kate and the boys took part in shoot a gun.
while her estranged hubby Jon such activities as horseback riding
stayed behind with their five and hiking, and Kate did a little
daughters. target practice, learning how to
Internet News Record
SIX
continued from page 24
$1.365 trillion. In Q2-2008 it
reported that the value of MBS
that they held as assets, was
$1.322 trillion. But quite a lot
happened between Q2-2008 and
Q2-2009.
There is no easy way to find out
how those assets were valued,
although one suspects that they
are being held at "face" value
which is basically what they were
bought for. Or if not, perhaps for
example the MBS held in 2008
were re-valued at half of what
they were valued at then, (which
given the events that occurred
might have been "prudent"), then
perhaps they bought some more,
and that could explain why after
the biggest period of re-
examination of values of MBS
that occurred in history, the value
of FDIC holdings of MBS went
up 3.3%? Perhaps and perhaps
there are fairies at the bottom of
the garden?
There is no easy way to tell
from the accounts, there is no
easy way either to tell how many
of those "assets" were (once) the
"good stuff", i.e. the AAA
tranches distilled out of mortgage
pools and which were easy to sell,
and how much was the "really
toxic stuff" rated BBB and less,
that no one wanted to buy, and got
left behind.
It makes a difference, but the
casual observer doesn't get to see
that level of detail, he must rely
on statements like "I hereby
certify that these accounts
conform to US GAAP", and "The
US Banking System Is A Safe and
Sound One".
In the absence of any numbers
that I could understand, I decided
to work it out for myself, or at
least to work out how much the
loss is likely to be in the future,
when all of those foreclosures
have been auctioned off.
The numbers highlighted in
green are hard numbers, the rest
are estimates:
So who was "Too Big to Fail"?
Worst case - $1.56 trillion for
FDIC insured institutions!
It occurs to me that the potential
losses of FDIC insured banks
(some of which are "Too Big To
Fail", might well be more, much
more, than the potential losses of
the Shadow Banks (I'm of course
not counting the game of Mexican
Sweat they were playing with
CDS).
The bail-outs together with the
Stress Tests (un-stressful as they
were but that's just another word
for forbearance), saved the too big
to fail banks, there is no doubt
about that.
But that was "protection" from
an event that the market
anticipated might happen in the
future, namely foreclosures on
real estate, leading to losses.
A question that might profitably
be asked is what for?
Little of the $2.7 trillion that
was shoveled into the "Too Big to
Fail" banks has found it's way out
into lending to keep the US
economy moving; it appears that
the "gamblers" are quite happy to
make hay on the yield curve, and
making 125% LTV loans to hedge
funds (as if lending more money
than the collateral you stand to
collect if things go wrong, was
not something that caused the
credit crisis in the first place)?
Plus of course buying super-
computers to game the stock
markets.
Gadgets/ Entertainment
It's not clear to me what useful
economic function that serves?
And yet it looks to me like
perhaps the backbone of the
"legacy" banking system, that has
served America well for some
time, and that was not directly
implicated in the mass suicide
attempt that led to the current
crisis, is about to be exploded;
like a surplus to requirement hotel
in Las Vegas.
I'm not convinced that the $2.7
trillion (and the "unlimited"
trillions held in reserve), might
not have been better employed
saving those banks, than the
gambling dens.
Perhaps my numbers are
wrong?
That is very possible, after all
there is not a lot to work with.
If so, then doubtless someday
soon we can expect Secretary
Geithner or Chairman Sheila Bair
to take the stand, and declare "The
US Banking System Is A Safe
And Sound One"?
Disclosure: No positions.
27
Tom DeLay & Cheryl
Burke's Top-Secret
'DWTS' Rehearsal
(ETonline - Breaking News)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 3:44:00 AM
Only ET is with controversial
congressman Tom DeLay and his
pro partner Cheryl Burke for their
top-secret "Dancing with the
Stars" rehearsal!
The former Republican House
Majority Leader is shaking a leg
with two-time "DWTS" champ
Cheryl, and he jokes that he
pulled a few political strings to
land his partner!
"Well first of all, I lobbied for
her -- I wanted Cheryl Burke,"
Tom tells ET.

WD ships 7200RPM 2TB desktop hard drives: Caviar Black and RE4
By Darren Murph (Engadget) with a new pair of 7200RPM 2TB available 2TB Caviar Black, WD ships 7200RPM 2TB
Submitted at 9/1/2009 8:00:00 AM drives: the Caviar Black(shown while the RE4 awaits an MSRP as desktop hard drives: Caviar Black
left) and RE4 (shown right). Both it's "being qualified by OEMs." and RE4 originally appeared on
Surely you recall Western four-platter drives boast 64MB of Check the full release just past the Engadget on Tue, 01 Sep 2009
Digital's earlier 2TB effort, the cache, a dual stage actuator, break. 08:00:00 EST. Please see our
Caviar Green-- right? While said 3Gbps SATA interface and an Gallery: WD ships 7200RPM terms for use of feeds. Permalink|
drive was just perfect for the integrated dual processor. The 2TB desktop hard drives: Caviar Email this| Comments
c a s u a l s t o r a g e j u n k i e , latter also promises 1.2 million Black and RE4
performance gurus know that it hours MTBF, Active Power Save, Continue reading WD ships
left something to be desired on the a multi-axis shock sensor and a seeking long-term reliability. The 7200RPM 2TB desktop hard
speed front. Thankfully, WD is few other high-end advancements pain? Try $299 for the now- drives: Caviar Black and RE4
looking out for that crowd too designed for enterprise users Filed under: Storage
28 Economy/ Gadgets/ Sports Internet News Record

Metro Bancorp May Become a

Strong Secular Growth Story
(Financial Sector and Stocks hours and the elimination of bearing demand deposits by 10%,
Analysis from Seeking Alpha) nuisance fees, to free coin and interest-bearing demand
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:19:59 AM counting machines in every deposits (on which it paid an
branch. As a result, Commerce average interest rate of just 0.95%
This is not an especially sustained some of the strongest in the second quarter) by 11%.
opportune time to go looking for deposit growth in the industry These are the stable core deposits
opportunities in the community driven by market share gains from that represent long-term franchise
bank space. While some of the incumbents in its markets. This in value.
industry’s larger basket cases turn translated into enviable Metro isn’t immune to credit
have rallied heroically since earnings growth. deterioration, however. Over the
March, community banks’ worst Pennsylvania Commerce – now past year nonperforming assets
days are likely still in front of Metro – pursued the same strategy more than doubled from 0.65% of
them, since commercial real estate under the same brand in central assets to 1.61%. With CRE equal
tends to be their bread-and-butter Pennsylvania, a slower growing to 27% of total loans, and
and CRE has only just begun market. The pending acquisition
rolling over. of Philadelphia-based Republic
commercial loans equal to 52% of
total, nonperformers will likely Sony adopts Chrome as
If one is prepared to take a First Bancorp ( FRBK) will rise further. But reserves are a
longer-term view, however – hasten Metro’s move east, into the
looking for long-term value larger, wealthier, faster growing
respectable 1.33% of total loans,
and net charge-offs in the most
default browser for VAIO line
creation across economic cycles – markets that had been the home of recent quarter were just 0.04% By Vladislav Savov (Engadget) you start to see some clear lines
then an interesting franchise is Commerce Bancorp. annualized. Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:23:00 AM being drawn in the sand.
taking shape in Pennsylvania. This occurs against the With the move into more Intriguingly, Google is said to be
H a r r i s b u r g - b a s e d M e t r o backdrop of a bank industry that Google's Chrome was already pursuing similar distribution pacts
lucrative markets, and larger the default browser on the VAIO with other manufacturers, which
Bancorp ( METR) was until this binged on de novo branching in banks pulling in their horns on
year known as Pennsylvania the middle part of this decade, and NW we handled a month ago, and would place Internet Explorer's
branch expansion, Metro stands a now the Financial Times delivers stranglehold on the uninitiated
Commerce Bancorp, trading is now retrenching. Across the good chance to emerge as one of
under ticker COBH. As such, the country, expect to see branches c o n f i r m a t i o n o f a w i d e r user under threat. Your move,
the strongest secular growth distribution deal between the Microsoft.
bank had the distinction of being a closing not only due to merger stories in the banking industry.
franchise of Cherry Hill, NJ-based and acquisitions, but also because search giant and Sony. According [Thanks, Matt]
The next few quarters are going to to the report, new VAIO laptops
Commerce Bancorp, acquired by many recently-opened branches be rough for community banks. Filed under: Desktops, Laptops,
Toronto Dominion ( TD) in 2007. were ill-conceived and have little and desktops will come with Software
Still, with the stock trading at a Chrome preinstalled -- an
Under founder and CEO Vernon hope of gaining sufficient deposits 7% discount to tangible book Sony adopts Chrome as default
Hill, Commerce reinvented many to justify their costs. As larger "experimental" arrangement -- browser for VAIO line originally
value of $17.97, Metro is very and, most importantly, will appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01
aspects of retail banking, from players retrench, Metro stands to interesting from a long-term
more convenient branch locations benefit. default to Google for both their Sep 2009 09:23:00 EST. Please
perspective. homepage and search queries. see our terms for use of feeds.
and more welcoming branch In the year ended June 30 th, Disclosure: No positions
interiors, to expanded branch Metro grew its non-interest Pair this with the agreement to Read| Permalink| Email this|
bring over a million Google Comments
Books to Sony's e-readers, and

Small Town Coach, Big-Time Hero

By David Whitley (FanHouse)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 10:45:00 PM
by David Whitley
Filed under: High School Sports
The story wasn't much of blip on
the sports radar. A football coach
in Alabama suffered chest pains
during a game and died on the
way to the hospital.
It wasn't Nick Saban or anybody
you'd know. It was Keith Howard,
whose name you'll probably
forget as soon as you click off this
screen.
There are more pressing stories
to get to, like Rich Rodriguez's
tears or Joba Chamberlain's pitch
count or whether T.O.'s ailing toe
will make an appearance in this
week's reality episode.
Small Town Coach, Big-Time
Hero originally appeared on
Fanhouse Main on Mon, 31 Aug
2009 22:45:00 EST . Please see
our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Linking
Blogs| Comments
Internet News Record Gadgets/ 29

15 Snow Leopard Tricks You Have to Try [Snow Leopard]

By Adrian Covert (Gizmodo) zone—and clock's
Submitted at 9/1/2009 7:00:00 AM time—accordingly.
Preview a File Inside Its Icon: If
Snow Leopard is finally reaching hitting the space bar for a "quick
the masses. As much as we like it, look" is too much for you, try the
though, the interface feels awfully in-icon previews. Just roll your
similar to its predecessor. Here cursor over a video or audio file
are 15 tricks to check out that are and a play button will appear.
undeniably new—and even a little PDFs show arrows, letting you
exciting: leaf through their pages. In most
Sync Contacts with Gmail and folders, there's a slider that lets
Yahoo: No longer just for syncing you scale icons up to a massive
with the iPhone and Mobile Me, 512x512 pixels, presumably to
the Contacts app can now talk to make this file preview seem in
your Yahoo and Gmail address any way rational.
books, and pull down your contact Annotate This!: The
info. It's as simple as going into increasingly useful Preview now
Contacts preferences and hitting has a bar at the bottom of the
the Accounts tab. for when your computer goes to and save, with a visual navigation use. Instead of saying it's just window full of various annotation
Show Date In Menu Bar: If, like sleep, you can now choose how timeline for easy edits, not to busy, it tells you what app is using tools, such as shapes, highlighter,
me, you're too lazy to click on the long your computer snoozes mention that other pro perk, it. Apple also promises ejecting in memos, underline, strikeout and
clock, or launch widgets, or just before the password requirement viewing movies in full-screen. general is just "more reliable." hyperlink. Useful for the
make use of your God-gifted actually kicks in. This means you Upload to YouTube From Recover Trashed Files: If you bookworms out there who are
memory, you can now set the can more easily have the privacy QuickTime X: Now you can accidentally sent an item to the deal with texts in digital formats.
clock to display full date in the of a darkened monitor without the upload directly to YouTube from trash that you want to replace, you Perhaps it also hints at the Apple
Menu Bar, just go into Date and pain of having to key in your QuickTime X. Just open any don't have to go in and then drag Tablet's Preview app, because a
Time Preferences and adjust. password every time you step video file then go up to the menu it to wherever you had it before (if device that goes up against a
Smart Text Formatting and away. These settings are under the bar and click Share. That same you even remember). Now you Kindle would need something like
Correcting on the Fly: Snow Security preference pane. menu lets you upload movies just control-click on the trashed this (along with, you know, a five-
Leopard has a number of text- Google and Yahoo Support in directly to MobileMe, and convert item and select "Put Back." day battery life).
based enhancement for apps like iCal: iCal is now much easier to movies to iProduct-friendly Problem solved. Chinese Character Input: This
T e x t E d i t , i C h a t a n d M a i l add calendars from Google and formats to send to iTunes. Airport Signal Strength: isn't really a feature the majority
including spelling auto-correct, Yahoo. No hacks or third-party QuickTime X Video Capture: Windows users have long been of us will use, but rather a demo
and text substitution, which lets software necessary. You just add H o w m u c h d o w e l o v e accustomed to this, but when of what's possible with Apple
you use shorter macros in place of a new account under preferences QuickTime X? It now also has you're looking for free wi-fi to input technology. You can use the
longer words and phrases. The and select your service of choice. video capture direct from the steal and wanna get an idea of t r a c k p a d t o w r i t e C h i n e s e
spell corrector is limited to (Suit-wearers take note: Exchange iSight camera, any FireWire video what's most reliable, you can now characters and have them appear
commonly misspelled words, but support is here as well.) camera or any audio input. Better get an idea before you connect. It as computer text, just hit Ctrl-
the text substitution is yours to Edit Videos in QuickTime X: still, it can record the action really took Apple this long to add Shift-Space Bar. Pretty neat idea,
define. Just control-click in the QuickTime Pro users have long happening on your screen, and this? and perhaps something else that
text entry field for any of the been able to edit and convert save that as a movie too. A A u t o m a t i c T i m e - Z o n e might come in handy with a
aforementioned apps to toggle the videos without launching the riveting one, to be sure. Detection: If you're jet setting tablet.
features on or off, and visit the h e a v i e r m o v i e a p p s . W i t h Smarter Drive Eject: Half bug around the world with regularity, There are, of course, even more
Text section of the Language & QuickTime X, Apple has done fix, half user enhancement, Snow you can allow Snow Leopard to tricks and new features. If you
Text system pref for tweaking. away with that nasty fee. Yep, Pro Leopard now tells you exactly detect your location using Wi-Fi have any good ones you want to
Password Log-In Delay: If you is dead. Now everyone can trim why it can't eject a drive that's in hotspots, and adjust the time share, you know how to do it.
have password protection enabled
30 Gadgets/
Windows Mobile 6.5 cellphones coming
October 6th
By Darren Murph (Engadget)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:42:00 AM
Unfortunately for those on the
hunt for nitty-gritty details, the
headline here just about says it all.
In a shockingly vague release
from Microsoft, the Redmond-
based giant has announced that
the first batch of Windows Mobile
6.5 handsets will launch on
October 6th, or around three
weeks after its Zune HD. If we're
reading this correctly, it looks as
if this round of cellies will be the
first to be called "Windows
phones," and aside from
promising "new customer
experiences" and superior
browsing capabilities, they'll also
Woot! Two-pack of giant remotes for $5
By Doug Aamoth
(CrunchGear)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 7:00:07 AM
Boy, oh boy. Here’s the best deal
going on those jaw-droppingly
large universal remotes that your
grandpa used to switch between
Matlock and Wheel of Fortune.
Woot.com is selling not one, but
two — two! — gigantic remotes
for just $5, plus $5 shipping.
So in the event that you
somehow manage to lose one,
which would be damn near
impossible, you’ll have another
feature Windows Marketplace for
Mobile (an app store), Microsoft
My Phone (a backup service) and
Office Mobile. As for what
phones we'll see, all we're told is
that HTC, HP, LG, Samsung,
one at the ready. Or use one in the
living room and the other in the
bedroom, keeping in mind that
it’ll take up about as much space
Internet News Record
Toshiba, Sony Ericsson and a few
other big time players are
onboard, with just about every
carrier in the world (save for T-
Mobile USA) also voicing their
support.
[Via MobileTechWorld]
Filed under: Cellphones,
Software
Windows Mobile 6.5 cellphones
coming October 6th originally
appeared on Engadget on Tue, 01
Sep 2009 09:42:00 EST. Please
see our terms for use of feeds.
Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
CDMA HTC Hero spied without
signature chin - Hot or Not?
By Matt Burns (CrunchGear) seem to be solid proof that this
version of the phone will be
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:30:47 AM
available on Sprint or Verizon
The HTC Hero is undoubtedly though and could be headed to a
in your bed as an actual person the best looking Android device. different market. IDK, maybe I do
and rolling over on it in the Don’t even try to argue with that like it.[080.net via EngMobile]
m i d d l e o f t h e n i g h t m a y fact. But the CDMA-variant of the Does the redesigned HTC Hero
necessitate a trip to the hospital. Hero might be radically different. do it for you?
The remote itself controls up to So much, that I’m not sure if I dig • Nope, the other version is sleek
eight different devices. However, it. Right now the Internet is and clean
i f y o u ’ r e i n t h e t a r g e t aflutter with ohs and ahs about the • Yessir, brushed metal and no
demographic for this thing, you redesigned phone, but I think it chin is hot
probably own a single TV and one looks like a cheap, Chinese View Results
of those newfangled digital redesign. Who knows, maybe it
converter boxes. And cats. You will grow on me. There doesn’t
own many, many cats.
Ridiculously Large 8-Device
Universal Remote - 2 Pack
[Woot.com]
Internet News Record Tech/ 31

An author's guide to the Google Books flap

By Tom Krazit (Webware.com)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:00:00 AM

If they don't opt out of Google's

settlement with book publishers
and authors by Friday, authors
will have to make decisions about
how to display their content in
Google Book Search.(Credit:
Screenshot by Tom Krazit/CNET)
The issues surrounding Google's
Book Search settlement are
among the most complex
surrounding the company this
year: what do authors need to
know about their rights and
responsibilities?
Google has scanned over 10
million books since 2004 in
participation with libraries and
publishers in hopes of creating a
unique digital library and
storefront, and if its pending
settlement with books rights
holders is approved next month at
a hearing, Google will be able to Google entered into book- the right to display books it has publisher to see if you're a percent of both the revenue that
make a far greater portion of those scanning projects with several already scanned in a variety of member of the Partner Program Google makes from the sale of
works available through its search publishers and universities around ways depending on the status of and how your work is displayed. your book through Google Books,
engine. Friday is the deadline for 2003 with the goal of the book and the wishes of rights If your book is out-of-print, it's as well as 63 percent of the ad
authors to decide if they want to transforming dusty old books into holders. a little trickier. As a result of the revenue linked to that book. That
participate in the settlement. searchable sources of data. How do I know if I'm affected settlement Google has to offer revenue can be claimed at any
The settlement has drawn Google believed it was within its by this settlement? you the opportunity to decide time, and will be held by the
attention and criticism from rights under fair-use laws to scan If you've written a book since how, or if, you'd like that book Books Rights Registry set up as
groups such as library ethicists books that were out-of-print but 1923 that was published in the displayed in Google Books, as part of the settlement to distribute
and academics for the way it still protected by copyright law so U.S., you're probably eligible if well as whether you want to claim payments to authors until it is
concentrates control of this as long as it only presented a you hold the copyright license compensation for Google's claimed.
potentially wondrous public good snippet of each book within (some "for-hire" authors cede this digitization of your works as a What if I don't want Google to
in the hands of a for-profit Google Search. In cases where to publishers, such as with multi- member of the class. display my entire book?
company. The Department of Google has cut deals with author technical manuals and the What do I get if I participate in You have several choices under
Justice is also taking a look at the publishers, it's allowed to show a like). Check with your publisher the settlement? the settlement regarding how
settlement, which has the much broader portion of the book to be sure, but note the settlement If you fill out a claim form at Google is allowed to display your
potential to throw a large if the rights holder gives consent. only covers books published on or the Web site set up to administer book. You can ask Google to
roadblock ahead of the project. The Authors Guild and before January 5, 2009. the settlement, you'll get $60 per display the whole thing and
Authors, however, have a few Association of American If your book is still in print, work that Google has already charge for online access to the
choices to make as they ponder Publishers disagreed with Google has had to ask you or your digitized as well as options as to book, ask Google to display just a
Friday's deadline. Here's a Google's interpretation of publisher for explicit permission how that work will be displayed preview copy with links to
sampling of what they need to copyright laws, and filed a class- to scan and display your book. in Google Book Search. Claims bookstores where it can be found,
know: action lawsuit in 2005. The parties Several publishers have cut deals for the cash payments must be have just a few snippets included,
Why does Google have a copy settled in October with an with Google to display and submitted by January 5, 2010.
of my book? agreement that could give Google distribute books. Check with your You're also entitled to 63 AUTHOR'S page 33
32 Tech/ Internet News Record

Yahoo Messenger 10 beta: A legitimate Skype rival?

