People pay tribute for four officers who were killed

LAKEWOOD, WA - NOVEMBER 30: People pay tribute at a shrine outside of Lakewood Police headquarters for four officers who were killed November 30, 2009 in Lakewood, Washington. Police officers Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold, Ronald Owens, and Greg Richards were killed allegedly by Maurice Clemmons the previous day in a coffee shop near Lakewood.




LAKEWOOD, WA - NOVEMBER 30: Tammy Gallier of Tacoma, Washington sobs for her firend, Ronald Owens, during a visit to a shrine outside of Lakewood Police headquarters for four officers November 30, 2009 near Lakewood, Washington. Officers Owens, Mark Renninger, Tina Griswold and Greg Richards were allegedly killed by Maurice Clemmons the previous day in a coffee shop near Lakewood.



A man prays after leaving flowers at a memorial for four slain police officers in front of the Lakewood Police Department in Lakewood, Washington November 30, 2009. Maurice Clemmons, a suspect in the killing of four Lakewood police officers, is still on the loose. Lakewood Officers Tina Griswold, 40, Gregory Richards, 42, Sgt. Mark Renninger, 39, and Ronald Owens, 37, were killed by a gunman in a coffee house a few miles from the police station on Sunday.


credit photo: Gettyimages

Hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009.

Yang Soo-hyuk, from South Korea (11) scores a goal against Germany during their match at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. South Korea won 5-2.






Yoon Sung-hoon from South Korea and Tobias Hawke from Germany collide during their match at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. South Korea won 5-2.



Nam Hyun-woo (13) from South Korea celebrates a goal against Germany during their game at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. South Korea won the game 5-2.



Philip White from Germany gets the ball away from South Korean players Yang Soo-kyuk and Kim Young-Jin during their match at the Champions Trophy field hockey tournament in Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Nov. 29, 2009. South Korea won the game 5-2.


credit photo: AP

Cute but stinky -- Durian Boy at World Expo 2010

Hyper cheery, super thorny and modeled after a stinky fruit -- but cute as a button nonetheless

Most Singapore mascots and campaign figurines tend to be on the cutesy, chubby side -- the most famous being 'Singa the Courtesy Lion' who's been kicking around for the past two-odd decades. We'd like to report something more edgy and in line with the "Urban Symphony" them, but alas, that's not too be. The Singapore Pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo 2010 will have a cutesy, smiley-faced mascot named Liu Lian Xiao Xing (榴莲小星), or "Durian Boy" to greet visitors.


Haibao, the mascot for the Shanghai World Expo 2010

According to the Singapore Tourism Board, was inspired by the Merlion and the durian fruit (which the Esplanade theaters resemble as well). The back story is that he's a "five-year-old Singaporean boy who travels around the world with his parents, who are well respected musicians, and is nuts about durians which are not readily available in some of the places they travel to." He wears red overalls emblazoned with a picture of the Merlion in homage to his favourite toy -- a Merlion beanie he cuddles to sleep every night -- and a durian-shaped cap.

In a strange, non-creepy way, he's quite adorable and fits in well with Haibao, the official mascot representing Shanghi World Expo 2010. What Liu Lian Xiao Xing represents in terms of the Singapore Pavilion's theme of "Urban Symphony" (get a preview of the Singapore Pavilion here) and the music box design is a bit tenuous though, except for a chirpily worded back story.

A virtual animated Liu Lian Xiao Xing will also greet visitors to the Singapore Pavilion website -- www.SingaporeAtWorldExpo.com -- and introduce fun facts about Singapore and the Singapore Pavilion. Liu Lian Xiao Xing desktop wallpapers are also available for download on the website


source: cnngo.com

Jet-powered Ford guns for 300 mph

By Keith Barry
Owner Joe Wilkins hopes to fire up this car on the Bonneville Salt Flats after he attaches a spoiler to the back

(Wired) -- Joe Wilkins knew there was only one way to give his supercharged, alcohol-injected Hemi-engined hot rod more power: Put a jet engine in the trunk.

"It started as a hobby and turned into a monster," said Joe Wilkins, the motor madman behind what might be the wildest 1939 Ford ever built. He's an inventor and defense department contractor, and the idea of goosing the Ford's ability to turn heads and shred tires came when he bought a used gas turbine engine.

"I got hooked on the simplicity and power that this thing produced, and I decided one day I want to put it in a car."

