The WikiLeaks uproar has folks jumping all over President Obama's administration for a variety of alleged sins of omission and commission.
Sarah Palin weighed in big time on Facebook, blasting the administration for "incompetently handling the whole fiasco," and for not going after WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with greater urgency.
She tweeted that the administration might have gone to court to stop the disclosures. "Inexplicable: I recently won in court to stop my book 'America by Heart' from being leaked," she wrote, "but US Govt can't stop Wikileaks' treasonous act?"
Probably not. We're told there's a big legal difference between copyright law and First Amendment law. Also, while Assange might be charged, there was this Supreme Court case a long time ago, something about publishing the Pentagon Papers. . .
Meanwhile, relying on a newspaper account - some of the actual cables have not been made public - Military Families United excoriated the administration for using "taxpayer money . . . to pay off foreign governments to accept these dangerous security leaks," namely prisoners from Guantanamo Bay.
The New York Times had reported that "the island nation of Kiribati," an archipelago way out in the Pacific and one of the poorest nations on Earth, with a population of about 100,000, "was offered incentives worth million of dollars to take in Chinese Muslim detainees."
But the Obama folks pleaded not guilty Monday. The millions of dollars were offered by the George W. Bush administration to Kiribati, an Obama administration official said, adding that the current administration never pursued negotiations with the island nation over Guantanamo detainees and that none were ever sent there.
The Times clarified Tuesday that it was the Bush administration that tried to pay off the islanders.
(D) is for December . . .
The Democrats have gotten into the swing of the holiday season, doing their best Monday to boost consumer spending via the Internet.
The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's online store offered a "Cyber Monday Sale" offering shoppers a "buy one item, get one 50% off" discount. Such a deal! Let's see what they have that might be good for those remaining Democrats in your family.
Well, there's a "Proud Democrat" travel mug for $9.99 for always-proud cousin Bobby, who's been on a bender for so long he probably hasn't heard of last month's Great Shellacking.
There's a "Democratic Dog" leash (only $6.99), which House Republicans might want to deploy on the House floor in January.
2010年11月30日星期二
the European Commission follows complaints from smaller Web businesses
The investigation power balance by the European Commission follows complaints from smaller Web businesses, which claim that Google downgraded their sites in its search results to weaken potential competitors for advertising. The commission said it would also look into whether Google might have given its Web services “preferential placement” in search results.
“Rigorous competition of all players, including smaller and innovative ones, must be preserved for the future,” Joaquín Almunia, the competition commissioner, told members of the European Parliament. He added, however, that the decision to upgrade the investigation from a preliminary inquiry that was started this year did not mean “that there is definitely a problem.”
Google’s dominance on the Internet jackets has been a sore point in Europe, where it controls more than 80 percent of the online search market, compared with about 66 percent in the United States, according to comScore, a research firm.
Google already faces antitrust inquiries, as well as investigations of its privacy and copyright protection policies, in several European countries. In addition, other American companies have fought lengthy legal battles with European regulators in the past.
In a statement, Google said it had strived to “do the right thing by our users and our industry.”
“But there’s always going to be room for improvement,” the company said, “and so we’ll be working with the commission to address any concerns.”
A spokeswoman for Mr. Almunia, Amelia Torres, said the commission had notified the Justice Department in Washington about power balance the investigation. Authorities in the United States have been examining Google’s acquisitions and actions for indications that its market power may be anticompetitive but have not brought any formal proceedings. Google had been eager to avoid a formal investigation in Brussels after watching other American technology companies, like Microsoft and Intel, battle the antitrust authorities there for years. The European Commission’s moves in antitrust matters are often followed up by American regulators at the state or federal level.
“I think we’ve all seen this movie before in the case of Microsoft,” Keith Hylton, a professor at the Boston University School of Law, said in an e-mail.
Google has become a powerhouse on the Internet by helping publishers offer Web advertising space, as well as by selling search-related ads, which appear as “sponsored links” alongside the so-called natural search results.