By Jessica Dolcourt
(Webware.com)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 8:09:00 PM

It seems like just yesterday that

Yahoo's Messenger team rolled
out version 9(it was a little less
than a year ago, in fact.) The
upgrade was so dramatic and
overdue that it's a little surprising
Yahoo has already tweaked its
chat client, now parading Yahoo
Messenger 10 beta to beta testers
and curious chatters. We're glad
they did. Even though the changes
may not please everyone
uniformly, nor should they incite
ire. The features build off Yahoo
Messenger 9 and emphasize social
networking and improved video
calling.
You'll be able to learn more
about the social networking
aspects from the gallery above.
This post will focus on the video
features.
VoIP and PC-to-landline calls
aren't new to Yahoo Messenger,
but the icon that calls out video start a casual video call if the app and file-sharing, however, slowed MB memory. A Webcam is This bug reminders us that beta
chats is. Most of the major IM is already running, rather than fire to a crawl as the call progressed. mandatory to output video calls software is often a work-in-
clients support voice-over-Internet up Skype. Admittedly, our tests This seems to be the reverse of (but not to see a buddy's video. progress.(Credit: Screenshot by
calls with Web cams. It is Yahoo's were limited by the callers' Skype, in which chatting has, in You will, however, receive an Jessica Dolcourt/CNET)
attention to video quality makes proximity to each other, fast data the past, often transmitted faster alert on your end.) The final One more complaint: The new
this build a closer competitor to connections, and strong than the voice packets. Again, ingredient we'll mention is having Yahoo Messenger 10 beta doesn't
Skype for Windows, which is a computing configurations. We'll being in the same city, let alone the latest version of Microsoft appear to play nicely with all third
VoIP client first, enriched by need to keep up the calling with a the same country, could at least DirectX installed. Yahoo provides party IM clients. We noticed
chatting, file sharing, emoticons, cross-section of international partly explain the reversal. a full list of specs and tips in their when chatting with a buddy who
and games. Yahoo Messenger users to get a more accurate In addition to both parties help topics. Yahoo's Messenger uses Digsby, that each line we
(and Windows Live Messenger, litmus. Since the improved video needing Yahoo Messenger 10 beta team provides some common type was replicated in the chat
etc. for that matter,) are chat apps calling only works with other on their Windows computers, FAQs and video tips here window. Odd, yes, and also
at the core that have layered on Yahoo Messenger 10 beta users, there are some basic system Briefly, some of the other video irritating over time. Not all users
other P2P features. we may have to wait for further requirements. You'll need features include toggling the chatting between Yahoo
Skype is still ahead in terms of adoption to test these Windows XP at least, with a 1 sound on and off and shifting the Messenger 10 beta and a different
total features, like screen sharing, theories.(Credit: Screenshot by GHz CPU processor and 512 MB position of the Web cam windows chat client will encounter
its most recent contribution to the Jessica Dolcourt/CNET) of RAM. Your broadband internet on your screen. These problems, but if you do, let us
VoIP community. However, the Proximity notwithstanding, will require a minimum of 300 convenience tools worked well know.
Web chatting experience was there were some performance Kbps download speed and a and gave the app some depth; we Want to see more screenshots
good enough on Yahoo issues. The call quality was clear minimumand 128 Kbps upload also liked being able to transfer and feature details? We've got
Messenger 10 beta in our tests and the videos were as crisp as (test both here). Then there's the files in full screen mode, even
that we might prefer to use it to our hardware allowed. Chatting video card. You'll need at least 96 though photo transfers were slow. YAHOO page 33
Internet News Record
AUTHOR'S
continued from page 31
or exclude your books entirely
from Google Book Search.
If you participate in the
settlement, you've also authorized
Google to use your book for non-
display purposes that include
internal testing and bibliographic
information unless you
specifically request otherwise
when you claim your payout.
Books that do not get claimed
by their rights holders will have
20 percent of their pages
displayed as a preview.
I can't believe anybody would
pay money for that old book I
wrote, but why not? How do I
sign up?
You can claim your books here.
You must claim the books by
January 5, 2010 if you want the
$60 per book, but you'll be
automatically included in the
settlement class unless you opt
out by Friday.
Do I get to set the price for my
book?
You have two choices: you can
set your own price or allow
Google to set the price using one
of its famous algorithms to figure
out where your book will make
the most revenue.
I don't want anything to do with
this settlement. How do I tell
Google?
If you wish to completely opt
out of the settlement, you have to
let Google know by Friday here.
YAHOO
continued from page 32
plenty in the Yahoo Messenger 10
beta gallery. .
Originally posted at The
Download Blog
Opting out of the settlement
allows you to sue Google for
digitizing your out-of-print book.
You can also ask Google to avoid
scanning your book if it already
hasn't (at least until April 5, 2011)
as well as remove any instances of
your book from Google Book
Search.
Why should I keep my book in
Google Books?
The project has the potential to
dramatically reinvent the concept
of what it means to be a book.
Books that are searchable and that
can link to one another could pay
enormous dividends for
researchers, who will get access to
the catalog of books as part of the
settlement.
It could also mean a little bit of
money in your pocket and extend
the life of an older book that is
gathering dust on a library shelf.
Is Google the only place that's
going to offer this kind of service?
No one really knows, but
nobody else is scanning books on
this scale, and few are believed to
have the financial resources to
attempt such a project.
Google's rights under the
settlement are nonexclusive, in
that anyone can negotiate for
scanning and display rights with
the nonprofit Books Rights
Registry. But no one has stepped
forward as of yet, and there's only
a handful of tech companies with
the cash resources and business
models (Microsoft? Yahoo?
Apple? Amazon?) that would
allow them to consider such a
project: Microsoft has scaled back
its book-scanning efforts in recent
years.
What happens if the settlement
is rejected?
Who knows. Judge Denny Chin
of the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York
will review all the filings in
support or objection to the
settlement following Friday's
deadline, and oversee a final
hearing in October to determine
the fate of the settlement. The
Justice Department is also
reviewing the settlement for
possible "anticompetitive
practices."
It seems pretty obvious that if
the settlement is thrown out,
rights holders won't be bound by
the terms of the settlement. What
seems likeliest is that the Authors
Guild and other groups will
renegotiate a settlement on
different terms, but the issue
could conceivably wind up back
in court, delaying the project
indefinitely while Google
continues to scan books.
Originally posted at Relevant
Results
Tech/ 33
Front Row performance
on the mini takes a dive
with Snow Leopard
By Aron Trimble (The upgrade the Mac mini in my
Unofficial Apple Weblog living room. Aside from being a
(TUAW)) full-time webserver, I also rely on
Submitted at 9/1/2009 10:00:00 AM it for multimedia functionality as
well.
Filed under: Bugs/Recalls, Mac Some folks with complaints
mini, Snow Leopard Here's an have found solace in either Plex
interesting feature of Snow or Boxee as these fine media
Leopard that you may or may not players do not rely on QuickTime
(probably not) find particularly or iTunes. For most though, a
useful. Apparently after upgrading working Front Row would be
to 10.6 several users at the Apple ideal. Personally, I have not
Discussion Forums -- mostly checked for problems with Front
owners of Mac mini or MacBook Row since my multimedia Mac
m o d e l s w i t h t h e G M A 9 5 0 hasn't been upgraded. However, I
g r a p h i c s s u b s y s t e m - - a r e did note some wonkiness on
reporting poor performance with another machine when using
Front Row. QuickLook to playback some
The performance issue seems to video files through Finder. I have
effect navigation as well as a sneaking suspicion there is
playback, resulting in jerky something going on related to
video/audio in the menu and when QuickTime X being used by other
watching a movie. This is also not programs (i.e. FrontRow or
limited to pesky DiVx files or QuickLook). What say you dear
QuickTime plug-ins either, as readers? Is your Front Row
some users are reporting seeing experience causing you grief or
t h e p r o b l e m w i t h i T u n e s are you simply smirking because
purchases and others are even you haven't received your pre-
running a completely stock order upgraded yet?
installation. Interestingly enough, Thanks to Ivey for sending this
some of the same users with Front in via Twitter.
Row issues are not seeing the TUAW Front Row performance
same problems when playing back on the mini takes a dive with
with QuickTime X. Snow Leopard originally
In my opinion, this is not much appeared on The Unofficial Apple
of a surprise following such a Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep
major upgrade to many of the 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see
OS's underpinnings -- including our terms for use of feeds.
an overhaul to QuickTime on Read| Permalink| Email this|
which Front Row is largely based. Comments
This is the reason I did not
34 Tech/ Game Internet News Record

USPTO: Using Three Knowledge How Far Should Google

Bases To Diagnose Is Patentable Go To Protect User
By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) been settled, and Shafer really just exactly three knowledge bases.
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:23:08 AM needs to post a link to ABL's
"response" to his claims.
Shafer and others are already
pushing back on that and hoping
Privacy In Lawsuits?
Back in June, we wrote about the But the more disturbing part is to still invalidate the patent. By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) court) via email at legal-
rather horrifying situation that Dr. that the USPTO has upheld the Mullin notes that Ted Shortliffe, Submitted at 8/31/2009 7:34:00 PM support@google.com by 5pm
Bob Shafer found himself in, '988 patent in question, despite president of the American Pacific Time on September 16,
facing a patent lawsuit over a over 200 pages of prior art Medical Informatics Association, We've already discussed the 2009, Google will assume you do
fantastic resource of HIV-related submitted by Shafer and his has joined Shafer in pointing out ridiculous circumstances under not have an objection to
data that he had been putting lawyers. Why? Even though how ridiculous the idea that which a model, Liskula Cohen, production of the requested
together for years, and which the doctors had used databases to help "three" knowledge bases makes ended up getting a judge to order information and may provide
community of HIV researchers choose therapies to treat various some sort of meaningful Google to reveal an anonymous responsive documents on this
have used for years. Shafer's ailments for decades before the difference: This is a trivial blogger who Cohen felt defamed date. Some are making a big
employer, Stanford University, first relevant patent application at distinction without a practical her by calling her a "skank," "First Amendment" deal out of
was threatened by a company, issue was filed in 1998, Hughes difference since multiple among other things. That no this, but it's not clear that's such a
Advanced Biological said the '988 patent should be knowledge bases could be merged longer anonymous blogger, huge deal. Google, as a private
Laboratories, claiming that the allowed. Her reasoning: the prior into a single entity and have long Rosemary Port, is now planning company, can choose to reveal
database violated its patents ( art references didn't distinguish a been separated into multiple to sue Google, though it seems that information, and appears to
6,188,988 and 6,081,786) on system with exactly three representations largely for her chances of winning are slim to be properly notifying the people
using databases for diagnostic "knowledge bases." And that computational convenience and none. Still, the whole thing did in question of the legal situation
decisions -- even though HIVdb distinction alone--having three clarity. Honestly, can someone raise questions about the level to and allowing them to respond.
predated either patent. There was "knowledge bases"--is a explain how the USPTO is which Google should go to But, of course, some insist that
some back and forth, and Stanford patentable advance, Hughes employing people who think that protect the anonymity of people Google should stand up for the
settled the dispute (much to decided. Yes, you read that right. having three knowledge bases who use its services. privacy rights of its users, and
Shafer's dismay) and a separate Even though people have used turns using knowledge bases for This issue is getting more there's an argument to be made
lawsuit commenced against such knowledge bases for diagnostic purposes into a attention, as Google has there. How far should Google be
Shafer himself, after he refused to decision making for quite some patentable invention? apparently alerted some expected to go to defend the
abide by the terms of the original time, the fact that we're talking Permalink| Comments| Email anonymous Caribbean journalists privacy of its users in the face of a
settlement. about three knowledge bases This Story that it may hand over their court order or subpoena? Given
Joe Mullin has an update on the suddenly makes it patentable. information due to a defamation Google's reputation as being user
situation and the one bit of good Because without patents, no one lawsuit filed against the friendly, many would expect it to
news is that the lawsuit itself has would have ever thought to use journalists, concerning their go quite far, but is that
investigations into corruption in reasonable? Is there a balance
Raystorm HD footage blasts onto the scene the famed vacation resort Turks &
Caicos Islands. One of the people
between obeying court orders and
subpoenas and fighting for its
By Alexander Sliwinski new dress to wear to the futuristic [Via Siliconera] accused of being involved in the users' rights? Or should Google
(Joystiq) barn dance ... that's full of Continue reading Raystorm HD corruption filed the lawsuit, and always default to defending its
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:00:00 AM explosions, we guess. footage blasts onto the scene Google sent the site a letter, users' rights as far as possible?
A non-HD video of the original Raystorm HD footage blasts saying: To comply with the law, Permalink| Comments| Email
Although we're still confused Raystorm can be found after the onto the scene originally appeared unless you provide us with a copy This Story
about Raystorm HD's Stateside b r e a k . T h e n e w g a m e w i l l on Joystiq on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 of a motion to quash the subpoena
shmupping plans, it hasn't stopped allegedly come with worldwide 06:00:00 EST. Please see our (or other formal objection filed in
the Japanese from getting a new online rankings and, according to terms for use of feeds.
teaser video of the shooter onto Siliconera, "an area for players to Read| Permalink| Email this|
Famitsu. The update isn't a full- post replay data." We're still Comments
blown graphics overhaul like trying to confirm if the game is
other HD-ifications we've seen, coming this fall to XBLA and
but the game does get a pretty PSN in North America.
Internet News Record
Google reforms Chrome for Snow
Leopard
By Stephen Shankland
(Webware.com)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 6:41:00 PM
Google released an update for
Chrome to fix compatibility
problems with Snow Leopard on
Monday, which along with other
fixes shows the gradually
maturing state of the Mac OS X
version of the browser.
Chrome 4.0.203.4 for the Mac is
only a couple notches up the
version ladder than the version
4.0.203.2 it replaces, but there are
some significant changes in the
developer-preview software. For
Snow Leopard compatibility,
programmers fixed a garbled text
bug, said Jonathan Conradt, a
Chrome engineering program
manager, in a blog post Monday.
Google began Chrome on
Windows but has been gradually
moving it to Linux and Mac OS
X. Those versions so far are still
only developer-preview
incarnations not ready for prime
time yet, though I find myself
gradually slipping over to Chrome
on my Mac system now that it's
getting mature enough for me. I
suspect a beta version isn't far off.
Google is fleshing out some
basic features, though. One user-
StayInvisble Catalogs Free Proxy Servers to Keep You Anonymous [Proxy]
By Jason Fitzpatrick
(Lifehacker)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:30:00 AM
Looking to add a little more encryption.
stealth and a little less "Here I am,
world!" to your web browsing? proxy lists provide little else. StayInvisible has lists of proxy
interface tweak enables support
for command- and shift-clicking.
Another feature coming to the
Mac is support for the tab-to-
search feature in the omnibox.
That lets you perform a site search
directly from the address bar by
typing a URL, for example
news.cnet.com, then the tab key,
then search terms.
Tab-to-search also works with
Amazon, Google, Google News,
and Yahoo, The New York
Times, but not Bing yet. I search a
lot, and this saves me one step and
waiting for a page to load just so I
can click in its search bar.
The tab-to-search feature has
arrived on Chrome for Mac OS X,
too.(Credit: Screenshot by
Stephen Shankland/CNET)
StayInvisible not only catalogs
free proxy servers but provides
tools to test proxies and
information about anonymity and
Many resources that provide
The most annoying issue I've
found--and let me know if I'm
missing something obvious here--
is that I lose the file-upload dialog
box while using Gmail with
Chrome on Mac OS X if I switch
away from the application while
halfway through. If I don't attach
a file immediately, that tab's
instance of Gmail becomes
useless because I can't get back to
it.
Performance still is an issue
with the Mac version, though. I
was pleased to see some work on
new-tab creation speed, with
programmer Mark Mentovai
using various changes to work the
time from 1-3 seconds down to a
fifth of a second.
Google is working hard to
spread Chrome, though it has
small market share at present. It's
now installed as the default
browser on some Sony laptops, as
Endgadget noticed in July with
the Vaio NW, and I heard about
earlier in August.
Google has been advertising the
browser as well and is at work
making it the foundation of its
Chrome OS.
Originally posted at Deep Tech
Tech/ Tech Tips/ 35
The Good And Bad Of
Banks Too Big To Fail
Getting Bigger...
By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) with that sort of systematic risk
Submitted at 8/31/2009 9:21:00 PM (and, no, putting in place a
"systematic risk" manager, as we
Ever since the whole financial keep hearing, isn't going to fix the
crisis began, and the concept of problem), it should come as no
"too big to fail" became a surprise that these banks still have
c o m m o n p h r a s e , I ' v e b e e n such risks.
wondering why the US gov't But, the fact that, by
didn't set up a simple provision in themselves, these banks are
any bailout procedure: if you are growing isn't a bad sign. Given
too big to fail, and because of that what the government has done,
need a gov't bailout, then a part of it's actually a good sign. You
that bailout means you need to should be a lot more upset if, after
become small enough to fail. I the government gave these banks
think it's a perfectly reasonable so much money, they went out
suggestion that has been pretty and lost it all. Instead, many of
much totally ignored. them have at least put it to good
So, when news came out that use (and some have returned
the biggest banks, the ones money to the government at
deemed "too big to fail," are now decent interest rates -- though, the
getting even bigger, you might amount returned still is a blip
think that I'd view that as a bad compared to the amount at risk).
sign. And... partly, I do. But not The real issue isn't the size of
for the reasons you might expect. the banks, but how interconnected
The issue of "too big to fail" isn't they are. But little to nothing has
the bottom line size of the bank, it been done to take on that problem
was about how interconnected it -- which is a bad thing. However,
was in the rest of the economy, given that, it's at least a decent
and how any ripple effects of a sign that these banks we've given
f a i l u r e w o u l d d a m a g e so much money to are actually
(significantly) other parts of the doing better these days.
economy. But, since the Permalink| Comments| Email
government has done pretty much This Story
next to nothing to actually deal
servers as well as online tools for terms used, and basic text
testing just how anonymous your encryption tool.
connection is: proxy checkers, IP Have a favorite proxy site or
verifiers, and email testers. In program? Sound off in the
addition to the proxy tools they comments. StayInvisible[via
also have a proxy encyclopedia to MakeUseOf]
help you decipher the various
36 Tech/ Internet News Record

