Keepingitreal

Today's News Highlights 06.29.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
Kabul hotel attacked by suicide bombers
A squad of bombers and gunmen attacked a landmark hotel in the Afghan capital late Tuesday, exploding a vehicle at its gate and then entering the building.
(By Pamela Constable)

New IMF chief Lagarde faces immediate tests
Lagarde faces immediate tests in Greece, as well as a longer-range commitment to giving developing nations more power within the IMF.
(By Howard Schneider)

FBI looks at Arlington Cemetery procedures
A broad criminal inquiry also seeks evidence of possible contracting fraud and falsification of records, people familiar with the investigation said.
(By Jerry Markon and Christian Davenport)

Kerry, McCain share long friendship
Their personal bonds and foreign policy views have been shaped by war.
(By Paul Kane)

D.C. seeks foothold in online gambling
D.C. officials are scrambling to launch an online casino in the city, which is the first jurisdiction in the United States to sanction Internet gambling.
(By Michael Laris)

POLITICS
Latest scandals show South Korea still struggles to shed corrupt, collusive ways
SEOUL, South Korea — Allegations of multibillion dollar fraud at banks and revelations by South Korea’s top business conglomerate of shady dealings are forcing the country to grapple anew with a legacy of deep-seated corruption.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Republicans turn labor dispute with Boeing into political headache for Obama
WASHINGTON — The government’s labor dispute with Boeing Co. is turning into a political headache for President Barack Obama, giving his Republican rivals a fresh opening to bash the administration’s economic policies.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Obama, Biden to meet Senate Democratic leaders in debt discussions
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden plan to meet with Senate Democratic leaders Wednesday, the latest step in debt negotiations with Congress.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Matching Supreme Court justices
The Supreme Court term that ended Monday appeared to make clear that Bush and Obama got what they hoped for when they nominated the justices who will shape the court’s future.
( by Robert Barnes , The Washington Post)

DC readies nation's first government-run online poker operation, and stakes will be low
WASHINGTON — Residents of the nation’s capital could be able to play government-sponsored Texas Hold ‘Em poker and other online games on their laptops within three months even though such wagering is essentially banned in the rest of the country.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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STYLE
Ask Amy: Couple can’t agree to disagree about exes
My boyfriend and I are thinking about becoming engaged. He keeps in regular contact with his exes, and I think this is really weird.
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: Ketchup concern
In a Heloise flashback, a reader wonders: Should ketchup be refrigerated after it’s opened?
(, King)

Marriage or cohabitation?
After two years of dating he’s ready to move in with her. But after lots of divorces in his family he’s not ready for marriage.
(, The Washington Post)

Shylock’s the highlight in contrived ‘Merchant’
Mark Nelson is a superb Shylock in Shakespeare Theatre’s otherwise forcibly contrived handling of “The Merchant of Venice.”
( by Peter Marks , The Washington Post)



(, The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
General Electric extends global Olympic sponsorship through 2020 Summer Games
LAUSANNE, Switzerland — General Electric Co. extended its global Olympic sponsorship through 2020 on Wednesday in a four-games deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Tuesday's Sports In Brief
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court won’t revive baseball star Roger Clemens’ lawsuit against his former personal trainer for claiming he injected the pitcher with steroids and human growth hormones.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ndamukong Suh says he sees 'positive light' in talks to end the NFL lockout
WALLED LAKE, Mich. — Ndamukong Suh is spending his offseason traveling, working out, rehabbing his surgically repaired shoulder and spending time with family and friends.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

South Carolina repeats as national champion with 5-2 win, sweep of CWS finals over Florida
OMAHA, Neb. — Michael Roth pitched 7 2-3 innings on three days’ rest, and South Carolina won its second straight national championship with a 5-2 victory Tuesday night that completed a two-game sweep over Florida in the College World Series finals.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Interim financing deal will allow Dodgers to keep playing during bankrutpcy, but battle looms
WILMINGTON, Del. — Los Angeles Dodgers owner Frank McCourt may have won the first round in a bankruptcy court fight with Major League Baseball, however the two sides are gearing up for what could be a protracted battle for control of one of the most storied teams in baseball.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
AP IMPACT: FBI's hunt for al-Qaida's 'third man' merges identities of two different people
LONDON — The FBI’s most-wanted list features a dated black-and-white photograph for the man wanted in connection with the 1998 U.S. embassy bombings in Tanzania and Kenya. Saif al-Adel, reads the glaring red banner, alias Muhammad Ibrahim Makkawi.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

North Korea says it will retaliate militarily for South Korea army units' anti-Pyongyang signs
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea’s military vowed Wednesday to retaliate for anti-Pyongyang signs posted at front-line South Korean army units, as rare talks between the rivals on a stalled joint tourism project broke down.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Sizzle of fizzle? Britain faces mass strikes as unions try to increase the heat on government
LONDON — Thousands of British schools will close and travelers will face long lines at airport immigration this week when three quarters of a million workers go on strike — the first blast in what unions hope will be a summer of discontent against the cost-cutting government’s austerity plans.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Myanmar state media warn democracy leader Suu Kyi that planned tour could trigger riots
YANGON, Myanmar — Myanmar’s state media warned pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Wednesday that her plans to travel outside Yangon to meet supporters could trigger riots.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Embattled Sudan president visits chief diplomatic backer, China
BEIJING — Sudan’s embattled president conferred Wednesday with his chief diplomatic backer, China, reaching agreements on economic support just days before the southern part of his country becomes independent.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
D.C.'s biggest stories: Lunchline's Clinton Yates breaks them down (video)
Clinton Yates a news junkie and pop culture fanatic who scours The Washington Post and its partner sites every weekday to find the gems that you want to read but don't have time to search for.
(, vForum)

Ask Boswell
Sports Columnist Tom Boswell will take your questions about baseball, the Redskins, the Wizards and more.
(, vForum)

Opinion Focus with Eugene Robinson
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson discusses his recent columns and the latest news in a live Q&A.
(, vForum)

Don't make the economy worse: Opinion Focus with Eugene Robinson
Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson discusses his recent columns and the latest news in a live Q&A.
(, vForum)

