Internet News Record 25/09/09 - 26/09/09 LibertyNewsprint.com U.S.

Edition

Judge blasts case against Kuwaiti held at Guantanamo

By Jeremy Pelofsky (Front The government had accused Al two weeks of compulsory basic
Row Washington) Rabiah of providing money to al training in Kuwait, after which he
Submitted at 9/25/2009 12:32:22 PM Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden received a medical exemption. He
during a July trip to Afghanistan had never traveled to Afghanistan
So how did an overweight, 43- and helping to coordinate and prior to 2001. Before leaving for
year-old Kuwaiti man with bad support Taliban fighters in the Afghanistan in October 2001, he
knees and no real military training mountainous Tora Bora region in requested two-weeks leave from
or experience suddenly become a the country during a subsequent Kuwait Airlines, his employer,
logistics expert helping al Qaeda October trip. Bin Laden is where he had worked for twenty
leaders organize the defense of believed to have escaped capture years. Given these facts, the
Tora Bora in 2001? via that route. Government did not even attempt
That’s the question a U.S. However, the judge shredded to defend many of his
federal judge said the government t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’ s c a s e , confessions, and particularly those
failed to adequately answer in meticulously going through Al where he confessed to traveling to
trying to justify the indefinite Rabiah’s history and the evidence Tora Bora and advising senior al
detention of Fouad Al Rabiah at presented noting that he had only Qaeda leaders as to how they
Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The had two weeks of military training should be organizing their
Kuwait Airways engineer’s — a requirement in Kuwait — but supplies within the six square
confessions to those charges, he was discharged because of a (mile) Tora Bora mountain
extracted with the use of extreme knee injury and that he had a long complex that Al Rabiah had never
interrogation methods, “defy history of doing charity work previously seen and that was
belief,” wrote Judge Colleen without any ties to terrorism. the Army Field Manual and the them to justify his indefinite occupied by people whom he had
Kollar-Kotelly in a decision Kollar-Kotelly also pointed out 1949 Geneva Convention Relative detention. never previously met, while at the
issued today. that Al Rabiah’s confessions were to the Treatment of Prisoners of This passage seemed to sum up same time acting as a supply
“If there exists a basis for Al a result of harsh interrogation War” such as threats that he Kollar-Kotelly’s feelings about logistician and mediator of supply
Rabiah’s indefinite detention, it techniques, including one (which would be sent to places where he the strength of the government’s disputes that arose among various
most certainly has not been was redacted in the ruling) that could be tortured or would never case against Al Rabiah: fighting factions. These
presented to this court,” Kollar- the government was unable to be found. “Al Rabiah’s ’story’ to which his confessions defy belief.”
Kotelly wrote in a 65-page provide evidence that its use was “Al Rabiah’s interrogators interrogators alluded is also Click here for more Reuters
decision, noting that his petition authorized as required. ultimately extracted confessions entirely incredible. Al Rabiah was political coverage.
to the court for release under She also pointed out that one from him, but they never believed a 43 year old who was - Photo credit: Reuters
habeas corpus is the oldest intelligence analyst’s assessment his confessions based on the overweight, suffered from health
pending. So far, 30 detainees was that Al Rabiah should not comments they included in their problems, and had no known
have won their freedom from the have been detained and that the interrogation reports,” she said in history of terrorist activities or
court, while seven have been i n t e r r o g a t o r s “ b e g a n u s i n g her ruling, apparently incredulous links to terrorist activities. He had
denied. abusive techniques that violated that the government tried to use no military experience except for
2 Politics/ Top News/ Internet News Record

The First Draft: No Shortage of High US man linked to 9/11

-Powered Advice for Obama train plot
By David Morgan (Front Row (BBC News | Americas | World Mr Neff said the suspect had
Washington) Edition) driven to New York on 9
Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:18:40 AM Submitted at 9/25/2009 11:30:15 AM September before suddenly
returning to Denver.
All week long, the U.S. media An Afghan-born Colorado Prosecutors say he returned
have been treating President resident may have plotted an after learning that he was being
Barack Obama to a morning attack on New York commuter watched by federal agents.
drumbeat of high-powered trains for this month's 9/11 According to an indictment by
opinion about what to do in anniversary, a US prosecutor has the New York federal grand jury,
Afghanistan. said. Mr Zazi brought "unusually large"
First came Bill Clinton, who The suspect, Najibullah Zazi, is quantities of hydrogen peroxide
told NBC that he thinks Obama accused of receiving explosives and nail polish remover from
should do nothing yet about his training in Pakistan and buying beauty shops to make bombs,
top Afghanistan commander’s call large quantities of bomb-making possibly for detonation on New
for more troops. Why not? chemicals. York commuter trains.
Because the U.S. succeeded in A judge has ordered that he be A government motion seeking
Iraq only because it had support moved to New York to face to deny Mr Zazi bail said he had
from the locals and lost in charges of conspiracy to use travelled to Pakistan in August
V i e t n a m b e c a u s e i t d i d n ’ t . suggesting victory is more likely to back a troop increase. In weapons of mass destruction. 2 0 0 8 w h e r e h e r e c e i v e d
Meanwhile, the jury of local in the 21st Century. “There’s August, a larger percentage of Since his arrest, Mr Zazi has explosives training, AP reported.
Afghan sentiment is still out and always a first time and we are Americans — 41 percent — publicly denied being a terrorist. On his return early this year he
probably will stay out until doubts better equipped,” he said. wanted a decrease in forces and Mr Zazi, 24, has been ordered to used a computer to research
about the country’s recent election This morning came news of the slightly fewer backed an increase. be held without bail pending his homemade bomb ingredients, the
are resolved in a manner that most high-powered opinion of all: The CBS/New York Times poll transfer from Denver to New motion said.
enhances credibility. To Clinton’s that of the American public — or also showed Obama to be more York. Mr Zazi and his father,
way of thinking, if the U.S. pours f r o m t h e s t a n d p o i n t o f popular than Ronald Reagan at Prosecutor Tim Neff told the Mohammed, were arrested last
in more troops without true Washington, the American voter. this point in his presidency, with a Denver judge who approved the Saturday in Denver on charges of
popular support, Humpty Dumpty More than 50 percent of 56 percent overall job approval transfer that Mr Zazi "was in the lying to FBI agents investigating
could very likely fall, and all the Americans, as determined by rating — though that’s down throes of making a bomb and the case.
best forces and all our armed men pollsters for CBS News and the from 68 percent last spring. a t t e m p t i n g t o p e r f e c t h i s A third man, 37-year-old imam
… well, you get the idea. New York Times, say the war in Reagan, who attracted substantial f o r m u l a t i o n " . Ahmad Wais Afzali, was arrested
T h e n t h e r e w a s P e r v e z Afghanistan is going somewhat or bipartisan support among voters, "The evidence suggests a in Queens, New York.
Musharraf, the former dictator of very badly. Fewer than one in had an approval rating of 53 chilling, disturbing sequence of All three have denied any
Pakistan, using the royal “we” on three say Obama should send percent nine months into his first events showing the defendant was involvement in the alleged plot.
ABC to describe what he thinks more troops, about one-third favor term, according to the Times. intent on making a bomb and Mohammed Zazi has been
Obama should do. It’s quite a decrease in forces and just over For more Reuters political news, being in New York on 9/11, for ordered to be freed under court
simple, really. Decide at once to one-quarter suggest keeping the click here. purposes of perhaps using such supervision, while Mr Afzali has
send more troops and tell the number of troops where it is now. Photo Credits: Reuters/Finbarr items," he was quoted as saying been released on bail.
voters to get used to the idea of Will it be A, B or C? Only time O’Reilly (Afghan landscape); by the Associated Press news Print Sponsor
higher casualties. The former and Obama can tell. R e u t e r s / M o l l y R i l e y ( U . S . agency.
general dismissed the danger of But the mix of public opinion A f g h a n i s t a n c a s u a l t y ) ; Nail polish remover
the U.S. following the Soviet may be slightly more favorable Reuters/Richard Clement (Advice
Union and the British Empire for the president, should he decide for Obama)
down the road to defeat,
Internet News Record
Healthcare reform debate: Is it “czar” AT&T Gives iPhone
or “czarina”?
By Donna Smith (Front Row
Washington)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:32:57 AM
It is day four of the Senate
Finance Committee consideration
of a sweeping overhaul of the
$2.5 trillion U.S. healthcare
system in an effort to rein in
soaring costs and expand medical
coverage to millions of uninsured
people. The debate has turned to
White House czars.
This is a hot topic among
conservatives who complain that
these White House positions
wield great power but are not
subject to public scrutiny or
Senate confirmation. As advisers
to the president they also cannot
be called to testify before
Congress.
Republican Senator John Ensign
proposed an amendment to the
healthcare legislation that requires
Senate confirmation of any White
House health czar, in this case
Nancy Ann Deparle, counselor to
the president and Director of the
White House Office of Health
Reform. The problem with
requiring Senate confirmation is
that there is no government
position called “czar,” argued
opponents to the measure.
“The concept of czar is a term of
fiction,” said Democratic Senator
John Kerry.
The term is basically a creation
of the media not wanting to spell
out the long titles given to these
positions by presidents.
Democrats also argued that
Senate confirmation of
presidential appointments often
takes months if not years and
dozens of positions go unfilled
Politics/ Top News/ 3
MMS Support -
InformationWeek
(Most Popular - Google News) update will not bring picture
Submitted at 9/26/2009 7:00:07 AM messaging capabilities to the iPod
Touch or the original iPhone.
AT&T rolled out software The MMS rollout may help
Friday to give iPhone users the quiet growing criticism of AT&T
long-awaited ability to support from a small, but vocal, group of
multimedia messaging service. iPhone users regarding the
The lack of MMS capabilities carrier's network quality. AT&T
has long been a hole in the iPhone has also deployed 850-MHz
platform, as competitors such as spectrum in major metropolitan
BlackBerry, Windows Mobile, markets to ease 3G congestion,
a n d e v e n m o s t e n t r y - l e v e l and improved service could be
handsets have been able to do this v i t a l i n r e t a i n i n g i P h o n e
for years. Apple addressed this subscribers even after AT&T
issue with the release of the 3.0 loses exclusivity of Apple's touch-
software earlier this summer, but screen smartphone.
AT&T did not support this feature Another big feature of the 3.0
out of the gate because it wanted software is its ability to share the
to ensure its network could handle iPhone's cellular data connection
the traffic. with a laptop or other mobile
"The unique capabilities and computing device, but AT&T has
high usage of the iPhone's not specified when this would be
multimedia capabilities required available or how much it would
us to work on our network MMS cost.
w e l l i n t o a n y p r e s i d e n t ’ s Senate confirmation would create architecture to carry the expected Part of the growth in the
administration. a new layer of bureaucracy as the record volumes of MMS traffic smartphone market will be for
Just this week Republicans said president would appoint people to a n d e n s u r e a n e x c e l l e n t enterprise use, and this can
they would hold up Health and do the job while the person with experience from day one," AT&T q u i c k l y b r i n g u p m u l t i p l e
Human Services appointments the title awaited confirmation. said in a statement. questions about security and
until the Centers for Medicare and The committee defeated the The lack of MMS support has m o b i l i t y policies.
Medicaid Services rescinded a amendment in a strictly party-line been a sore spot for many iPhone InformationWeek analyzed how
“gag order” over a Humana Inc. vote. The real question here, owners, and AT&T is even facing businesses can lock down data
letter to its Medicare beneficiaries though, is would Nancy Ann a class-action lawsuit over the when it's on the move, and the
saying that proposed spending Deparle be called a “czar” or a m i s s i n g f e a t u r e i n t h e 3 . 0 r e p o r t c a n b e d o w n l o a d e d
cuts in the bill would reduce their “czarina”? software. Users can get MMS h e r e ( r e g i s t r a t i o n r e q u i r e d ) .
benefits. Click here for more Reuters support via a software upgrade
Democratic Senator Tom Carper political coverage through iTunes, but the firmware
as a former governor of Delaware Photo credit: Reuters/Alexander Cab driver: Slayings suspect, girlfriend had fight (AP)
remarked about how important it Demianchuk (sand sculptures of (Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
birth (AP)
was for a chief executive to have Russian czars in St. Petersburg) 22 seconds ago 2009-09-
advisers who can coordinate Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:45:21 AM
26T10:37:26-07:00
polices with the various agencies. Deborah buzzed up: Ohio
Making those positions subject to
woman with wrong embryo gives
4 Politics/ Internet News Record

Kennedy successor joins Senate, takes up health reform battle

By Thomas Ferraro (Front Row for healthcare reform. elect a new senator in January. exchanged hugs with a number of of Washington politics.
Washington) The ascension of Kirk again Kirk took the oath just hours lawmakers, including Kennedy’s Kirk also supports Democratic
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:33:05 PM gives Democrats, provided they after a judge in Massachusetts son, Patrick, a member of the efforts backed by President
stick together, the 60 votes needed rejected a request by Republicans House of Representatives who Barack Obama to overhaul the
Former Democratic Party in the 100-member Senate to clear for an injunction to prevent him came to the Senate to witnesses nation’s $2.5 trillion healthcare
Chairman Paul Kirk has a few R e p u b l i c a n p r o c e d u r a l from taking office. the swearing in of his father’s system.
months in his new job to help r o a d b l o c k s . Kirk was administered the oath successor. For more Reuters political news,
accomplish what his friend, the This could be critical in a in the Senate by Vice President Kirk, who served as Democratic click here.
late Senator Edward Kennedy, pending Senate floor fight over Joe Biden. Party chairman from 1985 until Photo credit:
devoted much of his life to: efforts to expand healthcare, “Congratulations senator,” Biden 1989, is seen as a somewhat of a Reuters/Hyungwon Kang (Kirk
Trying to provide affordable which Kennedy had called “the told a smiling Kirk after he natural to take over the Senate takes oath of office from Biden)
healthcare to all Americans. cause of my life.” officially joined the Senate, often seat.
Kirk was sworn in on Friday to Kirk was sworn in a day after referred to as “the world’s most An eloquent speaker who was
take the Senate seat held for 47 Massachusetts Governor Deval exclusive club and deliberative master of ceremonies at a
years by Kennedy, his party’s Patrick named him as Kennedy’s body.” memorial service for Kennedy last
liberal lion and leading advocate temporary successor until voters Kirk shook hands and month, he has in-depth knowledge
Internet News Record Politics/ Top News/ 5

Iran’s nuclear plant and the definition Embryo mix-up woman

of covert
By Tabassum Zakaria (Front
Row Washington)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:56:29 AM
Western powers are blasting Iran
today for building another nuclear
plant.
President Barack Obama,
flanked by the leaders of France
and Britain, said to reporters in
Pittsburgh for the G20 meeting
that “Iran has been building a
covert uranium enrichment
facility near Qom for several
years.”
Iran, which revealed the
existence of the uranium
enrichment plant to the U.N.
nuclear watchdog on Monday,
unsurprisingly had a whole
different take on the idea of
covert.
“If it was a covert plant, we
would not have informed the
(International Atomic Energy)
Agency,” a senior Iranian official
told Reuters at the United
Nations.
A U.S. official responded: “The
very cursory admission to the
IAEA years after the
commencement of construction of
such a facility whose use is
undeniable does not constitute
living up to its obligations.”
gives birth
Iranian President Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad told Time
magazine“we have no secrecy, we
work within the framework of the
IAEA.”
So there’s the latest in the long-
running dispute over Iran’s
nuclear capabilities. The West is
concerned that Iran is trying to
build nuclear weapons, Tehran
says it only wants nuclear power
for civilian purposes.
Dictionary.com defines covert
as “concealed; secret; disguised.”
So who got it right?
(BBC News | Americas | World
Edition)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 2:11:22 AM
A US woman who was
implanted with the wrong embryo
in a fertility treatment mix-up has
given birth to a boy.
Carolyn Savage and her
husband Sean said in a statement
that the baby was delivered at St
Vincent Mercy Medical Center in
Toledo, Ohio.
Mrs Savage, who had been told
about the mix-up in February, said
the family was "going through a
very difficult time".
The Savages have decided to
give the baby to his biological
parents, Shannon and Paul Morell
from Michigan.
The United States, which The Savages, who have three
tracked the project for years, children, offered their "heartfelt
calling the plant covert? Or Iran, congratulations" to the Morells.
which had the plant under
construction for years and only NTSB: 3 killed in medical helicopter crash in SC
just now informed the IAEA, (AP)
saying it’s not covert?
Photo credit: Reuters/Jim (Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
Young (Obama, Brown, Sarkozy Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:17:10 AM
at news conference on Iran),
Reuters/Shannon Stapleton JustUS4All buzzed up: Poland
(Ahmadinejad at U.N.) okays forcible castration for
'Nightmare'
"Our family is deeply grateful
for the support and prayers of so
many people from around the
world," the Savage statement said.
"We also would like to thank the
medical professionals who
provided superior care and
treatment throughout the
pregnancy and delivery."
Mrs Savage, 40, said earlier this
week that her husband told her the
news of the mix-up in February,
after receiving a phone call from
the clinic that had implanted the
embryo.
"I don't think I've ever cried so
much in my life. It was such a
nightmare and, in a way, I felt
violated," Carolyn was quoted as
saying by CNN.
The Savages have declined to
name the fertility clinic involved.
pedophiles (Reuters)
2 seconds ago 2009-09-
26T10:40:26-07:00

Colombian mass graves discovered

(BBC News | Americas | World
Edition)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 6:26:33 PM
Two mass graves connected to
Colombia's decades-long internal
conflict have been found, officials
say.
They say one grave, containing
the bodies of 17 peasants, was
discovered in a ranch in the north-
west belonging to a late far-right
militia leader.
The armed forces chief
announced the discovery of a
second mass grave, which he said
held the remains of 16 left-wing
Farc guerrillas, in the south.
The Farc have been fighting the
Colombian government since the
1960s.
The peasants' bodies were found
on a ranch that belonged to
paramilitary leader Carlos
Castano, who was killed in 2004.
The victims are believed to have
been tortured and killed 10 to 12
years ago.
Right-wing militias began
demobilising in 2005 under a
peace pact with the government.
In the south, the rebel mass
grave was discovered near La
Uribe, a traditional stronghold of
the Revolutionary Armed Forces
of Colombia (Farc), Gen Freddy
Padilla announced.
He added that the Farc fighters
had died in fighting in July, and
that the bodies recovered included
that of a nephew of senior Farc
commander Jorge Briceno.
Print Sponsor
6 Politics/ World/ Finance/
Sotomayor: getting lost on way to
Supreme Court nomination
By James Vicini (Front Row
Washington)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 11:30:51 AM
When Sonia Sotomayor got THE
CALL, she says her heart started
racing and she started crying.
President Barack Obama had
called on her cell phone to say she
was his first pick for the U.S.
Supreme Court.
“I actually stood by my balcony
doors, and I had … my cell phone
in my right hand and I had my left
hand over my chest trying to calm
my beating heart,” Sotomayor,
now a Supreme Court Justice, said
in an interview with the cable
television network C-SPAN.
On that evening in late May,
Sotomayor said, “I caught my
breath and started to cry and said,
‘Thank you, Mr. President’.” Her
public admission of emotion was
uncharacteristically candid for a
sitting Supreme Court Justice.
And then she faced her first
hurdle on the road to confirmation
— getting to Washington.
A friend drove her from New
York for Obama’s announcement
the next day. The trip to
Washington, which usually takes
AT&T calls for FCC action on Google
(Financial Times - US
homepage)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:09:54 PM
AT&T, the largest US
telecommunications group, called
on federal regulators to force
Google, the internet search and
about four hours, “took us a little
longer,” she said. “A torrential
rain started on the drive and it
knocked out our GPS, and so we
got lost.”
Sotomayor had been writing her
remarks during the drive and
realized at one point they were in
Virginia going away from
Washington.
“So we pulled over on a road
and I started calling up a friend
and saying please get on the
advertising giant, to “play by the
same rules as its competitors” and
ensure that its Google Voice
application does not block calls to
some rural areas.
The call, which came in a
strongly worded letter from
AT&T to the Federal
computer and figure out how we
get back to where we have to go,”
she said.
One of her law clerks gave her
directions to the hotel. “It was a
very eventful night,” Sotomayor
added.
Click here for more Reuters
political coverage
Photo credit: Reuters/Jim
Young (Obama and Sotomayor at
White House reception in August)
Communications Commission’s
competition bureau was signed by
Robert Quinn, AT&T’s senior
vice president for federal
regulations. It marks a significant
escalation in the dispute over
Google Voice and proposed new
rules on “net-neutrality.”
Internet News Record
16 dead in Pakistan
suicide bombings
(World news and comment "We saw body parts in the car
from the Guardian | and our investigation confirms it
guardian.co.uk) was a suicide attack," said Malik
Submitted at 9/26/2009 3:12:09 AM Shafqat, a police official in
Peshawar.
• Scores of civilians injured in A suicide blast also targeted a
North-West Frontier province police station in Bannu district
• Taliban claim bombs set off earlier today, killing at least six
outside police and army facilities people and wounding nearly 70
Two suicide car bombs killed at others, police said. The Taliban
least 16 people and woundeda claimed responsibility for that
further 150 others in separate attack.
attacks in north-west Pakistan The latest strikes came two days
early today, just days after the a f t e r t h e T e h r i k - i - T a l i b a n
Taliban warned more suicide Pakistan said it was ready to stage
strikes were coming if the military more suicide attacks in the region
pressed forward with an army after it was ousted from the Swat
offensive. Valley in July by the army.
Pakistan's mountainous, lawless Qari Hussain Mehsud – known
north-west region along the for training Taliban suicide
Afghan border – where the bombers – warned of more attacks
government holds little control – in an AP interview at a secret
is a favoured area for insurgents location in North Waziristan on
to plan attacks on Nato troops in Thursday, just hours before US
Afghanistan, as well as on missiles hit the area and killed 12
Pakistani security forces and people.
government workers. Mehsud claimedresponsibility
A bomb detonated outside a for the police station attack
bank affiliated with the army in Saturday. He urged civilians to
Peshawar, the capital of North- stay away from police and
West Frontier province, killing at security force installations.
least 10 people and wounding up • Pakistan
to 80 more, the police chief, • Global terrorism
Liaquat Ali Khan said. guardian.co.uk© Guardian
An AP reporter at the scene saw News & Media Limited 2009 |
vehicles overturned by the blast, Use of this content is subject to
b u i l d i n g s g u t t e d a n d g l a s s our Terms & Conditions| More
scattered everywhere. Most of the Feeds
casualties were customers in the
bank or people loitering outside.
Internet News Record Top News/ 7

Prosecutor: Terror plot focus was 9/11 anniversary (AP)

(Yahoo! News: U.S. News) explosives training from al-Qaida or apartments Zazi visited in New London bombings that killed bail laid out a chronology of the
Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:09:51 AM in Pakistan and returned to the York. FBI agents said they found more than 50 people, according to alleged scheme, which
U.S. bent on building a bomb. Zazi's fingerprints on a scale and court papers. prosecutors said had been in the
DENVER – Claims that an Over the summer, he and three batteries during a search in Zazi intensified his bomb- works for more than a year.
Afghan immigrant was on the associates went from one beauty- Queens, but Folsom said those making experiments this month, On Sept. 6 and 7, Zazi checked
verge of unleashing a terrorist supply store to another in a items have no connection to the cooking up substances in a into a suite at a Colorado hotel
attack on New York City on the Denver suburb buying chemicals alleged plot. Colorado hotel suite he rented on with a kitchen and a stove,
anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks to make explosives like those that "I think they were hoping that Sept. 6-7 before driving 1,600 government papers say, and tried
are missing a key element: killed dozens of people in transit people would just jump to miles to New York over the to contact an unidentified
explosives or the chemicals bombings in London and Madrid, conclusions," Folsom said in an course of about two days. He associate "seeking to correct
allegedly used to make them, the investigators said. interview with The Associated became aware that law mixtures of ingredients to make
man's attorney said. At least three and possibly more Press. enforcement was onto him when explosives."
FBI agents have yet to find of his accomplices remain at Zazi ran a coffee cart in he was stopped entering the city "Zazi repeatedly emphasized in
those elements and connect them large, and investigators have Manhattan before moving to on Sept. 10, causing the plot to the communications that he
to Najibullah Zazi, charged with fanned out across New York in Denver this year and getting a job unravel. needed the answers right away,"
conspiring to use weapons of pursuit of suspects. Authorities as an airport shuttle driver. Neff said Zazi "was in the the papers said, adding that each
m a s s d e s t r u c t i o n i n a p l o t also issued a flurry of terrorism FBI raids beginning Sept. 14 throes of making a bomb and communication was "more urgent
authorities say was aimed at warnings for sports complexes, rattled a quiet, predominantly attempting to perfect his than the last."
commuter trains, attorney Arthur hotels and transit systems. Asian neighborhood in Queens. formulation" and seeking Beauty supply store employees
Folsom told a federal judge in A law enforcement official who Muslim men said dozens of FBI information on how to use flour to in New York and the Denver
Denver Friday. spoke on condition of anonymity agents ransacked their homes and make the explosive suitable for suburbs said authorities had been
U.S. Magistrate Judge Craig b e c a u s e o f t h e o n g o i n g questioned them for hours, transporting. asking whether anyone had come
Shaffer ultimately ordered Zazi's investigation said associates of sometimes taking DNA samples "He was asking for information in buying a lot of hydrogen
transfer to New York, and Zazi Zazi visited Colorado to help him and prints from their shoes. on flour and how to get the peroxide or acetone.
was taken there by federal buy the chemicals using stolen The FBI has also been visiting contents right," Neff said in court. At Beauty Supply Warehouse in
marshals. credit cards before returning to beauty shops and home- The Metropolitan suburban Denver, Paul Phillips
"No traces of any kind of New York. improvement stores in Colorado Transportation Authority which said a co-worker told investigators
chemical was found in his Another law enforcement and New York for details about runs New York City's subway he had sold chemicals to Zazi.
vehicle," Folsom said of an FBI official said that authorities had the alleged bomb-making system, buses and commuter rails Company President Karan Hoss
search of Zazi's car. been especially worried about purchases. declined to comment on the said the firm turned over security
A federal prosecutor argued that Zazi's Sept. 10 visit to the city Court papers say that during the revelation of a Sept. 11-timed video of a man matching Zazi's
Zazi was planning an attack to because it coincided with a visit summer, Zazi and three plot. It reissued a statement from description to the FBI. A check of
c o i n c i d e w i t h t h e 9 / 1 1 by President Barack Obama. unidentified associates bought earlier in the week that it has sales found that someone bought a
anniversary. Police considered arresting him "unusually large quantities" of boosted its police presence at "key dozen 32-ounce bottles of a
"The evidence suggests a right away. The official spoke on hydrogen peroxide and acetone a commuter rail locations" since the hydrogen peroxide product in
chilling, disturbing sequence of condition of anonymity because flammable solvent found in nail- terror threat became public. July. More was purchased in late
events showing the defendant was the investigation continues. polish remover from Denver-area Federal agents and police August, Hoss said.
intent on making a bomb and Police have been especially beauty supply stores. The officers in New York visited up to ___
being in New York on 9/11, for active in the neighborhood in products had names such as Ion 200 locations a day in the area Associated Press writers Tom
purposes of perhaps using such Queens where Zazi visited during Sensitive Scalp Developer and during the probe, including beauty Hays and Colleen Long in New
items," prosecutor Tim Neff told his New York trip, staying at an Ms. K Liquid 40 Volume. -supply stores, extended-stay York, Devlin Barrett in
Shaffer. apartment with a group of cab Zazi also searched the Web site hotels that have rooms with Washington, D.C., and Catherine
Zazi was stopped by police on drivers and food cart operators he of a Queens home-improvement kitchens, hardware stores, truck Tsai in Colorado contributed to
Sept. 10 as he entered New York, knows. store for another ingredient rental agencies and storage this report.
and he dropped his plans for an Folsom said prosecutors lack needed to make a compound facilities.
attack once he realized that law direct evidence that Zazi was called TATP (triacetone Zazi was scheduled to appear in
enforcement was on to him, involved in bomb-making, finding triperoxide), the explosives used federal court Tuesday in
prosecutors allege. none of those materials in Zazi's by shoe bomber Richard Reid and Brooklyn.
Prosecutors said Zazi received car, his Aurora, Colo., apartment the terrorists who carried out the A government request to deny
8 Top News/
Obama hails 'tough regulations'
(BBC News | Americas | World
Edition)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:08:28 PM
Please turn on JavaScript. Media
requires JavaScript to play.
President Barack Obama: ''We
have agreed to a strong set of
reforms''
The world's leading nations
have agreed "tough new
regulations" to prevent another
global financial crisis, US
President Barack Obama has said.
These relate to the amount of
money banks have to hold in
reserve and to excessive pay for
bankers.
Speaking at the end of a two-
day G20 summit, Mr Obama also
outlined plans to give emerging
economies a greater say in the
global economy.
The G20 will effectively replace
the G8 group of developed
economies.
Global leaders also announced a
deal to shift the balance of voting
in the International Monetary
Fund (IMF) towards growing
nations such as China at the
summit the US city if Pittsburgh.
'Reckless few'
"We have taken bold and
concerted action to forge a new
framework for strong, sustainable
and balanced growth," said US
President Barack Obama.
"We have agreed tough new
financial regulations to ensure that
the reckless few can no longer be
allowed to put the global financial
system at risk."
Members are: Argentina,
Australia, Brazil, Canada, China,
EU, France, Germany, India,
Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, South
Africa, South Korea, Turkey, UK,
USA
He said that leading nations
would now be allowed to assess
each others' economic policies.
Mr Obama added that the
leaders had agreed rules to ensure
that executive pay would be
linked to long term financial
performance.
Many have criticised excessive
bonuses as encouraging the kind
of short term risk-taking that
contributed to the financial crisis.
Despite Mr Obama's
declaration, the G20 fell short of
agreeing specific rules on the
capital reserves that banks need to
hold.
"We commit to developing by
end-2010 internationally agreed
rules to improve both the quantity
and quality of bank capital and to
discourage excessive
[borrowing]," a statement from
the G20 leaders said following the
summit.
It added that the rules will be
phased in once financial
conditions improve and recovery
is "assured".
The leaders also fell short of
agreeing a cap on bonuses,
agreeing instead that bonus
payments should not be
guaranteed for many years, should
be deferred in part, and should not
exceed a percentage of the bank's
revenue.
'Fudging it'
"We designated the G20 to be
the premier forum for our
international economic co-
operation," the statement said.
It added that the global leaders
would shift "at least 5%" of the
quota of votes within the IMF
from "over-represented countries
to under-represented countries".
It described under-represented
countries as "dynamic emerging
markets and developing
countries".
Emerging economies will also
get a greater say at the World
Bank.
The leaders also pledged to
continue pumping money into
their economies until "a durable
recovery is secured".
But there will be no formal
announcement that the G20 will
replace the G8 until 2011, said the
BBC's economics editor
Stephanie Flanders.
"The leaders would have liked
formally to announce the
handover today in Pittsburgh, but
the Canadians - who are chairing
the G8 next year - kicked up such
a fuss that they had to fudge it,"
she said.
There will now be a G20
Internet News Record
meeting on the sidelines of
Canada's G8 Summit next June,
where most of the economic
business of the day will be
discussed.
But, formally at least, the
economic side of the G8 will live
on another year.
'Distrust'
The IMF has 186 member-
states. It lends money to countries
that are facing problems, but in
return economic changes have to
be made by those countries.
Currently, China wields 3.7% of
IMF votes compared with
France's 4.9%, although the
Chinese economy is now 50%
larger than that of France.
The IMF has been criticised in
the past as being a group of
developed countries trying to lay
down the law to struggling
countries, which is why the
decision to give growing nations
more votes is important.
"If you talk to the Chinese or
talk to anyone from emerging
markets they say the IMF doesn't
have legitimacy and... we don't
trust the IMF to come and rescue
us in a crisis," Simon Johnson,
former chief economist at the
IMF, told the BBC.
"They don't trust it because it's
US and West Europe-dominated.
That's not fair... and the IMF
doesn't function properly as a
result."
Nobel prize-winning economist
Amartya Sen welcomed the
change in voting rights, but said
that, "on their own, they won't be
able to achieve much... It's not
just a question of voting rights,
but also a question of broadening
the dialogue".
Print Sponsor
Internet News Record Top News/ Finance/ 9
West condemns secret
Friends: Hanging victim devoted his life to kids Iran nuclear plant
(Financial Times - US
(AP) homepage)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 8:31:05 AM
(Yahoo! News: U.S. News) said he had been gagged, had duct when he was working for Boy want to stay," Sparkman told The
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:24:11 AM tape over his eyes, and his hands Scouts of America. An Eagle Times-Tribune of Corbin in a West condemns secret Iran
and feet were bound with duct scout, he had previously been on profile last year. nuclear plant
LONDON, Ky. – Even while tape. the organization's staff in Florida Sparkman, who described By James Blitz in London,
fighting cancer and undergoing Friends remembered Sparkman and Texas, said his mother, himself as a single father in his Daniel Dombey in Washington
chemotherapy, Bill Sparkman as a quiet and kind man who had Henrie Sparkman of Inverness, commencement speech, was a and Najmeh Bozorgmehr in
would show up for work wearing devoted his life to children as a Fla. member of First United Methodist Tehran
h i s c u s t o m a r y s m i l e a n d a Scout leader and educator who, "He was always helping others," Church in London and a vocal Published: September 25 2009
toboggan cap to cover his balding despite a battle with lymphoma, she said. "He was a very gentle Christian. Mary Hibbard, a 10:16 | Last updated: September
head. went back to college to get his person." teacher in Manchester, recalled 26 2009 16:31
The substitute teacher and part- teaching certification. Growing up, Sparkman was an Sparkman visiting her home over
time census worker cherished the His perseverance won him altar server at his Episcopal the summer on behalf of the
Scepticism over G20
values he learned in his youth as s p e c i a l h o n o r s a t h i s church. In high school, his mother Census Bureau. She quizzed him pledge of new era
he worked toward becoming an commencement ceremony last said Sparkman wrote sports about his faith and found out
Eagle Scout. Above all, he was year at Western Governors stories for the local weekly quickly that he had a strong belief (Financial Times - US
punctual and dependable. University in Salt Lake City. The newspaper in Florida, The in God. homepage)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:51:28 PM
So when he didn't show up for bespectacled scholar, wearing a Mulberry Press, and was the Sparkman lived on the outskirts
his job at Johnson Elementary black cap and gown, delivered an football team manager. During of London on Sherwood Lane in a Scepticism over G20 pledge of
School two weeks ago, colleagues u p l i f t i n g s p e e c h t o f e l l o w and after college, he served as the single-story white house with new era
knew something had to be wrong. graduates, telling them that they, sports editor, covering high black shutters. A rutted gravel By Krishna Guha, Edward
Three days later, a man's body too, can overcome "brick walls" school athletics. driveway leads up to the tidy lawn Luce, Chris Giles and Gideon
was found hanging from a tree at in life. "We were a small paper, so he surrounded by bushes and trees. Rachman in Pittsburgh
a rural cemetery in nearby Clay "I was knocked down, but I wasn't doing it necessarily for the Neighbor Eileen Bass said Published: September 25 2009
County. A rope was around his refused to be knocked out," he money," said former publisher Sparkman was loved by children 06:24 | Last updated: September
neck, the word "fed" scrawled on said in a witty speech that drew Virgil Davis. "He just liked being in the neighborhood. She said her 26 2009 00:51
him with what appeared to the c h u c k l e s f r o m f a c u l t y a n d involved with youth activities." grandson used to go to
coroner to be a felt marker. classmates. Soon after arriving in Kentucky Sparkman's house to play with
It was Sparkman, dead of Sparkman, who had studied more than 12 years ago, Josh. HSBC chief to be based
asphyxiation. math and Spanish in college, Sparkman's adopted son, Josh, "He was a quiet man," Bass said. in Hong Kong
State and federal investigators turned to WGU to earn a degree enrolled at Johnson Elementary. "He was always friendly. Always
still have not determined whether in education so he could teach That's when Sparkman began kind." (Financial Times - US
s o m e o n e m a y h a v e k i l l e d middle school math. serving as a classroom volunteer. Johnson Elementary music homepage)
Sparkman because of anti- His sense of humor was one of He later joined the staff as a teacher Tracey Evans said Submitted at 9/25/2009 12:32:25 PM
government sentiment. State the things that endeared Sparkman teacher's aide and as a substitute children excitedly anticipated
police Capt. Lisa Rudzinski said to colleagues, said Kelly Hodges, teacher. Sparkman's classroom HSBC signalled on Friday* its
i n v e s t i g a t o r s h a v e n ' t r u l e d a teacher at Johnson Elementary Even after completing his appearances. determination to expand in China
anything out, including whether School. teaching degree, Sparkman chose "He respected the children. He and across Asia by moving
the death that has so shocked his "He always had a smile," she to stay in Kentucky, even though respected everyone," Evans said. Michael Geoghegan, its chief
friends and colleagues was a said. his now-adult son had moved to "He took time to notice children." executive, from London to be
homicide, suicide or accidental. The son of a high school Tennessee. based full-time in Hong Kong.
But a man who found Sparkman's principal, Sparkman moved to "My home, my life is here in
body while visiting the cemetery London more than a decade ago Laurel County, and this is where I
Stitzer ‘does not believe Kraft deal makes sense’
(Financial Times - US Stitzer ‘does not believe Kraft Industries Correspondent 25 2009 19:49
homepage) deal makes sense’ Published: September 25 2009
By Jenny Wiggins, Consumer 15:50 | Last updated: September
10 Top News/ Finance/ Gadgets/
Mich. stares down 2nd govt. shutdown in 3 years
(AP)
(Yahoo! News: U.S. News)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:33:36 AM
LAINGSBURG, Mich. –
Economically beleaguered
Michigan faces a possible
government shutdown shuttering
highway rest areas, state parks,
construction projects and the state
lottery if lawmakers fail to reach a
budget deal by next week.
The state with the nation's
highest unemployment rate has a
nearly $3 billion shortfall. Federal
recovery act money will fill more
than half the gap, but the spending
cuts or tax increases needed to fill
the rest have caused bitter
infighting at the state Capitol.
Michigan is one of just two
states whose budget year starts
Oct. 1. The other, Alabama,
already has a spending plan in
place, according to the National
Conference of State Legislatures.
If lawmakers in Lansing don't
make progress soon, Michigan
could join the eight other states
that failed to meet budget
deadlines but did not shut down
this year.
That's something neither
Democratic Gov. Jennifer
Granholm nor lawmakers want to
do. They're haunted by memories
of the fallout from an hours-long
government shutdown in 2007
and want to avoid the resulting
voter disgust and national
derision.
Darin and Jenni Johnson of
Howell were told to leave their
Homemade Astro-Photography: Look Out, Hubble [Astronomy]
By Dan Nosowitz (Gizmodo)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:30:00 AM
campsite at Sleepy Hollow State
Park near Laingsburg on a Sunday
night two years ago as the state
headed toward a shutdown.
"We had to cut our weekend
short because they kicked
everyone out. It was a gorgeous
weekend," said Jenni Johnson,
who was back at the park
northeast of Lansing with her
husband Thursday for an extended
weekend in their pop-up trailer.
She recalled one couple from
out of state who had planned to
stay another week.
"I'm sure it didn't leave them
with a good impression," Jenni
Johnson said.
Bob Terranova worries any
lottery suspension could cost him
business at the convenience store
he owns in the town of DeWitt
just north of Lansing.
"It keeps your customer count
down ... (and) may take away
from your retail sales," he said.
One state lawmaker, Republican
Rep. Ken Horn, introduced
legislation that would give
residents a grace period to renew
licenses, apply for benefits and let
businesses operate under existing
permits if there's a government
shutdown. The legislation hasn't
had a hearing.
About the only thing
Republicans and Democrats have
agreed on is tapping up to $1.5
billion in federal recovery dollars
to fill part of the $2.8 billion
budget gap. A continuation
budget could be put in place to
Wired has a selection of reader-
submitted space photos, and
they're more impressive than I
avoid a shutdown, but one
approved Friday by Senate
Republicans is opposed by
Democrats, and it can't be voted
on by the Democratic-led House
until one day before the Oct. 1
deadline under legislative rules.
Senate and House Republicans
say they can deal with the
shortfall with deep cuts to
schools, college scholarship
programs, Medicaid
reimbursement rates for doctors,
and money for local police and
firefighters and the poor. They
argue a cuts-only will prevent
even deeper slashing in the next
budget year when federal
recovery dollars dry up.
Granholm and many
Democratic lawmakers say cuts
too deep will hurt the state's
ability to educate students, retrain
unemployed workers, help the
poor and mentally ill and protect
public safety.
With the Senate in Republican
hands and Democrats holding a
House majority, and the
Democratic governor and House
speaker disagreeing, a
compromise has been slow in
coming. Legislative leaders did
report some progress Friday, but
hurdles remain.
Republicans want Democratic
lawmakers to propose and pass
tax increases, giving the GOP
possible fodder to use against
Democrats in next year's
elections. Democrats hope to get a
leg up by painting GOP
lawmakers as willing to hurt
children rather than reinstate
estate taxes on the rich.
The question now is whether
Michigan will follow the path of
the eight other states that failed to
pass budgets on time: Arizona,
California, Connecticut, Illinois,
Mississippi, North Carolina, Ohio
and Pennsylvania.
California's budget impasse
lasted so long the state had to
issue IOUs to cover debts.
Connecticut Gov. Jodi Rendell
had to issue an executive order
keeping the government running
past June 30 and only recently
agreed to let a budget become law
without her signature.
Pennsylvania didn't get a budget
deal in place until about a week
ago. It has operated since June
under a stopgap measure that is
paying state workers and allowing
billions in other government
spending while details are
hammered out.
Bill Rustem of Public Sector
Consultants, a nonpartisan
Lansing think tank, sees a broken
Michigan budget process.
"It's the same thing that
happened in 2007. The game has
become more important than the
results. Having an issue has
become more important than
having a solution," he said.
"That's not the way democracy
was designed to work."
could have imagined. This one is -minute exposure. Awesome. [
a shot of the Pelican Nebula, Wired]
2,000 light years away, with a 114
Internet News Record
ADVERTISEMENT:
(BloggingStocks)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 11:40:00 AM
I Get By With a Little
Help From a Vaporizer
and Pancake Machine
[Giz Gallery 09]
By Brian Lam (Gizmodo)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 4:29:54 AM
After closing Thursday night, we
had a bit of spare time and so
ended up just hanging out and
running a few tests on the
Volcano Vaporizer and the
Chefstack pancake machine. They
passed.
Gizmodo Gallery 2009 Details
Groupe
267 Elizabeth Street
New York, NY 10012
The Gallery is open now
through this Sunday, September
27th
Hours of Operation:
9/25 Friday
12-8
9/26 Saturday
11-8
9-? - Live Musical Performance
9/27 Sunday
11-6
Read more about our Giz
Gallery 09 here,
follow@gizgallery on Twitter and
see what else we'll be playing
with at the event.And special
thanks to Toyota's Prius —
without their sponsorship, there
would be no Gizmodo Gallery.
Internet News Record Top News/ Finance/ Tech News/ 11