The commission investigation stems from complaints by three companies: Foundem, a British price comparison service; Ciao, a price comparison service in Germany owned by Microsoft; and eJustice, a French legal search tool. People with direct knowledge of the case, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said at least one additional complaint had been filed.
Foundem said that it suffered big financial losses when Google downgraded it in search results and that Google unfairly favored its other online services, which include mapping, translation and video .
The commission said it would also examine whether Google lowered the “quality score” of competing search services, making it more expensive for them to buy sponsored links.
In addition, the investigation will look into power balance whether Google imposed exclusivity obligations on Internet companies that use Google’s advertising systems, preventing them from placing ads from Google rivals on their Web sites.
In response, Google said AdSense, its program for advertising partner sites, stopped using exclusive contracts two years ago. The company says that when it downgrades a company in its search rankings, it is often because such sites merely duplicate content from other sites, making them less useful to consumers.
“We built Google for users, not Web sites, and the nature of ranking is that some Web sites will be unhappy with where they rank,” Google said.
The company says its high share of searches does not equate to a position of dominance on the Internet because of the rise of companies like Facebook and Twitter, which, like search, also serve as a source of links to other Web sites.
Google has highlighted the role of its rival Microsoft in the antitrust complaints against it, noting its ownership of Ciao and the membership of Foundem in a Microsoft-sponsored lobbying group in Brussels, called Icomp.
European officials did not regard the current crop of complaints as sufficient to take immediate action against Google, according to people with direct knowledge of the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
The opening of the formal investigation allows officials to send detailed questionnaires to companies doing business with Google, as well as competitors, and to demand that they provide answers in similar detail. The commission wants companies to come forward with any information about possible competitive abuses by Google, while shielding them from fear of retaliation by Google, according to the people with knowledge of the inquiry.
Jacques Lafitte, who represents eJustice, said that responses by other companies to the questionnaires could enlarge the scope of the investigation.
He said that any company that currently has a large exposure to the Internet “has, one way or the other, a serious problem with Google.”
Ms. Torres said investigators could reach a preliminary conclusion about whether Google has violated European competition law over the course of next year, and possibly within “a few months,” Ms. Torres said.
If Google power balance is found in violation of European competition law, the commission has the power to fine it up to 10 percent of its annual revenue, which totaled more than $23 billion last year.
Before settling last year, Microsoft had paid fines of about $2.4 billion over the past decade in a long-running antitrust case in Brussels that focused on the Windows operating system.
“Rigorous competition of all players, including smaller and innovative ones, must be preserved for the future,” Joaquín Almunia, the competition commissioner, told members of the European Parliament. He added, however, that the decision to upgrade the investigation from a preliminary inquiry that was started this year did not mean “that there is definitely a problem.”
Google’s dominance on the Internet jackets has been a sore point in Europe, where it controls more than 80 percent of the online search market, compared with about 66 percent in the United States, according to comScore, a research firm.
Google already faces antitrust inquiries, as well as investigations of its privacy and copyright protection policies, in several European countries. In addition, other American companies have fought lengthy legal battles with European regulators in the past.
In a statement, Google said it had strived to “do the right thing by our users and our industry.”
“But there’s always going to be room for improvement,” the company said, “and so we’ll be working with the commission to address any concerns.”
A spokeswoman for Mr. Almunia, Amelia Torres, said the commission had notified the Justice Department in Washington about power balance the investigation. Authorities in the United States have been examining Google’s acquisitions and actions for indications that its market power may be anticompetitive but have not brought any formal proceedings. Google had been eager to avoid a formal investigation in Brussels after watching other American technology companies, like Microsoft and Intel, battle the antitrust authorities there for years. The European Commission’s moves in antitrust matters are often followed up by American regulators at the state or federal level.
“I think we’ve all seen this movie before in the case of Microsoft,” Keith Hylton, a professor at the Boston University School of Law, said in an e-mail.
Google has become a powerhouse on the Internet by helping publishers offer Web advertising space, as well as by selling search-related ads, which appear as “sponsored links” alongside the so-called natural search results.
