Niea Milwaukee 2009 Again

Lady Gaga’s Japan quake wristbands spark row

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

A row's broken out over wristbands that Lady Gaga is selling to raise money for the victims of the Japanese earthquake.

The white bands say "We pray for Japan" and are for sale on the pop star's website for about £3 – with the option to give more money to help those hit by the quake and tsunami in March.

But she's been accused of taking some of the money for her own use.

Her spokesman said the court case was "misguided" and all the money from wristband sales was going to charity.

He added: "Lady Gaga has personally pledged her own funds to this cause and continues to support the victims of the disaster."

According to Japanese media, Lady Gaga has so far donated approximately £1.9m to disaster zones in the north-east of Japan, most of that from the sale of the wristbands.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here

Google faces French court claim

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

French search engine 1PlusV is suing Google for 295m euros (£264m), the largest damage claim the search engine has faced in Europe.

It claims that Google used its market dominance to block the development of rival services.

An earlier complaint from 1PlusV and others, including Microsoft, triggered a European Commission investigation.

It also faces a probe from the US Federal Trade Commission.

1plusV, which runs the Ejustice.fr legal website and search engine, said that court action was the "logical" next step in its campaign to force closer scrutiny of Google's practices.

"Our actions benefit not just one company, but all players in the booming vertical search business," said 1plusV founder Bruno Guillard.

It filed its initial complaint with the EC in February 2010 and a formal investigation was launched in November.

Google was served notice of the claim on Monday.

"We have only just received the complaint so we can't comment in detail yet. We always try to do what's best for our users. It's the key principle that drives our company and we look forward to explaining this," the firm said in a brief statement.

At the core of 1plusV's case is the claim that it lost revenue because Google prevented it from developing specialised "vertical" search engines.

"Google employed a number of anti-competitive practices and unethical behaviour over a period of four years to cripple 1plusV's ability to generate business and advertising," it said in a press release.

Between 2007 and 2010, it claims that 30 vertical search engines it had created were "black-listed".

Some of these have since been "white-listed" – indexed again, it said.

It also accused Google of artificially pushing its services to the first page of search results.

Another key element of the case against Google hinges on its Adsense system which allows advertisers to buy keywords which, when typed in as a search, query produce a commercial link alongside the search results.

In order to take advantage of Adsense, 1plusV said it was forced to abandon its own search technology and adopt Google's.

Google's advertising revenues hit $8.3bn in the first quarter of 2011.

The European Union has the power to fine companies up to 10 percent of their global turnover for breaching EU rules.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here

Philippines-US stage naval drills

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

The Philippines and the US have begun 11 days of joint naval exercises amid growing tensions with Beijing over disputed waters in the South China Sea.

US missile destroyers will join much older Philippine warships for the drills off the south-west Philippines.

In a BBC interview, President Benigno Aquino said he was concerned by China's encroachment into Philippine waters.

Several Asian nations claim parts of the strategically important waters that may also contain oil and gas deposits.

The naval exercises are an annual event and will be an important chance for Manila's badly equipped navy to learn new techniques.

But they come at a strategically important time, not far from the disputed region of the South China Sea in which the Philippines says China has made a series of recent incursions.

On Monday, the US Senate unanimously approved a motion deploring "the use of force by naval and maritime security vessels from China in the South China Sea".

Democratic Senator Jim Webb said South East Asian nations were worried about China's "pattern of intimidation".

As a former US colony, the Philippines still has close ties with America.

The US has already stated its intention to honour a long-standing defence pact made with the Philippines should the need arise.

The exercises will undoubtedly give the Philippines more reassurance of US support should China continue to press its claims on the disputed territory.

Manila says there have been nine separate Chinese incursions into its territorial waters since late February, and President Aquino said he was very concerned about the situation.

He told the BBC that if China did push its claim in some way, it would be "hard to understand how this could conform to international law".

"And if the international community agrees to such a thing, what happens to the rule of law?"

