Niea Milwaukee 2009 Again

Mauritania

Posted by TerranceV | Top Stories | Posted on July 31st, 2011

One of Africa's newest oil producers, Mauritania bridges the Arab Maghreb and western sub-Saharan Africa.

Peace was agreed with the Polisario in 1979, but this in turn worsened relations with Morocco, until a detente in 1985. More recently, ties with Senegal have been strained over the use of the Senegal River, which forms the border between the two countries.

Mauritania officially banned slavery in 1981. The government has denied accusations that it is still being practised.

One of the world's poorest countries, Mauritania has pinned hopes for future prosperity on the exploitation of its offshore reserves of oil and natural gas. The Chinguetti and Tiof fields are expected to yield millions of barrels of oil.

The country forged diplomatic ties with Israel in 1999, one of three Arab nations to have done so, but suspended them in January 2009 in protest at Israel's military operation in Gaza. It closed the Israeli embassy in March.

Under former President Maaouiya Ould Sid Ahmed Taya, Mauritania was an ally of the US in its "war on terror". American special forces were despatched to train Mauritanian troops.

Al-Qaeda militants operating in Mauritania, Algeria and Mali have become increasingly active, kidnapping and killing several foreigners.

Mauritania's response has been to take an increasingly tough line against the militants, refusing to negotiate with al-Qaeda over hostages.

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

DR Congo

Posted by TerranceV | Top Stories | Posted on July 31st, 2011

A vast country with immense economic resources, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) has been at the centre of what could be termed Africa's world war. This has left it in the grip of a humanitarian crisis. The five-year conflict pitted government forces, supported by Angola, Namibia and Zimbabwe, against rebels backed by Uganda and Rwanda.

The history of DR Congo has been one of civil war and corruption. After independence in 1960, the country immediately faced an army mutiny and an attempt at secession by its mineral-rich province of Katanga.

Coup attempts and sporadic violence heralded renewed fighting in the eastern part of the country in 2008. Rwandan Hutu militias clashed with government forces in April, displacing thousands of civilians.

Another militia under rebel General Laurent Nkunda had signed a peace deal with the government in January, but clashes broke out again in August. Gen Nkunda's forces advanced on government bases and the provincial capital Goma in the autumn, causing civilians and troops to flee while UN peacekeepers tried to hold the line alongside the remaining government forces.

In an attempt to bring the situation under control, the government in January 2009 invited in troops from Rwanda to help mount a joint operation against the Rwandan rebel Hutu militias active in eastern DR Congo.

Rwanda arrested the Hutu militias' main rival, Gen Nkunda, a Congolese Tutsi hitherto seen as its main ally in the area.

However, during 2009 eastern areas remained beset by violence.

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

Remembering Amy

Posted by TerranceV | Entertainment | Posted on July 31st, 2011

When Amy Winehouse recorded her multi-million selling album Back To Black and took it on tour in the US, she chose soul group The Dap-Kings as her backing band.

Saxophonist Neal Sugarman, who played on songs like Rehab and Back To Black, recalls what the singer was like on the road and in the studio, and discusses her "depressing" decline.

"I was in the studio for Back To Black sessions and a couple of other things with Amy, and then on her first US tour. When I first met her, she came over to do some vocals and she hadn't broken out in the States.

"I arranged some of the rehearsals. She was a great musician and really open. She was really into collaborating with the band and never came off as being bull-headed in any way.

"All she wanted to do was get everyone's impression of where the music was going and for everyone to put their creative aspects into the music.

"Every time we were with her, it was never as if we were with this star. I think that might have been one of the things that haunted her -she really liked being with people one-to-one, especially with musicians.

"I think she used to like coming to New York in her early days because we would all go out to dinner together and she wasn't being recognised the same way as she was in the UK.

"It seemed as though the best times were when we were able to be casual and just get into music.

"The tour was right when Back To Black came out. One of the things she used to do was play really good mixes before we'd go on stage. We'd always be listening to The Supremes or some doo-wop or girl group stuff. It wasn't as if she had her own dressing room – we were all together getting ready for the shows.

"I feel really lucky to be part of what was obviously a great record that touched a lot of people. It was a true crossover record, which is rare in these times. What great art does is touch a lot of people and that's what her record did.

"When we were doing these gigs, there were black people, white people, gay people, straight people. She really was able to touch a nerve and it was uncompromised.

