Why the Gaza War Between Israel and Hamas Broke Out Now - US News and World Report

Why the Gaza War Between Israel and Hamas Broke Out Now - US News and World Report: "The Gaza Strip's warriors have been firing rockets at Israeli border towns for nearly eight years and while Israel has tended all along to strike back with much greater lethal force, never has it launched such a ferocious reprisal as its current Operation Solid Lead."

Where to Find a $99 iPhone - Gadgetwise Blog - NYTimes.com

Where to Find a $99 iPhone - Gadgetwise Blog - NYTimes.com: "There really is a $99 iPhone, but it’s not at Wal-Mart. And Wal-Mart really is selling an iPhone, but it’s not $99.

The $99 iPhone is available only from AT&T, and the phone is — as car dealers delicately put it — pre-owned."

What future is in store for Microsoft? | InfoWorld | Analysis | 2008-12-29 | By Galen Gruman

What future is in store for Microsoft? | InfoWorld | Analysis | 2008-12-29 | By Galen Gruman: "Microsoft seems to have lost a cohesive outline for its future, allowing the debacle that is Windows and the bizarre interface changes in Office and Internet Explorer to come to market. Yet this same company has produced a great server operating system (Windows Server 2008) and sharing server (SharePoint 2007), and shows promising work in its touch-interface technology (Microsoft Surface), in addition to well-regarded midmarket business apps (Microsoft Dynamics) with a world-class user interface. It's clear that there are actually multiple Microsofts with their own visions and execution strengths."

The Hottest Tech Developments of 2009 - BusinessWeek

The Hottest Tech Developments of 2009 - BusinessWeek: "Watch for Microsoft's Windows 7; Apple's Snow Leopard; and Motorola and other smartphones running Google's Android software"

Israeli Aircraft Continue Raids on Gaza; Arab Anger Rises - NYTimes.com

Israeli Aircraft Continue Raids on Gaza; Arab Anger Rises - NYTimes.com: "GAZA — In a third straight day of deadly air strikes against the emblems and institutions of Hamas on Monday, Israeli warplanes pounded targets in Gaza including the Interior Ministry while the Israeli Army declared areas around the beleaguered enclave a “closed military zone.”"

Israeli Foreign Minister Says Hamas Is to Blame - NYTimes.com

Israeli Foreign Minister Says Hamas Is to Blame - NYTimes.com: "Israeli Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni defended the Israeli assault in Gaza, saying on America’s Sunday morning talk shows that Hamas, not Israel, “is the one who needs to be condemned by the international community.”"

9 Reasons This Recession Will Be Good - FlowChart (usnews.com)

9 Reasons This Recession Will Be Good - FlowChart (usnews.com): "9 Reasons This Recession Will Be Good"

YouTube - сплин - прочь из моей головы

YouTube - сплин - прочь из моей головы

Top Technology Breakthroughs of 2008

Top Technology Breakthroughs of 2008: "The economy may be tanking, but innovation is alive and well.

When it came to products, incremental improvements were the name of the game this year. Phones got faster (iPhone 3G anyone?), notebooks turned into netbooks and pocket cameras went from recording standard-definition video to HD.

But the world's corporate and academic R&D labs were busy laying the foundations of some amazing future technologies in 2008. They produced concepts such as silicon chips you can swallow for personalized medicine from the inside out and a fourth fundamental element in electronic circuitry. And engineers cranked out a few less groundbreaking — but no less important — inventions, like a space-age swimsuit to help Michael Phelps slice through the water faster than a river otter on a jet ski.

Here's our countdown of what rocked our world in 2008 — and what will change yours in 2009 and beyond."

The world this year | The Economist

The world this year | The Economist: "The credit crunch turned into a full-blown global financial crisis in September when Lehman Brothers, one of Wall Street’s big investment banks, declared bankruptcy and American officials seized control of American International Group to prevent the giant insurer’s collapse. As panic spread, governments engineered the rescue of distressed banks or took them over directly. By the end of the month the remaining big Wall Street houses had either been absorbed by others or become bank holding companies."

Garmin: Oh, You Mean THAT Android Phone?!? - Mobile Blog - InformationWeek

Garmin: Oh, You Mean THAT Android Phone?!? - Mobile Blog - InformationWeek: "This morning, the Internet was rife with reports that Garmin (NSDQ: GRMN), maker of GPS equipment, will be releasing phones based on Google (NSDQ: GOOG)'s Android operating system in the latter half of 2009. Is it, or isn't it?"

Windows XP Gets Another Reprieve - Dave's Download (usnews.com)

Windows XP Gets Another Reprieve - Dave's Download (usnews.com): "Windows XP is managing to stay alive, with begrudging help from Microsoft. The software company is telling system builders they can get copies of the old software until May 30. It's what the ChannelWeb site says is another sign of market resistance to Vista."

Goldman Sachs: Why the Economy Needs $600 Billion in Stimulus in 2009 - Capital Commerce (usnews.com)

Goldman Sachs: Why the Economy Needs $600 Billion in Stimulus in 2009 - Capital Commerce (usnews.com): "The econ team at Goldman Sachs explains why the traditional drivers of an economic rebound won't help the economy much this time around, and thus we need a $600 billion stimulus package this year alone. Some excerpts"

When Parents Clash Over Religion - Motherlode Blog - NYTimes.com

When Parents Clash Over Religion - Motherlode Blog - NYTimes.com: "There is an by essay Hadeel Masseoud, a lawyer in Atlanta, over on Babble.com, called A Very Muslim Christmas, which asks, “Would having a tree betray our faith?” The author, a Muslim child of Palestinian immigrants, grew up celebrating Christmas, then married an Iranian immigrant who saw such trappings as a “sell out.”"

