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Internet Jihadist Makes Violent Threats Against David Letterman

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:59:00 +0000

Internet Jihadist Makes Violent Threats Against David Letterman

Recent calls from a jihadist to cut the tongue off of David Letterman over a joke he made on his CBS show have put the spotlight back on Hollywood's reactions to such threats.

On Wednesday, The Site Monitoring Service, a private intelligence organization that watches online activity, said that the threat against Letterman had been posted a day earlier on the Shumuka al-Islam forum, a popular Internet destination for radical Muslims.

The contributor, who identified himself as Umar al-Basrawi, was reacting to what he said Letterman did after the U.S. military announced on June 5 that a drone strike in Pakistan had killed Al Qaeda leader Ilyas Kashmiri.

Al-Basrawi wrote that Letterman had made reference to both Usama bin Laden and Kashmiri and said that Letterman had "put his hand on his neck and demonstrated the way of slaughter."

"Is there not among you a Sayyid Nosair al-Mairi ... to cut the tongue of this lowly Jew and shut it forever?" Al-Basrawi wrote, referring to El Sayyid Nosair, who was convicted of the 1990 killing of Jewish Defense League founder Meir Kahane. Letterman is not Jewish.

A rep for Letterman did not respond to request for comment from FOX411 Thursday. Letterman is filming live episodes this week, so it remains to be seen how or if he will respond on air to this latest threat. Thursday's show will be the first since the threats were made public.

Al-Basrawi, which is likely to be an alias, has made some 1,200 postings to the Muslim website, said Adam Raisman, an analyst for the Site Monitoring Service. The private firm, part of the Site Intelligence Group, provides information to government and commercial clients on what jihadists are saying on the Internet and traditional media. Raisman said the online forum is often used by Al Qaeda.

Muslim extremist groups in the past few months have increased calls for people to take violent action against certain targets in the West, he said.

"The concern is that there is someone who will read it, agree with it and say, 'I want to be the Sayyid Nosair of 2011 and kill David Letterman,"' Raisman said.

The FBI is also looking into the threat, said Jim Margolin, spokesman for the bureau's New York office. "We take every potential threat seriously," he said.

But Letterman was not the first entertainer to have death threats made against him for making jokes related to Islam.

Last week, fans of “South Park” looking to purchase the “complete 14th season” of the show on DVD were shocked to learn that an episode for which creators Matt Stone and Trey Parker received death threats had been eliminated from the disc set internationally.

Last year, Comedy Central, the network that airs “South Park” decided to censor the second of a two-part episode after a New York-based radical group Revolution Muslim called on its followers to retaliate against Parker and Stone. The group even released addresses of Comedy Central’s New York office and the team’s Los Angeles production offices.

"When unique and deeply insightful creative talents like those behind 'South Park' are able to express themselves freely, we all benefit," Viacom said at the time. "However, the safety of our employees is our unquestioned number one priority, and therefore we have decided to take these precautionary measures."

Author Salman Rushdie spent years in hiding after Iranian leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini urged he be killed for blasphemy after writing the book "The Satanic Verses."

Filmmaker Theo van Gogh was killed on an Amsterdam street in 2004 by a Dutch Muslim angered by his film "Submission," a fictional study of abused Muslim women.

source(foxnews)

AT&T planning shake-up of SMS plans next week

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:45:00 +0000

Breaking News -- AT&T planning shake-up of SMS plans next week

The carrier confirmed to CNET this morning that, for new customers, it will ditch its 1,000-message plan, which went for $10 per month, in favor of unlimited-only options. Unlimited messaging for individuals will be available for $20 per month starting on August 21, while a family messaging plan for $30-per-month will also be offered.

"The vast majority of our customers prefer unlimited plans," an AT&T spokesman told CNET in a phone conversation today. "And with text messaging growing, the number of people interested in these plans will keep growing."

Users who don't want to get into a plan can opt to pay 20 cents per SMS, or 30 cents per message when sending pictures or video.

Current customers who subscribe to AT&T's 1,000-message plan will continue to pay $10 per month for the option. AT&T's spokesman confirmed that current customers with the 1,000-messages plan can keep it, even if they enter into a new two-year agreement and buy a new handset.

Engadget was first to report the news.

AT&T's new messaging plans come even as customers' reliance upon SMS might soon wane. At its Worldwide Developers Conference in June, Apple announced that iOS 5 will come with a new messaging platform, called iMessage. With that, users of iOS-based devices will be able to send free text messages to each other over both Wi-Fi and 3G. The service also supports photos, videos, locations, and contacts.

That could be troublesome for AT&T, since the company activates millions of iPhones every quarter. Although text messages to non iOS-based devices will still be charged, if customers start to opt for iMessage over traditional text messaging, the carrier might see SMS usage decline.