Jackson 'didn't want to grow old'

(BBC News | Americas | World electric cord by his father. The latter book, which
Edition) "He was rough," the star says. encouraged Jews to have more
Submitted at 9/26/2009 6:25:42 AM "The way he would beat you, you sex, was publicly criticised and
know, was hard. the rabbi was forced to resign
A new book based on taped "He would make you strip nude from the synagogue where he
interviews with Michael Jackson first. He would oil you down. It preached in Willesden, north
reveals the star thought he looked would be a whole ritual. He London.
like "a lizard" and "didn't want to would oil you down so when the He was introduced to Jackson in
grow old". flip of the ironing cord hit you, 1999 by entertainer Uri Geller and
The Michael Jackson Tapes, you know... it was just like acted as his confidant for many
written by the star's former dying."
adviser Rabbi Shmuley Boteach, "I used to get so angry at him,"
years, helping to establish the
star's Heal The Kids initiative. Earnings highlights: AutoZone,
provides first-hand detail about Jackson continues. Their conversations were taped
the reclusive singer's life. "I would just go in my room and
In one conversation, Jackson just scream out of anger because I
with an eye to giving the public a
more accurate image of the pop
Carnival, CarMax, ConAgra,
says: "I don't want to grow old. I didn't understand how a person
never want to look in the mirror could be so vicious and mean."
star.
Mr Boteach said he became
General Mills, RIM ...
and see that." Ken Sunshine, a spokesman for disillusioned with the book - By Trey Thoelcke • AutoZone Inc.(NYSE: AZO)
The star died in June, aged 50. the Jackson family, said after the originally set for release in 2003 - (BloggingStocks) posted a decline in earnings but a
His death is being treated as tapes were broadcast: "We will after Jackson failed to adhere to Submitted at 9/26/2009 1:10:00 PM small rise in sales, sending shares
homicide. not dignify this with a comment." recovery programmes they had lower.
Speaking to US TV show Today In another conversation released worked out for his public image Filed under: Earnings reports, • Bed Bath & Beyond
on Friday, Mr Boteach said his by Mr Boteach, the star can be and private self. Automatic Data Proc (ADP), Inc.(NASDAQ: BBBY) posted
overwhelming impression of the heard saying: "I don't want to be On the Today programme, he AutoZone Inc (AZO), Bed Bath better-than-expected Q2 earnings
s t a r h a d b e e n o n e o f seen now, because I am like a insisted that Jackson would still and Beyond (BBBY), Carnival and higher revenue.
"indescribable pain". lizard. It is horrible." have wanted the tapes to be Corp (CCL), ConAgra Foods • CarMax Inc.(NYSE: KMX)
"He lost the will to live," he "I would like some way to released. (CAG), Costco Wholesale rallied to a new 52-week high
added. "I think he was just going disappear where people don't see "He did all this because he (COST), Research in Motion after topping analysts' Q2
through the motions of life toward me any more at some point." wanted to consecrate his fame to a (RIMM), General Mills (GIS), earnings expectations.
the end." 'Higher cause' higher cause, and that was cause Lowe's Cos (LOW), Lennar • Carnival Corp.(NYSE: CCL)
Mr Boteach recorded 30 hours Mr Boteach is an orthodox was 'parents prioritise your kids. Corp'A' (LEN), Red Hat Inc reported better-than-expected Q3
of interviews with Jackson nine Jewish rabbi who has written self- Don't neglect them, because look (RHT), Activision Inc (ATVI), results and raised its full-year
years ago. The tapes reveal the help books with names like what it did to me.'" United Technologies (UTX), Rite guidance.
star talking about about his fear of Shalom in the Home and Kosher Print Sponsor Aid Corp (RAD), Potash Corp. of Continue reading Earnings
aging, and being hit with an Sex. Saskatchewan (POT) highlights: AutoZone, Carnival,
Here are some highlights from CarMax, ConAgra, General Mills,
Judge Nixes Google Book Hearings, as last week's earnings coverage RIM ...
Negotiations Continue from BloggingStocks: Earnings highlights: AutoZone,
• Activision Blizzard Carnival, CarMax, ConAgra,
By Ryan Singel (Wired Top copyright case postponed a Inc.(NASDAQ: ATVI) shares General Mills, RIM ... originally
Stories) hearing, as Google and copyright rose after it reaffirmed its full- appeared on BloggingStocks on
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:47:00 PM holders in books try to deal with year earnings and sales outlook. Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EST.
objections. A new version will try • Automatic Data Processing Please see our terms for use of
The Google Books Settlement is to placate Microsoft, the Justice Inc.(NASDAQ: ADP) will have feeds. Permalink| Email this|
officially being delayed Department, and European low double-digit EPS growth, Comments
indefinitely after the judge governments, among others. predicts one analyst.
overseeing the controversial
12 Top News/ Finance/ Internet News Record

Iran Agrees to Let UN Examine THQ and the acquisition

Nuclear Site - New York Times
(Most Popular - Google News)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:57:23 AM
Iran’s nuclear chief said
Saturday that United Nations
nuclear inspectors would be
allowed to visit the newly
revealed uranium-enrichment
facility.
The comments by Iran’s nuclear
chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, did not
extend to the questions that have
long plagued inspections by the
International Atomic Energy
Agency in Iran: How quickly can
the inspectors get to the site? Can
the agency designate any
inspectors it pleases? What kind
of continuing monitoring can they
set up for the site?
Unless the agency is allowed to
act quickly and without
restrictions, it is difficult to try to
determine if the facility would be
part of a nuclear weapons
program rather than a site to
enrich uranium for peaceful
purposes, such as energy
production.
In the past, Iran has often tried
to restrict the number of
inspectors and has insisted on
vetting who can come into the
facilities. In this case, Iran’s
leaders are likely to be suspicious
that American and European
intelligence agencies will try to
use the inspections to get their
own personnel into the long-
hidden site.
Some American officials
believe that now that the existence
of the plant near the religious
center of Qum has been revealed,
Iran may well abandon the facility
and concentrate efforts elsewhere.
Mr. Salehi spoke on state
television on Saturday.
President Obama and his allies
revealed publicly Friday in a
dramatic appearance at an
economic summit meeting that
the plant existed and demanded
the country allow highly intrusive
international inspections.
The new plant, which Iran
strongly denied was intended to
be kept a secret or to be used for
making weapons, is months away
from completion and does nothing
to shorten intelligence estimates
of how long it would take Iran to
produce a bomb. American
intelligence officials say it would
take at least a year, perhaps five,
for Iran to develop the full ability
to make a nuclear weapon.
Iran, apparently learning that the
site had been discovered by
Western intelligence, delivered a
short and vague letter to the
International Atomic Energy
Agency last week, disclosing that
it was building a second plant,
one that it had never mentioned
during years of inspections.
Mr. Salehi on Saturday said that
Iran had “pre-empted a
conspiracy” against his country by
the United States and its allies by
reporting the site voluntarily to
the United Nations agency.
President Obama said on
Saturday that the discovery of a
secret nuclear plant in Iran
showed a “disturbing pattern” of
evasion by Tehran and called it a
“serious challenge to the global
nonproliferation regime.”
“That is why international
negotiations with Iran scheduled
for Oct. 1 now take on added
urgency,” Obama said in his
weekly radio and Internet address
on Saturday.
thesis
By Steven Mallas
(BloggingStocks)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:10:00 AM
Filed under: Rumors, Microsoft
(MSFT), Time Warner (TWX),
Viacom (VIA), Sony Corp ADR
(SNE), Electronic Arts (ERTS),
Technology, Nintendo (NTDOY)
Well, it's been an exciting
month for the video-game
industry. Viacom(NYSE: VIA)
and Electronic Arts(NASDAQ:
ERTS) released The Beatles:
Rock Band to the market.
Nintendo(OTC: NTDOY) cut the
price of the Wii in an effort to
better compete with Sony(NYSE:
SNE) and Microsoft(NASDAQ:
MSFT). And rumors of
consolidation in the industry are
getting heavy. The buzz on some
corners of Wall Street is that
perhaps a major media
conglomerate might want to take
over THQ(NASDAQ: THQI).
According to The Wall Street
Journal(subscription required),
either Viacom or Time
Warner(NYSE: TWX) might be
interested in the publisher. There
are plenty of reasons to believe
this would be a logical move for
either of those two. And there are
plenty of reasons to suggest that
buying THQ wouldn't make
sense. I mean, take Viacom:
wouldn't it rather concentrate on
the Rock Band franchise? As for
Time Warner, does it truly desire
the hassle of integrating THQ?
Right now, Time Warner's stock
is in an upswing, and I don't think
shareholders would want to ruin
such momentum with the
purchase of a software company
that has been experiencing growth
problems.
Continue reading THQ and the
acquisition thesis
THQ and the acquisition thesis
originally appeared on
BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Sep
2009 10:10:00 EST. Please see
our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Comments

Twitter closes new round -- what's next?

By Tom Johansmeyer (illiquid) value at $1 billion, is an acquisition. The company Twitter closes new round --
(BloggingStocks) though Twitter itself would not does say that it's pursuing revenue what's next? originally appeared
Submitted at 9/26/2009 11:40:00 AM confirm the amount. T. Rowe via corporate accounts. But, it's on BloggingStocks on Sat, 26 Sep
Price and Insight Venture Partners been saying this for a while, and 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see
Filed under: Internet, Google participated in the deal, as we haven't seen anything yet. our terms for use of feeds.
(GOOG), Yahoo! (YHOO), Time expected, which is believed to be to invest in high-profile Also, it's leaving open the Permalink| Email this| Comments
Warner (TWX), Private equity, a p r e c u r s o r t o a n e v e n t u a l companies, despite the absence of possibility of running ads on the
Technology liquidity event -- such as an IPO revenue models. Yet, Twitter may site, though this wouldn't happen
Twitter's much-hyped $100 or acquisition. not be as bad off as the traditional within the next three months.
million round of financing closed In a way, it feels like 1999, folks think, especially if the goal Continue reading Twitter closes
Friday, cementing the company's where you have investors rushing new round -- what's next?
Internet News Record Top News/ Finance/ Gadgets/ Tech News/ 13

Mackenzie Phillips' 'Courage' Praised Wal-Mart ends technical

By Sister Chynna On 'Oprah' - support program with Dell; in
comes Sam's Club instead
MTV.com By Brian White
(BloggingStocks)
(Most Popular - Google News) because it is a very, very taboo consensual sexual relationship
Submitted at 9/25/2009 6:00:00 PM
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:30:04 PM [topic]," Chynna recalled of her with our father," the statement
reaction to Wednesday's show. said. "This news was confusing Filed under: Products and
For the second time in one week, "Many people were repulsed, and it was also scary, as I lived services, Dell (DELL), Wal-Mart
Mackenzie Phillips sat down for many people were horrified at the alone with my father since I was (WMT) question I had last summer was
an interview with Oprah Winfrey allegations. ... She had the 3. A little over a year after teaming this: does Sam's Club have
on Friday (September 25) to courage to come out and talk "Mackenzie's history with her up to offer in-store technical employees with a decent level of
discuss her allegations of an over about it, and I'm proud of my father is hers, but also clouded support, the folks in Bentonville technical expertise that can help
10-year incestuous relationship sister." with 30 years of drug use," the have dumped Dell instead of frustrate customers?
with her father, John Phillips of While Chynna said she believed statement continued. "I hope she Inc.(NASDAQ: DELL) as its Continue reading Wal-Mart
the Mamas and the Papas. This t h e r e w a s a c o n s e n s u a l can come to terms with this and partner and plans to use its Sam's ends technical support program
time she was joined by her relationship between Mackenzie find peace. The life I had with my Club division to help out with Dell; in comes Sam's Club
younger sister Chynna. and John, she stopped short of father was very different. He was consumer electronics customers instead
Via satellite from New York, endorsing the entire accuracy of Mr. Mom, encouraging and first in Sam's Club stores and Wal-Mart ends technical
Mackenzie shared stories of the Mackenzie's account, which she loving. The man that raised me eventually in Wal-Mart Stores support program with Dell; in
positive reaction she's received in details in her new memoir, "High would never be capable of doing Inc.'s (NYSE: WMT) retail comes Sam's Club instead
the past days and responded to on Arrival." She also admitted such things, and if he was, it is locations. originally appeared on
c r i t i c s w h o q u e s t i o n e d h e r that she wasn't pleased to have heartbreaking to me to think that Sam's Club will offer free BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Sep
decision to speak out. their private family business made my family would leave me alone technical support for many 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see
"My answer to that is — and I so public. with him. I understand consumer electronics products our terms for use of feeds.
understand this is a difficult thing During the next segment when Mackenzie's need to come clean offered in Wal-Mart stores and Permalink| Email this| Comments
for my family — nobody's talking Mackenzie and Chynna appeared with a history she feels will help will even offer home delivery and
about this," she told Oprah. "So if together, Mackenzie said, "I am others, but it's devastating to have installation services for a fee. The
I started a national dialogue that more in love with my sister than I the world watch as we try and
will help people face this issue, I have ever been ... I'm very proud mend broken fences, especially Obama Appoints Scholar as New Copyright Czar
am forever grateful." of you ... I'm really sorry to put when the man in question isn't
After the commercial break, you in that position. But I don't here to defend himself." By David Kravets (Wired Top Victoria A. Espinel, an
C h y n n a a p p e a r e d w i t h o u t regret writing the book." Though she said they are still Stories) intellectual property scholar and
Mackenzie's presence, saying she Earlier in the show, Oprah read close, Mackenzie said Bijou had Submitted at 9/25/2009 1:43:00 PM U.S. trade official, still requires
wanted her own platform to a statement from Mackenzie's half not made contact since Senate confirmation.
President Barack Obama selects
communicate her reactions. "I was -sister Bijou. "When I was 13, Wednesday's show. the nation's first copyright czar.
praying for her the whole time Mackenzie told me that she had a

Wacom's Bamboo Pen & Touch unboxed and previewed

By Paul Miller (Engadget)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:50:00 AM
Wacom sure has been busy with
its Bamboo line, and now the
impressions are starting to trickle
in. The Pen & Touch is
particularly interesting, marrying
what is essentially an extra large
touchpad with traditional digital tastes as to whether you'll really unboxed and previewed originally
pen tech -- and to what effect? find the multitouch aspects of the appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26
Well, the tester at unit worthwhile, but they aren't Sep 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please
BestTabletReview.com didn't find touched on much here, and you see our terms for use of feeds.
much difference in accuracy or could always just spring for the Read| Permalink| Email this|
sensitivity with his old Graphire, Pen-only edition if that's the way Comments
and was particularly digging the you're wired.
16:9 ratio over his old tablet's 4:3 -1 penning experience. Of course, Filed under: Peripherals
setup -- making for more of a 1-to it's probably more up to personal Wacom's Bamboo Pen & Touch
14 Top News/ Finance/ Tech News/ Gadgets/ Internet News Record

Prenup Problem for Khloe Short City Update: Exxon-

Kardashian and Lamar Odom Mobil: hold short; Wal-Mart:
cover short
Wedding? - myGLOSS By Joseph Lazzaro
(BloggingStocks)
(Most Popular - Google News)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 5:30:00 PM
Submitted at 9/26/2009 8:14:58 AM

Filed under: Wal-Mart (WMT),

A prenup problem is causing
trouble for Khloe Kardashian and
Lamar Odom, according to TMZ.
Khloe and Lamar are having their
first fight–over the prenuptial
agreement. Celebrity site TMZ
has the prenup scoop:
TMZ has learned — although
Lamar Odom thinks love
conquers all — he decided to
hedge his bets with a prenup. But
there’s a big complication. Odom
has lawyered up and so has
Khloe. The problem is … they
have to get married on Sunday
and there isn’t.
Odom has lawyered up and so
has Khloe. The problem is … they
have to get married on Sunday
and there isn’t enough time to
hash out the details of a prenuptial
agreement.
TMZ claims the love birds must
get married on Sunday because
one of the Kardashian reality
shows on E! is paying for the
wedding but the deal is that the
wedding must be shot on Sunday.
TMZ’s claim that a reality show
future episode of Keeping Up
With the Kardashians. Fellow
reality star Kendra Wilkinson of
the E! series Kendra televised her
wedding to NFL player Hank
Baskett and earned her show’s
highest-ever ratings.
One solution to the prenup
problem? Sunday’s wedding
would be a non-binding
Exxon Mobil (XOM) An update:
a decision to hold one short and
close another short position - due
to the probability of higher-than-
expected U.S. GDP growth in
Q3/Q4, and the impact that better
economic recovery would have on
consumer spending.
Exxon-Mobil(NYSE: XOM),
recommended on June 3, 2009 at
a price of $72.88. As expected,
Exxon-Mobil's stock remains
under pressure, due to the
possibility of moderating oil
prices and continued, sluggish
U.S. gasoline sales, stemming
from 7 million lay-offs in the
U.S., increased vehicle efficiency,
acknowledge that the ceremony and a frugal consumer. Hold
is not an official wedding. Short, but Cover Short on a
Related Stories: Gallery: Hands-On With
• Khloe Kardashian and Lamar
Odom To Wed This Sunday! Tokyo Game Show's
• Daily Buzz: Jude Law is a Dad Hottest New Games
for the Fourth Time, Khloe
Kardashian and Lamar Odom By Chris Kohler (Wired Top
Wedding News, Pee-Wee Herman Stories)
Hotness? Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:15:00 PM
bounce off $60, $56.50, $55, $50,
$45, or $40. Revised Buy/Stop
Loss if you sold shares in this
company: $78.
Continue reading Short City
Update: Exxon-Mobil: hold short;
Wal-Mart: cover short
Short City Update: Exxon-
Mobil: hold short; Wal-Mart:
cover short originally appeared on
BloggingStocks on Fri, 25 Sep
2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see
our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Comments
Hands On With the
PSPgo, Sony's Tiny
Gaming Console
By Daniel Dumas (Wired Top
Stories)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:15:00 PM

may be footing the wedding bill is
not confirmed at this time.
CNN reports that Khloe
Kardashian has agreed to film her
wedding for her reality TV show.
The wedding will be shown on a
Palm Pre's Price Continues to Drop; Now Only $80 at Walmart [Dealzmodo]
By Dan Nosowitz (Gizmodo)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:30:00 AM
ceremony. That means the bride
and groom won’t officially tie the
knot until after they sign the the
prenuptial agreement. Khloe and
Lamar would have to sign an
agreement before the ceremony to
The Palm Pre already saw an
online price drop to$100 at
Amazon, but if you bought it at
• Daily Buzz: Khloe Kardashian
& Lamar Odom Tying the Knot,
New York Fashion Week Buzz, the public gets hands-on previews
Emmy Award Countdown!
that price, we've got some bad
Before new games get released, The PSPgo is smaller and lighter
than the PSP and PSP Slim. Oh,
at the Tokyo Game Show. But and it slides, too. Wired's gallery
even before the public gets in, of the new PSPgo shows it from
Wired.com gets to try playing the every sexy angle.
new titles during the press
preview.
news for you— Walmart's now
selling it for only $80. [
EverythingPre via Engadget]
Internet News Record
Conan O'Brien Injured and
Hospitalized after Tonight Show
Stunt - Right Celebrity
(Most Popular - Google News)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:23:09 AM
Wondering why there was a
repeat episode of Conan O’Brien
last night? I know I was severely
disappointed, although it was all
for good, yet tragic reasoning.
While he was filming a Tonight
Show stunt, Conan was injured
and hospitalized.
It is being reported that Conan
O’Brien banged his head while
taping “The Tonight Show”
yesterday afternoon September
25th, 2009. However, despite
being injured on set of the
Tonight Show, sources tell TMZ
that Conan never stopped
cracking jokes, not even when he
was being transported to the Cedars Sinai Hospital to be
hospital. Sounds like a typical
comedian. I love myself some
Conan!
Sources are saying that enjoying the play with Mrs. www.wenn.com
immediately following the injury, Lincoln, and the next thing I knew
O’Brien was transported to I was in bed being served cookies
Reader Photo Gallery:
Awesome DIY
Astronomy
By Alexis Madrigal (Wired Top
Stories)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:30:00 PM
Wired Science asked our readers
and Twitter followers for their
best DIY space photos. They
responded with beautiful images
of our universe.
checked over.
After the fall, O’Brien said,
“Last thing I remember I was www.wenn.com, Nikki Nelson/
Gallery: Scenes From the Tops & Flops: A Week
Peripatetic Tokyo Game in Fashion!
Show (ETonline - Breaking News)
By Chris Kohler (Wired Top
Stories)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:15:00 PM
Controlled mayhem rules the
floor at the Tokyo Game Show as
attendees scramble for a glimpse
of the future -- and to sneak a
peek at the hot booth babes.
Top News/ Economy/ Tech News/ Entertainment/
and juice.”
A guest at the was at the taping
reveals, “He was doing a
triathalon skit with Teri Hatcher
and they were running down the
audience stairs to get to the finish
line. He slid and fell backwards
on the stage. He was kneeling on
the floor and gave Teri Hatcher a
hug before he got up. He went
backstage to get dried off (b/c he
had swam in a pool) and it
seemed like it was ok because he
came out again. But he talked to
the producer and stayed
backstage. Andy’s part was really
short. After waiting for 15 mins.
they gave him the mic to explain
the situation and to introduce the
musical guest.”
Reports are saying that Conan
will return to work on Monday.
Photos: Fayesvision/
Submitted at 9/26/2009 7:02:00 AM
From the 2009 Emmy Awards to
London Fashion Week, this week
had its fair share of fashion's sins
and big wins. Whose looks were
second rate, and whose were
great!? You decide!
For the Fed's
Credibility, It's Time for
a Fire Drill
(Financial Sector and Stocks
Analysis from Seeking Alpha)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 12:54:06 PM
Former Federal Reserve
Chairman William McChesney
Martin joked that it was his job to
“take away the punch bowl just as
the party gets going.” But Alan
Greenspan never did, choosing
instead to spike it every time the
party slowed down. The results
were more than a little
unfortunate.
Now, faced with years of
economic stagnation, most
economists conclude interest rates
will stay low indefinitely. The Fed
is doing little to disabuse them.
An opinion article from Fed
Governor Kevin Warsh in today’s
Wall Street Journal tries to warn
us not to get complacent.
Warsh says, a bit technically:
“‘Whatever it takes’… cannot be
an asymmetric mantra, trotted out
only during times of deep
economic and financial distress,
and discarded when the cycle
turns.” In other words, if the Fed
only intervenes during downturns,
it risks its credibility as protector
of the dollar.
But talk is cheap. Not since Paul
Volcker raised rates significantly
in the early 1980s has the Fed
done anything substantial to fight
the forces of irrational
exuberance. The Fed won’t
reestablish its bona fides until it
puts the economy through pain.
With a “recovery” under way,
the printing press running on high
15
to support the housing market and
$850 billion of excess reserves
just waiting to spark inflation, the
Fed’s credibility is, well, strained
to say the least.
So Warsh goes a bit further:
“Policy likely will need to begin
normalization before it is obvious
that is necessary, possibly with
greater force than is customary
…”
Dollar bears like me like the
sound of “greater force than is
customary,” but we don’t believe
the Fed would actually use it.
Why should we? Earlier this
week, the central bank put out
another wishy-washy policy
statement that says it will hold
interest rates low “for an extended
period,” while gradually weaning
the economy from the support of
the printing press.
That will only encourage
investors to take on risks that will
tie the Fed’s hands later on.
To avoid a return to that status
quo, we need more than tough
talk. We need a fire drill — a
quick, small rate increase that no
one is expecting.
Always telegraphing your
moves months in advance is what
breeds complacency. Investors
make stupid mistakes and the Fed
is left to pick up the pieces,
putting the dollar at risk.
So, Kevin, if you’re worried
about investor complacency, give
us a rate increase when we least
expect it. Perhaps next week?
16 World/ Picture/ Internet News Record

Miliband refuses to rule out military action against Iran

By Patrick Wintour, Mark international inspectors for years, plant, which is south of Tehran address the outstanding questions "regret this announcement",
Oliver, Julian Borger (World although Obama said western near the holy city of Qom, a seat and the outstanding offer that's on claiming it had been made to
news and comment from the intelligence had known of it for of Shia learning, or face sanctions the table for them and that's what disrupt the Geneva talks.
Guardian | guardian.co.uk) more than two years. "that bite" against the Islamic we are waiting to see". Ahmadinejad dodged a question
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:15:13 AM The disclosures have paved the republic. Brown said that the Questioned about the likelihood about whether Iran had sufficient
way for a showdown on Thursday discovery of the covert site had of military force against Iran, enriched uranium to manufacture
• Iran's chief negotiator says in Geneva, where Iranian officials "shocked and angered" the Miliband said: "No sane person a nuclear weapon but said Tehran
inspectors can visit plant are due to meet representatives of international community. looks at the military question of rejects such armaments as
• Tehran to stage 'missile six major powers, the E3+3 The statement by western engagement with Iran with "inhumane".
exercises' tomorrow group. Failure to reach a leaders appears timed to give a anything other than real concern. Western officials claim the plant
David Miliband today refused to resolution there would usher in a push to waverers to back That's why we always say we are is big enough to accommodate
rule out the prospect of military wave of wide-ranging economic sanctions against Iran, especially 100% committed to the 3,000 centrifuges. They said that
action against Iran over its nuclear sanctions. China and Russia. diplomatic track. was far too big to be a pilot plant,
ambitions but insisted the An aide to the Supreme Leader Yesterday Moscow issued a "I think it's very important we as Iran claims, but far too small to
international focus was on a Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said the separate statement describing the stick to that because the produce enough low-enriched
diplomatic solution after Tehran's n e w l y d i s c l o s e d u r a n i u m plant as a "violation" of UN diplomatic track of engagement uranium for electrical power
admission it is building a second enrichment plant buried deep security council decisions, and on the one hand and pressure on generation.
uranium enrichment plant. inside a mountain in the arid offering to support an the other is only now really being Nuclear experts say that 3,000
T h e f o r e i g n s e c r e t a r y ' s centre of Iran would soon become investigation. tried with the engagement of centrifuges can produce enough
comments were followed tonight operational. In other developments today, America." enriched uranium each year to
by remarks from Iran's chief But Salehi said: "Under [non- there were reports from semi- But Miliband declined to make a bomb, if it is further
nuclear negotiator, Ali Akbar proliferation] rules, we are official state media that Iran's describe military action as refined to weapons grade purity.
Salehi, who said inspectors from required to inform the IAEA of Revolutionary Guard will stage inconceivable, the word used by There are more than 8,000 such
the International Atomic Energy the existence of such a facility missile defence simulation Jack Straw when he was foreign machines at Natanz, Iran's known
Agency (IAEA) would be allowed 180 days before introducing exercises tomorrow – a move sure secretary. industrial-scale enrichment
into the plant situated near the materials but we are announcing it to be seen as provocative to the "I always say to people look at facility.
holy city of Qom, which he more than a year earlier. Still, we west with mounting tension over what I do say, not at what I don't • Iran
insisted had not been secret. see there is controversy. We are the nuclear issue. say and what I do say is that we • David Miliband
Ali Akbar Salehi told Iranian astonished," he said. The guards said the exercises are 100% focused on a diplomatic • United States
television: "Inspection will be Iran says the new facility won't would be to "maintain and resolution of this question," • Nuclear weapons
within the framework of the be operational for 18 months so improve" the country's deterrent Miliband said. • Nicolas Sarkozy
regulations ... we have no problem Iran has not violated any IAEA capabilities, AFP reported citing The Iranians acknowledged the • Barack Obama
with inspection. We will work out requirements. an Iranian news agency. existence of the plant in a letter to • Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
this issue with the agency and will Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's Miliband said there was a the International Atomic Energy • US foreign policy
a n n o u n c e t h e d a t e o f t h e president, had told journalists in "100%" commitment to Agency on Monday after learning • G20
inspection later after reaching an N e w Y o r k y e s t e r d a y h a d diplomacy but, speaking to BBC that its existence had been • Foreign policy
agreement with IAEA." remained defiant on his country's Radio 4's Today programme, he discovered by the CIA, MI6 and • Gordon Brown
The US president, Barack nuclear ambitions, claiming the repeatedly declined invitations to the French DGSE intelligence Patrick Wintour Mark Oliver
Obama, the UK prime minister, plant was legal and open for describe military intervention as agency. Julian Borger
Gordon Brown, and the French scrutiny. inconceivable. "We don't have any problems guardian.co.uk© Guardian
president, Nicolas Sarkozy Yesterday however Obama - Miliband said that during the with inspections of the facility. News & Media Limited 2009 |
a c c u s e d I r a n y e s t e r d a y o f who earlier this year offered meeting of the E3+3 group of We have no fears," Ahmadinejad Use of this content is subject to
constructing a secret underground Tehran a chance of a "new Britain, France, Germany, the US, said yesterday. our Terms & Conditions| More
uranium enrichment facility and beginning" – called on Iran to Russia and China, Iran had to take The Iranian president said the Feeds
of hiding its existence from allow UN inspectors to visit the "practical and concrete steps to three western leaders would
G-20 protests in Pittsburgh
By Jake Pfaff (Flickr Blog) • About Flickr making photo management an and tags on your photos, post to
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:01:36 PM Flickr is a revolution in photo easy, natural and collaborative any blog, share and more!
storage, sharing and organization, process. Get comments, notes,
Internet News Record
Why Iran was forced to come clean
By Julian Borger, Patrick
Wintour (World news and
comment from the Guardian |
guardian.co.uk)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:17:20 PM
At first it was one of many
suspicious sites but forensic
gathering of intelligence by the
west eventually forced Iran to
come clean
The Qom uranium enrichment
plant first appeared in 2006, in
grey satellite photographs of the
sort the world has become
familiar with through the long
years of the Iran crisis.
North-east of the mosques of
Qom, the theological heart of
Iran, the revolutionary guard had
established an anti-aircraft missile
battery at the base of the
mountain, western officials said.
As intelligence analysts tried to
discover what the missiles were
there to protect, satellite imagery
began to reveal intensive activity
at the side of the mountain.
"There was extensive excavation
and construction work under
way," a western official said,
speaking on condition of
anonymity.
The Qom site was put under
more frequent surveillance to
check on progress, but at that
point it was just one site among
several suspect zones being
watched.
"It was like a stake-out of a
building," a British official said.
"You know something wrong is
going on in there, but you have to
Tokyo Game Show: Official (and gory) God of War III trailer
By Serkan Toto (CrunchGear)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:20:42 AM
Sony’s God of War III for PS3 is
wait until you've got all the
evidence."
Western intelligence had been
looking for a clandestine uranium
enrichment site, suspecting that
while the attention of the
International Atomic Energy
Agency was fixed on the known
enrichment plant at Natanz, Iran
would have a parallel programme
hidden elsewhere intended to
produce highly enriched uranium
for weapons. Technical advances
from the overt site would be
continually transferred to the
covert one.
Qom seemed to fit the bill. A
senior US administration official
described the site as "a very
heavily protected, very heavily
disguised facility".
The official added: "We've been
aware of this facility for several
years; we've been watching the
construction, we've been building
up a case so that we were sure that
we had very strong evidence,
irrefutable evidence, that the
intent of this facility was as an
enrichment plant."
At some point this summer, US,
British and French intelligence
agencies were able to corroborate
the information they had, and
concluded that the Qom site was
an enrichment plant. "We believe
that it's not yet operational. We
think it's most likely at least a few
months, perhaps more, from
having all of the centrifuges
installed and being capable of
operating if the Iranians made a
decision to begin operating it," the
playable at the Tokyo Game
Show 2009, looks great and will
go on sale in Japan in March
2010. The upcoming God of War
senior American official said.
It is not clear how western
intelligence came to the
conclusion that the Qom plant
was big enough for 3,000
centrifuges.
The number is important. It is
far too many for a pilot plant,
which is what Iran claims it is
building. That normally consists
of a single "cascade" of 164
centrifuges, (and in any case there
is already a pilot plant in Natanz).
On the other hand, 3,000
centrifuges are not nearly enough
for a civilian power programme.
They can produce between one
and two metric tonnes of low
enriched uranium a year. That is
not enough to fuel a power
station, which normally requires
more than 50,000 centrifuges. But
3,000 is more than enough
uranium, if enriched further, to
make a nuclear warhead every 12
months.
The conclusion reached by the
CIA, MI6 and France's DGSE put
Washington, London and Paris in
a dilemma. Barack Obama had
offered to extend America's hand
if Iran "unclenched its fist" and
the approach appeared to be
giving Tehran more trouble than
George Bush's bellicosity - by
removing a bogeyman and paving
the way for a serious challenge to
the Iranian president, Mahmoud
Ahmadinejad, in the June
elections.
Ahmadinejad's disputed election
victory represented a serious
setback to the policy of
engagement, but it was decided to
press on with the strategy. A
return to confrontation would
allow the regime to portray their
opponents as stooges.
Earlier this month, the Iranians
finally agreed to a meeting on 1
October, and arrangements were
made to meet in Geneva. "If we
had come out with this, we would
have been accused of torpedoing
the process," a western diplomat
said. In the end, the Iranians
appear to have become aware that
the Qom secret was out and pre-
empted the inevitable disclosure
by admitting it in a letter to the
IAEA's director general,
Mohamed ElBaradei, delivered on
Monday.
The letter said Iran was building
a "pilot-scale enrichment plant"
designed to produce low enriched
uranium, but that no uranium had
so far been processed. It did not
provide the location of the site,
but said more information would
be forthcoming at a later date.
The Iranian argument is that
under IAEA safeguards, as long
as no uranium hexafluoride is fed
into centrifuges, the plant is not
nuclear, and therefore Iran has no
obligation to notify the IAEA
until six months before uranium is
introduced.
But western officials point out
that at the time this enrichment
plant appears to have been started,
in 2006, Iran had an agreed
obligation to notify the IAEA as
soon as construction began on any
new nuclear facility.
Collection for the PS 3 (American
version) will include a playable
God of War III demo by the way
(but the one seen at E3 2009).
World/ Gadgets/ 17
The Iranian letter to the IAEA
forced the hand of the western
intelligence agencies. "Once the
IAEA letter had been sent, and the
IAEA moved to press Iran on the
plant, we had to make sure the
agency had the fullest picture
possible," an official said.
According to US officials,
Obama told Dmitry Medvedev,
the Russian president, on
Wednesday, and afterwards
Medvedev said "in some cases,
sanctions are inevitable". On
Thursday, the intelligence was
delivered to the IAEA in Vienna,
and US, British and French
briefers made roughly the same
presentation to Russian, German
and Chinese officials that
evening.
In the absence of significant
Iranian concessions it seems clear
that sanctions are on the way. The
only question is how aggressive
those measures will be.
• Iran
• Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
• Nuclear weapons
• Foreign policy
• US foreign policy
• MI6
Julian Borger Patrick Wintour
guardian.co.uk© Guardian
News & Media Limited 2009 |
Use of this content is subject to
our Terms & Conditions| More
Feeds
This is Sony’s official God of
War III trailer ( here’s an earlier
one):
18 World/ Gadgets/
Kenya's slums attract poverty tourism
By Xan Rice (World news and
comment from the Guardian |
guardian.co.uk)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:14:59 PM
Tourists snapping up £20 guided
walks around Nairobi's open-
sewer streets
The Dutch tourists came well
prepared for the walking safari:
strong shoes and sunscreen,
backpacks and bottled water.
Ahead lay an afternoon visiting
one of Kenya's most recognisable
sights – but one that rarely
features in tourist brochures.
"It might seem a bit strange to
come here," said Eric Schlangen,
as the guide led him towards the
sea of tin-roofed shacks that
constitute Kibera, often described
as one of the world's largest
slums. "But I wanted to see how
people live in this country, not
just the animals."
Slum tourism is taking off in
Kenya. Several local
organisations have started selling
guided trips through Kibera, a
short drive from the luxury hotels
that serve most foreign visitors in
Nairobi.
For about £20, tourists are
promised a glimpse into the lives
of the hundreds of thousands of
people crammed into tiny rooms
along dirt paths littered with
Archos Android Phone Tablet introduced on video
By Nilay Patel (Engadget)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 1:36:00 AM
We'd heard that Archos had
teased an Android-based phone
when it launched the new Archos
5 Internet Tablet, and now we
have video proof. We don't speak
French well enough to translate
excrement-filled plastic bags
known as "flying toilets", as one
tour agency explains on its
website.
While Kibera has long been an
obligatory stop for foreign
dignitaries and film crews
shooting movies such as The
Constant Gardener, its addition to
the tourist circuit has stirred
debate.
Critics say that unlike township
tours in South Africa, which help
tell the story of the apartheid
struggle, Kibera's sole attraction is
its open-sewer poverty – with
residents on parade like animals
in a zoo.
"You might argue that it is good
for business and that might be
truly so, but it smells," wrote one
critic when one of the first tours
began in 2007.
Unpleasant whiff aside, the
tours have proved popular and at
least two new operators have
started up in recent months.
Martin Oduor guided the Dutch
group for Kibera Tours, which
promises that its profits will stay
in the local community. He said
that the aim was to humanise
residents, not degrade them. "We
want to demystify this place, that
it is so dangerous and sad," said
Oduor as he walked through the
slum where he was born and still
what's being said here (or, really,
translate anything other than "le
singe conduit l'autobus") but that
spec sheet isn't too hard to figure
out: we're looking at a 1GHz
ARM Cortex processor under a
4.3-inch 854 x 480 screen in
10mm thin titanium casing with camera. Yeah, not too shabby at
what looks like a front-facing all, especially considering Archos
lives. "People are poor, but they
have normal lives."
Dust whipped through the
narrow alleys where vendors sold
tins of charcoal and barbecued
fish. Children shouted "How are
you?" and a woman wondered
aloud how the white skins were
coping with the sun.
A former local councillor said
the tourists were welcome, while
a stove-seller frowned at a camera
and told a different story.
At an orphanage where the
children sleep three to a bed, the
Dutch party offered a donation; at
a women's craft shop, they bought
trinkets.
As they moved further into
Kibera, across a mangled railway
line that had been ripped up
during last year's election
violence, the path slithered
downhill between walls of jagged
iron sheets.
Careful steps were required to
avoid the black stream littered
with telltale plastic bags. Halfway
down the slope, Oduor stopped at
a community project designed to
help end the sewerage problem –
a public toilet.
A pot of water was boiling on a
gas fire. Oduor asked if anyone
knew what type of gas was being
used. "Very natural gas,"
Schlangen answered correctly –
biogas made from human waste.
That was not the only surprise.
"Mzungu [white person], look at
the bananas," a young boy
shouted, pointing to the banana
plant growing among the shacks.
Further along the railway line,
which is flanked by large piles of
rubbish, large spinach plants were
growing in sacks.
Oduor proudly gestured across
the valley to new six-storey
blocks of flats, part of a long-
awaited slum-upgrading
programme launched by the
government and the UN last
week.
Evening was approaching.
Music blared and street vendors
were frying potatoes and
doughnuts.
Schlangen, who had come to
Kenya via Egypt, said that he
would remember Kibera as a
place of hope.
"This made more of an
impression on me than the
pyramids of Giza," he said.
• Kenya
• Africa
Xan Rice
guardian.co.uk© Guardian
News & Media Limited 2009 |
Use of this content is subject to
our Terms & Conditions| More
Feeds
has that interesting media layer
running on top of Android already
-- let's hope we find out even
more soon. Video after the break.
[Thanks, Fernando]
Continue reading Archos
Android Phone Tablet introduced
on video
Filed under: Cellphones
Internet News Record
DIY: 9 easy projects
that can help you get
your hack on
By Dave Freeman
(CrunchGear)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 8:00:48 PM
Voiding warranties is half of fun
of owning gadgets. I mean, who
doesn’t want to take something
apart to see what makes it work?
And besides, you’ve got that
workbench in the garage and a
couple tools lying around, why
not do something with them?
Luckily, the crazed modders at
MaximumPC have compiled a list
(with instructions) of nine
“gateway drug” mods. They’re
easy enough if you have the right
tools, and will definitely be fun to
mess around with. I for one am
looking at that Star Trek phaser
mod and wondering, exactly how
far can you overdrive a Blu-ray
laser?
Archos Android Phone Tablet
introduced on video originally
appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26
Sep 2009 01:36:00 EST. Please
see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Comments
Internet News Record World/ Gadgets/ 19