Economic Scene - Finding Good News in Falling Prices - NYTimes.com

Economic Scene - Finding Good News in Falling Prices - NYTimes.com: "The inflation report released by the government on Tuesday showed that the Consumer Price Index was 3 percent lower last month than it had been three months earlier. It was the steepest such drop since 1933."

The Real Estate Crunch Comes to Russia - BusinessWeek

The Real Estate Crunch Comes to Russia - BusinessWeek: "Shares of Russian companies have lost nearly three-quarters of their value in six months. The price of government bonds is down by almost a quarter. The ruble is sliding, losing 20% of its value against the U.S. dollar since August. The price of oil, Russia's chief export, has fallen by 70% since the summer. But for a long time, there was one asset in Russia—real estate—that somehow seemed capable of defying gravity."

Citigroup: 4 Bailout Questions - The Ticker (usnews.com)

Citigroup: 4 Bailout Questions - The Ticker (usnews.com): "The government's decision to prop up Citigroup opens a new chapter in the ongoing financial crisis. This latest rescue, larger by far than the bailouts of Bear Stearns or American International Group, sets the newest precedent for how far the government will go in its continuing efforts to keep the financial sector afloat.

The basics:
Citi is on the hook for the first $29 billion in losses. After that, the dominos fall like this: The Treasury will be responsible for 90 percent of the next $5 billion in losses. Then, the FDIC will handle 90 percent of the next $10 billion. Lastly, the Fed takes 90 percent of losses beyond that."

Google's iPhone app gets a voice: Yours | Webware - CNET

Google's iPhone app gets a voice: Yours | Webware - CNET: "Google on Friday is expected to release version two of its mobile search application for the iPhone. The new version works much like the old one, letting users query Google outside of the mobile Safari Web browser, as well as search through contacts and narrow down results by their current location. The big change is the addition of search-by-voice, which lets you skip the keyboard entirely."

Cray XT Jaguar Supercomputer Surpasses IBM Roadrunner -- Supercomputers -- InformationWeek

Cray XT Jaguar Supercomputer Surpasses IBM Roadrunner -- Supercomputers -- InformationWeek: "The Department of Energy's Oak Ridge, Tenn., National Laboratory has boosted the computing power of its Cray XT Jaguar supercomputer to more than a quadrillion mathematical calculations per second, surpassing the IBM (NYSE: IBM) Roadrunner, which topped the list of the world's 500 fastest computers in June."

Circuit City files for bankruptcy protection - BusinessWeek

Circuit City files for bankruptcy protection - BusinessWeek: "Circuit City Stores Inc., the nation's second-biggest electronics retailer, filed for bankruptcy protection on Monday but plans to stay open for business as the busy holiday season approaches"

What Crisis? Some Hedge Funds Gain - NYTimes.com

What Crisis? Some Hedge Funds Gain - NYTimes.com: "While most hedge funds are sinking into red this year and unsettling the markets in the process, a handful of them are posting spectacular gains. Mr. Drury’s fund, for instance, is up 60 percent since Jan. 1."

Apple edges out RIM to take No. 2 spot in smart phones

Apple edges out RIM to take No. 2 spot in smart phones: "Apple Inc.'s iPhone 3G passed Research In Motion Ltd.'s BlackBerry to take second place in third-quarter global smart-phone rankings, according to a report by market researcher Canalys.com."

As Ukraine Staggers, Its Leaders Quarrel - NYTimes.com

As Ukraine Staggers, Its Leaders Quarrel - NYTimes.com: "“Yushchenko thinks he is God,” said Mikhail Pogrebinsky, a political analyst at a research and polling center in Kiev, pointing to Mr. Yushchenko’s visit last week to Istanbul, where he gave Patriarch Bartholomew I of the Eastern Orthodox Church a specially minted coin with his image on it, while at home his country’s currency plummeted.

Ms. Tymoshenko is also capable of political magic tricks. Last year she colluded with Mr. Yushchenko, withdrawing all her deputies from Parliament to give him legal justification for dissolving it and calling new elections."

Joe the Plumber hires Nashville publicity team - Yahoo! News

Joe the Plumber hires Nashville publicity team - Yahoo! News: "NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Like all good celebrities, Joe the Plumber has hired a publicity team.

The Press Office in Nashville, where clients include rockers Grand Funk Railroad and Eddie Money, will help him handle the flood of interview and appearance requests that have poured in since he was mentioned during a presidential debate and quickly became a household name."

Half-Point Cut by Fed; Is Bernanke Done? - The Home Front (usnews.com)

Half-Point Cut by Fed; Is Bernanke Done? - The Home Front (usnews.com): "I'll put it to you this way: We've seen some thawing in credit markets—the interbank lending markets—and if that continues that will be a very good sign and this will probably be the [last rate cut]. If we don't see signs of [credit improvement] between now and the December meeting, then I think the Fed will cut another 50 basis points—because the numbers that are going to come in between now and then on the economy are going to look pretty ugly."

