Top 5 most overpaid CEOs

In other part of the world, employees are being underpaid, general manager, managing director and even CEOs are being underpaid. But this is not a problem in the United States where the worst achievers still get their undeserving compensations and perks. I supposed this is what people says, "Make tonne of money while do nothing". Below is the list of the "Highest Paid Worst Performers" of 2008.

1. Michael Jeffries, Abercrombie & Fitch

Abercrombie's Michael Jeffries was awarded total compensation of $71.8 million last year, with a base salary of $1.5 million. His compensation package included a $6 million "stay bonus" designed to keep him on board, despite his 17-year tenure, as well as perks such as the use of a corporate jet.

Jeffries is compensated at "the upper quartile" of his peer group. In other words, the compensation committee that determines his pay assures he'll be paid more than what 75% of his rival CEOs get.


2. James W. Stewart, BJ Services Company

The bulk of James Stewart's $34.6 million windfall came from value realized on stock options, which resulted in a $30 million jackpot. Stewart was granted those options more than five years ago. So they were still valuable despite the fact that the company's stock was halved in 2008.

BJ Services was acquired last month by rival Baker Hughes for $5.5 billion. Stewart remains chief executive until the deal closes at the end of 2009.


3. Brian Roberts, Comcast Corp.

While the cable and Internet provider's stock has performed well over the last 12 months, the company has lagged the industry over the years.

Comcast CEO Brian Roberts received total compensation of $40.8 million last year. That includes a $2.7 million base salary and over $22 million in earnings related to stock options. Roberts received a relatively small "discretionary bonus" of $881,027 and a "very substantial" bonus of $7.4 million under a non-equity incentive plan,


4. John Faraci, International Paper

Shares of the Memphis, Tenn-based paper company sank 63% last year, compared with a 8% drop in the S&P 500 index. Despite such a drubbing, the company's CEO got total compensation of $38.2 million.

John Faraci's compensation included $21 million in pension payments he received while still working at the company. Faraci, 59, has been CEO for six years.


5. Eugene Isenberg, Nabors Industries

With total compensation of $79.3 million, Eugene Isenberg ranked No. 8 on the list of 10 highest paid CEOs. In 2008, shares of the oil and gas drilling company plummeted 51%, although the company's stock has outperformed industry rivals over the last 12 months.

Isenberg's total compensation was driven mostly by a $58.7 million bonus, which was calculated based on a percentage of the company's cash flow. Over the years, this formula has resulted in $625 million in "aggregate bonuses" for Isenberg.

Yahoo! It's Y!ou

Yahoo recently launched a $100 million marketing campaign with a new slogan, a new angle, and now a new TV commercial, all focused on one thing: "Y!ou.". Yahoo however did not reveal if the making of the ads cost $100 or does it include TV royalty. And $100 million can sure feed a lots of hungry children and $100 million can also fund a Hollywood movie.

"Watch and wonder in new ways -- in you ways," the ad tells viewers as several thousand clubbers do a Bollywood-style dance in a giant "Y-O-U" formation seen from above.

Yahoo, according to the peppy commercial, is a place that will launch "a billion yodels." We have to wonder: is that really such a good thing? Or just plain money wasting.

Going Rogue: An American Life By Sarah Palin

Sarah Palin has been a governor and VP candidate and is now an author with a new book titled "Going Rogue: An American Life". During last year's campaign, pundits questioned whether Palin hurt McCain's presidential bid by "going rogue," or defying his campaign's control.

Sarah Palin, the former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential candidate, has finished her memoir just four months after the book deal was announced, and the release date has been moved up from the spring to Nov. 17, her publisher said.

"Governor Palin has been unbelievably conscientious and hands-on at every stage, investing herself deeply and passionately in this project," said Jonathan Burnham, publisher of Harper. "It's her words, her life, and it's all there in full and fascinating detail."

Palin's book, her first, will be 400 pages, said Burnham, who called the fall "the best possible time for a major book of this kind."

The book now has a title, one fitting for a public figure known for the unexpected – "Going Rogue: An American Life."

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Yemen's War

While the world is engross with violence in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Pakistan as well as mounting tension from Iran and North Korea, Yemen's Sunni and Shi'ite are killing each other. And thus, most foreign media is pondering whether Yemen could be the next Afghanistan. Yemen is govern by the Sunni but facing armed opposition from the Shi'ite rebels, called Houthis.

About two-thirds of the country is out of government control and in the hands of either separatist groups or local tribes, some of which have a habit of kidnapping foreign tourists to use as bargaining chips in disputes with the central government. Such hostages were rarely harmed until this June, when nine foreigners were kidnapped — including two German women and a South Korean woman whose mutilated bodies were later discovered by shepherds. After the attack, the government effectively stopped granting permission to foreigners — including journalists — to travel anywhere but the capital, Sana'a, and the coastal region around the port city of Aden.

In the past month, the government, which is Sunni-dominated, has stepped up its military offensive against Shi'ite rebels, known as Houthis, whom officials blame for the killings. It's a continuation of a war that began in 2004, when the government killed a Houthi leader, raising fears among Yemeni followers of the Zaydi sect of Shi'ite Islam that they were being targeted for eradication by the government and Sunni extremists. So far, thousands have died and hundreds of thousands have been displaced by the fighting, mostly in the northern province of Saada. The government has used aerial bombardment and artillery to try to smash the Houthis. The alleged use of collective punishment and blockades of aid to force locals to turn in rebel fighters have prompted some agencies, such as UNICEF, to compare the campaign to the government of Sudan's actions in Darfur.

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Superfetation - Pregnancy Within A Pregnancy

Ever heard of a pregnancy within a pregnancy? No, not twins — I am referring to a woman who became pregnant twice, maybe weeks apart. Isn't that supposed to be impossible? Almost. There have only been 10 recorded cases of the phenomenon, dubbed superfetation. And thus, unprotected sex during a woman pregnancy could possibly resulted in another pregnancy.

And the recent case involved Julia Grovenburg, a 31-year-old Arkansas woman. In Grovenburg's case, she became pregnant with a girl (whom they've decided to name Jillian) and a boy (Hudson) two weeks later. The babies have separate due dates — Jillian on Dec. 24, Hudson on Jan. 10.

Dr. Robert Atlas, chairman of the obstetrics and gynecology department at Baltimore's Mercy Hospital, says he's never encountered a case of superfetation during practice. He says such pregnancies occur both when a woman continues ovulating after becoming pregnant and when that second, fertilized egg is able to implant itself in the lining of the womb — two things that wouldn't happen in a normal pregnancy. Typically, hormonal changes prevent further ovulation and thicken the lining of the uterus to preclude a second embryo from attaching. Why did that not happen in this case? No one's really sure.