Dana Milbank Live
Dana Milbank is recruiting cabin stewards, apologists and Tiffany's liaisons to help Newt Gringrich on his 2012 campaign.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Toyota to recall 82,200 vehicles in the US due to possible faulty computer boards
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall about 82,200 hybrid SUVs in the U.S. due to computer boards with possible faulty wiring.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

That Was Quick: Chrome Extension Adds Facebook, Twitter Sharing To Google+

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Good First Sign: I Have A Strong Desire To Keep Using Google+

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Kodak looks to vanquish Apple and RIM in patent forum, brightening its turnaround picture
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Innovation turned Eastman Kodak Co. into one of the world’s most recognizable brands. Imitation by its rivals might help keep the picture-taking pioneer from fading into history.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Square Closes That $100 Million Round, Mary Meeker Joins Board

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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BUSINESS
Toyota to recall 82,200 vehicles in the US due to possible faulty computer boards
TOKYO — Toyota Motor Corp. said Wednesday it will recall about 82,200 hybrid SUVs in the U.S. due to computer boards with possible faulty wiring.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

World stock markets rise on signs that Greece may adopt controversial austerity measures
BANGKOK — Hopes that Greece will enact an unpopular set of austerity measures to prevent the country from defaulting on its massive debts sent world stocks higher Wednesday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Greek austerity bill set to pass as all bar one Greek Socialist deputy appear in favor
ATHENS, Greece — Greek deputies are poised to back a deeply unpopular austerity bill Wednesday that is essential for the country to get crucial bailout funds and avoid a devastating default on its debts.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

That Was Quick: Chrome Extension Adds Facebook, Twitter Sharing To Google+

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

France to name new finance minister after Lagarde chosen to head IMF
PARIS — France is expected to name a new finance minister to replace Christine Lagarde, who is leaving to take up the top job at the International Monetary Fund next week.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Today's News Highlights 06.27.11

 TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
At Fort Campbell, mixed reviews for Afghan plan
Pfc. Rob Nunez, who spent eight months in Konar province near the Pakistani border, and some of his fellow soldiers have vastly different reactions to the plan.
(By Kevin Sieff)

Nancy Pelosi pursues her own ‘faith-based initiative’
House minority leader has her sights on winning back the speaker’s gavel for Democrats.
(By Karen Tumulty and Paul Kane)

Does GOP have a compromise on debt?
As President Obama prepares to meet with Senate leaders to try to restart talks over the debt, some Republicans see a potential path to compromise: Significant cuts in military spending.
(By Lori Montgomery and Paul Kane)

DNA links fugitive to professor’s slaying, FBI says
DNA evidence links a fugitive in Mexico to the killing of an American University professor, the FBI says.
(By Dan Morse)

A pair of veteran spies cross paths
Betty McIntosh and Doris Bohrer served in the OSS and CIA, but their remarkable friendship didn’t form until they moved to the same retirement community.
(By Ian Shapira)

POLITICS
President Barack Obama talks spending and debt limit with Senate leaders
WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama takes over negotiations on spending cuts and raising the government’s borrowing limit when he holds separate meetings Monday with Senate leaders.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Supreme Court to rule Monday on Arizona law giving extra cash to publicly funded candidates
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is expected to rule Monday on an Arizona campaign finance law that gives extra cash to publicly funded candidates who face privately funded rivals and independent groups.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

AP IMPACT: Once-rural populations skyrocket near some US nuclear plants, evacuations unlikely
BUCHANAN, N.Y. — As America’s nuclear power plants have aged, the once-rural areas around them have become far more crowded and much more difficult to evacuate. Yet government and industry have paid little heed, even as plants are running at higher power and posing more danger in the event of an accident, an Associated Press investigation has found.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Supreme Court to rule Monday on California ban on sale, rental of violent video games to kids
WASHINGTON — Is it unconstitutional to ban the sale or rental of ultraviolent video games to children?
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Supreme Court to rule Monday on Arizona law giving extra cash to publicly funded candidates
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is expected to rule Monday on an Arizona campaign finance law that gives extra cash to publicly funded candidates who face privately funded rivals and independent groups.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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STYLE
Recession-wary performers turn Las Vegas Strip into parade of cartoon, movie characters
LAS VEGAS — The Las Vegas Strip is teeming with Spidermen, Elmos and Elvis Presleys of all waistlines.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ask Amy: Husband ’fesses up to old affairs; wife is torn
Her husband confessed to indulging in two affairs years ago. She went to counseling with him and was told by the counselor to “get over it.” A) She’s not ready to and B) What kind of therapist is that?
(, Tribune Media Service)

Hints From Heloise: A unique wedding gift
Why not donate food left over from a wedding reception to a homeless shelter?
(, King)

Can sisters’ estrangement be avoided?
My religious-convert sister told my gay sister that she, her husband and children will not ever meet our gay sister’s 1-year-old twins.
(, The Washington Post)

Documentary presents case against tort reform
Susan Saladoff’s compellingly persuasive, no-nonsense documentary, “Hot Coffee,” explores the effects of the American war on “frivolous lawsuits.”
( by Hank Stuever , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Sunday's Sports In Brief
LEON, Mexico — Two-time heart transplant recipient Erik Compton won the Mexico Open for his first Nationwide Tour title, closing with a 7-under 65 on Sunday for a two-stroke victory over Richard H. Lee.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Former Tar Heels star Jessica Breland recives Honda Inspiration Award at dinner
NEW YORK — Jessica Breland is always happy to share her story of overcoming Hodgkin’s lymphoma with the hope it can be helpful to someone else.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

PGA Tour: Travelers win is Jacobson’s first title
CROMWELL, Conn. — Fredrik Jacobson closed out his first PGA Tour title on Sunday, shooting a 4-under 66 in the Travelers Championship for a one-stroke victory over John Rollins and Ryan Moore.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Knee, hamstring injuries had Mitts fearing World Cup 'jinx' but she's with US in Germany
DRESDEN, Germany — When Heather Mitts felt that familiar pain in her hamstring during training last month, it was almost too much for the U.S. defender.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Tseng runs away with LPGA Championship
Top-ranked Yani Tseng wins the LPGA Championship by 10 strokes and, at 22, become the youngest player to win four LPGA Tour majors.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Malaysia says women must hold 30 percent of top corporate posts by 2016 for gender equality
KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia — Malaysia’s government says women must hold 30 percent of top corporate posts by 2016 in a move toward gender equality in the boardroom.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Syrian opposition to meet in Damascus for first time since start of uprising
BEIRUT — Some 200 critics of President Bashar Assad’s regime are gathering in the Syrian capital for the first time since the start of the three-month uprising against his family’s rule.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