Opera 10 browser is here

By Jessica Dolcourt The refreshed user interface is 40 percent faster than version 9.6-
(Webware.com) also noteworthy. Joining the new -before switching on Turbo's
Submitted at 8/31/2009 11:09:00 PM default skin (changed from compression.
version 9.6), are changes to tab Despite all the additions that
(Credit: Opera Software) bar behavior. The conventional Opera hopes will keep Opera 10
The Opera 10 browser is now tabs double as thumbnail images. competitive, there are still two
ready to download for Windows, Double-click the thin gray bar notable omissions for this final
and Mac, and Linux, three months below the tabs (indicated by dots) release. The first is Opera Unite,
after the beta first emerged (hands or click and drag to expand open which uses your browser as a
-on Opera 10 beta review). tabs into preview windows that Web server for sharing your
If you've been keeping up with you can navigate by clicking content with others. The second is
the beta updates, the final build of among them. the Carakan JavaScript engine
the cross-platform browser Other enhancements include an that promises to process
shouldn't surprise you. Opera expanded Speed Dial (a feature JavaScript about 2.5 times as fast
Turbo, the browser's much- that has later been adopted and as the engine used in Opera 10
publicized compression engine for adapted in Google's Chrome applicable to any text field (for 51 newer version of Opera alpha.
slow-poke connections, remains a b r o w s e r ) t h a t s h o w s m o r e languages), and that Opera's Dragonfly, the publisher's online Related story: Opera 10 browser
feature highlight. Opera claims commonly visited Web pages than incorporated e-mail client takes a development tools, but everyone to emerge Tuesday
that Opera Turbo runs the browser in previous Opera browsers. page from Google's books by can benefit from the speedier Originally posted at The
up to eight times faster on You're also able to customize it threading e-mail conversations. rendering engine that, according Download Blog
suffering connections than do with a background picture. You'll Developers get access to a to Opera, makes version 10 up to
competing browsers. see that spell check will be

Pretweeting: Twitter Gets a Prediction Market

By Ben Parr (Mashable!)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 9:43:41 PM
Think you know what the next
hot Twitter trend will be? Now
you can put your money where
your mouth is.
Prediction markets have been a
growing trend in recent years. It is
essentially a stock market for
future events and decisions. For
example, people can buy or sell
against a specific occurrence –
like whether or not the Democrats
will lose seats in the 2010
election. With thousands of
people buying and selling on that
occurrence, you can come up with
a prediction that essentially
utilized the crowdsourcing of
open markets.
Now the prediction market has
come to Twitter with
PreTweeting, a new website that
lets you buy specific words being
used on Twitter and gives you
$10,000 in virtual currency to do
it.
Pretweeting is very
straightforward in design. You
can buy 50, 100, 500, or 1000
“slots,” with each slot equaling
one word. Words rise and fall in
price based on the market value,
with $10 = being mentioned in
1% of all recent tweets. The top
word for sale is currently “the”,
which is going for about $228 as
of this post. Mashable, on the
other hand, is going for a measly
$0.23 at the moment (though it’s
been at $0.45 in the past).
And really, that’s about it. You
can chat with other pretweeters
(using the #pretweeting hashtag),
perform research on words, and
check out the leaderboard. But it
all focuses around the market for
words on Twitter. You could
make a great deal of virtual cash
buying a trending topic on Twitter
before it trends, or you could lose
a bunch if a word drops off the
list.
Pretweeting is an interesting
experiment, and in fact could help
businesses or individuals predict
the next big Twitter trend, or even
the next big cultural phenomenon.
There are a lot of useful
applications of prediction
markets. We think the same
model is transferrable to Twitter.
It’s a ton of fun. This could
become popular very fast.
Reviews: Mashable, Twitter
Tags: prediction, prediction
market, Pretweeting, twitter
Internet News Record Tech/ Tech Tips/ 37

Have a MacBook running Snow TweetSaver makes a

Leopard? Give someone your
Autograph
By Steven Sande (The
Unofficial Apple Weblog
(TUAW))
Submitted at 9/1/2009 8:00:00 AM
Filed under: Video, Odds and
ends, Macbook Pro, MacBook,
Found Footage, MacBook Air,
Snow Leopard Up to this point in
time, if you wanted to "sign" an
electronic document (other than a
secure PDF), you either had to
scan your signature with a scanner
and import the resulting graphic
into your document, or purchase a
digitizing tablet. Ten One Design,
the same folks who brought us the
Pogo Sketch stylus, have come up
with a way for anyone with Snow
Leopard and a MacBook that
supports multi-touch gestures to
sign documents.
Autograph(US$6.95) is a
signature capture application that
works with your MacBook and a
finger or stylus to make signing
your name a snap. If you don't
know if your MacBook will work
with Autograph, you can
download a trial copy that adds a
watermark to the signature just to
try it out.
To add your John Hancock to an
email or document when
Autograph is running (I have it set
up to launch at startup), you can
either select the menu bar icon or
press control-option-A, and then a
semi-transparent gray window
appears. Using your finger or a
stylus on your trackpad like a pen,
you can write your name or draw
a little picture. Pressing return
embeds the signature or sketch
into your document.
Autograph works great! I was
able to use it in Mail, Word,
Keynote, and Pages, and I'm
assuming that it will work fine in
any Mac application that lets you
paste in a graphic. I know I'll be
using this handy little program to
add a personal touch to my
documents. The short silent video
below demonstrates Autograph in
action.
TUAW Have a MacBook
running Snow Leopard? Give
someone your Autograph
originally appeared on The
Unofficial Apple Weblog
(TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep 2009
08:00:00 EST. Please see our
terms for use of feeds.
Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
personal archive of
Twitter
By Josh Lowensohn
(Webware.com)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 6:24:00 PM
I'm always intrigued by backup
tools for Web services that don't
really need backup. TweetSaver is
no exception. This paid service
backs up (almost) everything
you've ever posted to Twitter,
along with private messages and
replies from other users. It then
adds an extra layer of utility on
top of it, like a search tool that's
limited to just your messages,
simple sharing options for each
message, as well as a way to
assign a tag to each tweet for
categorization.
Of course the usefulness of all
of this hinges on Twitter being
down and/or somehow losing all
of your data. However, based on
Twitter's uptime over the past
year, you have to ask yourself if
it's worth the cost of $20 a year.
That's pretty steep considering
there are some free Twitter
backup solutions like TweeTake
and TweetBackup that do many of
the same things.
It's also worth pointing out why
you wouldn't need this service for
some of the features it's
advertising. For one, Twitter's
search tool can be limited to just
your tweets if you use the from:
operator. TweetSaver is also only
capable of retrieving your last
3,200 tweets, so if you've got
more than that, they're not going
to be archived. This in itself is a
limitation of Twitter's API, but
should be noted if you have
40,000 tweets and think it, or any
other service, is going to be able
to grab them all.
I do like the idea of tagging
tweets though. Crafty Twitter
users have already found subtle
ways to tag their Tweets by using
hashes (#'s), although there's no
way to go back to old messages
and add them in. It can also be
impossible if you're running out
of space in an outgoing tweet.
Below is a demo of how it works.
I'm getting access later tonight
and will update if it's got any
hidden goodies that make it worth
the price:
Originally posted at Web
Crawler

Opera 10 Final Available for Download [Downloads]

By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker) bringing its Turbo compression, w i t h t h u m b n a i l p r e v i e w s the competition in the comments.
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:30:00 AM new interface, and visual tab bar anywhere you want on the Opera 10
to the browser feature battle. screen—top, bottom, left or right.
Windows/Mac/Linux: Opera 10, There's also a host of bug fixes Opera 10 is a free download for
which we've had in beta and and minor menu tweaks, of Windows, Mac, and Linux
release candidate forms already, course, along with changes to Mail client, and your freedom to systems only. Tell us how you
officially hit the net today, Speed Dial, the much-acclaimed place the new resizable tab bar think Opera 10 stacks up against
38 Tech/ Entertainment Internet News Record

Congress Clueless About Venture Audrina Patridge & Rumer

Willis Face a Killer in 'Sorority
Capital... Still Wants To Regulate It Row'
By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) really were sneaky ways to get companies rather than companies
Submitted at 9/1/2009 2:28:05 AM around regulations) may be likely to be rated by the various (ETonline - Breaking News) especially coming from a reality
applied to venture capitalists as ratings agencies (I'd link to the Submitted at 9/1/2009 1:20:00 AM show, but doing those scenes after
Following the financial crisis well, despite the fact that venture story where this was noted, but meeting all the girls, I felt really
there's obviously a lot of interest capital is a totally different beast. the publication that wrote it, put it ET is with Audrina Patridge, comfortable. They really helped
in more carefully regulating It doesn't invest in public behind a paywall and apparently Rumer Willis and the rest of the me, and we all worked together."
aspects of the private equity companies. It doesn't aim for doesn't want traffic -- there's a stars of the fright-night flick Briana Evigan, Leah Pipes,
markets, given that behind-the- sneaky quick flips. It's true long Google cache for now). And, yet, ' S o r o r i t y R o w , ' i n t h e a t e r s Jamie Chung, Rumer and Audrina
scenes financial efforts have been term investment capital, directly these are the folks writing the September 11. Did they all get play five friends whose college
seen (rightly or wrongly) as part investing in private startup regulations. This is why some of along famously, or was having a prank goes too far, resulting in the
of the cause of the mess. But, of companies to help them grow. It's us get nervous about gov't half-dozen beautiful sorority death of their sorority sister.
course, Congress can barely real investment -- not gambling. regulations. Yes, in an ideal starlets sharing screen time as Making a pact to never speak of it
understand what caused the But Congress doesn't seem to world, perfectly knowledgeable scary as the film itself? again, the girls learn that they
problem, let alone other aspects of realize that. regulators might possibly be able "I was kind of nervous because I can't sweep the past under the rug
the the financial system, so they In a recent Congressional to divinely create regulations that didn't know what to expect when a mysterious killer goes
end up regulating by shooting in hearing where venture capitalist work. But that's not what we especially working with six girls I after anyone who knows their
the dark. The latest is that the Trevor Loy explained this to our have. didn’t know how it was going to deadly secret.
various attempts to put regulations elected officials, Senator Jim Permalink| Comments| Email be," Audrina says. "And
on hedge funds and private equity Bunning of Kentucky apparently This Story Dreadful Ruling: Web
firms that invest in public told Loy that he didn't believe him
companies (which in many cases that VCs invest in private Hosts Hit With $32
Million Judgment For
Twitter’s Massive Growth Spawns Second Web Content On Customers'
Websites
Hosting Facility By Michael Masnick (Techdirt)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:09:00 AM
By Barb Dybwad (Mashable!) infrastructure. Back in June, the located at NTT America’s
Submitted at 8/31/2009 11:34:42 PM COO of NTT America was facilities. The Silicon Valley is Well, this is bad. We've worried
quoted as saying “traffic obviously a hot corridor for in the past about the lack of a
Global telecommunications giant generated by Twitter is getting so internet traffic and there should be specific safe harbor to protect
N T T C o m m u n i c a t i o n s big, it’s basically eating up a lot a number of sites that stand to trademark infringement claims
Corporation released a rather dry of our data center network NTT America’s Tier 1 backbone. benefit from relieved traffic being brought against third party
press release earlier about its NTT resources, especially the segment The increased reliability afforded pressure from Twitter. service providers. The DMCA has
America subsidiary adding a where Twitter is hosted.” Around to Twitter by the additional What do you think — is a safe harbor that protects against
second data center in the Silicon that time, critical infrastructure facility probably won’t be able to Twitter’s explosive growth in copyright claims, and the CDA
Valley region of California. What upgrades had to be postponed help thwart incidents like the danger of clogging the tubes? has a safe harbor that protects
the press release doesn’t explicitly when Twitter became a vital tool Denial of Service attacks that led Will the new facility help solve against all non-intellectual
mention is that the expansion has during the Iran elections. t o t h e s e r v i c e ’ s d o w n t i m e Twitter’s historic downtime property claims, such as
everything to do with Twitter, The new facility in Santa Clara, recently, but is sure to help issues? Reviews: Twitter defamation. But trademark is a
reports Data Center Knowledge. CA is decked out with redundant balance network traffic generated Tags: NTT America, Silicon loophole... and because of that
Through a managed hosting power supplies and water cooling not only by the microblogging Valley, twitter, web hosting you can get some really dreadful
agreement, NTT America handles s y s t e m s , a d v a n c e d c l i m a t e service but by other web sites co- results. Earlier this year, we noted
the heavy lifting for Twitter’s controls and a direct pipeline to that a court had ruled that web

DREADFUL page 40
Internet News Record Tech/ 39

A Major Milestone: Sony shipping Chrome on

Opera 10 is Here Vaios
By Stan Schroeder By Rupert Goodwins
(Mashable!) (Webware.com)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:28:00 AM
Submitted at 9/1/2009 12:51:24 AM

Opera is a browser that perhaps Google promised earlier this

doesn’t have a huge market share,
but it always brings innovation to
the table, and is often the leader in
many segments, even with fierce
competition from Chrome, Safari,
Firefox, and (now) Internet
Explorer. Now, it’s released one
of the biggest – at least by number
– milestones in its history: version
10.
The new version comes right on
time (it was due September 1st),
connection. Other novelties are a
fresh appearance, enhanced speed
(especially on resource intensive
year that a major computer maker
would start to ship its Chrome
browser.
Sony's the one.
Sony's Vaio line has begun Your New Facebook
carrying the browser in the U.S.,
the Financial Times reported late Friend: A Rare
Monday. Ugandan Gorilla
According to a Dow Jones
report, all Vaio-branded PCs are about bundling the software. By Stan Schroeder
(Mashable!)
now using Chrome as their default To date--a day before the first
browser. A Sony representative anniversary of its launch on Submitted at 9/1/2009 2:06:05 AM

and we’ve covered alpha, beta and
RC versions, so there are no huge
surprises here. Perhaps the biggest
question is: will this milestone
change anything as far as Opera’s
worldwide reception goes? It
hasn’t happened so far with
earlier versions, but perhaps the
big 10 at the end accounts for
something. In any case, we’ll be
monitoring Opera’s market share
closely in the following months.
As far as features go, the biggest
new addition is Opera Turbo,
which makes browsing fast even
when you’re on a slow internet
sites such as Gmail or Facebook),
an improved Opera Mail, auto
updating (very important for
improving the overall security of
the browser), a personalized
Speed Dial feature, and resizable,
thumbnail tabs.
You can download versions for
Windows, Mac and Linux from
the official Opera site. Reviews:
Chrome, Facebook, Firefox,
Gmail, Internet Explorer, Opera,
Safari, linux
Tags: Opera 10, web browser
told Dow Jones that there are no
plans to add Chrome to Vaios
outside the U.S.
Vaios will continue to come
with Microsoft's Internet Explorer
in tandem.
The Financial Times also
reported that other companies are
in talks with Google about
Chrome and that the browser will
also be promoted to Internet users
who download RealNetworks'
RealPlayer media-streaming
software. Google has previously
said it's in discussions with Dell
September 2, 2008--Chrome has
around 30 million active users or
around 3 percent of the global
market. This makes it the fourth
most-popular browser after
Internet Explorer, Mozilla's
FireFox, and Apple's Safari.
Rupert Goodwins of ZDNet UK
reported from London.
Updated at 6:55 a.m. PDT:
Details from Dow Jones report
added.
Originally posted at News -
Business Tech
Are all your Facebook friends
boring? Do they only talk about
how tough work is and how they
can’t wait to go home? Here’s a
chance to spice up your Facebook
profile a little: soon, you’ll be
able to befriend a rare Ugandan
gorilla!
Although it’s just a marketing
ploy, designed to promote
Uganda’s tourism industry, the
idea is cute, especially if you’re
the type that devours animal