Despite the rarity of Grovenburg's case, Atlas told TIME the phenomenon shouldn't be cause for concern. Grovenburg's babies should behave much as twins do; in all likelihood the second baby will be born slightly premature when Julia goes into labor for the first time. Since the difference between the two is only two weeks, the second baby will be nearly at full term anyway. Indeed, the last known case of superfetation had a happy ending. In 2007, a British woman gave birth to a boy and a girl conceived three weeks apart, with no undue complications.

What is Superfetation

Superfetation (also spelt superfoetation - see fetus) is the formation of a fetus while another embryo is already present in the uterus, from a different menstrual cycle. When there are two separate instances of fertilisation during the same cycle, it is known as superfecundation.

Superfetation is claimed to be common in some species of animals, but is extremely rare in humans. It can occur only where there are two uteri, or where the menstrual cycle continues through pregnancy.

Reports of superfetation occurring long after the first impregnation have often been treated with suspicion and some have been clearly discredited. Other explanations have been given (and demonstrated) for different levels of development between twins. Artificially induced superfetation has, however, been demonstrated although only up to a short period after insemination.

In 2007, Ame and Lia Herrity, conceived 3 weeks apart, were born in the United Kingdom to Amelia Spence and George Herrity.

In May 2007, Harriet and Thomas Mullineux, also conceived 3 weeks apart, were born in Benfleet, Essex, UK to Charlotte and Matt Mullineux.

2,560th Birthday For Confucius

A grand ceremony was held in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, on Monday to commemorate the 2,560th birthday of Confucius, the great ancient Chinese thinker and philosopher revered around the world, China's Xinhua news agency reported.

More than 10,000 people, including his descendants, scholars and representatives from foreign embassies in China and international organisations, attended the ceremony at the Confucius Temple in Qufu, his birthplace.

Confucius and his disciples advocated positive self-discipline, healthy living, maintaining harmony in family life, peace and order in the country, peace in the world.

His thoughts are still studied worldwide.

About Confucius

Confucius (Chinese: 孔子; pinyin: Kǒng zǐ; Wade-Giles: K'ung-tzu, or Chinese: 孔夫子; pinyin: Kǒng Fūzǐ; Wade-Giles: K'ung-fu-tzu), lit. "Master Kong," (traditionally September 28, 551 B.C.E. – 479 B.C.E.) was a Chinese thinker and social philosopher, whose teachings and philosophy have deeply influenced Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Vietnamese thought and life.

His philosophy emphasized personal and governmental morality, correctness of social relationships, justice and sincerity. These values gained prominence in China over other doctrines, such as Legalism (法家) or Taoism (道家) during the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.E. – 220 C.E.). Confucius' thoughts have been developed into a system of philosophy known as Confucianism (儒家). It was introduced to Europe by the Italian Jesuit Matteo Ricci, who was the first to Latinise the name as "Confucius."

His teachings may be found in the Analects of Confucius (論語), a collection of "brief aphoristic fragments", which was compiled many years after his death. Modern historians do not believe that any specific documents can be said to have been written by Confucius, but for nearly 2,000 years he was thought to be the editor or author of all the Five Classics (五經) such as the Classic of Rites (禮記) (editor), and the Spring and Autumn Annals (春秋) (author).

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Iran Payghambar-e Azam 4 Missiles Test

Iran has upped the missile tension in the middle-east region and it doesn't please the European leaders. Iran tested a missile-launching system and several types of short- and medium-range missiles Sunday, the state-run Press TV said. Earlier, the country's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had said it would stage missile exercises beginning Sunday to promote the armed forces' defense capabilities. The tests, which are expected to last until Monday, are code-named "Payghambar-e Azam 4" or "The Great Prophet 4," Press TV said.

The missiles, fired at targets around the country Sunday, included the Fateh-110, a short-range ground-to-ground missile, and Tondar-69, a short-range naval missile, the station said. Several models of medium-range Shahab missiles were tested at night, Press TV reported.

The final stage of the tests will be held Monday morning, when Iran plans to test the long-range Shahab missile, the station said.

In May, Iran said it tested a surface-to-surface missile that is capable of reaching parts of Europe.

At the time, a White House official said actions in Iran were noteworthy.

"Of course, this is just a test, and obviously there is much work to be done before it can be built and deployed. But I see it as a significant step forward in terms of Iran's capacity to deliver weapons," said Gary Samore, special assistant to the president on nonproliferation.

The latest test follows Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disclosure Friday that Iran was building a second uranium enrichment facility.

The United States and Israel believe that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy program.

Iran has denied the allegation.

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Man Rescued At San Francisco Zoo

A man snuck into the grizzly bear exhibit at the San Francisco Zoo Saturday but was rescued immediately afterward without incident, authorities said. The man, who was not identified, was conscious but unresponsive when he was rescued. He did not show any apparent signs of injury. I think that man is either drunk, high on drugs or suicidal.

A zoo visitor alerted the facility's staff about the 27-year-old man's presence inside the enclosure, said spokeswoman Gwendolyn Tornatore.

Staffers fired a warning shot to keep the two bears away from the man, before securing them inside their dens, Tornatore said in a statement.

It was not clear how the man got inside the enclosure, or what prompted him.

The man has been charged with misdemeanor trespassing and harassing an animal in captivity, said CNN affiliate KRON-TV. He was taken to San Francisco General Hospital for an evaluation.

The zoo made international headlines on Christmas Day in 2007 when a Siberian tiger apparently scaled a 12-and-a-half-foot wall surrounding its enclosure, killing a 17-year-old man and wounding two of his friends.

Following the incident, the zoo overhauled its safety procedures. Construction crews raised the walls of the enclosure to help keep the big cats in.

The one-acre Hearst Grizzly Gulch at the zoo is home to its two female grizzly bears, Kachina and Kiona. It is equipped with a 20,000-gallon pool, herb garden, and a waterfall, according to the zoo's Web site.

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Google 11th Anniversary

Google celebrates its 11th birthday with a new doodle image on its search engine page, which spelled as "Goog11e". It so happen that my eldest boy is also 11 years old this year.

During its 11 years of existence, Google has moved on from being a hardcore search engine to providing other online services such as Google Mail, Google Maps, Google Apps, Google Video, Google News, free blogging platform, and PPC revenue opportunity to bloggers.

Beside the above, Google is also involved in other internet related technology such as Android phone, Google Books, Google Translate, Google Earth, Google Wave, Google Desktop, Google Chrome Operating System, Google Chrome Browser

Honda U3-X Personal Mobility Device

Move away Segway. Honda has developed the world's first drive system that enables movement in all directions. The new U3-X Personal Mobility Device was designed with the goal of co-existing in harmony with people.

Honda's new "personal mobility" device looks like a unicycle, but all you need to do to zip around on it - sideways as well as forward and back - is lean your weight into the direction you want to go.