For its part, China has said it will not resort to the use of force to resolve maritime border disputes in the South China Sea.

China's foreign ministry says it condemns any action that would exacerbate the dispute, and urged those involved to "do more that is beneficial to regional peace and stability".

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here

‘Super sand’ to help clean water

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

Contaminated water can be cleaned much more effectively using a novel, cheap material, say researchers.

Wei Gao from Rice university in Texas, US, told BBC News that regular coarse sand was a lot less effective than fine sand when water was contaminated with pathogens, organic contaminants and heavy metal ions.

While fine sand is slightly better, water drains through it very slowly.

"Our product combines coarse sand with functional carbon material that could offer higher retention for those pollutants, and at the same time gives good throughput," explained the researcher.

She said that the technique the team has developed to make the sand involves dispersing graphite oxide into water and mixing it with regular sand.

"We then heat the whole mixture up to 105C for a couple of hours to evaporate the water, and use the final product – 'coated sand' – to purify polluted water."

The lead scientist of the study, Professor Pulickel Ajayan, said it was possible to modify the graphite oxide in order to make it more selective and sensitive to certain pollutants – such as organic contaminants or specific metals in dirty water.

Another team member, Dr Mainak Majumder from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, said it had another advantage – it was cheap.

"This material demonstrates comparable performance to some commercially available activated carbon materials," he said.

"But given that this can be synthesized using room temperature processes and also from cheap graphite sources, it is likely to be cost-efficient."

He pointed out that in Australia many mining companies extract graphite and they produce a lot of graphite-rich waste.

"This waste can be harnessed for water purification," he said.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here

Japan’s retail sales recovering

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

Retail sales in Japan fell less-than-forecast in May as the country starts to recover from the 11 March earthquake and tsunami.

Retail sales fell 1.3% in May compared with the same month last year, according to the latest government data.

However, compared with the previous month, retail sales rose by 2.4%.

Analysts said that the numbers were an indicator that the Japanese economy was starting to recover.

"The pace of decline has slowed, reflecting a quick recovery from the damage to supply chains," said Hioshi Miyazaki of Shinkin Asset Management Company.

While improving supply chain conditions have played their part in better output from Japanese factories, analysts said that natural factors such as the weather was also playing a part.

"Summer clothing seems to have sold well due to the hot weather in May," said Junko Nishioka of RBS Securities.

"This trend may continue in June and beyond," she added.

Mari Iwashita of SMBC Nikko Securities added that a change in weather may have a positive affect, not just on retail sales but also on other areas of the economy.

"A hot summer could result in more spending, especially with corporations allowing employees to take longer summer holidays." said Mr Iwashita.

"The picture may not be bad if summer bonuses are spent domestically, such as on travel," he added.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here

Bat Phone

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

Modernity is often the enemy of conservation, as our 21st-Century lifestyles put ever greater pressure on the natural world.

Crucially, that involves encouraging the public to act en masse as field researchers, gathering data.

Meanwhile Project Noah is a global study that encourages nature lovers to document the wildlife they encounter, using a purpose built phone app and web community.

Not initially designed to produce scientific results, the project has already identified two species previously unrecorded in the UK: a bee-fly (Systoechus ctenopterus) and euonymus leaf notcher moth (Pryeria sinica).

"It's important to say that iSpot did not set out to be a source of research data, but in fact we have been so successful that we have generated useful scientific data as well as introducing people to natural history," says Jonathan Silvertown, iSpot project leader and professor of ecology at The Open University.

"A dataset for shieldbugs observed on iSpot was recently validated by the expert who runs the national recording scheme for this group and it has now gone into the records of the National Biodiversity Network."

"We are sure that this is just the first of many datasets that will do this," he adds.

Professor Silvertown says organisations' hesitancy to embrace citizen research is understandable, because of the issues of interpretation and accuracy.

But he argues that involving the public in research is hugely valuable, particularly when that research is publicly funded.

Meanwhile Mr Ansari believes projects such as his own could be inspirational for the next generation of scientists.

