Friday, August 29, 2008

Best Buy ramping up its computer cleaning service.

Embolden by the growing demand of its consumer tech-support service through its Geek-Squad team and a gain in market share in the electronics retail field, Best Buy is pushing hard its computer cleaning service. The clean-up in question here is the one that consist of getting rid of all the non essentials pre installed softwares that come with a brand new PC and that can slow it down. Best Buy has been offering the service for some time, but now it has started to bring more publicity to it. To convince customers, it has started in some stores in California, to showcases how two same PCs, one with all the preloaded softwares and one without it, perform side by side.The service is available at most Best Buy stores for $30.
But like most of you already know, you can do that yourself by going to the Start tab, control panel, double click on the add or remove icon, scroll through the program you want to remove, highlight it by clicking on it and then hit remove.

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Experts warn Arctic Sea ice is melting faster.

With three weeks left in the Arctic Summer, experts at the National Snow and Ice Data Denter are afraid that this year could break the record for the lowest level of ice measured there in September for nearly thirty years.

For more, see AFP

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Free driving direction over the phone.

MapQuest and 1-800-FREE411 announced a free service last week that allow users to speak their current location and their destination and receive a text message with directions.

For more on this topic, see LBS-Zone.com

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Intuit launches Quicken Beam.

Intuit, the company best known for TurboTax and QuickBooks softwares, launched a new free service last week that lets cellphone users check the balance of all their financial accounts or receive alerts whenever a balance reaches a certain level. The service is in a public testing phase and the company is soliciting feedback from users who can download it at Intuitlabs.com.

For more, see Web Cpa.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Search ads getting hit by slow economy.

A recent survey by marketing firm Covario, showed that search ad marketing is not immune to the slow economy. The survey of 12 large tech companies found that last quarter, search ad spending rose by the smallest percentage since early 2007 when the survey was first started. The surprising news was that search ad spending with Yahoo by those 12 companies, was up while down with Google. Experts attribute the Yahoo uptick to its emerging year old Panama search ad service.

Friday, August 22, 2008

Obama to text his supporters first with running mate choice.

Senator Obama is planning to announce the name of his running mate on Saturday at a big rally in Chicago. But before that big public announcement, some of his supporters who signed on by giving their cell phone numbers, will receive the news first via text-message.

Chrysler to make some cars Wi-Fi hot spots.

Starting Monday, Chrysler is making Wi-Fi an option for some of its vehicles. A trunk mounted router produced by a small company called Autonet Mobile, will turn some models , into a travelling Wi-Fi hot spot. Multiple users would be able to surf the net at the same time and the hot spot will extend up to 100 feet away from the vehicle. At $499 plus a $29-a- month subscription, the system will not be cheap.

For more, see Wired.com

Bigfoot turned out to be Big Joke.

Tom Biscardi, a California man who makes a living running a Bigfoot Web site, paid big money to a pair of men for what they touted as the frozen carcass of Bigfoot. The discovery first made news about two weeks ago when the duo said that they have stumbled upon the carcass while hiking in Georgia. After the deal, the Bigfoot promoter held a news conference last Friday to announce the findings. But after the carcass was defrosted, it turned out to be nothing but a rubber suit covering a bunch of body parts from different animals. Now the promoter is threatening to press charge against the pair for what he calls a total scam.

For more , see PressBanner.com

Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Donald Trump to the rescue of Ed Mchon.

Ed McMahon ,the longtime sidekick to comedian Jonhnny Carson who for months now has been fighting to save his multi million dollar Beverly home from foreclosure, has a new ally in Donald Trump. The real-estate mogul is reportedly negotiating a deal that could result in Mr Trump buying the first-lien mortgage on the house.

For more see Dallas News

Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Joggers believed to live longer than non runners.

According to a study by Stanford University, running on a regular basis, can slow the aging process. The study found that elderly joggers were half as likely to die prematurely from cancer than non runners. The study discovered that running helped slow the rate of heart and artery-related deaths; it is also associated with fewer early deaths from neurological disease, infections and other causes.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Foreclosure Prevention workshop held at Gillette Stadium.

Last week, hundreds of homeowners lined up inside Gillette Stadium home of the New England Patriots to be part of a mass foreclosure prevention workshop co-sponsored by the Boston Federal Reserve bureau. The event was held as the number of foreclosures was still growing according to the Boston Federal Reserve.

Inmates serve as firefighters in California.

Facing record wildfires since late June, California fire officials have been enrolling inmates from the state's prisons to fight those fires. It is said to have 4000 of them, contributing three million hours and saving the state more than $80 million a year.

LA hospitals use homeless to defraud medicare.