China says arrival of Sudanese president in Beijing for talks has been delayed
BEIJING — A planned visit by Sudan’s president to China, which was criticized by rights groups because he is wanted on international war crimes charges, was delayed Monday, though officials gave no reason.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao to strike trade deals worth $1.6 billion in UK talks
LONDON — Britain says the U.K. and China are sealing trade deals worth 1 billion pounds (US$1.6 billion) at a summit between national leaders.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Palestinians fan out across globe to seek support for recognition at UN
RAMALLAH, West Bank — Palestinian delegations will make the rounds of nearly a dozen countries to try to drum up more support for their bid to have the United Nations recognize a Palestinian state, senior officials said Monday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
The Mil Life: Keeping spouses' careers, education off the chopping block
Military wives discuss keeping a career and educational goals through deployments.
(, vForum)

The Web Hostess: Online manners, memes and must-see video
A weekly chat about the best ways to kill time online. Our Web Hostess, Monica Hesse, sifts the Internet so you don't have to, searching for meaning, manners and the next great meme.
(, vForum)

Real Wheels Live
Live online discussion with Real Wheels columnist Warren Brown about car-buying and the auto industry.
(, vForum)

Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes!
(, vForum)

Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes!
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
The Celebrity Moment

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Startups Don’t Die, They Commit Suicide

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Fanvibe Signs A Letter Of Intent To Be Acquired By beRecruited

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

RunKeeper Adds New Integration To Its Health Graph In Hopes Of Building ‘The Facebook Of Fitness’

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

World stock markets mixed on fears that Europe's debt crisis is about to get worse
BANGKOK — World markets were mixed Monday as Greece’s parliament began debating harsh new austerity measures that must pass for the country get its next batch of emergency financial aid.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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BUSINESS
Greek deputies to begin debate on crucial austerity plans before votes
ATHENS, Greece — Greek lawmakers begin debating new austerity plans Monday that must pass this week if the debt-ridden country is to receive the critical next installment of loans from its international bailout plan and avoid default.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

The Celebrity Moment

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Saab says $18.4 million car order from China could pay staff's wages
STOCKHOLM — Troubled car maker Saab Automobile AB has received a €13 million ($18.4 million) car order from a Chinese company that could help pay salaries to its employees, its owner Swedish Automobile AB said Monday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Akzo Nobel, world's biggest paintmaker, warns 'adverse factors' will hurt Q2 earnings
AMSTERDAM — Akzo Nobel NV, the world’s largest maker of paint, warned Monday that second-quarter earnings will be hurt by commodity price rises, weak business in some regions and maintenance delays at some plants.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Oil falls to near $90 a barrel in Asia as US dollar gains amid Greek debt crisis
SINGAPORE — Oil prices fell to near $90 a barrel Monday in Asia as a stronger U.S. dollar made crude more expensive for investors with other currencies.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Morning News 05.27.11

TODAY'S HIGHLIGHTS
CIA to search bin Laden compound
The arrangement would allow the CIA for the first time to enter a complex that it had previously scrutinized only from a distance.
(By Greg Miller and Karen DeYoung)

Serbia arrests Ratko Mladic on war crimes charges
Ratko Mladic, the former Bosnian Serb general charged with orchestrating the largest mass killing of civilians in Europe since World War II, was arrested Thursday in Serbia, ending a nearly 16-year manhunt.
(By Colum Lynch)

Chinese Communist Party focuses on its history
A new official history of the Chinese Communist Party ventures into treacherous territory from a tumultuous past.
(By Andrew Higgins)

Online letters claim innocence in Md. slaying
An interest in yoga brought a businessman-poet and AU professor together. Now he’s accused in her death. In online letters, the man — believed to be in Mexico — says he’s not guilty.
(By Dan Morse)

Mitt Romney launching campaign on June 2
Former Massachusetts governor Mitt Romney will formally announce his presidential campaign next Thursday, June 2, in New Hampshire.
(By Chris Cillizza and Rachel Weiner)

POLITICS
Obama signs Patriot Act extension; will continue anti-terror surveillance powers
WASHINGTON — Congress on Thursday passed a four-year extension of post-Sept. 11 powers to search records and conduct roving wiretaps in pursuit of terrorists. Votes taken in rapid succession in the Senate and House came after lawmakers rejected attempts to temper the law enforcement powers to ensure that individual liberties are not abused.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Congress passes four-year extension of roving wiretaps, other government anti-terrorism powers
WASHINGTON — Congress passes four-year extension of roving wiretaps, other government anti-terrorism powers
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Congress approves extension of Patriot Act provisions
Racing against the clock, Congress passed an extension to key provisions of the USA Patriot Act that allow investigators to keep using aggressive surveillance tactics.
( by Paul Kane and Felicia Sonmez , The Washington Post)

Gingrich casts self as ‘comeback kid’
The roughly 600 people who came to see Newt Gingrich during his two-day campaign swing through New Hampshire were largely uninterested in his purchases at Tiffany & Co.
( by Nia-Malika Henderson and Dan Eggen , The Washington Post)

Romney to announce presidential bid next Thursday in New Hampshire
WASHINGTON — Mitt Romney said Thursday he planned to formally join the GOP race for president during an appearance next week in New Hampshire, a state that is central to his White House strategy.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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STYLE
29 million tune into ‘Idol’ finale
About 29 million people watched Fox’s “American Idol” finale Wednesday, when Scotty McCreery was crowned the winner.
(, The Washington Post)