"Think of our effort as training amateurs to become better nature observers… All scientists start off as amateurs," he says.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here

That baht moving in line with regional currencies-c.bank

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

BANGKOK, June 29 (Reuters) – Thailand’s baht is
moving in line with regional currencies, a senior central bank
official said on Wednesday, commenting on its recent weakness,
which dealers have attributed in part to outflows ahead of a
general election on July 3.

“The baht’s weakness is still in line with other currencies
in the region. Foreign investors are waiting for more certainty
about Thai politics and Greece’s debt,” Singchai Bunyayothin, a
senior official in the financial markets operations department,
told reporters.

The baht was at 30.86 per dollar on Wednesday, near its
lowest level in almost five months.

(Reporting by Kitiphong Thaichareon; Wriring by Orathai
Sriring; Editing by Alan Raybould)

Originally Published On: www.reuters.com – Original Article Here

Taiwan marks China tourism first

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

Some 300 independent tourists have arrived in Taiwan from China – the first time in decades mainland tourists have been allowed to roam on their own.

Tightly controlled tour groups have been permitted in recent years, but mainlanders are now allowed to visit independently.

Taiwanese officials say they expect a major boost in revenue from tourism.

The move is another sign of warming relations since the election of Taiwan President Ma Ying-jeou in 2008.

In many countries, it is normal for tourists to be able to travel around on their own. But decades of tensions between Taiwan and mainland China have only recently subsided.

China sees Taiwan as part of its territory and has threatened to use force if the island ever moved to declare formal independence.

The tourists were showered with media attention and handed gifts including Taiwanese pineapple cakes and bubble milk tea when they arrived.

Previously, the island had feared the tourists would overstay their visas, work illegally or spy on Taiwan. But such fears have given way to hopes of an economic boon from independent Chinese tourists.

Officials estimate the island could earn $300-600m (£188-375m) a year from the independent travellers.

But Beijing and Taipei are not embarking on this major move without caution. For now, only 500 such travellers are allowed to enter Taiwan each day and only those from the Chinese cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Xiamen.

Although Taiwan is concerned Chinese spies will now have easier access, the restrictions seem to be coming mostly from the Chinese side.

The tourists must first get permission from China's police before they can visit Taiwan.

That is because unlike the 4,000 Chinese tourists who come here on group tours each day, independent Chinese travellers can do practically anything they want once they get here – including linking up with Taiwan-based Chinese dissidents, Tibetan activists and members of the Falungong spiritual group, which is banned in China.

But many of the tourists who arrived on Tuesday said they simply wanted to see the island at their own pace, while others wanted to visit relatives.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here

Challenge your kids this summer

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

Editor’s note: Todd G. Buchholz, author of "Rush: Why You Need and Love the Rat Race," is a former White House director of economic policy and lives with his wife and daughters in California.

(CNN) — As I look at my kids’ bookshelves, I can’t help thinking, "Wow! What a lot of trophies!" I didn’t realize my daughters were apparently faster than Lindsey Vonn, stronger than Serena Williams and more limber than Michelle Kwan.

They’re not. It’s just that they’ve grown up in an era where we hand out engraved trophies to the ninth-place finishers. Heaven forbid anyone loses.

But how in the world will they ever handle a job interview or a rejection? The boss who turns them down for a job or a pay hike isn’t likely to hand them a gold medal, is she?

Real life involves some competition and some running around trying to achieve our goals. We don’t always succeed.

I’d argue that it’s the running around and the striving that actually give our children the best chance of grasping some slivers of happiness in this crazy world.

It’s the kid’s learning to take risks and swing at a curve ball or trying to stand on toe-point in ballet that gives them a high. Our brains evolved to send us a rush of feelings when we step up to the plate or the balance beam, or sit down at the piano and begin plonking out tunes — even if we clumsily stumble across some wrong notes.

Some psychologists and parents will shout, "Oh no, that creates anxiety and stress! Let them focus on their strengths and give continual praise."