"The gigs that we had with her were fantastic and there might have been one gig we had with her in San Francisco where she got a little too loaded and the management came around and were giving her the sign to cut it off.

"We were able to play some great music with her. It was a real creative time. There are so many singers who are trying to copy what she did and for me she's a real natural.

"To be honest, the tour was a weird time because she had split up from her boyfriend Blake for a short time.

"When I first met her she was seeing this other dude, and to be honest when Blake came back – I think it was the second tour we did with her – it wasn't as fun. She was obviously starting to do drugs at that point.

"And then unfortunately the last time I saw her, which was a little while ago in London, it was not a pretty sight. It was real depressing. We cut something that she wasn't able to sing on, which was a real drag.

"Everyone loved looking at the tabloids but everyone was hoping that she would make a comeback."

Neal Sugarman was speaking to BBC News entertainment reporter Ian Youngs.

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

Cargo plane crashes off S Korea

Posted by TerranceV | Top Stories | Posted on July 31st, 2011

Both pilots aboard a China-bound Boeing 747 cargo jet were killed when it crashed off South Korea after experiencing mechanical problems.

The plane, which was flying for South Korea's Asiana Airlines, came down off Jeju island in the very south of the country, local media report.

It had left Incheon en route to Pudong in China.

A South Korean coast guard boat found debris from the jet in waters about 107km (66 miles) west of Jeju city.

After taking off at 0305 (1800 GMT) the plane disappeared from radar at 0409 while trying to reach Jeju airport, the South Korean news agency Yonhap reports. The wreckage was spotted at 0640.

Both the pilot and co-pilot were killed.

Heavy rain has lashed South Korea this week, with landslides and floods killing dozens and causing havoc, but Asiana Airlines said it was unclear whether the weather had caused any problems for the plane.

The 747, nicknamed the Jumbo Jet, has been in service around the world for more than four decades, and is still in production.

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

Boehner, Reid unveil new debt plans as deadline nears

Posted by TerranceV | Top Stories | Posted on July 31st, 2011

Washington (CNN) — Congress is at a stalemate over raising the federal debt ceiling, and Americans need to pressure their elected representatives to work out a compromise that will avoid a potentially devastating default, President Barack Obama told the nation Monday night.

In his seventh prime time televised address, Obama sought to increase pressure for congressional leaders to reach a deal that would allow the government to continue borrowing money to pay its debts after August 2.

The president singled out House Republicans for intransigence and said the political showdown is "no way to run the greatest country on Earth."

"The American people may have voted for divided government, but they didn’t vote for a dysfunctional government," Obama said. "So I’m asking you all to make your voice heard. If you want a balanced approach to reducing the deficit, let your member of Congress know. If you believe we can solve this problem through compromise, send that message."

Transcripts: Obama’s speech | Boehner’s speech

It was a political speech that intended to convince an increasingly frustrated and concerned public that Obama’s approach to dealing with mounting deficits is better for working class Americans and the nation as a whole. In response, House Speaker John Boehner argued the opposite, saying in televised remarks that excessive government spending caused the problems the nation faces and cutting that spending is the only way to solve the problem.

"The sad truth is that the president wanted a blank check six months ago, and he wants a blank check today," Boehner said. "That is just not going to happen."

If Congress fails to raise the $14.3 trillion debt limit by August 2, Americans could face rising interest rates and a declining dollar, among other problems. As the cost of borrowing rises, individual mortgages, car loans and student loans could become significantly more expensive.

Officials also warn that, without an increase in the debt limit, the federal government will not be able to pay all its bills next month. Obama recently indicated he could not guarantee Social Security checks would be mailed out on time.

Months of increasingly tense negotiations have failed to bring a deal that can win approval from all of the necessary players — the Republican-led House, Democratic-led Senate and the White House.

The talks initially involved a broad deficit-reduction plan intended to reduce the mounting gap between how much the government spends and how much revenue it collects. Obama pushed for a comprehensive plan that included spending cuts, increased tax revenue and entitlement reforms, while Republicans sought to shrink government by proposing spending cuts and reforms without increased revenue.

Obama endorses Senate Democratic plan

Obama said "it’s not fair" to make massive cuts to programs affecting the poor and middle class, without asking for sacrifices from wealthy Americans and large corporations as well. As he has in recent weeks, the president called for "a balanced approach" that includes large spending cuts along with revenue hikes — including a halt to Bush era tax cuts for families earning more than $250,000 a year — to address the nation’s deficit.