Obama plays down the need to finalise a global

deal on climate change
By Suzanne Goldenberg summit or the G20 towards a deal on Obama's remarks. it is not going to help us get a deal
(World news and comment at Copenhagen. Obama's remarks It is accepted that the at Copenhagen."
from the Guardian | yesterday resonated among world Copenhagen negotiations will not The issue that could have
guardian.co.uk) leaders, who have been looking to be able to finalise all details of a unlocked negotiations – finance
Submitted at 9/26/2009 3:22:28 AM America – as historically the treaty to get the world to act for developing countries to cope
world's greatest polluter – to lead together on global warming. But with global warming impacts and Tokyo Game Show:
Barack Obama has talked down on climate change. Obama's comments could pay for green energy technology –
the importance of sealing a global "I would cite what President jeopardise efforts to get the most got pushed to the sidelines at Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2
deal on climate change before the Obama said to us at our meetings comprehensive agreement Pittsburgh. Although Obama had for PS3 (gameplay
end of the year, world leaders said and that is that while Copenhagen possible, said observers. "What is wanted this G20 to produce hard
yesterday. is a very important meeting we causing increasing concern is the figures on climate finance, world video)
Obama's comments, made in should not view it as a make or continuing deadlock in political leaders decided instead to By Serkan Toto (CrunchGear)
private talks at the G20 summit, break on climate change. It will action to deal with this postpone the issue to a finance Submitted at 9/26/2009 3:41:30 AM
downplay the need to reach a be a step, an ongoing step, in an challenge," said Rajendra ministers' meeting in November.
strong deal at UN talks in important world process to deal Pachauri, the UN top climate • Copenhagen climate change Koei Tecmo has a giant at this
Copenhagen in December and with this critical issue," Canada's scientist who shared a Nobel summit 2009 year’s Tokyo Game Show, and
contradict the United Nations and prime minister, Stephen Harper, peace prize with Al Gore. The • G20 their flagship title surely is Ninja
others, who have billed the said yesterday. Harper cited the G20 did agree to back Obama's • Barack Obama Gaiden Sigma 2 for PS3. It was
meeting as a crucial moment for comments when he said he was efforts to end the world's $300bn • Obama administration playable and looked pretty cool.
the world to avoid catastrophic not inclined to take up Gordon of annual subsidies on fossil fuel, • Climate change The same is true for Quantum
global warming. The president did Brown's challenge to attend the which encourage the burning of • Fossil fuels Theory by the way (another Koei
win a partial victory on his meeting himself, in order to add polluting fuels. However, the • United Nations Tecmo action game) whose early
signature climate issue at this G20 p o l i t i c a l w e i g h t t o t h e leaders failed to agree on Obama's • South Korea version was impressive graphics-
summit – removing fossil fuel n e g o t i a t i o n s . five-year time frame for phasing • Stephen Harper wise (but pretty buggy
subsidies – but there was no South Korea's Lee Myung-bak out subsidies, agreeing only on • Energy unfortunately).
headway on the much bigger issue also referenced Obama's remarks. "medium term" action. • United States Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2 for PS3
of climate finance, which Obama "The Copenhagen climate summit The subsidy deal will do little to Suzanne Goldenberg is scheduled for release in Japan
had taken up as his issue at the meeting is not the end, but it is advance the Copenhagen guardian.co.uk© Guardian on October 1.
last G20. going to be the start of a new negotiations, said Alden Meyer of News & Media Limited 2009 | Here’s a video I took at the Koei
Barring small but significant beginning, and having that kind of the Union of Concerned Use of this content is subject to Tecmo booth:
steps forward from China and perception is more realistic," he Scientists. "It's clearly a victory our Terms & Conditions| More
India, there has been little said. There was no immediate for Obama to get something Feeds
progress this week at a UN comment from the White House meaningful on this," he said. "But

MIT students develop new 6dot braille labelmaker prototype

By Laura June (Engadget)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 4:37:00 AM
A group of students at MIT have
just unveiled a new prototype of a
braille labelmaker / printer, the
6dot. Though not the first, the
MIT group's model is apparently
more advanced, easier to use, and
cheaper than currently available
models. Designed with the blind user can then affix for easy MIT students develop new 6dot
and visually impaired in mind, the identification of household items, braille labelmaker prototype
labelmaker features an around the such as medications, canned originally appeared on Engadget
neck strap, and six buttons (for goods, and so on. Though it's still on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 04:37:00
each of the dots of a braille in prototype phase, it's possible EST. Please see our terms for use
character), allowing quick the device could cost as little as of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email
production of accurate labels, $200 when it does hit the market. this| Comments
including contractions. The [Via Coolest Gadgets]
internal processor of the device "prints" the characters onto Filed under: Misc. Gadgets,
can store up to 16 characters, and adhesive label paper, which the Household, Science
20 World/ Economy/ Gadgets/
Sir Allen Stanford in hospital after
prison fight
(World news and comment
from the Guardian |
guardian.co.uk)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 2:36:26 AM
Fight with inmate adds to
Stanford's woes after top lawyer
refuses to defend him defence
against claims of £5bn fraud
Sir Allen Stanford, best known
in Britain as a sports impresario
who bankrolled cricket's
Twenty20 tournaments, is in
hospital following a fight with
another prison inmate.
The Texas billionaire was
involved in an incident at the Joe
Corley Detention Facility in
Conroe about 40 miles north of
Houston. The 59-year-old was
charged in February by the US
Securities and Exchange
Commission with fraud and
multiple violations of securities
laws for alleged "massive ongoing
fraud" involving $8bn (£5bn)
relating to the now defunct
Stanford Financial Group.
At the time, England had been
due to play five Twenty20
internationals with a West Indies
all-star XI with a total prize fund
of $20m. England lost the opening
game by 10 wickets and when the
fraud investigation became public
the England and Wales Cricket
Board cut all ties and cancelled all
contracts with Stanford.
Standford was given a court-
Daily Crunch: Supper Time Edition
By Bryce Durbin (CrunchGear)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:00:01 AM
Here are some stories you might
have missed yesterday.
appointed public defender earlier
this month to fight charges of
orchestrating fraud after a US
judge ruled he had insufficient
funds to pay for his own lawyer.
The prominent Texan lawyer,
Dick DeGuerin, had been
representing Stanford but
DeGuerin told a judge at a hearing
in Houston he wanted to
withdraw, largely because there
was no guarantee he would be
paid.
Unshaven and wearing an
orange prison jumpsuit in court,
Stanford said he wanted to replace
DeGuerin with Robert Luskin, a
top Washington lawyer who
defended President George Bush's
adviser, Karl Rove, against claims
he was involved in leaking the
identity of a CIA spy.
But judge David Hittner asked
whether Luskin might run into the
same problem, as Stanford's assets
have been frozen by a liquidator.
Deputy US marshal Alfredo
Perez said Stanford was being
treated after a fight on Thursday
in jail. He said the injuries are not
life threatening but declined to
discuss details. He said the
incident is under investigation.
The US justice department has
accused Stanford of using
misleading advertising, false
claims about returns and
inaccurate statements about his
investment strategy to lure
DIY: 9 easy projects that can
help you get your hack on
This is how you transport a 510
ton object (slowly and with a
giant land barge)
thousands of Americans into
purchasing so-called certificates
of deposit, which purported to be
low-risk savings instruments.
According to prosecutors,
Stanford siphoned the proceeds
offshore and used some of the
money to finance a lavish lifestyle
of private jets, Caribbean retreats
and international cricket events.
Stanford has been in poor
health. He spent five days in
hospital last month undergoing
treatment for an aneurysm in his
leg, which caused an accelerated
heartbeat, before returning to jail.
The judge has refused him bail on
the grounds that he amounts to a
flight risk, owning homes in
Antigua and the US Virgin
Islands.
A senior lieutenant in Stanford's
business empire, former finance
chief James Davis, has pleaded
guilty and is helping prosecutors
build a case against the tycoon.
Adding to Stanford's predicament,
a Las Vegas casino, the Bellagio,
is suing him for $258,480 in
gambling debts.
• Cricket
• United States
• Twenty20
guardian.co.uk© Guardian
News & Media Limited 2009 |
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our Terms & Conditions| More
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Output video as ASCII art in
Alt-A Leads Latest
Round of RMBS
Downgrades
(Financial Sector and Stocks
Analysis from Seeking Alpha)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 12:15:47 PM
Standard & Poor’s has lowered
its ratings on 770 classes of
mortgage pass-through certificates
from 705 U.S. residential
mortgage-backed securities
(RMBS) transactions. We
downgraded 768 of these classes
to ‘D’ and downgraded the
remaining two to ‘CCC’. We
removed 20 of the lowered ratings
from CreditWatch with negative
implications.
In addition, we placed 183 other
ratings from 21 of the affected
transactions on CreditWatch with
negative implications. The ratings
on 158 additional classes from 19
of these transactions remain on
CreditWatch with negative
implications. Approximately
83.72% of the defaulted classes
were from Alternative-A (Alt-A)
or subprime transactions.
The 768 defaulted classes
consisted of the following:
• 386 classes from Alt-A
transactions (50.26% of all
defaults);
• 257 from subprime transactions
VLC on this lazy Friday
Spam o’ the morning to you!
Someone named Lily Allen has
quit the music business because
she was exposed as being a
Internet News Record
(33.46% of all defaults);
• 88 from prime jumbo
transactions;
• 12 from reperforming
transactions;
• Nine from outside-the-
guidelines transactions;
• Eight from closed-end second-
lien transactions;
• Four from document-deficient
transactions;
• Two from a first-lien high loan
-to-value (LTV) transaction;
• One from a risk-transfer
transaction; and
• One from an RMBS other
transaction.
We downgraded 768 of the 770
classes to ‘D’ to reflect our
assessment of principal write-
downs on the affected classes
during recent remittance periods.
The remaining two downgraded
classes reflect interest-only
classes that are tied to classes with
defaulted ratings.
hypocritical copyright violator
Internet News Record
Larry Swedroe: Commodities as Stock Insurance
(Financial Sector and Stocks
Analysis from Seeking Alpha)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 1:59:09 PM
By Lara Crigger
With all the talk of ETF
closures and increased regulation,
it's clear we live in the middle of a
proverbial Chinese punch line:
interesting times. Last week, guest
Rick Ferri urged investors to
approach commodities with great
caution. This week, we caught up
with Larry Swedroe to get a
competing opinion.
Mr. Swedroe is principal and
director of Research at BAM
Advisor Services, and a principal
and director of Research for the
Buckingham Family of Financial
Services. He's also a prolific
author, and one of the most
respected financial advisers in the
business today. His latest book,
The Only Guide To Alternative
Investments You'll Ever Need,
was published by Bloomberg last
November.
Crigger: During the Great
Commodities Debate, you brought
up the fact that commodities have
a negative correlation to stocks
and bonds, even during the times
of their worst performance. But in
the latter half of 2008, we saw all
assets - including commodities -
move together. Does this mean
that commodities' traditional
relationship to stocks and bonds
no longer holds?
Swedroe: Anyone who says that
simply doesn't know the
definition of negative correlation.
What it means is that when one
asset class has above-average
returns, the other asset class tends
to produce below-average returns,
and vice versa. If the negative
correlation were -1, then when
one has above-average returns,
the other always has below-
average returns. The closer to 1 it
is, the stronger the tendency; the
closer it is to 0, the weaker the
tendency.
People are told this story that
commodities always go up when
stocks are down, but they should
take the time to look at the
historical evidence. There's a table
in my book that shows that since
1970 there have been eight years
of negative stock returns. During
that time period, stocks returned
an average of -12.5%. Some years
were worse than others: In 1974,
they were down 26.5%, and in
1990, they lost 3.2%.
In 1981, when stocks were
down 4.9%, the GSCI was down
23%. Also, in 2001, when the
S&P was down 11.9%, the GSCI
was down 31.9%. Not only did
commodities do poorly like
stocks, they actually did worse
than stocks. So anybody who
makes the statement that people
were unaware of this simply didn't
take the time to look at the
history.
Crigger: So when you're
thinking correlation, you really do
have to look at more than just the
short-term picture.
Swedroe: Not only look at the
correlation, but you also have to
look at when they tend to turn
high and low. Commodities have
historically been negatively
correlated with stocks and
positively correlated with
inflation. Commodities tend to do
well when inflation is rising, even
when it's low, and they tend to do
poorly when inflation is falling,
even if it's still high. So if you go
from 12% inflation to 4%, you'll
see commodities do poorly; but if
you go from 0% inflation to 4%,
you'll see commodities do well.
This is a classic error: You do
not look at any asset class in
isolation, whether for risk or for
return. The only right way to look
at an asset class is how its
addition impacts the risk and
return of the entire portfolio.
That's what Markowitz won a
Nobel Prize for 50 years ago.
Commodities provide a hedge
or insurance against supply
shocks. If you had disruptions to
the supply - oil embargoes like we
had in the ‘70s, or if Iran blocks
the Strait of Hormuz, hurricanes,
wars - they can protect against
that.
Crigger: But they can't protect
against demand-side shocks.
Swedroe: Right. Do you own a
home?
Crigger: Yes.
Swedroe: Do you own
homeowner's insurance?
Crigger: Of course.
Swedroe: Okay, so imagine you
lived in New Orleans before
Hurricane Katrina, and you had
homeowner's insurance, but you
didn't have flood insurance.
Crigger: Oops.
Swedroe: So now you say,
"Boy, I was really stupid to buy
homeowner's insurance, because I
got hit by the flood." That's
nonsense, right? Same thing here.
You bought commodities to hedge
the risk of a supply shock, and
then a demand shock shows up,
and you say, "Gee, commodities
don't work." Well, adding
commodities to a portfolio gives
you some hedges, but not all
hedges. Does that mean that if
you bought homeowner's
insurance and you got hit by a
flood, you were dumb to own the
homeowner's insurance? You just
have to look at your objective,
and what role you were looking
for commodities to play.
So you have to look at an asset
not in isolation, but how its
addition impacts the overall
portfolio risk. In my book I show
that the S&P 500 returns through
2007 were 11.4%, with a 17%
standard deviation, while the S&P
GSCI returned a lousy 6.8%, with
a much higher standard deviation.
They have much lower returns,
with a much higher risk. If you're
making the argument on an
isolated basis, you'd ask, "What
moron would buy the GSCI?"
But if you added 5% of your
portfolio to the GSCI, you
actually get higher returns, with
about 6% less risk. And this is a
period where commodities had
lousy returns!
Crigger: How does that
relationship hold up in today's
numbers?
Swedroe: I just ran the data
from 1970 to 2008. Through
2008, the return was 9.5% with a
standard deviation of 18.2%. If
you added a 5% GSCI allocation,
the return becomes 9.7%, and the
standard deviation drops to
17.3%.
But let's assume you end up
with the same return, or maybe
even a little lower. If it reduces
the risk and your Sharpe ratio
improves, then you have a more
efficient portfolio. Some people
might even be willing to live with
lower returns to reduce their risk.
Crigger: When we had Rick
Ferri on last week, he said the
opposite; that you shouldn't add
an asset that has lower returns,
just because it lowers your risk.
Swedroe: If that were true,
there'd be no insurance industry in
the entire world. When you go
buy a homeowner's policy, or life
insurance, what's your expected
Economy/ 21
return?
Crigger: It's going to be
negative. You hope you never
have to take advantage of it.
Swedroe: Right. So why would
you buy insurance when it has a
0% real return? It's a question of
risk management.
The key is: You don't want to
take the commodity allocation
from the bond side, because if you
do, you'll increase the volatility of
the portfolio. You're defeating the
purpose of insurance. The purpose
of the fixed-income side is to
dampen the overall portfolio risk
to an acceptable level. So you
want to take it from the stock
sides.
Plus, when there are demand
shocks, both stocks and
commodities will do poorly. What
you want to own then, the asset
that performs the best in the times
of demand shocks, are long-term
bonds, specifically U.S.
Treasuries.
All three act together well,
because there is no period ever
when long-term government
bonds, commodities and stocks all
went down. If commodities and
stocks both do poorly, the long-
term bonds will soar. The three
work together well. That's why
you don't look in isolation.
Crigger: And you have to be
smart about rebalancing your
portfolio, right?
Swedroe: Right. You have to
rebalance, period. While
commodities themselves have no
positive expected real return,
commodities in a portfolio may or
may not have a positive expected
real return. Let's take an example.
You put $100 into two different
commodities: A and B, so we
LARRY page 26
22 Economy/
Tech.view: If Skype should fall
(The Economist: Daily
columns)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:26:59 AM
Tech.view
Sep 25th 2009
From Economist.com There are
now plenty of able-bodied
alternatives
SEVERAL years ago, your
correspondent found his telephone
bill was getting out of hand and
vowed to halve it. The obvious
answer was to sign up for a free
Skype account—and get the
benefit of computer-to-computer
phone calls around the world for
nothing plus calls to conventional
landline phones for little more
than two cents a minute.
At the time, he was paying his
landline carrier (Verizon) five
cents a minute for local calls, 11
cents for cross-country calls and
an average of 16 cents a minute
for international calls. Overseas
calls accounted for half his
monthly bill.
Before deciding to hang up his
landline, he looked at a number of
alternatives to Skype—including
Gizmo Project (now called
Gizmo5), SightSpeed,
GrandCentral, TalkPlus, iSkoot,
Mobivox, ooVoo, Jajah, Jangl and
others with even sillier names. At
the time, none came close to
challenging Skype in terms of
features, convenience and
popularity.
One special attraction for a
roving correspondent was Skype’s
videoconferencing facility, which
was simplicity itself to use. Also,
with almost 200m users (now
480m) signed up for the service,
there was a fair chance that many
colleagues and acquaintances
would already have Skype
accounts and be readily
accessible. The clincher was that
Skype also ran on dozens of
mobile phones, portable game
consoles and other internet
appliances. Today, that includes
Apple’s iPhone and iPod Touch.
That was not to say Skype was
without its problems. The lack of
adequate security had been a
concern since the day it was
launched in 2003. Enthusiasts are
quick to point out that Skype has
some of the best encryption
technology around for preventing
eavesdroppers from listening into
conversations. That is true. But
Skype’s ability to evade
wiretapping is of little concern for
most users. For business users
especially, the main concern is
that Skype provides an ideal
vehicle for delivering malware
into the inner sanctum of an
organisation, as well as for
sneaking corporate secrets out.
Remember, Skype was designed
by the same Estonian whizz-kids
who created the all but
unblockable KazAa file-sharing
network that rocked the music
industry a decade ago and
provided the same proprietary
“peer-to-peer” architecture
capable of tunnelling through
firewalls. With traffic forwarded
from one computer to another via
an inner circle of some 20,000
super-nodes, Skype has no central
servers directing the traffic flow,
logging the calls and preventing
viruses, Trojan horses and
spyware from piggybacking on
the flow of encrypted data. That
can be a serious concern for small
firms and home users who lack
the professional means to protect
themselves.
Another worry has been the way
anyone can join Skype’s network
without proof of identity. In fact,
users can set up numerous
accounts under different fictitious
names and go wholly
unchallenged. That makes it a
jungle where antisocial behaviour
is common.
Despite such reservations, your
correspondent has found Skype a
handy way of staying in touch
with friends and family, and
having business meetings. Over
the past few years it has saved
him literally thousands of dollars
in travel costs alone. He has had
countless video conferences using
his office PC or laptop while on
the road. He also carries a slick
little Belkin handset that can
make Skype calls over Wi-Fi
networks without the need for a
computer. With free Wi-Fi
hotspots in public places
throughout California, the Skype
phone gets more use than its
owner’s mobile.
But now, suddenly, storm
clouds are gathering over Skype.
In a flurry of lawsuits, the
investment group that recently
agreed to acquire 65% of Skype
from eBay for $1.9 billion is
being sued by the original
founders, Janus Friis and Niklas
Zennstrom, who sold the
company to eBay for $2.6 billion
in 2005.
Back then, eBay was granted a
licence to use the founders’
proprietary peer-to-peer
software—but not the right to
open it up for developers to tinker
with. Among other things, eBay
and Skype’s new would-be
owners are being sued for breach
of this licensing agreement,
copyright infringement and theft
of trade secrets. Meanwhile, their
licence to use the so-called Global
Index Software has been
terminated by Joltid, the
Stockholm firm the founders set
up to license their proprietary
software.
Whatever the motives behind
these messy legal wranglings, the
threat to Skype’s future is real
enough to cause concern among
those who use it. It was bad
enough two years ago when
Skype fell silent for 36 hours after
the mass downloading of a
Microsoft “Patch Tuesday”
release, which unexpectedly
brought the peer-to-peer network
to its knees. The scurry by
worried Skype users to get a
backup plan in place crippled a
number of other internet
telephony services as traffic to
them suddenly rocketed.
As a precaution, your
correspondent has been taking a
fresh look at some of the
alternatives he dismissed last time
round. He has opened accounts
with a couple of the more
desirable ones in case they are
overwhelmed by another sudden
rush to sign up if Skype goes
offline again. Most of the
alternatives are now far more
competitive than they were three
years ago. A few are every bit as
good as (or even better than) the
latest version of Skype, though
none has anything like the mass
appeal.
For Macintosh users, iChat is
everything you would expect of
Apple—slick, simple and with
stunning graphics. Its voice
quality is even better than
Skype’s. The video chat feature
lets you set up multi-person
conferences on the fly. And it is
less of a bandwidth hog than
Skype. All you need is an internet
connection and a video camera,
plus an account with one of the
more popular instant-messaging
Internet News Record
services, such as AIM, Google
Talk, Jabber or MobileMe—and,
of course, a Macintosh computer
running Mac OS X.
The choice for Windows users
is wider, though few of the
products are as polished as iChat.
SightSpeed comes close. It is
delightfully simple to set up and
use, and provides excellent 30
frames-a-second video with crisp
audio and little delay. You can
also send video e-mail and text
chat with its built in instant-
messaging service. And it works
on Macs as well as PCs.
One drawback: the SightSpeed
software (called Logitech Vid) is
free only to those using a video
camera made by Logitech;
otherwise, all you get is a 30-day
free trial. If you are planning to
buy a stand-alone video camera
for your computer, the SightSpeed
service is reason enough to chose
a Logitech device. Those with
laptops that have a video camera
already built in are better off
looking elsewhere.
If making “SkypeOut” calls to
landline and mobile phones—as
well as making free voice and
video calls from computer to
computer—is important to you,
then look no further than Gizmo5.
This is identical to Skype in most
respects save one: it uses open
standards for managing calls,
though its compression algorithms
and client software are as
proprietary as Skype’s. However,
by embracing the popular internet
-signalling standard called
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP),
Gizmo5’s free software can work
seamlessly with other SIP-based
networks, including the phone
companies’.
TECH.VIEW: page 23
Internet News Record Economy/ Entertainment/ 23
TECH.VIEW:
This week's top stories [25 September 2009] continued from page 22
Depending on the carrier and
(The Economist: News eastern Europe. Allies who took which is seeking to engage Iran) that the earliest Iran could the handset used, that can mean
analysis) the risk to back the project, and as well as Germany. Iran has develop long-range free—or, at least, much
Submitted at 9/25/2009 6:00:35 AM tried to convince their sceptical steadfastly refused to halt its missiles—which Mr Bush’s shield cheaper—calls to landline and
publics of its value, have been left nuclear-enrichment programme, was designed to defeat—is 2018 mobile phones, as well as free
The West and Russia exposed. The potential costs of which it says is to make fuel for rather than 2015 as previous voice and video calls between
Sep 18th 2009 Mr Obama’s move are apparent. civil reactors but which the West reckoned. Until then, the real computers. For many, that is
From Economist.com A slightly But what might he get in return? and others suspect is a cover to Iranian threat comes from enough to make Gizmo5 an even
warmer relationship between the For now, little that is concrete: the develop nuclear weapons. Russia hundreds of short- and medium- better deal than Skype. Should
West and Russia hope that the gesture would help and China have been most range missiles. Skype goes silent (or even if does
GEORGE BUSH'S planned improve relations with Russia and resistant to tightening economic So instead of having a large not), Gizmo5 could well pick up
missile-defence system in eastern unlock a host of foreign-policy sanctions against Tehran. radar in the Czech Republic and much of the running.
Europe was always contentious: i s s u e s , f r o m a r m s - c o n t r o l Sanctions will not be on the powerful interceptors in Poland, Back to top ^^ Readers'
would it provoke Russia into an agreements to enhanced sanctions agenda next month, but Western Mr Obama says he will comments
arms race, was the threat of against Iran and co-operation over diplomats will be looking for reconfigure the missile shield to The Economist welcomes your
Iranian missiles real and would Afghanistan. signs of a change in Russia’s establish smaller radars closer to views.
the proposed shield even work? President Dmitry Medvedev “mood music”, particularly Iran (perhaps in Turkey) and to
But President Barack Obama’s said there was no “primitive” whether it shares the same sense deploy smaller interceptor
decision to scrap it, arguably his bargain with America, but he of urgency about the need to stop missiles on board Aegis warships.
biggest break yet with the foreign dropped a tantalising hint: “The Iran’s nuclear work quickly. By 2015, more capable
policy of his predecessor, is fact that they are listening to us is “What I would expect is that interceptors would be deployed at
proving controversial too. an obvious signal that we should
Allies in eastern Europe and also attentively listen to our
Russia will join us in putting unspecified sites on land and by The First Series of the
maximum political and diplomatic 2018 these would be replaced by
Republican critics at home have partners, our American partners.” pressure on Iran to stop Iran’s even more capable ones that Fall Season is
been quick to cry treason and Yet Mr Medvedev’s may not be
appeasement. “Betrayal! The the voice that matters. Vladimir
nuclear aspirations,” declared
NATO’s Secretary-General,
would provide coverage for all of
Europe. Moreover, improvements
Cancelled
USA has sold us to the Russians Putin, the Russian prime minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen on in sensor technology and (ETonline - Breaking News)
and stabbed us in the back,” and still the real power of the Friday. He said that the world computer networks mean that the Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:10:00 PM
screamed one Polish tabloid, Fakt. land, suggested that he wants may be at a “nuclear tipping system would not need a large
Senator John McCain, who lost more concessions. “I do anticipate point”. Iran’s unchecked radar in central Europe. Instead The CW has the first casualty of
the presidential race to Mr Obama that this correct and brave enrichment work, along with the sensors would be mobile and the fall 2009 season.
l a s t y e a r , c a l l e d t h e m o v e decision will be followed by North Korea’s nuclear test this dispersed on land, at sea, on ET can confirm that The CW
“seriously misguided”. John others,” Mr Putin said, pointing in year, means that many other aircraft and in space. Their has canceled Ashton Kutcher's
B o l t o n , A m e r i c a ’ s t o u g h particular to the joint bid by countries could soon seek to information would be linked up "The Beautiful Life," which stars
ambassador to the UN under Mr Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan acquire nuclear weapons. by computer systems that could Mischa Barton, after only two
Bush, declared: “Russia and Iran t o j o i n t h e W o r l d T r a d e Still, the Obama administration guide the interceptors. This, said airings.
are the big winners. I just think O r g a n i s a t i o n . has been at pains to say there was Mr Obama, would offer “stronger, The show was a victim of ugly
it’s a bad day for American An early chance to gauge no bargain with Russia, and the smarter and swifter defences”. ratings: Only one-million viewers
national security.” Russia’s response will come on decision to abandon Mr Bush’s Back to top ^^ Readers' tuned in to the second -- and final
In the view of Mr Obama’s October 1st, at talks in New York missile-defence scheme was taken comments -- episode.
critics, America retreated in the between Iran and the permanent on its own merits. The Economist welcomes your
face of Russian bullying, and its members of the UN Security Firstly, an unspecified fresh views.
threats to aim nuclear missiles at Council (including America, intelligence assessment concludes
Teri Hatcher: Conan O'Brien Has a Concussion
(ETonline - Breaking News) episode of the "Tonight Show," O’Brien. “We did this bit and at the very was, I was in front of him so I
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:19:00 AM speaks out in an exclusive Teri tells Lara she recently end, when we ran in to cross the didn't see it initially.
interview with "The Insider"'s finished a triathalon, so she and finish line, he slipped as he was
Actress Teri Hatcher, who was a Lara Spencer about the stunt-gone Conan were taping a bit based on crossing the finish line and hit his
guest on Friday’s canceled -wrong that injured Conan that for "The Tonight Show." head,” Teri says. “And the thing
24 Economy/ Gadgets/ Entertainment/ Internet News Record

Iran's nuclear programme: Accusing Iran Sandra Bullock's

(The Economist: News president, said that if Iran did not this week on the margins of the weapons. A series of discoveries New 'Blind Side'
analysis)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 5:19:08 AM
halt enrichment by December
further sanctions should be
UN General Assembly. This may
help to explain Mr Medvedev’s
by inspectors suggests that Iran
has, at the least, been Look
imposed. “We cannot let the greater willingness to consider experimenting with components (ETonline - Breaking News)
Iran's nuclear programme Iranian leaders gain time while sanctions. “Russia's position is for nuclear warheads. A secret Submitted at 9/25/2009 6:00:00 PM
Sep 25th 2009 the motors [centrifuges] are simple,” he said on September annex to an IAEA report last
From Economist.com World running,” he declared. Gordon 24th, “Sanctions are seldom month said Iran had, for instance, Sandra Bullock gets blonde --
leaders say that Iran has built a Brown, the British prime minister, productive but they are sometimes developed a warhead with a and serious -- in 'The Blind Side,'
second, and secret, nuclear- accused Iran of “serial deception inevitable.” chamber that seemed designed to her new project based on a
enrichment plant over many years” and concluded Western diplomats hope that if carry a nuclear bomb. remarkable true story, and our
EVER since Iran’s nulear- that outsiders have “no choice Russia agrees to more punitive The underground plant at own Mark Steines is on the
enrichment plant at Natanz was today but to draw a line in the measures, China would not Natanz, filled mostly with early Atlanta, GA set, where 'The
publicly revealed by an Iranian sand.” Russia called for an oppose them alone. But for the models of IR-1 centrifuges and Proposal' star reveals she was
dissident group in 2002, experts immediate investigation by the moment Beijing is wary. China monitored by the IAEA, has nervous about delivering a
have wondered whether the International Atomic Energy imports much of its crude oil from already produced enough low- convincing Southern accent for
clerical regime had other facilities Agency (IAEA). Iran and recently signed a deal to enriched uranium which, if her role.
operating secretly, away from the Iran had tried to soften the blow sell back refined fuel. Its foreign diverted, could make several "I couldn't nail it those first
prying eyes of international of these accusations by pre- minister, Yang Jiechi, said the nuclear bombs. The plant in Qom, couple of days, and then
inspectors. empting the announcement with a issue of Iran's nuclear programme only modest in size, may have something just clicked after
On Friday September 25th, it letter to the IAEA admitting to the should be resolved through two possible functions. It could be awhile," she explains, adding
seems, Iran was caught out: existence of the plant. An IAEA “peaceful negotiations”. an alternative plant to be used in facetiously, "You hope it clicks
America, France and Britain said spokesman said it had been told Iran's hardline president, case Natanz were destroyed by before you're halfway through the
they had evidence that Iran had by Iran that “no nuclear material Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, under America or Israel. Or it could be film."
been building a secret enrichment has been introduced into the pressure at home over allegations used secretly with more In theaters November 20, 'The
site for years in a mountain near f a c i l i t y ” . B u t I r a n h a s that his re-election in June was sophisticated machines quickly to Blind Side' finds Sandra as a well-
to the holy city of Qom. “The size undoubtedly been placed on the rigged, has championed the turn Iran’s legal stockpile of low- to-do, conservative suburban
and configuration of this facility defensive ahead of its meeting in nuclear programme as evidence enriched uranium into high- woman who takes in a homeless
is inconsistent with a peaceful Geneva on October 1st with the that the Islamic republic had enriched uranium for weapons, African-American teen
[nuclear] programme,” said “ P 5 + 1 ” c o u n t r i e s – t h e f i v e joined the ranks of the world's for example if Iran were to (newcomer Quinton Aaron) from
President Barack Obama at a G20 permanent members of the UN most scientifically advanced withdraw from the Nuclear Non- a broken home to help him fulfill
summit in Pittsburgh. He added Security Council, plus Germany. nations. Proliferation Treaty. Either way, his potential. Faced with all-new
that America was still ready for Iran says it has no intention of He says Iran has no intention of the Iranian regime has a lot of challenges, the young man
dialogue, and that Iran had the discussing its nuclear programme; acquiring an atomic bomb; it is explaining to do. discovers a natural ability playing
right to nuclear energy for civilian the latest revelations ensure it will only making low-enriched Back to top ^^ Readers' football and becomes an All-
use, but that Iran had to come have no choice but to do so. uranium to fuel nuclear-power comments American offensive left tackle
clean immediately about its American officials say that Mr stations. But the fear is that the The Economist welcomes your with NFL prospects.
s u s p e c t e d n u c l e a r - w e a p o n s Obama shared intelligence about same centrifuges could be views.
programme. the plant with Russia’s President reconfigured to make high-
Nicolas Sarkozy, the French Dmitry Medvedev at a meeting enriched uranium for nuclear

Answer Measy's Questions, Learn Which Gadget Is Right For You [Shopping]
By Jason Chen (Gizmodo) Measy may make the process about picture quality and whether from Scrubs, when we are clearly
Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:00:00 PM easier by asking you questions. or not you can record video. more like Turk. [ Measy via Tech
All you have to do (eventually, It's a smart idea, and as long as Crunch]
Picking gadgets is hard enough when the site's launched) is fill in the questions are thorough and the
when you know about all the details like brand preference, your database of products is complete.
gadgets that are more or less in budget and Measy will throw a On the other hand, we've
the ballpark you're looking for, bunch of questions about the you'll get questions about viewing answered quizzes before, and they
but what if you're starting naked? product category at you. For TVs, angle, but for cameras, they'll ask told us we were more like Elliot
Internet News Record Economy/ Gadgets/ Entertainment/ 25
Report: Smoking Gun
Regulatory Reform: The Pessimism Panel in Travolta Extortion
(Financial Sector and Stocks financial sector. Financial-sector hardwiring the regulatory system Geithner and Paulson ended up Case Revealed?
Analysis from Seeking Alpha) salaries are taxed at a set and giving the regulator less working. The evidence for this is
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:14:11 PM percentage to fund the regulator’s leeway. that the stock market is up: people (ETonline - Breaking News)
salary, ensuring that the Stiglitz’s most contentious view have this idea that the stock Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:51:00 PM
I enjoyed the discussion last regulator’s salary keeps up with is probably the idea that the entire market represents the economy.
night about financial regulation financial-sector wage inflation. financial bailout was unnecessary: That’s a very dangerous People.com reports that one of
between Joe Stiglitz, Jesse He’s not a fan of the Fed, We’ve really extended the consensus forming, because the their magazine's reporters has
Eisinger, and Roberta Karmel. however, and had a good one- safety net beyond to big to fail, regulatory reforms do really seen a video tape that could be the
Stiglitz and Eisinger, especially, liner: and my view is that there’s been nothing to address too big to fail. smoking gun in the case of two
were on form. Stiglitz has an The Fed had more powers than no convincing argument that any If everybody’s thinking that these defendants accused of plotting to
interesting and rather international it used before the crisis. Saying of this was ever needed. It was gifts to Wall Street banks really extort $25 million from John
take, having chaired a panel with that we’re going to give them based on the notion of fear — that got us out of the crisis, then it’s Travolta following the death of
a typically long UN name: the even more powers not to use if you didn’t do it, the whole not really hopeful that they’ll his 16-year-old son, Jett.
Commission of Experts of the doesn’t seem to me to solve the financial set of markets would address this in any serious way. According to People, the tape
P r e s i d e n t o f t h e G e n e r a l problem. fail. Economics would have Jesse asked Joe whether he shows recorded conversations
Assembly on Reforms of the Eisinger, too, had his share of suggested that if you did a debt to thought there was more systemic (taped by Royal Bahamas Police)
International Monetary and one-liners: equity conversion, converting risk now than there was a year between Travolta's attorney and
Financial System. And Eisinger It’s a question of regulatory will long-term debt into equity, the ago. “Yes,” said Joe, “very much the two defendants, paramedic
seems to be getting increasingly to regulate. We had a problem not financial institution would be well so. Things are much worse now Tarino Lightbourn and his
curmudgeonly — a very good of deregulation but unregulation: capitalized, there would be no than they were a year ago. attorney, former Bahamian
thing too, in this world of ultra- we had somebody like Harvey reason to panic, and there would Structurally things are worse.” senator Pleasant Bridgewater.
short memory spans and massive Pitt, who had an attitude of being be more confidence in the market. If there was a problem with the People claims that the tape
releveraging. against regulation; we had Chris But those who saw an opportunity panel, it was that the lefty appears to show the defendants
Stiglitz is a fan of the Polish Cox who, as far as I can tell, had to use scare tactics to get what pessimism of Stiglitz and Eisinger trying to obtain $25 million in
framework. Poland, he says, has an attitude of pro sleep. All the they wanted did use those scare wasn’t really counterbalanced at exchange for a document, known
one overall regulator, which then structure in the world can’t really tactics, and it worked. all by anybody more constructive as the Do Not Transport form,
has separate commissions with remedy these problems. Eisinger largely agreed: about what had happened. But that Travolta reportedly signed
solid institutional knowledge for Stiglitz agreed. “The problem of There’s a crystallizing that’s fine by me: my feeling is when determining whether to
each of the areas, like insurance regulatory capture is persistent conventional wisdom, certainly that we need all the lefty have his son taken to a hospital or
and banking, which need to be and real,” he said, adding that one out of Washington, that it worked. pessimism we can get right now. an airport.
regulated. He also like the way way to address the problem is to It was ad hoc, it was messy, it was It’s our only hope at substantive
that the Poles index the salary of move to a rules-based rather than poorly planned, but in the end all regulatory reform.
the regulator to salaries in the a p r i n c i p l e s - b a s e d s y s t e m , this fumbling from Bernanke and

USB iriscope is just what you need for your next date
By Joshua Topolsky succulent USB iriscope. That's Filed under: Misc. Gadgets
(Engadget) right, now you can peer deeply, USB iriscope is just what you
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:28:00 PM digtally into the eyes of your... er, need for your next date originally
"clients" (their words, not ours) as appeared on Engadget on Sat, 26
When you simply have $120.69- you check their health and Sep 2009 12:28:00 EST. Please
too-much in your bank account, generally freak everyone out. see our terms for use of feeds.
you can thank Uxsight for being When you're done, you can Read| Permalink| Email this|
there. You may already be "compare the irises pictures when Comments
entertaining guests with your your client comes back to see you'll finally have a way to show "Natural image, attractive or
variety of USB endoscopes, but to their progress." Now, we don't them just what kind of mess charming." Who can argue with
really make the picture complete know exactly what kind of you've made. We think Uxsight that kind of logic?
(pun only slightly intended), procedure you're going to be says it best about their product: [Via Coolest Gadgets]
y o u ' r e g o i n g t o w a n t t h i s performing on said clients, but
26 Gadgets/
LARRY
continued from page 21
have a $200 portfolio. At the end
of year 1, portfolio A is at $150,
meaning commodity A went up
50%. Commodity B dropped
50%. So you still have your same
$200.
But we're not in balance. We
need to rebalance our portfolio.
Many of these commodities
futures investments, like the
indices, have rebalancing
mechanisms.
Commodities naturally have low
correlation to each other - there's
no reason to think, for example,
that wheat and zinc should be
highly correlated. Weather affects
wheat, but not zinc, and so on. So
if they have low correlation to
each other, this will dampen the
volatility if you rebalance. It's the
same reason why you add small
caps and value, etc. And we also
know they're highly volatile, so
you're going to get a deep
rebalancing bonus.
So let's sell $50 of A to buy $50
of B. We'll end up back with $100
in each to restore our equal
weighting. Now we have two
units of B, and 2/3 a unit of A.
Now let's say the reverse
happens, and B goes back up to
$100 and A drops to $100.
Portfolio A is now worth $67 and
portfolio B is now worth $200. So
I got $267, even though the
commodities themselves produce
an individual real return of zero.
The individual commodities have
no expected real return, but
Lenovo Ion-powered IdeaCenter Q110 nettop on sale now
By Nilay Patel (Engadget)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 8:36:00 AM
The slow wave of NVIDIA Ion-
based machines continues to wash
in -- as expected, the Lenovo
Q110 nettop is now on sale. We'd
clearly a portfolio that rebalances
multiple commodities has a lower
volatility than each of the
individual parts, and even though
the individual components' return
was zero, the portfolio had a high
return.
We took an extreme example.
Erb and Harvey found that you
could get a diversification return
of several percent. This is the
same benefit you get from the
earlier example of adding 5% to
the GSCI; even though it had a
lower return, it dampened the
swing of the whole portfolio. It
narrowed the gap between the
average return and the annualized
return, and so you pick that
diversification return up.
Crigger: Which do you think is
the better way to capture this
effect: commodities futures or the
equities of commodities
producers?
Swedroe: The problem with
commodities equities is that you
have beta exposure. Look at the
historical returns, and you find
that the equities of commodities
producers are more correlated to
equities than they are to
commodities prices. You're better
off in the futures. Futures have the
negative correlation, not positive
correlation. In my book I show
that the correlation between
commodities futures and equities
is 0.4, while the correlation of the
commodities companies to the
S&P 500 is 0.7. It's higher to
actually wait another couple
weeks to score this rig with
Windows 7 preloaded, but if
you're into Vista you can grab it
right now for $399 with 2GB of
RAM and a 160GB drive and take
a free upgrade disc when it's
Internet News Record
equities than it is to the
commodities themselves.
Crigger: What about the fact
that we've seen commodity stock
ETFs outperform futures ETFs in
the past year or so?
Swedroe: I don't look at any one
year; you want to look at the long-
term evidence. And the long-term
evidence is simple. You buy
commodity futures for one reason:
to protect against supply shocks
and event risks that can negatively
influence your portfolio in both
stocks and bonds. You have to
decide which one is the better
insurer, and it's the one with the
lower correlation.
Crigger: We've seen a lot of
discussion about adding position
limits to commodity ETFs.
Should this occur, will putting
position limits on commodity Pre drops to $79.99 at Walmart
ETFs limit their usefulness as By Joshua Topolsky zip, zilch) sooner rather than later.
insurance for investors? (Engadget) If you've been looking for a deal
Swedroe: Any effort to do that Submitted at 9/26/2009 1:09:00 PM to get into the Pre, this is it... but
in my opinion is purely politically too bad if you dropped $200 a few
driven. It actually may even make Hey, thought that $99.99 months ago.
things worse, so that we have Amazon deal for a Palm Pre was [Via everythingpre]
more volatility. What it would do really snazzy? Well today, Filed under: Cellphones
is limit the ability for people to Walmart appears to go one better Pre drops to $79.99 at Walmart
access them, creating an excess by cutting the smartphone's price originally appeared on Engadget
demand. That would drive up the down to a staggering $79.99 (on on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:09:00
value of the contracts people have contract and with mail-in rebate). EST. Please see our terms for use
already bought, and people end up If prices keep going this low, you of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email
having to pay more for the can probably expect the Pixi to this| Comments
insurance. show up for about nothing (zero,
[Via Netbooked] of feeds. Read| Permalink| Email
Filed under: Desktops this| Comments
Lenovo Ion-powered IdeaCenter
Q110 nettop on sale now
originally appeared on Engadget
available. Anyone gonna throw on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 08:36:00
down? EST. Please see our terms for use
Internet News Record Economy/ Tech/ Media 27