IPhone: AT&T Offers Free Wi-Fi to iPhone Owners (For Real This Time)

IPhone: AT&T Offers Free Wi-Fi to iPhone Owners (For Real This Time): "This past summer AT&T announced free Wi-Fi access for iPhone users, then pulled it—but now it's back. Today they announce that iPhone owners can again get free wireless access from any of their hotspots, including at Starbucks. CNET reports that a text message supposedly went out to iPhone-owning AT&T owners bearing the good news, but neither Adam or I received one (nor did the CNET staff). Update: Adam got his as I wrote this post, so they're going out right now. There's also a new procedure for getting online with your iPhone at the hotspots—presumably one that will keep the laptops using the iPhone user agent from getting free access. Here's how to use a spot with your iPhone:"

Durable-Goods Orders Increase Unexpectedly - WSJ.com

Durable-Goods Orders Increase Unexpectedly - WSJ.com: "WASHINGTON -- Demand for expensive goods climbed in September, boosted by higher car and airplane orders for an unexpected increase amid a weakening economy and a credit crunch."

'Hate circuit' discovered in brain - being-human - 28 October 2008 - New Scientist

'Hate circuit' discovered in brain - being-human - 28 October 2008 - New Scientist: "The proverbs tell us that there's a fine line between love and hate, and new scans of the brain's 'hate circuit' have confirmed similarities between the two powerful emotions.

But whereas loved-up partners are likely to be less rational, the new scans show hate to be colder and more calculating."

FRB: Press Release--FOMC statement--October 29, 2008

FRB: Press Release--FOMC statement--October 29, 2008

Google offers Gmail users a window into Calendar and Docs

Google offers Gmail users a window into Calendar and Docs: "Google Inc. this week unveiled gadgets created by its Google Labs project that allow Gmail users to look at Google Calendar and Google Docs data without having to open the hosted applications."

Microsoft Plans ‘Cloud’ Operating System - NYTimes.com

Microsoft Plans ‘Cloud’ Operating System - NYTimes.com: "LOS ANGELES — Looking for growth in new markets where it is increasingly being bypassed, Microsoft said Monday that late next year it would begin offering a new “cloud” operating system that would manage the relationship between software inside the computer and on the Web, where data and services are becoming increasingly centralized."

5 Funny Jokes From Barack Obama and John McCain at the Al Smith Dinner - US News and World Report

5 Funny Jokes From Barack Obama and John McCain at the Al Smith Dinner - US News and World Report: "McCain : 'This morning I dismissed my entire team of senior advisers. All of their positions will now be held by a man named Joe the Plumber.'"

Op-Ed Contributor - Buy American. I Am. - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Contributor - Buy American. I Am. - NYTimes.com: "A simple rule dictates my buying: Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors. To be sure, investors are right to be wary of highly leveraged entities or businesses in weak competitive positions."

Excel error leaves Barclays with more Lehman assets than it bargained for

A reformatting error in an Excel spreadsheet has cropped up in the largest bankruptcy case in U.S. history, prompting a legal motion by Barclays Capital Inc. to amend its deal to buy some of the assets of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc.

The law firm representing Barclays filed the motion (download PDF) on Friday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, seeking to exclude 179 Lehman contracts that it said were mistakenly included in the asset purchase agreement. The firm — Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP — said in the motion that one of its first-year law associates had unknowingly added the contracts when reformatting a spreadsheet in Excel.

Excel error leaves Barclays with more Lehman assets than it bargained for

Google Reader (1000+)

"В жизни есть только две настоящие трагедии: одна - когда не получаешь того, чего хочешь, а вторая - когда получаешь."

Google Reader (1000+)

"Женщина, которую пожелал другой мужчина... тут же становится нам дороже. Уж так водится, что на человека гораздо больше влияют относительные ценности, чем абсолютные."

Comparo: T-Mobile G1 v. Apple iPhone 3G - dealnews.com

Comparo: T-Mobile G1 v. Apple iPhone 3G - dealnews.com: "Google's first smartphone, the T-Mobile G1, made its official debut Tuesday morning in New York. The $179 device, which is manufactured by HTC, is the first phone to use Google's open source Android operating system. Like Apple's iPhone 3G, the G1 has full touch-screen functionality and works on both Wi-Fi and 3G networks. But does this new smartphone pack enough muscle to topple Apple's iPhone? Below is a rundown of the G1's specs and how they compare to the iPhone 3G."

Amazon.com Investor Relations: Press Release

Amazon.com Investor Relations: Press Release

Barclays Reaches $1.75 Billion Deal for a Lehman Unit - NYTimes.com

Barclays Reaches $1.75 Billion Deal for a Lehman Unit - NYTimes.com: "Lehman had hoped to get as much as $5 billion for its investment management business, though it may not even receive that amount after the bankruptcy filing. If it gets the full $5 billion and $1.75 billion from the sale of its capital markets unit, the combined amount would value Lehman at around $10 a share — the same fire-sale price at which Bear Stearns was sold to JPMorgan Chase."

Stunning Fall for Main Street’s Brokerage Firm - NYTimes.com

Stunning Fall for Main Street’s Brokerage Firm - NYTimes.com: "Merrill, which has lost more than $45 billion on its mortgage investments, agreed to sell itself to Bank of America for $50.3 billion in stock, according to people briefed on the negotiations.

It is a remarkable fall from grace for the 94-year-old Merrill, whose corporate logo — a bull — has long symbolized the fundamental optimism of Wall Street. After a frantic weekend of talks between Wall Street executives and federal officials over the fate of the teetering Lehman Brothers, fear spread on Sunday that Merrill, staggered by losses, might also falter. The merger would combine Bank of America’s banking and lending strength with Merrill Lynch’s wealth management expertise."