"The only reason this balanced approach isn’t on its way to becoming law right now is because a significant number of Republicans in Congress are insisting on a cuts-only approach — an approach that doesn’t ask the wealthiest Americans or biggest corporations to contribute anything at all," Obama said. "And because nothing is asked of those at the top of the income scales, such an approach would close the deficit only with more severe cuts to programs we all care about — cuts that place a greater burden on working families."

House Republicans, buoyed by conservative tea party support that helped them win a majority in last November’s congressional elections, have successfully linked the deficit reduction talks with the need to raise the debt ceiling due to increased government spending.

Obama and Democrats argue the debt ceiling should be a separate issue free of political wrangling because it involves the credit of the United States and can potentially impact the U.S. and global economies.

To Boehner, the overall long-term health of the U.S. economy is the issue, and he showed no sign of moving off his party’s opposition to any kind of increase in taxes.

"The president has often said we need a ‘balanced’ approach — which in Washington means: we spend more. . .you pay more," Boehner said in his response. "Having run a small business, I know those tax increases will destroy jobs."

Your cheat sheet to the debt talks

Earlier Monday, Democratic and Republican congressional leaders unveiled separate new proposals that the other side quickly rejected, demonstrating the cavernous partisan divide that exists.

Both plans — one by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nevada, and the other by Boehner, R-Ohio — provide a path to raise the debt ceiling through the end of 2012, but they differ in scope and over key components involving requirements for future congressional action.

Obama endorsed Reid’s plan, but acknowledged it has little chance of getting passed in the House, just as the competing Republican plan unveiled by Boehner is unlikely to get passed by the Senate.

The president pushed for the two parties to work out an acceptable deal, and called for Americans to demand that their congressional representatives put aside short-term politics to reach a compromise.

Reid’s blueprint calls for roughly $2.7 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade while raising the debt limit by $2.4 trillion — an amount sufficient to fund the government through 2012, which means past next year’s election.

The plan excludes major provisions of a comprehensive deficit-reduction strategy, such as increased revenue and reforms to politically popular entitlement programs — such as Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security — that face skyrocketing growth in costs.

Specifically, Reid’s plan includes $1.2 trillion in savings from various domestic and defense programs, along with $1 trillion in savings from winding down the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. It also generates $400 billion in interest savings on the debt, and another $40 billion by rooting out waste, fraud and abuse.

It also would establish a congressional committee made up of 12 House and Senate members to consider additional options for debt reduction. The committee’s proposals would be guaranteed a Senate vote with no amendments by the end of the year.

Obama immediately endorsed the Reid plan, with White House Press Secretary Jay Carney calling it a "responsible compromise … that should receive the support of both parties."

Timeline: How we got to this messy point

Reid stressed that his plan doesn’t include tax hikes and would cut spending more than it increases the debt ceiling — two key GOP demands.

"I hope my colleagues on the other side will still know a good deal when they see it. I hope they’ll remember how to say yes," Reid said. "Democrats have done more than just meet Republicans in the middle. We’ve met them all the way."

Boehner, however, argued at an afternoon news conference that Reid’s plan is "full of gimmicks."

The package "doesn’t deal with the biggest drivers of our deficits and debt, and that’s entitlement programs," Boehner said.

Boehner’s plan would require two separate votes by Congress. The first would approve approximately $1.2 trillion in spending cuts over the next decade while raising the debt ceiling through the end of 2011, two GOP leadership aides told CNN. Any failure on the part of Congress to enact the mandated spending reductions would trigger automatic across-the-board budget cuts.

The second vote would raise the debt limit through 2012, but only if Congress approves a series of major tax reforms and entitlement changes outlined by a bipartisan committee composed of Senate and House members.

The proposed structural changes — a focal point of intense ideological conflict in Washington — would have to generate between $1.6 trillion and $1.8 trillion in savings, according to a House Republican aide familiar with the package.

Cafferty: High-stakes Russian roulette

Boehner’s plan, while allowing a total debt-ceiling increase of roughly $2.6 trillion, also would require both a House and Senate vote on a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution between October 1 and the end of the year.

This plan is "less than perfect," Boehner said, but "reflects bipartisan negotiations" conducted with Senate Democrats over the weekend.

Democrats are vehemently opposed to the idea of holding more than one vote to raise the debt limit through the 2012 election, arguing that such a requirement is politically unrealistic and could prove to be economically destabilizing.