The commission investigation stems from complaints by three companies: Foundem, a British price comparison service; Ciao, a price comparison service in Germany owned by Microsoft; and eJustice, a French legal search tool. People with direct knowledge of the case, who were not authorized to comment publicly, said at least one additional complaint had been filed.
Foundem said that it suffered big financial losses when Google downgraded it in search results and that Google unfairly favored its other online services, which include mapping, translation and video .
The commission said it would also examine whether Google lowered the “quality score” of competing search services, making it more expensive for them to buy sponsored links.
In addition, the investigation will look into power balance whether Google imposed exclusivity obligations on Internet companies that use Google’s advertising systems, preventing them from placing ads from Google rivals on their Web sites.
In response, Google said AdSense, its program for advertising partner sites, stopped using exclusive contracts two years ago. The company says that when it downgrades a company in its search rankings, it is often because such sites merely duplicate content from other sites, making them less useful to consumers.
“We built Google for users, not Web sites, and the nature of ranking is that some Web sites will be unhappy with where they rank,” Google said.
The company says its high share of searches does not equate to a position of dominance on the Internet because of the rise of companies like Facebook and Twitter, which, like search, also serve as a source of links to other Web sites.
Google has highlighted the role of its rival Microsoft in the antitrust complaints against it, noting its ownership of Ciao and the membership of Foundem in a Microsoft-sponsored lobbying group in Brussels, called Icomp.
European officials did not regard the current crop of complaints as sufficient to take immediate action against Google, according to people with direct knowledge of the investigation, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly.
The opening of the formal investigation allows officials to send detailed questionnaires to companies doing business with Google, as well as competitors, and to demand that they provide answers in similar detail. The commission wants companies to come forward with any information about possible competitive abuses by Google, while shielding them from fear of retaliation by Google, according to the people with knowledge of the inquiry.
Jacques Lafitte, who represents eJustice, said that responses by other companies to the questionnaires could enlarge the scope of the investigation.
He said that any company that currently has a large exposure to the Internet “has, one way or the other, a serious problem with Google.”
Ms. Torres said investigators could reach a preliminary conclusion about whether Google has violated European competition law over the course of next year, and possibly within “a few months,” Ms. Torres said.
If Google power balance is found in violation of European competition law, the commission has the power to fine it up to 10 percent of its annual revenue, which totaled more than $23 billion last year.
Before settling last year, Microsoft had paid fines of about $2.4 billion over the past decade in a long-running antitrust case in Brussels that focused on the Windows operating system.
2010年11月25日星期四
The top 10 third jerseys in the NHL | jackets, teams, alternate, ducks, third, nhl, top, blackhawks, friday, numbers
The Ducks will become the latest NHL jackets team to unveil a third jersey Friday when they host defending Stanley Cup champion Chicago Blackhawks.
Most, if not all hockey teams have taken to wearing the alternate sweater to move merchandise or re-brand themselves much like the Ducks did in 2006 when they dropped "Mighty" from their name.
There are plenty of variations good and bad from Original Six teams through the expansion era clubs.
The Register ranked the top 10 in the NHL.
Before the arguments begin, please take into account that we did not include teams that have adopted their alternate jersey as their permanent jersey, so the Philadelphia Flyers' retro orange sweaters and the Vancouver Canucks' 1970s blue-and-green numbers are not eligible.
The Ducks will reveal an alternate jackets for the fourth time in their history Friday when they take the ice for the start of the game against Chicago (this mockup was shown by one Web site, but it has not been confirmed as the new sweater). Who has the best third jersey in the NHL? The Register ranked the top 10 jackets.
Most, if not all hockey teams have taken to wearing the alternate sweater to move merchandise or re-brand themselves much like the Ducks did in 2006 when they dropped "Mighty" from their name.
There are plenty of variations good and bad from Original Six teams through the expansion era clubs.
The Register ranked the top 10 in the NHL.
Before the arguments begin, please take into account that we did not include teams that have adopted their alternate jersey as their permanent jersey, so the Philadelphia Flyers' retro orange sweaters and the Vancouver Canucks' 1970s blue-and-green numbers are not eligible.