G20: Was the Summit Actually

Dangerous? DRM Doesn't Enable
(Financial Sector and Stocks before it failed and the US the financial sector, when that
Analysis from Seeking Alpha) banking system used to carry means doing whatever finance
Submitted at 9/26/2009 7:25:38 AM much more capital – back in the
days when it really was bailout
wants and keeping capital
standards low.
Business Models; Blind Fear
By Simon Johnson free (think 20-30% in modern
It is easy to dismiss the G20 equivalent terms (see slide 40
As we discovered over the past
12 months, undercapitalized Disables Business Models
c o m m u n i q u e a n d a l l t h e here). finance is not a good thing – it is By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) People already have access to
associated spin as empty waffle. Obviously, raising capital profoundly dangerous and Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:32:00 PM pretty much every song ever
Ask people in a month what was standards in the US is going to be expensive. Other countries should recorded with no DRM at all.
accomplished in Pittsburgh and a long and drawn out fight. The be encouraged to raise capital A bunch of folks have asked if I Claiming that they need DRM to
you’ll get the same blank stare G20 could help, if it set high standards also, but if they can’t or had any comment on analyst enable such a service makes no
that follows when you now ask: international expectations, but the won’t, then their financial Michael Gartenberg post over at sense. It's already there -- just not
What was achieved at the G8 opposite is more likely. As institutions will (a) not be allowed Engadget claiming that DRM has legally. So what does the DRM
summit in Italy this year? Nocera suggests this morning, the to operate in the United States, been demonized too far, and for stop in such a service? Absolutely
Perhaps just having emerging inclination of the Europeans – and (b) be allowed to interact in all the "bad" things about DRM, nothing. If the fear is that
markets at the table will bring the largely because of their funky any way with a US bank only to most people really don't mind it, someone takes a song and shares
world closer to stability and more “hybrid” capital, but also because the degree that the US entity and we should be happy that it it online... too late. It's already
inclined towards inclusive growth, they have some very weak banks carries an extra (big) cushion of "enables new business models." happened. The only thing that
but that seems unlikely. Should – will be to drag their feet. capital in those transactions. Any I've discussed this before, but not DRM does in that situation is put
we just move on – back to our Why should we care? This US entity found circumventing in a while, so it seems worth up a restriction on a legitimate,
r e s p e c t i v e d o m e s t i c p o l i c y administration seems to think that these rules will be punished and revisiting. paying customer. That makes no
struggles? we need to bring others with us, if its executives subject to criminal First, it's a lie that DRM economic sense at all.
That’s tempting, but consider we are to strengthen capital penalties. "enables new business models." And that's my real problem with
for a moment the key way in requirements. Our progress will Of course, this process needs to Gartenberg doesn't realize it, but DRM. It cannot enable a new
which the G20 summit has be slowed by this thinking, the be WTO-compliant and the G20 he admits it in his post, when he business model economically.
worsened our predicament. glacial nature of international is as good a place as any to suggests that DRM made all-you- That's because it's only purpose is
There is broad agreement that economic diplomacy, and the self- manage the high politics of that. can-eat subscription models to limit behavior. There are no
capital requirements need to be interest of the Europeans. But stop worrying about what possible, while immediately business models that are based
increased and a growing Instead, the US should use its other countries might or might not countering that point by admitting solely on limiting behavior. It
consensus that very large banks in power as the leading potential do. Establish high capital the real factors are elsewhere: may be the case that some
particular should be required to place for productive investments requirements in the US, and make Take subscription services for companies may be too afraid to
hold bigger equity cushions. This to make this point: If you want to this a beacon for safe and example. Sure, I'd love a service implement a business model
is a pressing national priority – if play in the US market, you need a productive finance. that would allow me to download without this faux "protection," but
our financial system is to become lot of capital. If you would rather And prepare for the crises that unlimited content in high bitrate that's entirely different than
safer – and reasonable people are move your reckless high risk will sweep undercapitalized parts MP3 format for a reasonable fee saying DRM enables the business
starting to put numbers on the activities overseas, that is fine. of the world financial system in every month. Except economics model. DRM takes an economic
table, ever so quietly: Joe Nocera It’s time to get past the thinking the years to come. and greed will never let that resource and artificially restricts
is hearing 8%, but Lehman had that our economic prosperity is happen. Notice what he says here. it. It takes away options, it does
11.6% tier one capital on the day tied to the “competitiveness” of The DRM isn't what enabled the not enable them. DRM hasn't
MediaDailyNews: Iger's Screen Test: Disney Film Goes Digital business model. It's fear of how been "demonized." It's a pointless
people will use such a service that solution that prevents no
(MediaPost | Media News) retrieve full-text content] Walt and changes aimed at reinventing does. It's fear that people will unauthorized sharing and only
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:01:18 PM Disney CEO Bob Iger is likely to the film business for the digital actually use what's been given to serves to hinder the activities of
couple the appointment of a new age. them -- leading to the claim of legitimate customers.
[ fivefilters.org: unable to studio chief with new initiatives "economics and greed" stopping Permalink| Comments| Email
such a service from ever coming This Story
about. But, that makes no sense.
28 Gadgets/
Seagate FreeAgent Theater+ Review: An HD Video Decoder
That Actually Works [Review]
By Wilson Rothman (Gizmodo)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:30:00 PM
Seagate built this second-gen
FreeAgent Theater+ to be equally
Mac and PC friendly, and to
decode any video file you throw
at it, regardless of resolution,
framerate or other variable.
Despite a crappy interface, the
mission is a genuine success. The
Price
$150 without drive; $290 with
500GB drive included.
The Praise
As I mentioned, the video
decoding on this is better than
anything I've ever seen in a $150
box. The Theater+ is very
comfortable with HD video, not
only because of its HDMI output
but because when I dumped some
QuickTime 1080p movie trailers
on a drive and docked it, the
trailers played back without a
single hiccup. Ditto for high-def
MKVs I downloaded from the
DivX 7 showcase. If you encoded
a video with subtitles or variable
audio tracks, the choice appears
up when you hit the menu button
during playback. And disc images
of DVDs? It's like there's a real
live DVD in there, only there
isn't!
Some more coolness: It
remembers where you are in a
movie, so you don't have to worry
about stopping then coming back
and having to find your place,
even when you're viewing a DVD
image. And since it's connected, it
can hop on your NAS drives to
pick up movies and other files.
Again, no problems playing back.
(Note: I didn't try the wireless
option, which will sell separately
Internet News Record
or any of the crap others seem to
freak out about. I don't need help
with music or photos—it's strictly
about movies and longer-form
TV. Because of that, I am a fan of
this little box. Once it starts
shipping, I encourage you to
check it out. Just heed the
following rules:
• Don't buy the 500GB drive
bundle for $290—Amazon sells
the 500GB FreeAgent Go right
now for $106, so there's no way
the bundle makes sense (as
currently priced).
• And don't accidentally go
buying the old FreeAgent Theater.
It's my understanding that the first
go 'round wasn't so pretty. From
the looks of this massive
overhaul, Seagate probably should
have done more than just add a
plus sign. [ Product page; Amazon
for $70 later on—I used Ethernet ability to read any of those files (NTFS, HFS+ or FAT are all fine, sales page] In Brief
through a Linksys powerline too. Movies are good because you format wise) into a USB port, and Decoded every video I selected,
adapter). don't need a lot of browsing—I n a v i g a t e t o i t t h r o u g h t h e with two extremely negotiable
The chart of accepted video j u s t s w i t c h e d i t f r o m t h e " d e v i c e s " l i s t . exceptions
codecs is long, but unlike most ridiculously blocky "thumbnail" As I mentioned, this is a Compatible with Mac and PC
players of this price range, there view to a standard list view, and networked device, but the internet formatted drives, and has no
are very few fine-print exceptions. s k i m m e d m y m o v i e s i n options are as of now pretty lame: issues with folder hierarchies
What can't you play? Very very alphabetical order. The good news A non-personalized Flickr feed, a HD, HD and more HD—720p
low-rez (viral) WMVs got the ix- is, you can change filenames to Picasa widget, a stock ticker and a and 1080p look good and play
nay—higher rez WMVs play just make it look a little prettier: weather program, all of which are back smoothly
fine. What else? DVD disc images dont_tempt_me.m4v becomes bargain basement plug-ins. Call No problem locating NAS
in the .img format don't show up, Don't Tempt Me.m4v. me when Netflix and Pandora drives on the network, and no
but switching a .img to the I also wouldn't bother with arrive. The Verdict hiccups in playing back DVD disc
supported .iso is surprisingly easy. Seagate's media manager software What do I personally want? A images over the network
That's it. It didn't brick any other for "syncing" content to the hard basic video player that can read Internet widgets at present are
assorted video in my library, out drive. Maybe run it once for it to the 150 to 200 DVDs I ripped in dumb, but a future firmware
of hundreds of files. set up a folder structure on your H.264 to save space, plus all of update could bring something nice
The Scorn drive, then copy video files over the crap that Apple TV and the The user interface is pretty
I won't lie, the interface on this to it to your heart's content. You lesser media adapters seem to ugly—your best bet is to clump
baby is pretty heinous. It's media d o n ' t e v e n h a v e t o u s e a have a problem with. Video your videos together into easy
manager circa 2002, which means FreeAgent Go drive, though it should be either local or on a folders (Movies, TV, etc.) and to
that I would expressly stay away looks nice, nestled in there. You NAS, and I shouldn't have to avoid using this to manage photos
from photos and music, despite its can plug just about any drive worry about codecs or resolutions
SEAGATE page 30
Internet News Record
The coming tablet wars
By John Biggs (CrunchGear)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:00:43 AM
I’m going to try writing longer
form stuff for the weekends, sort
of to stretch the old mental legs a
bit and share a bit of the stuff that
is floating through my transom,
man, about tech and especially
mobile and portable electronics.
Come back with me to 2001. A
young man got up on stage one
afternoon in November to
announce something new and
amazing: an operating system
dedicated to tablet computing.
That young man was Microsoft’s
Bill Gates and that operating
system was Windows XP Tablet
PC edition.
Chances are that is the first and
last time you saw a working tablet
computer. Laptops, then, were
monsters. They were heavy – 10
pounds or more – had small, bad
batteries, and WiFi was just a
dream for most people. It seemed,
in those dark years, that laptop
manufacturers could shave off
pounds and complexity by
removing the keyboard and offer
a pen-based OS. After all, this
was a post-PalmOS era when
handwriting recognition was an
input option we all knew and
understood.
The thinking was this: if you
can streamline applications – data
entry applications being the target
here – you could sell smaller,
more expensive computers to
medical and business clients. It
didn’t work and Windows Tablet
PC has been little more than a
clever solution to a nonexistent
problem.
So what’s with all the tablet talk
lately?
We have entered an era of the
thin and light computer and,
rather than worrying about power
we’ve become obsessed with the
concept of thinness. This is why
Apple, in their wisdom, created
the MacBook Air and the iPod
Touch. This is the same reason we
are all salivating over the thought
of tablets thinner than an issue of
BusinessWeek and this is why
laptop manufacturers – and
Michael Arrington– are rushing to
make them.
The Apple Tablet(or iPad or
Tapplet) is real. It will have a
capacitive touch screen and
manufacturing difficulties are
slowing down the tablet’s release
to a crawl, thereby preventing us
all from having one. It will be thin
and, like the abhorrent HP
DreamScreen, will focus on
media. The extant tablet verticals
– mostly in the medical industry –
will still exist.
Note this new focus. Rather
than trying to create a business
machine, manufacturers
understand people want bigger
screens on which to consume web
and media content.
So what can we expect in the
next year? Well, first we have the
CrunchPad. When all the bugs are
worked out, it will be an amazing
device – I’ve seen it. And I’m not
just saying that because I’ve been
intimately involved in the design
process, because I wasn’t – that
Gadgets/ 29
Courier. It’s impressive, but it’s
Microsoft; don’t expect that thing
to take shape for two years and
don’t expect it to take off until the
second generation. Like the Zune,
Microsoft will make a product but
they won’t make it good until they
have a little time to mull it over. I
don’t think the Courier will be a
player in 2010.
As for the rest of the devices,
expect slow uptake by price
conscious consumers and folks
who don’t think it’s “cool” to own
“name brand” technology and are
real “hackers” (read: teenagers
and European students). Archos,
for example, is doing a lot of good
work in the tablet space but
they’re an also-ran. They are
going the Tablet OS route, which
is no good. Creative has some
devices planned and it’s also clear
that ChromeOS could power a
nice device – provided HTC
makes it.
As for connectivity most of
these will have a 3G option –
although I doubt the iPad will
have 3G built-in. WiFi is an
obvious second-best.
gives me a bit of perspective. As for size, tablets, at least with
Expect the CrunchPad to be a capacitive screens, are weighed
excellent device for blogging – down by a huge hunk of metal
that’s what Mike made it for – that shields the electronics from
and for web apps. Don’t expect the screen. This hunk of metal –
much in the way of media. and the glass – prevents us from
Then there’s the iPad. This will getting a bigger iPod Touch and is
eclipse the industry and for the what is keeping the iPad from
rest of the year that’s all you’ll coming out sooner. Once the
hear about. Trust me. Apple could world’s (i.e. China’s) scientists
require you to give this device solve this problem we’ll get what
three drops of blood every we want. Until then it’s resistive
morning in order to satisfy the all the way.
demonic hell-beast soul trapped So prepare yourselves for the
inside it and we would, gladly. coming tablet wars and sock away
The release will be on par with a little cash because things are
the iPhone release and they’ll sell going to get interesting in 2010.
a million of them.
Then you have Microsoft’s
30 Gadgets/ Tech/
Remainders - Things We Didn't Post
[Remainders]
By Wilson Rothman (Gizmodo)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 8:00:00 PM
A-Holes Make $4,000 Per Day
on Viagra Spam...Fungus-Treated
Violin Sounds Better Than
Stradivarius...Chinese iPhone
Pricing: The Opposite of
AT&T...Heating and Air
Conditioning via Window Panes?
I learned a scary thing today:
Pharmaceutical spam can generate
over $4,000 per day, says Ars,
calculated by the commission the
referring spammers get from sales
at online pharmacies. In fact, 12%
of people who click on spam
emails do it because they're
actually interested in the deal.
With odds like that, no wonder
there are Russian companies
dedicated to this fine art. Thanks a
lot, spam-eaters. It's like you're
Private Pyle, sitting there sucking
your thumb while the rest of us do
pushups. [ Ars Technica]
The attempt to replicate the
dulcet vibrations of Stradivarius
violins has driven many luthiers
to madness. What's going to send
the rest of them to the looney bin?
The fact that fungus is the only
way to beat a Strad. Yes, by
applying a "soft rot," scientists
can reduce the density and
recreate the lightness of wood
harvested and used during the
mini-ice age that was Antonio
Stradivarius' hey day. The theory
bore out at a recent German
forestry competition, when a
violin by Swiss maker Michael
Rhonheimer—the fungus-treated
Opus 58—beat a Stradivarius by a
sizable margin in a very serious
Internet News Record
SEAGATE
continued from page 28
and music
FreeAgent Theater Media
Manager is an insult to anyone
who actually knows what this
product can do for them
Sucks Site Lawsuits
Move To Include
Facebook As Well
By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) school sued for both the use of the
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:19:05 PM logo (trademark infringement)
and on claims that many of the
We've covered how it's a dumb posts to the group were
idea for companies to sue so- defamatory.
called "sucks sites," (sites that The trademark claim hopefully
complain about a company). First, gets tossed aside quickly. No
plaintiffs in such lawsuits almost one's going to confuse the group
never win. The trademark claims for being a part of the school, and
listening test. [ ScienceDaily In home improvement, windows almost always fail. No one is it's difficult to see how they'll
PopSci] are known as an insulation weak confusing the sucks site with the make a claim that the use was "in
In China, the iPhone pricing point: They leak AC in the company they complain about. commerce." The defamation
model is basically the opposite of summer, and they leak heat in the Second, just bringing such a claim really depends on what was
the US: They pay a lot for the winter. Generally, windows are lawsuit tends to call significantly said... but if it was said by other
phone up front, and then a made up of two panes with a more attention to the complaints students, then it's difficult to see
pittance each month for service. vacuum between them, no air or against the company (the ever how the student who started the
The cheapest phone sold by China maybe some kind of inert gas. popular "Streisand Effect"). And group can be held liable for them.
Unicom, the 8GB 3G, will cost VentroVentilato ("ventilated yet... they still keep on coming. Besides, some courts at least have
around $300 (as opposed to $100 window"?) of Italy proposes to fill The latest one has a bit of a twist, noted that online forums are the
in the US). But the monthly rate the gaps with air, expelling it though. Rather than suing the equivalent of a bunch of friends
can be as little as $18 or $19. outward when it heats up too o w n e r o f a w e b s i t e , t h e talking over drinks, and the
Fortune's Phil Elmer-Dewitt much in the summer, and pulling organization is suing the guy who speech should naturally be taken
calculates the total cost over two it into the home the sun warms it set up a complaint group on less seriously. One hopes that the
years as $746 for China Unicom in the winter. Not a bad idea, but F a c e b o o k . O t h e r t h a n t h a t , judge in this case recognizes the
customers, $1,779 for AT&T the scale seems off—we'll believe though, the scenarios are basically nature of basic online
c u s t o m e r s . B e f o r e y o u g o it when we see (feel?) it. [ the same. In this case, a beauty conversations as well.
applying for a Chinese visa, I'm Core77] school student set up a Facebook Permalink| Comments| Email
willing to bet there's probably group to complain about things This Story
some sort of cost-of-living happening at the school, and the
multiplier to apply to this
equation. Better call The
Economist. [ Fortune]
Internet News Record Gadgets/ Tech/ 31

Twitter confirms
new round of
funding
By Caroline McCarthy
(Webware.com)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 9:50:00 AM

Yes, Twitter's megacash infusion

is real. CEO Evan Williams
confirmed on the company blog
Friday that Twitter has raised a
new round of investment from
Insight Venture Partners, T. Rowe
Price, and existing investors
Institutional Venture Partners,
Spark Capital, and Benchmark
Capital.
Williams says it's "a significant
round." He didn't say just how
close it was to the roughly $100
million that The Wall Street
Journal reported Thursday. Nor
did he say whether this values
Twitter at $1 billion.
"It was important to us that we
Public Service Announcement: The Zune HD is find investment partners who
share our vision for building a
company of enduring value,"
nigh unreadable in direct sunlight. Just sayin’. Williams wrote in the blog post.
"Twitter's journey has just begun,
and we are committed to building
By Nicholas Deleon ahead of the iPod’s, and, with a bought the Zune HD to listen to read the screen in direct sunlight
(CrunchGear) little forethought, can be used music, and not watch video or isn’t huge deal for me, but I know the best product, technology, and
rather effectively with a dual- look at photos. I’m also not too it’ll strike a chord with some of company possible. I'm proud of
Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:00:09 AM
booting Mac. There’s just one often shuffling around the device you. the team we've built so far, and
Sometime in the past two weeks small thing: you absolutely cannot trying to find a new song to play, Of course, indoors, this isn’t a I'm confident in the future we'll
I decided, with some thought read the display in direct sunlight. since it’s either always playing a problem at all (rubbish camera build together."
being put into is, to buy a Zune Don’t try to because you can’t. long playlist, or an album, or a alert!): Before the end of the year,
HD. Why, I don’t know; I thought Photos probably can’t do this podcast. Even given all of that, I’d still Twitter is expected to start rolling
i t l o o k e d n e a t , a n d I w a s justice, but I can assure you that Now, why is that? Is it because prefer a Zune HD to a boring ol’ out paid corporate accounts to
thoroughly unimpressed with the the Zune HD is fully turned out Microsoft went with an OLED iPod. businesses that use the service for
new iPods Apple showed off at right here, showing a really screen, versus the iPhone’s plain That is all. marketing, promotion, and
that Rock and Roll event. For the colorful photo from the built-in ol’ backlit LCD? Maybe, customer service.
most part the Zune HD is, indeed, photo library. This isn’t really a probably. I’m not a scientist. Originally posted at The Social
neat. Its user interface is miles problem for me, since, again, I But in essence, not being able to
32 Tech/ Internet News Record

Tools for businesses to bill, collect what's owed

By Don Reisinger
(Webware.com)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 11:54:38 AM

If you're running a small

business, you're probably looking
for tools that will make it easier
for you to bill invoices, track
payments, and collect your
accounts receivable.
You can always use offline
standbys like Peachtree or Intuit
QuickBooks, but you might be
happy to know that there are some
nice online tools that perform
basic functions. Let's take a look.
Get some cash flow
Blinksale Unlike some of the
better services in this roundup,
Blinksale doesn't provide a free
option for those with small
companies who don't need all the
bells and whistles. That's
unfortunate, but the service is still
worth checking out.
Perhaps Blinksale's best feature
is its design. The service makes
moving around the different
modules quick and easy. It creates
an intuitive environment in which
to work. And when you get to
work, you should be happy with
what you find. The site features
invoice creation tools, invoice
tracking, the ability to follow up
with clients from within the app,
and more. It's a full-featured
product that should appeal to the
small-business owner who wants invoices you send. Its cheapest services in this roundup. Instead on the number of sign-ups or $2,499 per month for an unlimited
to do a little more than send plan allows you to send six of simply allowing you to create cancellations your company is number of customers. One word
invoices. invoices per month. invoices and track them until experienced. of caution: Chargify is ideally
Although there aren't any free Blinksale lets you quickly edit payment, Chargify lets you input Unlike so many of the services suited for online businesses.
options, Blinksale is one of the your invoices.(Credit: Blinksale) all the products or services your in this roundup, Chargify won't Chargify helps you chart your
more affordable services in this Chargify Chargify is a recurring company sells, then dynamically cost you any money, if you're not success.(Credit: Chargify)
roundup. Prices range from $6 per billing system that should help change prices as you offer free generating revenue. The service is FastDue.com FastDue is a
month up to $24 per month. you manage your invoices and trial periods, promotions, or even free up to your first 50 unique service in this roundup.
There's just one catch: some collections without much trouble. refunds. The service can also be customers. Beyond that, you'll Instead of requiring you to go
services charge based on the Chargify does things a little integrated into a retail site, pay anywhere between $49 per
number of clients, but Blinksale differently than many of the providing you with information month for 500 customers, up to
charges based on the number of TOOLS page 34
Internet News Record Tech/ 33

Reporters' Roundtable #3: Mint CEO Aaron Patzer

By Rafe Needleman reporter for CNET News You've receive a backlash from banking, via BANKS. Yodlee
(Webware.com) Special Guest Aaron Patzer, customers. Here's a sample e-mail running 85% of xacts. What do ***************************
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:55:00 PM CEO Mint i received: you think? *****
INTRO "Why did you sell out to a Security BONUS CONTENT:
This week, I'm joined by CNET Hello and welcome to episode company with absolutely terrible Let's talk about security, the real Q: What do you think about the
security expert Elinor Mills in a #3 of the Reporters Roundtable, money management software and sticking point in this category. concept of sunsetting users on
discussion with Mint CEO Aaron CNET's weekly deep dive into a complete disregard for customer Elinor discussion... Quicken?
Patzer, whose personal finance one major topic a week. I'm Rafe service? Do you understand how Storage of personal data, A: Too early to know and we
site is being acquired by Inuit. We Needleman from CNET, and upset you've made your core user passwords, etc. where and how haven't closed the deal. Might go
grill Patzer on why he sold the today we're going to be talking base?" - Jeff B. protected? to a subscription model. It's
company, the future of Quicken, with AARON PATZER, CEO of What do you think? What are Audit notice to customers of speculation so far.
a n d t h e s e c u r i t y o f o n l i n e the personal finance Web site you doing about it? who, when account was accessed? Features people are asking for,
financial data. Mint. Aaron, hello. What will your job be at Mint? Security assessments? via emails:
Listen now: Download today's Mint was sold recently to Intuit Re Intuit changeover: Privacy Q: Is there thought in
podcast for $170 million. We'll be talking Don Reisinger - Webware Reader comment integrating bill pay or some type
Subscribe with iTunes (audio) about the acquisition, and also writer - says, Mint uses Yodlee I heard about mint and signed of payment system in Mint so it
Subscribe with iTunes (video) about the personal finance market, for its back-end aggregation of up about 1 week before it hit big could be more of that one stop
Subscribe with RSS (audio) online security, and I have some banking information. It licensed news, about a month ago. I looked shop? - Carl Feldhaus
Subscribe with RSS (video) questions listeners have sent in. the tech from the company. Under online and watched a bunch of A: Yes, we'll do this with Intuit,
I really enjoyed recording this Joining me to talk with Aaron is the terms of the Intuit deal, videos of the CEO, because i although it might require a fee
podcast. We had the start-up CEO Elinor Mills, security reporter for Yodlee isn't included. I spoke wasn't going to give my pin from users for those whose banks
of the moment in to talk about CNET News. Elinor, thanks for with an Intuit PR person numbers to just anyone. If it had don't do it themselves.
why he sold his personal finance joining us at the roundtable. yesterday who told me that after been some guy in a suit saying Q: Would love for you to ask
company, Mint, to Intuit -- the TALKING POINTS the acquisition is approved, Intuit "blah blah encryption blah blah Aaron for an eta on when a
company he built Mint to compete The sale will be using its own aggregation %100 safe blah blah" I would blackberry app will be
with in the first place. You started Mint when? (Intro'd service and ditching Yodlee. My have laughed and left. But he introduced? I'd use the 10x more
Also, Elinor grills Patzer on the 2 yr ago at TC 50, won 50k prize, question: how will this impact the seemed really nice and really if we had ANYTHING. - Mike
security safeguards in his system. best of show. ) service? Will it be as reliable? My straight forward, and I like to Weiss
Patzer tells us getting access to After the award, I remember inclination is that the aggregation think that I am a good judge of A: Not planned. Android is. It's
Mint data is like initiating self- talking to you at, if I'm not service isn't as good (after all, character. So I signed up, and was easier to develop for. Not saying
d e s t r u c t o n t h e S t a r s h i p mistaken a party at the old SF that's a key component in making super excited, I even been telling never, but 40% of Mint users have
Enterprise: You need three people Mint, and you said, it's nice Mint Mint), so it could have an people about it and encouraging iphones, so that's priority.
to give their individual passwords recognition, but we didn't really impact on the service after it them to Check it out. I requested Q: Can we find a way to add a
at the same time or no go. Play need the money. So what did you becomes an Intuit feature. my bank be added and now here I print function so I can print out
the podcast for the full content, do with it? I talked to Yodlee and an SVP am. some of the charts created with
and for our show notes, including Then sold to Intuit for $170M. said, "We think Mint will stick w Now my question: I live in a Mint? - Michael G
some bonus content from a post- So first thing: Congrats. Yodlee. They'll come to the same small town of 100k, have a local A: We're working on print.css.
show discussion, keep reading. Talk about the vision - why you conclusion." bank w only thousands of Right now printing is ugly. No
started Mint. What you expected Reader question: Are the current customers , I'm willing to wait for timeframe yet, but we will do it.
*************************** to happen with the company. terms of service for Mint.com approval, but realistically, is that Originally posted at Reporters'
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * When you sold, how much of the different from Intuit? going to happen? Roundtable
Reporters Roundtable # 3: Mint company was left in the hands of Personal finance market If my bank never reaches that
Host Rafe Needleman founders? Yodlee execs think consumers threshold, can I just pay to have it
Producer Lynn Fu Why'd you sell? You had Intuit will do most of their online setup?
Guest Elinor Mills, security on the ropes! banking, even integrated online - Jonathan Hand
34 Tech/ Entertainment/
TOOLS
continued from page 32
through the lengthy process of
registering for the site and
inputting your information,
FastDue lets you create invoices
under its "free forms" option.
When you do so, you'll be
brought to its invoice creation
page, where you can input your
company's information, as well as
client data. From there, simply
pick a date and a quantity, choose
a description, and decide how
much you want to charge. The site
also lets you pick payment terms.
You can even modify your
invoices with your desired
payment type. The process is
quick and easy. I really liked it.
Although the site's invoice
creation tool is great, as is, you
can also upgrade to FastDue Plus
to manage recurring billing, create
invoice templates, and draft
agreements. I should note that the
site also makes important
documents such as nondisclosure
agreements, promissory notes,
and consulting agreements freely
available.
FastDue lets you create invoices
on the site without signing
up.(Credit: Screenshot by Don
Reisinger/CNET)
FreeAgent FreeAgent provides
several nice features that make it
more capable than some of the
other services in this roundup. But
that also makes it more
complicated than it might need to
be.
First off, FreeAgent is designed
Conan O'Brien Injured During 'Tonight Show' Taping
(ETonline - Breaking News)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:33:00 PM
ET can confirm that Conan
O’Brien was injured while taping
a stunt for “The Tonight Show”
extremely well. I was impressed
by how well the menus moved me
through the process of setting up
my company and adding clients.
But where it broke down for me
was in the invoice creation tool,
which requires sifting through a
bevy of pages.
Unlike many of the other tools
in this roundup, you can't stay on
the invoice creation page and
input information where
necessary. Whenever you click on
a respective box, you'll be brought
to its respective page. When
complete, you'll go back to your
invoice with that information now
populated in the form. This
navigation feels cumbersome.
One great feature FreeAgent
offers is a bank-tracking service
that analyzes money that goes in
and out of your company's
account. It even calculates your
taxes. FreeAgent provides a 30-
day free trial. After that, you'll
need to pay $20 per month or
$200 per year for access to the
service.
You can add your bank account
to FreeAgent.(Credit: Screenshot
by Don Reisinger/CNET)
FreshBooks FreshBooks is an
online-billing and payment-
tracking service that should
appeal to any company looking
for a simple, efficient tool for
managing clients.
I was really impressed by
FreshBooks. After signing up
(which took about 30 seconds), I
on Friday.
A rep for NBC tells us Conan
hit his head doing a stunt.
Fortunately, the late-night host
was able to laugh about the
incident afterward.
immediately had the option to
create an invoice. It's as simple as
clicking on the many different
boxes in the app, adding relevant
information, and inputting totals.
FreshBooks also lets you establish
terms for your invoices. You can
even input notes that are visible to
the client, if you want to provide
more detail than what you can fit
into the invoice.
When you're all set, FreshBooks
gives you the option of e-mailing
the invoice from the app or
sending it via snail mail. From
there, the site tracks your
invoices, allowing you to input
when you get paid. It remembers
your clients, team members (and
their rates), tracks your expenses,
and even lets you input your time
to make it easier to bill clients on
hourly work you've performed.
I could go on, but I think that
you get the point: FreshBooks is a
fantastic service. If you need to
manage only up to three clients,
FreshBooks is free. Prices go up
to $149 per month, with up to
5,000 clients.
FreshBooks creates nice
invoices for you.(Credit:
Screenshot by Don
Reisinger/CNET)
Harvest Harvest is yet another
well-designed service makes it
quick and easy to create invoices
and track your payments.
When you first start using
Harvest, I think that you'll be
impressed by what you find. After
"Last thing I remember I was
enjoying the play with Mrs.
Lincoln, and the next thing I knew
I was in bed being served cookies
and juice," Conan joked.
inputing all your relevant
company information, creating an
invoice takes just seconds.
Choose a client, add its contact
information, and then input all the
tasks you've performed. Harvest
tallies up the total for you.
If you're looking for more than
just invoicing, Harvest also tracks
your invoices. Thanks to a built-in
timer, it will track your time as
you work. You can also monitor
expenses to see just how well
your company is performing. If
you go on the road, you'll be
happy to find that Harvest has an
accompanying iPhone app.
Depending on the size of your
business, you should expect to
pay anywhere between $12 per
month and $90 per month for the
service.
Harvest has a nice invoice-
building tool.(Credit: Screenshot
by Don Reisinger/CNET)
My top 3
1. Harvest: Harvest provides
such a great slate of features, it's
ideal for anyone who owns a
small business.
2. FreshBooks: With so many
great tracking features,
FreshBooks is a must-see.
3. Chargify: Chargify boasts the
best payment plan of any service
in this roundup. If you run an
online company, try it out.
Internet News Record
40 Million Rick-Rolled
and Other Awesome
Stats [VIDEO]
By Barb Dybwad (Mashable!)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 5:49:28 PM
Among the more fascinating
statistics in The Economist’s Fall
2009 “Did You Know?” video on
media convergence include that
40 million people have been rick-
rolled, 95% of all downloaded
songs last year weren’t paid for,
there are 2 million TVs in
bathrooms in the U.S., and 90%
of some 200 billion emails sent
per day are spam.
As print newspaper circulation
has declined by 7 million over the
last 25 years, online newspaper
readership has soared up 30
million unique visitors in the past
5 years. And whereas ABC, NBC
and CBS combined (businesses
that collectively have been around
for 200 years) receive 10 million
viewers per month, Myspace,
Facebook and YouTube reach 250
million monthly uniques — and
none existed 6 years ago.
Check out the video below and
let us know what you think. Did
any of the stats surprise you and if
so, which ones stood out?
[via Silicon Alley Insider]
Reviews: Facebook, MySpace,
YouTube
Tags: cell phones, computers,
facebook, media convergence,
myspace, newspapers, social
networks, technology, television,
tv, youtube
Internet News Record
Mozilla coders join Palm, apparently Journalist: Oh No!
jabbing Apple
By Stephen Shankland
(Webware.com)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:34:00 AM
Two prominent Web-based
programming advocates have left
Mozilla for Palm, arguing that the
time has come to use browsers to
bypass Apple's controlling role in
mobile applications.
Dion Almaer and Ben Galbraith,
who help run the Ajaxian site for
elaborate Web interfaces and who
worked on Mozilla's Web-based
Bespin tool for collaborative
programming, announced their
move to Palm on Friday.
Palm is a logical place for them
to go. The Palm Pre has won
accolades as a competitive mobile
phone, and its foundation for
applications is a WebKit-based
browser, meaning that Palm
programs are essentially Web
programs.
"I will be joining Ben, my best
friend, partner in crime, and
fellow Ajaxian, as we take a new
role as directors of the Palm
Developer Relations team. We
will have the responsibility of the
developer experience with Palm.
We will be trying to create a rich
connective tissue between the
company and the Web developer
community that we love," Almaer
wrote on his blog.
Web-based programs are
typically slower and less capable
than alternatives that run natively
on a computing device. But they
have one big potential advantage:
written once, they can run on any
device with a browser and
Tech/ 35
Student Journalists Will
Destroy Journalism!
By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) and all I can think is, Mr.
Submitted at 9/25/2009 6:38:00 PM Gammon, did you really just
mean to suggest that your years of
So for the last few years, all we experience and professional
k e e p h e a r i n g a b o u t f r o m connections are so worthless that
professional journalists is how a g r o u p o f s t u d e n t s w i l l
hardware up to the task. referring to? The programmers there is less and less reporting automatically beat you in the
Although Galbraith and and Apple didn't immediately going on, and how we'll all miss marketplace? Because that's what
Dalmaer are excited by the respond to requests for comment. "real" reporting once it's gone. he said. After we keep being told
possibilities of Web applications Apple exerts its control to try to They complain that without new h o w p r o j o u r n a l i s t s a r e s o
and the new era of mobile give iPhone users a simple, stable, business models journalism itself i m p o r t a n t , a n d a l l t h e i r
computing ushered in most and useful experience. But that is doomed. Leave aside how e x p e r i e n c e , k n o w l e d g e a n d
notably by Apple's iPhone, control can be at odds with what ridiculous all of that is (and, yes, reporting chops differentiates
Galbraith appears to be concerned programmers and users want, as it's totally ridiculous), when a new them from the unwashed masses,
about the control Apple exercises was most clearly illustrated in project comes along that will here is a guy who is flat-out
over the applications people can Apple's rejection of the Google enable more reporting in the San a d m i t t i n g t h a t h e h a s n o
use on their phones. Voice application--though Apple F r a n c i s c o B a y A r e a , v i a a a d v a n t a g e o v e r s o m e p u r e
"Clearly, a revolution in said it hasn't actually rejected the partnership between radio station amateurs. Let's hope UC Berkeley
hardware is taking place, and it application. KQED and journalism students at and KQED seriously rethink this
doesn't take a prophet to work out Meanwhile, as it did with its B e r k e l e y , a l o n g c o m e t h e plan before it goes live early next
that the future of computing lies Latitude location application for p r o f e s s i o n a l r e p o r t e r s year. The idea of a non-profit
along this new trajectory," the iPhone after Apple rejected a complaining about how this is the news organization has merit, but
Galbraith said. "However, my native version of that software, death of journalism and must be using what amounts to slave labor
enthusiasm for this amazing new Google is working on a Web- stopped. That's the view of the to make it happen is bad for
world is tempered by some based interface for Google Voice. E a s t B a y E x p r e s s ' s R o b e r t journalism. So, let me see if I get
unfortunate decisions made by It also offers a Web-based Gmail Gammon. Why? Well, because it this straight. Things have been
some of the players in this space. application for the iPhone. involves students instead of pro really bad because there were
It seems that some view this What's curious is that the Palm journalists, and thus is unfair fewer reporters working on the
revolution as a chance to seize P r e , t h e G o o g l e A n d r o i d competition: The venture also news, and we'll all miss them
power in downright Orwellian operating system, and the iPhone threatens traditional news media when they're gone... but as soon
ways by constraining what we, as OS all use a browser based on the in the Bay Area, because it will as anyone new enters the market,
developers, can say, dictating WebKit project, and Apple is rely on 120 journalism students at it will be bad for journalism? And
what kinds of apps we can create, among those working hard to Cal who will work for free. The even if the journalism is done by
controlling how we distribute our advance the state of the art for massive free-labor workforce will students who have no experience,
apps, and placing all kinds of Web application programming give the new venture a huge the amazing pros simply won't be
limits on what (we) can do to our through its WebKit work. So there advantage over established Bay able to compete? Yeah, that's
computing devices." is some philosophical agreement Area media organizations that believable.
He didn't mention Apple by along with the differences. depend on paid, veteran Permalink| Comments| Email
name, and I don't want to put Originally posted at Deep Tech journalists to gather and put This Story
words in his mouth, but who else together news stories. I read that
besides Apple could Galbraith be
36 Tech/ Fashion/
Game Console Makers Feeling the
Heat from Apple
By Barb Dybwad (Mashable!)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:18:29 PM
There’s a growing sense in the
gaming industry that we may
finally have reached “good
enough” in the realm of hardware.
And as the battle shifts from
primarily hardware to software
and great downloadable content,
there is one unexpected player
sitting pretty in the marketplace:
Apple.
We wrote previously about
Apple’s challenge to portable
gaming. Industry executives at the
recent Tokyo Game Show are
voicing concerns that Apple’s
iPhone and iPod touch ecosystem
could be undercutting traditional
console sales as well, reports the
New York Times.
The question is how can the big
three console manufacturers,
Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft,
keep consumers engaged with
expensive consoles and expensive
games ($30 to $60 and beyond)
when Apple offers a multi-
purpose, portable media device
that can download games for
$0.99 a pop or, in many cases,
free? The Rise of Mobile Gaming
The shift away from the hard-
core titles that once drove console
sales was clear at this year’s TGS,
where 168 of the 758 games
Shoe Porn Courtesy of Versace
By ELLE.com (ELLE News
Blog)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:44:11 PM
Leave it to Donatella to bring us
all-out-sexy, yet somehow still
sweet, platform stilettos for spring
2010. Strong, towering, and
shown were made for cell phones
— more than double the number
on display at last year’s event.
The CEO of Konami, Kazumi
Kitaue, known for popular
franchises like Metal Gear,
Castlevania, and Dance Dance
Revolution, was quoted as saying,
“As a platform, the cellphone has
the biggest potential, because
everybody owns one.”
Price cuts on all three major
consoles have occurred this month
in response to declining sales,
with Nintendo finally announcing
a Wii price drop at the Tokyo
Game Show. In that sort of
climate, how can gaming
executives not think about taking
some cues from Apple’s App
Store success?
Still, companies like Sony
remain stiff-lipped about the
competition. President of Sony’s
game development wing Shuhei
Yoshida said, “The quality of
cellphone games is varied, and
you couldn’t play many of them
for hours.” And he has a point —
oozing sex-appeal, the sky-high
gems were shown in cotton-candy
the qualitative experience on a
mobile platform versus sitting in
the living room with a blockbuster
title are very different. Hardcore
gamers will still crave that type of
immersive experience despite —
or more likely in addition to —
offerings from Apple that are
cheap and on-the-go.
Nevertheless, if that hardcore
demographic is spending less in a
downturned economy and
thinking twice about new
hardware and new box copies of
titles, the gaming industry still has
a problem on its hands. Game
developers in Japan and elsewhere
are being wise in diversifying
some of their business to the
mobile and casual spheres, and
that overall trend will likely
continue for some time.
What do you think: are you a
gamer whose console will be
pried only from your cold, dead
hands? Are you a non-gamer who
has enjoyed picking up a few
games for the iPhone? Is there
room for both approaches, and
what will it take to get consumers
thrilled about going into another
console hardware cycle again?
Tags: app store, apple, DLC,
game consoles, iphone, ipod,
microsoft, Nintendo, portable
gaming, sony
brights, chalky pastels, and
powdery neutrals. Click here to
get the full front-row-footwear-
report from Joe Zee.
—Violet Moon Gaynor
Follow ELLE on Twitter.
Photos: Imaxtree
Bionic Eye: Clever idea,
flawed execution
By Mel Martin (The Unofficial
Apple Weblog (TUAW))
Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:00:00 PM
Filed under: iPhone, App Store,
App Review Bionic Eye[iTunes
link] is an augmented reality app
for the iPhone that displays
businesses around you
superimposed over a live camera
picture.
It sorta works, but doesn't solve
any problem I have. It's cool to
rotate around and see a Burger
King logo or a Hilton Hotel logo
pop up when the actual locations
are nearby. The problem is, I can
get that kind of information from
Google Maps and hundreds of
other free or paid apps that can
give me the same info, although
not in such a sexy way.
Even worse, the app is very,
very slow. It takes Bionic Eye
anywhere from 30 seconds to a
minute to fully launch. If I go to
the settings menu to change
something, it takes another minute
to absorb that change and bring
me to a usable screen.
If you turn your iPhone
horizontally, you can see all the
nearby locations in a list, and
when you select one a blue arrow
points you to the actual location.
Whee!
I had a couple of lockups when I
went to the setting screen to make
a change, which only added to my
frustration. The points of interest
you are searching for are limited
to about a 2 mile range, so it will
only guide you to places that are
really close. Usually I could look
up and see the destination, so I
Internet News Record
really didn't need the app in the
first place. It has a limited list of
locations, and they're all brand
names, so if you are looking for a
restaurant that is not a franchise or
a hotel that is not part of a chain,
it's tough luck for you.
For an additional fee, you can
get guidance to subway stations in
New York, Washington and
Chicago. There are also versions
of the app for the U.K., France
and Tokyo.
Bionic Eye is only US$0.99, but
it doesn't answer the first question
you should ask of any app -- does
it solve any real world problems I
have. An app should be a novel
solution to a problem or great
entertainment. Bionic Eye is
neither, but it has potential if it
can be given a larger database,
much faster load times, and crash
a lot less frequently. To be fully
functional, Bionic Eye requires an
iPhone 3GS.
TUAW Bionic Eye: Clever idea,
flawed execution originally
appeared on The Unofficial Apple
Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep
2009 19:00:00 EST. Please see
our terms for use of feeds.
Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
Internet News Record Tech/ Game/ 37