Republicans want to lock in long-term tax and spending changes, and argue that Obama is trying to avoid politically tough decisions in a presidential election year.

Meanwhile, top senators from each party said Monday night that behind-the-scenes talks continue to try to reach a deal that would avoid Congress voting on either the Reid or the Boehner proposals.

As leaders from the two parties continue to bicker, analysts warn that financial markets are growing increasingly nervous about the prospect of a national default. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped more than 100 points almost immediately after opening Monday morning, although it later cut that loss.

The debate over tying Washington’s borrowing limit to deficit-reduction measures continues to severely test the ability of a divided government to effectively function in an era of fierce partisanship.

The negotiations have included repeated starts and stops, with Republicans walking out several times to stress their opposition to Obama’s insistence that increased tax revenue be part of a comprehensive deficit reduction deal.

Democrats and Republicans appeared to be close to a $3 trillion deal on Friday before Boehner suddenly announced he was ending his talks with the White House. Republicans accused the White House of trying to add an additional $400 billion in new revenues to the deal; administration officials insisted they were not making any make-or-break demands.

Boehner told House Republicans in a conference call Sunday that the GOP’s so-called "cut, cap, and balance" plan will not be part of any final deal. The conservative blueprint, which was passed by the House last week and rejected by the Senate, would have tied a debt-ceiling increase to sweeping reductions in federal spending, caps on future expenditures and a balanced budget amendment.

Boehner insisted Monday that the conservative principles behind "cut, cap, and balance" are embodied in his new blueprint. However, two conservative Republicans in the House immediately announced their opposition to Boehner’s plan, saying it fell short of what was needed to deal with the deficit problem.

If Boehner can’t get the support of the so-called tea party bloc of GOP conservatives, his proposal could be defeated in the chamber his party controls.

As the debt ceiling debate drags on, a new CNN/ORC International Poll reveals a growing public exasperation and demand for compromise. Sixty-four percent of respondents to a July 18-20 survey preferred a deal with a mix of spending cuts and tax increases. Only 34% preferred a debt reduction plan based solely on spending reductions.

As in Congress, the public is sharply divided along partisan lines. Democrats and independents, according to the CNN/ORC Poll, are open to a number of different approaches because they think a failure to raise the debt ceiling would cause a crisis of major problems for the country. Republicans, however, draw the line at tax increases, and a narrow majority of them oppose raising the debt ceiling under any circumstances.

Fifty-two percent of Americans think Obama has acted responsibly in the debt ceiling talks so far, but nearly two-thirds say the Republicans in Congress have not acted responsibly. Fifty-one percent would blame the GOP if the debt ceiling is not raised; only three in 10 would blame Obama.

CNN’s Ted Barrett, Brianna Keilar, Kate Bolduan, Keating Holland and Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report.

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

Your dog’s teeth, shots and money

Posted by TerranceV | Home | Posted on July 31st, 2011

(MotherNatureNetwork.com) — An ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure — and that’s especially true when money is tight. I learned that lesson shortly after kneeling in front of my sister’s pooch one afternoon, hoping to determine the cause of her dog breath. My mother had called earlier that day insisting that there was a serious problem.

The veterinarian diagnosed Daisy’s severe periodontal disease and suggested dental extractions — 13 to be exact. Post-treatment, my sister improved Daisy’s dental care, adding a plaque-reducing rinse to her water each day. Thanks to a special they were running during Pet Dental Health Month in February, her extractions cost about $500. A bottle of dental rinse costs about $7.

Lesson learned.

As you look for ways to trim the family budget, it’s only natural to consider pet expenses such as veterinary checkups, toys and treats. But some cuts could harm your pet’s health. Here are tips for cutting pet expenses without compromising the quality of care.

Be vigilant about dental care

Regular brushing significantly reduces plaque buildup, resulting in shorter and less expensive dental cleanings at the vet. Poor oral hygiene also can lead to serious health problems for pets, so it’s worth buying a $2 children’s toothbrush and pet toothpaste.

MNN: Natural ways to address your pet’s bad breath

"It’s important to maintain a pet’s dental care," says DeAndre Upton, a registered veterinary technician with Eagle’s Landing Veterinary Hospital, who spends much of his day performing dental cleanings. He adds that extensive — and pricey — dental cleanings can be prevented with daily brushing, dental chews and toys that give those chompers a good workout. "That applies to cats, too."