Luckily for us, he did. The Hemi Jet -- Wilkins has copyrighted the name -- fires up this weekend at the Houston AutoRama, and Wilkins plans to attempt a land speed record in the near future.

In the meantime, he's tooling around Navasota, Texas, in what he says is the ultimate sleeper when the jet engine's tucked away in the trunk.

Most people say "Nice car" and assume he's got the obligatory small-block Chevrolet engine under the hood. Little do they know.

"I can drive it up to the store and get a gallon of milk if I want to," he told Autopia.

The car is an amalgamation of the Big Three, with a Chrysler engine, Chevrolet drivetrain and Ford body. Wilkins says the jet engine was probably used as an APU and weighs 110 pounds.

He claims the car is street legal so long as the jet stays stowed. He fires it up from time to time to show off, and he plans to run it flat-out at the Bonneville Salt Flats.

"We want to be the fastest street legal car in the world," he said.

He's got some intense competition. The Bugatti Veyron tops out at 253 mph and the Shelby Supercars Ultimate Aero TT does 255. And then there's Red Vector One, that crazy Vauxhall that does zero to 60 in under a second. Record, schmecord -- we just want to see the video.

"I'm more than certain the car will go over 300," Wilkins said. "We've still got a ways to go [before Bonneville], but not a long way. We'll have to experiment in some wind tunnels and end up with a spoiler on the back to keep the front end on the ground."

Sadly, Wilkins won't be behind the wheel during the car's test run.

"I turned 61 last Sunday. I just don't think I'm going to be able to handle it [without] the reflexes I had 20 or 30 years ago," he said. "I know several people who would be more than interested."

So do we, and we even suggested Wilkins give the job to fellow jet-junkie Bob Maddox. After jumping from a plane with a pulse jet strapped to his chest, we suspect Maddox would welcome the opportunity to stay on the ground.


source: cnn.com

The Thanksgiving Day

NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Young girls wave while sitting and watching the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade travel through the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.




NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: The Buzz Lightyear balloon hovers in between Manhattan high rises during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Crowds gather to watch the Horton the Elephant balloon as it hovers between Manhattan high rises during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: A boy sits on his father's shoulders as he watches the SpongeBob SquarePants balloon hover over the crowd during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: Crowds gather to watch the Shrek balloon during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.




NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: , NY DAILY , NY Andrea bocelli and his Wife Veronica take part in the 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, 2009 in New York City.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: , NY DAILY , NY Andrea bocelli and his Wife Veronica take part in the 83rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on November 26, 2009 in New York City.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: The George Washington and Abraham Lincoln mascots lead the Statue of Liberty float during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.




NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: A woman waves from her apartment window above the crowd watching the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade travel through the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: The Sailor Mickey balloon hovers over the crowd during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: The foot of the Ronald McDonald balloon pokes out from in between buildings as it hovers above onlookers during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: People prepare the Energizer Bunny balloon during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.




NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: A young girl rides on one of the floats during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.



NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: The Shrek balloon hovers over onlookers during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest.




NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 26: A clown paints the faces of children in the crowd during the 83rd annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade on the Streets of Manhattan on November 26, 2009 in New York City. Thanksgiving Day is celebrated in Canada and the United States and traditionally it is a time to give thanks for the harvest


credit photo: Gettyimages

Michael Chang: No male tennis great for Asia, unless there's proper coaching

Michael Chang, onetime world No. 2, offers pointers on the lackluster tennis scene in Asia

"You can work really hard, but if you're not training in the right way you're not going to improve and get to the level that you want to," said Chang at a press conference in Hong Kong yesterday.

Asia won’t be getting its own male tennis great anytime soon, former world No. 2 Michael Chang said yesterday – not unless they find better coaches.

“Tennis is relatively new in the Asia Pacific region. It’s not that easy for some of these players in China to get the coaching that they need. Nearly all of these Chinese girls that have had success have had coaching from foreign coaches,” said Chang in a telephone interview.

That’s eight Asian women ranked among the world’s top 100, versus one man: Taiwan’s Lu Yen-hsun, at No. 96.

Li Na, the highest-ranking Asian woman in tennis at world no. 15In a game that conspicuously lacks male Asian faces, Chang blazed a trail that no other Asian player could match since.

Chang was the youngest-ever male Grand Slam winner by taking the French Open title in 1989 at just 17. He was the first Chinese player to win the French Open and the first American to win since 1955. To this day, Chang remains the 10th top earner in pro tennis.