AT&T, Google Spat Over Google Obama Finally Appoints

Voice Blocked Calls Is Important... IP Czar... Puts It In The
But Totally Misses The Point Wrong Department
By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) So, I have to admit that I find cheaper rate, they make money on By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) someone on "their side," that
Submitted at 9/25/2009 5:07:16 PM Google's response to be every inbound call -- but it's all Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:15:17 PM placing them in OSTP would
disingenuous. It basically tries to due to outdated regulations that stifle them, as the rest of the
Well, well, well. It looks like shrug off the problem by saying "protect" those telcos. Google In a move that surprises no one, group might (gasp!) actually push
AT&T's latest line of anti-Google Google doesn't have to follow mentions this in its response, but the Obama administration finally back on attempts to stretch
attack is to accuse the company of such rules on connecting phone it should be the headline, not g o t a r o u n d t o o f f i c i a l l y copyright enforcement towards
b e i n g h y p o c r i t i c a l o n n e t calls because it's a "web-based" buried in the details: the issue nominating Victoria Espinel to be the maximalist position. Instead,
neutrality by not living up to the offering. First, making such a with net neutrality is the telcos the IP Czar, a position that was they wanted the position to be
same principles when it comes to claim just makes Google look like trying to double charge for the use created out of thin air a year ago either its own office (entirely
its Google Voice product. The it's ducking the issue. Second, of their network. The issue with in the ProIP Act, though the unlikely) or, in the Office of
issue is that, apparently, Google Google has done a dreadful job these calls is a dumb regulatory position went entirely unfilled Management & Budget. Why
Voice is now blocking calls to letting Google Voice users know setup that forces telephone service until now. Hollywood lobbyists OMB? No good reason. The
free conference services like that such calls are totally blocked providers to pay insanely high h a v e b e e n p u s h i n g t h e position doesn't fit there at all...
FreeConference.com. This is by its service. rates to a small group of small a d m i n i s t r a t i o n t o a p p o i n t but putting it there keeps it away
identical to the problem I However (and this is important), telcos for any inbound calls. someone ever since the spring, from those darn "copyleftists" in
discussed a few weeks ago when I the actual issue here is not net So, yes, I agree that it's bad that and VP Joe Biden had to come OSTP.
noticed that the MagicJack VoIP neutrality. The real issue is Google (and MagicJack) blocks out and calm Hollywood execs So where did the position end
service blocked calls to those ridiculous regulatory setups in these calls -- and I believe it may and lawyers by promising them up? Yup... it's a part of OMB, just
same services. Oddly, at the time, certain rural areas, that force in fact go against some previous the "right person" would be like Hollywood wanted. Lobbyists
I got around the MagicJack unnaturally high connection fees statements by the FCC concerning appointed (meaning: not someone on all sides of the equation --
block... by using Google Voice. on telcos to rural telcos, creating a phone services. But... it's not a net who is interested in copyright including consumer advocacy
So if it's now blocking those calls, massive arbitrage opportunity that neutrality issue where they're reform). group Public Knowledge, though,
I haven't yet seen it, but there are the Free Conference call offerings doing so to squeeze extra money And yet... there was no are saying that Espinel is a good
numerous complaints. And, just making good (and profitable) use out of customers by holding part appointment for so long. Why? appointee. I certainly hope so,
like I said at the time with of in offering their services. of the access for ransom. Instead, Well, a few weeks ago, it was though I disagree that the position
MagicJack, I think that the FCC Basically, every inbound call to it's the result of bad and outdated explained that there was a fight should exist at all. Also, Espinel
has been pretty clear in the past these telcos requires massive per local state regulations concerning over where to put the position and was formerly the IP boss for the
that this is not legal. If you're minute fees from the connecting connection fees that really need to under what group Espinel's office US Trade Representative -- a
offering a phone service of this service provider to the rural telco. be overturned. would exist. The most obvious group that has been known to
nature, you need to connect it It's so expensive that as long as Permalink| Comments| Email group was the Office of Science push for more draconian IP laws,
with the phone calls customers are the rural telco can offer a service This Story and Technology Policy. The and to do so cloaked in secrecy.
making. (such as conference calls) at a problem? Most of the folks in So... I'm hoping to be surprised,
OSTP actually seem to understand but putting the office in OMB and
Joystiq vs. TGS '09: Day Three the problems of copyright law. having someone from USTR isn't
By Xav de Matos (Joystiq) members of Team TGS jetted off originally appeared on Joystiq on They're fans of openness and encouraging.
Submitted at 9/26/2009 1:00:00 PM to secret meetings, while others Sat, 26 Sep 2009 13:00:00 EST. understand things like Creative Permalink| Comments| Email
got to sit down and really get Please see our terms for use of Commons. Entertainment industry This Story
Tokyo has gone game crazy! some work done. The result? Not feeds. lobbyists started to freak out
With the public joining the party, a very exciting video, but another P e r m a l i n k | E m a i l t h i s | again, that even if they got
TGS 2009 has exploded from a l o o k a t w h a t ' s h a p p e n i n g Comments
stream of bodies into an full- thousands of miles from home.
blown ocean. Today, a few Joystiq vs. TGS '09: Day Three
38 Tech/ Internet News Record

iPhone TCG to charge

$9.99 for in-app
purchases
Filmmaker Discusses Creative By Mike Schramm (The
Unofficial Apple Weblog
(TUAW))
Marketing, Freeing Up Movies, Submitted at 9/25/2009 9:30:00 PM

Filed under: Gaming, Software,

Embracing New Business Models iTunes, iPhone, App Store Just
the other day I was talking about
By Michael Masnick (Techdirt) SP: Not yet. The music industry SP: Its not either/or, it's AND. It how prices were all over the place
Submitted at 9/25/2009 5:52:00 PM is slightly ahead of us and had to might make cinema owners and for in-app purchases, and now
go through the same thing already distributors sit up a little bit, and here's a company that's just going
Nathan Smith alerts us to an and it's shock, horror, terror, make it a more pleasant and all out with the microtransaction
i n t e r e s t i n g i n t e r v i e w w i t h everyone's going to go bankrupt thrilling experience to go to the model (or macrotransaction,
filmmaker Sally Potter, discussing because everyone can have theater, make the quality of the maybe, in this case). Urban Rivals
her new movie Rage, which has a everything for free. Lots of projection better, the seats more is an online MMO trading card ingame currency being sold for
variety of unique and interesting resistance, I'm talking about comfortable, make it back to the game, and they're going to start real money, so instead, Urban
facets to it. The movie -- which filmmaking now, legislating real beginnings of what joining selling packs of the cards directly Rivals is selling cards during the
has a bunch of famous actors, against copyright and everything together in a big group is all within the game. And the pricing in-app purchases, skipping the
including Jude Law, Judi Dench, is watermarked, anxious, anxious, about. Similar people can have is interesting -- you can buy one ingame currency completely.
Steve Buscemi, Diane Wiest, John and all that. And I think my their own access to watch it home pack of three cards for 99 cents Of course, it remains to be seen
Leguizamo and others -- is being attitude is, go the other way. Open on Blu-ray, its one of the things (same as the price of the game whether or not this will actually
released first on mobile phones, the gates, say "okay have it." It's that I do. I have a good screen and itself, though there will be a free work -- just because the game is
with a different part of it released free, it's yours and then if you I watch things together with a version to play as well), or you successful outside the iPhone
each day for a week (I believe this want me to go on and make other group of friends. Comfortably can pick up 11 packs of those doesn't mean it'll work on Apple's
past week). The film is supposed things, you're going to have to lying about. And that feel just as cards, 33 cards in total, for $9.99, platform. But if in-app purchases
t o b e f r o m t h e v i e w o f a complete the circle by going out true of a cinema experience as almost ten times the price of the of this kind do become a big deal,
cameraphone, so that makes and buying the DVD. Maybe in going to some wonderful cinema. actual game. we might see other developers
sense. But, Potter has also worked the future it will be some sort of Indeed. We've been pointing out This is an interesting case: the trying to come up with ways to
hard to cultivate a strong fanbase subscription model but I always for the better part of a decade that game itself already has a working sell content like this -- for
through a variety of online wanted to do that with this one. going to the movies is a social model outside of the App Store, developers who feel that the App
methods. And, of course, she's all FNB: There was a recent article experience, and the best way to do s o t h e y ' v e a l r e a d y p r o v e n Store's prices are too low, they
a b o u t e m b r a c i n g " f r e e , " we read that said the next that is to make that experience elsewhere that people will pay for may instead be able to come up
embracing what the technology generation of digital consumers better. Many theaters have started this extra gameplay, not to with the funds they need through
enables, and thinks the rest of still wants to pay to go to theaters. to catch on to this (finally). mention that players of the iPhone sizable in-app purchases.
Hollywood is a bit silly to live in It's not mutually exclusive, which Permalink| Comments| Email game can play right alongside TUAW iPhone TCG to charge
fear and try to lock everything is calming to know that just This Story players on other platforms. And $9.99 for in-app purchases
down: FNB: It's true, everyone is because one is succeeding doesn't there's an interesting twist with originally appeared on The
talking about this, what is the mean the other is going to the game's currency -- outside of Unofficial Apple Weblog
economic model? Is there one? disappear. the iPhone, the game lets you (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009
either win currency which you 21:30:00 EST. Please see our
can then use to buy cards, or buy terms for use of feeds.
the currency with real money and Read| Permalink| Email this|
then buy cards with that. But Comments
Apple has apparently said no to
Internet News Record Tech/ 39

4 Teens Sued for

Obscene Fake Facebook
Profile
By Jennifer Van Grove
(Mashable!)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 6:49:40 PM

Imagine this: four teenagers take

to Facebook to create a fake
profile that continually
misrepresents your son as a gay
racist. Then consider that profile

Followup: Transmit TV audio amasses 580 plus friends. You’d

be pretty pissed off, right?
For one mom in particular,
and replies from those who were
exposed to the fake profile.
through your Mac Laura Cook, this nightmare is a
reality for her and her athlete son.
Fighting back, she’s now suing
Not surprisingly, the suit also
claims that the effects of the fake
profile were felt by the boy and
By Erica Sadun (The Unofficial is yes. You can easily connect signal tends to be on the low side. the four teenagers, on behalf of his family both online and off.
Apple Weblog (TUAW)) your TV audio to your Mac just Many TV speakers provide their her son, on five separate counts With the boy suffering “severe
Submitted at 9/25/2009 6:00:00 PM like you would connect it to a pair own amplification. If this is a i n c l u d i n g d e f a m a t i o n a n d emotional distress,” “humiliation
of speakers. Run a cable between problem for you, you can hook in emotional distress. She’s seeking and embarrassment,” while the
Filed under: Audio, Tips and a spare audio output (modern TVs an inline amplifier. (I use an old c o m p e n s a t o r y a n d p u n i t i v e whole family “have had to change
tricks, Mac mini, TUAW Tips usually offer more than one, if R a d i o S h a c k 2 7 7 - 1 0 0 8 C . ) damages for amounts not yet athletic clubs and coaches.”
After my post earlier this week not, you can use a splitter) to the Alternatively, you can boost the disclosed. If the allegations are true, R.C,
about transmitting Mac audio, m i c r o p h o n e j a c k o n t h e audio via a third party program The lawsuit, embedded below, A.G, K.Z, and M.S., the unnamed
readers contacted me about Macintosh. On my low-end TV, like Rogue Amoeba's Audio alleges that not only did the teens teenage defendants, are guilty of
extending this solution. Although this means an RCA stereo cable Hijack Pro. in question create the profile with some pretty heinous online
they liked the idea of direct audio that feeds to a standard stereo This solution takes a few more the plaintiff’s real name, but they bullying behavior. These teens
while working out on a treadmill minijack plug. c a b l e s , c o m p o n e n t s , a n d also include his real cell phone could be in for one big wake up
or exercise bike, several stated Setting up the Mac host is connections than the Mac Audio- number, posted photos of the boy, call.
that they also wanted to watch simple. Instead of feeding audio to-iPhone through Skype set-up s h a r e d s t a t u s u p d a t e s w i t h 9 24 05 Doe v RC – Facebook
from the sofa once the spouse or via Soundflower, as described in discussed in the earlier post. But obscenities and descriptions of Case
the kid go to sleep. The idea was the earlier post, choose your if you have the cables on-hand sexual acts, included profile data [via Chicago Now]
the same: audio transmission to an microphone audio input in the already, it offers an inexpensive that depicted the boy as racist and Image courtesy of iStockphoto,
iPhone or iPod touch. The source Skype settings. Start a call to your solution compared to many other gay, and even managed to friend mikdam. Reviews: iStockphoto
was different. They wanted to iPhone or iPod touch, switch the wireless TV headsets on the 580 facebookers. The document Tags: facebook, fake profile,
watch live cable TV or their TV source (usually via a "Source" market right now. also goes into detail including lawsuit
TiVo. And for the punchline, their button that picks which signal to TUAW Followup: Transmit TV some of the hideous comments
media center Mac lacks a tuner. watch, such as Composite 1, audio through your Mac originally
Was there a similar quiet Mac- Component 2, etc.) to your appeared on The Unofficial Apple
based solution that would let them normal cable or TiVo input. Set Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep
transmit the TV audio from these the external speaker volume to 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see
non-Mac sources? zero. The signal arrives at the our terms for use of feeds.
If your Mac has a microphone Mac microphone independently of Read| Permalink| Email this|
jack, internal or even through an those speakers. Comments
external USB solution, the answer You may find that the audio out
40 Tech/ Picture/ Internet News Record

GPush for iPhone versus Google's Gmail push

By Jessica Dolcourt and what it's about.(Credit:
(Webware.com) Screenshot by Jessica
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:35:00 AM Dolcourt/CNET)
An update to GPush adds a
GPush on iPhone now has a Gmail in-box to the application
Gmail in-box within the interface and a "View" button to
app.(Credit: Screenshot by Jessica the notification alert. Press that
Dolcourt/CNET)
In mid-August, the GPush app
button and GPush can now open
your in-box within its application.
Tropical Storm
came into iPhone's App Store, Since GPush is giving you access Ketsana
promising to send push to Google's mobile Gmail site for
notifications of Gmail messages iPhones, you'll be able to do By Kevin Collins (Flickr Blog)
when new mail came in. Just last anything with that e-mail that you Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:36:27 AM

week, Google offered its own
push solution for Gmail messages,
one that pushes e-mail down from
the server into the native iPhone
in-box. Did that spell the end of
GPush? Not quite.
First, Google's push service,
which is handled by Google Sync,
can vibrate the phone and sound
an alert chime when it pushes a
new message down from the
server, but it lacks GPush's alert
bubble that helpfully displays the
sender and subject.
Second, GPush and Google are
neck and neck when it comes to
performance, at least as far as our
iPhone is concerned. GPush sniffs
out the new message faster about
half the time, perhaps even more
often. The bottom line: Google's
push isn't necessarily faster or
better.
Although Google's official push
option is free and GPush is a
premium app (whose price
ratcheted up from 99 cents to
$1.99), you still pay a price going
Google's route. You're allowed to
have one e-mail account sync
over Microsoft Exchange. If you
use Google Sync, you've used
your shot. This is poor news for
those who also access their work
mail from their iPhone over
Exchange. For this set, GPush is
the better way to go. You can still
use a standard Gmail account that
pulls e-mail from the server at
regular intervals, and use GPush
to let you know when a new
message trickles in, who sent it,
could do from the Safari browser.
In other words, with its proactive
notification alert, Gpush has just
one-upped Google, using
Google's mobile site.
While the new Gmail in-box
feature is exactly what we asked
for, having Gpush open to the
Gmail in-box tab took longer than
it should. We hope to see this
speed up in a future release.
What do you think about the
GPush app versus Google's
official Gmail push? Share your
thoughts in the comments.
Originally posted at iPhone
Atlas
Tropical Storm Ketsana, locally
known as Ondoy, has raged across
Luzon in the Philippines and has
hit the capital region around
Manila hard, displacing people
and causing loss of life. The first
6 hours of the storm dumped a
reported 34 cm (13.4 in) of rain,
which is the usual rainfall for a
full month and is causing epic
flooding. Here are some tag and
text searches to find more.
Photos from TwistedHalo,
rembcc, mylesgj and crispyparty.

Apple updates green website

By Mike Schramm (The past few years-- they've recently The new site includes Pretty good deal all around, and
Unofficial Apple Weblog slimmed down their packaging information about the impact of good for Apple to make it clear
(TUAW)) and started using recyclable Apple's products both during how committed they are to this
Submitted at 9/25/2009 11:30:00 PM materials in making their manufacture and during usage, as issue and acting on it.
computers. It's pretty interesting well as reports on product TUAW Apple updates green
F i l e d u n d e r : D e s k t o p s , to see them making such a push performance, as well as a blog on website originally appeared on
Hardware, Apple Macworld has on this issue, but then again it not what they're doing lately. They The Unofficial Apple Weblog
spotted a new page over on only helps them sell computers also have a link to their recycling (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009
Apple's website highlighting their (assuming they don't have to raise program so that when you're done 23:30:00 EST. Please see our
d e d i c a t i o n t o m a k i n g t h e i r prices too high due to the new with whatever Apple products terms for use of feeds.
products as environmentally policies), but of course helps the you're using, you can make sure Read| Permalink| Email this|
healthy as possible. We've seen culture and the Earth at large in environmental footprints are as that those recyclable products are Comments
this pitch from Apple within the t e r m s o f m a k i n g s u r e o u r small as possible. actually recycled.
Internet News Record Tech/ 41

RSS fans rejoice: FeedDemon 3 is out

By Seth Rosenblatt Newsgator.com, in favor of Flags have been renamed Stars
(Webware.com) syncing with Google Reader. New for Google Reader consistency,
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:24:00 PM users won't notice, but older users for example, while the Home page
are likely to lose many unread features videos, pictures, and
FeedDemon 3 is ready for public feeds, since Google can't import content from your feeds. One
use, after months spent in a beta feeds with more than 10 unread smart improvement over Google
version that saw a confusing items. Once synced with Google Reader is that you can view your
migration from proprietary online Reader, unread feeds can again starred feeds in the folders they
syncing to Google Reader. include more than 10 items. came from, instead of in a single
That rough patch sorted, There's also a new, persistent ad "starred items" folder.
FeedDemon remains one of the placed in the lower-left corner of We'd like to see performance
best desktop RSS and Atom feed the interface, and FeedDemon's addressed in future versions, but
catchers. This version contains a performance could be a lot better- overall, FeedDemon remains a
lengthy list of changes, including -RAM usage was hefty, and 3GB favorite option for desktop feed
g r e a t l y e n h a n c e d T w i t t e r of RAM didn't prevent occasional management. Let us know your
connectivity, a tweaked interface program hang-ups. thoughts on the new FeedDemon
that's a bit easier to use, and better Twitter feed reading has been sharing should appeal to you. To features added to the item view in the comments below.
tagging and sharing. baked in because FeedDemon set that up, you need to subscribe and a tag cloud added to the Originally posted at The
M y T w i t t e r s t r e a m i n supports authenticated feeds. in FeedDemon to your Twitter Subscriptions Home view. The Download Blog
FeedDemon 3.(Credit: Screenshot Hyperlinking and short-URL feed here. interface will look similar to
by Seth Rosenblatt/CNET) expansion are automatic, and if Tagging, tag clouds, and item FeedDemon 2.8, but there are
FeedDemon has dumped its you use Twitter as a live news sharing get a massive overhaul in many little tweaks to improve its
proprietary synchronization site, stream, FeedDemon's Twitter link FeedDemon 3, with all three usability.

Slim your 1Password 3 Backups

By TJ Luoma (The Unofficial 28th, the backups were 1MB, and 889KB!
Apple Weblog (TUAW)) on August 29th, the backups were Why worry about space with
Submitted at 9/26/2009 1:30:00 PM suddenly 21MB. today's hard drive spaces? I have
Wait? Did you say August 28th? 1Password set to backup to my
Filed under: Software, TUAW Isn't that when Snow Leopard was Dropbox account, which is
Tips released? Yes it was. And wasn't limited to a total of 5GB. Plus this
1Password is one of my very that when you switched from meant having to upload 20+MB
favorite and most essential Mac 1 P a s s w o r d v e r s i o n 2 t o every day versus
utilities. Combined with Dropbox, 1Password version 3? Yes it was. Many thanks to the 1Password
I can have all of my login Could that have something to do folks for helping me get to the
information synced to all of my with it? bottom of this mystery!
Macs. I contacted 1Password's TUAW Slim your 1Password 3
The other day I noticed that excellent support staff who Backups originally appeared on
1Password had gained a lot of correctly diagnosed that the The Unofficial Apple Weblog
weight, specifically around the increase was related to the (TUAW) on Sat, 26 Sep 2009
backups area. I'm not usually one preview images which are used 600+ items in my agilekeychain, General > Remove all icons and 13:30:00 EST. Please see our
to comment on such things, but for Login and Software License this quickly added up. previews. I also unchecked the terms for use of feeds.
we weren't talking about "love icons. (These can be found in the Fortunately, this is easily fixed. box next to "Automatically Read| Permalink| Email this|
handles," 1Password's backups 1Password.agilekeychain/a/defaul If disk space is a concern, the download icons and previews for Comments
had gone from 1MB to 21MB t/thumb folder.) Each preview icons and previews can be deleted new Logins." After I did that, the
literally overnight. On August image take about 100K. With using 1Password > Preferences > backup size went from 21.5MB to
42 Tech/ Fashion/ Internet News Record

POLL: Firefox Smacks Dollhouse Star Will

Down Google Chrome in Tweet Through Season 2
Reader Vote Premiere (Maybe)
By Ben Parr (Mashable!) By Barb Dybwad (Mashable!)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 11:32:45 PM Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:39:24 PM

Earlier this week, we kicked off Joss Whedon’s sci-fi series

a new feature that asked you to
answer a simple question: which
web app is better? Who’d win if
you took two web tools, strapped
boxing gloves on each of them,
and threw them into a steel cage?
We were curious, so that’s
exactly what we did (minus the
boxing gloves). In our inaugural
week of the Web Faceoff, we
pitted Mozilla Firefox against
upstart Google Chrome. We threw
these two web browser titans into
the ring and had you cast the
deciding vote over who deserved
glory and fame. Now, after a
staggering 8,800 votes, we finally
have a victor.
Here is your winner:
Yes, Firefox has taken the gold
and left its newer competitor on
the tarmac! It wasn’t an easy win,
though. Firefox garnered 52% of
the vote – 4600 of them to be
Dollhouse gets its second season It’s also a reminder of the
premier tonight on Fox, and star growing social TV trend, wherein
Eliza Dushku is using the viewers are simultaneously
exact – while Chrome snatched up Twitter#FollowFriday trend to
watching the show and using
3310 votes for 38%. 10% of you promote the show.
social media to interact with What makes a pair of
(911 votes) just couldn’t decide If she reaches 100,000 followers A.P.C. x Supreme jeans
between the two and voted that by the time the show airs, she friends and other watchers.
Considering a recent study found different from a pair of
the fight was a tie. promises to tweet during the almost 3 out of 5 TV viewers use
Tune in next Monday, when we entire show and answer questions
the web at the same time, we can A.P.C. jeans?
take two more popular web apps for the following hour as well.
and have them duel to the death. only see this trend increasing as By blogeditor1 (Material
With less than two hours to go online video outlets provide more Interest on Men.style.com)
Don’t miss the excitement, and before the 9pm Eastern/8pm
don’t forget the popcorn. tools for users to co-watch. Submitted at 9/25/2009 9:23:06 AM
Central airing, there’s still a ways What do you think of the new
Web Facebook: Overall Results to go with at current count 92,193
Week 1: social TV trend? Do you enjoy This embroidered invective
followers. Regardless, it marks watching shows while getting (inset). And for those keeping
- Mozilla Firefox vs. Google yet another milestone in the
Chrome feedback from other viewers score, they're the New Standard
growing trend of entertainment online? Reviews: Twitter cut.
- WINNER: Firefox, 4600 votes stars reaching out directly to fans
(Chrome: 3310 votes, Tie: 911 on Twitter. And Fox itself is no Tags: co-watching, dollhouse, $198, available October 1 at
eliza dushku, Fox, joss whedon, A.P.C. stores and Supreme stores;
votes) Reviews: Chrome, Firefox, stranger to Twitter experiments,
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox with the Tweet-peat concept social networks, social tv, for locations, visit apc.fr and
television, tv, twitter supremenewyork.com
Tags: chrome, Firefox, Google, kicking off to mixed reviews.
mozilla, web browsers, web [via High Snobiety] MATTHEW
SCHNEIER Photo: A.P.C.
faceoff

How to create Keynote themes

By Sang Tang (The Unofficial users and functionality for more themes originally appeared on
Apple Weblog (TUAW)) advanced power users. While The Unofficial Apple Weblog
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:30:00 PM Keynote offers a nice set of built- (TUAW) on Fri, 25 Sep 2009
in themes, there may be times 16:30:00 EST. Please see our
Filed under: Enterprise, w h e n y o u w a n t a m o r e terms for use of feeds.
Software, How-tos, Productivity, customized look -- be it a Permalink| Email this|
iWork different resolution, font, Comments
Out of the box, Apple's Keynote background or element or graphic.
is a gem. The app is intuitive and, To begin, choose an existing modify the master slides, which is selecting "Show Master Slides."
like many Apple products, strikes theme. Here, I'm choosing to use accessible by pulling down the Continue reading How to create
a nice and delicate balance the default "White" Keynote divider adjacent to the "Slides" Keynote themes
between ease-of-use for novice theme. Then, you'll want to viewer, or by clicking "View" and TUAW How to create Keynote
Internet News Record
WARNING: Facebook Worm
Spreading via News Feed
By Ben Parr (Mashable!)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:40:22 PM
Malware and spam are finding
new ways to spread across social
media. A few days ago, a nasty
Twitter Worm spread through
DMs. Today, we have received
multiple reports that a new worm
is spreading via Facebook wall
posts and status updates.
The worm makes a post on
walls and updates. The text is as
follows:
IF YOU SEE THIS POST AND
LINK, DO NOT CLICK IT! It is
malware and dangerous to your
MediaDailyNews: 'Dexter' New App For
iPhone, iPod Touch
(MediaPost | Media News)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:44:27 PM
Showtime's killer show "Dexter"
is getting new life as "Dexter The
Game," an app for iPhone and
iPod Touch. Based on season oen
of the Emmy-wining series, it's
available for $5.99. Produced by
Marc Ecko Entertainment and
developed by Icarus Studios in
MediaDailyNews: 'Real Housewives Atlanta' Delivers Highest Ratings Yet
(MediaPost | Media News)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:20:47 PM
"The Real Housewives of
Tech/ Tech News/ Media 43
Social Networking Use Triples from
Only a Year Ago
By Sarah Perez industry increased spending by
(ReadWriteWeb) 364%.
Submitted at 9/25/2009 9:00:44 AM When it comes to which sites
advertisers choose, there's no
Obsessed with Facebook? You're
not alone. The hours you spend
doubt that Facebook is currently
the king. Ten out of thirteen
logging on to update your status,
post photos, and make comments
industries analyzed by Nielsen
listed Facebook as advertisers'
c o m p u t e r . W e h a v e f o u n d on friends' walls is not simply a number one choice when ranked
multiple instances of this worm in "phase" you're going through by display ad impressions. The
Facebook’s Real-time search and which will end sometime soon. only industries where MySpace
through reports from our readers It's a ongoing trend affecting still ruled were Entertainment,
and friends. everyone these days and it has Financial Services, and Hardware
IF YOU ARE ALREADY serious implications for the online & Electronics.
AFFECTED: Immediately change advertising industry. Those findings seem to mostly
your password, delete all of the According to new figures from support what a study from earlier
malware posts, and post a warning Nielsen, the amount of time spent this year said about MySpace's
to not visit the link in question. surfing social networking and course nowadays, this change in demographics. Namely, MySpace
We will update this post as we blogging sites had tripled since consumer behavior has had users are more focused on
learn more. last year, suggesting "a wholesale dramatic impact on the online entertainment than those on other
Thank you Drew for the heads- change in the way the Internet is advertising industry. Where networks and have the lowest
up and for the image. used," says Jon Gibs, VP of media b e f o r e , a d v e r t i s e r s w e r e average income (hence the need
Tags: facebook, Facebook a n d a g e n c y i n s i g h t s a t t h e somewhat wary of social media for financial services). However,
Worm company's online division. properties, they're now spending it's LinkedIn users who are the
Sponsor more than ever for prominent most interested in gadgets said the
As of August 2009, the time spots on social networking sites. study, so the Hardware and
spent on social networking and Even as companies decreased Electronic ad spend on MySpace
their overall ad expenditures, they is a bit surprising. We suppose
blogging sites accounts for 17%
of the total time spent online, a increased their spend on top social that's simply because the number
networks and blogs - up 119% of MySpace users dwarfs that of
conjunction with Showtime number up 6% from a year ago. from last year. ($108 million in LinkedIn. Well that, and the fact
Networks, users play as Dexter This change reflects a growing August 2009 up from $49 million that these days "Entertainment"
Morgan, a blood spatter analyst d e s i r e f o r p e o p l e t o s t a y in August 2008). And when means TVs, game consoles, and
for the Miami PD, who kills connected with each other, broken down by category, the other techie gadgets.
deserving criminals at night. communicate and share, reports increases are even more dramatic.
Every purchase of the game Nielsen. Advertisers Taking For a full look at the dollars
The entertainment industry, for spent by category, check out
includes a chance to win a walk- Notice example, has increased spending Nielsen's full report. Discuss
on role in season five of the TV While for consumers, hitting up
Facebook for a daily dose of by 812% year-over-year on social
show. network sites and the travel
socializing is just par for the
Atlanta" is on pace to be the Research. The series' ninth viewers. Season-to-date, "Atlanta" (vs. 990,000) and up 120% among
highest-rated "Real Housewives" episode delivered 1.95 million is averaging 2.03 million adults total viewers (vs. 1.31 million).
season ever in all demographics, adults 18-49, 1.56 million women 18-49 and 2.88 million total
according to Nielsen Media 18-49 and 2.72 million total viewers, up 105% in adults 18-49
44 Tech News/ Fashion/ Internet News Record

Seedcamp Winners Announced; 6 Twitter Confirms New

Teams to Receive Funding, 5 Investment Round, But
Coming Stateside Has It Already Peaked?
By Jolie O'Dell • Talasim.com(Amman, Jordan) By Frederic Lardinois
(ReadWriteWeb) - The Comedy Channel of the (ReadWriteWeb)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:30:43 PM Middle East, providing a space for Submitted at 9/25/2009 11:10:58 AM
self-expression and sharing
When we wrote about the 22 humour. Twitter just announced that the
finalists selected to pitch at rumors were indeed true and that that fewer users are searching for
Check out the presentations and Twitter on search engines.
Seedcamp Week 2009, there were Seedcamp Week post, we're not commentary in this rather well- it has just closed a "significant
several teams whose ideas excited surprised this team emerged round of funding" from a group of Hitwise's Clickstream report also
put-together video: shows a drop-off in new users that
us in particular. victorious. Moreover, the following five investment firms. While
Three of our eight picks have And the winners are: Twitter didn't disclose the actual are coming to Twitter since April.
Seedcamp alums have been In April, of course, Oprah
now been announced as • Boxed Ice(Birmingham, UK) - tapped to participate in Seedcamp amount it received today, the Wall
Seedcamp winners and will Server monitoring for all website on the Road, making the trek to Street Journal reported yesterday famously joined Twitter and the
receive €50.000 and three months owners. that Twitter was going to close a hype cycle around the service was
New York, San Francisco, then in full swing. It looks like
of advisement and assistance from • Brainient(Bucharest, Romania) b a c k a c r o s s t h e p o n d . W e $100 million round which would
the European startup accelerator - Helping video publishers Yankees look forward to seeing put Twitter's valuation at around normality might be setting in now
program. Read on for video and monetize on the increasingly startups Advertag, Fabricly, Pearl $1 billion. At that time, however, and growth is indeed slowing.
details on who gets the cash, who growing video content. the assumption was that up to The question, of course, is if
Systems, Joobili, and VouChaCha this is just a temporary slowdown
gets to come to America, and • Codility(Warsaw, Poland) - during their American tour. seven firms were going to be part
what exactly happened this week F i r s t l i n e o f t e s t i n g o f of this deal. Chances are that or part of a larger trend. Maybe
Congratulations to all the everybody who was going to join
in London. programmers, saving employers winning startups! What do our today's round is slightly smaller
Sponsor time and money. than the rumored $100 million. Twitter has already joined and the
readers think - were these the rest of the potential users are
The first three startups on • Erply(Tallinn, Estonia) - ERP teams you expected to come out Sponsor
Seedcamp's list of winners were on the web. Comprehensive Has Twitter Peaked? simply happy to use Facebook
on top in this competition? Or do instead?
also on the RWW list of startups CRM, accounting, billing and you think a great idea or two may At the same time, though, the
to watch. The last winner, inventory management for SMEs. latest data from Hitwise shows For now, we want to
have been passed over? Leave a congratulate Twitter on closing
Talasim, we couldn't judge • P a t i e n t s K n o w comment and tell us all about it. that visits to Twitter's main
because we couldn't read the B e s t ( C a m b r i d g e , U K ) - Discuss domain have slowed down this round, which will give it a
Arabic text on the site; after Revolutionizing how patients markedly over the last few weeks. chance to improve its technology
reading more about the concept in interact with doctors as a start to This number doesn't take users and grow its team. At the same
the comments section of our last better provided care. into account who access the site time, though, we also hope that
from third-party applications, but Twitter will finally release some
Eco-Tee Design Challenge Winner Announced it does show that a smaller details about how it plans to make
money in the long run and
number of users are going to the
By ELLE.com (ELLE News Miranda Purves, who served as a main site, which indicates a validate this valuation. Discuss
Blog) judge). A winner has just been slowdown in new user adoption.
Submitted at 9/25/2009 1:07:03 PM named: Lindsay Seligman, for her Hitwise's Bill Tancer also found
graphic depicting a bird emerging
For the past two months, we've from the words One Life. Click
been following “ The Eco Tee here to view the other
Design Challenge,” a project submissions, and here for more
launched by Planet Green and information on the challenge.
German apparel company emblazoned on a shirt made of —Erin Clements
Hessnatur in which contestants organic, fair-trade fabric ( check Follow ELLE on Twitter.
vied to have their creations out the selection of ELLE editor
Internet News Record Tech News/ TV/ 45

Filter Your Front Door: More Ads Are Coming

Buzzeromatic Makes Doorbells to Google Maps
By Frederic Lardinois
Smarter (ReadWriteWeb)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:36:53 AM
By Jolie O'Dell Access can also be narrowed to
(ReadWriteWeb) a particular time of day; for where logos for companies like 7-
Soon, you may start seeing Eleven and McDonald's appear on
Submitted at 9/25/2009 1:35:12 PM example, your maid's password company logos dotting the
would only work during the day, the maps. Kit Eaton from Fast
landscape on Google Maps. While Company wonders if the new ads
Apartment-dwellers, rejoice. but your pizza delivery guy's Google has experimented with
Seattle-based startup password could grant him access will be contextual and generated
different types of ads in Google based on user input. Judging from
Buzzeromatic is letting you take any time between noon and Maps on and off over the years, it
control of your own front door in midnight. the ads that appear on the maps in
now looks like Google is going to Japan, these logos will appear on
a way that's smart and flexible. The service will be free for beta make another push to monetize
The premise is simple: Using users during the first phases of the map, no matter what the user
Google Maps. While the details is looking for. At least on the
Twilio's VoIP API, Buzzeromatic testing; eventually, Buzzeromatic about this project are still quite
allows subscribers to grant access will operate on a subscription maps in Japan, these logos are
hazy, it seems like Google plans very small and don't get in the
to visitors, allow delivery folks to model, with packages starting at to launch this program in at least
leave voice messages,and create $9.95 for unlimited door buzzes user's way - though they definitely
the US and Australia in the next add more clutter.
passwords for frequent guests, all building buzzers' behavior from and two passwords. few weeks.
from a web interface with SMS the web interface at any time. So, what do you think, Microsoft's Bing Maps already
Sponsor offers a slightly more
commands for when users are on Krogh explained, "You can set up ReadWriteWeb apartment and A Google spokeswoman told
the go. And yes, there's an app for p a s s w o r d s f o r f o l k s t o l e t condo-dwellers? Would you pay sophisticated advertising package
the Sydney Morning Herald today where certain sponsored listings
that: The team told us their fully themselves in with, or have it call ten bucks a month to have that that "one area in which we are
functional iPhone application is in a bunch of numbers until it finds k i n d o f c o n t r o l o v e r y o u r are highlighted with a business'
looking to experiment is showing logo when a user performs a
the hopper. you (similar to Google Voice), or building's front door? More some easily recognizable brands
Sponsor both. You can also let people importantly, what do you think of relevant search.
and logos on the map to help Just yesterday, Google also
Co-founder Andres Krogh told leave voicemails at the door, if all this team's idea - will this startup people more easily find what they
u s t h a t h e a n d a f r i e n d else fails." sink or swim? Let us know your launched a new layout for the
are looking for, but this is still in Place Pages on Google Maps that
bootstrapped their startup. "The They feel the password function thoughts in the comments! experimental form and we don't
only reason we're able to pull it will be particularly useful for Would you subscribe for shows details about a business
have any further details to share such as opening hours, images,
off is because of the explosion of those who have party guests or Buzzeromatic service?( polling) right now."
commodity VoIP APIs like Twilio others, such as family members or Discuss and reviews. Discuss
Currently, as far as we can tell,
lately that make it somewhat cost a cleaning service, who need to be the only market where Google
effective." granted regular access to a user's already offers these ads is Japan,
Users can customize their apartment.