Earlier this year, analysts at UBS estimated that text messaging volume growth was down to 21 percent in the first quarter for AT&T. UBS said that the company's growth in the prior year was 41 percent.

However, in a note to CNET today, AT&T offered up exact figures on its text-messaging growth. A company spokesman said that messaging volume increased by 25.6 percent in the first quarter. Second-quarter growth hit 24 percent, the company said.

Declines in text-messaging can be a drag on a carrier's business, UBS said earlier this year. The analyst reported that the average carrier makes an 80-cent profit on every dollar it generates in text-messaging revenue.

source(CNETNews)

Jaguar C-X16 Concept

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 15:34:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Jaguar C-X16 Concept

Earlier this month, we reported on a tidbit that Jaguar was going to the Frankfurt Motor Show with a new sports car concept in tow. Thanks to this sketch released by the company, we now have a pretty good idea on what the British automaker is bringing to the biggest auto show in the calendar.

The concept is called the ’C-X16’ and has been described as a production concept that will serve as the prototype for future Jaguar sports cars. This car "aims to set new class benchmarks in design, vehicle dynamics and technology".

Details behind the C-X16 will all be revealed in Frankfurt, although the car does point to a few intriguing questions as to what the Big Cat has in store for its next generation of sports cars. Some have speculated that this model will serve as the successor to the XK while others have reported that it’s a completely new model that has the Porsche Cayman in its sights.

One thing we do know, or rather, what we’ve been told is that the design of the C-X16 was born out of the same creative think heads that penned the current XJ, XF, and XK.

"Great Jaguars have always been beautiful, innovative and have looked firmly to the future," said Ian Callum, Jaguar’s Director of Design.

"The finished C-X16 concept has the potential to do these things while retaining the ability to surprise, to excite and invigorate."

That’s as much information as we have now, but rest assured, we’ll have all the updates ready when the car is officially unveiled at Frankfurt in a month’s time.

source(TopSpeed)

Highlights All Goal and Match Result Spanish Supercopa

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Highlights All Goal and Match Result Spanish Supercopa

Barcelona The Winner Spanish Supercopa, Barcelona 3-2 Real Madrid (Agg. 5-4): Lionel Messi brace settles bad-tempered Supercopa clash.

The Argentine popped up in the closing stages to settle what was an enthralling encounter, but things turned nasty in the final moments of an absorbing evening.

Barcelona have triumphed over Real Madrid in the Spanish Supercopa courtesy of a thrilling 3-2 win at Camp Nou this evening, to secure a 5-4 aggregate victory over their bitter rivals.

In a match that mirrored Sunday's first-leg in terms of drama and goalmouth incident, Andres Iniesta and Lionel Messi had overcome Cristiano Ronaldo's goal to have the Catalans leading at the interval. Karim Benzema equalised in the closing stages, but Messi added a second, his side's third, to secure yet another trophy for the Pep Guardiola era. Marcelo's late red left a bitter taste in the mouth, however, as players clashed in the dying moments.

Guardiola opted for the same starting line-up that defeated Manchester United in the Champions League final in May, with new signings Alexis Sanchez, and most notably Cesc Fabregas, on the bench. For Madrid, their one change from Sunday evening was Fabio Coentrao's inclusion at left-back, with Marcelo omitted.

The match at the Santiago Bernabeu, which finished 2-2, had been a thrilling affair, and this encounter commenced in a similar vein, with Ronaldo warming the gloves of Victor Valdes in the opening seconds.

However, it was Barcelona who found the advantage on 14 minutes, courtesy of a sumptuous goal from Andres Iniesta. Messi delayed his through pass perfectly, and Iniesta timed his run, before noncholantly scooping the ball over Iker Casillas and into the net.

But their lead was short-lived, as Madrid equalised just six minutes later. From a deep corner, Karim Benzema's bouncing volley was deflected into the net from close range by Cristiano Ronaldo, who sent a hopeful glance in the direction of the assistant referee before celebrating.

Both sides then exchanged chances, as midnight approached in the Catalan city. Pedro produced a superb curling short that Casillas did wonderfully well to palm to safety, then Ronaldo's piledriver was pushed onto the crossbar from Valdes, the effort proving too hot for the shot-stopper to handle.

But Messi, just as he had did on Sunday, struck on the stroke of half-time to send his side in 2-1 up. Latching onto a backheel from Gerard Pique, he held off Ronaldo and flicked his shot into Casillas' far corner.

After the break, the match lost some of its intensity, and the aggression was ramped up, particularly as the visitors attempted to fight back into the contest. Messi and Busquets both came close for the home side, but as they looked close to seeing out the match, they were able to draw the match, and indeed the tie, level.

On 80 minutes, a corner from the left prompted a scramble inside the six-yard box; Pepe rose highest, powered a ball across the six yard area, and Benzema controlled, swivelled, and slotted the ball out of the reach of Valdes.