Spaceport America taking shape, officials renew commitment to commercial space industry
SPACEPORT AMERICA, N.M. — The wind is still whistling through the massive unfinished steel hangar doors at Spaceport America. The exterior is waiting to be clad with custom metal panels, and the hangar floor, where a pair of sleek spacecraft will one day sit, is still dirt.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Wildwoods are top NJ beaches again; Cape May County takes 5 of top 10 spots
WILDWOOD, N.J. — Need more proof that New Jerseyans hate having to pay for beach badges?
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

New Mexico's Gila Cliff Dwellings and campgrounds reopening for holiday weekend
SILVER CITY, N.M. — The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and the Gila National Forest campgrounds are reopening for the Memorial Day weekend.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Paul and the Other Paul
The most memorable moment of Paul Simon’s concert comes with the star attraction happily observing.
( by David Malitz , The Washington Post)

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SPORTS
Tillman’s tactics help Terps
The Final Four-bound Maryland men’s lacrosse team has responded to first-year Coach John Tillman’s team-building techniques.
( by Christian Swezey , The Washington Post)

Luke Donald opens with 64, leads Lee Westwood by 8 shots in battle for No. 1 at Wentworth
VIRGINIA WATER, England — Luke Donald shot a 7-under 64 on Thursday to take the lead in the suspended first round of the BMW PGA Championship, leaving him eight stroke ahead of No. 1 Lee Westwood in their battle for the top spot in the world ranking.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Pay to play? Hunter-Reay's deal to drive No. 41 for Foyt shows role sponsors play in IndyCar
INDIANAPOLIS — Ryan Hunter-Reay and Marco Andretti watched the number of Indianapolis 500 qualifying spots dwindle in the final minutes of Bump Day last weekend, and the Andretti Autosport teammates knew one of them could end up knocking the other out of the race.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

AL Capsules
DETROIT — Jacoby Ellsbury hit a three-run homer in a five-run second inning, and the hot-hitting Boston Red Sox went on to rout the Detroit Tigers 14-1 in an eight-inning, rain-shortened game Thursday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Danica has been Indy's saving grace, but time for the open-wheelers to stand on their own
INDIANAPOLIS — Danica Patrick was holding court at the Brickyard and, as always, no one had more reporters crowded around them.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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WORLD
Rights group says extrajudicial killings by Venezuela's police officers escalating
CARACAS, Venezuela — Unjustified killings by police officers are escalating and occurring across Venezuela, a human rights group charged Thursday.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Libya calls for cease-fire
Prime minister’s offer stops short of saying all military personnel would be returned to barracks
( by Michael Birnbaum , The Washington Post)

British government puts Apache helicopters at NATO's disposal
LONDON — The British government has given clearance for the use of its attack helicopters in Libya, putting the final decision on deployment in NATO’s hands.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Scientists claim they've found farthest-ever explosion more than 13 billion light years away
LONDON — A group of researchers claim they’ve found the most distant explosion ever detected, a pulse of high energy radiation sent by a disintegrating star near the very edge of the observable universe.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Under intense international pressure, Libyan premier says he's ready to talk with rebels
TRIPOLI, Libya — Libya’s government pushed a cease-fire proposal Thursday and said for the first time it was prepared to speak with its rebel adversaries, signaling that months of fighting and NATO bombardment may be closer to forcing some concessions.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

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LIVE DISCUSSIONS
Goodbye Oprah, hello Scotty, and congrats Hines Ward: Lisa de Moraes' TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes will be chatting about Oprah Winfrey's final three episodes of her popular TV show.
(, vForum)

Sports talk with David Sheinin
Usually Tracee Hamilton goes weekly with her chat about sports, life and everything else. This week David Sheinin will be subbing in for her.
(, vForum)

Campus Overload Live with Jenna Johnson
Jenna Johnson answers your questions about college life, on and off campus.
(, vForum)

Lisa de Moraes on the TV Column
Post TV columnist Lisa de Moraes is back and ready to chat about all the drama, comedy and heartbreak of the world of television -- both onscreen and behind-the-scenes!
(, vForum)

Carolyn Hax Live: Advice columnist tackles your problems (Friday, June 3)
Advice Columnist Carolyn Hax takes your questions and comments about the strange train we call life.
(, vForum)

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TECHNOLOGY
Facebook hires 2 former Bush aides as lobbyists, stepping up efforts to friend Washington
NEW YORK — Facebook said Thursday that it hired two aides of former President George W. Bush as lobbyists. The world’s largest online social network is stepping up efforts to friend Washington as it grows.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

EcoMotors Chief Don Runkle: “Electric Vehicles Are Not Zero Emissions”

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Facebook hires 2 former Bush aides as lobbyists, stepping up efforts to friend Washington
NEW YORK — Facebook is hiring two aides of former President George W. Bush as lobbyists. The world’s largest online social network is stepping up efforts to friend Washington as it grows.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Gmail’s ‘People Widget’ Takes On Rapportive, No Browser Plugin Required

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

Now You Can See Twitter The Way I See Twitter

( by TechCrunch.com , TechCrunch.com)

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EDITORIAL
Ed Schultz suspended from MSNBC after calling Laura Ingraham a ‘right wing slut’
MSNBC suspended host Ed Schultz after he called rival pundit Laura Ingraham “a right-wing slut” during a radio broadcast Tuesday.
(, The Washington Post)

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BUSINESS
8 manufacturers recall pool, in-ground spa drain covers due to incorrect ratings
WASHINGTON — Eight manufacturers have voluntarily recalled about one million pool and in-ground spa drain covers because of incorrect water flow ratings.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Supreme Court upholds Ariz. law punishing employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court has sustained Arizona’s law that penalizes businesses for hiring workers who are in the United States illegally, rejecting arguments that states have no role in immigration matters.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Competing plans on job growth
President Obama and Congressional Republicans unveil competing plans to reduce the cost of doing business for U.S. companies.
( by Zachary A. Goldfarb , The Washington Post)

War-weary lawmakers send Obama a message by narrowly rejecting accelerated Afghan withdrawal
WASHINGTON — War-weary Republicans and Democrats on Thursday sent the strongest message yet to President Barack Obama to end the war in Afghanistan as the commander in chief decides how many U.S. troops to withdraw this summer.
( Associated Press Associated Press , AP)

Ex-Nasdaq exec pleads guilty to fraud
Former executive traded on confidential information about companies listed on the Nasdaq, reaping more than $755,000 from 2006 to 2009.
( by David S. Hilzenrath , The Washington Post)

Morning News 05.09.11

Why Won't Pakistan Let the US Talk to Bin Laden's Wives? ' Mistrust and tensions grow as Pakistan refuses access to the captured Bin Laden family. ' READ FULL STORY

Apple Tops List of World's Most Valuable Brands iPad maker ends Google's four-year reign atop rankings. READ FULL STORY

Cairo's Sectarian Clashes Turn Deadly ' Violent disputes between Christians and Muslims leave at least 10 dead and nearly 200 wounded. ' READ FULL STORY

AT&T to Buy T-Mobile USA for $39 Billion

AT&T announced on Sunday that it had agreed to buy T-Mobile USA from Deutsche Telekom for $39 billion — a deal that would create the largest cellular carrier in the country.