ABC is giving V a split launch for some reason

By Jason Hughes (TV Squad) extended hiatus. The reason, per reason, we've seen countless times that will sustain us through the
Submitted at 9/26/2009 8:33:00 AM ABC, is the expected ratings that long hiatuses on a new show break. I hope it's like that,
dominance of the Winter can kill it. otherwise they should just push
I'm a little worried about ABC's O l y m p i c s . However, if you think of the back the entire series to 2010.
thinking behind this latest move. And though they're announcing original V, it was a couple of mini Filed under: Programming,
As announced, the remake of the the hiatus, they've not yet said -series followed by a regular OpEd, Reality-Free, V
classic '80s mini-series V will when we can expect the show to series (best forgotten). So maybe Permalink| Email this| |
launch on November 4th. But come back. I hope this doesn't these first four episodes will be Comments
now, after four consecutive mean there are more problems on down production for two weeks written and set up like an epic
e p i s o d e s , i t ' s g o i n g o n a n the set, like the one that shut this summer. Regardless of the mini-series with a bang-up ending
46 Tech News/ Tech Tips/ TV/ Internet News Record

Confirmed: Twitter is Saving All Smallville: Savior (season

premiere)
Your Tweets, After All By Brad Trechak (TV Squad)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 1:07:00 AM
By Marshall Kirkpatrick sounded like a pretty bum deal for
(ReadWriteWeb) a world-changing new (S09E01) Welcome back to
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:05:44 PM communication platform. So we another year of "the show that
emailed to ask. wouldn't die". This year, we've
Forest fires in California, the This was the reply we received been given a target in the first
plane landing on the Hudson email today, though. Twitter is in from Biz Stone: " We definitely episode that in one year, Clark
river, the Mumbai hotel attacks - fact saving all the tweets. You just
save all the tweets although you're will somehow destroy the world.
these historical events and many can't access them through search right in noting that our search However, this was told to him by
more have been recorded by "right now." focuses more on newer content a Kryptonian ninja woman who is
everyday people on the ground, Sponsor they didn't blow the entire
We wrote to Twitter to inquire right now. And yes, the plan is to apparently from the past and
using Twitter. The historic record drop the coordinates after 14 season's budget on it.
working for this year's big bad, so
may be much, much richer as a about the company's stated plans days." her word may not exactly be
Continue reading Smallville:
result - but you can't access it to scrub forthcoming geolocation Savior (season premiere)
There you go. Now that Twitter trustworthy.
through search.twitter.com right data from messages after 14 days. is putting $100 million more into The writers have turned Chloe
Filed under: Smallville, Episode
now. That plan is said to be aimed at Reviews, Reality-Free
the bank, it would be great to see into the new Lana. My sympathies
Many people have worried that avoiding subpoenas, though the some of those resources dedicated to Allison Mack for being given
Permalink| Email this| |
the inaccessibility of historical publishing of the location data at Comments
to making information retrieval on that tragic role. The special effects
Twitter search results might mean all is opt-in in the first place. the service a first class function. of the derailed train in the
that the messages weren't being Scrubbed geolocation data after
The future would be thankful. beginning were pretty cool. I hope
saved at all. Company co-founder two weeks and no way to access Discuss
Biz Stone told us otherwise by historical information at all? That

XPize Polishes Windows XP's Interface [Downloads]

By Jason Fitzpatrick
(Lifehacker)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 8:00:00 AM
Windows: Just because you're
still rocking Windows XP, or
you've recently picked up a
Netbook that zips along nicely
with XP installed on it, doesn't
mean you need to miss out on the
polished graphics of newer
Windows versions.
XP's appearance was a big step
up from the boxy grays of
Windows 98 and 2000, but
compared to the slicker interfaces
of Vista and Windows 7 it's lost a
bit of luster.
XPize is a great all in one tool
for souping up the Windows XP
interface. Unlike simply patching
the theme.dll file—a common and
old way of swapping out the
appearance of Windows XP with
non-Microsoft themes—XPize
actually updates icons and
interface components across the
board. You'll no longer be stuck
with some semi-modern looking
icons and some dinosaur'ish
Windows 98-era icon design that
Microsoft never got around to
polishing up for the XP release.
XPize comes pre-bundled with
several alternative XP themes and
allows you to not only change the
main theme and enjoy newer
icons, but it also allows you to do
some deeper tweaking like easily
swapping out the login and shut
down menus. If you've been
hesitant to muck around with such
matters, XPize makes it nearly
automatic—all you need to do is
pick the look you want and
reboot. XPize is freeware,
Windows only. XPize[via
jkOnTheRun]
Top 10 Ways to Get
More From a
Cameraphone
[Lifehacker Top 10]
By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:00:00 AM
The best camera, the saying
goes, is the one you have with
you. Whether that's an impressive
iPhone 3GS or a $20-with-2-year-
plan flip model, you can pull off
great shots and make life easier
with these cameraphone tactics.
10. Get macro-style close-ups
Macro shots aren't just for

TOP page 47
Internet News Record
TOP
continued from page 46
passionate foodies with tolerant
friends. We've shown you how to
use an old DVD lens to create a
simple, portable cover-up lens to
get serious short focus on
whatever you're shooting. Lack an
old player to tear apart? You can
probably find some cheap add-ons
for your makeshift macro shots.
Either way, you've got a nice little
macro package that's cheap
enough to bring everywhere and
shoot everything, without
worrying too much about
9. Capture your car travel
iPhones and other web-capable
cellphones can be used as turn-by-
turn GPS navigators, so accessory
makers have cranked out lots of
mounting gadgets for them. That's
very convenient, but not half as
fun as directing a low-budget
thriller about your drive to work.
To give your character his mood-
setting opening montage, simply
drill a hole in the camera spot and
find an app that allows for time
lapse photography, or a video
recording function that doesn't
require too much fiddling while
driving.
8. Find your car in huge parking
lots
Remember where one parked is
one of those skills everyone
assumes they're great at until put
to the test. The Digital Inspiration
blog suggest that, among other
creative uses of cameraphones,
using it to snap a picture of the
exit or elevator you're closest to in
a ramp, or landmark or other
marker in an open lot, might save
you a lot of hassle upon returning
from an epic shopping trip or
sports event. It takes less time
than texting yourself the
coordinates, and you'll earn
instant respect when you're the
only one with a bead on where to
find the ride at the end of the
night. Photo by Luciano
Meirelles.( Original post)
7. Document what you packed
A lot of bags are packed in
frantic fashion, but take the 15
seconds to snap a shot or two of
what you're throwing in the case
before you close it. If the airline,
hotel, or shuttle service loses or
damages your luggage, you'll
know exactly what's in your right
to claim inside it. If you want to
be absolutely sure you didn't pack
sunglasses before you run out and
buy them, you'll know whether to
keep digging. Months or years
later, you'll get a laugh out of how
much you thought you needed to
do nothing on vacation. Photo by
Muffet.( Original post)
6. Create PDFs from document
pictures
One hour and many arguments
later, the whiteboard at work is
filled with actually feasible ideas
and team commitments. Now,
how will you remember it
tomorrow morning? Free camera
phone conversion service Qipit
can, depending on your
camphone's quality, accept
whiteboard snapshots, printed
documents, or handwritten notes
with white-ish backgrounds and
convert them into plain old PDFs,
then email them to your regular
address. We just wrote out a
potential work-related use for that
convenience—let's assume you
can think of many, many more
interesting uses than that. And if
you ever need to actually fax one
of these documents, Qipit has you
covered.
5. Punch them up on your
Desktop
Some cameraphone shots
capture perfect moments, but
were taken in not-so-perfect
conditions. Whether you like
doing it yourself or leaving it to
some well-considered software,
it's fairly easy to drag a decent-
looking image out of a rough
snap. Windows users should grab
the Mobile Photo Enhancer for a
quick fix that corrects common
problems. Got Photoshop, the
GIMP, or another photo editing
solution handy? Try Jackson
West's tips on punching up a
photo in under 60 seconds tested
out on a pretty sweet shot of a
bulldog taken with the lackluster
iPhone (2G) camera. (Original
posts: Mobile Photo Enhancer,
Punch Up a Photo)
4. Enforce a diet
Back in the day, when the idea
of phones with cameras was new
to the world (okay, this was only
2005), the MyFoodPhone service
offered, for $149/month,
then$10/month, to have a dietitian
review any photos you send in of
your food and ping you back with
a quick take or suggestion. As you
might imagine, that service
doesn't seem to be around
anymore—perhaps because, for
many people, the act of simply
committing what they're eating to
a camera, and maybe even making
it public, is enough to start
dropping pounds. It's akin to the
idea of calling a parent every
night you hit the town and telling
them how much you had to drink
or how much you spent—you
would, almost certainly, cut back,
and you'd also have photo
evidence and reinforcement of the
times you managed not to kill off
that entire Cheesecake Factory
plate. Photo by Sebastian Mary.
3. Grab and send photos without
fees
Tied to an older phone that
won't let you get pictures out
without paying exorbitant
MMS/email/"upload" fees? Enter
BitPim, a free software tool that
connects to your phone over
Bluetooth and opens it up in a
major way, even if your Bluetooth
capabilities seem very limited.
We walked through backing up
and syncing your phone with
BitPim, performed on a very
limited clamshell model, the
cheapest that came with a Verizon
contract. Check to see if BitPim
supports your phone. If so, feel
free to reach into your little
bundle of circuits and free the
pictures, videos, and tunes that are
rightfully yours. Oh, and throw
some custom-made ringtones in
there, while you're at it.
2. Master the form
Even with the high-end 5-8
megapixel models on the edge of
being available, shooting with a
cameraphone is not the same as
with a standard handheld camera.
The sensors, lens curvature,
capture abilities—it's all been
optimized for a device mostly
meant to pass voice and data from
twisted antennas. That said, you
can learn how to get better shots
out of the camera you always
have with you, as Gina learned
47
and related:
Plan for shutter delay
Like many consumer digital
cameras, there's most likely a
delay between the exact moment
you press the shutter button and
when your cameraphone captures
the image. Plan for this: hit that
button half a second in advance to
get the exact moment you're
looking for, and keep the phone
steady for a few seconds after it's
pressed, too. A little practice will
help you perfect this.
1. Make it your second brain
Get a free Flickr account, and
add your secret, automatically
private, instant-upload email
address to your phone's contacts.
You've now got a tag-able, high-
quality, almost infinite space to
stash everything you're likely to
forget or need to pool your
thoughts on. Wine you want to
buy, the perfect gift you stumble
across in June, your new gadget's
serial number—anything not
already in this list, in other words.
If you're more likely to actually
organize your camera thoughts,
Evernote offers a similar free
space and private email address,
but doesn't allow for tagging by
email, making the otherwise brain
-expanding service, oddly enough,
a bit less useful for this hack
you'll find convenient at just the
right moments. Photo by solson.
What secret superpowers does
your cameraphone have, through
your own doing or others'
suggestions? We want to hear
about them in the comments.
48 Tech Tips/ Internet News Record

Lifehacker Workspaces: Kevin Purdy Edition [Lifehacker

Workspaces]
By Kevin Purdy (Lifehacker) back, but from the front ...
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:30:00 PM It's not too bad a view. If I could
somehow plug in my power strip
We've been getting personal without actually needing a plug,
with our offices all through this I'd be oh-so-happy. The other
Supercharge Your Workspace cord, from a Keurig single-serve
week, and now it's my turn. I just coffee maker, is much better
moved in three weeks ago, so I've hidden.
applied only the cheapest, The lamp is just what I had
quickest workspace tweaks I've handy to spread a bit more light
learned hanging around around. The Keurig is my little
Lifehacker. goofy indulgence, though some
Three situations influence the mornings it's crucial. I
look, feel, and function of my occasionally boil a tea kettle and
desk: let it cool, then pour its "distilled"
• I'm the morning guy at contents into a jug, kept in the
Lifehacker, meaning I get up at 3 bottom drawer of the filing
a.m. Pacific time (6 a.m. my cabinet it sits on. Where do I keep
Eastern time), earlier on busy the pods, you ask?
days, and jump right into feed and The bottom drawer of my
email reading. To let my wife dresser, which stands directly
sleep, I've set up my office with a behind my desk. I can quickly
dresser and moved my good shirts spots, coffee shops, and out to our [ We've temporarily turned the Directly inspired by the inverted wheel back and grab any of those
and slacks into a closet there. That patio, when it's nice. I also don't gallery function off while fixing a inbox laptop stand of Flickr user many things that I don't need on
allows me to sneak away quietly have a dedicated desktop for bug. You can still click on the oldwisemonk, I held out until I my desk at all times, but need too
in the morning to get dressed, get work. I've tried to set up my desk pictures below to see them full found the perfect, black model at frequently to stash too far away.
coffee, and get working, and also so the laptop can both be the size.] Staples and made it my laptop's USB headset, still and video
gives her the entirety of our mother brain of two monitors, The main arrangement. A 19- place of rest. There's a indented camera, an external hard drive and
bedroom's undersized closet music, and whatever else I've got inch LCD serves as the main space in the back to stash the DVD burner, and those essential
• I have yet to upgrade any of going on, but also easy to extract space for stuff I'm actually laptop's power brick and cord, the Keurig K-cups (Pumpkin Spice
my computing components to and plunk into my laptop bag. working on, while the laptop "shelves" hold headphones and coffee and Earl Grey tea at the
wireless, other than the internet There's a lot more I'd like to do screen on the right usually has a USB cables, and it elevates my moment) all get their place with
connection. My mouse, keyboard, with this workspace when it zoomed-in Firefox window open laptop's screen to just about eye other odds and ends.
and speakers all require some comes due on my weekend with perma-tabbed sites I'm level. The walls need another coat of
kind of cable run onto the desktop project list—paint the desk white passively watching—personal I, uh, didn't do quite as well as Hidden Meadow, the cables need
or into the laptop's side, as does and top it with glass, install a Gmail, Lifehacker mail, Google Adam's cordless endeavor at more attention, and that gadget
my main monitor. I'll get a sleeker ceiling fan for centralized light Voice SMS, Google Calendar, using a Signum under-desk cord d r a w e r c o u l d u s e s o m e
look someday, but at the moment, (hence the high-ISO photos), and and Remember the Milk tasks, catcher to completely contain my organizing, I know. Other than
I basically cash my checks at make the aforementioned wireless along with Lifehacker's Campfire cords. Then again, I regularly that, I'm happy to take comments,
Home Depot. upgrades. In the meantime, I've chat site in the late morning. The ( yank out my laptop cord, and suggestions, and questions in the
• I like to get out of the house made it work for me with a few rooted) G1 phone charges when occasionally my phone charger, comments.
quite often in the afternoon, after little adjustments, detailed in the needed, and my college-era, still- from the back, so I grabbed some
spending most mornings glued to photos below. Click on the a w e s o m e B o s t o n A c o u s t i c s flexible plug extenders from
two screens. When it's time for thumbnails for a bigger view and speakers sit slightly behind and Target to make them a little easier
longer writing, I hit coworking description of what I've done: askew from the monitor. to get to. Looks real ugly from the
Internet News Record
From the Tips Box: Receipt Tracking, Frozen Foods, and
Preventing Syncs [From The Tips Box]
By Rosa Golijan (Lifehacker)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 5:00:00 PM
Lifehacker readers offer tips for
automating receipt tracking,
frozen food shopping, and we
learn a quick trick for stopping
our MP3 players from syncing
when we plug them in.
Don't like the gallery layout?
Click here to view everything on
one page.
About the Tips Box: Every day
we receive boatloads of great
reader tips in our inbox (tips at
lifehacker.com), but for various
reasons—maybe they're a bit too
niche, maybe we couldn't find a
good way to present it, or maybe
we just couldn't fit it in—the tip
didn't make the front page. From
the Tips Box is where we round
up some of our favorites for your
buffet-style consumption.
Avoid Refrozen Bags When
Shopping for Frozen Foods
Photo by paulidin
Menzies gives us a pointer
about grocery shopping:
I've got a tip on buying frozen
food, for those nights when you
just don't have enough time to
make dinner and sleep at a
reasonable hour. Whether buying
raw shrimp or frozen berries,
when buying a bag of individually
-frozen goods, always feel for
loosely packed contents, and stay
away from bags with a solid
frozen block of ice inside.
If indeed the contents are meant
to be individually frozen, then
they can really only form a solid
block if it has experienced
prolonged thawing/re-freezing
cycles. Especially when buying
raw meats, evidence of this type
of treatment should be avoided.
Keep Track of Online Purchases
with Email Filters
Photo by Carly & Art
Shandog writes about how he
keeps track of online purchases:
I like to make a lot of online
purchases and use my Gmail for
all of the orders. Sometime after
when I want to check my bank
account or I have a problem with
the product I would need to search
through hundreds of emails to
find these receipts or I would have
to guess some search terms and
hope they work. So I came up
with a filter that has so far not
failed me. By filtering out these
terms "Order Confirmation",
"Order Shipped" and "Your
Order" I have rounded up almost
95% of my receipts and labeled
them as purchases. On the odd
occasion that one is missed, I add
the label and then scan it for a
generic 'receipt' term to add to the
filter.
Prevent Your Peripherals from
Syncing with Some Tape
Photo by R4vi
Smudge00 has a tip that might
not apply to all MP3 players, but
could come in handy for any USB
chargeable device:
Occasionally I want to charge
my MP3 player with the supplied
USB cable and listen to music on
it simultaneously, but when I
connect the player to the
computer, it goes into "USB
docked mode" and therefore I
can't use the player until it is fully
charged and I unplug it again. The
Tech Tips/ 49
solution is putting a narrow piece
of electrical tape over the two
inner contacts inside the computer
end of the usb cable. Since the
outer two contacts are used for
power and the inner two are for
data, the tape stops the computer
from connecting to the MP3
player making it possible to
charge the player and still use it.
This trick could be used to
prevent your media player from
syncing with your computer when
you're just looking for a quick
charge without any sort of delay.
Beware of Germs When
Napping
Photo by Robert S. Donovan
Wratch6647 has a bit of a
warning for those of us prone to
napping in odd spots:
Reading about the DIY hand
sanitizer reminded me that cold
and flu season is indeed coming.
People who are still in school and
might be pulling all-nighters or
partying (which would also
weaken the immune system)
should be wary about putting their
heads on the desk if they decide to
take a little nap time in class.
Reason for this is, someone else
might have taken a nap in that
same desk and left some germs on
it, and think about it, that desk is
probably touched by a lot of
people and really it only takes one
person not to wash their hands...
50 Tech Tips/
This Week's Most Popular Posts [Highlights]
By Adam Pash (Lifehacker)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:00:00 PM
This week we introduced you to
10 underhyped webapps, helped
your rejuvinate your workspace,
and discussed some of the finer
points of laptop battery best
practices.
• Top 10 Underhyped Webapps,
2009 Edition As with rock music,
video games, and other awesome
pursuits, great web applications
often don't get enough credit for
what they do well. We're
revisiting and updating our
favorite underhyped webapps to
give a new crop of contenders
their due.
• Rejuvenate Your Workspace
with These Office Supply
Favorites We normally leave all-
things-gadgetry to our sibling
blog, Gizmodo, but office
supplies are one territory we can't
resist. In the spirit of our
Supercharge Your Workspace
week, here's a look at 20 of our
favorite workspace organizers,
note-takers, and accessories.
• Unplug Your Laptop Regularly
(When In Doubt) A friend
replaced her laptop's battery after
only two years because it wouldn't
hold a charge. I suggested she
shouldn't keep her laptop always
plugged in, but I wondered—was
this outdated geek lore, rendered
obsolete by modern batteries?
• Building The Ultimate Dorm
Desk When you're a DIYer with a
desire to build an epic desk for
your dorm room, it helps to have
access to good tools and
materials. One Lifehacker reader
used great gear and forward-
looking design to craft an ultimate
dorm desk.
• Five Best Time-Tracking
Applications Where does the time
go? Whether you need to know
for billing purposes or just want a
better idea of how your work day
is split up, you can always answer
that question with a good time-
tracking application.
• Three Great-but Cheap-Office
Upgrades Sometimes the best way
to give your workflow a boost is
to give your workspace a
makeover. Even if money's a bit
tight, here's a look at a few cheap
ways to spruce up the place where
you're earning your keep.
• Master the "Why Hire Me"
Story to Land a Job So you've
finally landed that job interview.
Now it's time to seal the deal with
a killer interview. How? For one,
try mastering your "Why hire me"
story.
• RemainInPlay Offers 20 Years
of Free Retro Games If you're
hankering for some nostalgic
video game action this weekend,
you're in luck. Check out this
selection, spanning the last 20
years or so, of commercial games
released as freeware.
• The Best Sounds for Getting
Work Done The right kind of
sound can relax your mind, hone
your focus, drown out
distractions, or get you pumped to
kill your to-do list. We've
assembled some research and free
resources to help you create your
own best workspace soundtrack.
• Nine Workspaces Where
Famous Folks Get Stuff Done
Whether you prefer the clean
minimalism of Steve Jobs and 37
Signals or the creative chaos of
Tina Fey and Pixar, there's a lot to
learn from the workspaces of the
well-known. We present nine
such spaces here for inspiration.
Internet News Record
Examine Hand Gestures
and Smiles to Detect
Lying [Communication]
By Azadeh Ensha (Lifehacker)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:00:00 PM
Some people are better liars than
others. The next time you want to
gauge whether someone's pulling
your leg, try searching for clues
based on their hand gestures and
smile.
It goes without saying that the
following suggestions are not hard
-and-fast rules, but more potential
tip offs that someone may be
fibbing.
At how-to and advice site
Howcast, they offer some
guidelines. Liars tend to
excessively touch their faces and
engage in nervous ticks like
scratching their noses when
speaking, more so than the
average honest Abe. Liars also
tend to smile half-heartedly, doing
so with just their mouths rather
than giving the warm and full-
face smiles that accompany
honest statements and real
emotions.
Watch the above video for the
other lie detecting methods, then
check out our previous posts for
phrases that may tip you off to a
lie as well as an explanation on
how our eyes indicate lies. How
to Detect a Lie[Howcast]
Internet News Record
Microsoft boffin puts brain into e-coffin
(CNET News.com)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:45:41 AM
Gordon Bell may well be a
slightly peculiar man.
On the other hand, he may
simply be the world's first e-
philanthropist.
Bell, a researcher at Microsoft,
has decided that it is, indeed, in
the interests of science for him to
commit every single nano-second
of his brain's functions to a digital
resting place, so that those in
future times might see just what
human life was like in our woeful,
wobbling era.
According to CNN, Bell is just a
little enthusiastic about this
project. (Click here for a Q & A
with Bell from February
conducted by ZD Net U.K.)
He wafts around the world
carrying more recording
equipment than, well, CNN. He
tapes conversations, trips, bills,
medical records, and, for all I
know, visits to the washroom to
groom his nasal hair.
It's a lovely place. But would
you want every second of your
life there to be recorded?(Credit:
CC Robert Scoble/Flickr)
He has even tried out a
Microsoft invention called a
SenseCam, which attempts to
monitor and record as much of
your life as is digitally possible in
the form of images.
I know many of you will be
wondering just how large the
Kilimanjaro of information might
be. Well, Bell seems to estimate it
at some 350GB.
But it's another of his estimates
which makes my body feel
reluctant to welcome my
breakfast. You see, Bell believes
that by 2020 the whole of our
lives will be online and
searchable.
I find myself wondering just
what kind of lives some of these
big boffins have led. Isn't the real
joy of life the mysteries rather
than the facts?
Can anything truly replace the
serendipity of love, the insanity of
coincidence, the maniacal lunacy
of the surprise, and the relief at
Tech Reviews/ TV/ 51
Vampire
Diaries: Friday
Night Bite
By Hemal Jhaveri (TV Squad)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:27:00 AM
(S01E03) Why does every high
school show have to do the
obligatory football episode? Is
this something that's still big for
kids? Seriously, does this
hierarchy of popularity still exist?
Or are the writers just too old to
finally forgetting some of the a twinge of ironic joy at Bell's know any better?
idiotic things we have done in our reply to one searchingly innocent Anyway, this week Stefan tries
lives? question posed to him by CNN: out for the football team in a
There is a woman named Jill "Are you on Facebook and desperate attempt to not be so
P r i c e , w h o s u f f e r s f r o m Twitter?" weird and creepy, and Elena, in an
hyperthymestic syndrome, the Bell replied: "Yeah, I'm on effort to get back to her "normal"
ability to remember absolutely F a c e b o o k a n d T w i t t e r a n d life, goes back to cheerleading.
everything about her life. It does o c c a s i o n a l l y I w i l l t w e e t That works for a few days, until
not seem to make her unusually something. Somehow my problem Damon shows up and kills the
happy. How do I know? Well, she is that I don't think I have history teacher/football coach Mr.
told ABC News: "It makes me anything interesting to tweet Tanner. Yay for Damon!
crazy." about." Continue reading Vampire
If everything is there for us to And yet we are supposed to Diaries: Friday Night Bite
merely click and search, isn't that trawl through 350 Gigabytes of Filed under: OpEd, Episode
the moment when we cease to be mostly uninteresting life? Oh, its Reviews, Reality-Free, Vampire
human beings and become, well, enough to make you want to sip Diaries
Ray Kurzweil? pinot noir with your cornflakes. Permalink| Email this| |
Perhaps you, too, might feel just Comments
52 Tech Reviews/
Send in your questions for Steve
Ballmer
(CNET News.com)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:40:00 PM
What would you ask Microsoft's
CEO?(Credit: Corinne
Schulze/CNET)
It's time for the next installment
of CNET Conversations, and we
have another terrific interview
lined up: Steve Ballmer.
Regardless of whether you love
or hate the CEO of Microsoft, one
of technology's most polarizing
companies, there's no denying the
influence that Ballmer has on the
industry and, by extension, on the
U.S. economy.
Microsoft is most obviously
known for developing the
operating system that runs the
overwhelming majority of the
world's PCs, Windows, and its
Office suite of products has
helped businesses around the
globe operate more efficiently.
Additionally, the Xbox gaming
console, Windows Mobile
software, Bing search engine, and
MSN Web properties are
significant businesses and ripe
areas for exploration.
CNET has talked with Ballmer
many times over the years, and
we can say he's one of our
favorites: insightful, forthright,
funny, and passionate. For one
interview at Microsoft's
Redmond, Wash., headquarters,
he showed up bleeding from the
bridge of his nose, following a
rough game of basketball on the
campus court. (His team won, he
assured us.) During another
Internet News Record
Microsoft's new
Windows 7 ads try to be
cool
(CNET News.com) rather excessive scrubbing that
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:18:29 AM seems to have been eked out upon
far too many of the actors.
There are those who believe Casting is a very difficult art,
Windows 7 doesn't need selling. and especially in the "Your PC.
As long as reviewers continue to Your Life" film, I wonder if the
suggest that it is a fine, fine thing, man who sings about waiting for
then people will gravitate towards his spaceship to fly (and what can
it as they buy their (much cheaper that possibly mean?) doesn't look
than Mac) PCs. a little too polished to be a truly
Microsoft is, however, taking no raw exemplar of cool.
chances. It has released nine new Still, as Mao Tse-Tung was
ads designed for you to not be always fond of whispering to
ashamed of being seen in public those closest to him in intimate
using the new operating system. situations: "A revolution is not a
And what's the best way of dinner party, or writing an essay,
encouraging people to not feel or painting a picture, or doing
ashamed? Why, you try to make embroidery."
your product cool. No, wait, that wasn't the quote I
It is not cool to ever tell people was searching for. It's this one:
you are cool. You must be it. You "Women hold up half the sky."
must sound it. And you must look No, no, it can't be that one. It's
it. definitely this one: "Despise the
interview at CNET's offices, a For some inquisitive inspiration, So I have embedded three of the enemy strategically, but take him
food tray that included deviled here are a few noteworthy films for you to decide just how seriously tactically."
eggs provided an opportunity for Ballmer headlines:
far up your frigid cool scale You see, the enemy's tactics are,
some juvenile humor. • Court docs: Ballmer vowed to Windows 7 has risen. as Microsoft has learned
This time, CNET's Ina Fried and 'kill' Google
You may note the very sparse sometimes to its cost, very cool
Molly Wood will be traveling to • Steve Ballmer is a dissin' use of words, the delicate musical indeed.
Redmond. We've started crafting machine
choices, even the sly wit.
our list of questions to ask • Ballmer: We're cheaper than For myself, I tend to notice the
Ballmer on Thursday, but we Apple! (but not Linux)
want CNET's users to be part of • Ballmer: Google, Google, the
the process. economy, Google
Leave your questions in the • Ballmer on car insurance and
comments section, and we'll select gay rights
some of the more interesting ones • The worst Microsoft promo
to ask Ballmer. Leave your name, videos ever!(scroll down to see
title, and company, and we'll give Ballmer pitching Windows 1.0)
you credit during the interview.
Internet News Record Tech Reviews/ Tech Blog/ 53

JamBase updates concert-finding

iPhone app
(CNET News.com)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:43:58 PM
JamBase, one of the first and
certainly most famous online
concert-listing services, released
its free iPhone app last October. It
was a simple affair: you entered
your ZIP code and the app
returned a list of live music shows
in your area over the next few
days. If you had a list of favorite
artists stored at the JamBase Web
site, it would track those artists
for you. Since then, competing
apps like Bandloop and
iConcertCal have upped the ante
with more sophisticated interfaces
and GPS targeting, which lets
them find nearby shows without
forcing you to enter any data.
JamBase's updated iPhone app
lets you track favorite artists and
add their shows to your JamBase
calendar.
Version 2 of the JamBase
iPhone app, which was released
on Thursday, brings JamBase up
to speed with its own GPS feature
--you don't have to enter a ZIP
code unless you're searching for
results in another location. You
can limit search results to shows
within a certain distance of your
current location, or within the city
limits of your town. Plus, it's
much better integrated with the
JamBase site: you can sign up for
a free JamBase account right from
the app, then add favorite bands to
keep track of and even add
particular shows to your calendar;
all changes are synced between
the iPhone app and the JamBase
site.
The one place it lags is in
synchronization with other apps.
Here, I prefer iConcertCal
because it uses your iTunes
library to build a list of artists
you're interested in. JamBase
makes you enter them manually.
iConcertCal's app has a "Listen"
feature that launches the iTunes
Mobile app to let you listen to 30-
second samples and, if you like
them, buy the tracks. JamBase
features audio samples from LaLa
on its Web site, but no equivalent
on the iPhone app.
Google adds anchor links to
search results
(CNET News.com) this Wikipedia article on nuclear
Submitted at 9/25/2009 5:59:12 PM fusion.(Credit: Screenshot by
Harrison Hoffman/CNET)
Web pages have long included For an example of how this
a n c h o r l i n k s , w h i c h , w h e n works, try searching for " nuclear
clicked, send you to a specific fusion." As you can see, Google
section of the page. Wikipedia pulls out the headings in the
uses them heavily to help users article, so if I was really interested
jump between headings and in the requirements for nuclear
navigate the sometimes large fusion, I could jump straight
articles more efficiently. Google there. This is a great addition and
has announced that it is now really helps in cases where you
including these anchor links in are dealing with long, text-heavy
search results. This is right in line pages.
with Google's mission of helping If you are a Webmaster and
users to find the information that want to set up your Web pages to
they are looking for as quickly identify sections to Google, then
and accurately as possible. read this post on Google's
Google calls out the headings Webmaster Central to get you
( O v e r v i e w , R e q u i r e m e n t s , started.
Important reactions, See also) in

TechCrunch is cloud-enabled!
(Scripting News)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 6:55:23 AM
It's a cause for celebration every
time a feed is cloud-enabled, but
it's a special victory when a large
tech news site takes the leap. The
first to do so was GigaOm, which
became a source of realtime
updates on the same day that
WordPress got the feature. Now
the second big brick falls into
place -- TechCrunch.
I've been emailing with their
new CTO Nik Cubrilovic, for the
last month. This morning I got an
email from him saying their
service was up.
I added the TechCrunch feed to
my River2 aggregator, and it
worked exactly as it should!
Here's a screen capture of the
Log page from River2, which you
read as a blog, from bottom to
2. Request notification from
TechCrunch.
3. They check out my
notification handler, and
apparently like what they see.
4. They accept my request.
5. My River2 logs the
registration.
Now when TechCrunch posts a
top. new article my aggregator will be
1. I subscribe to the feed. directly notified, will read the
feed, and will immediately post
the new item to my home page.
All this should happen, if
everything is working, in a few
seconds.
Thanks TechCrunch for
supporting rssCloud!
PS: Last night I posted an
rssCloud status report.
54 Apple/ Internet News Record

Life With Snow Leopard: One Month Later

By Mark Crump performance — admittedly crashing while I’m using it; just business, I’d definitely say let
(TheAppleBlog) meager on a Macbook with a and dragging them from the when I quit. According to this others test the waters and wait a
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:00:43 PM GMA 950 chipset — took a nose sidebar to my desktop is very t w e e t b y D a v i d P o g u e , few app upgrades before
dive. I had odd crashes, efficient. reinstalling Office solved that upgrading the OS. Actually, that
Installing a new operating application incompatibility, and a As an aside, while this isn’t problem. When I went to reinstall statement works for anyone who
system on Day One is often a nightmare getting my printers really a Snow Leopard feature, a it, I was having media issues with considers their Mac to be mission
foolish undertaking. Yet, there I w o r k i n g a g a i n t h a t w a s week ago I upgraded my aging my internal drive so I can’t test critical. If it’s working just fine
was, installing Snow Leopard the reminiscent of Vista’s printer 2006-era Macbook to a new the validity of his statement. now, and you rely on it working
night of the 28th. issues. Macbook Pro. I was able to just As I mentioned in my just fine, don’t upgrade.
I took the plunge day one for Snow Leopard has been a joy swap out the hard drives with no Automator piece, Word 2008 isn’t One of the problems with Snow
two reasons: as a tech journalist and I have zero regrets about reinstallation needed. I’ve heard context services aware, but that’s Leopard is while I can come up
specializing in the Mac, I felt I upgrading. I’m going to break conflicting reports on how this not really a Snow Leopard with reasons like these not to
owed it to our readers to offer down my experiences in terms of worked in Leopard, but the only problem; Word is still a Carbon upgrade, until applications are
timely insight on Snow Leopard positive and negative experiences. painful — and I use that term app. updated — and in some cases
from the perspective of one who Positives loosely — part of the hardware I guess if I wanted to, I could rewritten — to take advantage of
has actually used it. After all, My Snow Leopard install has swap was re-pairing my Bluetooth complain that items in stacks Snow Leopard, you’re likely to
someone needs to be able to “just worked.” All my printers devices and resetting up Time aren’t context sensitive…but not see a big upgrade.
report back if it’s a smart idea to work, even our ancient HP Color Machine. that’s reaching. Would I Sure, the new cat is faster than
strap a jet engine to a Ford Pinto. Laser at work. The only major While there’s been much r e c o m m e n d u p g r a d i n g ? the old one. Even on my old 2006
The other reason was timing. I incompatibility issues I had wailing and gnashing of teeth After my glowing words of MacBook I could tell they
knew I wanted to install it. I was w e r e w i t h L a u n c h b a r , b u t over the Photoshop compatibility praise, you’d probably expect me patched in more snappy. While I
going away the weekend after, upgrading to the latest version and issue, my ancient copy of — wait to join the chorus of pundits love the new Expose and Stacks,
and my night classes started a waiting for it to index cleared the for it — CS1 is working fine. I proclaiming, “It’s a no brainer! and would miss them if I had to
week later and I wanted to be able problem. really should get around to Make haste to the Apple Store!” go back to Leopard, right now I’m
to allow a couple of weeks to Dock Expose and Minimize to upgrading that one of these days, but my verdict is instead one still having a hard time
smooth out any issues. Dock Icon have become Features but I’ve moved most of my image based on reason. Therefore, I can recommending people make a
Leaving plenty of time to I Wonder How I Was Able to Get editing needs over to Pixelmator. definitively answer this thusly: change for the sake of change.
resolve any issues appeased the Through the Day Before™. It’s so The only thing I really use kinda, sorta, maybe. I know, it’s I can’t think of many reasons
karma gods and my installation intuitive and so hard to believe Photoshop for these days is hard to get people to make a stand for you not to upgrade. However,
went very smoothly with no it’s taken Apple this long to cutting masks with the pen tool, for their beliefs; I’m glad I could unless you want the new UI
issues. Another friend of mine implement it. so it’s possible other features fall on that sword for you. improvements, until we see apps
angered the gods by installing The new Automator is really aren’t SL happy. Negatives The Word crash on exit issue is take advantage of Grand Central
Snow Leopard at 1 am the night amazing. I wrote about it already, I haven’t really had any enough for me to tell heavy Office and Open CL, I can’t really think
before a business trip — ask her and I stand by that article. negatives. I’ve been giving it a lot users to hold off. It may well be of many reasons you should
how her Snow Leopard install Automator alone has been worth of thought while composing this that a reinstall fixes it, and I’ve upgrade. Read our latest analysis
went. the upgrade fee for me. article to make sure I’m not being had no issues with Word other piece, " Mobile Sites Show Little
I’ve been very happy with SL Being able to drag off selected a total fan boy, but the only than the exit crash, but apps that Improvement." Only on GigaOM
over the last month. After I pages of PDF file in Preview is negative I have is Microsoft Word crash quitting don’t fill me with Pro.
installed Leopard before the first proving to be godsend. Every now crashes a lot on exit. It’s not confidence, even if it’s just
patch, I quickly realized it was and then, I’ll need to grab a few affecting any data. It’s not cosmetic.
b a d n e w s . M y g a m i n g sections from 200+ page PDFs, If you work in the design
Internet News Record
Weekly App Store Picks: September 26, 2009
By Olly Farshi (TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:00:19 AM
As another week draws to a
close, the App Store expands even
further with a torrent of new toys
and tools. As ever, I’ve hand-
picked four recent iPhone releases
for you to take a look at.
This week I’ve given our picks
a creative vibe, selecting four
different apps that let you engage
with your artistic and cultural
side. My top pick for the week is
Xewton Music Studio, plus I’ve
been looking at Snapture,
GraffitiGeo and McSweeney’s.
Xewton Music Studio($19.99)
Armed with an iPhone, there’s
never been so much choice for
making music on the move.
Despite all the choice, the
recording app I keep coming back
to is FourTrack. It’s a fully-
featured 4 track recorder,
complete with bouncing, panning,
metronome and Wi-Fi sharing.
When it comes to full on audio
sequencing and sketching out
bigger ideas, I head for Intua’s
BeatMaker. The app costs twenty
bucks, but for producers it’s
definitely worth it: this is about as
close to Ableton Live as you’ll get
on your iPhone.
Now it looks like I might be
adding Xewton Music Studio to
my iPhone audio app lineup.
Change of Script: Jets Become Targets of Smack Talk
By Josh Alper (FanHouse)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 11:15:00 AM
by Josh Alper
Filed under: Jets, Titans
Comments from Titans fullback
Ahmard Hall have eliminated any
doubt. One of the running themes
of this year's NFL season is going
Rather than put the focus on
electronica, like Beatmaker,
Music Studio is essentially a
sequencer designed with
traditional composers and
songwriters in mind.
Xewton Music Studio includes
21 instruments, a 128-track
sequencer, piano-roll note editor,
real-time effects and lots more.
Although the app may well take
some time to learn, it’s powerful
enough to potentially become a
useful composition tool for many
musicians.
Snapture($1.99)
With Flickr, QuadCamera and
PhotoForge handling all of the
photo processing on my iPhone, I
wasn’t sure if there was room for
another camera app. Arriving at
the App Store by way of Cydia,
Snapture is a very tempting and
feature-packed photo processing
tool. Tempting as it is for my
3GS, this recommendation is for
3G users only.
The app rolls in a raft of useful
functions, such as High Speed
Multishot and Level Aid. Plus,
once you’ve taken your photos,
you can stay within the app to
browse and manage your library.
It’s worth noting that the app
currently doesn’t make use of the
3GS iPhone’s tap-to-focus
functionality. While Snapture
works well enough on Apple’s
to be trash talk and the New York
Jets. Up until this point, the Jets
have been the ones running their
mouths with the explicit approval
of new coach Rex Ryan, but it
was inevitable that some of it
would get lobbed back in their
direction.
We thought it happened last
latest device, I would urge 3GS
owners to hold out until the app
integrates this much requested
feature. GraffitiGeo(Free)
Last Summer I signed a two-
year contract with Sonera and
received a white iPhone 3G. After
arriving home and spending far
too long trying to decide if I
should film the unboxing (I
didn’t), I tore away the packing,
activated my iPhone and headed
for the App Store.
One of the first apps that I
downloaded was Graffitio, an old-
school bulletin board that
included geo-location support.
After tagging various locations
and adding a few messages, I got
a little bored. The app’s long lists
of tiny text felt too plain for my
iPhone.
Released this Summer,
GraffitiGeo takes the location
tagging concept even further. The
app feels like a fun version of
Dopplr — as a tool, GraffitiGeo is
useful for finding food, events and
places of interest. And it’s
surprisingly compelling as a toy
too, as you’re able to form gangs
and earn achievements. Definitely
one to check out for iPhone
owners in big cities.
McSweeney’s(99 cents)
McSweeney’s has always been
week, but it turned out to be a
a reliable destination for
deliciously absurd, charming,
silly, classy and fun literary
offerings. While there are longer
pieces to delve into, my favorite is
a very short piece by Mike Ward
called, E-mail Addresses It Would
Be Really Annoying To Give Out
Over The Phone.
Regular readers of
McSweeney’s monochromatic
online offering will be used to
getting their fix for free. Although
the iPhone app isn’t free, it
includes access to a weekly fix of
McSweeney’s Internet Tendency.
The most promising aspect of
McSweeney’s iPhone app is that
it includes a six month
subscription to the Small Chair.
Every single week for the next six
months you’ll receive scrummy
multimedia blips — songs,
videos, stories and such — from
clever creative folk like Spike
Jonze, Chris Ware and Jonathan
Ames.
That’s all the picks for this
week. I’ll be back in seven days
with a fresh selection of App
Store recommendations.
In the meantime, what apps
have you been using this week?
Read our latest analysis piece, "
Will Apps.gov Raise the Bar for
Cloud Providers?" Only on
GigaOM Pro.
fake Rodney Harrison doing the
tweeting. Now, though, we've got
our first actual return of fire. Hall
isn't a fan of Jets linebacker Bart
Scott's running on-field
commentary. On the eve of this
Sunday's game, Hall told Jim
Wyatt of the Tennessean exactly
why.
Apple/ Sports/ 55
Fulham vs.
Arsenal Live Blog
By Howard Swains
(FanHouse)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:14:00 PM
by Howard Swains
Filed under: English Premier
League
We've got another weekend of
EPL action on our hands, and the
FanHouse UK team is covering
every minute. FanHouse UK's
Howard Swains live blogs the
match between Fulham and
Arsenal. Check out the coverage
after the jump.
More EPL Coverage: Chelsea
Falls| Kean Leads Tottenham|
FanHouse UK
Fulham vs. Arsenal Live Blog
originally appeared on Fanhouse
Soccer Blog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009
12:14:00 EST . Please see our
terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Linking
Blogs| Comments
Change of Script: Jets Become
Targets of Smack Talk originally
appeared on Fanhouse NFL Blog
on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:15:00
EST . Please see our terms for use
of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Linking
Blogs| Comments
56 Apple/
AT&T iPhone MMS Launches
Today
By Darrell Etherington
(TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:21:28 AM
According to the Twittersphere,
AT&T has begun flipping the
switch on MMS across the U.S.
today. Sources say that AT&T
will be sending out text messages,
beginning at 10 A.M. EST today,
to notify customers when MMS
service is available for their use.
Customers and industry
watchers alike are waiting
anxiously to see how AT&T’s
network will cope with the
increased demand MMS will
cause. AT&T spokesman Seth
Bloom doesn’t expect any
problems, however, noting in an
email that:
SMS and MMS messages are
carried differently than other
network traffic. This is one of the
reasons why when there’s a
natural disaster or other large
scale emergency situation (e.g.,
earthquake or something like that)
that causes a huge and sudden
spike in voice calls, wireless
carriers suggest that people send
text messages. They’re likely to
get through when the voice
circuits are busy.
Stacey at GigaOM goes into
more detail about how MMS and
SMS work compared to regular
voice calls. She concludes that the
true linchpin factor in today’s
launch will be the strength of
AT&T’s servers. Clearly, the
carrier must be fairly confident in
on social media networks for
AT&T iPhone users to
simultaneously send out MMS
messages at 5 P.M. EST to
attempt to crash the network on
purpose. I wonder if AT&T
accounted for organized attempts
to destabilize its network in
preparation for today’s launch.
To activate MMS on your
iPhone, plug your device into
your computer. Click on it in the
source list in iTunes, and then
click the “Check for Update”
button. You should see a dialog
that says, “An update to the
carrier settings for your iPhone is
available. Would you like to
download it now?” Click
“Download and Update” and wait
for the process to finish. Carrier
their ability to handle the strain, settings updates are normally very
or we’d likely still be waiting for fast. Once it’s finished, the
the company to announce a start camera icon should appear in your
date.
text messaging dialog, and new
Some, like Twitter user Connor menu options should open up in
Stanton, are hoping that AT&T your other native apps for sending
won’t be equal to the task and that various types of media.
its failure to meet the demand will
Once activated, you’ll be able to
result in a breakdown of the send photos, video, audio, map
exclusivity deal between the locations, and contact information
carrier and Apple. Stanton writes, v i a M M S t o o t h e r e n a b l e d
“Come on AT&T. I want to crash devices. Very handy for making
your infrastructure when MMS sure the sofa color you’re looking
rolls out so Apple will kill at is OK with your significant
iPhone’s exclusivity in US. other before making a purchase,
Kthnxbye.” In theory, if Apple for example. Read our latest
thinks AT&T network woes are analysis piece, " Mobile Sites
having a significant impact on its Show Little Improvement." Only
iPhone sales, we could see it take on GigaOM Pro.
its business elsewhere.
There’s even a plan circulating
Internet News Record
Quick Tip: Adding
Photo Albums to Any
Page in iWeb
By Charles Jade
(TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:18:12 AM
Having finally gotten around to
upgrading to iWeb ‘09, I’ve found
the best new feature to be an old
trick that stopped working in
iWeb ‘08. It’s a simple method
for inserting photo albums onto
other pages, like blogs — and for
iWeb ‘09 users it’s a hidden
feature that shouldn’t be missed.
The greatest strength of iWeb, on non-album pages. For the
its ease of use, is also its greatest above example, I created a photo
weakness. Through themes and page with a few images of an
templates, iWeb rigidly controls antique desk.
the fundamental design of web You then create the non-photo
pages. While you can create
page for the album, in this case a
custom pages with the use of blog entry about the antique
HTML, iWeb offers templates for
secretary desk.
essentially two types of web Going back to the photo page,
pages: photos and blogs.
select the rectangular frame that is
Creating a photo page in iWeb the album and copy it. As you can
is as easy as dragging an iPhoto
see, it’s now in the clipboard.
album from the Media Browser. Finally, you simply paste it into
Creating blog entries is also easy;
another web page, in this case at
just start typing over the the bottom of the blog entry.
placeholder text in a new entry
Upon publishing, there is now an
template. Adding individual inline photo album on a blog
photos to a blog entry is drag-and-
page. The inline album can have
drop simple as well, but drag an all the features of the one on the
album into a blog entry and iWeb
actual photo page, too, including
will only create a separate photo the option of a slideshow and
page. What iWeb doesn’t tell you
image downloading. You can see
is that’s the first step to adding a the actual page here.
photo album to any page in iWeb.
When you want photos in iWeb,
Actually, the first step is to but not a photo page, remember
create an Albums Page, a web that an inline album is only a few
page that’s acts as a directory of a steps away. Read our latest
group of photo albums, and one analysis piece, " Why Startups
that’s left out of your web site Aren’t Changing the World."
map. I named mine “Misc” and Only on GigaOM Pro.
use it to keep photo albums I use
Internet News Record Apple/ 57