Wait a minute! Remember when your kid was just beginning to toddle? Remember that grin as she lifted herself to her feet, took a few steps and tripped down to the floor? Babies know they must take risks. They can handle the stress, and so can older kids.

Here are some tips so your kids can enjoy the summer while preparing for life on this planet, not in some idyllic alternative universe where everyone gets trophies and straight As without trying:

Tip No. 1: Encourage them to try something new. Don’t send your piano prodigy to piano camp. Close the lid and force him to learn how to wax a car or plant a strawberry field with some neighbors. Sign your budding wrestler up for glee club.

Tip No. 2: Focus on experiences, not on objects. Think of happiness as a verb, not a noun. For best bonding, get the adrenaline going. Forget going to the movies: Let them make their own film, complete with chase scenes (running, not driving).

Tip No. 3: Don’t frown on low-tech. If your kid likes fishing, that’s fine. But it’s not just about sitting on a boat. Guide your child to learn about the different kinds of bait and lures. How much horsepower does the engine have? What is the shape of the waves generated by the propeller?

Tip No. 4: Be honest about how your kid performed, but share your own foibles. If your kid turned out to be a pretty awful ping-pong player, admit it and laugh about your own experience falling off the trampoline. We all fall off something. I once saw actor Sean Connery (Bond — James Bond) trip!

Tip No. 5: Get your kids to compete against others on behalf of a charity. Competition is healthy and the way of our species. But the goal doesn’t have to be big egos and taking home shiny prizes. The "Race for the Cure" has raised $2 billion for breast cancer research because it links our competitive spirit to a quest for helping others.

In George Gershwin’s great song "Summertime," he says the "livin’ is easy." But he also points out that the "fish are jumpin’."

So should your children. Let them jump and swim — and don’t make them feel guilty if they want to do so a little higher or a little faster than their friends.

The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Todd G. Buchholz.

Originally Published On: www.cnn.com – Original Article Here

Weapons drop

Posted by TerranceV | Home, Lifestyle, Sports, Technology, Top Stories, Uncategorized | Posted on June 30th, 2011

The French military are presenting their decision to parachute in weaponry to the Libyan rebels in the western Nafusa mountains as a response to a specific local situation.

But the US ambassador to the UN, Susan Rice, subsequently made it clear that Washington had not yet made such a decision.

British Prime Minister David Cameron took a similar position, noting that "the arms embargo applies to the whole territory of Libya, but at the same time UN Security Council resolution 1973 allows all necessary measures to protect civilians and civilian-populated areas."

Mr Cameron told the British parliament: "Our view is that this would not necessarily rule out the provision of assistance to those protecting civilians in certain circumstances."

That is not the interpretation many international legal experts put on Security Council resolution 1973. Indeed, it actually calls on governments "to ensure strict implementation of the arms embargo" established by resolution 1970. As is often the case, different experts differ on the exact legal interpretation.

Britain has been supplying the rebels with non-lethal assistance – things like uniforms, rations and radios. There has been a small British military team in Bengazi alongside the rebel headquarters, advising on logistics and other organisational matters.

Nonetheless, weapons have been reaching the Libyan rebels in the east of the country, funded by Qatar and other Gulf States.

The article in Le Figaro suggests that some of these have also been flown in, to improvised airstrips in the west.

Despite its efforts to frame its own arms supplies in terms of protecting civilians, it looks as though the French government, whose aircraft fired the first shots in the Western-led intervention over Libya, has made a strategic decision.

The war is dragging on. Unease in some Nato countries is growing. Libyan rebels in the east of the country do not have the military means to march on the capital, Tripoli.

But the largely Berber forces in the Nafusa Mountains in western Libya have proved capable fighters. They have been advancing significantly in recent days.

They are much closer to the Libyan capital and thus better able to bring direct pressure on the Gaddafi regime.

Originally Published On: www.bbc.co.uk – Original Article Here