Following a whistle blower, an investigation has revealed a scheme in which some LA area hospitals sent ambulances and vans onto the streets and load them with recruited homeless people, who would be brought to those facilities for bogus treatments or no treatments at all. They would then bill federal and state health insurance programs for their"services".

Fast Food are out in one LA neighborhood.

Blaming them for the current obesity wave, the Los Angeles City Council voted last month for a yearlong freeze of new fast food franchises opening in some of the City poorest neighborhoods. Another measure by the city, provides economic incentives to grocery stores and restaurants with more healthy menus, to open there.

Beijing Etiquette Book.

Worried about having the perfect Olympics possible, Chinese officials have printed and distributed an etiquette book to Beijing residents prior to the start of the Games. The book outlines what are good manners and the basics of some foreign customs and even some fashion pointers. Among the no-no's: wearing more than three colors shades in an outfit, white socks with black shoes, and pajamas and slippers in public.
In the obvious category, the book goes on to say :"When entering an elevator...let people walk out before entering; once inside, riders should place their hands on the the railings to avoid falling..."
In the silly category, the book warns riders of escalators to only look straight ahead and never stare at other passengers. It also warns residents of things not to ask foreigners, including their age, marital status, income or religious and political beliefs.

Friday, August 15, 2008

T-Mobile to be the first to offer Google's smartphone.

T-Mobile has been chosen to be the first carrier to offer a mobile phone powered by Google's Android software. The phone to be manufactured by HTC , one of the world largest makers of mobile phones, is expected to go on sale in the United States before Christmas, or as early as October.The high-end phone is said to match many of the capabilities of Apple's iphone and other smartphones that run software from Palm, Research in Motion , Microsoft and Nokia to access the Internet and perform computerlike functions.

For more see : Canada.com

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Signs that your senator is having an affair.

1. His answering machine prompts you to look under his desk if you want to reach an operator.
2. He signs all correspondences to his constituents with this question : Who's your Daddy?
3. He stopped having $400 hair cut and started going for $800 one.
4. In a speech on the Senate floor, he kept repeating the term "the two women", while he really means to say "the two Americas."
5. In an televised debate, he calls his opponent "sweetie."
6. He called the company that runs ezpass and ask them for advices on ezaffair.
7. He owns the entire DVD collection of the Maury Popo Show.
8. He likes multitasking so much that he does it in his sleep.
9. He stopped telling the mills factories story and instead started telling the story of how the chopsticks mark got on his shirt.
10. When at home alone, he could be seen through the windows, jumping on his couch.
11. He rather locks himself in a hotel bathroom than answer reporters' questions.
12. He looks too well put for a senator.

Yahoo to launch Fire Eagle today.

Fresh of its success in fending off Microsoft take-over bid , Yahoo is keeping the pace with new services launch. It is set to announce today's debut of its new location-sharing platform called Fire Eagle. This is a service that when they sign-in for it , web users can employ to update their physical location information and share that information with friends and followers through web based applications of their choosing. With location-sharing tool on the rise, Yahoo envisions Fire Eagle as the ultimate tool for location information for users who can decide which application can have acces to their location and the degrees of details.

For more see: CIO

Some upset eBay sellers are moving elsewhere.

Unhappy with changes made by eBay this past February to the fees it charges and the vendors rating system, some merchants who once used the online-auction site exclusively, are diversifying the services they use to list their inventories. Those are mainly niche sites like Wigix Silkfair, Etsy etc. They charge less, or nothing at all and offer more support, like tutorial videos.

Iranians tired of power cuts.

For most of this Summer, Iranians have faced daily power cuts lasting as long as two hours with temperature near 100 degrees.
The power shortages have affected everything with very long lines frequently seen outside gas stations and banks, while productivity has been down. The situation has most people in Iran wondering how is it possible that their country with the world second largest oil and gas reserves, can suffers such shortages?

Iraq insist on timeline for exit in new deal with U.S.

Iraq foreign minister reiterated the notion that any new security deal with the U.S. must contain a "very clear timeline " for the departure of U.S. troops.
Hoshyar Zebari said American and Iraqi were "very close" to reaching a long-term security agreement that will set the rules for the U.S. troops in Iraq after the U.N. mandate expires at the end of the year.

India wins first Olympic gold medal in nearly thirty years.

On Monday, India won an Olympic gold medal for the first time in nearly thirty years when one of its representatives came out on top of the 10-meter air rifle competition, beating competitors from China and Finland. The nation of more than one billion celebrated the win , led by its Prime Minister.

U.S. Women basketball try to be nice in blowout of China.