Upton suggests starting early so pets get accustomed to dental care. The benefits come when it’s time to check out. VPI Pet Insurance received 17,846 claims for gum disease treatment last year, at a cost of $4 million. The average bill was about $228.84. That’s up from 16,119 claims and $3.6 million in expenses the previous year, when the average bill was $224.58.

"Dental issues fall into one of four grades," says Dr. Jennifer Monroe of Eagle’s Landing Veterinary Hospital. "Grade 1 indicates tartar buildup and some gingivitis. Grade 4 indicates severe periodontal disease and leads to extractions."

In dollars and cents, Monroe notes that the difference between a Grade 1 and a Grade 4 dental cleaning can be more than $1,000.

"With a Grade 4 in cats, the cat typically is not eating, not playful, lethargic and probably shows severe weight loss," she says. "Those teeth are no longer healthy and extractions become a palliative procedure because the pet is in severe pain."

MNN: Healthy cats act sick when upset

Opt for low-cost vaccinations

Vaccinations help protect pets from acquiring life-threatening diseases. Fortunately, some vaccines are available in less-expensive, three-year dosages.

"When pets are young, they are at greater risk for disease, so we vaccinate more frequently," Monroe says. "We also vaccinate annually when they are older and their system is not as competent. During middle age we can vaccinate every three years."

Talk to your vet about three-year vaccines and also ask what vaccinations are absolutely necessary based on your pet’s lifestyle. Monroe recommends a bordetella or kennel cough vaccine for pets that regularly interact with others at boarding and grooming facilities or parks. If your pet primarily interacts with humans during treks around the house, a bordetella vaccine isn’t essential.

National low-cost vet clinics such as Luv My Pet can provide even deeper discounts. Available in 23 states, the clinics are located at PetCo retail chains. Pet festivals, animal shelters and private boarding facilities also may offer discounted shot clinics.

MNN: What some call road kill is South Carolina woman’s ministry

Don’t be afraid to shop around for services

Keeping veterinary expenses to a minimum is essential for nonprofit pet rescue organizations that rely on donations and volunteers. Taylor Brand, founder of Rescue Me! Animal Project in Atlanta, has a short list of veterinarians that she calls for basic pet care. She also knows who offers reasonable heartworm treatment.

"If you don’t have a regular vet, you can call around and get prices before you go in," she says. "If you have multiple dogs, you can talk about a multiple dog discount. All the vet can do is tell you that they can’t afford to give you a discount. But it’s worth asking."

Veterinarians in smaller towns typically offer lower rates than their colleagues in larger cities. But Upton warns that you get what you pay for: "The prices may vary based on the quality of care and the equipment available," he says. "Get referrals and look for a clinic that offers the best care."

Maintain that healthy coat

Just like dental hygiene, regular grooming keeps pets healthy and reduces expenses over time. Stock up on pet shampoo and brushes to cut grooming costs. Your nose knows when it’s time for a bath.

Monroe recommends asking your groomer or veterinarian to walk you through the steps to clip nails or express anal glands. (EHow.com offers videos explaining how anal gland expression works, but I prefer to pay for that one.)

MNN: How to save money on pet grooming

Have an honest conversation with the vet

Level with your vet about the need to reduce pet costs. He or she can provide an honest assessment of your pet’s needs with respect to diet, grooming, prescription medication and even insurance.

"A lot of people these days are looking to do the bare minimum — exactly what a pet needs to get by — and I understand," Monroe says. "Times like these are very difficult."

Pet insurance has become a popular cost-saving option. Companies offer coverage for birds, cats, dogs and even some exotic pets, and your veterinarian can help navigate the waters to determine the best plan. Monroe notes that some plans do not cover pre-existing conditions or breed-specific diseases such as hip dysplasia in German shepherds. Ask for help finding a company that’s right for your pet.

Be careful with online prescription drug companies

While online prescription drug companies may offer less-expensive versions of popular pet medications, the FDA has cautioned consumers about the threat of identify theft and the prevalence of counterfeit drugs.

Monroe and the FDA suggest shopping with Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Sites or VIPPS-approved sites. VIPPS and Vet-VIPPS accredited companies agree to comply with federal and state laws and have been approved by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy. The NABP site has a list of pet pharmacies.

"A counterfeit heartworm disease won’t prevent the pet from getting heartworm," Monroe warns. "Treating this disease is much more expensive than preventing it."