Scientists Activate Particle Collider - NYTimes.com

Scientists Activate Particle Collider - NYTimes.com: "After 14 years and $8 billion, scientists at the European Center for Nuclear Research, or CERN, outside Geneva, succeeded in turning on the most powerful microscope ever built for investigating the elemental particles and forces of nature."

Ukraine Government Near Collapse - NYTimes.com

Ukraine Government Near Collapse - NYTimes.com: "The president of Ukraine, Viktor A. Yushchenko, asserted that he was the victim of a “political and constitutional coup” carried out by his ally, Prime Minister Yulia V. Tymoshenko, and threatened to call for early parliamentary elections. She blamed him, saying he was seeking ways to rebuild his flagging popular support."

Is Ukraine's Crimea the Next Flash Point With Russia? - US News and World Report

Is Ukraine's Crimea the Next Flash Point With Russia? - US News and World Report: "Moscow's relations with Ukraine have been strained since the 2004 Orange Revolution, in which pro-western Viktor Yushchenko won an election runoff after hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians protested the allegedly fraudulent victory of his Kremlin-backed rival. Like Georgia's western-oriented leader, Yushchenko has been pressing hard and very publicly for his country to join NATO, a move that infuriates the Kremlin. Next week, Vice President Dick Cheney is due to visit Georgia and Ukraine as a high-profile sign of Washington's support."

20 Reasons to Kill Corporate Taxes - Capital Commerce (usnews.com)

20 Reasons to Kill Corporate Taxes - Capital Commerce (usnews.com): "1) The United States has the second-highest corporate tax rate in the world, just shy of 40 percent when you combine state and federal taxes.

2) The U.S corporate tax rate is 50 percent higher than the average for Organization for Economic Coordination and Development member states.

3) Japan, the country with the highest corporate tax rate, is thinking about cutting its rate.

4) Some 70 percent of the corporate tax burden is borne by workers in the form of lower wages and fewer high-paying jobs."
....

Trulia's New iPhone House Finder

Trulia's New iPhone House Finder: "The free software application uses navigation technology to summon data and displays the results on an interactive map. It lets users call up such information as price, photos, square footage, and number of bedrooms. Another tap of the screen sends a call or e-mail directly to the listing agent. 'It's all about convenience,' says Trulia CEO Pete Flint"

Opinion: Why Google has lost its mojo -- and why you should care

Opinion: Why Google has lost its mojo -- and why you should care: "Worse yet, he warned that Google's engineers care more about the 'coolness' of a service than about the service's effectiveness. 'The culture at Google values 'coolness' tremendously, and the quality of service not as much,'"

Einstein

Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance you must keep moving.

Put Your Favorite Quote to Work - Outside Voices: Careers (usnews.com)

Put Your Favorite Quote to Work - Outside Voices: Careers (usnews.com): "The real power of that quote comes when we ask ourselves, 'OK, what does that mean to me? More specifically, what does that mean to me today? Right here, right now? What decisions do I need to make day in, day out to actually put the meaning of that quote into action?'"

Yes, your goofy e-mail address says something about you

Yes, your goofy e-mail address says something about you: "Scientists at the University of Leipzig have taken a close look at these questions, and yes, they say, people really do judge others based on the e-mail addresses they choose. What's more interesting, however, is that these judgments tend to be right."

Frankly Speaking: Education has to be more than a paper chase

Eventually, that paper will lose its value, too. That'll happen because the money will attract paper-chasers, and we'll end up with a glut of people with IT-related master's degrees -- and nothing else to offer.

Auto Beat - BusinessWeek

Auto Beat - BusinessWeek: "The Wall Street Journal today published a story stating, according to un-named sources, that Chrysler is in talks with Japanese automaker Nissan to essentially supply the Auburn Hills, MI carmaker with mid-sized cars derived from the Nissan Altima."

Skype won't say if it decrypts VoIP calls

The encryption of Skype voice-over-IP (VoIP) phone calls might not be as secure as you think.

Tech Beat That iPhone Nano Rumor .... - BusinessWeek

Tech Beat That iPhone Nano Rumor .... - BusinessWeek: "That old rumor – that Apple would introduce a stripped-down version of the iPhone – is being floated again. This Sunday, Daily Mail has run a story citing sources close to Apple who claim the company will release iPhone Nano by Christmas. The gadget would allow for listening to music and phone calling, but won’t offer mobile Internet connectivity, according to the report. It’s supposedly destined for the prepaid market."

Facebook's Fire Sale

Facebook's Fire Sale: "Still, there are several reasons Facebook is probably worth less than the $15 billion trumpeted at the time of the Microsoft deal last year. For starters, the public equity markets have gotten crushed over the last year, driving down the value of companies from Google to Apple (AAPL). Skittish investors have also lost their appetite for IPOs, with only a few so far this year."

FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - Repel the calls to contain competitive markets

FT.com / Comment & analysis / Comment - Repel the calls to contain competitive markets: "The surprise of recent months is not that global economic growth is slowing, but that there is any growth at all. The credit crunch of the past year has not followed the path of recent economically debilitating episodes characterised by a temporary freezing up of liquidity – 1982, 1989, 1997-8 come to mind. This crisis is different – a once or twice a century event deeply rooted in fears of insolvency of major financial institutions."