The merger — one of the largest since the onset of the financial crisis — would combine the second and fourth largest cellular carriers in the nation, bringing together AT&T’s 95.5 million wireless subscribers with T-Mobile’s 33.7 million customers.

The transaction, which requires approval from regulators, is expected to be heavily scrutinized in Washington. The deal would leave only three major cellular carriers in the nation: AT&T, Verizon and a much smaller Sprint, which may now be forced to find a merger partner.

Already, some critics say the deal could result in higher prices for consumers. T-Mobile had offered some of the lowest rates in the country. While AT&T is expected to honor current T-Mobile contracts, it is likely that once those expire, T-Mobile customers may have to pay AT&T’s higher rates.

Still, according to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, cellular subscription costs fell 50 percent between 1999 and 2009, a period in which the industry has consolidated.

“Don’t believe the hype,” said S. Derek Turner, research director of Free Press Research, a Washington think tank. “There is nothing about having less competition that will benefit wireless consumers. And if regulators approve this deal, they will further cement duopoly control over the wireless market by AT&T and Verizon.”

From the companies perspective, a deal is a big cost saver. The combined company is expected save more than $40 billion – roughly the price of the deal – over the next three years by shuttering retail outlets in areas where they overlap, reducing the need to build new cellular sites as well as eliminating overlapping back office, technical and call center staff.

Marketing costs, too, could drop. Cellular carriers have been one of the biggest advertising spenders in the nation.

Of course, it all depends on whether the deal gets the O.K. from regulators. Deutsche Telecom was so worried that the deal will not be approved that it pushed AT&T to pay a big breakup fee as a form of insurance, according to people involved in the deal. AT&T agreed to pay Deutsche Telecom a massive $3 billion breakup fee, as well as offer the company spectrum if the deal is blocked by regulators.

In hopes of winning over lawmakers, AT&T has agreed to deploy its fourth generation wireless broadband coverage to 95 percent of the country, including rural and small communities.

The Justice Department is expected to weigh in on the deal, examining the combined company’s share on a market-by-market basis. In some cities, T-Mobile is not among the four largest players, potentially helping AT&T’s case for approval. For example, in Miami, San Francisco and Detroit, Metro PCS has more customers than T-Mobile.

In an interview, AT&T’s chairman and chief executive, Randall Stephenson, said he expects the industry “will continue to be a fiercely competitive market” pointing out that “prices continue to move down.” He also said that in many markets, “on the local level you have a choice of five or more providers. When you get to the facts this a deal that gets approved.”

Under the terms of the deal, AT&T will pay $25 billion in cash and the rest in stock. Deutsche Telekom will in turn gain an 8 percent stake in AT&T and a seat on the telecom giant’s board.

AT&T’s bid will finally solve the problem facing T-Mobile USA, the smallest of the country’s four major cellphone service providers. Both companies operate on the same wireless standard, GSM. Through the deal, T-Mobile will finally gain a path for the next generation of cellphone data, known as 4G, by using AT&T’s forthcoming LTE standard.

Deutsche Telekom had been considering its options for T-Mobile for over a year. It had considered an initial public offering for the company, but shelved it. More recently, it had held talks about selling the unit to Sprint.

The talks with AT&T– which started in earnest back in December of 2010 — heated up in recent weeks amid renewed speculation about a Sprint-T-Mobile tie-up, according to people involved in the talks.

To keep the deal from leaking, the AT&T team had devised a complicated list of code names, known as “Project Auto” to throw people off the scent. AT&T was called “Tesla”; Deutsche Telecom was “Daimler” and T-Mobile was “Mercury.” When asked why T-Mobile was named after “Mercury” – not exactly known as for high-performance vehicles – Mr. Stephenson of AT&T chuckled: “We needed an ‘M.’ Nothing more.”

An army of investment bankers, which are expected to make hundreds of millions of dollars worked on the deal. AT&T was advised by Greenhill & Company, JPMorgan Chase and Evercore Partners, as well as the law firms Sullivan & Cromwell, Arnold & Porter, and Crowell & Moring. Deutsche Telekom was advised mainly by Morgan Stanley. Deutsche Bank and Credit Suisse also acted as financial advisors for Deutsche Telekom. It, too, has hired a bevy of lawyers: Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz, Cleary Gottlieb and Wiley Rein to handle regulatory issues in Washington. SOURCE

Morning News 01.18.2011

1. Tunisia Forms New Government
   But is it enough of a change to satisfy protestors?
   Read original story in BBC | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

2. Giffords Gives Husband a Neck Rub
   She may still be in the ICU, but Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is showing signs of a swift recovery.
   Read original story in The Los Angeles Times | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

3. Obama Targets "Excessive" Regulation
   The president took to the pages of the businessman's bible, the Wall Street Journal, to roll out his effort to cut away regulations that "stifle job creation."
   Read original story in The Wall Street Journal | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

4. Steve Jobs Taking Medical Leave
   Apple's leader sent an e-mail to employees Monday saying he will remain as the company's CEO and continue to be involved in major strategic decisions. Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook will be running the daily operations.
   Read original story in | Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

5. Goldman Scraps Facebook Offer in U.S.
   The investment bank's exclusive share offer went bust after a media frenzy threatened to put Goldman in violation of U.S. law.
   Read original story in The Guardian | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