On Monday, the U.S. women's basketball team blew out China with a final score of 108-63 ;the score was already 61-27 at half time. But with such dominance, the U.S. team had a dilemma : How to manage the blowout and stay with the Olympic spirit? The team did it the best way it knew how by having two of its best players, Candace Parker and Sylvia Fowles come off the bench.

Monday, August 11, 2008

A former Edwards claims to be the baby's father.

With Edwards denials of him being the father of his ex lover's baby, a former aide of his campaign is claiming responsibility, even there is no father's name listed on the baby's birth certificate.

John Edwards offers to take a paternity test

After admitting he had an affair with a campaign aid, John Edwards was quick to point out that he was not the father of his ex lover's baby. To prove it , he said he was willing to take a paternity test. But Rielle Hunter, the woman at the center of the storm said through a spokesperson, that she will not allow that to happen.

Edwards admitts affair.

On Friday, former Senator and Democratic presidential nominee hopeful, admitted that the long running rumors of him having an affair with a former campaign aid, were true. In an statement aired on Nightline on ABC News Friday night, he said that had so vehemently denied the allegations because he could not face people who believed in him and tell them the true. According to him, "it is inadequate to say to the people who believe in me that I am sorry, as it is inadequate to say to the people who love me that I am sorry...If you want to beat me up, feel free .You cannot beat me up more than I have already beaten up myself."

NBC scramble to stop streaming of the Olympics.

NBC which has the exclusive rights to broadcast the Olympics in the United States, spent most of Friday playing cat and mouse game with foreign broadcasters websites who were streaming the Games opening ceremonies well in advance of NBC scheduled rebroadcast. NBC sent them frantic requests to restrict the streaming to their own countries; NBC also sent requests to U.S. sites like YouTube and others, to take down the forbiden videos.

Swimming politics.

An Iranian swimmer pulled out a race Saturday just minutes before it was to begin among reports that he did it in protest of the presence of an Israeli swimmer in the pool.
The Iranian officials denied the rumors saying he puled out because of illness. Regardless, the International Olympic Committee is investigating and threatening sanctions if the allegations are proven true.

Australia delegation critisized over choice of colors.

Critics have been swirling in Australia over the country Olympic delegation choice of blue and silver colors over its traditional green and gold. But the athletes said they loved it.

Disabilities groups calling for a boycott of 'Tropic Thunder."

A coalition of disabilities groups is calling for a boycott of DreamWorks upcoming movie, "Tropic Thunder" on the premise of what the groups call "the movie's open ridicule of the intellectually disabled."
Led by the chairman of the Special Olympics Timothy P. Shriver, the groups have planned to picket the premiere of the movie today in Los Angeles.

100,000 volunteers work at the Olympic Games.

About 100,000 volunteers all under 30, wearing blue "Beijing 2008" shirts are said to be working at the games. They staff the security stations, answer visitors questions in English, or just greet people with a smile.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

New efforts to curb phone books.

The Yellow Pages, a $17 billion a year industry has become a familiar targets of state legislatures with lawmakers trying to put some limits on the distribution of phone books. So far , seven different states or territories have tried and failed to pass a legislation giving people the choice to opt out of the phone books distribution lists. A current effort is being pushed by a Councilman in Albany New York who is looking to gather support for a law that would limit the distribution of phone books and require publishers to make it easier for people to request a stop to phone books delivery. If that bill pass, it would be the first one of its kind in the country.

Saturday, August 9, 2008

Heard at the interview for Ben Laden's new driver.

1. Don't expect a pay check on Friday; you will be rewarded with 85 virgins after death.
2. We do not have a 401 K plan; we have a AK 47 plan.
3. Can you goat sit when I am away?
4. Can you arrange for me to go on a hunting trip with Dick Cheney?
5. Can you get me Pamela Anderson cell phone number?
6. Can you make this year the one when I finally attend the White House Christmas party?
7. Can you find me a time share for my old cave ?
8. Can you convince Starbucks that my neighborhood is a good location for their millionth store?
9. Can you go through waterboarding without spilling a secret?
10.How well do you tolerate flatulence?
11. Can you book me on the Mokhtar Letterman Show?
12. What is the costs of living in hell?


Friday, August 8, 2008

Ben Laden's former driver is sentenced.

Salim Ahmed Hamdan, the former driver of Osama Bin Laden was sentenced on Thursday to a lighter five and a half years in prison by a military commission who rejected the prosecution request for a more severe one. The military judge who handed down the sentence already indicated that he plans to give the ex-driver, credit for at least the 61 months he has been held since being charged more than six years ago. Even if the light sentence would end in five months , Salim Hamdan fate after that, remains unknown since the Bush administration repeatedly said that it can hold detainees in Guantanamo until the end of the war on terror.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Military Court convicts Bin Laden ex-driver.