Nissan научит водителей правильно дав�

Система, получившая название "экопедаль" (ECO Pedal), постоянно следит за тем, как водитель нажимает на педаль газа. Обнаружив излишнее усилие, при котором топливо расходуется в большем объеме, чем это необходимо для плавного разгона, срабатывает механизм обратного нажатия. По желанию водителя система может быть отключена.

The Mini Cooper Clubman: Fast, Fun, and Hard-to-Find

The Mini Cooper Clubman: Fast, Fun, and Hard-to-Find: "BMW's sporty but fuel-efficient Mini Coopers are among the hottest cars on the market right now. The company's plant in Oxford, England, is running 24/7 and still can't keep up with demand. Jim McDowell, vice-president of the Mini Division, recently told Automotive News magazine that U.S. Mini Cooper dealers are out of cars and will be mainly selling pre-ordered units for the rest of the model year. So, unless you get lucky and find an '08 Mini Cooper on a dealer's lot, your best option is to sign up now for an '09 model that won't be delivered until this fall."

Honda Goes Green and Sporty

Honda Goes Green and Sporty: "One of the big attention grabbers at the 2008 British International Motor Show is Honda's low-emission sportscar dubbed OSM (for Open Study Model). The open top two seater design out of the company's R&D facility in Offenbach, Germany, is being shown alongside the CR-Z sports hybrid which was unveiled at Tokyo last year and the Honda Honda FCX Clarity which is being produced in Japan and available in the US under a lease plan. While a version of the CR-Z has been confirmed for production, there are no plans to bring the OSM online anytime soon."

Google Moves to Reinvent Transportation

Google Moves to Reinvent Transportation: "Google is also betting that the future of transportation will be networked and controlled via software, just like our laptops and gadgets. And not just connected via the Internet, but through the network of the power grid, too. Rolf Schreiber, an engineer with RechargeIT, says that beyond these initial investments, Google is also looking to back companies that build software that can control the rate at which plug-in vehicles charge. And much the way Google has built a business of providing information via the web, the company could add its broadband expertise to the future of connected transportation. Schreiber, for example, recently completed a test of Google's own, in-house plug-in vehicles, using wireless communications and GPS to determine that the cars are getting more than 93 miles per gallon."

Merrills Fire Sale May Burn Other Firms - Mergers, Acquisitions, Venture Capital, Hedge Funds -- DealBook - New York Times

Merrills Fire Sale May Burn Other Firms - Mergers, Acquisitions, Venture Capital, Hedge Funds -- DealBook - New York Times: "Will Merrill Lynch’s latest mark-downs spell trouble for other investment banks? That was one big question on Wall Street after Monday’s surprise announcement that Merrill was selling a big pile of risky assets at a deep discount."

Can America Go Bankrupt? - Capital Commerce (usnews.com)

Can America Go Bankrupt? - Capital Commerce (usnews.com): "Can America Go Bankrupt?
July 29, 2008 12:51 PM ET | James Pethokoukis | Permanent Link

Let's see here: $500 billion budget deficits, the possibility of a $500 billion bank bailout in 2009, and exploding entitlement costs. Surely, this can't be good. My pal Arnold Kling doesn't think so:

Think of the U.S. government as the world's biggest hedge fund. One thing a hedge fund does is engage in credit arbitrage. When you can borrow risk-free, you can make a profit holding risky assets. That is what Congress is hoping will happen with the Freddie-Fannie bailout. We have grown accustomed to the assumption that the risk of default of U.S. government liabilities is zero. That in turn allows Congress to act like the biggest hedge fund on the block. Consider the long-term obligations of the U.S. government: Social Security, Medicare, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, public employee pension plans. Add to those the risks of the securities that the government is effectively choosing to guarantee in the Bear Stearns merger, the Freddie-Fannie prop-up, and other steps that are being taken or will be taken in the mortgage and financial market. It seems to me that in order to achieve short-term stability we are piling on long-term fragility.... If people do not have confidence in the long-"

New IBM tool analyzes code for mistakes as it's written

New IBM tool analyzes code for mistakes as it's written: "IBM's Rational Software unit today unveiled a development tool that can scan and check code as it's written to uncover errors before they make their way further into the development life cycle where fixes are far more costly.

The IBM Rational Software Analyzer automatically scans the new code up to 700 times before an application is complete. Its operation is similar to the grammar check function in Microsoft Word, according to IBM."

Microsoft Calls Forrester's Windows Vista Report 'Schizophrenic' -- Microsoft -- InformationWeek

Invoking a common misnomer for multiple personality disorder, a Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) blogger called IT research group Forrester "schizophrenic" for publishing a report on Windows Vista that Microsoft claims contradicts previous Forrester reports on the beleaguered operating system.

Google In Final Negotiations To Acquire Digg For “Around $200 Million”

Google In Final Negotiations To Acquire Digg For “Around $200 Million”: "Google’s on and off negotiations with Digg have been back on in a big way for the last six weeks, we’ve heard from multiple sources inside and outside of Google. The two companies have reportedly signed a letter of intent and are close to a deal that will bring Digg under the Google News property. The acquisition price is in the $200 million range, says one source."

Official Google Blog: Knol is open to everyone

Official Google Blog: Knol is open to everyone: "A few months ago we announced that we were testing a new product called Knol. Knols are authoritative articles about specific topics, written by people who know about those subjects. Today, we're making Knol available to everyone.

The web contains vast amounts of information, but not everything worth knowing is on the web. An enormous amount of information resides in people's heads: millions of people know useful things and billions more could benefit from that knowledge. Knol will encourage these people to contribute their knowledge online and make it accessible to everyone."