6. Palin Defends "Blood Libel" Remark
   She also admitted her infamous map's "surveyor symbols" were really crosshairs.
   Read original story in Politico | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

7. Starbucks Introduces New Drink Size: The "Trenta"
   Fans of the coffee chain's nonsensical drink size names can now order a 31-oz "Trenta" iced coffee.
   Read original story in The National Post | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

8. Americans' Views on Guns Unchanged After Arizona
   For America's gun control debate, it's plus ca change...
   Read original story in CNN | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

9. Study: Undergrads Learn Nothing for First Two Years
   Professors just want to research. Students just want to party. The result is an education fail for U.S. universities.
   Read original story in USA Today | Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011

10. Loughner Trial Will Probably Take Place in California
    It seems almost certain that the alleged gunman who killed six people and wounded 13 others, including Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, will be tried somewhere other than Arizona. Doctors upgrade Giffords' medical condition.
    Read original story in | Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

11. The Meanest Golden Globes?
    The Social Network and Glee were the big winners of the night but all anyone can talk about is host Ricky Gervais and whether he went too far in his jokes aimed at the stars and the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
    Read original story in | Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

12. First Challenge for RNC Leader: Tea Party
    Reince Priebus will have to figure out how to best strike a balance between the conservative activists and the party.
    Read original story in | Monday, Jan. 17, 2011

Transformation of e-mail is under way

Since the dawn of the Internet age, basic e-mail has remained the online world's version of comfort food - familiar and unchanging.

But the rapid rise of other forms of electronic communication are transforming e-mail from a stand-alone application into one that incorporates mobile text, chat, instant messaging, Facebook, Twitter and online document sharing.

One measure of that transformation is Facebook's move last month to roll out a "modern messaging system" built atop the company's wildly popular social-networking platform. Analysts say that may prove to be a major catalyst for that evolution, both for consumers and for businesses.

"We believe it represents the long-term co-evolution and convergence of e-mail with social media and other messaging types, whereby e-mail becomes more social and social media takes on e-mail attributes," according to a soon-to-be released Gartner research report.

E-mail may not totally disappear, but experts say in five to 10 years, it may look far different than it does today.

"Within five years, we think the questions about social networking versus e-mail will be largely moot, as the two elements will have been fused together," said the report by Gartner analysts Matt Cain and Ray Valdes.

E-mail's popularity

E-mail thrived, after all, because it was one of the first forms of Internet sharing for the masses. It is still the third most popular online activity, behind social networking and gaming, although younger Internet users are turning to other more immediate electronic communication forms, such as texting from mobile phones.

Palo Alto's Facebook last month began slowly rolling out a revamped messaging system that reflects that shift. The Facebook Messages system gets rid of subject lines and instead is designed to group messages into a more manageable inbox of "conversations" between individual friends.

And that same "social inbox" seamlessly gathers all types of messages, whether they are sent by text, chat or traditional e-mail programs. Facebook's core feature - status updates - are already like sending group messages.

"We don't think that a modern messaging system is going to be e-mail," Facebook Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg said when he introduced Facebook Messages.

From a competitive business standpoint, Facebook Messages "opens a new front in the prolonged war" for consumer attention, the Gartner report said. "Google, Facebook, Microsoft and Yahoo want consumers to spend as much time as possible on their sites to maximize advertising revenues."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/05/BUJQ1GKHSO.DTL#ixzz17M4n6ttU

Voros: Androids attempting to take over digital world

In the darker corners of science fiction, man-made androids often bite the human hand that programs them.

Usually the story includes something going terribly wrong during the android development process. Errors introduced by accident or choice trigger devastating consequences that make for great movies pitting man versus automaton.

Harrison Ford, for example, plays a government hit man in the futuristic sci-fi movie "Blade Runner," where he must eliminate slave androids that have developed minds of their own.

In the real world, today's androids come from Mountain View-based Google and do not look anything like us. Rather, they come in the form of software and can be held in our hands without fear of bite.

Google's Android operating system may not mean much to you now, but in the future it could mean cheaper cost and more services to the 5 billion people on Earth who have cell phones, smartphones, computer tablets or any other handheld device.

Unlike Apple, which keeps its iPhone and iPad software source code under lock and key, guarded by a bridge troll that collects a toll every time it is opened, Google's Android operating system is freely available to any company.

The open-source nature benefits consumers in the long run, since there are no costs to be passed on at the retail level. Applications for the operating system also do not require the innovation-stifling approval of a grand poo-bah like Steve Jobs. There are 70,000 apps available right now for Android.

Now there's evidence that Android is making serious inroads at conquering the digital world as its availability widens.

New figures announced last week show that the share of phones in the U.S. running Android increased to 17 percent from 12 percent in the period through April, research company ComScore said. BlackBerry maker Research in Motion fell to 39.3 percent from 41.1 percent while Apple's iPhone software ran on 23.8 percent of smartphones, down from 25.1 percent. Microsoft's share fell to 11.8 percent from 14 percent. Palm, the smart-phone vendor bought by Hewlett-Packard Co. this year, was unchanged at 4.9 percent.

So while others lose market share or hang on to what they have, Android saw a 42 percent jump in its adoption rate. But don't expect the brain trust at Google to be content with smartphones alone. That's just one piece of the digital pie. CONTINUE READING..

The iPhone Fashion Shoot

FCC to toughen internet rules

The Federal Communications Commission has taken the first formal steps towards tougher rules for broadband.

It asked for public comment on three different plans, igniting an expensive lobbying campaign by all sides.

The looming battle follows a court ruling questioning the FCC's right to regulate internet service providers after one throttled traffic to users.

That court ruling dealt a major blow to a central plank of the FCC's broadband plan called net neutrality which demands that all data traffic be treated equally.

The five commissioners on the FCC board were split 3-2 in putting out for public comment proposals on new regulations for the broadband industry.

'Third way'

One of the three plans the public is being asked to comment on, and which is favoured by FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, is called the "third way".

This would involve reclassifying broadband so it went from being a lightly regulated service to one with more vigorous oversight.

In return for this tightening up, Mr Genachowski has proposed the new classification would not regulate on how much people pay for their broadband. It would also shy away from overseeing internet content, services, applications or electronic commerce sites.