The only one who came close was onetime world No.9, Thailand's Paradorn Srichaphan. But he dropped out due to wrist injury a few years ago.

Chang was speaking at a press conference for Hong Kong Tennis Classic, an exhibition tournament that mixes retired male players with active female pros and starts from January 6 next year. Apart from Michael Chang, stars that will volley at Victoria Park’s courts include the just-retired Marat Safin, tennis bombshell Maria Sharapova, and Danish wunderkind Caroline Wozniacki.


source: CNNGO.com

Jet-Propelled 'Fusion Man' to Attempt New Record-Breaking Flight

The pilot known as 'jetman' is confident he will make aviation history once again Wednesday.

Yves Rossy is hoping to become the first person to make an intercontinental flight with a jet pack by crossing the Straits of Gibraltar.

The Swiss airline pilot and aviation inventor told a news conference: "It's going to be historic" before adding "no one has ever done this before."

Rossy will launch his record attempt from the skies above Tangier in Morocco.

He will start by jumping out of a light airplane when it reaches a height 6,500 feet above the ground.

Once airborne he will unleash his wings and fire up his engines.

He hopes to land safely on a beach in southern Spain about 15 minutes later.

The wing itself — which was designed by Rossy — is made of carbon fiber.

With fuel it weighs around 132 pounds, and because of the dangers involved, he wears a flame retardant suit.

When flying, Rossy looks like a comic book hero with the contraption propelling him at a speed of more than 180 mph.

May 14, 2008: Yves Rossy, known as the 'Fusion Man,' flies with a jet-powered single wing over the Alps in Bex, Switzerland.

He will be followed throughout the attempt by a team of paramedics in a helicopter.

They are on hand should anything go wrong in the skies above the turbulent waters of the Atlantic Ocean.

Rossey has made a number of successful record-breaking attempts in the past.

Last year, he flew from Calais to Dover crossing the English Channel.


source: foxnews.com

How To: Throw A Thanksgiving Party - Man-Style

By Nate Steere
Lifestyle Correspondent

Thanksgiving: a time to reflect on the past year, be thankful for how good we have it and share a meal with people who mean the most to us.

Sadly, despite these worthy reasons to come together and celebrate, you’ll often find yourself unable to make it to a traditional thanksgiving dinner. Whether you can't afford to travel to be with those you care about or you’re forced to work on Thanksgiving day, you may find that a traditional Thanksgiving isn't possible this year. This doesn't, however, mean you can't take time to celebrate with those around you. If Grandma's turkey dinner isn't in the cards this year, you can host a nontraditional Thanksgiving at your place. It's easy. Read on as we run down who to invite, what to serve, how to set up your house, and activities to keep the party lively. In general, we're telling you how to throw a Thanksgiving party - man-style.

Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate community, and you can't very well do that alone. So remember the more, the merrier, and consider inviting the following folks.

who to invite
Family
You may not be able to do a sit-down family meal, but be sure to invite any family members who live nearby. Sure, it's not the same as everybody gathered around the big table, but that isn't always a bad thing; if only two or three members of your family come, the odds of holiday drama from warring factions are much lower. Besides, those straggling family members will likely enjoy your nontraditional approach to throwing a Thanksgiving party - man-style.

Friends
This one's a no-brainer: you're having a party, and you want your good friends to be there. Just remember to get the word out early so they don't make plans or worse, do Thanksgiving at home alone.

Colleagues and neighbors
This might not be as obvious as the others, but consider inviting coworkers, or the cool couple who live in the apartment above yours. If you work in an industry that requires you to work on Thanksgiving (or Friday), it's likely that some of your coworkers are in the same boat as you, and don't have plans to travel for the holiday. Your neighbors will always appreciate an invitation, even if they aren't able to attend. As you'll see, the event we're planning really isn't that much work, so invite those around you -- it sounds like a cliché, but the holiday is all about opening your home to others.

what to serve
This is meant to be a party, so keep things simple. Ask each person to bring something. For a bigger party, you can leave it at that, but for a smaller group you'll want to assign something specific to each person: one person brings football food, another brings some bottles of wine, and so on. As for you, volunteer to handle the main course. The best way to do this is to prepare a turkey and some mashed potatoes. The potatoes will take a little bit of work, but after you set up the bird and put it in the oven, you’ll have a few hours while it cooks to prepare everything else.