Twitter is Now Bigger than MySpace in the UK

By Stan Schroeder According to Hitwise UK, or Seesmic Desktop. Corp’s social networking
(Mashable!) Twitter has overtaken MySpace This was easy to predict; powerhouse. Things change fast
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:56:27 AM for the first time on the list of Twitter’s growth in the past year on the Internet, but right now, the
most visited UK websites. Last or so has been nothing short of sky is the limit for Twitter.
Remember when MySpace was week, Twitter was the 27th most amazing, and MySpace has been Reviews: Facebook, MySpace,
an untouchable giant? And after visited website in the UK, while MySpace in the 5th. out of ideas, and now it’s also Seesmic Desktop, TweetDeck,
that, remember all those stories MySpace was 28th. Looking at And that doesn’t even take into bleeding users quite fast. Still, it’s Twitter, YouTube
about Facebook overtaking it, first social networks alone, Facebook account all the visitors that used odd to see a little microblogging Tags: myspace, traffic, twitter,
internationally, and later in pretty was the biggest UK site, followed one of the many 3rd party Twitter tool, which almost no one put uk
much all areas? Now it seems to by YouTube and Bebo, with applications such as TweetDeck their bets on a couple of years ago
be Twitter’s turn to do the same. Twitter in the 4th place and when it started, overtake News
40 Tech/
Apple posts three new
updates
By Joachim Bean (The
Unofficial Apple Weblog
(TUAW))
Submitted at 8/31/2009 10:00:00 PM
Filed under: Software Update,
Mac mini, Mac OS X Server
After the big upgrade to Snow
Leopard last weekend, Apple has
posted three new updates, fixing
various OS and firmware issues.
The first is Mac mini EFI
Firmware Update 1.2. This update
"improves compatibility with the
latest Apple memory kits on Mac
mini computers." This update is
only needed for Mac minis
introduced in March 2009 or later.
Next, there's an update to Mac
OS X Leopard Server, Mac OS X
Server 10.5.8 Update v.1.1, which
includes general operating system
fixes, as well as specific fixes for
a few other issues. This update is
available as a Combo or
Standalone update.
Finally, there's a firmware
update for SuperDrives. This
update "will eliminate the noise
made by the optical disk drive
during system startup and wake
from sleep on your Mac." This
update is only needed for iMacs
and Mac minis introduced in
March 2009 or later.
As always, these updates are
available through Software
Update on your Mac, or you can
download them from Apple's
Support Downloads page.
TUAW Apple posts three new
updates originally appeared on
The Unofficial Apple Weblog
(TUAW) on Mon, 31 Aug 2009
22:00:00 EST. Please see our
terms for use of feeds.
Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
Internet News Record
DREADFUL
continued from page 38
hosting firms could be liable for
trademark infringement done by
their customers. The case
involved luxury goods retailer
Louis Vuitton suing some web
hosting firms for the actions of
their customers. Any common
sense ruling would find that the
hosts are simply the tool
providers, and it was the
customers running the actual
Apple lists Snow Leopard- websites who were liable. That is,
if there were common sense.
compatible printers and Instead, as Eric Goldman alerts
us, the jury has sided with Louis
Vuitton and awarded the company
scanners $32.4 million in damages from the
web hosts.
By Dave Caolo (The Unofficial Heck, even my beloved HP 952c This is a bad end result no
Apple Weblog (TUAW)) still works under Snow Leopard. matter how you look at it. If you
Submitted at 9/1/2009 7:00:00 AM It's a comprehensive list, and do any sort of web hosting, your
we're hoping your machine is liability just went up by a
F i l e d u n d e r : H a r d w a r e , there. tremendous amount, and you may
Software, Snow Leopard I'll come Of course, if your peripheral now be expected to proactively
right out and say that I don't like stopped working after installing p o l i c e a l l y o u r c u s t o m e r s '
scanners. Granted, I haven't used Snow Leopard, you ought to visit websites for anything that might
any high-end models, but in my the manufacturer's website for an possibly be seen as trademark
experience, scanning a simple update. And by "visit" we mean infringement. It's safe to say that
image to my Mac was akin to "pester." this is not what Congress intended
piloting a space module. As a [Via Victor Cajiao] -- given the nature of the safe
chimp. TUAW Apple lists Snow harbors it set up in the DMCA
While Mac OS X Snow Leopard Leopard-compatible printers and and the CDA. Hopefully, either a
includes a great number of scanners originally appeared on higher court will toss this out
scanner (and printer) drivers, The Unofficial Apple Weblog and/or Congress will finally get
some readers are reporting trouble (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep 2009 its act together and extend safe
with their particular machines. 07:00:00 EST. Please see our harbor protection to trademarks as
This week, Apple has published a terms for use of feeds. well.
list of both scanners and printers Read| Permalink| Email this| Permalink| Comments| Email
that are known to work. You can Comments This Story
read it here. I've got an Epson
R300, and luckily it's covered.
Internet News Record Tech/ Game 41

BREAKING: eBay to
Announce Deal to Sell
Skype
By Ben Parr (Mashable!) Dan and Ben return for
Submitted at 8/31/2009 10:22:51 PM
'Revenge of the Balloon
The fate of eBay-owned Skype -Headed Mexican'
has been in question for months
now. Back in April, it looked as if By Justin McElroy (Joystiq)
eBay was going to spin-off the Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:30:00 AM

VoIP service as a publicly traded threatening to cut off one of the

company. Now we’ve learned that In the parlance of its stars, we've
key peer-to-peer technologies that got some absolutely brillo news
Skype will be sold to private power Skype and have expressed
investors. for you today. Zombie Cow
interest in rebuying their Studios has just announced the
According to the New York company. It’s even possible they
GTA Chinatown coming to Times, eBay will announce a deal
tomorrow that will send the
are also part of the sale – we just
don’t know yet.
first of the episodic Dan and Ben
games (a follow-up to the
delightful adventures Ben There,
popular Internet telephone service
the iPhone to an investment group. It seems
as if the group includes the newly
We’ll bring you more
information as it develops.
Update: Others involved in the
Dan That and Time Gentlemen,
Please): Revenge of the Balloon-
By Mike Schramm (The thinking about the iPhone as a formed Andreessen Horowitz Headed Mexican.
Unofficial Apple Weblog major handheld platform. deal include Index Ventures ZCS's Dan Marshall says that
venture capital firm, co-founded (London venture capital firm,
(TUAW)) Chinatown Wars isn't the only by Netscape’s founder Marc these new episodes (which will be
game Rockstar will be releasing Andreessen. The deal terms are early Skype investor) and Silver around the length of an actual
Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:00:00 AM
on the App Store, either, as their not yet disclosed. Lake Partners (private equity television program) will allow
Filed under: Gaming, Hardware, PSP music title Beaterator is also firm). Reviews: Skype Dan and Ben to split up and will
This deal comes during a very Tags: ebay, Skype
Software, iPhone, iPod touch set to make an appearance. public battle between eBay and be less "overtly parodic" than
Payback has been doing pretty Nothing has yet been said about the founders of Skype, who are previous undertakings.
well on the iPhone as a Grand exact date or price (though G4 has Also, according to Marshall's
Theft Auto clone, but the real guessed Rockstar wlll aim higher YOUR Twitter feed, the company's found
thing is coming soon, apparently - than the premium somewhat- continued from page 39 a worse puzzle than the one from
- Rockstar Games says that they'll standard of $9.99). We'll keep documentaries and want to know disappointed; for that you’ll have TGP involving Hitler's bloody
be bringing the acclaimed DS hit tuned to the police scanners for more about the lifestyle of to check the profiles of your other stool. So ... there's that.
Chinatown Wars to Apple's you. gorillas. According to Wildlife Facebook friends. But for those Dan and Ben return for
iPhone and iPod touch platforms. TUAW GTA Chinatown Authority spokeswoman Lillian wanting some insight into the life 'Revenge of the Balloon-Headed
Pretty big news, not only for GTA coming to the iPhone originally Nsubuga, “Through geo-tracking of one of the most endangered Mexican' originally appeared on
fans looking for a hijack-ing and appeared on The Unofficial Apple and GPS, you’ll be able to get species in the world, it’s a treat. Joystiq on Tue, 01 Sep 2009
crime spree fix (in this edition of Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep information about new births What’s in it for the gorillas? 09:30:00 EST. Please see our
the game, you can also deal drugs 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see within the family and other Apparently, not that much, if you terms for use of feeds.
around the city, so that'll be fun), our terms for use of feeds. information.” You’ll also be able don’t count the huge amount of Read| Permalink| Email this|
but also for the platform as a Read| Permalink| Email this| to watch live footage from one of Facebook followers they’ll likely Comments
whole, since this is yet another Comments the cameras that’ll be installed receive soon.
sign that big developers are around Uganda’s Bwindi [img courtesy of Wikipedia]
Impenetrable Forest, where about Reviews: Facebook, Wikipedia
740 mountain gorillas reside. Tags: facebook, Gorilla
So, if you expected wild parties
and pictures of gorillas chugging
beer, you’re likely to be
42 Tech/ Tech News/
Rumor: Steve Jobs will
appear at Sept. 9 event
By Dave Caolo (The Unofficial
Apple Weblog (TUAW))
Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:30:00 AM
Filed under: Apple Corporate,
iPod Family, iTS, Rumors,
iTunes, Steve Jobs, iPod nano,
iPod classic Piper Jaffray's Gene
Munster is having a busy week.
First, he predicted that the iPhone
will go non-exclusive in the US
by next year, and today he's
suggesting that Steve Jobs will
appear at Apple's September 9th
press event.
We fully expect new iPods and
iTunes next Wednesday, but
Steve would be a surprise. We
know that he's returned to work,
but this would be his first public
appearance as Apple's head since
he took medical leave back in
January. Depending on how he
looks, a visit from Steve could
nudge the stock up a notch or two.
It sure would be fun to see
Steve, but we hope he's happy and
healthy more than anything. In
any case, we've got just over a
week to wait. Keep your fingers
crossed.
[Via AppleInsider]
TUAW Rumor: Steve Jobs will
appear at Sept. 9 event originally
appeared on The Unofficial Apple
Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 01 Sep
2009 09:30:00 EST. Please see
our terms for use of feeds.
Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
Internet News Record
The Cutting Edge of Smart Cards:
Japan's Suica Card
By Richard MacManus As with anything RFID-related,
(ReadWriteWeb) there are privacy and security
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:00:00 AM concerns. Surveillance expert
David Murakami Wood says that
This week we're looking at the while SuiPo are activated by
world of Smart Cards. Yesterday consumers (and so are opt-in),
we checked out the Oyster Card, they could also "lead to the
an RFID-powered smart card that accumulation of a lot of data on
millions of Londoners are using to consumption interests." He warns
pay for public transport. It's one that this "potentially generates a
of the largest implementations of massive consumer surveillance
RFID in the western world. tool, because it can be linked up
However perhaps because of that number doesn't equate to the [to] travel patterns."
scale, it's also fairly conservative. amount of users. Wood helpfully translated the
Right now the Oyster Card is only Suica stands for "Super Urban SuiPo webpage on privacy and
used on public transport and there Intelligent Card." Like the Oyster data protection. He summarizes
is little Internet functionality card, the Suica card uses RFID what Suica can do with user data
available. technology. Also noteworthy is as follows:
We can find a more cutting edge that the Suica isn't the only smart 1. Sending the specific
example of smart cards in, where card option for Japan's rail system requested information to you;
else, Japan. The Suica card- - the Pasmo card is another 2. Improving services;
produced by transport company popular one. 3. Data processing and analysis;
JR East (East Japan Railway There is a Mobile Suica, 4. JR East's promotional
Company) - is used on most enabling Osaifu Keitai mobile marketing; and
trains, subways and buses in the phone users to use Suica via their 5. JR East customer
Greater Tokyo, Sendai and phone instead of a card. questionnaires.
Niigata regions. It is also used in a There have been mashups made Wood wryly notes that
v a r i e t y o f m i c r o - p a y m e n t with Suica data. An example is "Purposes 2 and 3 pretty much
scenarios. Sherelog, a service that fetches allow JR [East] to do anything it
Sponsor data from Suica and "visualizes likes with the data." Conclusion
The main function of the Suica personal train-ride records on a As usual Japan is a number of
card is payment for train and bus large public map (or Google years ahead of western countries
rides. However the card is Map)." Suica Posters Connect to in mobile technology. But
increasingly being used to make Net - But Note The Privacy h o p e f u l l y t h i s t y p e o f
purchases at stores and kiosks Warnings functionality on smart cards won't
within the train stations, as well as Probably the best example of be too far away in the U.S. and
in airport stores and taxis. The Internet applications built using the rest of the world.
card is also available as an option Suica has been the 'SuiPo' (short To conclude, we recommend
at some Japanese e-commerce for 'Suica Poster') sites. These are you watch these cute Japanese ads
stores. As of April 2009, over 28 Suica-enabled advertising posters to see the full range of uses for
million Suica cards were in that, when scanned with a Suica Suica:
circulation. Many people have card or phone, send further details Image credits: purprin; jpellgen;
more than one Suica card, so this to your email. David Murakami Wood Discuss
Internet News Record Tech News/ Game 43

Google Chrome OS to Feature Single Sign-On for

Chrome Browser
By Sarah Perez
(ReadWriteWeb)
a line references something being
called the "Chrome OS login
away with not just bundling, but
actually not even allowing another
Harmonix and
Submitted at 9/1/2009 7:01:57 AM manager." Essentially, this login
manager will function as a single
browser to install.
Although Google hasn't come
EA want Rock
...but What About the Other Web sign-on (SSO) cookie which will
Browsers? simultaneously log you into all
out and said that will be the case,
they've made no mention of how
Band at your bar
We don't know much about the Google services including things browser alternatives will be By Justin McElroy (Joystiq)
upcoming OS from Google, like Gmail, Calendar, Docs, handled. In fact, when describing Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:54:00 AM
Chrome OS, so most of the news Reader, etc. how their OS works, Sudar
we read about it involves That's as much as we know for Pichai, VP Product Management To think, just a few years ago a
speculation or, sometimes, rather sure, but what is not clear is and Linus Upson, Engineering bar advertising "Rock Band"
terrible attempts at faking some exactly how this SSO option will Director, wrote: "the software would have just seemed
supposedly official screenshots. be presented to the user. We architecture is simple -- Google infuriatingly unspecific. Now,
However, we recently stumbled wouldn't be a bit surprised to see i n s t a l l e d o n t h e n e w O S . Chrome running within a new Rock Band nights at taverns,
on a tidbit of actual news that you logging into your computer Obviously, Chrome OS will push windowing system on top of a dives and watering holes are
proves how tightly integrated the with your Google account the way people to use Google's own Linux kernel." (In this case, becoming commonplace enough
Google Chrome web browser will y o u l o g i n t o y o u r M a c o r browser, but will it be your only "Google Chrome" refers to the that EA and Harmonix are
be with the operating system. Of Windows PC using a set of option? What if you really want to web browser, not the OS. Oh, formalizing them just a tad.
course that makes sense - it is credentials you create during the use Firefox because you've how we wish they had named At Rock Band Bar Nights you
called "Chrome OS" - but it setup process. However, in discovered you can't live without them differently!) can register your event and get
makes us wonder if Google will Google's case, it's easy to imagine your add-ons and Greasemonkey What that means is that the very permission to use the game's logo
be required to support other web a more web service like prompt scripts? Will Chrome OS's sign-in architecture of the OS depends on and access to all of the songs in
browsers on their new platform? o n t h e l o g i n s c r e e n . F o r manager support that alternative? tight Chrome browser integration. the Rock Band DLC catalog along
After all, it's one thing to integrate e x a m p l e : " C r e a t e a G o o g l e Will it - gasp - support IE8? What While this is a revolutionary with some other nice perks.
your own browser with your OS account" / "Already have a about Opera? Safari? concept for building the OS of the While we're on the subject,
(as Microsoft does with IE) but Google account? Sign in here." Microsoft has come under fire future, to say the least, it begs the Joystiq Promotions is still looking
it's another thing to not even offer Perhaps there will even be a for "bundling" their web browser, question: will Google get away for clubs that would like to take
a choice. What will Google do? "Remember Me" option so you Internet Explorer, with their with this? And finally, should part in our Sins of a Solar Empire
Will they go the "evil" route? don't have to log in again, you just operating system. In fact, the they be allowed to? Bar Nights. Despite what you may
Sponsor flip the netbook's lid open. Of issue has led to the European Let us know what you think in have guessed, there are plenty of
Blogger Lee Mathews of course that's all speculation, but it U n i o n ' s r e q u i r i n g t h a t t h e the comments. great spots still available.
Download Squad recently found a seems logical. Will Chrome OS company offer a "select your web Image credit: Lee Mathews Harmonix and EA want Rock
reference to Chrome OS in the Offer Browser Choice? browser" ballot screen in the Discuss Band at your bar originally
source code of Chromium, the The real question here is Microsoft's new OS, Windows 7, appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01
open source project that serves as whether this SSO option will only due out this October. It would Sep 2009 09:54:00 EST. Please
the testing grounds for Google's work with the Chrome web seem odd if Google could get see our terms for use of feeds.
Chrome web browser. In the code, b r o w s e r w h i c h c o m e s p r e - Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
44 Tech News/
Beta-in-a-Box: Prefinery Brings
More Services for Pre-Launch
Startups
By Jolie O'Dell
(ReadWriteWeb)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 12:18:30 AM
Much like competitor
LaunchSet, startup support system
Prefinery offers beta management
software, allowing time-pressed
entrepreneurs to buy rather than
build these critical systems
without reinventing the wheel.
A company rep contacted us to
tout the service's "feature set that
lets entrepreneurs and
technologists focus on building a
great product, especially, as we all
know, because these kinds of
capabilities are always a last-
minute thing, and messily
handled."
Sponsor
"But to be very clear, and it is
very important to convey this,"
the rep said, "a startup's first
touchpoints with users are
incredibly important - these are
your alpha users, your biggest
fans and evangelists, and your
superusers-to-be, and also, press,
analysts, investors, etc. - all
incredibly high-value people. The
stakes are high, and you want to
use a kick-butt system for all of
these initial touches."
Currently, Prefinery can be used
to create a splash page for the
product, generate flexible signup
forms, create event-based
automatic email messages,
manage a queue of beta testers,
generate invite codes, and export
the list of leads to CRM systems.
To see the front end in action,
check out the below screenshots
from Swingly and Badgr.
Also, take a peek under the
hood at what startup teams will
see:
The company has also based its
roadmap on the concept of
perpetual beta - that, no matter the
label of the product version,
companies will always be testing
and improving sites, apps, and
metrics.
Moreover, once the project
reaches scale, Prefinery imagines
it will become "a broker of the
beta ecosystem, between
companies/products and
prospective users and superusers -
and think about the kind of data
they'll have." Not to put too fine a
point on it, it sounds as though the
company realizes the wealth of
user information gleaned from the
average social profile and plans to
sell anonymized user data to
brands.
So, does Prefintery earn a scout
badge for creating a sustainable
business plan based on users'
a/s/ls in perpetual beta? Or is it a
case of The Man squeezing
millions of undeserved ducats
from social graphs he does not
own? Vote below, and let us
know how you really feel in the
comments. If you were a startup,
would you use Prefinery - or a
similar service, such as Launchset
- to manage your beta testing
phase(s)?
Do You Think Prefinery Is A
Good Idea For A Startup?(
polling)
Discuss
Your Cyborg Eye Will
Talk to You
By Dana Oshiro
(ReadWriteWeb)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 10:30:06 PM
Just as many of us are getting
used to augmented reality
applications for cellphones and
digital cameras, Babak Amir
Parviz and his University of
Washington students are taking it
one step further. The group is
working on a human machine
interface where LEDs are
embedded into contact lenses in
order to display information to the
wearer. You heard right, in a few
years your cyborg eye will talk to
you. In an article with the IEEE
Spectrum, Parviz relays the
challenges of custom-building
semi-transparent circuitry into a
polymer lens roughly 1.2
millimeters in diameter.
Sponsor
Says Parviz, "We're starting
with a simple product, a contact
lens with a single light source,
and we aim to work up to more
sophisticated lenses that can
superimpose computer-generated
high-resolution color graphics on
a user's real field of vision."
For now, Parviz mentions that
single pixel visual cues for
gamers and the hearing impaired
are already quite possible with the
lens prototypes. The group has
also experimented with non-
invasive biomonitoring including
checking glucose levels for
diabetics.
Some of the obvious challenges
of building an augmented reality
contact lens include:
1. The Need for Custom Parts:
Regular circuitry and LEDs are
incompatible with regular contact
Internet News Record
lenses. Every piece of this project
must be fabricated from scratch.
2. Physical Constraints: The
group must attempt to fit
transistors, radio chips, antennas,
diffusion resistors, LEDs and
photodetectors onto a miniscule
polymer disc. Additionally, the
team is required to control lens
position and light intensity
relative to the pupil. And finally,
because the lens is so close to the
corneal surface, the group must
project images away from the
cornea using either micro-lenses
or lasers.
3. User Safety: In addition to
protecting the eye against
chemicals, heat and toxins, the
lens components must be semi-
transparent in order for the wearer
to view their surroundings.
"We already see a future in
which the humble contact lens
becomes a real platform, like the
iPhone is today, with lots of
developers contributing their
ideas and inventions. As far as
we're concerned, the possibilities
extend as far as the eye can see."
And you thought the iPhone SDK
was a tough nut to crack.
For Parviz's complete seven
page article, check out the IEEE
Spectrum's Biomedical page.
Discuss
Internet News Record Tech News/ 45