A panel of military officers convicted Osama Bin Laden' s former driver of material support to terrorism yesterday in a military commission operating in Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. He was acquited of a more serious charge of conspiracy to commit terrorism acts. A sentencing hearing which carries a life term, is set for today.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Signs that your Quaterback is too old.

1. He played his rookie year during the Eishenhover administration.
2. The site of your team new stadium, used to be his high school.
3. His helmet cannot fit because of his toupee.
4. He calls his offensive line by the name of his platoon during the Korean war.
5. When he get hit, he is more worried to find his earring-aid , than the next play.
6. Instead of replica jerseys , his most die hard fans wear his replica toupee.
7. He got a partial hip replacement during half time.
8. Before the start of each game , the referees borrow a quarter from him to toss .
9. John Madden starts to make sense to him.
10. He cannot make it to practice because he has to babysit the grand kids.
11.His bingo buddies provide the half time entertainment.
12.After a ballgame, his stats are not displayed by Sports Center: they are delivered by the Social Security Administration.

Brett Favre a no show at practice.

A huge crowd packed the stands to see the once retired, just unretired quarterback take the practice field , to be disappointed. Thirty minutes before practice, Favre left Lambeau Field followed by the Packers chief executive and the General Manager to meet at Favre nearby home.That meeting lasted for about an hour and was reportedly centred on discussions to trade the veteran quarterback to another team, possibly, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The latest developments echo the sentiments of Packers coach who said he thinks Favre felt he could no longer play for Green Bay after it was announced that he will have to compete for the starting job with incumbent Aaron Rodgers. To quote Coach Mike McCarthy , "Favre has a lot going in his head, he is in a tough spot."

Google is launching Insights for Search today.

Google is introducing a new free service today called Insights for Search. The service is like a more refined version of Google other search tracking tool, Google Trends which is two years old. The new service offer more details about what people are searching and can aggregate the results by cities, states, or nations. It is a great tool for marketers who can use it to study trends and develop or follow advertising campaigns, but it is available to anyone.

Comcast to buy Daily Candy.

Under its interactive media division , Comcast Corp has reached deal to buy Daily Candy , an email fashion and culture newsletter affluent urban women with a readership of 2.5 million.

Google launchs free music-search service in China.

Months of negotiations have paid off for Google who is launching a free music-search service in China. With the service, Internet users in China can search for songs by singer , album or title on Google's search page and follow that by downloading licensed music files for free. The service is said to be supported by advertising revenues.

American Idol top producer to leave.

Niegel Lythgoe who has been the top producer of the prime-time juggernaut "American Idol" on Fox, is leaving the show to focus on a new joint venture with Simon Fuller , the creator and acerbic tongued judge on the show. Beside the new joint-venture, he said he plans to devote more time to another Fox reality series in which he is a creator, an executive producer and a judge, "So You Think You Can Dance" . He said to having plans to promote local versions of that show in other countries.

In Mauritania, discountent officers depose president.

Following a gathering at the presidential palace, a group of army officers seized Mauritanian president Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdallahi in a bloodless coup early today and announced that he has been deposed. Prior to the coup, the president has just dismissed several army officers.

Monday, August 4, 2008

Bernie Mac hospitalized in critical condition.

Suffering a severe pneumonia, Actor Bernie Mac is hospitalized in serious condition in a Chicago Hospital. And earlier today, his family has to issue a statement denying rumors that the actor has died. His publicist also denied a report suggesting that the actor was suffering from a medical condition called sarcoidosis which affect ten of thousand of Americans each year. According to medical experts, it is an immune system disorder that can make it hard to breathe, inflame the lymph nodes in the neck and the chest and cause bumps and ulcers to break out on people's skin.

Morgan Freeman in serious condition after car accident.

Shortly before midnight last night, Oscar actor winner Morgan Freeman lost control of the 1997 Nissan Maxima he was driving , flipping over several times in a rural road near his home according to the Mississippi Highway Patrol.

Tropical Storm Edouard threatens the costs.

Residents along the Texas and Louisiana coasts are preparing for Tropical Storm Edouard which is predicted to pack winds near 45 miles per hour. In the meantime, Louisiana governor has already declared a statewide emergency while thousand of residents of low-lying communities are being asked to evacuate.

President Bush to leave today for Asian visit.

President Bush is to leave today for a visit to Asia with stops in South Korea, Thailand before taking part in the Olympic Games opening ceremonies in Beijing on Friday.

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