Extra-time beckoned. In a bizarre moment, Madrid celebrated the equaliser, but Barca fans embraced the first appearance of Fabregas, who was introduced into the fray.

But Barcelona were not to be denied. With just three minutes remaining, and both sides fighting for a winning goal, the indefatigable Messi collected the ball, played out wide and continued his run to meet Adriano's cross with a sublime volley into the corner to spark rapturous scenes in the stadium.

After such an exciting tie, however, the fixture exploded in injury time. Marcelo wrapped his legs around Fabregas in a wild lunge, to be granted a straight red from the referee. All 22 players descended on the incident, and the officials fought to regain control amidst a flurry of confusion.

Once the dust settled, Barcelona could finally collect their title deep into the night, to conclude what was a quite astonishing Clasico encounter.

Highlights All Gall Barcelona 3 - 2 Real Madrid

source(Goal and theinfow)

iPhone 5 now rumored to launch October 7

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:35:00 +0000

Breaking News -- iPhone 5 now rumored to launch October 7

The iPhone 5 could go on sale on Friday, October 7, with preorders to start on September 30, according to the latest rumors in the ongoing saga of the hotly anticipated next edition of Apple's smartphone.

Citing intel from its own sources, 9To5Mac said yesterday that Apple had been eyeing either October 7 or October 14 as potential iPhone 5 launch dates. But with preproduction apparently running smoothly, the site says, Apple has opted for the earlier date.

Apple will reportedly offer the phone for preorder a week before it hits store shelves, looking at either September 29 or 30, though 9To5Mac's sources pin the 30th as the most likely date. Assuming the preorder date is accurate, at least for now, that also means Apple would have to hold its iPhone 5 unveiling sometime in September. Apple typically shows off new iPhones and iPads at high-visibility media gatherings some days or weeks ahead of the devices going on sale.

The October 7 date has also been floated by TiPb. However, the tech news site suggests taking the reports with a grain of salt since even if the date is on the money at this point, Apple's plans are fluid. Even 9To5Mac admits that "the date could and likely will change again."

But October itself has been strongly suggested as the launch month for the iPhone 5 by All Things D's Kara Swisher, pointing to information from her own sources.

TiPb isn't quite sure the new phone will be an iPhone 5. The site said it keeps hearing that the device will be an iPhone 4S with some improvements but the same design as the existing phone, a rumor that's been around for awhile.

Other reports say that Apple will launch two phones--the new and improved iPhone 5 and a more budget-friendly iPhone 4S, one that may even tap into the company's iCloud service to provide cloud-based storage. TiPb says that the debut of two new phones from Apple could explain the conflicting rumors that it's heard.

And yet other reports have put a potential iPhone launch date as early as September 7.

Adding further tidbits to the iPhone 5 saga, Macpost has published images purporting to be of replacement parts for the new phone. Replacement parts such as a camera lens and an audio jack have recently popped up online among different Chinese resellers, according to the site, and show some subtle differences from parts for the iPhone 4.

Finally, global carrier Telefonica will reportedly start cutting back on its stock of the iPhone 4 through September 12. Revealing the news, Engadget cited a source who said that such a move "will of course prepare us for the launch of a new smartphone." The source didn't offer up a specific date when the new phone will debut, though Engadget said it's heard that the launch will occur in October.

By: Lance Whitney

more info => CNETNews

SSC Tuatara (Ultimate Aero II)

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Breaking News -- SSC Tuatara (Ultimate Aero II)

SSC Tuatara The Revolutionary New Supercar

Shelby Super Cars (SSC) as American supercar manufacturer and creator of the world record breaking Ultimate Aero, is proud to present its revolutionary new supercar named SSC Tuatara. Development of the SSC Tuatara (Ultimate Aero II) aimed to unseating the Bugatti Veyron SS as the fastest car in the world.

The name “Tuatara” was inspired by a modern day reptile from New Zealand that has the same name. Tuatara is a direct descendent of the dinosaur, this Tuatara’s name translated from the Maori language means “peaks on the back,” which is quite fitting, given the winglets on the back of the new SSC Tuatara. The SSC Tuatara has the fastest evolving DNA in the world, and amongst the world’s greatest supercar manufacturers, so does SSC.

The new SSC Tuatara made its world debut in Shanghai, China, where they announced that SSC Asia would be the exclusive SSC distributor for the Asia region.

SSC Tuatara Performance

As for the engine, the engineers has come up with a rear wheel drive, quad cam (4 valves per cylinder OHC), twin turbo 7 Liter V8 engine produces 1350 HP and revs up to 9000 rpm.

Braking is features traction control ABS with servo assistance and the use of carbon ceramic brakes by Brembo. It comes in at 1200 kgs curb weight, which puts it at 638 kgs lighter than the Veyron. Little change has been done on the suspension in which SSC keeps the coil over setup intact along with the triple plate carbon clutch mechanism.