MNN: 10 great pets for allergy sufferers

Rescue Me! Animal Project’s Brand also suggests filling antibiotic prescriptions at the grocery store pharmacist, where many of the drugs are inexpensive or even free.

© Copyright 2010 Mother Nature Network

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

Niger ‘foils assassination plot’

Posted by TerranceV | Top Stories | Posted on July 31st, 2011

Five soldiers have been arrested in Niger for allegedly plotting to assassinate the president, a security official has confirmed to the BBC.

He said the soldiers – who included a major and a lieutenant – had allegedly planned to kill President Mahamadou Issoufou on 16 July.

Mr Issoufou was elected to office in March, ending military rule in the West African state.

Niger has had four coups since independence from France in 1960.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the foiled assassination was to have taken place at a press conference addressed by Mr Issoufou to mark his 100 days in power.

Mr Issoufou's killing would have opened for the way for the military to recapture power, the official said.

Some sections of Niger's military have been angered by Mr Issoufou's attempts to end corruption, which has led to the dismissal of several officials, correspondents say.

Niger's military junta returned the country to civilian rule in March after domestic and international pressure.

Mr Issoufou – a long-time opposition leader and ex-mining engineer – won elections with nearly 58% of the vote.

At his inauguration ceremony, the outgoing junta leader, Salou Djibo, was decorated for his services to democracy.

The junta took power in February 2010 after overthrowing President Mamadou Tandja.

He was widely criticised for changing the constitution to extend his 10-year rule.

Last October, voters in Niger backed a new constitution which reduces the powers of the president and limits him to two terms in office.

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

L.A. Law

Posted by TerranceV | Technology | Posted on July 31st, 2011

A High Court judge has ruled in favour of the movie industry and ordered the UK's largest ISP BT to block users from a site that shares links to free movies and TV shows.

BT has already raised a number of questions about the ruling, including who will pick up the bill for blocking to be implemented.

It is also concerned about the consequences of accidentally blocking an innocent site, because the MPA believes it to be one of Newzbin's possible incarnations.

"If someone sues then who will pay? We need clarification," said Simon Milner, BT's head of group policy at BT.

Another issue for the company is the MPA's determination that it censor Newzbin by using Cleanfeed – the blocking technology that currently prevents access to websites featuring images of child sex abuse.

"We don't touch Cleanfeed. The Internet Watch Foundation send a list of sites to block and it is an automated system. It is not possible to add in URLs to that list," he said.

The MPA's lawyer Simon Baggs said he did not buy this argument

"I find it hard to believe that they can't just add it or they could just create another list," he said.

Rightsholders will be hoping that these details can be ironed out when the two parties meet again in court in October.

BT, for its part, said it would not appeal the ruling and welcomed the legal clarity on what it described as a complex issue.

The case is expected to open the floodgates for other, similar court orders.

"We will be asking other ISPs to comply with the order", Mr Baggs told the BBC.

Voluntary scheme

One thing ISPs will be hoping is that the legal case takes the heat off ongoing government attempts to create a voluntary web blocking agreement between rightsholders and ISPs.

"It does beg the question about whether we need another process," said Mr Milner.

The Internet Service Providers' Association agreed.

"While the discussions about a voluntary process have been going on, there was always this case in the background that people were aware could change everything.

"It is now shown that rights holders can go to court and, with good evidence, get a result. It probably means that there is no need for a voluntary scheme," said an ISPA spokesman.

But Mr Baggs thinks a voluntary agreement would be "preferable" to having to resort to court each time.

BT described the system was "flawed" because of possible workarounds.

"A determined infringer can get around the block by using a proxy server," said Mr Milner.

More serious are the implications for how web content is governed in the future, according to the Open Right Group.

The campaign group agreed with BT that technological solutions are "naive". Even worse, it said, there is a real danger that legitimate content will be cut off.

"Who decides what content is blocked?" said ORG campaigner Peter Bradwell.

It is a question that has also worried Google's chairman Eric Schmidt.

At a recent conference he said that web blocking could be used by censorious governments to filter content they deemed politically sensitive.

He said Google would fight any attempts to introduce web blocking in the US.

Mr Baggs, from the MPA, admitted that some legitimate content may slip through the net.

"If a bookshop has just one shelf of illegal books but it refuses to remove it shouldn't be surprised if it is closed down. Similarly if a passage in a book is deemed libellous the only solution is to destroy the book until it is republished without the libel," he said.