The U3-X - available for a test-run for reporters in Tokyo Thursday - was designed to be small, safe and unobtrusive enough to mingle with pedestrians, according to Honda Motor Co.

The single wheel on the U3-X - U stands for "unicycle" and "universal" - is made up of many tiny motor-controlled wheels, packed inside the bigger wheel, allowing the device to swerve in any direction.

It stands upright on its own. Sit on it as though it's a stool, and shift your weight to drive. The thing maintains its own balance as it scoots along at a speed of up to 6 kilometers (3.7 miles) per hour.

Honda President Takanobu Ito said the machine was still "a proposal," and the company has no sales plans, pricing or firm ideas on where or how it will be used.

Honda declined to give details of the U3-X's technology, but said it weighs less than 10 kilograms (22 pounds), runs on a full charge for an hour, and has a lithium-ion battery.

"I may want to use it in my home," Ito mused. "It'd be easier to get around so I might really use it if my legs grow weaker."

The U3-X takes a bit of getting used to. It was a bit too big for this 1.53 meter (five-foot) tall reporter, making it hard to sit on and control it well.

Although Honda said the machine is meant for the elderly, it's unclear whether they would be coordinated enough to control the device.

Honda makes the Asimo walking child-shaped robot as well as the Odyssey minivan and Accord sedan. The latest device uses some of the technology of balance and movement developed in the Asimo, Ito said.

Last year, Honda showed a gadget, which can support a wearer's bodyweight, made of mechanical frames attached to a pair of shoes. Honda said it may be used by auto workers.

Japanese rival Toyota Motor Corp. has shown machines that help people get around, including the Winglet, similar to the Segway, a scooter-like device that people ride standing up. Toyota also has displayed I-Real, a motorized armchair-on-wheels.

Japan is one of the most rapidly aging societies in the world, and concerns are growing about helping the elderly get around.

"Honda engineers are always thinking about people's dreams and wishes about mobility. We will continue to work hard to be a leader in that area," Ito said.

Photo gallery of Honda U3-X










SEO: Honda UX-3, Honda Unicyle, Honda latest gadget

10 Big Companies On The Edge Of Bankruptcy

Strong brand name and past track record simply doesn't guarantee long term success. Despite a few green shoots in the economy and a rocketing stock market, many large global companies are still struggling to avoid bankruptcy. As the saying goes, nothing last forever.

A new report by Audit Integrity identifies some high-profile names "that have the highest probability of declaring bankruptcy among publicly traded firms."

Which companies appear the worst off? We took the list and removed any company with a market cap under $3 billion. We then ranked the remaining names by a simple measure of the market's perceived bankruptcy risk - Market Cap (MC) divided by Enterprise Value (EV). The less MC vs. EV, the less residual shareholders' value (above what debt holders can claim) the market is pricing-in for the company. Thus a lower MC/EV means the market thinks the company is more likely to go bankrupt.

1. Hertz

When you have tons of debt financing your fleet of cars, falling rental demand really hurts.

While the company raised new capital in May for some breathing room, Fitch and Moody’s actually cut their ratings for the company in July. Ignoring the downgrade, shares kept rallying and are now at over five times the March $2 low. Best of luck.


2. Textron

What a tough time to be selling business jets. Textron wrote down $2.3 billion its backlog this year after it canceled a new jet design, and demand for its other aircraft-related offerings has plummeted.

Shareholders may be heartened by the company’s ability to push back some debt maturities lately, but deteriorating credit quality at the company’s leasing arm makes the outlook uncertain at best.


3. Sprint Nextel

Sprint Nextel is bleeding customers, and could lose as many as 4.4 million net post-paid subscribers this year. This is a huge problem when you have large amounts of maturing debt over the next few years.

A recent Deutsche Telekom acquisition rumor offered some hope, but that appears to have faded. Facing a difficult road ahead on its own, the company better keep its lawyers on speed-dial.


4. Macy's

Does anyone even shop at department stores anymore? Same store sales will likely keep falling at Macy’s right through 2009. With $2.4 billion of maturing debt over the next five years, the company is trying to cut costs, and has already reduced its dividend.

Hopefully the US consumer will bounce back soon, and actually want to shop at Macy's.


5. Mylan

In a classic case of management empire building, Mylan overpaid big time when it bought Merck’s generic business back in 2007 and is now stuck with $5 billion of long-term debt as a result.

From 2007 – 2008, the company lost over $1.3 billion very much due to goodwill write-downs. While the company could earn $300 million this year, they’ll have to earn far more than that in the future to make their debt manageable.


6. Goodyear

Demand for Goodyear tires has sunk, and the company is saddled with massive debt and pension obligations. This year is certainly not a good year for this company.

It doesn’t help that The United Steelworkers union prevents the company from proper cost control by forcing factories to stay open. Shareholders have to wonder how much value will be left of the company after bondholders and the union members have their way.


7. CBS

Weak advertising and falling license fees have sent CBS's earnings off a cliff in 2009. If they remain depressed for too long, the company could have trouble refinancing $3.2 billion of debt coming due over the next five years.

It will really come down to whether or not CBS’s earnings collapse is merely cyclical, or the result of structural trend whereby traditional TV is dying. As a business blog, we can't help but feel partly guilty here.


8. Advanced Micro Devices

When will AMD actually make money again? The question is becoming more important by the day since it carries over $5 billion in long-term debt. From the beginning, AMD failed to mount any serious threat to Intel and emerging chip makers from Taiwan.

After losing almost $3 billion from 2007 – 2008, analysts expect the company to lose more money in 2009 and 2010. While the shares rallied from their February $2 low, they still appear stuck in a long-term down trend from $40 highs way back in 2006.


9. Las Vegas Sands

Las Vegas Sands over-expanded and over-levered in the last few years and now has over $10 billion in debt to deal with. Despite jumping 13 times from their March low, Las Vegas Sands shares still face an uphill battle.

Conditions in Las Vegas are horrible, Asian expansion (in Singapore) isn’t enough, and if this lasts too long then LVS will end up in bankruptcy court looking like it bit off more than it can chew.


10. Interpublic Group

As one of the largest advertising and marketing companies in the world, IPG was slammed by the global recession.

As the company’s CEO said during recent second quarter results, the downturn “is proving steeper and more lasting than expected”. Revenues have fallen double digits and the company’s exposure to General Motors as its largest client hasn’t helped.

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Piezoelectric Effect To Harness Energy

Ever heard of scientists looking into ways for harnessing the tiniest amount of energy to power your electronic devices? In working toward making these ideas realities, they are making use of structures that are 100 nanometers or smaller, where one nanometer is a billionth of a meter.

Even the simple act of moving your fingers while typing creates energy that could power a small device, and these researchers are showing that nanotechnology can enable this transformation.