Expectations are high on this SSC Tuatara, with all those horses; 0 to 60 mph should come in under 2.8 seconds and will be reach the top speed at 275 mph, hang on to your seats for the final results.

SSC Tuatara Exterior

The body design of the SSC Tuatara was rendered by Jason Castriota, an Italian-American designer who has been instrumental in creating some of the best design cars in the world. Among his creations include the best in the industry, Ferrari, Bertone, Rolls Royce, and Pininfarina. Jason Castriota was unsure whether he wanted to take on the challenge presented to him by Jerod Shelby in designing this latest from SSC.

The result, its has become the ideal in combining function and form. The black teardrop shaped canopy splashed amid the white body provides a contrast in power and style. The classic shape allows it for a minimum of drag. Dihedral stabilizers ( rear wings) add to the SSC Tuatara’s performance and look. The winglets located in the rear not only improve aerodynamics, but also keeps the SSC Tuatara together as it speeds up to 200 miles per hour.

Chassis and body are made of carbon fiber, except for those impact areas in the front and rear of the SSC Tuatara. It also has oval cut outs in varying sizes that help release heat produced by the engine through the body. The SSC Tuatara features an F1 looking exhaust that functions as a diffuser in the rear. When looking down at this low slung supercar, the SSC Tuatara can seem intimidating.

SSC Tuatara Interior

No one really knows what to expect what the interior of the SSC Tuatara will look like. The total interior design has not been completed. It will have the necessary features in driving a 2 seater, such as auto air-conditioner and the seatbelts.

Speculation has it that the inside of the SSC Tuatara will live up to its reputation in addition to providing easy viewing and access LCD central displays.

source(automodifiedesign)

US cigarette makers sue over graphic warning labels

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:50:00 +0000

Breaking News -- US cigarette makers sue over graphic warning labels

Five tobacco companies have sued the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over a new law that would force them to place graphic health warnings on their cigarette packets.

The firms argue the plan violates their constitutional right to free speech, as it requires firms to promote the government's anti-smoking message.

The FDA has not commented on the lawsuit.

The new warnings will be required on cigarette packs from September 2012.

'Depressed, afraid'

RJ Reynolds Tobacco, Lorillard Tobacco, Commonwealth Brands, Liggett Group and Santa Fe Natural Tobacco said they filed their suit against the FDA late on Tuesday in an effort to delay enforcement of the new law.

RJ Reynolds brands include Camel and Winston, while Lorillard brands include Newport and True.

In their 41-page complaint, the five companies say the new labels would illegally force them to make consumers "depressed, discouraged and afraid" to buy their products.

"The government can require warnings which are straightforward and essentially uncontroversial, but they can't require a cigarette pack to serve as a mini-billboard for the government's anti-smoking campaign," Floyd Abrams, a lawyer representing the cigarette makers, said in a statement.

He added that the new labels would violate the companies' free-speech rights under the first amendment to the constitution.

The 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act requires such labels to cover the top half of the front and back sides of cigarette packages and 20% of the printed advertising.

In June, Health Secretary Kathleen Sebelius said the new labels could deter young people from starting to smoke and give adult smokers a new incentive to quit.

Cigarette makers lost a similar suit last year in a US district court in Kentucky when a judge said the FDA could move ahead with forcing the companies to use the new labels, which include images of dead bodies, diseased lungs and rotten teeth.

That ruling is currently pending before the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals.

One of the biggest US tobacco firms, Altria - parent company of Philip Morris and maker of Marlboro cigarettes - has not joined in any of the legal action against the FDA.

More than 220,000 people in the US are expected to be diagnosed with lung cancer in 2011, according to the American Cancer Society.

Tobacco use is estimated to be responsible for 443,000 deaths in the US each year.

source(BBC)

Spanish Super Cup Preview: Barcelona - Real Madrid

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 11:21:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Spanish Super Cup Preview: Barcelona - Real Madrid

Following a dramatic 2-2 draw in the first leg, Goal.com previews Wednesday night’s decisive second as La Liga's greatest rivals prepare to do battle at Camp Nou.

PROBABLE LINE-UPS

Barcelona (4-1-2-3)
Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Mascherano, Abidal; Fabregas; Xavi, Iniesta; Sanchez, Messi, Villa

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1)
Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo; Alonso, Khedira; Coentrao, Ozil, Ronaldo; Benzema

Barcelona have no fresh injuries worries following the 2-2 draw at the Bernabeu but the Blaugrana are expected to field a makeshift defence as they did in the first leg.

Gerard Pique is likely to start at Camp Nou after making an appearance from the substitute’s bench in the first leg following his recovery from a tear to his hamstring. With Eric Abidal unable to cope with Karim Benzema’s trickery on Sunday, it is likely Javier Mascherano will partner Pique with the Frenchman being pushed to the left, replacing the Brazilian Adriano.