'Wall Street got drunk,' Bush says in Houston (w/video) | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle

'Wall Street got drunk,' Bush says in Houston (w/video) | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "naware he was being recorded, President Bush at a Houston fundraiser last week compared Wall Street to a drunk with a hangover and cracked jokes about the ailing housing market."

Speculators Aren’t Driving Up Oil Prices, Report Says

Speculators Aren’t Driving Up Oil Prices, Report Says - NYTimes.com: "The preliminary study concluded that the rise in oil prices over the last five years was “largely due” to fundamental factors like rapidly rising consumption and sluggish growth in energy supplies worldwide."

New York Times rejects McCain essay

New York Times rejects McCain essay - CNN.com: "The New York Times has rejected an essay that Sen. John McCain wrote defending his Iraq war policy."

Bernanke Reports as Much as $2.5 Million in Financial Assets

Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke held low-risk mutual funds and retirement investments last year as he led central bank efforts to calm financial markets amid the subprime mortgage crisis.

:)

"Счастье не в том, чтобы делать всегда, что хочешь, а в том, чтобы всегад хотеть того, что делаешь."

"Нет смысла быть скромным,если ты лучший..."

Free Preview - WSJ.com

Free Preview - WSJ.com: "UBS AG said some Swiss-based private bankers will stop offering American clients Swiss bank accounts and other services, as the bank tries to repair its reputation amid U.S. investigations into allegations it helped its American clients evade taxes.

The move, which UBS had begun last fall and accelerated recently amid the stepped-up U.S. investigations, will affect some 20,000 U.S. clients with about $20 billion in assets held in Swiss accounts. The accounts affected are those handled by non-U.S.-regulated Swiss private bankers."

Free Preview - WSJ.com

Free Preview - WSJ.com: "The nation's frantic search for crude-oil sources is leading to one of the oldest, richest and most-elusive prizes in the petroleum industry: oil shale.

The U.S. has the largest known reserves of the coal-like rock, 80% of which lie beneath federal lands. By some estimates, U.S. oil-shale reserves could yield 800 billion barrels of oil, triple the current proven reserves of Saudi Arabia.

But tapping that potential requires heating rocks buried deep beneath the earth to hundreds of degrees Fahrenheit. Oil companies are racing to find ways to do so economically, but their solutions are years away from commercial use."

Gmail Privacy Hole Shows User Names -- Google -- InformationWeek

Gmail Privacy Hole Shows User Names -- Google -- InformationWeek: "By sharing a Google Calendar with another Gmail user, the sharer is able to see the first name and last name that the recipient of the shared calendar supplied to set up a Gmail account."

PC World - Business Center: New Service Tracks Missing Laptops for Free

PC World - Business Center: New Service Tracks Missing Laptops for Free: "Here's how it works: A user downloads the free client software onto a laptop. That software then starts anonymously sending encrypted notes about the computer's whereabouts to servers on the Internet. If the laptop ever goes missing, the user downloads another program, enters a username and password, and then picks up this information from the servers, specifically a free storage service that has been around for several years, called OpenDHT."

Can’t Find a Parking Spot? Check Smartphone - NYTimes.com

Can’t Find a Parking Spot? Check Smartphone - NYTimes.com: "This fall, San Francisco will test 6,000 of its 24,000 metered parking spaces in the nation’s most ambitious trial of a wireless sensor network that will announce which of the spaces are free at any moment.

Drivers will be alerted to empty parking places either by displays on street signs, or by looking at maps on screens of their smartphones. They may even be able to pay for parking by cellphone, and add to the parking meter from their phones without returning to the car."

Физики создали нанопамять с использованием троичной логики

 

 

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Физики создали нанопамять с использованием троичной логики

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 10.07.2008 on 7/9/08

Группа исследователей создала из нанопроволоки память высокой емкости, основанную на троичной логике. Нановолокна, состоящие из внутреннего и внешнего цилиндров, позволяют, за счет их одновременного или разновременного перехода в состояние аморфности либо кристаллизации, записывать информацию в троичной форме.

 

 

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Google Releases 'Protocol Buffers' Data Language -- Google Open Source -- InformationWeek

Google (NSDQ: GOOG) on Monday released "Protocol Buffers," an open source data description language that the company developed for internal use. Think of it as XML's cousin, but simpler, smaller, and faster.

"It's the way we encode almost any sort of structured information which needs to be passed across the network or stored on disk," said Chris DiBona, Google's open source programs manager, in a blog post. "We thought Protocol Buffers might be useful to other people, too, so we've decided to release it as open source software."

Hasselblad introduces the 50 megapixel H3DII-50 - Engadget

Hasselblad introduces the 50 megapixel H3DII-50 - Engadget

In Medvedev, Bush Sees ‘a Smart Guy’ - NYTimes.com

In Medvedev, Bush Sees ‘a Smart Guy’ - NYTimes.com: "
“I found him to be a smart guy who understood the issues very well,” Mr. Bush said.

The exchange brought to mind Mr. Bush’s first meeting with Mr. Putin, at Brdo Castle in Slovenia in June 2001, when Mr. Bush famously said he had “looked the man in the eye” and “was able to get a sense of his soul.”

Given Mr. Medvedev’s extraordinarily close relationship with Mr. Putin, who remains Russia’s prime minister, it was only natural for Mr. Bush to face questions about what he saw when he looked at his new Russian counterpart. (No, he did not say he saw Mr. Putin’s soul.)"