Harnessing energy from Piezoelectric effect

To take advantage of animal movement for energy, researchers makes use of the piezoelectric effect, which refers to the ability of certain materials to generate an electric potential when a stress is applied to them. For instance, if you compress a crystal, it temporarily changes shape, causing the ions inside the crystal to polarize and produce a voltage drop.

About Piezoelectric

Piezoelectricity is the ability of some materials (notably crystals and certain ceramics, including bone) to generate an electric potential in response to applied mechanical stress. This may take the form of a separation of electric charge across the crystal lattice. If the material is not short-circuited, the applied charge induces a voltage across the material. The word is derived from the Greek piezo or piezein, which means to squeeze or press.

The piezoelectric effect is reversible in that materials exhibiting the direct piezoelectric effect (the production of an electric potential when stress is applied) also exhibit the reverse piezoelectric effect (the production of stress and/or strain when an electric field is applied). For example, lead zirconate titanate crystals will exhibit a maximum shape change of about 0.1% of the original dimension.

The effect finds useful applications such as the production and detection of sound, generation of high voltages, electronic frequency generation, microbalances, and ultra fine focusing of optical assemblies. It is also the basis of a number of scientific instrumental techniques with atomic resolution, the scanning probe microscopies such as STM, AFM, MTA, SNOM etc, and everyday uses such as acting as the ignition source for cigarette lighters and push-start propane barbecues.

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Microsoft Office Web Apps Beta Test

Google Apps versus Microsoft Office Web Apps saga continued. Microsoft has launched a limited beta test of its Office Web Apps cloud computing software to rival Google Docs and Zoho . Read also previous post on Google Apps vs Microsoft Web Office

A "technical preview" of Office Web Apps is being made available to a select group of Windows SkyDrive users, a free cloud storage service.

Microsoft said that "tens of thousands" of SkyDrive users had been invited to test out the new online collaboration tools, which form part of the forthcoming Office 2010 release, and allow people to access, edit and share Excel, Word and PowerPoint documents online, using any computer, through a variety of web browsers.

Office Web Apps will compete directly with existing, similar services offered by other companies, such as Google Docs and Zoho's range of online collaborative software. Microsoft has promised that the final version of Office Web Apps will be available to the half a billion users of Hotmail, MSN Messenger and Windows Live services.

Microsoft has emphasized that the technical preview of Office Web Apps is merely a first look and is not "feature-complete". However, it emphasizes Microsoft's determination to overhaul its popular Office suite of desktop publishing tools for the internet age.

Google's free Docs service, and similar tools offered by Zoho, have proved popular with web users who want the flexibility to edit and share documents without being tethered to a single computer, and without the need for expensive software.

But despite being late to the cloud-based documents game, analysts believe Microsoft can see off the challenge posed by Google, without cannibalising its highly lucrative desktop software business.



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Twitter 503 Error

As a Twitter user, if you happened to hit the 503 error recently, it indicated that Twitter network is overcapacity. And no, Twitter is not being hacked or under attack. See the error below:

“There was a “gateway timeout – HTTP 503 response” error while communicating with Twitter. This is a problem with their server, so contact Twitter at http://twitter.com/help if the problem persists.”

The above error stemmed from Twitter attempt to load their latest site redesign which include icons and avatars. I believed Twitter is trying to show off their latest upgrade but unfortunately it create more errors. In fact, some blogger has called it Twitter failed design.

Facebook hits 300 million users - latest count

Facebook's user base is nearly as large as the U.S. population and, for the first time, the site has turned a profit. That was the double-barreled announcement Tuesday from Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, who thanked the site's users for helping its online community cross the 300 million threshold. In January 2009, Facebook users numbered at 150 million. There are about 307 million people living in the United States, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

The social networking site, while popular with its exploding user base, has struggled to turn a profit.

But Zuckerberg said the company became profitable last quarter, beating its goal of getting out of the red by the end of 2010.

In July, the California startup company announced it had hit the 250 million-user mark, which indicates it has grown by 50 million users in two months. That's more than 800,000 new users per day.

About 70 percent of Facebook's users are outside the U.S., according to statistics posted by the company. The site started out as a portal for college students but has attracted the attention of baby boomers and older generations in recent years. Facebook says its fastest-growing demographic is people older than 35.

Over the past year, the social network has seen a challenge from Twitter, the popular micro-blogging site. Many bloggers see recent updates to Facebook's interface as copied from Twitter's stripped-down design.

As Facebook has grown, it also has drawn criticism from privacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union, which says people on Facebook unwillingly give up personal information to advertisers and Facebook application developers.

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Noordin Muhammed Top Finally Dead

Noordin Muhammed Top, a regional terrorism mastermind who eluded capture for nine years and is blamed for a string of deadly attacks in Indonesia, was killed during a raid in central Indonesia, the police chief said Thursday. Police hunting for suspects in Jakarta hotel bombings raided a hide-out in central Indonesia, sparking gunfire and an explosion Thursday that left four suspected militants dead, he said, including the Malaysian fugitive. Three alleged terrorists also were captured.

Noordin's remains were found at a house on the outskirts of the town of Solo, in central Java, said national police chief Bambang Hendarso Danuri.

Fingerprints in a police database matched the body to Noordin, he said.

"It is Noordin M. Top," he told a nationally televised news conference to the cheers from the audience. "He is leader of al-Qaeda in Southeast Asia."

A counterterrorism official said the dead also included alleged bomb-maker Bagus Budi Pranato. The captured militants included a pregnant woman who was being treated at a hospital, national police spokesman Nanan Sukarna said.

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Fake MayBank Login Page by onetm2u.com

This is another scamming email targeting account holders of MayBank. The scammer send an email purporting that M2U users are under spam attack and request the account holder to click the link provided in their phish email. This is all a scam job. DO NOT CLICK the link in that email.

If you are using GMail, remember to mark the email as spam.

Email received from the fraudster

Dear Valued Customer,

Due to the increasing spam attack on our customers, we have introduced an advanced protection to protect all M2U users. You are hereby required to immediately protect your account below as unprotected accounts will be terminated till further notice.

SECURE YOUR ACCOUNT NOW
onetm2u.com/M2ULogin.htm

Sincerely,

Maybank Group

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ViVox To Power Facebook Video Chat

Voice chat is coming to the Facebook community. Very soon, Facebook users will be able to have high-quality voice conversations, even as its third-party developers are able to start including voice in their applications. The new technology is not being offered by Facebook itself, however. Instead, it's from Vivox, a Boston-based company that provides the integrated voice service for virtual worlds like Second Life and EVE Online, and which already has more than 15 million users worldwide.

The service, which is currently in closed beta, will allow Facebook users to have high-fidelity conversations with anyone on their friends list. Each user, however, will have to download Vivox's plug-in. But once installed, the service works almost seamlessly with Facebook, and is intended for everything from one-to-one chat to large group discussions.