But, he added, ultimately, it would be up to a judge to decide what is "appropriate".

Websites such as Newzbin 1 and 2 have so far evaded the law by changing their name, location and domain.

The MPA is keen that such evasion should end with the ruling.

"If it is obvious that it is fundamentally the same operation we can apply the order to a new domain. If there is any doubt about it, BT can apply to the court," he said.

Newzbin 2 is expected to deliver its view of the verdict via its blog but it told the BBC that it has some questions over the order.

"The judgment talks about blocking all domains and subdomains but some of these are entirely legal.

"The blog subdomain contains nothing but news speech and opinions. Why should BT be required to block that?" said Mr White, the anonymous representative of the website.

The fact that rightsholders seem to have successfully secured a relatively swift closure of one of their nemesis sites via the eight-year old Copyright, Designs and Patents Act throws into doubt the future of the brand new Digital Economy Act.

The DEA had piracy as one of its main priorities, and proposes a range of solutions.

The legislation may have been rushed through Parliament in the wash-up period before the last election, but implementing it has proved a much more long drawn-out process.

At the heart of the DEA is a mass mailing campaign – to target illegal downloaders and persuade them to desist – but to date no letters have been sent.

BT and TalkTalk issued a legal challenge to the act, claiming it had not been properly debated and was unworkable, which held the process up to a degree.

That challenge was thrown out but since then little has happened.

"The government could progress but we have heard nothing. No-one is sending out any notices," said Mr Milner.

According to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport it is now necessary to pass two extra pieces of legislation – one dealing who will pay for the letter writing campaign and one on the details of how the system will work – before it can progress.

A spokesman for the DCMS said it was looking carefully at today's verdict to see how it would impact government policy on piracy.

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

Algeria

Posted by TerranceV | Top Stories | Posted on July 31st, 2011

Algeria, a gateway between Africa and Europe, has been battered by violence over the past half-century.

Part of the Turkish Ottoman empire from the 16th century, Algeria was conquered by the French in 1830 and was given the status of a "departement". The struggle for independence began in 1954 headed by the National Liberation Front, which came to power on independence in 1962.

In the 1990s Algerian politics was dominated by the struggle involving the military and Islamist militants. In 1992 a general election won by an Islamist party was annulled, heralding a bloody civil war in which more than 150,000 people were slaughtered.

An amnesty in 1999 led many rebels to lay down their arms.

Although political violence in Algeria has declined since the 1990s, the country has been shaken by by a campaign of bombings carried out by a group calling itself Al-Qaeda in the Land of Islamic Maghreb (AQLIM).

The group was formerly known as the Salafist Group for Call and Combat, and has its roots in an Islamist militia involved in the civil war in the 1990s.

Although experts doubt whether AQLIM has direct operational links with Osama Bin-Laden, its methods – which include suicide bombings – and its choice of targets, such as foreign workers and the UN headquarters in Algiers, are thought to be inspired by Al-Qaeda. North African governments fear that local Islamist groups in Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia may be linking up under the umbrella of the new movement.

After years of political upheaval and violence, Algeria's economy has been given a lift by frequent oil and gas finds. It has estimated oil reserves of nearly 12 billion barrels, attracting strong interest from foreign oil firms.

However, poverty remains widespread and unemployment high, particularly among Algeria's youth. Endemic government corruption and poor standards in public services are also chronic sources of popular dissatisfaction.

Major protests broke out in January 2011 over food prices and unemployment, with two people being killed in clashes with security forces. The government responded by ordering cuts to the price of basic foodstuffs, and repealed the 1992 state of emergency law.

In 2001 the government agreed to a series of demands by the minority Berbers, including official recognition of their language, after months of unrest involving Berber youths demanding greater cultural and political recognition.

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

Talking $$ before you get the job

Posted by TerranceV | Home | Posted on July 30th, 2011

(CareerBuilder.com) — Unless you belong to a select group of people, you need a job in order to survive. Oprah Winfrey doesn’t need to work another day in her life. The rest of us would have a hard time paying the electric bill without a job.

Yet, when we’re going through the song and dance of interviewing for a job, we pretend as if money isn’t on the top of our list of priorities. Job-search etiquette dictates waiting for the employer to bring up salary, benefits and vacation.