In terms of drinks, you're going to want beer and wine of course, but try mixing it up on the cocktails side. It's the holidays, and while it might be a bit early for eggnog, a hard cider or hot rum punch is always in good taste.

Prepping the house
You have two separate goals in getting your house ready for company; you want the house to look manly, and also to look (and stay) clean. Unless you and your girlfriend are living together, you're probably not going to go overboard on decorations. However, get a few holiday scented candles and maybe some fresh cut flowers for the center of the table. You'll have a lot of people in your space, so while you don't need to change everything around, you at least want to put your best foot forward.

Secondly, get everything cleaned up and ready for company. Make sure the guest bathroom has soap and towels, and make sure there's space in the fridge for all the incoming food. Alongside this, set it up so your house will stay clean and organized: if you have extra wastebaskets or trash cans, set them out in areas people are going to be so you don't spend the next two days picking up discarded cups and plates.

Finally, if you don't want your stuff to get screwed up, plan for that too. If you have a home theater system that has more than three remotes (good for you), get it set up and running so people don't change your settings while trying to find the game.

party ideas
While the focal point of the party is going to be pigging out on some tasty food, you should also have a general idea of some other activities for the day. After all, people who've stuffed themselves are going to want to sit and relax. So, any high-energy activities should definitely be pre-meal. Here are some ideas:

Watch (and play) football
Unless you don't enjoy football, Thanksgiving day football games are the perfect decompression activities. Your guests get to sit and digest all the good food, and you get a chance to show off your home theater setup. You can extend the football theme before the food is served by going out in the yard to toss the pigskin, or even get a game going -- if the girls join in you can switch to two-hand touch.

Gamble
Set up a little gambling for your guests, and you're sure to keep them occupied. Obviously the football games are a perfect chance for a friendly bet or two. You can even organize a game of squares to raise the stakes. Consider breaking out your poker chips and a deck of cards. A few rounds of Hold'em after dinner is just the thing to keep the evening moving along.

Have a cigar walk after dinner
A good walk after dinner can help your aching stomach begin the long road to recovery. So, pick up a few cigars and break them out after dinner for a quick stroll around the neighborhood. You and the guys can take in the view, and a quality cigar and quiet contemplation is a great way to spend a few minutes enjoying one anothers' company.

Organize a Black Friday raid
If lots of people you know are taking Friday off to roll into the weekend, why not organize a Black Friday raid? Despite the weakened economy, Black Friday is still going strong, and you can have some fun with trying to score some crazy deals. Create a battle plan -- divide your troops to attack two or more stores in the same area, come up with a list of targets based on what everybody has their eyes on buying, and have fun with getting everybody involved in how you're going to maximize your loot. Provide supplies for your soldiers: if you're waiting outside a store, or worse, camping out, bring provisions. You can turn this into a poor man's tailgate party; it's not like you won't have tons of leftover food after Thursday, so why not make some hot open-faced turkey sandwiches to bring along?

start a new tradition
Thanksgiving is (for most Americans) a four-day weekend involving football, Black Friday, family and friends in town, and killer food. Even though you can't always have the picture-perfect holiday, that doesn't mean you need to skip Thanksgiving all together. From a full-blown feast to an intimate gathering with a few good friends, Thanksgiving can be a chance to get together with the people we care about. So don't let the logistics hold you back. Formulate a plan for your gathering, whatever the size, and get ready to enjoy the best the holiday has to offer.


source: askmen.com

How To: Handle Losing Your Job

By Michael Hirsch
Lifestyle Correspondent

So you lost your job. Find us a man who hasn't lost a job in his life and we'll show you a man who works for the government. Luckily, you still have your health. Life could be worse.

Whether you were fired or laid off, your first reaction to losing your job will most likely be shock, followed by anger. You might be tempted to tell your boss where he can shove his briefcase -- but that's a bad idea. Keep your mouth shut and follow these seven steps to successfully handle losing your job.

1- Negotiate a severance package
"Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts."
-Winston Churchill

Many companies will give you at least two weeks' severance pay. Some will give you up to a year's pay, depending on whether you were fired or laid off. If possible, contact other employees who were previously let go and ask them how much they received when they left the company. This way you'll know what's fair and have a monetary value to shoot for.

Additionally, you are legally entitled to be paid for unused vacation time. If you think you're not getting a fair severance package, consult a labor attorney. You should be able to get a free consultation to find out whether or not you have a case.