Merrill Lynch aims to sell Bloomberg stake

Merrill Lynch aims to sell Bloomberg stake - Telegraph

Merrill Lynch is in negotiations to sell its $6bn (£3bn) stake in financial data and news company Bloomberg in a bid to strengthen its balance sheet.

Из-за Apple партнеры Samsung останутся без флэш-памяти

 

 

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Из-за Apple партнеры Samsung останутся без флэш-памяти

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 03.07.2008 on 7/2/08

Apple заказала у Samsung 50 миллионов восьмигигабитных модулей флэш-памяти. Из-за этого будет пересмотрен график поставок аналогичных модулей другим клиентам южнокорейской компании. О количестве заказанных 16-гигабитных модулей не сообщается. Всего Apple заказала свыше 15 миллионов iPhone 3G.

 

 

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15th-Century Sculpture Shatters at Met

 

 

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15th-Century Sculpture Shatters at Met

via NYT > NYTimes.com Home on 7/1/08

A relief by the Renaissance sculptor Andrea della Robbia came loose overnight from its perch and crashed to the stone floor below, seriously damaging it.

 

 

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Fugitive Former Hedge Fund Manager Surrenders

 

 

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Fugitive Former Hedge Fund Manager Surrenders

via NYT > NYTimes.com Home on 7/2/08

Samuel Israel III surrendered in Massachusetts on Wednesday, police said, ending a weeks-long manhunt.

 

 

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7 привычек неудачника

 

 

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7 привычек неудачника

via Lifehacker by rushills on 6/27/08

Трудно признавать себя неудачником даже тогда, когда сам громко заявляешь об этом. Заявления такого рода призваны побудить окружающих на похвалы и высокую оценку. Именно потому очень не хочется находить в себе черты неудачника на самом деле: это так неприятно. Но не зная врага, его невозможно победить. Потому давайте изучим семь привычек неудачника, а потом уже будем от них избавляться, если встретим.

1. Видит проблемы в каждой возможности:
Неудачник видит плохое даже в абсолютно хорошем, он ищет и придумывает возможные плохие последствия, лишь бы оправдать своё безделье. Он часто говорит об удачливости других для того, чтобы скрыть своё неумение добиваться чего-то значительного.

2. Он перекладывает ответственность:

Недостаточная уверенность в себе приводит к тому, что неудачник видит себя жертвой жестокого окружения. Он чувствует, что другие виноваты в его неудачах.

3. Он любит враждебные фразы:
Он часто употребляет выражения вроде "Это не моё дело", "Не я за это отвечаю" в ответ на предложения и замечания.

4. Он быстро смиряется с поражением:
Неудачник может часто менять место работы или даже карьеру, отказываясь от мечты во имя новой мечты, но всегда находит способ оправдать ничегонеделание. его уверенность в работе или карьере длится ровно до того момента как он находит другую работу или карьеру.

5. Он подсел на ТВ и лотереи:
Неудачник проводит больше времени за экраном ТВ, чем за полезными занятиями. Кроме того он мечтает разбогатеть в одно мгновение, от того он падок на всевозможные лотереи.

6. Постоянно ищет чужого одобрения:
Неудачник стремится угодить другим, чтобы ему не приходилось делать. Он отказывается действовать от своего собственного лица. Он отдаёт другим право создать себе собственное мнение.

7. Он не знает чего хочет от жизни:
Ища одобрения у окружающих, он видит жизнь сквозь очки немедленного вознаграждения. Его мнения и суждения меняются быстрее, чем у прощелыги-политика. Он искренне не понимает себя до конца для того, чтобы найти цели в жизни.

Такие знакомые - угроза и вам. Выбирайте правильных друзей и отучайте себя от аналогичных привычек.

7 Habits of Losers - Are Your Buddies Keeping You Back? [ Dumb Little Man ]

loser

 

 

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Moody's накажет своих сотрудников за завышенные рейтинги

 

 

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Moody's накажет своих сотрудников за завышенные рейтинги

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 02.07.2008 on 7/2/08

Рейтинговое агентство Moody's начало дисциплинарные процедуры против сотрудников, подозреваемых в ошибке, которая привела к завышению рейтинга долговых обязательств на более чем миллиард долларов.По признанию агентства, внутреннее расследование показало нарушение членами ключевого рейтингового комитета правил оценки обязательств.

 

 

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Are Americans Too Racist to Vote for Barack Obama for President?

Are Americans Too Racist to Vote for Barack Obama for President?

via U.S. News on 6/24/08

The question of race will be raised a lot between now and the November election.

 

 

 

Microsoft's Plan B for Search

 

 

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Microsoft's Plan B for Search

via BusinessWeek Online -- Most Popular Stories on 7/1/08

Moving past the Yahoo saga, the software giant is eyeing semantic search engine Powerset as a way of closing the gap with Google.

 

 

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Статья New York Times об охоте на бин Ладена разгневала Буша

 

 

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Статья New York Times об охоте на бин Ладена разгневала Буша

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 30.06.2008 on 6/29/08

Статья газеты The New York Times, посвященная сверхсекретному плану Пентагона по поимке Осамы бин Ладена, а также причинам того, почему лидер "Аль-Каеды" до сих пор не пойман, вызвала гнев президента США Джорджа Буша. В статье утверждается, что Пентагон уже полгода не может реализовать план уничтожения "Аль-Каеды" в Пакистане.