Burning Question: When Will Cartoon: Annotating the

International Phone Calls Be Free? World
By Cliff Kuang (Wired Top Venice, California, to Venice, broadband options, cellular By Rob Cottingham
Stories) Italy, it encounters a lot of providers are evolving into VoIP (ReadWriteWeb)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 5:00:00 PM tollbooths. You pay your local companies. Once both ends of the Submitted at 8/31/2009 8:00:08 PM
provider to let you hop on the conversation are on the Net,
Not anytime soon, bub. But wire, and you pay a termination connection fees will become relics This past week's buzz phrase (so
when you eventually get your fee to whoever owns the network of the early modern age. "When much so that it was a trending
iPhone 4G, they should be at the other end. If you cross 4G networks become ubiquitous topic on Twitter) was "
included in your rate plan. another country's wires along the in a couple of years, people won't augmented reality" (or AR),
Which is weird, because it's way, you have to pay them, too. be paying for overseas calling," which is what you get when you
probably been a long time since The Web, on the other hand, is, says Christopher Collins, a mix your perception of the world floor."
you nervously eyed the clock well, worldwide—and that should networking analyst at the Yankee around you with computer- There will be an awkward
while on the phone with your m e a n n o m o r e c h e c k p o i n t Group. "It'll be just another generated information. While still interim phase when we'll have to
granny in Smallville. Long charlies. Unfortunately, even if service embedded in a holistic in its infancy, the technology get used to the word "First!"
distance has been all-you-can-eat you're using VoIP, you're often data plan." holds the promise that you might popping up every time we look at
since cell phones and voice-over- calling someone who's using a That will be a completely new one day be able to point your something. But that should pass,
IP conquered the universe. But traditional line. So the termination way of doing business for cellular iPhone's camera at a Starbucks and soon we'll reach the new
international telephony—whether fees remain. That's why Skype providers. "At that point, they'll and see a little notice pop up that exciting future long dreamed of
landline, cellular, or Internet- calls to cellular and landline be competing to add services," says, "There's a Starbucks here." by our ancestors, when we'll
based—is still a piggybank- numbers can still be as expensive Collins says. Which means that Sponsor finally be able to discover the
rattling affair: Providers just can't as $1.40 a minute. (Sucks to be free, unlimited international Okay, there's more to it than name of any piece of Ikea
offer dirt-cheap calls across you, East Timor expats.) calling will just be the start. Get that. The "power of the crowd" furniture just by staring at it.
borders. But if you're talking Skype to ready for a torrent of free services (cue thunderbolts) could turn AR ("Spugnubb! I should have
The problem is that there's no Skype, you don't pay anything. in its wake. into something genuinely known.")
such thing as an international And that's the direction mobile transformative. Already, apps Then again, we live in a world
telephone network. As your voice phones are heading as well. With promise to show us Flickr photos of climate change, poverty, the
travels the lines from, say, t h e e x p l o s i o n o f w i r e l e s s and other social media related to pandemic flu, peak oil, collapsing
places we're looking at. It ocean eco-systems, Glenn Beck,
shouldn't be long before nearly and an impending sequel to
every square inch of our cities is Twilight. Maybe the next killer
thoroughly annotated: "Great app will be diminished reality.
scones, Wi-Fi only so-so." More Noise to Signal. Discuss
"Threw up here after a bar crawl."
"Lost my virginity on the 14th

Skype Sale Reported to be Announced Tomorrow

By Marshall Kirkpatrick
(ReadWriteWeb)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 11:29:23 PM
Online telephony service Skype
will be sold by eBay to a group of
private investors, possibly
including Netscape founder Marc
Andreessen's new venture capital
group, and the deal will be
announced on Tuesday according
to a report by a team of reporters
from the New York Times.
EBay faces legal challenges
from Skype's founders that the
company said earlier this summer
could mean the end of Skype as
we know it. From an innovation
perspective, we're always excited
when such an interesting company
breaks free from a slow-moving
monolith that acquired it.
Sponsor
Skype's founders were rumored
to be interested in buying the
company back themselves, but the
Times reports that they were
unable to raise enough money to
satisfy eBay.
If the Times report is accurate it
will be very interesting to see who
runs the new Skype and what
kinds of changes are made to the
service. With $600 million in
reported annual revenue and
nearly twice as many users as
Facebook, Skype's international
network of P2P software installs
powering multimedia
communication, file-sharing, chat
and status still has boundless
potential to do interesting things.
Update: PaidContent's coverage
points out that TechCrunch broke
this story three days ago. Discuss
46 Tech Tips/
Make Free VoIP Calls from Google Voice [How To]
By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 5:00:00 PM
Google Voice is great, but it isn't
an entirely free voice-over-
internet service if you have to pay
a phone bill to use it. With a few
tweaks, though, you can talk to
anyone on-the-cheap through
Skype, or entirely for free with
Gizmo.
Since we're extremely cheap,
we'll start out with the
Gizmo/Google Voice 1/2 combo,
since you can use it to place and
receive calls without spending a
dime. If you're particularly partial
to Skype, we'll demonstrate how
you can integrate Gizmo, Voice,
and Skype for cheaper Skype calls
after we demonstrate how to get
everything up and running with
Gizmo. What you'll need
• A comfortable headset: Mine's
a $30, USB-or-analog model I
grabbed off the shelf at Target. If
you plan to do some serious
talking from in front of your
monitor, read up on what works
best for your ears and head.
• Free Google Voice account: If
you haven't already requested an
invite, do so now. They're still
dishing them out first-come, first-
served style, and the line gets
longer every time someone writes
an article about the service
(ahem).
• Free Gizmo5 account: It's a
free virtual phone service that
Google Voice officially supports
and connects to. If you're more of
a Skype person, we'll show you a
relatively cheap solution for
hooking up Gizmo to Skype.
• Broadband net connection:
Because you're doing a good deal
of data transfer and service
forwarding, you'll want a pretty
good pipe for phone calls that
won't make you wish for your cell
phone.
Hooking up Voice and Gizmo
Once you've finished signing up
for Gizmo and Google Voice,
head to my.gizmo5.com, and log
yourself in if necessary. Hit the
"My" link in the upper-right
corner to get to your settings
page. The first box asks you to
enter your Google Voice number
and turn Google Voice calling on,
which you should definitely do.
That routes all outbound Gizmo
calls through Voice, eliminating
the need to buy credits for those
outbound calls.
Three rows down, under the
"Account Overview" section,
copy your SIP Number, which
you won't need to memorize, or
even use, except this one time.
Head over to Google Voice, click
the Settings link, then Phones, and
paste that SIP number into the
"Number" field. Give your Gizmo
account a name like, say, Gizmo,
then set the "Phone Type" to
Internet News Record
and Gizmo, you've got a few
options for making and receiving
free calls through your headset
with Voice and Gizmo:
• The GizmoCall.com site: You
can keep the page itself loaded in
your browser, or click the "Open
in separate window" link to keep
it separate from your browsing
work. When it first opens, your
Flash plug-in will ask for access
to your microphone and speakers,
which you should grant and hit
"Remember" to avoid future
prompts. Want to reduce browser
tab necessities and make Gizmo
even more convenient? Check out
Google Voice Tricks' write-up on
embedding Gizmo's gadget into
Gmail.
• Gizmo software: Available for
download for Windows, Mac, and
G i z m o . B y d e f a u l t , y o u r To try out an actual call, call your
Gizmo/VoIP phone will always Google Voice number from a L i n u x s y s t e m s , G i z m o t h e
"ring" whenever someone calls standard cell or landline phone application is very similar to
your Google Voice number from you have handy, or open up Skype, sitting in the system tray
any phone. I find that to be just Google Voice's site in another and popping up an alert window
fine, since "ringing" that phone browser tab and make a call to a when a new call is coming in. It
doesn't really affect any of your phone number that won't mind also tracks your VoIP calling
other phones, and I don't leave my getting it. separate from your Google Voice
computer on at all times with the It's worth noting that since account, which can be helpful for
speakers at full blast. If you only you're using a VoIP service client billing or other purposes. If
want your virtual phone to ring at through another VoIP service's you're planning to keep Gizmo
certain times on certain days, go routers, it's fair to expect a bit of open to accept calls, you'll
ahead and tweak those settings in call lag. I haven't noticed an probably want to import your
Voice, then hit Save. audible difference between using contacts into it to recognize
Got those headphones handy? Google Voice on my cellphone callers. You can only import an
Plug them in, usually through a and through Gizmo but, then Outlook-formatted file into
USB port or the dual red/green again, I've had seemingly worse Gizmo, but that's one of the
mic/speakers ports on your lag experiences overall with formats most contact managers
c o m p u t e r . C h e c k t h a t t h e Voice than others I've complained (Google, Apple Mail, etc.) can
headphones are picking up sounds about it to. Your mileage will export to.
and that the microphone is almost certainly vary, but if • Google Voice site: You'll still
enabled in your system's volume you've got an ultra-important need to have some kind of Gizmo
settings. Want to test out your p h o n e i n t e r v i e w f o r a j o b , notifier running to receive calls,
Voice/Gizmo capabilities? Head consider stepping away from your but Google Voice's own site is
to http://gizmocall.com, then sign headset. Otherwise, it probably pretty handy for making calls.
in with your Gizmo username. Hit works just fine for normal Load up the site (or keep it loaded
the "Test" button for an echo test conversations. Calling tools as a permatab), hit "c" to make a
of your headset and connection. If all went well between Voice
MAKE page 47
Internet News Record
MAKE
continued from page 46
call, type in a contact name or
phone number, then select your
Gizmo number as the caller.
Google will ring you at Gizmo,
and once you pick up, the call
starts ringing through to the
intended receiver.
Forwarding to Skype
If you're already set up with a
Skype name and lots of contacts
and you'd prefer to keep Skype as
your go-to VoIP app, you can get
Google Voice and Gizmo to route
calls to Skype for notably less
money than Skype charges for its
call-out service. Alternately, if
you only need to make the
occasional Skype call and don't
want to bother installing software
and getting a user account, Gizmo
and Google are available there,
too.
Gizmo explains all the potential
uses and ins and outs at its
OpenSky page, and also lists
pricing. You can make free calls
to Skype names and forward your
Voice/Gizmo calls to Skype for
anywhere from 1-5 minutes,
depending on server load—fine
for quick "Call me back" or
"Here's the deal" messages, but
not conversations. OpenSky
claims a $20/year price for
basically unlimited calling of up
to 2 hours per call. We don't do a
lot of Skype out calling, but that
seems like a pretty good deal.
Whether you're going the free
short call route or paying for some
OpenSky credit, setting up a
Voice-to-Gizmo-to-Skype
connection is fairly easy. Head to
your Gizmo5 settings page again,
then head to the "Forwarding
Gizmo5 Calls" section. Set Gizmo
Tech Tips/ Game 47
to forward all calls to Skype, then
fill in your Skype username.
That's it—when someone rings
your Voice number, if you've got
Voice configured to ring you at
Gizmo, then you'll actually be
rung up at Skype. The last thing
you'll need to do is enable Skype Batman: Arkham
to accept calls from anonymous
callers—kind of a pain, but Order Secret Menu Asylum glides to
necessary, because Gizmo routes
your calls through different Skype Items at Fast Food top spot in UK
names from time to time. Chains [Fast Food By Justin McElroy (Joystiq)
That's the starting point for Hacks] Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:00:00 AM
integrating free (or very cheap)
VoIP with Google Voice, but with By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker) You come to Joystiq for the lulz
such open, geeky services, we're Submitted at 9/1/2009 7:00:00 AM about video games, but we've got
sure there's a lot more that can be something a little extra today:
done. Post up your questions, If Starbucks' "tall" is actually too Proof of a higher power. Not just
suggestions, and neat hacks in the large for you, and Chipotle's that, but a higher power that loves
comments. minimalist menu too you and rewards awesome games.
According to Chart-Track,
Batman: Arkham Asylum has
taken the top spot in the UK sales

Gizmodo's Guide to Buying and Using Knives
[Kitchen]
By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 5:30:00 AM
As sibling site Gizmodo's Taste
Test winds to a close, they tackle
some of the most universally
useful skills any aspiring home
cook should have—namely,
selecting, using, and caring for
good knives.
The advice on which knives to
get, how to keep them sharp, and
even what cutting boards to use
(only straight-up wood) comes
from Norman Weinstein, the knife
skills guy at New York's Institute
of Culinary Education. Much of it
is good, if oft-told, advice, but we
particularly like his take on how
to hold your blade:
Chef Weinstein's instruction for
actually using a knife is all about
relaxation. Keep your arms in a
relaxed position and choke up on
the knife: Your thumb and
forefinger should be pinching the
actual blade, not wrapped around
the handle. It'll take some
adjustment to hold the knife this
way, but Weinstein reminds us,
charts for the week, beating out
Wii Sports Resort, which seems
nothing short of miraculous from
where we're sitting.
The console split was pretty
"You have to use the knife close to even, with 55 percent on
correctly before you can cut Xbox and 45 on PS3, so it would
anything." seem that the Joker exclusivity
While you're rethinking your thing panned out. We're so
kitchen time, check out another pleased that Arkham's performing
chef's take on knife holding and well that we can't find anything to
cutting, and our own list of five be snarky about. Imagine that!
must-have tools for any Batman: Arkham Asylum glides
kitchen—which includes three to top spot in UK originally
decent knives and instructions on appeared on Joystiq on Tue, 01
how to sharpen them, even if Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please
Weinstein suggests you should see our terms for use of feeds.
pay for professional service. Read| Permalink| Email this|
You're Doing It Wrong: How to Comments
Properly Buy, Maintain and Use a
Knife[Gizmodo]
48 Tech Reviews
ORDER
continued from page 47
constraining? These chains and
many more have secret menus, or
at least allowances for creativity,
that can awesomely expand your
cheap-eats repertoire.
Photo by cote.
Some chains have actual secret
items for devoted customers, as
the mental_floss blog proves with
its revealing of McDonald's
Neapolitan milkshake (just what it
sounds like) and Taco Bell's green
chile sauce. In other cases, it's just
a simple request for the staff to do
something creative with materials
they already have on hand:
If you're at Starbucks and in
need of just a little caffeine, don't
worry – there's a tiny option for
you. It's the Short size, and they
don't advertise it. It's like a little
baby cup of coffee. It also comes
in handy when you're scrounging
for change and don't have enough
for a tall… not that that has ever
happened to me.
Personally, I'm intrigued by the
"store policy" that lets you order
any combination of ingredients at
Chipotle—hello, tomatillo-salsa-
smothered enchiladas.
Have you found your own secret
menus at chains, regional or
national? Can you dream up your
own great menu remix item?
Make us hungry in the comments.
1 0 S e c r e t M e n u
Items[mental_floss]
Internet News Record
Opera 10 browser is here
(CNET News.com) tabs double as thumbnail images. development tools, but everyone
Submitted at 8/31/2009 11:09:00 PM Double-click the thin gray bar can benefit from the speedier
below the tabs (indicated by dots) rendering engine that, according
The Opera 10 browser is now or click and drag to expand open to Opera, makes version 10 up to
ready to download for Windows, tabs into preview windows that 40 percent faster than version 9.6-
and Mac, and Linux, three months you can navigate by clicking -before switching on Turbo's
after the beta first emerged (hands among them. compression.
-on Opera 10 beta review). Other enhancements include an Despite all the additions that
If you've been keeping up with expanded Speed Dial (a feature Opera hopes will keep Opera 10
the beta updates, the final build of that has later been adopted and competitive, there are still two
t h e c r o s s - p l a t f o r m b r o w s e r adapted in Google's Chrome notable omissions for this final
shouldn't surprise you. Opera b r o w s e r ) t h a t s h o w s m o r e release. The first is Opera Unite,
Turbo, the browser's much- commonly visited Web pages than which uses your browser as a
publicized compression engine for in previous Opera browsers. Web server for sharing your
slow-poke connections, remains a You're also able to customize it content with others. The second is
feature highlight. Opera claims with a background picture. You'll the Carakan JavaScript engine
that Opera Turbo runs the browser see that spell check will be that promises to process
up to eight times faster on applicable to any text field (for 51 JavaScript about 2.5 times as fast
suffering connections than do languages), and that Opera's as the engine used in Opera 10
competing browsers. incorporated e-mail client takes a alpha.
The refreshed user interface is page from Google's books by Related story: Opera 10 browser
also noteworthy. Joining the new threading e-mail conversations. to emerge Tuesday
default skin (changed from Developers get access to a
version 9.6), are changes to tab n e w e r v e r s i o n o f O p e r a
bar behavior. The conventional Dragonfly, the publisher's online