Paying $1 for a Tweet

Would you pay $1 for a Tweet? PayPerPost creators Izea have launched Sponsored Tweets (at sponsoredtweets.com) last month that allows advertisers to pay for sponsored tweets across the Twitter network. SponsoredTweets.com (ST) suggested that as a Twitter account holder and a member of ST, you may charge $1 for each tweet.

If you received 100 sponsored tweets to be forwarded to your own followers, you would earn $100 instantly. Sound good. But in reality, SponsoredTweets is a sham. I have tried this service for a few weeks and the response is so cold that I have decided to detached myself from SponsoredTweets. SponsoredTweets will probably work for you, if you have a larger followers-base and some rich advertisers.

And come to think of it, who would want to spend $1 for each tweet. For the advertisers, there are better advertising avenue then SponsoredTweets.

New Swine Flu Vaccine Now Available

New swine flu vaccine is now available. The Food and Drug Administration of the United States approved the new swine flu vaccine Tuesday, a long-anticipated step as the government works to get vaccinations under way next month.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced the vaccine's approval to Congress — and said she hopes to get the first limited supplies distributed early in October.

The bulk of vaccine will start arriving Oct. 15, and Sebelius said it should be available at 90,000 sites around the country.

"We will have enough vaccine available for everyone" eventually, Sebelius said — everyone who wants it, that is.

The government has ordered 195 million doses for now but may order more if needed, she said. Typically 100 million Americans seek flu vaccine every year.

But the vaccine, which protects against what doctors prefer to call the 2009 H1N1 flu strain, won't arrive all at once. About 45 million doses are expected by mid-October. That's why the government wants the people most likely to catch swine flu, and to suffer complications from it, to be first in line — including children and pregnant women.

FDA licensure means that the government has certified the vaccine is made properly and meets specific manufacturing and quality standards. Separately, the National Institutes of Health is studying the vaccine dosage and safety. Last week, the NIH announced that one dose appears to protect adults — and that that protection kicks in eight to 10 days after the shot.

Studies in children and pregnant women are continuing.

The vaccine approved Tuesday is made by CSL Ltd. of Australia; Switzerland's Novartis; Sanofi-Pasteur of France; and Maryland-based Medimmune, which makes the only nasal-spray flu vaccine.

Adulterers can be sentenced to death by stoning

New capital punishment is being introduced in the Aceh province of Indonesia. Lawmakers in a devoutly Muslim Indonesian province voted unanimously that adulterers can be sentenced to death by stoning, just months after voters overwhelmingly chose to throw conservative Islamic parties out of power. The lawmakers however, didn't states clearly if both male adulterers and female adulterers will received the punishment.

With only weeks to go before a new government led by a moderate party takes over in Aceh province, hard-liners still in control of the regional parliament pushed through legislation Monday to impose steep punishments for adultery and homosexuality.

The chairman of the 69-seat house asked if the bill could be passed into law and members answered in unison: "Yes, it can." Some members of the moderate Democrat Party, which will lead the incoming government, voiced reservations, but none of them voted against the bill.

Human rights groups said the law violates international treaties signed by Indonesia. The province's deputy governor also opposed the legislation, saying it needed more careful consideration because it imposes a new form of capital punishment.

The Aceh Party is also believed to have a less strict interpretation of Islamic law, or Shariah, and some activists expressed hope that once in power, they would amend or tone down the law. Others were considering contesting the bill in court in the capital, Jakarta.

Aceh, where Islam first arrived in Indonesia from Saudi Arabia centuries ago, enjoys semiautonomy from the central government. A long-running Islamic insurgency in the province ended in 2005 in the wake of the Indian Ocean tsunami that killed 130,000 there.

A version of Shariah that was introduced in Aceh in 2001 already bans gambling and drinking alcohol, and makes it compulsory for women to wear headscarves. Dozens of public canings have been carried out by the local Shariah police against violators of that law.

The majority of Indonesia's nearly 200 million Muslims practice a moderate form of the faith, and surveys suggest they do not support such hardline interpretations of the Quran, the Muslim holy book.

Stoning is legally sanctioned in varying forms in Afghanistan, Iran, Pakistan, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and parts of Nigeria. Illegal stonings have also been reported in recent years in Iraq and Somalia. But its use is a point of contention among Islamic scholars.

The new Indonesian law also imposes tough sentences and fines, to be paid in kilograms of gold, for rape and pedophilia, but the most hotly disputed article was on adultery and states that offenders can be punished by a minimum of 100 lashings and a maximum of stoning to death.

It also imposes severe prison terms for other behavior considered morally unacceptable, including homosexuality, which will be punishable by public lashings and more than eight years in prison.

The bill violates national and international treaties signed by Indonesia protecting the rights of minorities and women, said a gay rights activist in Aceh who requested anonymity because he feared for his safety.

"It's discriminatory, and it's saddening, but we are quite sure members of civil society who are concerned with human rights will not sit by silently," the activist said, adding that he hopes the new moderate leadership in the province will overturn the law after taking power next month.

Aceh Vice Governor Muhamad Nazar said that even though his office opposed the clause on stoning to death it has no legal power to block it. "Whatever law is passed we have to enforce it," he said.

911 Anniversary Keywords

Eight years past and the 911 keyword is still popular as ever. 9/11/09 being the 8th anniversary for the devastating terror attacks on the United States show the keyword dominating the search engines queries. Beside the date itself, search engines are also made busy with queries on Al-Qaeda and Osama bin Laden. Read also Eight Years After 9/11: Why Osama bin Laden is a Failure.

Below are some of the 911 keywords that monopolized Google Hot Trends:

* 9 11 moment of silence ...
* 9 11 timeline of evening ...
* 9 11 remembrance quotes ...
* 911 quotes
* 9/11 timeline
* 911 pictures
* remembering september 11 ...
* what time did 9 11 happen ...
* remembering 9/11
* 911 video
* where were you when 911 happen ...
* 911 memorial
* september 11

Related links:
* U.S. remembers victims of September 11 attacks

Face of Prophet Muhammad

Who dares to depict the face of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) and invite protests? Could there be perils about showing even the illustration of Prophet Muhammad's face? Why the big reaction? For devout Muslims, even benign images of the Prophet are considered blasphemous. I for one think that the subject is worth trying to test the response in term of its keyword popularity.

Does the Koran forbid images of the Prophet? Not explicitly, but some passages are interpreted as a ban. The Hadith, a compilation of Islamic traditions, specifically forbids the depiction of God and his prophets--including Jesus. Scholars through the ages have argued that such images encourage idolatry, which is regarded as a grave sin. Shi'ite Muslims make an exception for Muhammad's cousin Ali, who they believe was his rightful successor, so Ali's image is common in Shi'ite areas like Iran and Iraq.