Conventional wisdom says that if you bring it up, you appear more focused on the perks than on doing the job, which sends a bad sign to employers. So you interview over the phone and in person, and after days or weeks of conversation about the job, you don’t know how much it pays or if you would be able to leave early on occasion to pick up your son from school.

These issues can be deal breakers for many job seekers, but they’re taboo topics during the interview process.

If time is money, then both the hiring manager and the job seeker should be happy to get the basics out of the way before wasting time with interviews that might not matter if the salary is too low. We decided to find out if there is a way to bring up these touchy subjects in a more timely manner.

Should you do it?

Before job seekers can even ponder how to bring up these issues, the primary concern is whether they should even broach the subjects or if they would be making a heinous misstep. For many employers, as long as your approach is reasonable and tactful, you don’t need to worry.

"It’s definitely fine to ask about the salary, benefits and perks early in the process," says author and corporate recruiter Vicki Salemi. "Think of it this way: Sometimes recruiters will push candidates to give them a ballpark salary requirement and they’ll say they can’t proceed without knowing so everyone’s on the same page. Shouldn’t you also feel entitled to knowing information upfront to not waste anyone’s time? You’re doing everyone, including yourself, a favor by asking and getting an overall idea of the complete package."

You certainly can ruin your chances of being hired by asking the questions the wrong way, Salemi says, but the topics alone won’t overshadow your résumé and experience. Workplace expert Lynn Taylor, CEO of Santa Monica-based Lynn Taylor Consulting, also views these supposedly taboo topics as essential information for job seekers.

"You have every right to know what you will and won’t get, so don’t be afraid to ask before the end of the second interview," Taylor advises. "During the first interview, you’ll want to get a general idea, ideally from the human resources department (assuming you were interviewed by HR), as these are more administrative questions."

That said, Taylor does suggest making this line of questioning one of your last orders of business, but not because it could harm your chances of getting hired. Instead, Taylor says, waiting can help you receive a better salary offer.

"Often there is room for negotiation on everything. The more valuable you are as a candidate, the more leverage you have. You are best served to determine how well-suited you are for the job before you begin asking about perks," she explains.

How to do it

Now that you know that you can safely bring up sensitive topics during an interview on your own timeline, you need to know how to do it. After all, asked in the wrong way, any question can be damaging during a job interview.

Here are five guidelines from career experts on how to raise the questions, get the information you need and stay on the interviewer’s good side.

Be assertive but reasonable

"Simply ask in an assertive way," says Salemi, author of "Big Career in the Big City." "You can couch it with a statement such as, ‘I don’t want to sound presumptuous as if I expect to already get this job, but I would like to know the salary range before proceeding.’ Or, ‘I am actively interviewing and evaluating offers right now which include evaluating not only the salary but personal time off and benefits, as well as perks. Would you be able to share this information with me at this point in time?’"

Prove why it’s in their interest, too

"[Recruiters] don’t want to waste their time, so remind them of that fact," says Alex Buznego, business development and marketing services manager for marketing organization Inktel. "’Mr. Recruiter, I know your time is valuable and that the last thing you’d want to do is waste your time on a candidate who wasn’t a perfect fit. With that in mind — and I acknowledge these questions are difficult to discuss upfront — would it be OK if we discussed some uncomfortable questions today?’"

You want to know about this information so you don’t waste your time, and the interviewer probably feels the same way, too.

Be polite

When you want to bring up an uncomfortable topic, whether it’s benefits or work schedules, you can ease into it by asking for the interviewer’s permission to ask the question, Buznego says.

"It’s a simple gesture and somewhat of a rhetorical one," Buznego asks. "’Do you mind if I ask a couple of uncomfortable questions?’ Don’t worry, they are going to say yes, and it starts to break down the tension."

Wait for the right moment

Syndi Seid, founder of Advanced Etiquette, a business and social etiquette consulting organization, suggests job seekers wait for a chance to ask their question rather than force it into the interview. When the interviewer asks if you have any questions at the end of the interview, Seid suggests you take this as your cue.

"You then say, ‘Thank you for asking. There is one item I realized we didn’t discuss …’" Seid says. "Always couch and sandwich difficult situations by saying something good and nice to start, hit them with the hard stuff, then end with something uplifting and positive."

Ultimately what matters is that you read the cues of the interviewer and ask what makes you feel comfortable and what suits the mood of the moment. As long as you’re polite and ask your questions in a reasonable manner, you can walk out of the interview without any regrets.

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