The other two options include leaving the existing regulatory framework in place or imposing the full force of stricter regulations.

ISPs, such as Comcast, AT&T and Verizon, prefer the status quo and have come out against the "third way" proposal.

"This is impossible to justify on either a policy or legal basis and we remain confident that if the FCC persists in its course - and we truly hope it does not - the courts will surely overturn their action," said Jim Cicconi, AT&T's senior executive vice president for external and legislative affairs.

Verizon said the FCC's move was "a terrible idea".

By contrast, web giants such as Google and Amazon extol the value of free-flowing web traffic and an open internet.

"Broadband infrastructure is too important to be left outside of any oversight," said Richard Whitt, Google's telecom and media counsel in a blog posting.

'To the death'

The political dynamics of the FCC board, two Republicans and three Democrats, imply that the "third way" looks almost certain to be the plan it adopts.

Some suspect this will provoke more lobbying and may draw legal challenges.

"There is a very big fight brewing and it's the carriers versus everybody else," said Erik Sherman, analyst with BNET.com, part of CBS's digital business network.

"There is little doubt it's going to be a right data Donnybrook and I am not sure the consumers are winners in any circumstances. These companies are not fighting for the little guy. They are fighting for themselves and higher profit margins."

That view was echoed by Public Knowledge, a Washington based public advocacy group.

"It's a tough road ahead and the telcos are going to fight this to the death," communications director Art Brodsky told BBC News.

"AT&T in the first quarter of this year spent $6m on lobbying. That is one company. One quarter. Compare that to Google which spent $4m in the whole of last year."

The Computer and Communications Industry Association said the "third way" option is the only realistic option.

"Without deliberate FCC action, consumers, entrepreneurs, small businesses and non-profits will be left completely powerless against the corporate commercial interests of their unregulated internet access providers," said Ed Black, association president. SOURCE

Apple - iPhone 4 - This changes everything. Again.

The Invasion Begins with Alienware Feb 6th!

It’s coming! The ultimate PC gaming experience is on its way to QVC…and it’s like nothing you’ve ever seen. Join us for the Alienware invasion and discover why these extreme-performance systems are dominating the world of personal computing from the inside out. Alienware — all powerful.

YouTube to Help Sites Gather News Clips

YouTube has signed up NPR, Politico, The Huffington Post and TheSan Francisco Chronicle for YouTube Direct, a new method for managing video submissions from readers.The new feature, to be formally introduced on Tuesday, is a tool to make it easy for YouTube users to submit clips that news media companies can choose to highlight. The site plans to sign up other media partners. “We’re trying to connect media organizations with citizen reporters on YouTube,” said Steve Grove, the Web site’s head of news and politics. With the tool, YouTube, a unit of Google, seeks to further portray itself as an ally of media companies and other news gatherers. YouTube Direct could also bolster the Web site’s status as a source for citizen journalism video. The site has offered newsworthy clips during political crises, as in Iran’s disputed election this year, and after other breaking news events. The tool could become a challenger to existing citizen journalism sites like iReport on CNN, where eyewitnesses can upload video of news events as well as their own opinions.

When users go to the Web sites of Politico or The Chronicle, for instance, they will be able to upload to YouTube and flag their video for review by the publication’s editors, who will have the ability to approve or reject the submissions. CONTINUE READING

FCC approves net neutrality rules

The Federal Communications Commission on Thursday approved draft rules designed to ensure Internet providers don't block or slow traffic on their networks, over the fierce objections of the telecommunications industry.

The regulations would build on "open Internet" guidelines first endorsed by the FCC in 2005. The agency is now seeking public comment on the rules, which are likely to face legally challenges.

Julius Genachowski, chairman of the FCC, has championed the cause. He argues that instances of carriers obstructing online telephone services, degrading peer-to-peer file sharing and blocking access to political content threaten to stifle technical advances and compromise the free flow of information.

"The heart of the problem is that, taken together, we face the dangerous combination of an uncertain legal framework with ongoing as well as emerging challenges to a free and open Internet," the Obama appointee said in prepared remarks before today's vote. "Given the potentially huge consequences of having the open Internet diminished through inaction, the time is now to move forward with consideration of fair and reasonable rules of the road, rules that would be enforceable and implemented on a case-by-case basis."

Telecom trade associations and free market groups have generally portrayed the rules as unnecessary government meddling with the potential to undermine investment and complicate the legitimate need to manage traffic, spam and malware.

Under the pending regulations, as stated in the FCC's press release today, a provider of broadband Internet access service:

1. would not be allowed to prevent any of its users from sending or receiving the lawful content of the user's choice over the Internet;

2. would not be allowed to prevent any of its users from running the lawful applications or using the lawful services of the user's choice;

3. would not be allowed to prevent any of its users from connecting to and using on its network the user's choice of lawful devices that do not harm the network;

4. would not be allowed to deprive any of its users of the user's entitlement to competition among network providers, application providers, service providers, and content providers;

5. would be required to treat lawful content, applications, and services in a nondiscriminatory manner; and

6. would be required to disclose such information concerning network management and other practices as is reasonably required for users and content, application, and service providers to enjoy the protections specified in this rulemaking.

Ed Black, president and CEO of the Computer & Communications Industry Association, issued the following statement:

Only recently have non-discrimination rules been muddied by court and regulatory decisions in anticipation of ISP competition that has not matured beyond duopoly. Fortunately, all of the FCC Commissioners agreed on the need to move forward with this healthy process to find the best balance among the goals of broadband investment, reasonable network management, innovation everywhere and reliable high quality end user Internet access upon which all users large and small have come to depend.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/techchron/detail?entry_id=50099#ixzz0Un7mjYXJ

In a Digital Future, Textbooks Are History

At Empire High School in Vail, Ariz., students use computers provided by the school to get their lessons, do their homework and hear podcasts of their teachers’ science lectures.

Down the road, at Cienega High School, students who own laptops can register for “digital sections” of several English, history and science classes.

And throughout the district, a Beyond Textbooks initiative encourages teachers to create — and share — lessons that incorporate their own PowerPoint presentations, along with videos and research materials they find by sifting through reliable Internet sites.