Club captain Carles Puyol has yet to prove his fitness following a knee operation during the summer but will hope to do so ahead of La Liga's first set of fixtures.

Barcelona confirmed the signing of Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas on Monday and Pep Guardiola has suggested that the midfielder could make his debut against Real Madrid.

Jose Mourinho may opt to field the same starting XI as he did on Sunday following an impressive performance from his side. The 11 in question were the same players that were destroyed 5-0 in El Clasico last season but it was a stark improvement for los Blancos.

Fabio Coentrao could be preferred to Angel di Maria, who struggled to impact the game at the Bernabeu, as Madrid hope to stem any early Barcelona pressure at Camp Nou.

Watch Match LiveStream Spanish Super Cup Barcelona - Real Madrid here!!!

source(Goal)

Elvis fans mark singer's death at Graceland

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:29:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Elvis fans mark singer's death at Graceland

Their candles flickering in the warm Tennessee night, fans quietly stood vigil over Elvis Presley's grave early Tuesday to mark the 34th anniversary of the singer's death.

"Thank you so much for being here and continuing to honor the legacy of my father," said a message from Lisa Marie Presley that was read to fans at the gates of Graceland. "Your ongoing love and support mean very much to me and my family."

Presley died at the Memphis, Tennessee, mansion on August 16, 1977, and is buried on the grounds. Fans began filing past his grave bearing candles Monday night.

Graceland hosts a week of events leading up to the annual commemoration, featuring tribute concerts, appearances by contemporaries and onetime sidemen and fan parties.

The "King of Rock n' Roll" was 42 when he was found dead in his bathroom at the mansion, which he bought after hitting it big 20 years earlier.

While his death was ruled the result of an irregular heartbeat, the autopsy report was sealed amid accusations that abuse of prescription drugs caused the problem.

More than three decades later, he remains one of the top-selling acts in music.

In 2010, Forbes magazine estimated his estate's annual take from music sales, a Las Vegas show, Graceland visits and licensing at $60 million.

source(CNN)

Spy Shots: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:10:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Spy Shots: 2013 Jaguar XKR-S Convertible

Well, here it is folks! The convertible version of the hotheaded Jaguar XKR-S has finally been caught testing at the Nurburgring showing off its black soft top roof and snarling V8. We expected to see this version of the monster Jaguar at the Geneva Motor Show next year, considering Jaguar has made a grand appearance at every Geneva Motor Show for the past few years, but the barely there camouflage hints at an earlier debut. Maybe we are looking at a Los Angeles Auto Show superstar?

The new Jaguar XKR-S Convertible will share the same wide wheel arches, front and rear carbon spoilers, and extra front air scoops as the coupe model. It will also get the same tuned Performance Active Exhaust to go along with the AJ-V8 all-aluminum engine with twin-vortex Roots-type supercharger. This engine will be able to push out 550 HP and 501 lb/ft of torque and deliver performance times similar to the 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds and the 186 mph top speed of the coupe model.

source(TopSpeed)

Windows 8 pre-release launching in coming months

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:52:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Windows 8 pre-release launching in coming months

Windows 8 is set to hit the pre-release stage over the coming months, according to a blog posted yesterday by Microsoft president Steven Sinofsky.

Though the term pre-release version is a bit vague, Sinofsky is likely referring to the beta of Windows 8 since he said that the company wants to "begin an open dialog with those of you who will be trying out the pre-release version over the coming months."

Aiming the new blog series "Building Windows 8," at customers, developers, and users in general, Sinofsky used the post to provide tidbits of information but not much detail yet as he acknowledged that "people express frustration over how little we've communicated so far about Windows 8."

Among other comments, Sinofsky said that "Windows 8 reimagines Windows," however he stressed that the company is committed to supporting Windows 8 on all existing Windows 7 PCs and hardware.

Though the initial blog "Welcome to Building Windows 8," was short on specifics, Sinofsky promised to reveal more over the next few weeks.

"There is so much packed into Windows 8 and there are so many unique and important lenses through which to view Windows 8, and so we want to be sure to take the time to cover as many of these topics as possible, to build up a shared understanding of why we've taken Windows where we have," he wrote. "So in the next weeks we will just start talking specifics of features, since there is no obvious place to start given the varying perspectives. From fundamentals, to user interface, to hardware support, and more, if something is important to you, we promise we'll get to it in some form or another."

The B8 blog, as Sinofsky referred to it, will be updated on a regular basis as different people from Microsoft share the latest information on the development of the new OS.

"As a team we're all going to participate--many of us will author posts, and all of us will read and take note of your comments on this blog," Sinofsky wrote. "We'll participate in a constructive dialog with you. We'll also make mistakes and admit it when we do. It is almost certain that something will hit a nerve, with the team or with the community, or both, in the blog posts or in the product, or both."