2- Ask for references
"The measure of a man is the way he bears up under misfortune."
-Plutarch

Your direct boss and other company executives you worked with should be willing to provide you with a positive reference or recommendation. Unless, of course, you were caught in the copier room with the boss' girlfriend during the company Christmas party, or you stole from your company, in which case you probably deserved to lose your job.

It's in your former employer's best interest that you find another job, so you don't put a major dent in their unemployment insurance fund (and that's something that should help you handle losing your job). Once you're on the payroll at a new company, your previous company is off the hook for the payments.

Additionally, in our litigious society, everyone's afraid of being sued. So, your former employer will be reluctant to say or write anything negative about your work performance, unless you were actually charged with a crime. Make it easy on your boss, and volunteer to write a letter of recommendation yourself that he can review and sign.

3- Leave with class
"Nothing gives a person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances."
-Thomas Jefferson

You might feel like you were treated unfairly and did not deserve to be let go. But life isn't always fair, and neither are employers. So hold your head up high, and with a smile on your face thank your boss for the opportunity he gave you to work at his company. Then walk out the door, never to return, and don't look back.

Your employer will respect you for the way you've handled this difficult experience. And you'll leave him thinking about the great employee he lost. You never know when a new job opportunity with your boss might arrive at another company in the future.

4- Apply for unemployment benefits
"No great man ever complains of want of opportunity."
-Ralph Waldo Emerson

The next step to handle losing your job is to apply for unemployment benefits as soon as possible. This is no time for excessive pride and there's no shame in collecting unemployment. You might not realize that you're actually bilking your ex-employer, not the government. The company pays your benefits out of its unemployment insurance fund.

Whether you're getting severance pay or not, you're eligible for unemployment. Go to your local office of the State Department of Employment Security and apply for benefits, which are based on a percentage of your previous salary.

5- Have a little fun
"Empty pockets never held anyone back. Only empty heads and empty hearts can do that."
-Norman Vincent Peale

Before you start looking for a new job, take at least a week to relax and recharge your batteries. Commiserate with your buddies over a few drinks at your favorite bar. Take that vacation you never had time for before.

Use this free time to meet and date women, but don't tell the new girls you meet that you're unemployed. Put a positive spin on your current employment status. Depending on your career, tell the ladies you're "switching careers," an "independent contractor," a "consultant," or a "freelancer." You'll get further with them than you would by telling them you're currently jobless.

6- Hit the pavement for a new gig
"Consider the postage stamp: its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there."
-Josh Billings

Update your resume and go get a job. Aside from applying the traditional way by sending out resumes, post it on career sites like Monster.com and let employers come to you.

Once you start getting interviews, don't tell potential employers that you were fired. After all, you wouldn't tell a woman you just met that your last girlfriend dumped you. In the wake of the recent recession, potential employers are accustomed to seeing candidates who have been laid off. So, it's not the kiss of death.

Don't lie, but don't volunteer information to potential employers regarding why you left your previous job. If they ask, use one of the following phrases to explain:
"I was downsized in corporate restructuring" or "My department was shut down."
Keep in mind that your previous employer can only confirm the date when you were hired and when you left. By law, they cannot comment on whether you left or they let you go.

7- Use this time to improve yourself
"The successful warrior is the average man, with a laser-like focus."
-Bruce Lee

While you're looking for a new job, use your free time to improve yourself and improve your chances of finding a job. Avoid detrimental, time-wasting activities such as watching TV and drinking beer during the day. One of the key ways to handle losing your job is to stay focused without beating yourself up too hard.

Instead, do something productive. Learn a new language to help widen your job opportunities. Take a class on public speaking to improve your speech skills. Attend networking events in your chosen field, where you can meet people who know of job openings. Or, find an unpaid internship in a new career area you're interested in. It might lead to you being hired on in a paid position.

Volunteer at a charity to meet people, especially women. Write that novel you've always dreamed of. Focus on your health by working out and eating well.
handle losing your job like a man

Regular exercise will help you stave off depression, improve your mental clarity and enable you to focus on your job search. Upgrade your personal style and wardrobe to present a professional image for yourself. You'll feel better, look better and gain more confidence.

Now, get to work.



source: Askmen.com

Google OS: the end of the hard drive?

By Dylan F. Tweney
Computers that run on Google OS may boot up in only 7 seconds, like a TV.

(WIRED) -- Google today unveiled more details of Chrome OS, a lightweight, browser-based operating system for netbooks.