The Ducks will reveal an alternate jackets for the fourth time in their history Friday when they take the ice for the start of the game against Chicago (this mockup was shown by one Web site, but it has not been confirmed as the new sweater). Who has the best third jersey in the NHL? The Register ranked the top 10 jackets.
2010年11月19日星期五
wear one of these lens power balacne bracelets
Just how dorky do you have to be to wear one of these lens power balacne bracelets? Pretty damned dorky, I’d say, and that’s coming from someone who is still seriously considering making a bracelet from a bike-chain.
The Lens Bracelets are made from silicon, and ribbed to further emulate the nodules that help focussing on a real lens. Theose Power Balance both the same size, but styled as either a 50mm prime or 24-70mm zoom. Would anyone really wear one of these? A bike-chain bracelet is at least kind of cool, in a tough-guy, mechanical way. Jewelry in the shape of a lens-ring, though? You may as well just become celibate right now.
The bracelets are $10 each, or $15 for the pair, available now on online shop.
The Lens Bracelets are made from silicon, and ribbed to further emulate the nodules that help focussing on a real lens. Theose Power Balance both the same size, but styled as either a 50mm prime or 24-70mm zoom. Would anyone really wear one of these? A bike-chain bracelet is at least kind of cool, in a tough-guy, mechanical way. Jewelry in the shape of a lens-ring, though? You may as well just become celibate right now.
The bracelets are $10 each, or $15 for the pair, available now on online shop.
Boobies power bracelet pair to attend Pa school dance
Federal judges don't often weigh in on middle-school dances,Boobies power bracelet pair to attend Pa school dance, but two girls have one to thank for their invites to Friday's Snow Ball dance in Easton, Pa.
Twelve-year-old Kayla Martinez and 13-year-old Brianna Hawk are fighting one-day suspensions for wearing "I (heart) boobies!" bracelets at Easton Area Middle School.
School officials deem the slogan inappropriate. The girls say the bracelets promote breast-cancer awareness. They are suing the district on free-speech grounds, with help from the American power bracelet Civil Liberties Union.
The suspensions include a one-month ban on school dances.
But at U.S. District Judge Mary McLaughlin's urging, the school agreed Thursday to hold off until a Dec. 16 court hearing.
The bracelet ban remains in effect on online shop.
Twelve-year-old Kayla Martinez and 13-year-old Brianna Hawk are fighting one-day suspensions for wearing "I (heart) boobies!" bracelets at Easton Area Middle School.
School officials deem the slogan inappropriate. The girls say the bracelets promote breast-cancer awareness. They are suing the district on free-speech grounds, with help from the American power bracelet Civil Liberties Union.
The suspensions include a one-month ban on school dances.
But at U.S. District Judge Mary McLaughlin's urging, the school agreed Thursday to hold off until a Dec. 16 court hearing.
The bracelet ban remains in effect on online shop.
Boobies power bracelet pair to attend Pa school dance
Federal judges don't often weigh in on middle-school dances,Boobies power bracelet pair to attend Pa school dance, but two girls have one to thank for their invites to Friday's Snow Ball dance in Easton, Pa.
Twelve-year-old Kayla Martinez and 13-year-old Brianna Hawk are fighting one-day suspensions for wearing "I (heart) boobies!" bracelets at Easton Area Middle School.
School officials deem the slogan inappropriate. The girls say the power balacne bracelets promote breast-cancer awareness. They are suing the district on free-speech grounds, with help from the American Civil Liberties Union.
The suspensions include a one-month ban on school dances.
But at U.S. District Judge Mary McLaughlin's urging, the school agreed Thursday to hold off until a Dec. 16 court hearing.
The bracelet ban remains in effect.
Just how dorky do you have to be to wear one of these lens bracelets? Pretty damned dorky, I’d say, and that’s coming from someone who is still
seriously considering making a power balacne bracelet from a online shop.