The new blog series comes at a time when rumors have been flying the past several months over when Windows 8 might debut.

In May, CEO Steve Ballmer said that the new OS would reach consumers in 2012, though Microsoft quickly shot down his comments. In June, Vice President Dan'l Lewin dropped hints that Windows 8 would launch during the fall of 2012.

A report in June by ZDNet reporter Mary Jo Foley cited a source claiming that Microsoft would release the Windows 8 beta in the middle of September at its Build developers conference. Though that specific date doesn't quite jibe with Sinofsky's "coming months" timeframe, Foley's source also indicated that Microsoft would release only one beta, followed by the traditional Release Candidate and the final RTM (release to manufacturing) version a few months later.

Sinofsky demoed Windows 8 at the All Things Digital D9 conference in late June. The next major event, he blogged, will be September's Build conference where Microsoft will offer developers more details about the tools they'll need to design for Windows 8.

More Info about windows 8 => CNETNews

LiveStream Spanish Super Cup Barcelona vs Real Madrid

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 19:12:00 +0000

LiveStream Spanish Super Cup Barcelona vs Real Madrid

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Apple applies for patent to keep screens fingerprint-less

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:49:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Apple applies for patent to keep screens fingerprint-less

If messy fingerprints have you wiping your iPhone, iPod, or iPad screen on your shirtsleeve or pant leg several times a day, well, Apple has an app(lication) for that--a patent application, to be precise.

(Credit: Screen Shot by CNET's Boonsri Dickinson)

The trick is not to ask customers to wash their hands before touching the screen. But rather, it involves coating the screens of electronic devices with an oil-resistant material called oleophobic, according to a patent application that recently surfaced.

The liquid coating is applied using a method called Physical Vapor Desposition ("PVD"). The technique is used to deposit thin films of vaporized material onto the surface. In this case, the coating is applied in liquid form inside of a bottle that is pressurized with inert gas, so that it can be sprayed onto the surface.

(Credit: Screenshot by CNET"s blogger Boonsri Dickinson)

Rumors has it, the fingerprint-less surface might be a feature on the new iPhone 5. But the surface coating isn't entirely novel. The latest patent application describes an improved process and a more efficient one. Apple has already put the oil-resistant material onto surfaces of the iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, or an iPad. Unfortunately, CNET previously reported that the coating begins to wear off after awhile.

By: Boonsri Dickinson

source(CNETNews)

Video: Chevrolet celebrates its Special Edition Camaros

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:39:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Video: Chevrolet celebrates its Special Edition Camaros

Chevrolet is celebrating its 100 years of existence and to start the celebration off right, the company has revealed a video showing off the special editions Chevrolet has produced for the Camaro. In this video, you’ll see a number of special editions, including the Camaro 45th Anniversary, Camaro Honor and Valor, Camaro Indy Peace Car, Camaro Neiman Marcus, Camaro Synergy, Camaro XM and Camaro Transformers Edition.

Chevrolet is quick to point out the Camaro is a vehicle bought out of love, devotion, passion, and the pinnacle of enthusiasm for an automotive brand. Camaro-obsessed customers will no doubt agree with that statement, and these will be the very same people to appreciate a video like this. By its very nature, every Camaro special edition is a consecration of a moment in the Camaro story, whether it’s the 1967 Indy Pace Car Replica or the 2012 45th Anniversary Edition, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the history.

source(topspeed)

Michele Bachmann : "Submissive" doesn't mean subservient

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:25:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Michele Bachmann : "Submissive" doesn't mean subservient

AMES, Iowa - Appearing on "Face the Nation" Sunday, Rep. Michele Bachmann stood by her comment in Thursday's Republican debate that when she said that wives should be submissive to their husbands, she meant that married couples should have mutual respect.

In 2006, Bachmann said her husband had told her to get a post-doctorate degree in tax law. "Tax law? I hate taxes," she continued. "Why should I go into something like that? But the lord says, be submissive. Wives, you are to be submissive to your husbands.'"

Asked about the comment by CBS News' Norah O'Donnell Sunday, Bahmann reaffirmed that to her, "submission means respect, mutual respect."

"I respect my husband, he respects me," she said. "We have been married 33 years, we have a great marriage...and respecting each other, listening to each other is what that means."

O'Donnell asked Bachmann if she would use a different word in retrospect.

"You know, I guess it depends on what word people are used to, but respect is really what it means," Bachmann replied.

"Do you think submissive means subservient?" O'Donnell asked.

"Not to us," Bachmann said. "To us it means respect. We respect each other, we listen to each other, we love each other and that is what it means."