With a strong focus on speed, the Chrome OS promises nearly instant boot times of about 7 seconds for users to login to their computers.

"We want Google Chrome OS to be blazingly fast ... to boot up like a TV," said Sundar Pichai, vice president of product management for Google.

The first Chrome OS netbooks will be available in late 2010, Pichai said. It will not be available as a download to run and install. Instead, Chrome OS is only shipping on specific hardware from manufacturers Google has partnered with. That means if you want Chrome OS, you'll have to purchase a Chrome OS device.

Google is currently working with unnamed computer manufacturers to define specifications for these computers, which Pichai said will include larger netbook-style computers with full-size keyboards, large trackpads and large displays.

Chrome OS netbooks will not have traditional hard disk drives -- they will rely on non-volatile flash memory and Internet-based storage for saving all of your data.

All the applications will be web-based, meaning users won't have to install apps, manage updates or even backup their data. All data will be stored in the cloud, and users won't even have to bother with anti-virus software: Google claims it will monitor code to prevent malicious activity in Chrome OS web apps.

"Chrome OS is a totally rethought computer that will let you focus on the Internet, so you can stop worrying about your computer," according to a Google promotional video shown at the event, held at the Google campus in Mountain View, California.

As part of its announcement today, Pichai said that Google would be releasing all of the operating system's code and design documents to the public.

Introduced in July, Chrome OS is a Linux-based, open-source operating system centered on Google's Chrome browser. Applications will run exclusively inside the browser, Google said Thursday.

"As of today, the code will be fully open, which means Google developers will be working on the same tree as open developers," said Pichai.

The OS's focus on design is consistent with the company's stance that the future is in the web. In July, Vic Gundotra, Google's engineering vice president and developer evangelist, spoke on a panel about app stores, in which he said native apps (such as those available for the iPhone) would be obsolete in the future, and that the Web will "become the platform that matters."

"Every capability you want today, in the future it will be written as a web application," Pichai said Thursday.

Netbooks -- lightweight, low-powered sub-notebooks -- were the surprise hit of 2008 and 2009. However, with the growth of netbook sales slowing -- and the prices of some full-powered notebooks dropping below $400 -- the continued viability of the netbook sector is an open question.

Though netbook shipments are falling below manufacturers' expectations, the inexpensive, low-powered devices appear to still be selling well. Pichai cited research figures from ABI research indicating that 35 million netbooks shipped in 2009, more than twice the number sold in 2008.

Manufacturers have yet to announce pricing on netbooks shipping with Chrome OS, but Google expects the cost to be about the same as current netbooks. On average, netbooks cost between $300 and $500.

Videos demonstrating Chrome OS's user interface, security, fast boot and other features are below the jump.



source: CNN.com

Beckham pledges future to L.A. Galaxy

(CNN) -- David Beckham has pledged his future to the Los Angeles Galaxy and says that victory in Sunday's MLS Cup final against Real Salt Lake would rank alongside other career achievements such as winning the Champions League with Manchester United.

The English midfielder's future in the U.S. had appeared in doubt earlier in the season when his commitment was called into question following a loan spell with AC Milan during which he had indicated an apparent desire to continue playing in Italy.

In July Beckham had to be restrained by security guards during a match as he attempted to confront Galaxy fans who had been jeering him. But Beckham's fortunes have been turned around by the Galaxy's run through the playoffs to Sunday's championship match in Seattle.

The 34-year-old is due to return to Milan in January for another loan spell as he bids to secure a place in England's World Cup squad for next year's finals in South Africa. But he told CNN there was "no chance whatsoever" that he wouldn't return to Los Angeles.

"I am committed to the Galaxy for five years. I am committed to the MLS because I've said I want to be an ambassador and bring this game to a higher level. I have always honored whatever contract I've got," Beckham said.

"Once I've been in Milan and hopefully been part of the World Cup I'll be coming back to the MLS and to the Galaxy to start playing again."

Beckham said that playing in Sunday's final ranked alongside winning the Primera Liga title with Real Madrid in 2003 and a trophy-laden spell at Manchester United that included six English Premier League titles and the 1999 Champions League crown.

"Anytime you reach a certain part of the season, whether it's being in a cup final or winning leagues, it's always special," Beckham said. "Being involved in finals never gets old."


source: Cnn.com

Facebook acts on follower trade

Facebook has an estimated 250million users worldwide

Facebook has threatened legal action against a service that sells friends on the social networking site.