The Greenest Apple Yet

By Charles Jade
(TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:09:02 PM
In the latest example of Apple
going green, the technology
company has launched a revised
and expanded web site, Apple and
the Environment.
While the company, to date, has
largely focused on reporting the
environmental impact of its
manufacturing processes, the
updated site also examines Apple
products over their entire life
cycle, including consumer usage.
In conjunction with the site
launch, Peter Burrows of
BusinessWeek reports on Apple’s
effort to change the “terms of
debate” over the environment.
For Apple, that debate has often
been with Greenpeace. The
environmental organization’s
periodic reports on the green
efforts of technology companies
have often graded Apple poorly.
In the BusinessWeek article,
Steve Jobs was his usual candid
and caustic self, saying that “I
thought Greenpeace was being
very unfair with us at the
beginning, and that they were
using us to get visibility.” While
that may be true (I think it is),
more objectively, one of the many
problems with the methodology
Greenpeace uses in its reports is
that it takes into account future
commitments as well as actions in
the present.
Another issue Apple has with
some green rankings is the
exclusive focus on the operations
of a company, often without even
taking into account the
environmental impact of the
products. Jobs likened this to
“asking a cigarette company how
green their office is.” To that end,
Apple is coming clean on its true
carbon footprint, and it’s a big
one.
For Apple, that’s 10.2 million
tons of carbon emissions
annually, more than half the the
company’s total output. In
contrast, HP and Dell, both far
larger companies in terms of
manufacturing and numbers of
products sold, report smaller
emissions totals. For HP, that’s
8.4 million tons annually, while
Dell reports a seemingly
miraculous 471,000 tons. Of
course, neither company counts
the emissions totals of products in
the hands of consumers, and that
is a big deal. Apple’s decision to
report those totals “could
completely change how
companies are evaluated,”
according to Alexandra
McPherson of the environmental
group Clean Production Action.
Of course, it remains to be seen
whether Greenpeace will give
Apple credit where credit is due.
After all, how much publicity can
Greenpeace get from badgering a
beleaguered company like Dell?
Read our latest analysis piece, "
Will Apps.gov Raise the Bar for
Cloud Providers?" Only on
GigaOM Pro.

There’s a Bounty On Your Mac: 43 Cents Per Malware

Infection
By Darrell Etherington
(TheAppleBlog)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 8:00:24 AM
Think affiliate programs are
solely the province of SEO firms
and experts? Think again. There’s
such a thing as a malware affiliate
program, and a very recent one
targets Mac users specifically. It’s
a sign that cyber-crime is
beginning to target Apple more
aggressively than it has in the
past.
ZDNet.com reports that a group
called the “ Partnerka,” which
consists of Russian spam and
malware affiliates, have begun to
focus on the Mac. Their tactics
involve using social engineering
tricks (read: preying on human
weakness) to install fake codecs
and scareware programs (the kind
that pressure you into installing
and paying for bogus single
purpose anti-malware software).
The plans and methods of the
“Partnerka” were revealed at the
Virus Bulletin Conference 2009,
where Sophos Labs researcher
threat is not. These malware still require you to make the first
Dmitry Samosseikko talked about schemes work because they offer move. To help protect yourself
a site called Mac-codec.com something many Mac users might from fake and harmful codecs, use
which has since been taken down, be looking for. Partnerka’s Mac- Perian and VLC, and if your
that offered a bounty of 43 cents codec.com was offering video video still won’t play back, just
for each successful installation of players and fake video codecs that give up altogether. No video
malicious software on a Mac attempt to draw in people trying content is worth the theft of your
c o m p u t e r . A c c o r d i n g t o to playback video they’ve private data, after all. Read our
Samosseikko, that’s a high price, downloaded somewhere on the latest analysis piece, " Will
and indicates that the Mac web. Previous DNS-changing Apps.gov Raise the Bar for Cloud
malware game is becoming more trojan malware attempts depended Providers?" Only on GigaOM
a t t r a c t i v e t o o n l i n e c r i m e on porn video lures. Pro.
organizations. Focus on the Mac platform
Even though the site is gone, the might be growing for online
criminals, but most malware plots
58 Tech Blog/ TV/ Internet News Record

Where we're at with rssCloud What's On Tonight: Children of

(Scripting News) and a number of developers are the Corn, SNL, Sit Down, Shut
working on solutions. I hope
Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:46:00 PM

A brief report on where we're at

when code emerges, there will be
an effort to make their interfaces
with rssCloudLand as September compatible, so maximum interop
winds down. can be achieved.
Up
By Bob Sassone (TV Squad)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:14:00 PM

It's been a great summer. In 3. Conventions for naming, so

July, we got busy rebooting the
RSS cloud, based on the
experience in 2001 and 2002, with
lessons learned, and a lot more
success than we had seven years
ago.
Based on the walkthrough
document, the community has
shipped multiple implementations
of all three sides of the interface.
1. There have been many
implementations of the cloud
software, including my own
rssCloud.root and wordpress.com
and the plug-in that turns every
standalong WordPress installation
into an rssCloud server. Total
number of installations: millions.
2. Lots of feeds and authoring
systems numbering in the
millions. Example real-time
podcast feeds and photo feeds.
3. Not so many aggregators. So
far only two -- first my own
River2 and LazyFeed. There
many more on the way. I hope
one or two Twitter clients will
ship rssCloud support in the
month of October.
What next?
I have four immediate priorities:
1. Features that will make it
possible for Google Reader and
other large scale aggregators to
wire into rssCloud. These are
technical features, to most users
they are details, but nonetheless
are important. It must be possible
for a server to register a
notification request using a
domain name, on behalf of
another server. And along with
this feature, most developers
believe a stronger verification
process is needed. I am one of
them. Yet it must remain simple
to implement, so the barrier to
entry is as low as possible. There
have been proposals in both these
areas.
2. Long-polling proxies for
clients running on systems behind
NATs or firewalls. This
technology is well-understood,
that URLs can be mapped to
names that are managed by DNS,
the naming system of the Internet
itself. I've done a simple
experiment in this area to get
myself educated on the issues and
learn how users and developers
see this.
4. A high-level user-oriented
vision statement for rssCloud with
a roadmap for developers and
marketers. My goal is to create an
open loosely-coupled message
network that achieves more or
less what Twitter does, but in a
decentralized manner. It must use
the architecture of the Internet to
achieve what Twitter achieves in
a centralized fashion. No doubt
there will be tradeoffs, some
things the open network will do
better, and other things that the
centralized one will. This is
similar to previous layers of the
Internet, where systems like AOL
and CompuServe provided more
sophisticated features, where the
World Wide Web was more low-
tech, more basic. Both ways of
doing things have advantages and
survive to this day.
Comments, questions and
suggestions are welcome.
• At 8, ABC has College
Football, Iowa vs. Penn State.
• FOX has a new Cops at 8.
• Nickelodeon has a new iCarly
at 8, then a new True Jackson,
VP.
• At 9, FOX has a new America's
Most Wanted.
• Lifetime has the movie
Homecoming at 9.
• Syfy has the movie Children of
the Corn at 9.
• Also at 9: BBC America has a
new Robin Hood.
• CNBC has a new Suze Orman
Show at 9.
• At 9:30, Biography Channel
has a new Ghostly Adventures.
• At 10, CBS has a new 48
Hours Mystery.
• Style has a new episode of The
Dish at 10.
• At 11:30, NBC has a new
Saturday Night Live, with Megan
Fox and U2.
• At midnight, FOX has a new
Sit Down, Shut Up.
• At 12:30 AM, Cartoon
Network has two new episodes of
Bleach.
Check your local TV listings for
more.
Filed under: Programming,
What To Watch Tonight, Reality-
Free
Permalink| Email this| |
Comments
Internet News Record TV/ Sports/ 59

Why are the ladies of The Grey's Anatomy: Was the

View always kissing each laughing scene at George's
other? funeral realistic?
By Jane Boursaw (TV Squad) By Jane Boursaw (TV Squad)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:29:00 AM Submitted at 9/26/2009 1:07:00 PM

This week on The View, the
ladies were talking about how to
avoid getting the swine flu. The
discussion began with ways to
handle (or not handle, as the case
may be) guests, to reduce the
amount of germs passed from one
human to another. Or something.
Anyway, during the course of
the bit, Joy offered several
options, including the elbow-
bump, the knuckle-bump, and --
getting progressively worse -- the
hand-shake, the body hug, an air
kiss, and then a full-out kiss on
the mouth. She proceeds to
demonstrate this on Whoopi
Goldberg.
My question is this: Why do the
ladies of The View always end up
kissing each other on the mouth?
When Mary Richards burst out
laughing at Chuckles the Clown's
funeral, I could totally understand
that. She's mortified, of course,
and when the minister says it's ok,
that laughter is what Chuckles
Ok, "always" is a pretty strong would have wanted, Mary starts
word, but there was the Meredith sobbing. It seemed both funny and
Vieira / Barbara Walters smooch, realistic.
and I'm sure others in between I was trying to decide if the
that one and this one between Joy laughing scene at George's funeral
and Whoopi. in this week's Grey's Anatomy
Continue reading Why are the was realistic, and I guess it is. No
ladies of The View always kissing one really knows how grief will
each other? affect someone, and laughter is as
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, good as any method of handling
Watercooler Talk, Talk Show grief.
Permalink| Email this| | I mean, the whole thing was sort
Comments of crazy -- that George would be
hit by a bus while saving
someone. And then that
"someone" would be crying more
than anyone else at the funeral.
No doubt, she was filled with
guilt and grief over the whole
thing.
Continue reading Grey's
Anatomy: Was the laughing scene
at George's funeral realistic?
Filed under: OpEd, Video,
Grey's Anatomy, Watercooler
Talk, Reality-Free
Permalink| Email this| |
Comments
The Fix
Picks the
NFL: Week 3
(WSJ.com: The Daily Fix)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 1:22:57 PM
It’s probably too early in the
NFL season to act especially
confident about any of this stuff,
but 1) that is what they pay me the
big bucks to do (they neither pay
me to do that, nor pay me “big
bucks”) and 2) I went 10-6 last
week and can thus say whatever I
want. Hold on, the Pulitzer Prize

Boston Red Sox lefthander Jon Lester left game vs. New York
Yankees after getting hit in leg
By Associated Press
(ESPN.com)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:06:22 PM
SC Highlight Of The Night SC
Highlight Of The Night
NEW YORK -- Jon Lester fell
to the mound, struck near the right
knee by a line drive off the bat of
Melky Cabrera. His head back
and eyes closed, he was in great
pain.
Trainers from both teams went
to the mound. After about 2
minutes, Lester hobbled off with
the assistance of Red Sox trainer
Paul Lessard, and David Ortiz
helped him down the dugout
steps.
"It looked terrible; it sounded
terrible," Boston Red Sox
manager Terry Francona said.
It turned out to be not so bad.
X-rays were negative and Lester
came away from Friday night's 9-
5 loss to the New York Yankees
with a bruised quadriceps. He
hopes to take his next turn in the
rotation.
"I'm fine. Any time you take a
ball off any part of your body,
you're worried, but the tests came
back fine," said Lester, his right
knee bandaged from mid-thigh to
mid-calf.
He was able to bend the knee
normally to put on his jeans.
"After what we saw, it was a big
sigh of relief," Francona said. "It's
pretty positive that he's going to
be OK."
Cabrera wound up with an RBI
single that gave the Yankees a 4-0
lead.
"It hit off my knee going about
mach seven," Lester said. "It hit
me in a good spot, where it didn't
do too much damage that,
hopefully, I won't miss any time."
Lester allowed five runs and
eight hits in 2 1/3 innings. He has
been Boston's top pitcher in the
second half, entering the night 6-0
with a 2.44 ERA in 11 starts from
July 25 on.
"Hopefully the swelling won't
get too bad," he said.
Copyright 2009 by The
Associated Press
60
FIX
continued from page 59
committee’s on the phone, I have
to take this. Associated Press Ray
Lewis and the Ravens look to go
3-0 with a win over AFC North
rival Cleveland on Sunday.
Anyway, where was I? Right,
talking about how no one knows
anything yet. There’s a vague
sense of which teams can’t
compete and which ones will be
very good, but after two weeks
it’s tough to be too certain about
anything. Baltimore, for instance,
is playing amazing defense
(expected) and is also second in
the NFL in scoring (not
expected); Cleveland, the team
the Ravens are playing this week,
seemed likely to take a step
forward in my opinion, but have
seemingly stepped off a pier
instead and have a minus-35 point
differential after two games.
There’s a chance all the emerging
trends hold, of course, and that
Baltimore scores in the 30s every
week and Cleveland won’t score
another touchdown until Week 9.
But there’s a chance I go 10-6
every week, too. It’s just not a
good one. In short, most of these
teams (and your Fixers) are still
figuring this out.
Week 2 recap (overall): David
Roth: 10-6 (17-15), Garey Ris: 7-
9 (10-22), Al Toonie, the Lucky
Canadian Two-Dollar Coin: 7-9
(15-17)
SUNDAY’S GAMES
Cleveland at Baltimore (-13.5):
Ray Lewis, man. Can’t live with
him - unless you’re really into
listening to long speeches about
staying focused or whatever - but
the Ravens surely couldn’t live
without him. His game-saving
tackle in Week 2 looked like
something out of a video game,
and was a nice reminder (well, not
for Darren Sproles) of how
enjoyable he and the Ravens
defense are to watch. That Balto’s
offense is currently averaging
34.5 points per game seems more
a function of it being Week 3 than
anything else, but given
Baltimore’s inspired play through
the first two weeks and
Cleveland’s manifest
moribundity, this gigantic line
seems downright reasonable. DR
Pick: David: Baltimore, Garey:
Baltimore, Al Toonie: Baltimore
Pittsburgh (-4) at Cincinnati:
Pittsburgh’s problem with running
the ball is serious. Not just
because the Steelers have
struggled to score in their first two
games, although there’s that, but
because they’re running the risk
of Ben Roethlisberger reaching
whatever the NFL version of his
pitch-count is - he has thrown 78
times in the first two weeks. After
a couple of off-decades, there’s a
tendency to dismiss the Bengals
as merely the organization that
underwrites Chad Ochocinco’s
end-zone performance art, but
they look balanced and solid after
two weeks and have more sacks
than any other NFL team. Not
saying they’ll win, exactly, but
DR
Pick: David: Cincinnati, Garey:
Pittsburgh, Al Toonie: Pittsburgh
Washington (-6.5) at Detroit:
Message discipline: not one of
Detroit’s problems. Despite the
manifest (and expected) not-
readiness of quarterback Matthew
Stafford, Lions coach Jim
Schwartz is sticking with the
rookie over veteran Daunte
Culpepper. Fine. But what is this?
“We do not have a quarterback
controversy,” Schwartz said. “We
have two quarterbacks that can
win in the NFL.” How nice that
must be! The Lions have been
horrible on D and will be without
star LB Ernie Sims, but my pick is
less reflective of thinking Detroit
will win - although it’s plausible -
than it is of my doubt that the
embattled ‘Skins can score seven
points. DR
Pick: David: Detroit, Garey:
Detroit, Al Toonie: Detroit
Jacksonville at Houston (-3.5):
Is it fair to describe Jacksonville,
Florida as a sprawling, half-
foreclosed nightmare of un-
culture? It absolutely is not (they
have a symphony, people), and
that is why I would never do such
a thing. But the franchise is in dire
straits, with an 0-2 record being
the least of its problems. Houston
doesn’t look notably more
consistent or together than they
did during its up-and-down 2008
season, but it’s easy to pick the
Texans against a confused,
distracted, rookie-laden team that
could find itself house-hunting for
a new home city after the season.
DR
Pick: David: Houston, Garey:
Houston, Al Toonie: Jacksonville
San Francisco at Minnesota (-
6.5): The cities of Buffalo and
San Francisco aren’t often
mistaken for one another, but this
year’s surprising 49ers look
something like the hot-starting,
slow-finishing Buffalo Bills of
2008. Those Bills were talented
but not deep, undermanned at
quarterback and started 5-0
largely by allowing teams to beat
themselves. The 49ers are
probably a bit better than that,
thanks to crazy-but-respected
coach coach Mike Singletary and
very excellent running back Frank
Gore. Still, of the two undefeated
teams in this game, only one has
elite offensive and defensive
lines, a fully competent
quarterback and the best running
back in the NFL. It wears purple.
DR
Pick: David: Minnesota, Garey:
Minnesota, Al Toonie: Minnesota
Atlanta at New England (-4.5):
Wow, really? The Patriots aren’t
playing the Atlanta Braves, right?
Because considering how brilliant
the Atlanta Falcons the city’s
NFL football team — have looked
in running up a 2-0 record, and
how poor the Patriots have looked
in general, this line is kind of
surprising. Even Bill Simmons is
worried about the Patriots, and
Tom Brady has looked very shaky
against better pass rushes. Which
Atlanta has. The Falcons, we
mean. No offense to Chipper
Jones, but John Abraham is way
better at sacking quarterbacks.
Watch and see. DR
Pick: David: Atlanta, Garey:
New England, Al Toonie: New
England
Kansas City at Philadelphia (-
9): The Chiefs are even
disappointing in the manner in
which they’re disappointing.
Kansas City is 0-2, and the good-
time spread offense that made
them fun-bad last year has been
replaced by queasy uncertainty,
bad vibes, a quasi-no-confidence
vote in quarterback Matt Cassell,
and by-the-numbers bad-badness
this year. Still, they’re playing an
Eagles team whose best offensive
players are injured, and which
looked pretty sloppy in a bad
Week 2 loss to New Orleans. The
Chiefs probably won’t win this
one, and are missing their best
defensive player in linebacker
Derrick Johnson, but nine points
still seems like a lot. DR
Pick: David: Kansas City,
Garey: Philadelphia, Al Toonie:
Philadelphia
Green Bay (-6.5) at St. Louis:
To fantasy players, the Packers
seem fairly stacked. Aaron
Rodgers, top-five quarterback,
Internet News Record
Greg Jennings, top-five receiver,
and so on. And yet, as often
happens in actual, not-in-a-
computer football, non-fantasy
elements - sloppiness on defense
and a terrible offensive line that’s
on pace to allow an NFL-record
80 sacks - have hampered Green
Bay. St. Louis can rush the passer
and might get to Rodgers a few
times, but remain truly terrible
despite their own corps of fantasy
stars. The lesson? Don’t hire The
Talented Mr. Roto as GM. DR
Pick: David: Green Bay, Garey:
Green Bay, Al Toonie: Green Bay
New York Giants (-6.5) at
Tampa Bay: The NFL loves to
trumpet the fact that 22 teams
since 1990 have started 0-2 and
gone to the playoffs, including
three teams last season. So pick
against the Giants if you believe
Byron Leftwich can pull off the
upset and keep Tampa Bay in the
playoff hunt. (It’s strange writing
about playoff hopes in Week 3.)
Leftwich performed better than
this Fixer expected. Much better.
While the Bucs’ offense ranks
fourth, the Giants are sixth. It’s
the Bucs’ defense that’s lacking.
They’re ranked 31st. GR
Pick: David: Giants, Garey:
Giants, Al Toonie: Tampa Bay
New Orleans (-6) at Buffalo:
The Saints have scored at will so
far — 12 TDs in winning both
games, thanks to QB Drew
Brees’s prolific arm. Coach Sean
Payton is trying to tamp down
expectations in the Big Easy. Fair
enough, but the thought of trying
to dream up ways to shut down —
or at least slow down — Brees is
giving Bills defensive coordinator
Perry Fewell fits. GR
Pick: David: New Orleans,
Garey: New Orleans, Al Toonie:
FIX page 64
Internet News Record
$10 Million FedEx Cup Prize Has PGA Tour Players Paying
Attention
(WSJ.com: The Daily Fix)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 8:47:09 AM
Professional athletes are used to
the extreme stress that comes with
bearing the weight of millions of
pairs of eyes, but this weekend’s
PGA Tour Championship
promises to dial the usual stress
quotient up — just to pick a
number — roughly ten million
percent. OK, full disclosure: That
number didn’t come out of a hat.
With numerous players within
striking distance of the FedEx
points title this season, any of five
players could claim the $10
million FedEx Cup prize simply
by winning the PGA Tour
Championship at Atlanta’s East
Lake golf course. Associated
Press Jim Furyk could capture the
FedEx Cup title–and its $10
million prize–without winning a
tournament on the PGA Tour this
year.
“During the final round, there’s
the distinct possibility that a
player will face a gut-churning
putt on the final green for a
staggering $11.35 million, the
biggest payday in PGA Tour
history,” Steve Elling writes at
CBS Sports. “Mostly, players at
this level don’t think about
paychecks, but this week, their
heads not only have been turned,
but are spinning Even to rich
folks, this much money attracts
attention.”
While Sean O’Hair claimed an
early lead on Thursday, he’d have
to win the tournament and have
Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker
finish no higher than fourth place
to claim the FedEx Cup prize.
Besides Woods and Stricker,
Heath Slocum, Jim Furyk or Zach
Johnson could pocket the $10
million bonus by winning the
tournament. Of those five, only
Woods is within striking distance
of the lead after the first round,
with Stricker and Johnson tied for
ninth and Furyk and Slocum over
par. The whole thing is pretty
confusing, but the Boston Globe’s
Michael Whitmer argues that that
undifferentiated tension is the
whole point. “While the eventual
FedEx Cup winner might not have
the most victories this year —
[Padraig] Harrington or Jim Furyk
could actually win the FedEx Cup
without any victories — the third
version of the season-long
competition should provide the
kind of unpredictability the PGA
Tour was seeking,” Whitmer
writes.
Wait, did he Jim Furyk can win
$10 million without winning even
one event over the course of the
entire protracted PGA Tour
season? It’s complicated, but Golf
Digest’s John Hawkins — in a
terrific piece that takes the whole
weird FedEx Cup to task in
impressive fashion — isn’t
terribly interested in doing the
math. “If Woods wins twice as
many tournaments as anyone else
and still doesn’t claim the $10
million jackpot, can he file a
grievance with the Better
Business Bureau?” Hawkins asks.
“We’ve finally found a rival for
Woods: the tour mathematician.”*
**
The NHL’s Phoenix Coyotes
have had about as eventful an
offseason as could be imagined,
but few of those events fall under
the rubric of what most might call
“good.” The team flirted with
bankruptcy back in May — this
Fix covered that story — and head
coach (and part-owner) Wayne
Gretzky stepped down as the
team’s coach and director of
hockey operations on Thursday.
Phoenix replaced him with former
Dallas Stars bench boss Dave
Tippett, but Gretzky’s departure
was just another blow for an
exceedingly troubled franchise.
While he’s obviously not to blame
for all the team’s problems,
Gretzky’s undistinguished
Arizona tenure did his sterling
legacy no favors, the Arizona
Republic’s Dan Bickley writes.
In the Los Angeles Times, Lisa
Dillman argues that Gretzky’s
unsuccessful tenure beyond the
‘Yotes bench won’t tarnish his
legend, and Wes Goldstein writes,
at CBS Sports, that he was never
the right man for the coaching gig
in Phoenix.
Bruce Arthur, in a strong
column for Canada’s National
Post, isn’t quite as sanguine on
the effects of Gretzky’s Arizona
sojourn. “It was the end of a
humiliating turn in which most
people agreed that The Great One
was overpaid and unwanted and
past his expiration date,” Arthur
writes. “The greatest player who
ever lived was, a decade after he
retired, a toxic liability.”
It’s enough, almost, to make
you forget just how dazzling a
player Gretzky actually was. Of
course, nicknames like “The
Great One” don’t accrue to
middling talents, but this 1978
Sporting News assessment of the
16-year-old Gretzky is a nice
reminder of just how brilliant
number 99 was when he still wore
skates.* * *
By just about any standard,
Arizona Diamondbacks third
baseman Mark Reynolds has had
a brilliant season — his 43
homers are second-most in the
majors, and his 100 RBIs and 24
stolen bases are both ninth-most
in the National League. But only
one of his statistical tallies has set
a big-league record this season,
and it’s not mentioned above.
Reynolds struck out in the fourth
inning on Tuesday, which gave
him a Major-League record 205
strikeouts on the season. That
moved him past oh, this is odd,
Mark Reynolds, who set the mark
last season. With two more
strikeouts on Wednesday,
Reynolds is well into the
undiscovered territories of
whiffland. To which Reynolds,
when asked about the strikeout
record on that night, answered,
“So what?”
At Fanster’s Arizona
Diamondbacks Community,
Vince Marotta echoes Reynolds’
sentiments. “Going into a season,
you know any given baseball
player is going to get out roughly
70% of the times he steps to the
plate. Its what you do in the other
30% of your at-bats that defines
you,” Marotta writes. “So, would
it be better if Reynolds popped up
Sports/ 61
206 times in a season? Or how
would you feel if Reynolds cut his
strike outs in half, and grounded
into 103 double plays? An out is
an out.”
ESPN’s Rob Neyer concurs,
kind of, with Marotta. At the
Sporting News, Chris Bahr argues
that strikeouts are baseball’s most
overrated stats. (No, not this Chris
Bahr) Meet the Three True
Outcomes, people.* * *
Anyone who has followed the
struggles of print media over the
last couple of years knew this day
was coming, but it’s still strange
to see it actually arrive. After
cutbacks at the Los Angeles
Times and Los Angeles Daily
News, the NHL’s Los Angeles
Kings found themselves without a
full-time beat writer covering
their team as the 2009 NHL
season approached. (Both papers
chose to pick up Associated Press
copy instead of sending a writer
on the road with the Kings) And
so the Kings made a move that,
however logical it may seem, is
pretty thoroughly unprecedented
— they hired Rich Hammond of
the Los Angeles Daily News as
their beat writer. Yes, the team
hired the writer.
“In markets with little or no
coverage of a franchise, we may
now see veteran print reporters go
to work directly for the team,”
blogger Paul Oberjuerge writes.
“Of course, this may not be
entirely felicitous, which is
another reason why this is an
interesting development.” The
post is a must-read for anyone
interested in how sports might be
$10 page 62
62 Sports/
Binghamton Bearcats boots five players from
basketball program
By Associated Press
(ESPN.com)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 10:06:32 AM
BINGHAMTON, N.Y. --
Binghamton released five more
basketball players on Friday, a
day after star player Emanuel
"Tiki" Mayben was arraigned on
cocaine distribution charges and
kicked off the team.
Coach Kevin Broadus
announced that top players D.J.
Rivera and Malik Alvin, plus
Corey Chandler, Paul Crosby and
David Fine, were released.
Spokesman John Hartrick said in
an e-mail that no players, staff, or
administrators would be made
available for further comment.
Hartrick did not return calls
seeking comment.
“ Thirer later said Mayben had been
Every five years, some program
implodes in college basketball.
Why it had to be Binghamton
University I'll never understand.”-
- Binghamton professor Dennis
Lasser, as told to The New York
Times
He told the Press & Sun-
Bulletin in Binghamton, however,
that the five were released
because "they are not toeing the
line. Their attitude and behavior
... is not what we expect from our
student-athletes."
School officials said Broadus
was the one who decided to
dismiss the players, who are
allowed to remain in school.
There were no specific reasons
given for their release. The Press
& Sun-Bulletin reported that
according to athletic director Joel
Thirer, all of the men's basketball
players had passed a recent drug
screening.
In a statement, Broadus said:
"There's only one captain steering
this ship, and that's me. If any of
the young men in our program
don't respect the decisions that
have been made or the rules we
have in place, then they need to
move on with their lives."
On Thursday, Mayben was
arraigned in Troy on felony drug
charges, and athletic director Joel
permanently dismissed from the
basketball program. A sealed
indictment charged Mayben with
selling cocaine twice on June 29
and police said they found 3.4
grams of cocaine on him when he
was arrested on Wednesday.
Dennis Lasser, a professor at
Binghamton's school of
management and a former faculty
athletic representative, told The
New York Times: "Every five
years, some program implodes in
college basketball. Why it had to
be Binghamton University I'll
never understand."
Broadus signed a contract
extension in June through the
2013-2014 season, on the heels of
a season that featured the team's
first-ever conference
championship and NCAA
tournament berth.
The Bearcats went 23-9 last
season and won both the America
East regular-season and
tournament titles. They were 13-3
in league play and won a school-
record 11 straight games before
losing to Duke in the first round
of the NCAA tournament.
Rivera was second in the
America East in scoring last
season but was left off the all-
conference team in the voting by
the league coaches because they
were skeptical about his
eligibility.
Mayben's arrest is the third legal
problem for a player since
Broadus took over the program in
2007.
Former player Miladin
Kovacevic, who wasn't recruited
by Broadus, left a classmate in a
coma after a barroom brawl in
May 2008. In November,
Alvin, a transfer student brought
in by Broadus, was charged with
stealing condoms from a Wal-
Mart.
Internet News Record
$10
continued from page 61
covered until/unless print media
gets back on track.* * *
Basketball is a game, but it’s a
very serious affair in its NBA
Binghamton is part of the State iteration. All of which makes it
University of New York system, more interesting that the reliably
which is led by chancellor Nancy f o r w a r d - t h i n k i n g H o u s t o n
Zimpher, known to take a hard R o c k e t s , a s t h e H o u s t o n
line on problems within a system's Chronicle’s Jonathan Feigen
athletic programs. reports, are getting ready for the
She was president of the upcoming NBA season by playing
University of Cincinnati when well, a game. “Sometime during
men's basketball coach Bob today’s workouts at Toyota
Huggins was pressured to resign Center, Rockets players will play
in 2005 after the program had a tag,” Feigen writes. That’s only
history of low graduation rates, part of an innovative training
s u s p e n s i o n s a n d a r r e s t s o f regimen instituted by training
Huggins' players. Huggins also guru Darryl Eto. If you were
had a drunk driving conviction in curious, capture the flag is not
2004. mentioned.* * *
In a statement released before Most sports coverage revolves
the five players were dismissed, around mega-rich mega-stars —
Zimpher made it clear that she worshipful appreciations of,
was not going to tread lightly in schadenfreude over, snarky
her new job, either. " . . . in light dissections of, and so on. It’s easy
of the most recent incident and to forget, sometimes, that sports is
other previous incidents related to not merely a industry, but a
the men's basketball team, I have business — one that employs
requested [school] President plenty of semi-anonymous drones
[Lois] DeFleur to report on the who are simply doing what they
immediate steps the campus is do best in pursuit of a living. In
taking to address these serious the Newark Star-Ledger, Andy
issues." McCullough offers a fine profile
I n f o r m a t i o n f r o m T h e of Josh Pressley, a 29-year-old
Associated Press was used in this slugger who is the 2009 Most
report. Valuable Player in the unaffiliated
Copyright 2009 by The Atlantic League and one such
Associated Press working-class athlete.
— Tip of the Fix cap to fellow
Fixer Garey Ris.
Found a good column from the
world of sports? Don’t keep it to
yourself — write to us at
dailyfix@wsj.com and we’ll
consider your find for inclusion in
the Daily Fix. You can email
David at droth11@gmail.com.
Internet News Record
Coye Francies of Cleveland Browns The Count: Paige’s Near
throws ice, punch in locker room -Untouchable Age
skirmish Record
By Associated Press
(ESPN.com)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:07:35 PM
BEREA, Ohio -- After a spirited
practice, the Cleveland Browns
were still in a playful mood so
they decided to pull a prank on
one of their rookies.
Francies
Coye Francies didn't care for the
joke.
The first-year cornerback,
incensed over being soaked with
water by some of his teammates,
threw a bucket of ice and at least
one errant punch during a
skirmish in the Browns' locker
room on Friday.
As the Browns returned from
practice, a dripping-wet Francies
stormed into the locker room
lugging a Gatorade bucket full of
ice. Before he could be stopped,
Francies tossed the ice on
cornerback Brandon McDonald,
hitting him with cubes that
covered the floor.
At that point, it was not clear if
Francies was playing along and
messing with McDonald.
Then, his mood, and the vibe in
the room, turned more serious.
Francies flung some more ice in
the direction of safety Mike
Adams before heading toward
safety Abram Elam's corner
cubicle. With the bucket on the
floor, Francies then swung his
arms at Elam, who deflected the
blows. Pro Bowl nose tackle
Shaun Rogers then stepped in and
grabbed Francies by the back of
the shirt and escorted him out a
side door as other players came to
help.
"Calm down, man," Rogers told
Francies as he pushed him
outside.
"Welcome to the Browns locker
room!" wide receiver Braylon
Edwards hollered.
The incident happened while the
locker room was open to
reporters. The Browns (0-2) play
at Baltimore on Sunday.
Walker: No joke
The Cleveland Browns are 0-2
and in desperate need of a victory
this weekend. So why exactly are
the Browns playing around?,
James Walker asks. Blog
Francies returned a few minutes
later and went straight to his stall
at the back of the locker room,
next to the equipment area. He
still seemed irritated as he sat
there. Rogers, linebackers
D'Qwell Jackson and Eric Barton
and safety Brodney Pool tried to
calm him down.
At the other end, McDonald
cleaned up the mess in front of his
stall.
"It was just guys having fun,"
McDonald said, whisking the ice
off the carpet into a dust pan with
a broom. "I was the first one he
saw. He got a little aggressive, it's
no big deal. We handled it. It's
over now and we're going to
worry about the Ravens. We don't
want to have any misconceptions
in the locker room.
"So that's it. We took care of it,
and we're moving on."
After dressing, Francies had
cooled down enough to smile.
"It's all just fun and games," he
said. "We were just playing
around."
Later, a regretful Francies went
to coach Eric Mangini's office to
explain what happened and
acknowledged he had overreacted.
Mangini wanted to do some
further investigating and
consulted with other players and
team leaders to make sure there
was no lingering conflict.
"I said, 'Was there anything
malicious about this? Is there
something deeper here?" Mangini
said. "And to a man, they said,
'No it was nothing like that.' He's
a rookie, he's young. He should
have put it in the right context. I
trust the guys I talked to. I talked
to him afterward and he said, 'I
should have handled it
differently."
The Browns dropped their first
two games with second-half
collapses in both. But despite the
slow start, defensive coordinator
Rob Ryan senses that Cleveland's
players are determined to turn
their season around.
"I know our guys are ready to
fight," he said. "They're starting to
care for each other. We're coming
together. I can see it."
Copyright 2009 by The
Associated Press
(WSJ.com: The Daily Fix)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 1:36:16 PM
It was 44 years ago today that an
unusual Major League Baseball
record was set. It most likely
would take a stunt to ever break it.
Associated Press Satchel Paige
was in his late 30s, yet decades
from his last major-league game,
when this photo was taken in
1942.
On September 25, 1965, Leroy
“Satchel” Paige took the mound
for the Kansas City A’s.
Reportedly 60 years old and older
than any major-league pitcher in
history (more on that in a
moment), he pitched like a man in
his prime, yielding no runs and
just one baserunner over three
innings. The two teams were more
than 37 games out of first place
but Boston’s lineup did feature
sluggers Carl Yastrzemski and
Tony Conigliaro.
According to Larry Tye, Paige’s
biographer, the Hall of Famer’s
true age was 59 years, two months
and eight days, as gleaned from
his birth certificate, as opposed to
Paige’s often slippery version of
the truth about himself. “His
Social Security record listed one
birth date, his passport file a
second, his draft record another,”
Tye said. “All had two things in
common: they were supplied by
Satch, and they were lies.”
While complicated by Paige’s
own myth-making, the oldest-
pitcher record is easier to verify
than others Paige claimed for
Sports/ 63
himself. Many of them derived
from his sustained excellence
coupled with unprecedented
longevity. For instance, he
claimed to have pitched in more
than 2,500 games, which would
double Jesse Orosco’s major-
league record total. But most of
Paige’s career preceded
integration of the majors, so he
toiled as a semipro, a Negro
Leaguer and a barnstormer, nearly
year-round. And good numbers
for such exploits are hard to find.
To Tye, though, the games
record seems like an
underestimate. “He often threw
just three or four innings a game,
but he did it every day or couple
of days for 41 years,” Tye said.
“By that schedule, pitching 2,500
games amounts to slightly more
than 60 games a year, which does
not seem high enough. Some
pitchers were brilliant during
short runs at glory; others made
their names for duration as much
as dominance. Satchel excelled at
both, to the point where it is
difficult to overstate all that he did
or to dismiss even his most
outrageous boasts.”
64 Sports/
Sources: Tim Tebow of Florida
Gators fighting illness, traveled to
Kentucky separately
By ESPN.com news services
(ESPN.com)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:26:03 AM
Florida quarterback Tim Tebow
and a number of his teammates
traveled apart from the rest of the
Gators to Kentucky on Friday as
they fight a respiratory illness,
sources told ESPN.com's Chris
Low.
However, the sources said the
illness is not being called the flu
and that Florida officials remain
optimistic Tebow, cornerback Joe
Haden and safety Major Wright
will play Saturday night. Tebow,
Haden and Wright, who flew in
the separate plane, were at the
team hotel Saturday morning and
were not experiencing any fever,
according to sources. And ESPN
has learned wide receiver Riley
Cooper was also on the plane.
A source close to Tebow tells
ESPN.com's Mark Schlabach that
Tebow was "pretty weak" Friday
morning, but is feeling better.
SEC blog
ESPN.com's Chris Low writes
about all things SEC in his
conference blog.
• Blog network:
College Football Nation
Multiple media outlets reported
that several Florida players,
including Tebow, were sick with
the flu and took a separate plane
Friday. The Independent Florida
Alligator, the student newspaper
at the University of Florida, first
reported the story.
Saturday night's game (ESPN2,
ESPN360.com, 6 p.m. ET) is No.
1 Florida's first SEC road game of
the season.
A source close to the situation
told ESPN's Joe Schad the three
players arrived in Lexington on
Friday evening, at about the same
time as the team plane. The
source called the illness a
"respiratory condition involving
congestion."
Wright and Haden missed
practice Thursday, while Tebow
did not feel sick until Thursday
night, according to the source.
Coach Urban Meyer said
Thursday that the team has battled
more than 35 cases of the flu over
the past four weeks, but did not
name Tebow among those who
had become ill. Meyer said
running back Jeff Demps, tight
end Aaron Hernandez and
defensive end Jermaine
Cunningham played with the flu
last week against Tennessee,
while linebacker A.J. Jones and
Haden were among players
fighting the virus this week.
According to The Associated
Press, a person familiar with
Florida's travel plans said
everyone on the team's expected
travel roster made the trip,
including receivers coach Billy
Gonzales. He was sent home early
in the week, but he returned and
wore gloves and a mask at
practice.
Meyer said earlier in the week
there was no chance he would rest
sick players.
"That'd be one of the major
errors in coaching history to go do
that, because you'd go lose," he
said. "No. Absolutely not. We're
going to bring everything and go
as hard as we can. That gets you
out of the profession, those kind
of thoughts. You go as hard as
you can.
"The good thing is I've got a
mature group. Not a whole lot of
cheerleading going on this week.
Got to get better and go play."
The Gators beat Tennessee 23-
13 last Saturday, a disappointing
victory for the heavily favored
Gators. Meyer partially blamed
the conservative game plan on the
illnesses. Volunteers coach Lane
Kiffin indicated that Meyer was
using the illnesses as an excuse to
justify a less-than-desirable
performance.
The Gainesville Sun reported
this week that 97 percent of flu
cases on UF's campus this fall
have been the H1N1 virus, also
known as swine flu.
ESPN.com's Chris Low and
Mark Schlabach, ESPN reporter
Joe Schad and The Associated
Press contributed to this report.
Internet News Record
Lester Can't Dodge Ball, but
He and Red Sox Do Dodge
Bullet
By Ed Price (FanHouse)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:17:00 AM
by Ed Price
Filed under: Red Sox, Yankees,
MLB Playoffs NEW YORK --
With this weekend's Red Sox-
Yankees series serving as a
possible ALCS preview (although
it would be folly to assume that),
Boston came in with the edge in
the category that matters most:
starting pitching.
Friday's game may have closed
the gap some, and nearly did
dramatically.
As Joba Chamberlain turned in
his best effort since July, giving
the Yankees reason to believe
they have a capable No. 4 starter
if they reach the second round, the victory.
Red Sox had to spend a few Lester Can't Dodge Ball, but He
moments wondering if power and Red Sox Do Dodge Bullet
lefty Jon Lester will be available originally appeared on Fanhouse
for the playoffs after he was MLB Blog on Sat, 26 Sep 2009
writhing on the mound in the third 00:17:00 EST . Please see our
inning. terms for use of feeds.
But Boston "dodged a big blow Permalink| Email this| Linking
there," as left fielder Jason Bay Blogs| Comments
said after the Yankees' 9-5
FIX
continued from page 60
Buffalo tight, low-scoring battle. Seattle’s
Chicago (-1) at Seattle: The success may depend on the
Bears are a late Green Bay rally severity of Matt Hasselbeck’s rib
away from a 2-0 start to the injury. GR
season. Jay Cutler is nowhere near Pick: David: Chicago, Garey:
the top of the QB ratings, but Seattle, Al Toonie: Seattle
neither is running back Matt Tennessee at New York Jets (-
Forte, who is averaging only 2.2 1): Mark Sanchez has a chance to
yards per carry. Those kinds of do something no rookie Jet QB
numbers will have longtime Bears has ever done: win his first three
fans pining for the days of Payton starts. This is a big game for the
and Sayers. Neither team has lit
up the scoreboard, so expect a FIX page 65
Internet News Record Sports/ 65
FIX
The Count: Sabermetrics Is Unlikely continued from page 64
Titans, who, after next week’s their past 17 home games. GR