Bachmann, fresh off a victory in the Iowa straw poll, was also asked about her newest rival for the GOP nomination, Texas Governor Rick Perry, and how her job creation record stacks up against Perry's record. Over the past two years, nearly half the jobs created in the United States were created in Texas.

Asked about her record on jobs, Bachamnn said, "Well, I am a job creator. I am a former tax attorney and I have a post-doctorate degree in tax, years in federal tax court."

O'Donnell asked how that amounts to job creation.

"Because I understand how high taxes destroy jobs, and then my husband and I also started our own successful company. We have created jobs and we -- as a job creator myself, I understand how difficult it is to actually make a profit in a business."

Bachmann also called for tax reform and the repeal of the federal health care law and vowed to get America's Triple-A credit rating back. Bachmann opposes again increasing the debt limit and says America should prioritizing paying its creditors as well as paying members of the military and entitlement obligations when the limit is reached.

"We will announce to the markets in no case will we default and pay our men and women in the military and make sure all senior citizens that are currently on entitlements get their checks," she said, adding that entitlements will eventually need to be reformed.

Bachmann was also asked about the controversial Newsweek cover of her which featured an unflattering photograph and the headline "the queen of rage," which Sarah Palin criticized in Iowa on Friday. Bachmann said she was focused on other matters.

"Quite honestly when you lose your Triple-A credit rating and when you lose 30 Americans in Afghanistan, a magazine cover is really the least of your problems," she said.

Shortly before Bachmann's appearance, one of Bachmann's rivals for the nomination, fellow Minnesotan Tim Pawlenty, announced he was dropping out of the race following a disappointing finish in the straw poll.

"I have great respect for the governor. I have known him for a long time and I thought he brought a very important voice to the race," Bachmann said. Asked if she was seeking Pawlenty's endorsement, Bachmann replied: "I look forward to talking to him. I -- hopefully I'll be calling him very soon."

In a statement shortly after the show, she said she had called Pawlenty.

"This morning I spoke with Governor Pawlenty to express my respect and admiration for him, and to wish him and his family well," said Bachmann. "Running for the presidency requires enormous self-sacrifice. Governor Pawlenty brought an important voice and ideas to the campaign, and he served the people of Minnesota and our country well. Our party and our country are better as a result of his service and commitment."

source (cbsnews)

2 face murder charges in British riots

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 17:17:00 +0000

Breaking News -- 2 face murder charges in British riots

Two men appeared briefly in court Sunday, police in Birmingham said, charged with murder over the hit-and-run deaths of three men during riots that roiled Britain last week.

The two, ages 26 and 17, were ordered to appear in Birmingham Crown Court on Monday.

Police in London, meanwhile, announced they had arrested 1,401 people over violence, disorder and looting since riots broke out just over a week ago. Some 808 of those people have been charged, they said.

Residents say the three victims in the hit-and-run in Birmingham were mowed down by a car while protecting businesses from looters in Britain's second largest city.

Haroon Jahan, 21, along with two brothers, Shazad and Munir Hussein -- both in their 30s -- were keeping watch outside a gas station following a break-in by looters during the riots, relatives said.

"The guy who killed him drove directly into the crowd and killed three innocent guys," said Tarik Jahan, father of the youngest victim. "Why? What was the point of doing that? I don't understand."

Two others remain in custody while another two are free on bail pending further investigations.

"All they wanted to do was to protect their business and other businesses within the community," said Abdullah Khan, an uncle of the two brothers.

Shazad Hussein was looking forward to the birth of his first child in a few months, the uncle said.

"A father will never hold his child, a child will never be held by his father, a wife without a husband, parents who have lost two sons. Words can never express what we are going through at this moment," he said.

Khan appealed for justice, and asked witnesses to come forward.

Community groups are planning a peace rally Sunday for the victims.

West Midlands Police Chief Constable Chris Sims, whose region includes Birmingham, said he had been asked to speak at the event.

He defended police response to the unrest, saying, "Locally in the West Midlands policing is seen as part of the solution not part of the problem.... Officers have been overwhelmed by the support shown by the public."

He said more than 500 people had been arrested by West Midlands police, and that while sentencing was "justifiably harsh ... we must not at this time abandon all compassion for some of our very damaged young people who have been caught up in these incidents."

Birmingham, like many other areas in Britain, was rocked by riots that started after the shooting death of a man who protesters said was killed by police.

The violence first broke out on August 6 following protests over the death of Mark Duggan in the north London neighborhood of Tottenham. He was shot after a police unit that deals with gun crime stopped a cab carrying the 29-year-old father of four.

Police have arrested more than 2,200 people around the country, including the 1,401 held in London.

Many suspects have already appeared before magistrates as hearings are held around-the-clock.

source (CNN)

Germany marks 50 years since Berlin Wall

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 15:43:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Germany marks 50 years since Berlin Wall

Germany is marking 50 years since the building of the Berlin Wall when the communist East closed its border, dividing the city for 28 years.