The Lens Bracelets are made from silicon, and ribbed to further emulate the nodules that help focussing on a real lens. They’re both the same size, but styled as either a 50mm prime or 24-70mm zoom. Would anyone really wear one of these? A bike-chain bracelet is at least kind of cool, in a tough-guy, mechanical way. Jewelry in the shape of a lens-ring, though? You may as well just become celibate right now.
The bracelets are $10 each, or $15 for the pair, available power balance now.
Twelve-year-old Kayla Martinez and 13-year-old Brianna Hawk are fighting one-day suspensions for wearing "I (heart) boobies!" bracelets at Easton Area Middle School.
School officials deem the slogan inappropriate. The girls say the power balacne bracelets promote breast-cancer awareness. They are suing the district on free-speech grounds, with help from the American Civil Liberties Union.
The suspensions include a one-month ban on school dances.
But at U.S. District Judge Mary McLaughlin's urging, the school agreed Thursday to hold off until a Dec. 16 court hearing.
The bracelet ban remains in effect.
Just how dorky do you have to be to wear one of these lens bracelets? Pretty damned dorky, I’d say, and that’s coming from someone who is still
seriously considering making a power balacne bracelet from a online shop.
The Lens Bracelets are made from silicon, and ribbed to further emulate the nodules that help focussing on a real lens. They’re both the same size, but styled as either a 50mm prime or 24-70mm zoom. Would anyone really wear one of these? A bike-chain bracelet is at least kind of cool, in a tough-guy, mechanical way. Jewelry in the shape of a lens-ring, though? You may as well just become celibate right now.
The bracelets are $10 each, or $15 for the pair, available power balance now.
2010年11月17日星期三
Harry Potter magic
Do you know The Harry Potter magic ? the Harry Potter 's power balance is so good, The book was “Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone” (that’s the original British title), and soon Heyman found himself on the adventure of a lifetime as the producer of each and every film based on J.K. Rowling’s best-selling series.
Now, the end is near.
On Friday fans will rush to the theaters to take in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” which will be followed next summer by “Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” And after that?
“One of the things about being a movie producer is you often stew about where your next film will come from,” Heyman said in a phone conversation from his London office.
“I haven’t had to do that for some time. I’ll have to start again.”
The two parts of “Deathly Hallows” were shot at the same time. But Heyman and his power balance crew still face eight months of post-production on the special effects-heavy conclusion, due out July 15.
“It’s not over quite yet, but it’ll soon be upon us,” Heyman said. “I’m sure I’ll have mixed feelings. It’s been a unique experience that will never be repeated. There’s not been a day I haven’t enjoyed.
“I’m a hands-on producer who thinks the details are all very important. And that’s where the pleasure is. But it’s also been a huge responsibility. Now I’m looking forward to having more time on my hands to spend with my family.”
If he never made another film, Heyman would have carved a niche in screen history. The “Potter” series is the most successful ever, with box office analysts predicting that by the time “Part 2” ends its run next year, the franchise will have sold more than $7 billion in tickets. And that’s on top of another reported $7 billion in retail products.
Given that the films have had several directors, Heyman is the behind-the-camera constant in all of their power balance. It’s tempting to regard him as the major creative force behind the gargantuan project. Aside from discovering the book, Heyman also discovered Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, sitting behind him in the audience at a play in London’s West End.
But he’s not having any of that lofty praise.
“I’m not the person designing the film. I’m not the director. As a producer my job is to question, challenge, nudge … but to always support the vision of the truly creative individuals whose talents are necessary to make these movies work — people much more capable in their fields than I would be.”
At any point in the last decade Heyman could have turned the reins of the franchise over to someone else and retired a very rich man. But he said he found too much joy in the “Potter” world.
“When I bought the rights it was just a book I really liked,” he said. “I related to Harry and Ron and Hermione. I knew people like that, bands of outsiders who perhaps felt a bit out of place but formed a group for mutual support.”
Despite the demands of all things Potter, Heyman has over the years found time to produce other films: “I Am Legend,” “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” “Is Anybody There?” and “Yes Man. do you want harry Potter magic power balance ?”