Does Islamic art ever include images of Muhammad? Almost never. On rare occasions, he is depicted as a figure with a veiled face. In the Middle East, even movies and TV programs about the Prophet never show his visage. Early in Islamic history, his face was shown in Persian paintings and tapestries, many of which have since been defaced (blank out, hidden or scratched out).

Photo gallery of Prophet Muhammad face


Prophet Muhammad face etched out



> Prophet Muhammad cartoons have been removed <
Prophet Muhammad cartoons

Related links: * Prophet Mohammed Image Archive
* Face of Muhammed

Related posts:
* Google AdSense halal or haram
* Everybody Draw Mohammed Day banned in Pakistan

Microsoft Windows Mobile 6.5 phones

Microsoft is hoping that a new crop of phones this fall will help the company in its quest to stay relevant in the cell phone market. The software maker said that the first phones running Windows Mobile 6.5 will launch worldwide on October 6 and will include phones running on AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon Wireless.

The new crop of phones will also be the first that Microsoft will sell under the "Windows Phone" brand, an effort to tap into the marketing power of its flagship desktop operating system.

With Windows Mobile 6.5, Microsoft is hoping to convince users that its phones are not just good for doing work. Much of Microsoft's phone focus in recent times has been on improving the operating system's consumer features in an effort to regain ground lost to rivals.

"We know people want a phone for their whole life," said Stephanie Ferguson, general manager in the Windows Mobile unit. "They just frankly want to do more. That's why we've shifted."

Although it includes features such as improved Web browsing and conversation threaded e-mail, as well as a new Windows Marketplace app store, Windows Mobile 6.5 is seen largely as an interim upgrade of the operating system.

Microsoft has come under criticism for the rather slow pace at which its software has evolved in the face of competition from the iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, and Palm Pre.

AT&T, which is one of Microsoft's oldest partners in the cell phone business, said that it is supporting Windows Mobile 6.5, although the carrier acknowledged that Apple and others in the market have grown faster.

Even in large corporations, Windows Mobile has not maintained the position it once seemed poised to inherit.

"Microsoft probably didn't get the share of the enterprise space that we all would have expected three or four years ago," said Jeff Bradley, senior vice president of devices for AT&T. "I think Research In Motion did even a better than expected job of gaining that share."

AT&T didn't say which of its phones will support Windows Mobile 6.5, but it will likely be a mix of new phones and current models that can be upgraded to the new OS. The company is looking to close one gap between Windows Mobile and its rivals. Starting next month, customers will be able to more easily use their Windows Mobile phones on AT&T's Wi-Fi network, matching a feature already available to its BlackBerry and iPhone users.

As for Android, AT&T has yet to commit publicly to shipping an Android phone, but Bradley said the company is actively studying whether to do so.

"We are going to do what's right for customers," Bradley said. "It's an important development in the industry and one that we are watching real carefully to make sure that our customers have choice and the best service."

For her part, Ferguson said she believes that Windows Mobile 6.5 is a significant step forward, although she declined to predict whether Microsoft will gain share in the wake of its release.

"These are going to be fabulous phones that meet the customers' needs for their whole life," Ferguson said. "In the end, that's how I judge us."

The October 6 launch ties in with a "consumer open house" event that Microsoft Entertainment and Devices President Robbie Bach is hosting that day in New York City.

One of the big pushes with the new release is the Windows Marketplace app store. Although Microsoft has long offered tens of thousands of applications, they have been hard to find and download, something Marketplace is designed to address. While the Marketplace will launch with Windows Mobile 6.5, Ferguson declined to say how many programs have been submitted or approved thus far.

Ferguson did say that among the programs will be Netflix, Facebook, and a variety of games.

"We need enough apps that customers can have some great choice," Ferguson said. As for the Netflix app, I checked and it lets users manage their queue or watch previews, but not actually watch movies form their queue. (That would have been a compelling feature, I reckon.)

Microsoft will also formally launch its free My Phone service, which has been in beta. In addition to backing up contacts, calendar, text messages, photos, and other data, the service will also have a "Find My Phone" feature, similar to a paid iPhone service that helps users locate a lost iPhone.

In a July interview, Todd Brix said that the Find My Phone can be used to remotely send a message to a phone and cause it to ring, even if it is set to vibrate. If that still doesn't locate it, users can look up on a map where the phone last synchronized to the service. Users can also remotely lock the phone and send a message to it urging whoever has it to call a specific number. If that doesn't work, users can also remotely wipe the device.

The software maker has said little of its plans for Windows Mobile beyond the current release, although the software maker has been working for more than two years now on a more substantial overhaul of the operating system as well as a collection of new consumer-oriented mobile services. The operating system upgrade, Windows Mobile 7, was originally expected early this year and has hit several delays. It's now not expected until sometime next year.

Microsoft is expected to work closely with a smaller number of hardware makers, who will be among the first to adopt the new products when they debut next year.

AT&T's Bradley declined to talk about Microsoft's roadmap for the future, but said he has seen some encouraging signs that the company will make devices with more consumer appeal.

"I have every reason to think they are going to make that happen," Bradley said. "That's frankly an imperative."

Related links:
* Windows Mobile 6.5 phones coming Oct. 6

Related posts:
* Hello Google Voice, Goodbye Skype
* 10 Essential And Ethical Smartphone Tips

McDonald loses court battle in Malaysia

In a David-and-Goliath match-up in the world of fast food in Malaysia, McDonald loses a court battle against McCurry -- a small Indian curry shop in Malaysia. The court battle lasted for eight years. McDonald's claimed that the prefix "Mc" in McCurry trampled on its trademark. The country's Federal Court on Tuesday ruled that it didn't. Photo: McCurry restaurant owners A.M.S.P Suppiah and his wife Kanageswary Suppiah.

The eatery opened in 1999. McDonald's filed suit two years later. The owner says McCurry, which serves Indian food, is an abbreviation for Malaysian Chicken Curry.

The ruling by a three-member panel of the Federal Court ends all legal avenues for McDonald’s to protect its name from what it said was a trademark infringement.

McDonald’s will have to pay RM10,000 to McCurry, a popular eatery in Jalan Ipoh on the edge of Kuala Lumpur’s downtown. McDonald’s lawyers refused to comment, except to say the company will abide by the judgment.

McCurry lawyer Sri Devi Nair said the ruling means McDonald’s does not have a monopoly on the prefix ‘Mc,’ and that other restaurants could also use it as long as they distinguish their food from McDonald’s.

Related links:
* McCurry wins battle against McDonald's

Attack On Self-hosted WordPress Blogs

Bloggers running a self-hosted WordPress (WordPress) blog that isn’t up-to-date (version 2.8.4), are advised to upgrade immediately to the latest version of the software to avoid an ongoing attack. Users of WordPress.com hosted blogs are not affected. WordPress is one of the largest blogging engines with over 5,317,360 - and counting - downloads for their latest version, 2.8.

nasty attack is exploiting security holes in previous versions of the blogging software, creating a new “hidden” Administrator account and getting right down to the database level. These attacks are said to be “growing by the hour”.