Now you don't need a pill to remember your pills

(CNET News.com) a textbook,"Maya"(the wisdom be made.
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:00:00 AM behind the box's nickname The Boston Globe profiled this
remains elusive) holds 28 small gadget over the weekend ( price
Somewhere between one-third plastic cups that can be designated tag is $77.50 plus a $29.95
and one-half of all Americans separately for different pill types
take their medication at the wrong and detailed regimens.
monthly subscription charge), and
the accompanying video is worth
An author's guide
time, or at the wrong dosage, or When a pill is due to be taken, a
s i m p l y f o r g e t a l t o g e t h e r , white light flashes beneath the
a watch. You kind of have to see
Maya to believe her.
to the Google
according to a New England specific cup, a friendly little "take
Healthcare Institute study released me now!" reminder whose calm
I wonder what the pillbox will
look like when I reach the age I
Books flap
earlier this month ( PDF). insistence bears some (CNET News.com)
insistent over time. Finally, n e e d o n e . I k e e p h e a r i n g
Maya's retail price is $77.50 resemblance to Hal 9000. If the depending on how the patient or Nirvana's"Heart-Shaped Box" Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:00:00 AM
p l u s a $ 2 9 . 9 5 m o n t h l y wrong cup is lifted, a low-level person designated to help with the drone on as mini DayGlo strobe
s u b s c r i p t i o n f e e . ( C r e d i t : siren that ideally won't cause If they don't opt out of Google's
pills has programmed her, Maya lights make the pills look happy settlement with book publishers
MedMinder Systems.) cardiac arrest informs the patient actually calls by telephone or and alluring. I'd probably be
MedMinder Systems to the of the potentially egregious and authors by Friday, authors
pings a designated e-mail in-box. forever indebted to its priceless will have to make decisions about
r e s c u e . T h e w i s e l y n a m e d mistake. And if this nagging doesn't cut it, advice, although I'd surely miss
Newton, Mass.-based start-up is If the cup has not moved in a how to display their content in
a weekly or monthly report details the simple days of Maya and her Google Book Search.(Credit:
one of several companies working half hour, Maya goes from Hal- how many doses the patient has Hal 9000-like insistence as well.
to develop the ultimate smart like flashing to beeping, and her missed so that improvements can
pillbox. Approximately the size of beeping grows louder and more
AUTHOR'S page 49
Internet News Record
AUTHOR'S
continued from page 48
Screenshot by Tom Krazit/CNET)
The issues surrounding Google's
Book Search settlement are
among the most complex
surrounding the company this
year: what do authors need to
know about their rights and
responsibilities?
Google has scanned over 10
million books since 2004 in
participation with libraries and
publishers in hopes of creating a
unique digital library and
storefront, and if its pending
settlement with books rights
holders is approved next month at
a hearing, Google will be able to
make a far greater portion of those
works available through its search
engine. Friday is the deadline for
authors to decide if they want to
participate in the settlement.
The settlement has drawn
attention and criticism from
groups such as library ethicists
and academics for the way it
concentrates control of this
potentially wondrous public good
in the hands of a for-profit
company. The Department of
Justice is also taking a look at the
settlement, which has the
potential to throw a large
roadblock ahead of the project.
Authors, however, have a few
choices to make as they ponder
Friday's deadline. Here's a
sampling of what they need to
know:
Why does Google have a copy
of my book?
Google entered into book-
scanning projects with several
publishers and universities around
2003 with the goal of
transforming dusty old books into
searchable sources of data.
Google believed it was within its
rights under fair-use laws to scan
books that were out-of-print but
still protected by copyright law so
as long as it only presented a
snippet of each book within
Google Search. In cases where
Google has cut deals with
publishers, it's allowed to show a
much broader portion of the book
if the rights holder gives consent.
The Authors Guild and
Association of American
Publishers disagreed with
Google's interpretation of
copyright laws, and filed a class-
action lawsuit in 2005. The parties
settled in October with an
agreement that could give Google
the right to display books it has
already scanned in a variety of
ways depending on the status of
the book and the wishes of rights
holders.
How do I know if I'm affected
by this settlement?
If you've written a book since
1923 that was published in the
U.S., you're probably eligible if
you hold the copyright license
(some "for-hire" authors cede this
to publishers, such as with multi-
author technical manuals and the
like). Check with your publisher
to be sure, but note the settlement
only covers books published on or
before January 5, 2009.
If your book is still in print,
Google has had to ask you or your
publisher for explicit permission
to scan and display your book.
Several publishers have cut deals
with Google to display and
distribute books. Check with your
publisher to see if you're a
member of the Partner Program
and how your work is displayed.
If your book is out-of-print, it's
a little trickier. As a result of the
settlement Google has to offer
you the opportunity to decide
how, or if, you'd like that book
displayed in Google Books, as
well as whether you want to claim
compensation for Google's
digitization of your works as a
member of the class.
What do I get if I participate in
the settlement?
If you fill out a claim form at
the Web site set up to administer
the settlement, you'll get $60 per
work that Google has already
digitized as well as options as to
how that work will be displayed
in Google Book Search. Claims
for the cash payments must be
submitted by January 5, 2010.
You're also entitled to 63
percent of both the revenue that
Google makes from the sale of
your book through Google Books,
as well as 63 percent of the ad
revenue linked to that book. That
revenue can be claimed at any
time, and will be held by the
Books Rights Registry set up as
part of the settlement to distribute
payments to authors until it is
claimed.
What if I don't want Google to
display my entire book?
You have several choices under
the settlement regarding how
Google is allowed to display your
book. You can ask Google to
display the whole thing and
charge for online access to the
book, ask Google to display just a
preview copy with links to
bookstores where it can be found,
have just a few snippets included,
or exclude your books entirely
from Google Book Search.
If you participate in the
settlement, you've also authorized
Google to use your book for non-
display purposes that include
internal testing and bibliographic
information unless you
specifically request otherwise
when you claim your payout.
Books that do not get claimed
by their rights holders will have
20 percent of their pages
displayed as a preview.
I can't believe anybody would
pay money for that old book I
wrote, but why not? How do I
sign up?
You can claim your books here.
You must claim the books by
January 5, 2010 if you want the
$60 per book, but you'll be
automatically included in the
settlement class unless you opt
out by Friday.
Do I get to set the price for my
book?
You have two choices: you can
set your own price or allow
Google to set the price using one
of its famous algorithms to figure
out where your book will make
the most revenue.
I don't want anything to do with
this settlement. How do I tell
Google?
If you wish to completely opt
out of the settlement, you have to
let Google know by Friday here.
Opting out of the settlement
allows you to sue Google for
digitizing your out-of-print book.
You can also ask Google to avoid
scanning your book if it already
hasn't (at least until April 5, 2011)
as well as remove any instances of
your book from Google Book
Search.
Why should I keep my book in
Google Books?
The project has the potential to
dramatically reinvent the concept
of what it means to be a book.
Books that are searchable and that
can link to one another could pay
enormous dividends for
researchers, who will get access to
the catalog of books as part of the
settlement.
It could also mean a little bit of
money in your pocket and extend
49
the life of an older book that is
gathering dust on a library shelf.
Is Google the only place that's
going to offer this kind of service?
No one really knows, but
nobody else is scanning books on
this scale, and few are believed to
have the financial resources to
attempt such a project.
Google's rights under the
settlement are nonexclusive, in
that anyone can negotiate for
scanning and display rights with
the nonprofit Books Rights
Registry. But no one has stepped
forward as of yet, and there's only
a handful of tech companies with
the cash resources and business
models (Microsoft? Yahoo?
Apple? Amazon?) that would
allow them to consider such a
project: Microsoft has scaled back
its book-scanning efforts in recent
years.
What happens if the settlement
is rejected?
Who knows. Judge Denny Chin
of the U.S. District Court for the
Southern District of New York
will review all the filings in
support or objection to the
settlement following Friday's
deadline, and oversee a final
hearing in October to determine
the fate of the settlement. The
Justice Department is also
reviewing the settlement for
possible "anticompetitive
practices."
It seems pretty obvious that if
the settlement is thrown out,
rights holders won't be bound by
the terms of the settlement. What
seems likeliest is that the Authors
Guild and other groups will
renegotiate a settlement on
different terms, but the issue
could conceivably wind up back
in court, delaying the project
indefinitely while Google
50 Tech Reviews Internet News Record

Windows Mobile 6.5 phones coming Oct. 6

(CNET News.com)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:00:00 AM

HTC's Touch Pro2 is among the

new phones expected to ship with
Windows Mobile 6.5.(Credit:
Microsoft)
Microsoft is hoping that a new
crop of phones this fall will help
the company in its quest to stay
relevant in the cell phone market.
The software maker said on
Tuesday that the first phones
running Windows Mobile 6.5 will
launch worldwide on October 6
and will include phones running
on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon
Wireless.
The new crop of phones will
also be the first that Microsoft
will sell under the "Windows
Phone" brand, an effort to tap into
the marketing power of its
flagship desktop operating
system.
With Windows Mobile 6.5,
Microsoft is hoping to convince
users that its phones are not just
good for doing work. Much of
Microsoft's phone focus in recent
times has been on improving the
operating system's consumer
features in an effort to regain
ground lost to rivals.
"We know people want a phone
for their whole life," said
Stephanie Ferguson, general
manager in the Windows Mobile
unit. "They just frankly want to do
more. That's why we've shifted."
Although it includes features at which its software has evolved others in the market have grown Bradley, senior vice president of the new OS. The company is
such as improved Web browsing in the face of competition from faster. devices for AT&T. "I think looking to close one gap between
and conversation threaded e-mail, the iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Even in large corporations, Research In Motion did even a Windows Mobile and its rivals.
as well as a new Windows and Palm Pre. Windows Mobile has not better than expected job of Starting next month, customers
Marketplace app store, Windows AT&T, which is one of maintained the position it once gaining that share." will be able to more easily use
Mobile 6.5 is seen largely as an Microsoft's oldest partners in the seemed poised to inherit. AT&T didn't say which of its their Windows Mobile phones on
interim upgrade of the operating cell phone business, said that it is "Microsoft probably didn't get phones will support Windows AT&T's Wi-Fi network, matching
system. supporting Windows Mobile 6.5, the share of the enterprise space Mobile 6.5, but it will likely be a a feature already available to its
Microsoft has come under although the carrier that we all would have expected mix of new phones and current
criticism for the rather slow pace acknowledged that Apple and three or four years ago," said Jeff models that can be upgraded to WINDOWS page 51
Internet News Record
WINDOWS
continued from page 50
BlackBerry and iPhone users.
As for Android, AT&T has yet
to commit publicly to shipping an
Android phone, but Bradley said
the company is actively studying
whether to do so.
"We are going to do what's right
for customers," Bradley said. "It's
an important development in the
industry and one that we are
watching real carefully to make
sure that our customers have
choice and the best service."
For her part, Ferguson said she
believes that Windows Mobile 6.5
is a significant step forward,
although she declined to predict
whether Microsoft will gain share
in the wake of its release.
"These are going to be fabulous
phones that meet the customers'
needs for their whole life,"
Ferguson said. "In the end, that's
how I judge us."
The October 6 launch ties in
with a "consumer open house"
event that Microsoft
Entertainment and Devices
President Robbie Bach is hosting
that day in New York City.
One of the big pushes with the
new release is the Windows
Marketplace app store. Although
Microsoft has long offered tens of
thousands of applications, they
have been hard to find and
download, something
Marketplace is designed to
True Blood now playing in TwitterFic Theater
By Jane Boursaw (TV Squad)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 8:13:00 AM
With True Blood continuing to
gain steam throughout season two
(ok, a few folks weren't that crazy
about this week's "Frenzy," but I
continue to love the show), it's
address. While the Marketplace
will launch with Windows Mobile
6.5, Ferguson declined to say how
many programs have been
submitted or approved thus far.
Ferguson did say that among the
programs will be Netflix,
Facebook, and a variety of games.
"We need enough apps that
customers can have some great
choice," Ferguson said. As for the
Netflix app, I checked and it lets
users manage their queue or
watch previews, but not actually
watch movies form their queue.
(That would have been a
compelling feature, I reckon.)
Microsoft will also formally
launch its free My Phone service,
which has been in beta. In
addition to backing up contacts,
calendar, text messages, photos,
and other data, the service will
also have a "Find My Phone"
feature, similar to a paid iPhone
service that helps users locate a
lost iPhone.
In a July interview, Todd Brix
said that the Find My Phone can
be used to remotely send a
message to a phone and cause it to
ring, even if it is set to vibrate. If
that still doesn't locate it, users
can look up on a map where the
phone last synchronized to the
service. Users can also remotely
lock the phone and send a
message to it urging whoever has
only natural that fans would take
over the characters and create
their own reality. And because
everything happens on Twitter
these days, that's where True
Blood TwitterFic Theater is
taking place.
Find out how Eric really feels
it to call a specific number. If that
doesn't work, users can also
remotely wipe the device.
The software maker has said
little of its plans for Windows
Mobile beyond the current
release, although the software
maker has been working for more
than two years now on a more
substantial overhaul of the
operating system as well as a
collection of new consumer-
oriented mobile services. The
operating system upgrade,
Windows Mobile 7, was
originally expected early this year
and has hit several delays. It's
now not expected until sometime
next year.
Microsoft is expected to work
closely with a smaller number of
hardware makers, who will be
among the first to adopt the new
products when they debut next
year.
AT&T's Bradley declined to
talk about Microsoft's roadmap
for the future, but said he has seen
some encouraging signs that the
company will make devices with
more consumer appeal.
"I have every reason to think
they are going to make that
happen," Bradley said. "That's
frankly an imperative."
about Sookie, what goes on in
Tech Reviews TV 51
Sony shipping Chrome on
Vaios
(CNET News.com) in talks with Google about
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:28:00 AM Chrome and that the browser will
also be promoted to Internet users
Google promised earlier this who download RealNetworks'
year that a major computer maker RealPlayer media-streaming
would start to ship its Chrome software. Google has previously
browser. said it's in discussions with Dell
Sony's the one. about bundling the software.
Sony's Vaio line has begun To date--a day before the first
carrying the browser in the U.S., anniversary of its launch on
the Financial Times reported late September 2, 2008--Chrome has
Monday. around 30 million active users or
According to a Dow Jones around 3 percent of the global
report, all Vaio-branded PCs are market. This makes it the fourth
now using Chrome as their default most-popular browser after
browser. A Sony representative Internet Explorer, Mozilla's
told Dow Jones that there are no FireFox, and Apple's Safari.
plans to add Chrome to Vaios Rupert Goodwins of ZDNet UK
outside the U.S. reported from London.
Vaios will continue to come Updated at 6:55 a.m. PDT:
with Microsoft's Internet Explorer Details from Dow Jones report
in tandem. added.
The Financial Times also
reported that other companies are
Sam's head, and how Tara is Continue reading True Blood
coping with Maryann's spells. Not now playing in TwitterFic Theater
only that; TwitterFic Theater goes Filed under: Web, Reality-Free,
beyond mere characters. Some True Blood
fans are even happy to be Permalink| Email this| |
inanimate objects in the show, Comments
like Hoyt's cell phone and Bill's
robe.
52 Apple
Apple Has Some Important Lessons to Learn
By Liam Cassidy
(TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 1:00:33 PM
We love Apple. We love its
style. We love its vision. We love
its marketing and PR. A
generation of the world’s best
designers cut their teeth on Apple
computers, much as they might
dislike admitting their sense of
taste was shaped by a consumer
electronics company.
In business, too, Apple has
proven to be a visionary.
Entrepreneurs often look to Apple
for inspiration. Software startups
the world-over are compelled to
study Apple so as to learn how
best to “do it” — whatever “it”
may be.
I don’t know — do
entrepreneurs look to Microsoft
for inspiration? Arguably one of
the greatest speakers on
entrepreneurship and startups,
Guy Kawasaki, was Apple’s first
Macintosh evangelist and still
praises the company today.
Kawasaki picks winners — after
all, that’s his job — and he
chooses Apple every time.
In the bad old days, back when
Microsoft was “The Borg” and
Apple hadn’t released an iPod yet,
a big part of the reason for loving
Apple was our affinity with the
underdog. After all, people root
for the underdog, and, back in the
nineties, a waning Apple couldn’t
hope to compete with Wintel
dominance.
Today, despite Microsoft’s
monopoly continuing to grow in
the last decade, Apple has risen
from the proverbial ashes. It
might be in Microsoft’s shadow
(where all software companies
can be found) but this Apple
shines. (Sorry — terrible pun, I
know.)
This is a company that sweeps
in to well-established markets
(MP3 players, online music,
mobile phones) and
fundamentally changes them. It
establishes itself as the Porsche of
a laptop market otherwise
saturated with Fords; it launches
an operating system so advanced
that, eight years and (nearly) six
updates later, makes Microsoft’s
latest-and-greatest efforts still
look like Redmond is playing
catch-up. And don’t forget the
stores. Every expert, analyst and
critic said they wouldn’t work.
Yet in the midst of a global
recession, Apple’s retail stores are
seeing increased profits.
Apple today is a different
company to the limping, broken
one in which Microsoft invested
$150 million 12 years ago. At
Boston’s Macworld in 1997,
Steve Jobs said that Apple had to
change its (then) dominant
mentality; that is, “…for Apple to
win, Microsoft must lose. We
have to embrace the notion that,
for Apple to win, Apple has to do
a really good job.”
And what a fine job it has done
despite what it was up against. So
when it starts behaving
unscrupulously (or if that’s too
strong a word for you, try
“questionably”) we get concerned,
even angry. Pundits like Calacanis
publish diatribes on everything
they think is wrong with the
company. The Arrington’s of this
world declare they are “quitting”
the iPhone in protest (but really,
does anyone care all that much if
Arrington uses an iPhone?)
Apple has, for a long time,
apparently subscribed to the “treat
‘em mean, keep ‘em keen” school
of thought, doling out products
and services that are just what we
need, just when we need them.
Jobs has referenced Henry Ford’s
statement about customers’ desire
for a “faster horse.” In short, Jobs
is saying we have no imagination,
no inspired vision of what we
really need to improve our lives.
Oh yeah, and we have absolutely
no style.
It seems we agree, judging by
how eagerly we embrace the
solution — buying what Apple
tells us we want, when we want it
because, if we own the latest
iMac, iPhone and plastic white
earbuds, we’re automatically
imbued with impeccable taste,
right? Well, I don’t know about
you, but I know I am. I have two
Apple Cinema displays, several
Macs and an iPhone 3GS and I
feel positively groovy, thank you
very much. (Of course, I also live
in fear, anticipating the time
Apple updates its hardware, at
which point I will automatically
be not quite so groovy.)
We don’t want to see Apple turn
into the Borg we used to despise
but, for all its sexy unibody
curves, funny commercials and
Simpsons episodes, that’s
precisely what has happened.
Apple is today the megalithic
entity it once derided. But even
that would be tolerable if only it
didn’t do stupid things, like
inconsistently approve/reject/pull
apps from the store and then
deliver wishy-washy statements
when taken to task for it. (I say
wishy-washy, some people would
call them lies.)
Absolute power corrupts
absolutely, as Baron Acton so
eloquently put it. Apple might not
be as big as the Microsoft’s of this
world, but it arguably has power.
An awful lot of power. Apple
sells more digital music than
anyone else by a wide margin. It
has arguably the most important
(and fastest selling) mobile
Internet News Record
platform in the world. It’s deeply-
established inroads into the
education and entertainment
industries establishes it firmly in
the minds of countless young and
creative minds in the western
world.
So Apple must tread carefully.
It’s bigger now than it has ever
been, with fingers in more pies
than ever before. It’s growing
and, paradoxically, proving
profitable in markets where far-
cheaper alternatives are widely
available.
Let’s hope Google Voicegate
teaches Apple a sobering, but not
too damaging, lesson about the
importance of transparency and
honesty. We don’t expect to know
Apple’s deepest darkest secrets
(I’d rather not), but these days a
degree of openness is not only
preferred by customers, it’s
expected.
Even if Apple approved Google
Voice in the coming weeks,
would it make practical, useful
and obvious changes to its app
store approval process as a result?
I like that Apple doesn’t have its
collective minds fixed
unimaginatively, like the rest of
us, on faster horses — but just
because we don’t share its vision
doesn’t mean we are owed
anything less than respect and
honesty. Read the Report, "
Surveying the Mobile App Store
Landscape." Only at GigaOM
Pro.
Internet News Record
ATI Returning to Mac With 4000-
Series Graphics Cards
By Darrell Etherington
(TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 11:00:42 AM
Poor NVIDIA — it looks like
your honeymoon with Apple is
over. There hasn’t been an official
announcement from Cupertino
yet, but a glance at the
customization options for high-
end iMacs (the ones that use
discrete graphics) and Mac Pros
reveals that ATI Radeon HD 4000
-series cards are already available
as new configurable alternatives
to NVIDIA products.
ATI was shown the door at
Apple when the computer maker
introduced notebooks and
desktops that feature integrated
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M
graphics cards. Many suspect that
things turned rocky between
Apple and NVIDIA, thanks to the
faulty GeForce 8600M GT cards
that resulted in the Mac maker
offering customers an
unprecedented warranty extension
Report: Surveying the Mobile App Store Landscape
By Josh Pigford
(TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 12:00:23 PM
The mobile content distribution
industry began to undergo a
seismic shift last year with the
launch of Apple’s App Store, and
a host of competitors from across
the mobile spectrum are in
for problems related to that
component.
We didn’t see the effects right
away, because Apple’s supply
chain is likely structured in such a
way that its product line was
probably in place long before any
of the hardware problems began
to surface. Adding the Radeon
HD 4850 to the iMac line and HD
4870 to the Mac Pro as
configurable options may not
seem like much in the way of
retaliation, but it was probably the
various stages of following
Apple’s lead.
Google was first with Android
Market, which is built on an open-
source platform backed by a
consortium of dozens of key
players in wireless. Research In
Motion jumped on the bandwagon
in recent weeks with its
BlackBerry App World, and
first option available to Apple
short of overhauling its product
line.
Both new ATI options are easy
single component swap-outs. If
Apple intends to get rid of the
integrated GeForce 9400M cards,
it will have to wait until the
computers themselves receive a
major update.
ATI is touting the ability of the
new cards to fully utilize and
benefit from Apple’s
implementation of Open CL
Version 1.0 in Snow Leopard,
which developers can incorporate
into their software to allow a
sharing of processor load between
CPU and GPU. The HD 4850 is a
$50 upgrade, available on the
2.93GHz and 3.06GHz 24-inch
iMac models, and the HD 4870 is
a $200 upgrade for the Mac Pro.
On Sept 10th, 500 people will
gather to figure out how to make
the most of the $45 billion mobile
web market at Mobilize 09. Join
them!
Microsoft, Nokia and Palm –-
among others — are set to launch
offerings this year.
Colin Gibbs takes a
look(subscription required) at the
major players in the application-
distribution model and looks at
Apple 53
Does Mom Need Snow
Leopard?
By David Klein (TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 9:00:44 AM
Naturally, as a contributor to this
blog, I purchased a Snow Leopard
family pack the first possible day.
Some people may have pre-
ordered on Amazon, but they
missed out on the in-store
experience. My mother lives close
to an Apple store, so I decided to
stop by and upgrade my Macbook
Pro while catching up with her.
Soon after arriving she asked,
“Do I need that?”
Silence.
I honestly had no idea what to
say. Sure it’s a cheap and quick
upgrade, but does she really need is “faster.” One can never say no
to speed in the computer world.
Snow Leopard on the 20 inch
iMac she bought last year? Her The rest sounds like under the
hood features. Fortunately, the UI
entire computer life at home
revolves around Safari, Mail, and changes in Snow Leopard are
miniscule enough to not terrify
Microsoft Word. She networks,
reads, and writes. I, however, the average Mac user. I guess it’s
safe to upgrade her. After all, the
consider myself an über power
user: Netbeans, Adobe CS3, and Apple coolness factor always
entertains.
tinkerer extraordinaire. I can’t
refuse an OS upgrade. What about all of you? Planning
Let’s take a look at Apple’s on upgrading your parents’
Snow Leopard page. computers? Read the Report, "
The only item I see here that is New Metrics for the Mobile Ad
actually appealing to my mother Market." Only at GigaOM Pro.
how the trend will affect carriers, the next several years.
handset manufacturers, Check out the full report
developers, content owners and (Subscription Required) Hurry!
end users. He also examines key GigaOM's Mobilize conference is
factors that will contribute to the on Sept 10th in SF. See our final
success or failure of specific app speaker lineup and topics. Mobile
stores, general shortcomings in web is booming. Join us!
the new app-store model, what
solutions are already needed and
how the space will evolve over
54 Apple Internet News Record