It said it would take the action against marketing firm USocial unless it stopped violating Facebook's rights.

It also wanted USocial to stop helping members break the site's terms and conditions, specifically letting people profit from their profile.

In response, USocial agreed to a change in its practices but would not shut down its service.

Facebook sent Cease and Desist letters to USocial claiming that the way the marketing firm operates violates its rights by sending spam, using web tools to harvest pages, getting login names and by accessing accounts that did not belong to the marketing firm.

Customers of USocial use it to boost follower and friend numbers on social network sites such as Facebook and Twitter.

On micro-blogging site Twitter, followers can be bought in blocks starting at £53 for 1,000. The biggest block USocial is selling is 100,000 people.

USocial defended itself against Facebook's claims, saying that it did not spam users or use web tools to gather information about profiles.

However, in response to the legal letters, USocial said it would delete the login information it had collected and broadly stop offering to sell Facebook friends. It also put a notice on its site saying it was not affiliated with Facebook.

However, it said, there was "possibility" that it would resell the service in the future. If it was to re-start the service it said it would let Facebook know beforehand.


source: news.bbc.co.uk

the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway in Homestead, Florida.

HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Ryan Newman, driver of the #33 Copart Chevrolet, drives during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2009 in Homestead, Florida.









HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Todd Bodine, driver of the #42 Smith Ironworks Dodge, pits during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2009 in Homestead, Florida.



HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, leads the field during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2009 in Homestead, Florida.



HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Kyle Busch drives the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2009 in Homestead, Florida.



HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Jeff Burton, driver of the #29 Holiday Inn Chevrolet, drives ahead of Matt Kenseth, driver of the #16 CitiFinancial Ford, during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2009 in Homestead, Florida.



HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: David Reutimann, driver of the #32 Dollar General Stores Toyota, drives ahead of a pack of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2009 in Homestead, Florida.



HOMESTEAD, FL - NOVEMBER 21: Kyle Busch, driver of the #18 Z-Line Designs Toyota, and Jason Keller, driver of the #27 USPS Ford, lead a pack of cars during the NASCAR Nationwide Series Ford 300 at Homestead-Miami Speedway on November 21, 2009 in Homestead, Florida.

credit photo: Gettyimages

Samsung Behold II Review: Let’s Never Speak Of This Again

By Peter Ha on November 20, 2009

Samsung’s mobile devices have come a long way in the last three years. I’ve lambasted them for much of that period over their chintzy resistive touch-screens, but recent handsets including the Behold II and Moment have been upgraded with vibrant AMOLED screens. The recent adoption of the Android OS on certain devices in the lineup strengthens Samsung’s position as major player in the US smartphone market. However, they made one glaring error with the Behold II and that was skinning the already potent Android OS with their proprietary TouchWiz interface rendering the whole user experience a big disappointment.

It’s hard to understand how any company- much less one of Samsung’s size – would allow such a horrendous product to actually come to market. The hardware isn’t half bad, but what they’ve done to the Android OS is appalling and downright offensive. A row of icons lines the bottom of the home screen with shortcuts that Samsung deem the most useful, which are more redundant than anything else. Why put a permanent shortcut to the phone dialer when there’s a hard button that activates the dialer? The whole thing is preposterous. One of the many beauties of Android is the fact that you can place any and all widgets/shortcuts on whichever home screen (there are 3) you desire.

With Samsung’s favorite shortcuts lining the bottom of the screen, you begin to wonder where the slide out menu has gone. It now resides on the left hand side of the screen, which only gets in the way when you, I don’t know, want to switch to another home screen.

Aside from the AMOLED screen, the only other positive for the Behold II is the camera. The interface and controls have been ripped right out from Samsung’s point-and-shoot cameras. They don’t seem to understand what works for them and what doesn’t. Had Samsung opted for an optical trackpad on the Behold II like the Moment, the hardware could have been decent. Another annoyance arises when trying to unlock the device. Every single Android device can be unlocked by tapping the menu button, but not so on the Behold II. A separate lock button is placed on the right rail next to the camera button. It sits flush with the rest of the device. It’s annoying. Enough said.

The list goes on and on and on. You don’t want to sit here and read it and I don’t feel like writing anymore. The Behold II is an absolute mess. Steer clear of this device on T-Mobile and opt for any one of the other Android-based devices.







source : Techland.com