There are two clues that your WordPress site has been attacked.

There are strange additions to the pretty permalinks, such as example.com/category/post-title/%&(%7B$%7Beval(base64_decode($_SERVER%5BHTTP_REFERER%5D))%7D%7D|.+)&%/. The keywords are “eval” and “base64_decode.”

The second clue is that a “back door” was created by a “hidden” Administrator. Check your site users for “Administrator (2)” or a name you do not recognize. You will probably be unable to access that account.

All WordPress users are advised to upgrade to the latest version of WP, while those already affected are in for a trying weekend: you’ll likely need to export your all your content with the built-in XML WordPress export, uninstall and reinstall WordPress and re-import the content. It’s a nasty attack that goes all the way into the database, so exporting the database will result in exporting the hacked code too.

Some experts also suggest that the "administrator" account to be renamed. Just Google "rename WordPress administrator account" for tips and guides.

If all failed, switch to Blogger or Blogspot.

SEO: WordPress exposed to security threats | WordPress hacked | WordPress bug | WordPress exploit

Related posts:
* WordPress vs Blogger BlogSpot - Who is the Best
* Different Between Blogger and WordPress
* WordPress And Blogger Voting Script

When God Said NO

God Said NO!! I hope that you can get the effects on your computers! The words are great, but the movements of the faces add a lot.

I asked God to take away my habit.

God said, No. It is not for me to take away, but for you to give it up.


I asked God to make my handicapped child whole.

God said, No. His spirit is whole, his body is only temporary.


I asked God to grant me patience.

God said, No. Patience is a byproduct of tribulations; it isn't granted, it is learned.


I asked God to give me happiness.

God said, No. I give you blessings; Happiness is up to you.


I asked God to spare me pain.

God said, No. Suffering draws you apart from worldly cares and brings you closer to me.


I asked God to make my spirit grow.

God said, No. You must grow on your own, but I will prune you to make you fruitful.


I asked God for all things that I might enjoy life.

God said, No. I will give you life, so that you may enjoy all things.


I asked God to help me LOVE others, as much as He loves me.

God said... Ahhhh, finally you have the idea.


If you love God, send this to ten people and back to the person that sent it.

THIS DAY IS YOURS DON'T THROW IT AWAY

asxm2unet.com hijacked to fake maybank2u.com.my

asxm2unet.com was hijacked intentionally or otherwise, to fake maybank2u.com.my login page. Most MayBank account holders would probably received a fake alert email regarding their account being blocked. And as usual, the fake email try to phish the user to click the link which will be redirected to asmx2unet.com. That is called web forgery. Please do not click any link in that email.

Below is the content of the fake email.

---------------------------------------------------------------
from Maybank Group setvers@review2ho.com
to
date Thu, Sep 3, 2009 at 6:11 AM
subject M2U Alert (Account Blocked)

Dear Valued Customer,

Our account security discovered a security problem in your account as several transactions were attempted by an Unknown User. For security reasons, we have deactivated and restricted access to your account. Please immediately activate your account below, as inactive accounts will be suspended till further notice.

www.maybank2u.com.my --> will redirect to http://www.asxm2unet.com/M2ULogin.htm when click on.

Thank you for using Maybank2u.com! We look forward to serve you better.

Maybank Group

---------------------------------------------------------------
The fake login page, shown below.



---------------------------------------------------------------

To report web forgery or suspected site phish, report the offending URL to http://www.google.com/safebrowsing/report_phish/

Let's see how long it takes for Google to bar the phish site. Logged: 07:40 local time.

WiTricity to provide wireless electricity technology

In less than a decade from now, the wireless electricity technology would be a common thing, if WiTricity has their way. WiTricity is in the midst of research and fine tuning their wireless electricity technology where electrical equipment no longer required physical cords.

Do away with electrical cords

With wireless electricity technology, power are supplied to the equipment via magnetic field though a particular frequency. That would save a lot on cabling material and labour as well as reducing the usage of copper ore for making the electrical cables.

Ideas of wireless electricity

Ideas about wireless electricity have been floating around the world of technology for more than a century. Nikola Tesla started toying with the ability to send electricity through the air in the 1890s. Since then, though, making wireless electricity technology safe and cheap enough to put on the market has been an arduous task for researchers.

Engineers have developed several ways to convert electricity into something that's safe to send through the air without a wire. Some of their technologies are available on commercial scales, but they have some limits.

How efficient is wireless power?

The energy consumption of battery chargers has two main contributors: charging efficiency and standby power consumption.

STANDBY POWER CONSUMPTION
Unfortunately, many people leave the chargers and cradles connected to mains power when the charger is not used. The standby power consumption (also called “no-load power consumption”) is significant.

CHARGING EFFICIENCY
The other contributor is charging efficiency. Our wireless chargers have the same ingredients as a wired charger (an AC-DC adaptor plus charging electronics) and one additional ingredient: the copper wire between adaptor and the mobile phone is replaced with a wireless link. That link is not efficient as a copper wire (what can beat a copper wire?), but careful design made it possible to achieve at least 70% transfer efficiency. And that percentage can go up a bit if a manufacturer is willing to spend more on high-quality components.


The Wireless Power Consortium
WIRELESS IS BEAUTIFUL

We love the freedom to stay and go wherever we like. Linked but not tied. Connected without wires.
CONNECTORS AND CABLES ARE UGLY

Let’s get rid of the last wire. Why do we still need to plug the power cable in our phones and headsets?
CONNECTORS AND CABLES ARE UNNECESSARY

Electric power can be transported without wires or connectors. Power transfer over short distances is surprisingly simple.
WIRELESS BATTERY CHARGING IS POPULAR

Short distance power transmission is used in many products. Toothbrushes, LED candles, remote controls, medical equipment and phones. It is reliable and convenient.
INCOMPATIBILITY IS BAD

We all love wireless products but hesitate to stuff our desks and homes with incompatible charging stations. We demand that our charging station will work with products from many companies, and will work with next year’s models as well.
INTEROPERABILITY IS GOOD

The Wireless Power Consortium sets the international standard for interoperable wireless charging. Interoperable products can be recognized by the logo “Qi”. Phones, cameras, remote controls, and all mobile electronics carrying the logo will work with all charging stations that carry the logo. Simple and obvious.


Related links:
* A cordless future for electricity?

H1N1 Guide For Parents

For parents with children, I am sure you are concerned about the H1N1 threat on your family and kids. And this post may help relief your worry. Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN Chief Medical Correspondent talks to Dr. Jim Fortenberry, pediatrician in chief at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta on answers about what a parent should do with a sick child. Below are some advices offered by Dr. Fortenberry.