Apple Confirms Press Event for

September 9
By Darrell Etherington
(TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 8/31/2009 4:20:53 PM

September 9 is indeed the day

for the next official Apple press
event, according to Apple itself
via press invitations that were sent
out today. The event will take
place at the Yerba Buena Center
for the Arts Theater in San
Francisco, CA at 10AM Pacific.
That’s 1PM Eastern for those of
us over here on the other coast.
Other time zones will have to do
their own fancy math adjustment.
The tagline for the event is “It’s
only rock and roll, but we like it,”
and the image being circulated
with the invitation features a
traditional dancing silhouette with
white iPod and headphones. All of
which makes it seem very likely
that people expecting a tablet
announcement will be somewhat
disappointed, but that those
looking forward to new iPod
models will probably have
something to celebrate.
The title is a riff on British
rockers The Rolling Stones’ track
“It’s Only Rock and Roll (But I
Like It).” There has been
speculation that fellow British
rock sensation The Beatles would
finally be coming to the iTunes
Store at this event, since it’s the
same day Beatles Rock Band
ships, but so far that remains up in
the air.
Another possible reason for the
September 9 date, which falls on a
Wednesday instead of following
the traditional Apple-event
Tuesday pattern, is iTunes 9.
Recently, there have been many
rumors surrounding the next
major point upgrade of Apple’s
music and media management
software, so expect to see it arrive
next Wednesday, complete with
added social networking
capabilities and possibly
additional features that take
advantage of new iPod hardware
improvements. On Sept 10th, 500
people will gather to figure out
how to make the most of the $45
billion mobile web market at
Mobilize 09. Join them!
Your Favorite Snow
Leopard UI Changes
By David Klein (TheAppleBlog) Next is the new Airport menu.
Submitted at 8/31/2009 3:00:15 PM We finally have signal strength
next to the network name. Before,
Now that many of us have a third-party tool was required for
upgraded to Snow Leopard, I this.
would like to start a forum where Services
you can share your favorite UI Honestly, I have never used the
changes. Use Command + Shift + Services feature in the Finder. It’s
3, Command + Shift + 4, a third cluttered and confusing. Now, it’s
party screenshot capture tool, or smart enough to know what I
links to your favorite photo want to do and provide the correct
sharing site. I’ll start it off with options. A more thorough write
my favorites. Expose up of the new Services feature is
Below is a screenshot of a new coming to TheAppleBlog shortly.
Expose feature in Snow Leopard. Leave a comment with links to
I opened six Safari windows and screenshots of your favorite UI
simply clicked on the Safari dock changes in Snow Leopard! Read
icon for a second. The dock icon the Report, " New Metrics for the
lights up while the rest of the Mobile Ad Market." Only at
dock darkens. Very fast. Very GigaOM Pro.
slick.
Airport
Internet News Record
MTV keeps the '80s revival
going with Teen Wolf pilot
By Jason Hughes (TV Squad)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 10:02:00 AM
Michael J. Fox's Teen Wolf was
infectious fun back in 1985. By
the time we got to Jason Bateman
and Teen Wolf Too, a lot of the
luster had worn off. Still, MTV
thinks there's still plenty to mine
from the concept, as they've
ordered a pilot for a Teen Wolf
series.
MTV VP Liz Gately says, "It
has a fresh take and is very
different from the original." They
go on to explain that it's more
similar to An American Werewolf
in Paris(not London, but Paris).
I'm still trying to wrap my brain
around why remakes seem to be
all the rage right now. Especially
if this remake is so different from
the source title. Why is it a
remake then?
Have we reached a creative
laziness where it's just easier to
try and sell the public on a
property they've already heard of
than something brand new? If this
is as "very different" as Gately
TV Game 55
Rumor: Famitsu scans
show DS Okami
sequel 'Okamiden'
By JC Fletcher (Joystiq)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 2:15:00 AM
Apparent Famitsu magazine
scans are out, revealing what
would appear to be the
promised"Okamiden" game. We
can't see the title in this scan, but
says, then why not just call it if an Okami sequel and an
something else entirely? unrelated game called Okamiden
Vampires and werewolves are
popular enough right now with Weeds: All About My Mom were revealed at the same time, it
would be a pretty weird
the kids that you don't need a 24- By Jane Boursaw (TV Squad) Nothing about this episode c o i n c i d e n c e .
year old movie title to sell a If this is real, it shows a DS
Submitted at 9/1/2009 2:54:00 AM grabbed me, and for that, I'm sad.
series. From the massage therapist that sequel to Clover Studios' beloved
Filed under: Other Comedy
(S05E13) "Women are strong ... Pilar sent for Nancy ("Don't make PS2 action-adventure game,
Shows, Pickups and Renewals, until they fall apart." - Nancy me sit on you") to Doug's lame which captures the original's
Reality-Free
It was zingers like the above one-liners ("Wanna lick my watercolor style admirably, if a bit
Permalink| Email this| | quote that filled the season five crystal balls?"), it just wasn't blockily. Of course, the DS is
Comments
finale of Weeds. I'm sure there there. I expect a season finale to even more of a natural for the
were more, but I dozed off about be filled with eye openers, plot Okami paintbrush mechanic than
three minutes into the show. twists, and a fantastic ending that the Wii is!
Honestly, I'll check out the first makes me cry that it's over and Rumor: Famitsu scans show DS
few eps of next season, but at this yearn until the day it starts again. O k a m i s e q u e l ' O k a m i d e n '
point, I'm not committed to Sorry, it simply wasn't there. originally appeared on Joystiq on
reviewing the entire season. It's Continue reading Weeds: All Tue, 01 Sep 2009 02:15:00 EST.
no fun for me, and certainly no About My Mom Please see our terms for use of
fun for you guys, if I'm covering a Filed under: OpEd, Episode feeds.
show I'm just not into. I really Reviews, Weeds, Reality-Free Read| Permalink| Email this|
hope it improves enough to make Permalink| Email this| | Comments
me giddy, but I'm not holding my Comments
breath.
56 Sports
Rich Rodriguez says Michigan Wolverines comply with rules
By ESPN.com news services
(ESPN.com)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:55:50 AM
Emotional Rodriguez Denies
Allegations Emotional Rodriguez
Denies Allegations VIDEO
PLAYLIST
• Emotional Rodriguez Denies
Allegations Emotional Rodriguez
Denies Allegations
• Michigan Investigating
Allegations Michigan
Investigating Allegations
ANN ARBOR, Mich. --
Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez
said Monday that his football
program has abided by NCAA
rules, despite allegations from
anonymous players and former
players who say the team has
practiced far beyond the time
allowed.
"We know the rules," Rodriguez
said, "and we follow the rules."
At a news conference in Ann
Arbor, Rodriguez became
emotional and had to gather
himself several times with glassy
eyes as he denied any
wrongdoing.
"I guess I'm here to tell you that
whatever you've heard or want to
believe, the truth is that this
coaching staff cares very deeply
about the young men in our
program," he said.
The school on Sunday launched
an investigation into allegations
that the football program regularly
violates NCAA rules limiting how
much time players can spend on
training and practice.
The Big Ten confirms that
assistant commissioner for
compliance Chad Hawley met
with Michigan associate athletic
director for compliance Judy Van
Horn on Sunday in Ann Arbor.
Hawley was on his way back to
Chicago from a separate meeting
and, because of the new
allegations, decided to stop in
Ann Arbor and meet with Van
Horn in person.
"Our office does not conduct
investigations in situations such as
this," the Big Ten said in a
statement. "As that task is
undertaken by the institution and -
- depending the circumstances --
the NCAA. To the extent we get
involved, it is purely in an
advisory capacity."
Hawley was back at the Big Ten
offices on Monday.
The Doug Gottlieb Show
Covering the Michigan football
situation in Ann Arbor, Joe Schad
says there are some who aren't
fans of Rich Rodriguez as they
remain loyal to Lloyd Carr. It is a
distraction.
More Podcasts »
The announcement came after a
Detroit Free Press article in which
players from the 2008 and 2009
teams said the amount of time
they spend on football during the
season and in the offseason
greatly exceeds NCAA limits.
The players spoke to the
newspaper on condition of
anonymity because they feared
repercussions from coaches.
Former Michigan wide receiver
Toney Clemons told ESPN's Joe
Schad on Sunday night that all of
the allegations reported are
accurate.
Rodriguez suggested the
complaints were an attempt to
"tear up" the effort to rebuild a
program that stumbled to a 3-9
record last season, including a
dismal 2-6 in the Big Ten. It was
Michigan's first losing season
since 1967 and its first without a
bowl in 34 years.
"Nobody on my staff would ever
tell a player to miss a class ...
never have, never will,"
Rodriguez said.
Michigan athletic director Bill
Martin announced the school
investigation, saying the
allegations were taken seriously.
"We believe we have been
compliant with NCAA rules, but
nonetheless we have launched a
full investigation," Martin said in
a statement released by the school
Sunday night.
Martin's statement also
indicated the school had reached
out to both the Big Ten and the
NCAA about the allegations,
adding the university would have
more to say after its inquiry was
done.
Van Horn has also denied that
the football program violated
NCAA rules.
Those regulations allow players
to spend eight hours a week on
mandatory workouts during the
offseason. Players told the Free
Press that they have spent two to
three times that amount on
required workouts.
The players said the amount of
time they spent on football
activities during the season
exceeded the weekly limit of 20
hours and often exceeded the
daily limit of four hours. They
also said quality-control staff
often watched seven-on-seven
offseason scrimmages that are
supposed to be voluntary and that
only training staff are allowed to
attend.
Rodriguez said what has
bothered him the most is the
perception that he and his staff do
not care about their players.
"That is disheartening," he said.
Detroit Lions rookie Carson
Butler, who played at Michigan,
said he didn't think players had to
do a lot more work for Rodriguez
last year when compared with
previous seasons under Lloyd
Carr.
"It was just a different structure,"
Butler said.
Butler said it didn't seem as if
the players were forced to spend
excessive time training and
practicing.
"I don't know all of the exact
rules, but I don't remember
anything that seemed like it was
too much," Butler said. "If the
weight room was open, you went.
If there was a run, you went. It's
just what you do to be a better
football player."
Rodriguez, who is guiding
college football's winningest
program after a successful stint as
West Virginia's head coach, opens
Internet News Record
the season Saturday at home
against Western Michigan. He
said he is not worried about the
allegations becoming a
distraction.
"Nothing is going to change their
focus," Rodriguez said.
Linebacker Obi Ezeh said the
report will only make the team's
bond stronger.
"We were really tight coming
out of training camp," Ezeh said.
"I think things like this kind of
help us to grow stronger."
Tuesday, the Charleston
(W.Va.) Daily Mail reported that
West Virginia University's
compliance office reviewed its
records after the Michigan
allegations were made public and
found no similar issues during
Rodriguez's seven years as the
Mountaineers' coach.
"Based upon our looking back
over the weekend, we don't feel
we have any concerns," said
Michael Fragale, WVU's assistant
AD for communications,
according to the report. "We have
checked it out and there has been
nothing flagged and nothing out
of the ordinary. ... There were no
student-athlete complaints during
the time [Rodriguez] was here."
Joe Schad is ESPN's college
football reporter. Information
from The Associated Press was
used in this report.
Internet News Record Sports 57

Los Angeles Dodgers get slugger Jim Thome,

pitcher Jon Garland
By ESPN.com news services a designated hitter the past two Garland is 8-11 this season with salary arbitration if he is a Type A
(ESPN.com) seasons and hasn't played first a 4.29 ERA in his first season free agent.
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:54:48 AM base -- the position he played with Arizona. He pitched in Los Thome goes from a third-place
earlier in his career -- since Angeles last season, going 14-8 team trailing Detroit and
Dodgers Acquire Jim Thome appearing in one game there in with a 4.90 ERA for the Angels. Minnesota in the American
Dodgers Acquire Jim Thome 2007. He hasn't played first base
The Los Angeles Dodgers have full time since 2004.
He won 18 games in consecutive
seasons for the White Sox in 2005
League Central Division to the
first-place Dodgers, who came
This Man
seen the Rockies and Giants "I'm not saying you won't see
getting bigger in their rearview Jimmy at first, but I want to talk
and 2006.
After Monday's game, Garland
into Monday night leading the NL
West by six games. Will Not Win
mirror, so they added some power to him," Torre said. made what he called a "definitely Garland gave up five hits and a
to try to pull away. James Loney is the Dodgers
The Dodgers acquired slugger regular first baseman, but he has
weird" walk from the visitors'
clubhouse to the Dodgers' room.
walk over seven sharp innings in a
9-0 victory over the Houston
the U.S. Open
Jim Thome from the White Sox only nine homers. He was scheduled to pitch the Astros on Saturday. (WSJ.com: The Daily Fix)
and right-hander Jon Garland Dodgers general manager Ned series finale against the Dodgers "He's somebody we had interest Submitted at 8/31/2009 7:41:07 AM
from the Diamondbacks on Colleti envisions Thome playing a on Thursday. in this past winter and who we've
Monday after both players cleared role similar to the one Matt Stairs "It's definitely a team I've always watched for a while and have seen It’s no stretch to say NCAA
waivers. filled for the World Series wanted to pitch for," said Garland, in our division. He's pitched in the champion Devin Britton has his
"I think it's made us stronger," champion Phillies last year -- he who was born in the northern postseason, he's been on a team hands full on opening day of the
Dodgers manager Joe Torre said hit a key home run against the suburb of Valencia and went to that's won the World Series," U.S. Open. On Monday afternoon,
a f t e r a 5 - 3 l o s s t o t h e Dodgers in the NLCS. high school in nearby Granada Colleti said. "When you get to the Britton faces Roger Federer,
Diamondbacks. "We have a threat "We're not brining him over here Hills. "This is where the dream month of August and you start who’s won the past five U.S.
off the bench now, and in Garland to play first base," Colleti said. started for me." looking for additional help and Opens and has 15 Grand Slam
we certainly have someone who "We're bring him here to come off Torre also said that Garland can add a veteran starter who can titles. Oh, and Federer is ranked
knows how to pitch." the bench and be a great influence could start Thursday, against his give you innings and is a winning- 1,369 places higher. Getty Images
For players to be eligible for the in the clubhouse. He's one of the old team, the D-backs, and that he type player, you go for it." Britton reminds himself of his
postseason with a new team, true great guys in the game. will get the ball every fifth day. In a separate move on Monday, first-round opponent’s ranking.
transactions had to be completed "In fact, the night before the The Dodgers will receive the busy White Sox dealt pitcher Britton, who won the collegiate
before midnight ET on Monday. deadline he called me. ... He just Thome and cash for minor league Jose Contreras to the Rockies. championship in May for Ole
Thome is batting .252 with 23 said: 'I just want to be honest with infielder Justin Fuller. The The right-hander led the AL in Miss, won’t be in the spotlight for
homers and 74 RBIs in his fourth you. I'd love to come. I want to Dodgers said that Garland was losses with 13, against only five long, barring a miracle. “It’s an
season in Chicago. The five-time help you guys any way I can. But acquired for a player to be named wins, and had a 5.42 ERA. amazing story, is it not?” Rick
All-Star is 12th on the all-time playing first base is not something later. The Rockies get Contreras and Cleveland writes in the Clarion
home run list with 564. I'm going to be able to do -- Thome is owed $2,415,301 cash for Triple-A right-hander Ledger. “Five years ago, Britton
ESPN The Magazine's Buster maybe in an emergency situation, from his $13 million salary, and is Brandon Hynick. Hynick is 10-9 was a gangly 13-year-old banging
Olney reported earlier on Monday perhaps.'" eligible to become a free agent with a 3.83 ERA and two balls against all comers at Parham
that the White Sox had sent a The Dodgers, who entered after the World Series. complete games in 26 starts this Bridges Tennis Center in
memo to teams around the league Monday's games 12th in the NL Garland is due $1,161,202 from season with Triple-A Colorado northeast Jackson. Now, he’s
saying veteran players were with 114 homers, reunite Thome his $6.25 million salary. His Springs. about to play perhaps the greatest
available for trade. Thome, with Manny Ramirez. The power contract includes a $10 million Information from The player in the history of the sport
Jermaine Dye and Scott Linebrink hitters with a combined 1,106 mutual option. He gets a $2.5 Associated Press was used in this on the sport’s biggest stage.”
were said to be on that list. homers were teammates on the million buyout if the team report. While Federer should advance
It's not immediately clear what Cleveland Indians in the 1990s declines and $1 million is he with ease, plenty of challengers
role Thome will fill for the and went to the '97 World Series declines. Because he was traded, have him in their sights, including
Dodgers. He has been exclusively together. the Dodgers cannot offer him Scotsman Andy Murray. But the
world No. 2 needs more