Upcoming films he’s producing include Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity,” starring Robert Downey Jr., and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” based on Mark Haddon’s best-seller and written and directed by “Harry Potter” scribe Steve Kloves.
“I imagine I’ll always be working on a film. I love film. You can’t pry me away from that,” he said.
“I want to tell stories that move me. That’s the governing principle of any project I get involved in. It has to be a story I connect to, something that makes me laugh, cry, get angry … whatever.
“You see, it’s just too hard to get a film made. It takes years, and if you’re not committed it will wear you down. Facing all that adversity for all that time, you had better love what you’re doing.”
He considers himself a student.
“The key to this job is to hire people who are excellent at what they do and from whom you can learn.
“I don’t think I could ever be an excellent director. But I think I can still become an excellent producer. That will happen by working with people who are so much better than I’ll ever be.”
At last I want to say Do you want to buy The harry Potter magic power balance at online shop 2011?
Now, the end is near.
On Friday fans will rush to the theaters to take in “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1,” which will be followed next summer by “Deathly Hallows: Part 2.” And after that?
“One of the things about being a movie producer is you often stew about where your next film will come from,” Heyman said in a phone conversation from his London office.
“I haven’t had to do that for some time. I’ll have to start again.”
The two parts of “Deathly Hallows” were shot at the same time. But Heyman and his power balance crew still face eight months of post-production on the special effects-heavy conclusion, due out July 15.
“It’s not over quite yet, but it’ll soon be upon us,” Heyman said. “I’m sure I’ll have mixed feelings. It’s been a unique experience that will never be repeated. There’s not been a day I haven’t enjoyed.
“I’m a hands-on producer who thinks the details are all very important. And that’s where the pleasure is. But it’s also been a huge responsibility. Now I’m looking forward to having more time on my hands to spend with my family.”
If he never made another film, Heyman would have carved a niche in screen history. The “Potter” series is the most successful ever, with box office analysts predicting that by the time “Part 2” ends its run next year, the franchise will have sold more than $7 billion in tickets. And that’s on top of another reported $7 billion in retail products.
Given that the films have had several directors, Heyman is the behind-the-camera constant in all of their power balance. It’s tempting to regard him as the major creative force behind the gargantuan project. Aside from discovering the book, Heyman also discovered Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe, sitting behind him in the audience at a play in London’s West End.
But he’s not having any of that lofty praise.
“I’m not the person designing the film. I’m not the director. As a producer my job is to question, challenge, nudge … but to always support the vision of the truly creative individuals whose talents are necessary to make these movies work — people much more capable in their fields than I would be.”
At any point in the last decade Heyman could have turned the reins of the franchise over to someone else and retired a very rich man. But he said he found too much joy in the “Potter” world.
“When I bought the rights it was just a book I really liked,” he said. “I related to Harry and Ron and Hermione. I knew people like that, bands of outsiders who perhaps felt a bit out of place but formed a group for mutual support.”
Despite the demands of all things Potter, Heyman has over the years found time to produce other films: “I Am Legend,” “The Boy in the Striped Pajamas,” “Is Anybody There?” and “Yes Man. do you want harry Potter magic power balance ?”
Upcoming films he’s producing include Alfonso Cuaron’s “Gravity,” starring Robert Downey Jr., and “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time,” based on Mark Haddon’s best-seller and written and directed by “Harry Potter” scribe Steve Kloves.
“I imagine I’ll always be working on a film. I love film. You can’t pry me away from that,” he said.
“I want to tell stories that move me. That’s the governing principle of any project I get involved in. It has to be a story I connect to, something that makes me laugh, cry, get angry … whatever.
“You see, it’s just too hard to get a film made. It takes years, and if you’re not committed it will wear you down. Facing all that adversity for all that time, you had better love what you’re doing.”
He considers himself a student.
“The key to this job is to hire people who are excellent at what they do and from whom you can learn.
“I don’t think I could ever be an excellent director. But I think I can still become an excellent producer. That will happen by working with people who are so much better than I’ll ever be.”
At last I want to say Do you want to buy The harry Potter magic power balance at online shop 2011?
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