Textbooks have not gone the way of the scroll yet, but many educators say that it will not be long before they are replaced by digital versions — or supplanted altogether by lessons assembled from the wealth of free courseware, educational games, videos and projects on the Web.

“Kids are wired differently these days,” said Sheryl R. Abshire, chief technology officer for the Calcasieu Parish school system in Lake Charles, La. “They’re digitally nimble. They multitask, transpose and extrapolate. And they think of knowledge as infinite.

“They don’t engage with textbooks that are finite, linear and rote,” Dr. Abshire continued. “Teachers need digital resources to find those documents, those blogs, those wikis that get them beyond the plain vanilla curriculum in the textbooks.”

In California, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger this summer announced an initiative that would replace some high school science and math texts with free, “open source” digital versions.

With California in dire straits, the governor hopes free textbooks could save hundreds of millions of dollars a year.

An Amazon-Owned Netflix: Good and Bad

(07-14) 09:21 PDT -- Interest in Amazon (and the company's stock price) leaped yesterday as a rumor circulated about the potential of Amazon.com buying the DVD rental and streaming video service. If true, the partnership would create a behemoth in the movie industry and expand two powerful and reliable businesses. But this deal is not entirely made of gold. Here are the pros and cons.Pro: Broader Watch Instantly selection. Netflix currently streams about 12,000 moviesthrough a variety of set-top boxes, TVs, and video game consoles. Amazon-on-Demand has 40,000 movies. Netflix streams older films, and the selection leans towards the not-so-awesome side, whereas Amazon-on-Demand streams most new releases as they arrive. If Amaflix (or Netzon) happens, the Watch Instantly selection immediately balloons, giving consumers a vast library of choices.,Con: Higher prices for premium content

While you may have a broader selection, you will likely have to pay more for it. You can expect subscription prices to soar as soon as the deal is made. Amazon makes too much money off its rental service to give it up for free or cheap. Streaming video subscriptions would surely cost more than Netflix's sub-$10 bargain. Pro: Even better physical disc distribution. Marrying Amazon's and Netflix's warehouses would get discs to your front door faster and more efficiently than before -- a huge feat given Netflix's already stellar reputation for speedy delivery.

Con: Elimination of physical discs - There's no doubt about it: streaming video is the future of watching movies. If Amazon gets its grip on Netflix, there is the potential that the former would kill off distributing physical DVDs and Blu-Ray discs in favor of tapping the vein of the next big thing. For those without broadband Internet connections -- or people who prefer to watch discs -- this could be a huge, disappointing fallout. Pro: Step towards absorbing GameFly and dominating distribution.  If Amaflix decides to continue along the physical disc train, the possibility of acquiring GameFly -- the video game equivalent of Netflix -- rises in likelihood. Amazon could then dominate two markets at once and have a stranglehold on how people rent movies and games.

Con: Competition narrows - This, of course, would obliterate the competition. Say good-bye forever to Blockbuster, and watch as Apple TV struggles to maintain relevance. A smart Amazon would keep prices low and drive customers away from iTunes and other methods of digital movie downloads, leaving consumers with fewer choices and locked into a permanent hug with Amazon.

Pro: Could push the Kindle to greater heights - Amazon will continue to keep a close eye on the Kindle, its best-selling eBook reader. And with rumors of an Apple tablet buzzing around the hive, the Kindle may experience a total upgrade into a formidable device capable of both e-Ink reading and some form of video. Plus, if Amazon was in the rental business, why not delegate a section of its Kindle Store to an eBook library?

Con: Might balloon out of control -- Source: SF Gate.com

Cell phone-only households eclipse landline-only homes

The percentage of cell phone-only households has hit 20.2 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, pushing past the percentage of homes that are only connected by landlines for the first time.The results, part of the CDC's semi-annual health survey, reflect the rise of cell phone use and the growing pattern of "cord-cutting" by residential home phone users. Wireless-only homes have grown from 7.3 percent in the first half of 2005 to just over 20 percent in the second half of 2008. From the previous survey, that figure jumped 2.7 percentage points, the largest 6-month increase since the survey started in 2003.Another 14.5 percent or one of every seven American homes, received all or almost all calls on their cell phones even though they have a landline at home. That means more than 1/3 of people rely almost entirely on cell phones.But while cell phones are increasingly the way people call from home, even when they have a landline, the venerable landline keeps dying. Landline-only homes have slipped from 34.4 percent in the first half of 2005 to 17.4 percent now.The figure is a concern for survey takers who have traditionally relied on home phone surveys and may not be able to accurately account for cell phone users.

Craigslist Agrees to Curb Sex Ads

SAN FRANCISCO — The online classifieds company Craigslist said Thursday that it had reached an agreement with 40 state attorneys general and agreed to tame its notoriously unruly “erotic services” listings. Prostitutes and sex-oriented businesses have long used that section of Craigslist to advertise their services. Early this year, the attorney general of Connecticut, Richard Blumenthal, representing 40 states, sent a letter to Craigslist demanding that it purge the site of such material and better enforce its own rules against illegal activity, including prostitution. The two sides began a series of conversations about what Craigslist could do to prevent such ads.“They identified ads that were crossing the line,” said Jim Buckmaster, chief executive of Craigslist. “We looked at those ads, we saw their point, and we resolved to see what we could do to get that stuff off the site.”In March, Craigslist began asking its erotic services advertisers to provide a phone number, which an automated system calls. The system reads a series of digits, which the advertiser types into a Web page as verification before the ad will appear on the site. Craigslist said that ended most of the illicit material.Under the broader agreement announced Thursday, Craigslist is going further, asking that advertisers provide valid identification. It said that it will charge erotic services vendors a small fee for each ad — $5 to $10, Mr. Buckmaster said — and require that they use a credit card for the payment. This, theoretically, will let the company confirm users’ identities. It will donate the money to charities, including those that combat child exploitation and human trafficking. On Wednesday, Craigslist also sued a variety of companies offering services designed to circumvent its protections. Mr. Blumenthal said the new measures would discourage many sex operators from using Craigslist. “The mere act of authentication will be a very significant deterrent,” he said. “There are very few prostitutes who want to be called by Craigslist and asked to give additional identifying information.” SOURCE:SFGATE.COM