THIS page 58
58 Sports Internet News Record
THIS
continued from page 57
Tom Brady of New
England Patriots expects
aggression in his game, ESPN’s women’s winners. or artificial playoff can change for Teddy Ballgame. The Los
Greg Garber writes. Follow all the U.S. Open action that,” Filip Bondy writes in the Angeles Times’s Jerry Crowe has to play 'if coach lets me'
At Yahoo Sports, Martin Rogers here.* * * New York Daily News.* * * the story here.* * * By ESPN.com news services
writes that improved conditioning Heath Slocum barely qualified Cancer has changed the Last Thursday, Mike Perham, (ESPN.com)
has helped No. 5 Andy Roddick for the Barclays championship — direction of Conrad Bolston’s life. 17, of the United Kingdom Submitted at 8/31/2009 2:42:42 PM
shed 15 pounds, but it’s he was ranked 124th out of 125 He had hoped for a career in the became the youngest person to
Roddick’s mental condition that invitees — but he held off Ernie NFL but after being cut by the sail alone around the world. Now Brady Expects To Play In
may determine the American’s Els, Padraig Harrington and Tiger Green Bay Packers a year ago, a 13-year-old Dutch girl wants to
Season Opener Brady Expects To
success at the U.S. Open. Woods by one stroke Sunday to Bolston needed two surgeries to attempt the same feat. Laura Play In Season Opener
Rafael Nadal is only 23, but the win the opening weekend of the remove a tumor on his spinal Dekker has the support of her Tom Brady, who injured his
Spaniard’s aggressive play has FedEx Cup. cord. The former defensive tackle parents, but she’s been taken into
shoulder in New England's
exacted a toll on his body as he “Sunday’s victory was had to relearn motor skills and temporary custody while her case
preseason game against
tries again for his first U.S. Open inestimably bigger than anything now is working toward getting is being reviewed, Time’s Gaëlle
Washington last week, said
title, the Washington Post’s Liz he’d done in the game into law school, Josh Barr writes Faure writes.* * * Monday that he expects to play
Clarke writes. It’s the only major previously,” CBS Sports’s Steve in the Washington Post.* * * Spending a quiet day at the lake
"this week, if Coach lets me."
yet to elude Nadal. Elling writes. “His two other PGA “Football alone does not make a fishing might not be your idea of Brady took a crushing hit from
One interesting plotline on the Tour wins came in what are university great, but there are very excitement, so perhaps combat Washington Redskins defensive
women’s side is whether Serena euphemistically called ‘opposite few great universities without fishing in Alaska is more to your
lineman Albert Haynesworth and
Williams can repeat as champ and events,’ because they are staged football.” So says Roseanne liking, Kim Murphy writes in the
left the game at Washington.
claim her fourth U.S. Open title. opposite limited-field tournaments Runte, Old Dominion Los Angeles Times. Patriots coach Bill Belichick said
But perhaps Ana Ivanovic makes featuring the game’s top stars. His University’s president from 2001- – Tip of the Fix cap to reader
over the weekend that Brady had
a more intriguing story. The wins came in Tucson, Ariz., and 08. A school effort to start a Don Hartline. a sore shoulder, but was removed
Serbian zoomed to No. 1 after Mississippi — the former [event] program in the 1980s failed, but Found a good column from thefrom the game so the Patriots
winning the French Open in 2008 no longer exists.” ODU’s dream will finally be world of sports? Don’t keep it to
could evaluate their backup
but has since fallen to 13th. Many pundits aren’t sold on the realized on Saturday, Melinda yourself — write to us at quarterbacks.
Yahoo Sports’s Josh Peter writes PGA Tour’s playoff, calling it a Waldrop writes in the Newport dailyfix@wsj.com and we’ll "I have bumps and bruises,"
about Ivanovic’s meteoric rise, contrived way to keep golf in the News Daily Press.* * * consider your find for inclusion in
Brady said in his weekly
her spectacular collapse and picture after the majors are Hall of Famer Ted Williams the Daily Fix. You can email appearance on Boston radio
whether recent changes can complete. So no matter how was a .344 lifetime hitter who had Garey at ris84rap@gmail.com. station WEEI. "It's a physical
resurrect her career. Woods fares, “All four Grand 7,706 at bats in the majors. Only game. Like I said, I fell a little bit
Sports Illustrated’s Jon Slam events are crammed into once, on Sept. 20, 1960, did any awkwardly, but I'm expecting to
Wertheim predicts the men’s and four months, and no prize money Boston Red Sox player pinch-hit be out there and I'm expecting to
play this week, if Coach let's me.
Venus Triumphs Over Pain, Avoids Upset We'll just see how the week
goes."
Is there a chance Brady won't
By Greg Couch (FanHouse) miracle that she got past Vera amazing seven foot faults, won
Submitted at 9/1/2009 1:10:00 AM Dushevina 6-7 (7-5), 7-5, 6-3 anyway. More Coverage: Check play?
Monday night, barely surviving a U.S. Open Scores| Rookie Blitzed "Well, I mean, there's a chance I
by Greg Couch major upset. by Federer won't make it down to the stadium
Filed under: U.S. Open, WTA Well no, that's not fair. It was Venus Triumphs Over Pain, in the next 30 minutes," Brady
NEW YORK -- This was ugly. not a miracle. It was instead Avoids Upset originally appeared told WEEI. "... There's a lot of
But it was ugly in a way that something about a champion's on Fanhouse Tennis on Tue, 01 time before that game."
showed something beautiful, too. heart. Tennis players like to Sep 2009 01:10:00 EST . Please Brady said he's relying on the
Venus Williams is limping to consider themselves warriors on see our terms for use of feeds. team's doctors and trainers, and
the finish line of this season, and I the court alone, with no one else Permalink| Email this| Linking that he's prepared to be hit in
don't think she can make it. As in, to blame, nothing to fall back on her left knee that she couldn't turn Blogs| Comments games. "I'm confident in the way
I don't think she can get through and no one to pass to. or push off on it on her serve, that I train so I'm prepared for
this U.S. Open. That said, it is a Williams, with so much pain in leading to 10 double faults and an those," he said on WEEI. "Some

TOM page 59
Internet News Record Sports 59
TOM
Adam 'Pacman' Jones agrees to one- continued from page 58
of those you can't avoid, like last and rookie Brian Hoyer, a free

year deal with the CFL Winnipeg year, but it's really part, it's part of
the job description. Anybody who
plays this game needs be willing
agent from Michigan State, also
handed off and none of the
quarterbacks threw during that

Blue Bombers to play it less than 100 percent of

perfect, which, after that first
training camp practice, nobody is
period.
Quarterback Kevin O'Connell,
projected to be Brady's backup,
By ESPN.com news services schedule beginning in October. called the acquisition of Jones a 100 percent." was cut Monday.
(ESPN.com) The Cowboys acquired Jones "win-win" situation on and off the Despite several questions, The Patriots could seek a more
Submitted at 9/1/2009 7:00:34 AM from the Tennessee Titans during field, according to SI.com. Brady wasn't any more experienced quarterback before
the draft in April 2008, after he "From a marketing standpoint, a forthcoming on his shoulder. the season in case Brady is
C o r n e r b a c k A d a m J o n e s , was suspended by the league for business standpoint and a football "What does it matter?" he said. sidelined at any point.
released by the Dallas Cowboys the entire 2007 season following standpoint, I could go to 100 NFL "We don't play for two weeks. New England also released long
in February, has agreed to a one- multiple off-field incidents while t r a i n i n g c a m p s a n d e v e r y The reality is no matter what I snapper Nathan Hodel on
year deal with the Winnipeg Blue with the Titans. preseason game and more people say, you know, no matter how Monday, leaving rookie Jake
Bombers of the CFL, according to But during the 2008 season, will hear and know about the confident I am, we're just going to Ingram, a sixth-round draft pick
a SI.com report. Jones was suspended for six Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the have to wait until Sept. 14, or from Hawaii, to handle that job.
"It'll be a good experience for games by the NFL after getting next two weeks -- from the hopefully, this Thursday, if Coach The Patriots made three other
me to get back in game shape and into an alcohol-related scuffle in coverage we'll receive -- than in lets us play. I mean, traditionally, moves, placing rookie linebacker
compete and play football, which October with a team-provided the last 10 years," he told SI.com. he doesn't let us play in this game, Tyrone McKenzie on injured
I like to do," Jones said, according bodyguard at a Dallas hotel. He "If I was in the same position in but if he wants me to play, I'll reserve, tackle Mark LeVoir on
to SI.com. "I'm real happy for the spent part of that suspension in an the NFL I might have a lot more play." the reserve/physically unable to
opportunity that's been given to alcohol rehabilitation program. reservations," Murphy added, On Monday, Brady stretched perform list and wide receiver
me. Of course it's disappointing to Expected to give the Cowboys a according to the Web site report. " with his teammates, at one point Brandon Tate on the reserve/non-
me to not be playing in the NFL. boost on defense and special . . . There isn't a better football sitting with his legs outstretched football injury list.
But things happen and you have teams, Jones had 31 tackles and player who's not in the NFL, at 25 and reaching with both arms to Information from The
to adjust. " no interceptions in his nine games years old, who's ready to play touch his toes. He handed off to Associated Press was used in this
Jones, 25, chose the CFL over (six of them starts). He averaged football, is going to play with a running backs during the 15 report.
the inaugural United Football only 4.5 yards on 21 punt returns, chip on his shoulder, and is going minutes the practice was open to
League, Jones' agents told SI.com. with a long of 18 yards. to bring some fun and excitement the media.
One of the factors was money -- Before going to Dallas, Jones to our team, our locker room, our Backup quarterbacks Andrew
c o n t r a c t d e t a i l s w e r e n o t was arrested six times and city, and our league." Walter, a former Oakland Raider,
immediately known -- but Jones involved in 12 instances requiring Information from The
also will be able to play on both p o l i c e i n t e r v e n t i o n a f t e r Associated Press was used in this
sides of the ball in the CFL, which Tennessee drafted him in the first report.
still has 10 weeks remaining in its round in 2005.
season. The four teams in the But John Murphy, Winnipeg's
UFL will be playing a six-game director of player personnel,

Dodgers Snag Jim Thome, Jon Garland

By Jeff Fletcher (FanHouse) the Diamondbacks, squeezing the amounts to a dump for the White Fanhouse MLB Blog on Tue, 01
Submitted at 9/1/2009 12:26:00 AM deals in just before the deadline Sox, while the Dodgers are Sep 2009 00:26:00 EST . Please
for both players to be eligible for looking for Thome to provide see our terms for use of feeds.
by Jeff Fletcher Los Angeles' postseason roster. some pop to their lineup. Permalink| Email this| Linking
Filed under: Diamondbacks, The Dodgers reportedly sent They acquired Garland for a Blogs| Comments
D o d g e r s , W h i t e S o x , M L B infielder Justin Fuller to the White player to be named. More
T r a n s a c t i o n s T h e D o d g e r s Sox in exchange for Thome and Coverage: Rockies Land
bolstered their rotation and lineup cash considerations. Fuller, a 26-year-old at Single-A, so he's Contreras From White Sox
by acquiring Jim Thome from the former 11th-round pick, was not much of a prospect. The move Dodgers Snag Jim Thome, Jon
White Sox and Jon Garland from hitting .254 with four homers as a Garland originally appeared on
60 Sports Internet News Record

The Count: Galaxy’s Rebound Alabama Football Player Shot

By Brian Grummell
Fueled by Defense (FanHouse)
Submitted at 9/1/2009 2:48:00 AM

(WSJ.com: The Daily Fix) Five matches may be too few to by Brian Grummell
Submitted at 8/31/2009 12:57:13 PM conclude that Beckham and Filed under: Alabama, Virginia
Donovan have discovered a Tech, Police Blotter College
Six weeks into David Beckham’s newfound commitment to football's opening week should be
return to the Los Angeles Galaxy, defense. Only one of the five about celebration but its taken a
they’re playing better with him matches has come against an rough turn after an Alabama
than they ever had before. That offense that ranks in the top half football player was shot Monday
improvement appears to have of Major League Soccer in night. Senior defensive end
little to do with Beckham or his scoring. Still, the trend is Brandon Deaderick was shot in
star teammate — and occasional offensive units. The Galaxy c o n s i s t e n t w i t h o v e r a l l the arm in an apparent robbery
critic— Landon Donovan, and averaged 1.75 goals in those 23 improvement in team defense, outside a Tuscaloosa apartment
lots to do with a tightening of the matches, but yielded a whopping which is yielding fewer than one complex.
Galaxy’s defense. Associated 2.18 goals. This year, in the five goal per game under new coach The Tuscaloosa News says his
Press games they’ve played together, Bruce Arena, who brought in a injuries aren't life-threatening away from Saturdays for a while.
Last season, David Beckham’s Galaxy scoring is down to 1.4 new set of defensive players. which is great news but Alabama Football Player Shot
late goal probably wouldn’t have goals per match but the formerly More MLS stats: Several L.A. authorities are actively searching originally appeared on Fanhouse
been enough for the Galaxy and sieve-like defense has yielded a players — but neither Beckham for his attacker and appear to have NCAA Football Blog on Tue, 01
its then-porous defense to win. s t i n g y 0 . 6 g o a l p e r m a t c h . nor Donovan — made the Top 10 made an arrest. It was anticipated Sep 2009 02:48:00 EST . Please
When Beckham and his fellow Notwithstanding Beckham’s lists in various newfangled stats Deaderick would be a starter this see our terms for use of feeds.
offensive-minded teammate, brilliant one-touch goal Saturday, for the U.S. league, such as season on a loaded Alabama Permalink| Email this| Linking
Donovan, took the field together it’s the Galaxy’s defense that has average distance run and most defense but obviously, his Blogs| Comments
during their first two years as lifted the team near the top of the touches of the ball. physical recovery could take him
teammates, the results were Western Conference standings.
explosive — for both teams’ Tip-off Timer: Mark Eaton Blocks
Starting Five: Crazy Eights for Jays' Lind 5.6 Shots a Game in '85
By Andrew Johnson runs in the ninth inning to win a By Tom Ziller (FanHouse)
(FanHouse) slugfest 18-10. Submitted at 9/1/2009 9:00:00 AM
Submitted at 9/1/2009 6:00:00 AM The main difference? Lind, who
homered twice, including a grand by Tom Ziller
by Andrew Johnson slam, and drove in eight runs Filed under: Jazz Tip-Off Timer
Filed under: Blue Jays, Braves, More Coverage: Scoreboard| counts down the days until the
Marlins, Padres, Tigers, Yankees, Standings| Statistics first game of the 2009-10 season.
Starting Five Starting Five is our Starting Five: Crazy Eights for On Tuesday, there are 56 days
wrapup of the previous day's Jays' Lind originally appeared on remaining.
baseball action with a quick nod Fanhouse MLB Blog on Tue, 01 As far as modern defensive
to what is ahead. Sep 2009 06:00:00 EST . Please monsters go, Mark Eaton has been
You Oughta Know ... see our terms for use of feeds. a bit forgotten. The Wag has
That in a game of runs -- the Texas. Then the Rangers, fighting Permalink| Email this| Linking imprinted Dikembe Mutombo's
basketball, not baseball variety -- to hang with Boston in the AL Blogs| Comments image in all our eternal memories;
it was Adam Lind who stood out. wild-card race, answered with 10 when you think of blocked shots, game.
The Blue Jays jumped out to an runs of their own. And Toronto you think of Deke.
11-0 lead through five innings in followed with seven insurance Tip-off Timer: Mark Eaton
But Eaton can lay claim to the Blocks 5.6 Shots a Game in '85
blocks title, in terms of seasonal
average. In 1984-85, Eaton racked
up a whopping 5.6 blocks per TIP-OFF page 61
Internet News Record Game 61
TIP-OFF
continued from page 60
originally appeared on Fanhouse
NBA Blog on Tue, 01 Sep 2009
09:00:00 EST . Please see our
terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Linking
Blogs| Comments

Massive announces fall in-

game ad lineup
By Richard Mitchell (Joystiq) next year.
Submitted at 9/1/2009 4:00:00 AM Perhaps most important of all,
Massive will be the exclusive
M i c r o s o f t ' s i n - g a m e a d provider of advertisements on
c o m p a n y , M a s s i v e , h a s Blizzard's revamped Battle.Net
a n n o u n c e d t h a t i t w i l l b e when it launches alongside
providing ads for several major StarCraft II. That's not much of a
publishers this fall, namely THQ, leap, as the company is the sole
EA and Activision. Massive will provider for the current Battle.Net
supply ads for EA's sports lineup - as well. Still, we're just guessing
- including Madden NFL 10-- and that there will be more than a few
Need for Speed: Shift. For eyeballs pointed at Blizzard's
Activision, the company will online playground whenever
p r o v i d e a d s f o r t h e m a n y StarCraft II graces the world with
upcoming Hero games, including its presence.
Guitar Hero 5, DJ Hero and Band [Via Edge]
Hero, as well as Tony Hawk Ride Massive announces fall in-game
and Blur. There will also be ads in ad lineup originally appeared on
THQ's MX vs ATV Reflex as Joystiq on Tue, 01 Sep 2009
well as its smash hit UFC 2009: 04:00:00 EST. Please see our
Undisputed. Also, expect ads in terms for use of feeds.
Ubisoft's Splinter Cell: Read| Permalink| Email this|
Conviction-- projected on the Comments
walls, perhaps -- when it launches