Point 1. As things stand now, the vast majority of children who develop flu-like symptoms this fall will have a few miserable days, and nothing more. And those days are best spent at home -- not in the ER or a doctor's office.

Point 2. If you are worried, you should call your pediatrician's office first. Don't take your child in without calling. Two reasons: Your child may not have H1N1, but could become exposed by being around sick children. And, after several hours of waiting, you are still likely to be told the basics -- plenty of fluids, rest and dose-appropriate acetaminophen for a fever. After all, it is still the flu we are talking about.

Point 3. One doctor told me a way to think about things that was helpful. He said "remove the term H1N1 from the equation." If your child had regular flu, would you take him to the hospital? If the answer is no, then don't take him/her to the hospital now.

Point 4. Yes, hearing between 30,000 and 90,000 could die from H1N1 is scary, but keep in mind -- around 40,000 people die from the regular or seasonal flu every year. The numbers may not be that much different, yet there is not panic about the regular flu. As things look now, H1N1 is causing only mild to moderate illness, not the widespread deaths people are worried about.

Point 5. There are some children who should be seen by their doctor. Call your doctor if:

• A baby younger than 12 weeks has a fever greater than 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit

• A child, older than 12 weeks has a fever for three days

• A child's fever returns after a 12-24 hour time period

• A child is not passing urine or making tears for more than six hours

• A child does not smile or show interest in playing for several hours

Dial 911 if:

• A child cannot speak while trying to breathe

• Has a blue or dark purple color to the nail beds, lips or gums

• Is not responding to you because he is too tired or weak

One point that was reinforced over and over again by the pediatricians is the best place for a sick child is at home. And, with regard to school -- after 24 fever-free hours without the aid of medications, he or she can go back.

Related links:
* Dr. Gupta offers advice to parents on H1N1

Related posts:
* Prevent H1N1 With Fennel Seed Treatment
* Colombian leader infected with H1N1 virus

Google GMail Breakdown

Gmail the popular free e-mail service from the mighty Google, was inaccessible to many of its 36 million users Tuesday afternoon, causing widespread chatter on Twitter and other social networks. The breakdown period of Gmail lasted about an hour and 45 minutes. Although the e-mail service has been restored, Google is still investigating the root cause of this outage.

Gmail's problems were a top trending topic on Twitter, with users trading updates and posting links to blogs such as Mashable, which published a post called, "5 Things to Do While Gmail is Down." (No. 1: "Immediately flood Twitter with tweets alternately proclaiming "Gmail is down!" and inquiring "Is Gmail down?").

Gmail had almost 37 million users in June, according to ComScore, a company that measures Internet use. Gmail remains the third-most popular Web-based e-mail service, after Yahoo! Mail and Microsoft's Hotmail.

Related links:
* Gmail outage deprives millions of e-mail

Kidney Beans - Trading Live Organs For Cash

I almost titled this post as "Make Money From Live Organs". Anyway, you probably have heard of stories where people have their kidney removed without their permission or knowledge. Those organs forcibly removed from a living donor will circulates in the black market. Then there are cases whereby organs are removed from victims who died in a war conflict zones. And now there are reports that exposed the brisk business in trading live organs between willing buyers (recipients) and wiling sellers (donors). A willing donor donated a kidney and received cash compensation.

There could also be cases whereby organs were removed from dead soldiers or militants who died in fresh combat. Read Organ harvesting by Israeli soldiers

Back to the trading live organs for a quick cash. Basically, one can only trade his or her own spare organs to willing buyers if the organ and blood type are compatible with the new recipient. Most of these willing donors are of low income bracket and came from China, India, Pakistan, Phillipines and developing countries from Latin America. The idea was the people were calling out of despair, out of urgent need who needed a quick way to make money but give away their spare organs.

In the United States, trading live organs for cash violated a 1994 U.S. federal law that forbids the selling or purchase of live organs for cash.

A story of a donor who says he got thousands for his kidney

Nick Rosen says he got $20,000 to donate his kidney and lied to the hospital's transplant team. Rosen's story is one of several that have come to light in recent weeks as part of a worldwide CNN investigation into what appears to be a widespread black market in human organs currently under scrutiny by authorities in the United States and Israel. Nick Rosen not only got his money, but made an 11-minute documentary film he called "Kidney Beans" to show how easy it was to sell an organ. A portion of the documentary shows him lying on a bed, covered in cash he says he was paid.

Inside the transplant tourist trade


Line of despair: Donors in the slum of Baseco, the Philippines with scars from their operations. Read more at The desperate men of One Kidney Island

Dying days for Pakistan's kidney tourist trade


Desperate trade: Men show the scars from selling a kidney and the Aadil Hospital. Read more at Kidney trafficking in Pakistan

EBay selling its Skype stake for USD2.75 Billion

EBay is to unload big stake in Skype for for $2.75 billion to a group of private investors, including Netscape founder's new venture capital firm. And get this, the deal is not done through eBay bidding system. EBay announced a deal Tuesday to sell most of its Skype Internet phone unit to a group of investors for $2.75 billion.

The buyers include private equity firm Silver Lake Partners, venture capital firm Index Venture, venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board. Andreessen Horowitz is a new firm headed by Marc Andreessen, who co-founded Netscape.

The $2.75 billion will come in the form of $1.9 billion in cash, a $125 million bond and about a 35% equity investment in Skype. The deal works out to slightly less than the $3.1 billion the Internet retailer paid for Skype in 2005.

"This is a great deal, unlocking both immediate and long-term value for eBay and tremendous potential for Skype," said John Donahoe, eBay's chief executive, in a statement.

EBay had hoped to use Skype to facilitate communication between auction buyers and sellers, but that never quite happened. The company announced its plans to part ways with Skype in April through an initial public offering, but the company said it also considered bids that offered "an attractive valuation."

Donahoe said he has confidence that Skype will prosper as a standalone company and eBay wanted a deal in which it maintained a stake in the Internet phone business. "But it does not have synergies with our e-commerce and online payments business," Donahoe said.

EBay will focus on its core brands, including Internet payment service PayPal and the Web site's online auction house, according to Donahoe.

Despite eBay's struggles to mesh the unit's technology with its own, Skype has been a revenue driver and is growing. Skype had more than 480 million users by the end of the second quarter, and brought in $323 million so far this year. Last year, Skype revenues grew 44% from 2007, and EBay has estimated that the unit is on track to break $1 billion in revenue by 2011.

"We are extremely fortunate to have such a talented and seasoned group invest in our company," said Skype Chief Executive Josh Silverman. "This is a group of investors and industry veterans that have a strong track record of taking the technology companies they own to the next level. With their know-how helping to guide our vision, Skype is poised to enter the next phase of its growth and development."

Related posts:
* Skype roll out latest version
* Hello Google Voice, Goodbye Skype
* Starting Home Business With eBay