Weapon in Labor-Relations Dispute game against Jacksonville, face

Indianapolis and New England.
But good luck trying to stop
Pick: David: Miami, Garey: San
Diego, Al Toonie: Miami
Indianapolis at Arizona (-2.5):
(WSJ.com: The Daily Fix) Workers United release is that it’s Sanchez with the NFL’s worst Excluding playoffs, the Colts are
Submitted at 9/25/2009 2:41:04 PM clearly not scientifically rigorous. pass defense. In Tennessee, on an 11-game winning streak.
For instance, it also notes that defensive coordinator Chuck Peyton Manning is a September
Labor relations and sabermetrics Aramark teams hit fewer home Cecil is already facing blistering scoring machine, with 45 TD
intersected in an unusual press runs and get caught stealing more. criticism. GR passes and a 21-4 record going
release earlier this month. But divide MLB teams into any Pick: David: Jets, Garey: Jets, back to 2002. Even though the
Bloomberg News Does Aramark groups of 14 teams and 16 teams, Al Toonie: Jets Colts have fewer offensive
cost teams wins? The statistical and each group will be better on Denver (-1) at Oakland: When possessions than any team in each
evidence is thin. some stats, worse on others. the Raiders were a really good of the past four seasons, they’re
The union Workers United luck of plus-0.4. So Aramark was S p o r t s - s t a t s a n a l y s t P h i l football team, road teams would still the league’s highest-scoring
claimed that hiring Aramark to costing its teams 2.33 wins, on Birnbaum calculated that the luck dread playing in Oakland. The team in that span. Expect Cards
handle ballpark concessions cost average. Since the release, more difference, even if the Nats are Broncos, at least recently, have QB Kurt Warner to put on a good
major-league teams wins. (The luck has run out for the 14 teams, i n c l u d e d , i s n ’ t s t a t i s t i c a l l y been successful, winning five of show, too. The Colts’ short week
claim was meant to highlight what as the averages are now minus-2 s i g n i f i c a n t . their past six visits (average should benefit Arizona. GR
Workers United deems poor labor and plus-0.68, respectively. And looking at the two groups margin in those wins: 17.2). Eddie Pick: David: Indianapolis,
practices by the company, but that Much of that bad luck can be of teams another way, Aramark Royal has been ineffective for Garey: Arizona, Al Toonie:
issue isn’t what called my t r a c e d t o t h e W a s h i n g t o n could issue a release saying that it Denver, with only seven catches Indianapolis
attention to the release, so it won’t Nationals, whose record is nine confers a home-field advantage. for 61 yards and no TDs. Even MONDAY’S GAME
be addressed here.) The release games worse than expected. But The 17 teams, including the Nats, with below-average output from Carolina at Dallas (-9):
relied on a stat called Pythagorean the Nationals don’t use Aramark who don’t use Aramark have been Royal, though, the Broncos are 2- Something about Monday Night
Luck, via Baseball Reference, that at their new ballpark. “This error 8.9 percentage points more likely 0 in a season in which they were Football brings out the best in the
subtracts from teams’ actual win- alone, i.e. the teams we serve, is to win at home than on the road. expected to struggle to win six or Cowboys. They have 41 wins on
loss records the records you’d enough to call into question the The other 13 teams have been 9.8 seven games. GR MNF, the most in league history.
expect they’d have, based on runs validity of the ‘research,’ ” percentage points better at home. Pick: David: Oakland, Garey: Now that the hoopla has settled
scored and allowed. The result is A r a m a r k s p o k e s m a n D a v i d Sharfstein, of Workers United, Denver, Al Toonie: Oakland down after the opening of Jerry
termed luck — deviation that may Freireich said. (Workers United said the release was never meant Miami at San Diego (-6): The Jones’s sparkling new stadium,
b e t h e r e s u l t o f r a n d o m spokesman Eric Sharfstein noted to be taken seriously from a Dolphins, reeling with a 0-2 start, fans can return to more pressing
fluctuations (though it could also that the Nats were listed on this sabermetric point of view. “We have won seven straight at San matters. Such as whether Tony
arise from bullpen strength or A r a m a r k r o s t e r o f s p o r t s obviously don’t think there is a Diego. One big problem in their Romo is a franchise quarterback
other factors that matter more in partners.) Freireich also noted that causal relationship here between two losses: a minus-5 on or a coach-killer. The Cowboys
close games). the Twins only use Aramark for Aramark and a team’s luck,” giveaways/takeaways. It’s have other problems, including
The tongue-in-cheek release premium services, but since the Sharfstein said. “But we do think interesting that coach Tony one of the league’s worst
noted that the 14 teams it said Twins’ luck is 0, that didn’t that Aramark’s conduct reflects Sparano urges patience, but if defenses. Not that the Panthers
used Aramark had an average materially affect the results. very poorly on the teams they they lose to the Chargers, the have a reason to gloat. GR
luck of minus-1.93, while the The bigger issue with the serve.” Dolphins will look at the Pick: David: Carolina, Garey:
average non-Aramark team had unenviable task of becoming the Carolina, Al Toonie: Carolina
first team to overcome a 0-3 start
to make the playoffs. The
Chargers have covered in 12 of
66 Sports/
Meet the Folks Behind the G- Bobby Cox Is Peerless
20 Stanley Cup 'Protest' By Terence Moore (FanHouse)
By Adam Gretz (FanHouse)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:10:00 AM
by Adam Gretz
Filed under: Penguins, NHL
Fans, NHL Videos, FanHouse
Exclusive While protesters and
anarchists were attempting to get
their message across during the G
-20 Summit in Pittsburgh this past
week, others were using the time
in the spotlight to continue
celebrating the success of the
local sports teams (or, in some
cases, the hilarious incompetence
of that other team nobody likes).
The display that got the most
attention was the random replica
of a Stanley Cup that made an
unexpected appearance Thursday
afternoon.
The man pictured to the right,
Todd Keebler, claims to be the
person responsible for designing
and building the oversized replica
of Lord Stanley's Cup. As far as
Cup replicas go, it's the Dark
Helmet of Stanley Cups (that's a
compliment) with that novelty-
Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Sam Bradford seeking
clearance with Dr. James Andrews in Alabama
By Joe Schad (ESPN.com)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 9:36:43 AM
Oklahoma quarterback Sam
Bradford was scheduled to visit
renowned orthopedic surgeon
James Andrews in Alabama this
weekend but has not had a
specific setback in his recovery
from a sprained throwing
sized chalice on top.
Meet the Folks Behind the G-20
Stanley Cup 'Protest' originally
appeared on Fanhouse NHL Blog
on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 09:10:00
EST . Please see our terms for use
of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Linking
Blogs| Comments
shoulder, a person familiar with
the situation said Saturday
morning.
Instead, Bradford was traveling
to seek clearance in an attempt to
play as early as next Saturday
against Miami, the source said.
The examination is part of
standard procedure for an
insurance policy Bradford took
Submitted at 9/25/2009 11:10:00 PM
by Terence Moore
Filed under: Braves ATLANTA
-- The best manager ever?
It's Bobby Cox, no doubt about
it, which is why his farewell tour
next season away from the
Atlanta Braves dugout for the first
time in two decades will feature
lots of hugs and plenty more tears
from those who know.
What they know is -- with
apologies to Connie Mack, Leo
Durocher, Billy Martin and all of
the rest -- Cox's managerial career
is incomparable. Such becomes
apparent when you study
everything involved with his
distinction of leading Braves
teams to a record 14 consecutive
division titles. And since we're on
the subject, consider this: if you
include his last season with the
Toronto Blue Jays, he won 15
consecutive division titles during
one stretch of his full seasons as a
before the season, protecting him
financially against a career-ending
injury.
Another person familiar with
the situation said Bradford
experienced some soreness after
resuming throwing this week, but
that it was considered normal.
The original recovery prognosis
on the Grade 2 or Grade 3 sprain
manager.
Now let that sink in.
Bobby Cox Is Peerless
originally appeared on Fanhouse
MLB Blog on Fri, 25 Sep 2009
23:10:00 EST . Please see our
terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Linking
Blogs| Comments
suffered in the Sooners' Sept. 5
loss to BYU was two to four
weeks, putting a return for the
Miami game within range.
Joe Schad is a college football
reporter for ESPN.
Internet News Record
Germany
Thumps US at U
-20 World Cup
By Michael Cardillo
(FanHouse)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:30:00 PM
by Michael Cardillo
Filed under: International, US
Soccer Maybe it's something
about U.S. soccer teams playing
the first games in FIFA
tournaments held in Africa.
Saturday in Suez, Egypt the U.S.
Under-20 national team were
beaten 3-0 by Germany at the U-
20 World Cup Group C opener for
both teams. (If you remember, the
U.S. senior national team lost to
Italy 3-1 in the Confederations
Cup opener played in South
Africa in June.)
It was a rough day all around for
coach Thomas Rongen's men,
who had a tough time finding
their footing. A two-goal blitz by
the Germans that netted two goals
in a span of three minutes midway
through the first half put the game
away.
Germany Thumps US at U-20
World Cup originally appeared on
Fanhouse Soccer Blog on Sat, 26
Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST . Please
see our terms for use of feeds.
Permalink| Email this| Linking
Blogs| Comments
Internet News Record
TGS 2009: Hands-on:
Silent Hill Shattered
Memories (PSP)
By Ludwig Kietzmann (Joystiq)
Submitted at 9/26/2009 12:30:00 PM
Much like 2007's Silent Hill:
Origins, the PSP version of
Shattered Memories is quite
capable of conveying an eerie,
unsettling experience, even on a
platform that might seem ill-
equipped for the survival-horror
genre in comparison to home
consoles. The Wii re-imagining of
Konami's PS1 classic is faithfully
represented on Sony's portable,
with only a few framerate hiccups
tarnishing a very impressive
visual representation.
Recreating the Wii version's
moody ambiance isn't the port's
only major success, as it handles
the absence of the motion-
sensitive remote quite elegantly.
Here, you manipulate Harry
Game/ 67
Battlefield Heroes
enlists two
million recruits
By David Hinkle (Joystiq)
TGS 2009: The next Submitted at 9/26/2009 6:15:00 AM
generation of Real Arcade DICE's free-to-play FPS,
Battlefield Heroes, just had its
two millionth soldier signed up
Pro joysticks for duty, EA announced. It's an
impressive accomplishment
By JC Fletcher (Joystiq) sticks for PS3 and 360 are due out
this winter for 5,500 and 6,980,
Submitted at 9/26/2009 11:30:00 AM
considering the game only opened
its doors in June and netted its
first million users back in July.
Mason's flashlight from a third- respectively -- a price discrepancy
person perspective by holding R1 Well, it's time to throw that Real t h a t s u g g e s t s t h a t w i r e l e s s And as a reward for all of the
and moving the analog nub. While Arcade Pro 3 joystick in the technology is involved, based on players' hard work gaming, EA
this removes the ability to move garbage, because it's obsolete and the historical evidence of Rock has dated the title's Heroes of the
and peer into the terrifying town's you should be ashamed to own it. Band guitars. See all three sticks Fall update for September 30.
dark recesses at the same time, the At its booth in the Tokyo Game after the break, along with some We already knew about the
game's generally slow pace makes Show shopping area, accessories gigantic Taito-licensed stick that proposed changes to the game's
such multitasking more of a m a k e r H o r i h a n d e d o u t a was on display at the Hori booth. social networking functions and
luxury than a necessity. pamphlet introducing its new Real Continue reading TGS 2009: the class updates, but there's also
Gallery: Silent Hill: Shattered Arcade Pro V and other joysticks. The next generation of Real the prospect of a new map to be
Memories (PSP) Few details are included in the Arcade Pro joysticks excited about. EA is taking name
Continue reading TGS 2009: pamphlet: we know it weighs 3 TGS 2009: The next generation ideas for the new locale right now
Hands-on: Silent Hill Shattered kilograms and features a Sanwa of Real Arcade Pro joysticks at the game's official site, so head
Memories (PSP) JLF joystick and Hori buttons, originally appeared on Joystiq on on over and suggest one. If you're
TGS 2009: Hands-on: Silent and that it should be in Japanese Sat, 26 Sep 2009 11:30:00 EST. looking for a bit of inspiration,
Hill Shattered Memories (PSP) stores sometime this winter. The Please see our terms for use of may we suggest The Joystiq Map
originally appeared on Joystiq on mock-up image even uses Roman feeds. of Joystiqing Joystiq: Joystiq?
Sat, 26 Sep 2009 12:30:00 EST. numerals for the button labels Permalink| Email this| Battlefield Heroes enlists two
Please see our terms for use of instead of anything that would C o m m e n t s million recruits originally
feeds. identify the platform. appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 26
Permalink| Email this| In addition, new mid-range Sep 2009 06:15:00 EST. Please
Comments see our terms for use of feeds.
Read| Permalink| Email this|
Comments
68 Game/ Fashion/ Internet News Record

TGS 2009: Hands-on: Ghost Trick

By JC Fletcher (Joystiq) understood the story in the demo
Submitted at 9/26/2009 1:30:00 PM quite well just through animation
and gameplay.
Ace Attorney series creator Shu Gallery: Ghost Trick (TGS

PSN and iPhone Droplitz on

Takumi's next game is Ghost 2009)
Trick, a puzzle adventure game Continue reading TGS 2009:
which is very different from the Hands-on: Ghost Trick
La fete le
sale again, Facebook version chronicles of Phoenix and Edgey, TGS 2009: Hands-on: Ghost
but carries over that series' Trick originally appeared on Fooding
released t r a d e m a r k s o f h u m o r o u s Joystiq on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 By blogeditor1 (Material
characters and sharp, brightly 13:30:00 EST. Please see our Interest on Men.style.com)
By Richard Mitchell (Joystiq) now, just itching to keep you from colored suits. There is no English terms for use of feeds.
Submitted at 9/26/2009 5:15:00 AM accomplishing anything demo for the just-announced DS P e r m a l i n k | E m a i l t h i s | Submitted at 9/25/2009 12:11:43 PM
meaningful. Just like the rest of title yet, so I can't really say C o m m e n t s
Atlus has announced that the Facebook! anything about the dialogue, but I
Blitz Games puzzler, Droplitz, is Atlus didn't elaborate on how
on sale once again. The price has long the sale would last, so
b e e n s l a s h e d f i f t y p e r c e n t , interested PSN users and iPholk
knocking the game down to $4.99 should probably act fast.
LFW's Most Dazzling Accessories
By ELLE.com (ELLE News Roksanda Ilincic show) are like
on PSN and a paltry $0.99 on the PSN and iPhone Droplitz on Blog) party shoes at Matthew party dresses for the legs.
iPhone. Unfortunately, Steam and sale again, Facebook version Submitted at 9/25/2009 1:54:37 PM Williamson’s show. I have a sneaking suspicion I’ll
Xbox 360 users are out of luck, as released originally appeared on Aminaka Wilkot mixes ‘80s see this Jasper Conran“bag” on
the price on those platforms Joystiq on Sat, 26 Sep 2009 Once again, London Fashion movies with these Mad Max the arm of one of those
remains $10. However, if you still 05:15:00 EST. Please see our Week brought the whimsy this meets Flashdance slashed leather insufferable brides on Platinum
want to get your Droplitz on but terms for use of feeds. season with prop-scattered legwarmers. Weddings.
don't feel like forking over the Read| Permalink| Email this| runways and crowds more bizarre But Ms. Westwood, how are we Thanks to Ashish for finding a
cash, Atlus has also released a Comments and colorful than a Mary supposed to kiss him if he’s way to marry Kate Lanphear and
Facebook version. It's available Katrantzou mini dress. I sitting on our head? 21 Jump Street into a single
FETE encourage you to click through all
the frames of all the designers
Sleeves optional, says Richard fannypack.
This transparent Charles
continued from page 68 Nicoll, who had his models don
who showed last week, but in case ribbon cuffs adorned with fancy, Anastase satchel doubles as a rain
"We know that New York is the Minetta Tavern's Lee Hanson and you haven’t the time, I’ve
best city in the world," says Riad Nasr, WD-50's Wylie bejeweled brooches. hat with tortoise chin-strap. True
collected some of the most Peter Jensen has been watching story.
Alexandre Cammas, founder of Dufresne, and Daniel Boulud. All dazzling—and downright
the Parisian dining-guide-cum- of them—and more—will be Fiber One yogurt commercials, I Photos: Imaxtree
odd—accessories from their SS10 see… Follow ELLE on Twitter.
advocacy-group Le Fooding. For cooking over the course of Le RTW collections. Enjoy!
good eating—and a good Fooding's first-ever U.S. event, Le Nicholas Kirkwood’s feathery
Bows with fangs adorned the masterpieces (on display at the
party—we've got no argument. Fooding d'Amour Paris-New
NYC's dining scene boasts
Momofuku's David Chang,
FETE page 70
Internet News Record
Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Radio City
Music Hall
By ELLE.com (ELLE News
Blog)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 9:43:08 AM
It always makes me chuckle
when certain bands take the stage
at Radio City Music Hall. I mean,
it works for things like the Tonys
or an orchestra or Rufus
Wainwright (not a dig, Rufus.
You know I love you.) but when I
hear that groups such as Metallica
or, as was the case last night,
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, are
performing, the kind of glitzy,
kind of schmaltzy venue just
doesn’t fit. Nevertheless, I wasn’t
going to miss Karen O, Nick
Zinner, and Brian Chase do their
best to turn the Rockettes' home
into an indie-rock dance party
complete with fog, loads of
confetti, and huge inflatable eye
balls. And let’s not forget Miss
O’s wild stage outfits complete
with headdresses, vinyl bodices,
some tentacles (I think), and
capes.
ELLE News Quiz: 9/25
By ELLE.com (ELLE News
Blog)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 10:45:03 AM
How well do you know this
week's most stylish happenings?
1. What chic celebs were
spotted in the front row of
Burberry's much-anticipated
London Fashion Week show?
A) Victoria Beckham
B) Emma Watson
C)Gwyneth Paltrow
D) All of the Above
2. What's the title of director
Sally Potter's new film, which
she open-heartedly dedicated the
final set to not only their opener,
ESG, but also the bandmates'
parents. It was a tender moment
that was made even moreso when,
in an ode to their home city and
crowd, she cathartically sang
through tears and a choked up
voice their first hit “Maps,”
referring to it as “a New York
love song.” It hit me hard as an
almost-seven-year New Yorker
always longing for something or
someone. And though, yes, I’m
typically inclined to indulge in
that sappy side of, well,
everything, I was pleased they
ended the concert on a rager note
with “Y Control” and “Date With
While the main concert itself the Night,” even smashing guitars
was rip-roaring with alternated set and slinging microphones before
of numbers form It’s Blitz, Fever exiting the stage. That was
to Tell and Show Your Bones, the probably cathartic, too.
real punch came at the end in —Seth Plattner, Assistant Editor
YYY’s encore. We didn’t really Photo: Getty Images
get a word from Karen all night, Follow ELLE on Twitter.
but when they re-took the stage
celebrated its tenth anniversary?
4. What fashion-icon biopic hits
theaters today?
5. Blake Lively wore a plunging
gown by what designer to the
Emmy Awards?
—Erin Clements
Answers:
1: All of the Above
2. Rage
3. Dior J'Adore
stars Jude Law, Judi Dench, and 4. Coco Before Chanel
Steve Buscemi as fashion- 5. Versace
industry personalities? Photo: Getty Images
3. What fragrance recently
Fashion/ 69
Tommy Hilfiger
Celebrates Sam Haskins
By ELLE.com (ELLE News
Blog)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:42:47 PM
Last night marked the opening of
“Fashion Etcetera,” a six-week
exhibit featuring more than 100
photographs by influential
lensman Sam Haskins, at
Chelsea’s Milk Gallery. Though
the man of the hour was absent
from the event (Haskins
unfortunately suffered a moderate
stroke last week from which he is
currently recovering), droves of
fans, including Nicky Hilton, Zoe
Kravitz, and Rebecca Minkoff,
turned out for the occasion. The
retrospective, which spans five makeup and jewelry to make her
decades of Haskins’ oeuvre, look beautiful. His work is
coincides with the launch of a timeless and classic. I think he’s
monograph of the same name; the never been given enough credit.
tome is available in a special Paying homage and celebrating
edition that includes a foreword his work is something that
by Tommy Hilfiger, a longtime should’ve been done a long time
admirer (“since the ‘70s”). ago, so I’m honored to be able to
Hilfiger, who is also releasing a do it. He made me believe that
corresponding capsule collection, using naturally beautiful models
told me about Haskins’ impact on in an uncomplicated way is great
fashion photography—and on his
own work:
art.”
For further proof, check out
“I think he’s a true genius. He some images from the exhibit,
has captured subjects in a unique below.
way, somehow bringing out the —Erin Clements
natural beauty. And I think the Photos: Sam Haskins; Tommy
Tommy woman has natural and Ally Hilfiger: Larry
beauty—she’s confident, Baglio/starpix.com
uncomplicated, cool, clean, pure, Follow ELLE on Twitter.
and doesn’t necessarily need
70 Fashion/
FETE
continued from page 68
York, which begins tonight at P.S.
1. In the spirit of internationalism,
they'll be joined by some less-
familiar names from Paris:
William Ledeuil from Ze Kitchen
Galerie, Stéphane Jégo from
L'Ami Jean, Inaki Aizpitarte from
Le Chateaubriand. (Again, just a
selection.) Because man does not
live by bread (and meat) alone,
there's more: cocktails courtesy of
the guys from Dutch Kills and Le
Plaza Athénée; DJ sets from Paul
Sevigny, André, and LCD
Soundsystem's James Murphy. If
the whole thing sounds more like
a heavy night on the town than a
white-napkin dinner, that's no
accident. Le Fooding's express
mission is to shake up the
traditional, hidebound world of
French dining—to celebrate
creative young talent and bring
the party to the table. (Hence the
neologistic name: "food" +
"feeling.") "Paris was very
sleepy," Cammas says. "You
[still] see all the service"—the
proper tablecloths, the dusty
formality—" à la française.
Maybe New York is fed up with
that." At last night's preview
dinner at Brooklyn's Vinegar Hill
House, Chang held court at a table
of chefs as they were serenaded
by an electric accordionist with a
light-up instrument—Piaf on acid.
Toward the end of the night,
Internet News Record
Boulud ambled out to say hello
and found himself wearing an
elaborately constructed balloon-
animal hat. Maybe it was anti-
service. Or maybe it was all the
Veuve Clicquot.
Le Fooding d'Amour Paris-New
York, September 25 and 26, P.S.
1, 22-25 Jackson Ave., Long
Island City, (718) 784-2084,
ps1.org; tickets, $30 to $60,
available at the door;
lefoodingdamour.com
MATTHEW SCHNEIER Photo:
lefooding.com

"Rosebud."
By blogeditor1 (Material not; but then, neither are bleeding, up by places like Urban Outfitters
Interest on Men.style.com) cracked lips. Okay, they're sort of and Sephora a while back. But
Submitted at 9/25/2009 7:09:22 AM bad-ass-looking after a bar fight when you're talking about
(make that a bar fight you won), something this essential, I'll take
One guy's last word—my first. but otherwise it's just not a great accessibility over coolness any
The air around here is starting to look. Rosebud's been around for day.
get chilly, and when a colleague over a hundred years, and it's $6 to $8, available at
asked what was the first thing I'd made of natural ingredients right s e p h o r a . c o m a n d
be buying for fall (well, aside h e r e i n t h e U . S . A . M o r e urbanoutfitters.com(note: Urban
from the Dries suit I picked up importantly, the shit keeps the old Outfitters stocks only the mint
last month), I told him it was a no kisser chap-free no matter how admit the indie snob in me was version; I prefer the original
-brainer: lip balm. Specifically, cold it gets outside. For years it bummed to see it had been picked flavor) JOSH PESKOWITZ
Smith's Rosebud Salve. Sexy, it's flew under the radar, and I'll Photo: sephora.com
Internet News Record Culture/ 71

The Complete Wardrobe: Jil Sander

for Uniqlo
By stylemens (GQ: The most of my time in the fitting
Editors) sessions.”
Submitted at 9/25/2009 11:27:00 AM Flat-front Khakis, $50:
A simple pair of khakis, but
The esteemed designer gets back notice how the pockets are cut so
in the game, introducing a line of that they don’t flare out at the
trademark minimalist gear that sides, or the low rise so the pants
every man can wear—and afford sit right at the hips. Simple’s
Good news for minimalist never simple.
design junkies: Plus J, the forty- Cashmere Cardigan, $150:
piece collection by designer Jil Five buttons instead of four
Sander (whose work inspires the create a higher V-line, a
kind of devotion usually reserved
for teen idols and foul-mouthed
chefs), is almost here. Available
proportion Sander prefers: “A
cardigan only looks good if it
hugs and firmly defines the body
The One-Question Q&A
By stylemens (GQ: The know, but I think this is okay, too.
October 1st from Uniqlo, the at the right places.” Editors) We didn't invent Cleveland and
clothes feature the same pared- Plaid Shirt, $40: then decide who to cast in the roll.
Submitted at 9/25/2009 9:42:18 AM
down sensibility that Sander is The perfect marriage: “Uniqlo Mike created Cleveland in
known for—at a price that even understands modern basics, so Fox's Family Guy spin-off The e p i s o d e t h r e e o f F a m i l y
2009’s man can afford. A rather than reinvent anything, I Cleveland Show(premiering Guy(season one) in the writer's
collection’s already planned for put my signature in things like the September 27th) centers around room. He just started doing this
Spring 2010, but here’s an early exact shape of the silhouette and Peter Griffin's lovable neighbor. voice and then the character kinda
look at some of our favorites for the angle of the shoulder line.”— Kanye West guest stars. Arianna grew in large measure out of
Fall 2009: jason chen Huffington voices an animated Mike's performance of that
V-neck Sweater, $130: Models shot by Eric Ray bear. (Seriously.) But we want to character. So he kinda was
The perfect cut of this V-neck Davidson. Still life photographs know: Why is Cleveland, the Cleveland long before the show
means you can wear it any way jacket, $130; and pants, $50: all by Tom Schierlitz. Hair by Jordan t i t u l a r A f r i c a n A m e r i c a n existed. So to me, that makes it a
you like: over a white shirt and by Uniqlo +J at Uniqlo, SoHo, Blackmore using Oribe Hair Care. c h a r a c t e r , v o i c e d b y M i k e little different. There's a tradition
paired with black jeans for a N . Y . C . 8 7 7 - 4 U N I Q L O ; Grooming by Kumi Craig for Henry—a 44-year-old white guy in animated shows, where you
casual look, or under a trim suit customer.orders@uniqlo-usa.com; Exclusive Artists. Prop Styling by from Richmond, Virginia?— really can have the virtue of what
(pocket square and all) for www.uniqlo-usa.com Eddy Alcantara for Mark Edward adam baer people often aspire to, which is
something a little dressier. Just be Light Down Jacket, $80: Inc. Mike Henry: I feel like I give color-blind casting. You can have
sure to contrast the colors—after Sander’s devil is in the details: Cleveland a lot of integrity, a grown woman playing Bart
all, you’re not in uniform. “I focused on the density of the especially with the new series. Simpson and Bobby Hill, and you
(Left) Jacket, $130; shirt, $140; padding, and the contour of the He's not just "the Black Friend." have Hank Azaria as Apu. We
jeans, $50; ( Right) wool suit armhole, which actually took up He's a much fuller, well-rounded have Kevin Michael Richardson,
character then was ever set on w h o i s A f r i c a n A m e r i c a n ,
Family Guy. Nobody has had obviously, and plays Cleveland,
anything really bad to say about Jr., and he also plays Lester, one
it, knock on wood. of the most redneck, potentially
Rich Appel (co-creator): I think racist characters on our show.
there's no reason people would
72 Culture/ Media
The GQ Punch List
By stylemens (GQ: The
Editors)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:54:38 PM
What you need to check out,
watch, read, and do in the next 72
hours.
Make the G-20 fun. Before
Pittsburgh burns, check out the G-
20-inspired exhibit at the local
Andy Warhol Museum.“Drawn to
the Summit” showcases political
cartoons of the moment from each
of the member countries,
promising to be way more fun
than the actual conference.
Read the book, see the movie.
Little more than a year after
David Foster Wallace's death
comes John Krasinski's ( The
Office) directorial debut of the
author's short story collection,
Brief Interviews with Hideous
Men. The classic book was long
considered unfilmable, but
Krasinki proves that theory wrong
-ish, turning in an amusing (if not
terribly insightful) portrait of bad
male behavior, with solid
performances from a parade of
recognizable faces including Will
Arnett, Dominic Cooper, Timothy
Hutton, and Krasinski himself.
Plus, at 80 minutes, there’ll still
be time for dinner.
Psych yourself up. In tonight’s
episode of Psych—USA
Network’s consistently silly, sorta
-detective show—partners Shawn
and Gus must rely on music to
solve a crime. Specifically, the
music of Gus’s old collegiate a
cappella group, the awesomely-
named Blackapella. “I wanted to
call us The Incognegroes,” says
series star Dule Hill ( The West
Wing). “But that didn’t fly too
well.” What does fly well is this
well-timed episode, which plucks
a little bloom off of Glee’s rose.
Plus, it’s given Dule Hill some
newfound respect for the much-
maligned a cappella genre
(recently spoofed on The Office).
Pay the tailor a visit. Turn your
attention to the gear you'll wear
when the temperature really
drops, and visit your tailor. (If you
don't have one, now's the time to
strike up that meaningful,
rewarding relationship.) Look for
loose and missing buttons. Tell
him what areas to take in or patch.
It’ll probably take a few weeks.
Do it and you won't be taken
aback when you throw on that
topcoat for the first time.
MediaDailyNews:
Magazine Audiences
Increase 8%, 2000-2009
(MediaPost | Media News)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 3:15:19 PM
While a decline in magazine
newsstand sales has hogged the
spotlight, a long-term trend of
possibly greater significance has
gone unnoticed: over the last
decade the total audience for
leading consumer magazines, as
measured by Mediamark
Research and Intelligence, has
actually increased by about 8%,
according to a MediaPost analysis
of 81 top titles.
While this may leave many
surprised -- especially in light of
an overall decrease in newsstand
sales and subscriptions over the
same period -- there's no denying
the general upward trend from
2000-2009.
In this analysis, MediaPost
compared MRI's annual spring
audience figures over the last
decade for 81 titles, sorted into
three broad categories: general
interest, women's interest and
men's interest. Performance varied
widely from title to title and
between categories: General
interest actually declined slightly
from 2000-2009, with a -1.4%
drop, but this was more than
offset by bigger increases in the
total audience for women's
interest (up 13.3%) and men's
interest (13.1%).
To be included in the analysis,
every title had to be published
continuously and measured by
MRI every year from 2000-2009.
For general interest, MRI's total
adult audience figures were used,
Internet News Record
while gender-specific readership
data was used for women's
interest and men's interest
magazines.
Twenty-four titles were
analyzed in the general interest
category: Architectural Digest,
BusinessWeek, Ebony,
Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fortune,
Food & Wine, Inc., Jet,
Kiplinger's Personal Finance,
Money, National Enquirer,
National Geographic, Newsweek,
Reader's Digest, Rolling Stone,
Runner's World, Scientific
American, Smart Money,
Smithsonian, Spin, The New
Yorker, This Old House and
Time.
As noted, the total audience for
this cohort declined -1.4%,
dropping from 211,630,000 in
spring 2000 to 208,805,000 in
spring 2009. However, during this
10-year period, the total audience
number varied considerably, both
up and down -- including a peak
of 228,255,000 in 2002 and a
trough of 207,497,000 in 2007 --
so it's hard to draw any
conclusions about an overall
trend.
Furthermore, only 10 of the 24
MEDIADAILYNEWS: page 73
Internet News Record
MediaDailyNews: Network Phenom:
Little Broadcast Erosion
(MediaPost | Media News)
Submitted at 9/25/2009 4:26:46 PM
The first four big days of the
broadcast season might tell you of
something that the networks have
not seen in recent years -- very
little broadcast erosion.
The collective average ratings
of the big five broadcast networks
was at a Nielsen 15.4 rating
among 18-49 viewers, down just
3% from a 15.8 a year ago. Total
shares for the five networks were
42 versus 41 through the first four
days a year ago.
Broadcast television might have
been up much more if not for its
biggest loser, NBC -- off almost a
full rating point to a 2.5/6 from a
3.4/8 a year ago. ABC is down
slightly to a 4.0/10 from a 4.3/11
a year ago. CW is also down a bit
among 18-49 viewers to a 1.1/3
from a 1.5/4 a year ago.
The silver lining is that ABC --
with its big Wednesday and
Thursday wins -- is the No. 1
network so far among 18-49
viewers. Big winners versus last
year's results so far are Fox and
CBS, each with a 3.9 rating/10
share.
Fox grabbed almost a full rating
point versus a year ago, in part
because of new show "Glee" as
well as the stronger numbers for
"House."
CBS is up just one-tenth of a
rating point. Key ingredients there
were better results of "NCIS,"
"The Big Bang Theory" and its
new "NCIS: Los Angeles."
NBC losses are from "The Jay
Leno Show" appearance on a
Monday to Friday basis -- with
expected lower numbers than
previous NBC dramas in the 10
p.m. time slot. Those shows
averaged mid-two ratings a year
ago. NBC's "Heroes" is down, as
well as its Thursday night
comedies.
But cable isn't the problem --
yet.
Ad-supported cable is down a
tad over four days among 18-49
viewers in prime time: to a
16.8/45 from a 17.6/45. "Cable
does try to get out of the way
MEDIADAILYNEWS
continued from page 72
titles saw their audience drop
from 2000-2009, and only five
fell over 10%: Inc. (-21%),
Kiplinger's Personal Finance(-
27%), National Enquirer(-24%),
Reader's Digest(-28%) and Spin(-
32%). Subtracting these five titles
from the group, the remaining 19
actually saw their total audience
increase 10%, from 147,824,000
in 2000 to 162,414,000 in 2009.
Thirty-eight titles were analyzed
in the women's interest category:
Allure, Better Homes & Gardens,
Bon Appetit, Cooking Light,
Cosmopolitan, Country Living,
Elle, Elle Décor, Entertainment
Weekly, Essence, Family Circle,
Fitness, Glamour, Good
Housekeeping, Gourmet, Harper's
during broadcast premiere week," Bazaar, Health, House Beautiful,
s a y s D a v i d S c a r d i n o , Ladies' Home Journal, Marie
entertainment specialist for Santa Claire, Martha Stewart Living,
Monica-based media agency RPA Metropolitan Home, Modern
Inc. Bride, Parenting, People,
Last year, the five networks P r e v e n t i o n , R e d b o o k , S e l f ,
were down about 6% to 8% Seventeen, Shape, Soap Opera
among 18-49 viewers, a bit higher Digest, Soap Opera Weekly,
than its historical trend. Southern Living, Star, Town &
All this should be looked at Country, Vanity Fair, Vogue and
cautiously. TV analysts say the Woman's Day.
whole network fall TV marketing The total female audience for
machine works well to get people these titles increased 13.3%, from
sampling the new season and new 297,606,000 in spring 2000 to
shows in the first days of the 337,337,000 in spring 2009. The
season.
Says Scardino: "Basically,
successful TV is about executing
content over multiple episodes."
Media 73
peak value of 353,253,000 came
in 2008; the lowest figure (after
spring 2000) was 314,640,000 in
2003. Only eight of the 38 titles
saw their female audience
decrease over this period, and
only four of these fell over 10%:
Ladies' Home Journal(-16%),
Redbook(-12%), Soap Opera
Digest(-27%) and Soap Opera
Weekly(-21%).
NIneteen men's interest titles
were analyzed: Automobile,
Esquire, Field & Stream, Golf
Digest, GQ, Guns & Ammo, Hot
Rod, Men's Fitness, Men's Health,
Men's Journal, Motor Trend,
Muscle & Fitness, Outdoor Life,
Outside, Playboy, Popular
Mechanics, Popular Science,
Road & Track and Sports
Illustrated.
The total male audience of these
magazines increase 13.1%, from
102,115,000 in sring 2000 to
115,527,000 in sring 2009. The
peak figure of 116,603,000 came
in spring 2008; the lowest figure
(after spring 2000) was
102,615,000 in 2004. Of the 19
titles, only Field & Stream
experienced a decline of over
10% (-13%).