 

 

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Where Google Isn't Goliath

 

 

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Where Google Isn't Goliath

via BusinessWeek Online -- Technology on 6/26/08

Russia's Yandex—set to go public on Nasdaq—is innovating in a hurry to hold off the U.S. giant

 

 

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В американских больницах появятся развлекательные центры с Wii

 

 

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В американских больницах появятся развлекательные центры с Wii

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 27.06.2008 on 6/26/08

Компания Nintendo и организация Starlight Starbright Children's Foundation объявили о том, что в североамериканских больницах появятся 500 специальных развлекательных центров, где можно будет поиграть на приставке Wii. Они помогут поднять настроение пациентам, которые скучают во время своего пребывания в госпитале.

 

 

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В иерусалимском гей-параде приняли участие три тысячи человек

 

 

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В иерусалимском гей-параде приняли участие три тысячи человек

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 26.06.2008 on 6/26/08

В четверг в Иерусалиме состоялся ежегодный гей-парад, в котором приняли участие около трех тысяч человек. В этому году, в отличие от предыдущих, парад прошел без происшествий, и был арестован всего один человек, принадлежавший к небольшой группе религиозных иудеев, выразивших свой протест.

 

 

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Пилоты пассажирского лайнера проспали аэропорт

 

 

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Пилоты пассажирского лайнера проспали аэропорт

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 26.06.2008 on 6/26/08

Пилоты самолета авиакомпании Air India, выполнявшего 4 июня рейс Дубаи-Джайпур-Мумбаи, заснули в кабине во время рейса и пролетели аэропорт назначения почти на 600 километров, пока авиадиспетчерам не удалось их разбудить. Об этом инциденте сообщила газета The Times of India. Авиакомпания опровергает эту информацию.

 

 

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Tech: It's Where the Jobs Are

 

 

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Tech: It's Where the Jobs Are

via BusinessWeek Online -- Technology on 6/23/08

A new survey shows growth across the country, with higher-than-average pay. And with the number of tech grads falling, demand will only rise

 

 

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Google отказался от Gmail в Германии

 

 

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Google отказался от Gmail в Германии

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 24.06.2008 on 6/24/08

С 20 июня при попытке зайти на сайт Gmail из Германии появляется надпись, из которой следует, что Google не имеет право предоставлять в стране услуги под маркой Gmail. Теперь немецкий Gmail называется Google Mail и располагается по адресу mail.google.com. Это - результат трехлетнего судебного разбирательства.

 

 

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Сотням жителей Нью-Йорка ошибочно диагностировали ВИЧ

 

 

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Сотням жителей Нью-Йорка ошибочно диагностировали ВИЧ

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 23.06.2008 on 6/23/08

Более двухсот жителей Нью-Йорка, сдавших анализы на ВИЧ с ноября по апрель, были по ошибке признаны носителями ВИЧ-инфекции. Ошибочные результаты были получены с применением "быстрого" теста, определяющего наличие вируса по мазку из ротовой полости.

 

 

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Из нового VW Beetle сделают родстер и кроссовер

 

 

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Из нового VW Beetle сделают родстер и кроссовер

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 23.06.2008 on 6/23/08

Компания Volkswagen намерена дополнить модельный ряд хэтчбека Beetle нового поколения, чье появление на рынке запланировано на 2011 год, двумя модификациями - компактный кроссовер и родстер. Такие автомобили будет построены на базе модели Golf текущего поколения, а их внешность выполнена в стиле концепт-кара Up!.

 

 

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Oil: New Drilling Wouldn't Cut Prices

"The oil market is on steroids," says Fadel Gheit, senior energy analyst at Oppenheimer Holdings (OPY). "[Oil] is a financial game more than a physical one. Even if we lift the ban tomorrow, the best we can do is cool off some of the unprecedented euphoria in the market."

 

 

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Oil: New Drilling Wouldn't Cut Prices

via BusinessWeek Online -- on 6/19/08

It would be years before production hits the market—and Big Oil would have to spend heavily. Even then, prices may not drop

 

 

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Layoffs Show on New York Unemployment Rolls

 

 

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Layoffs Show on New York Unemployment Rolls

via NYT > NYTimes.com Home on 6/20/08

The job market in the New York City region is starting to show the effects of layoffs on Wall Street, and rents on stabilized apartments are set to get their biggest increases in years.

 

 

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In Bear Stearns Case, Question of an Asset’s Value

 

 

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In Bear Stearns Case, Question of an Asset's Value

via NYT > NYTimes.com Home on 6/20/08

The arrest of two former Bear Stearns managers spotlights the vexing problem of how to assign value to tricky assets.

 

 

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Ученые нашли в бактериях автомобильное сцепление

 

 

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Ученые нашли в бактериях автомобильное сцепление

via Lenta.ru: НОВОСТИ, 20.06.2008 on 6/20/08

Ученые, изучавшие бактерию Bacillus subtilis, доказали, что она использует механизм, аналогичный сцеплению в автомобилях. B. subtilis являются подвижными микроорганизмами: их клетки движутся из-за вращения жгутика. Механизм движения жгутика, ученые знали давно, однако принцип торможения до сих пор был неясен.

 

 

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Альберт Эйнштейн

 

 

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Альберт Эйнштейн

via Цитаты, афоризмы, высказывания, изречения, мудрые мысли by admin on 6/8/08

Все знают, что это невозможно. Но вот приходит невежда, которому это неизвестно — он-то и делает открытие.

 

 

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