Berlin Mayor Klaus Wowereit told a ceremony on Bernauer Street: "The Wall is history but we must not forget it."

President Christian Wulff said Germany had been securely established as a reunified country.

The city observed a minute's silence at noon (10:00 GMT) in memory of those who died trying to escape.

Soldiers from the East began construction on the morning of 13 August 1961

Initially a barbed wire fence, it became a wall which spread for nearly 160km (100 miles)

More than 300 watchtowers were erected to spot escapees

Minefields were laid in some sectors

The BBC's Stephen Evans in Berlin says the East German authorities portrayed the Wall as a barrier to keep the fascist West out - what came to be known as the Anti-Fascist Protection Rampart.

But he says the accepted view now is that it was to keep East German potential migrants in.

'Saddest day'

Addressing the ceremony on Bernauer, a street famously divided by the Wall and now site of a memorial, Mayor Wowereit said the capital was remembering the "saddest day in its recent history".

"It is our common responsibility to keep alive the memories and pass them on to the next generation, to maintain freedom and democracy and to do everything so that such injustices may never happen again," he said.

Earlier, Mr Wulff told Die Welt newspaper that the modern Germany could take pride in "East Germans' irrepressible desire for freedom and West Germans' solidarity with them".

Chancellor Angela Merkel, who also attended the event, was herself raised in the East.

The number of people who died trying to cross the Wall is disputed - at least 136 are known to have been killed but victims' groups say the true number is more than 700.

The first victim was thought to be Guenter Litfin on 24 August 1961 and the last Chris Gueffroy on 6 February 1989.

A list of names of the victims was read out overnight.

Although the Wall came down in 1989, it remains for some a symbol of continuing economic division between the richer west and poorer east.

Invisible barrier

Brigitta Heinrich, a schoolteacher by profession, grew up in Klein-Glienicke, which was unusual in that it was an East German enclave on the territory of West Berlin.

Speaking to Russian news agency Ria-Novosti, she said one of her own pupils had escaped across the Wall in the early days, using a ladder.

The schoolboy's parents were forced to move out of Klein-Glienicke as a result, and the mother was sacked from her job in a company, she said.

Recalling the hardships and broken illusions of the communist state, Ms Heinrich, who still lives in the East, also talked of the difficulty of readjusting to a unified country.

She said she had made friends with other Europeans such as Italians and Finns since the fall of the Wall but some West Germans, especially in regions further away from Berlin, seemed indifferent to people from the former East, as if an invisible barrier remained.

"I cannot name a single West German with whom I socialise now - really, I can't," she said.

Few parts of the Wall remain, though city authorities have laid down an 8km row of cobblestones to mark its path.

Tourists often struggle to find original sections.

source : (BBC)

Tesla Model X SUV ready to be unveiled in December

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 15:34:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Tesla Model X SUV ready to be unveiled in December

Tesla Motors’ portfolio of vehicles is slowly growing, which is welcome news for a company that only a few years ago, was struggling to make a profit. In a recent meeting to discuss the company’s quarterly earnings, Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced that the company is preparing to unveil its very first sport utility electric vehicle by the end of this year.

The SUV, which is being touted as the ’Model X’, will share the same powertrain and technology as the other electric cars the company has in its line-up, saving precious time and resources in the development of the SUV along the way.

“The plan is to have an unveiling of the Model X prototype in the mid-December time frame,” Musk said. “So far it’s looking good, I don’t think anything will cause an issue.”

Another factor that expedited the development of the Model X came from the $210 million Tesla was able to raise a few months ago, enough funding to keep the project moving along.

As for the Model X, the vehicle is set to become Tesla’s third electric model following in the reins of the Roadster and the Model S. Full details surrounding the Model X have yet to be revealed, but that hasn’t stopped Tesla from looking at building 15,000 Model X units every year as soon as production begins in 2013.

source : (TopSpeed)

Ex-NYC top cop to advise UK on gangs

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 15:17:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Ex-NYC top cop to advise UK on gangs

A former New York and Los Angeles police chief will advise the British government on tackling the street gangs blamed for the violence that raged nationwide this week.

Bill Bratton, who had private talks with British Prime Minister David Cameron on Friday, said there are lessons from the United States that were relevant to the situation in England.

Large numbers of police will be on the streets over the weekend following widespread rioting and looting in London and other cities, including Birmingham and Manchester at the start of the week. Five deaths are believed to be linked to the unrest.

Police have arrested more than 2,100 people around the country, many of whom have already appeared before magistrates. Hearings are being held round-the-clock in some courts to deal with the large numbers charged.

The violence first broke out in north London's Tottenham neighborhood a week ago after a protest over the death of a local man, Mark Duggan. He was shot after a police unit that deals with gun crime stopped a cab carrying the 29-year-old father of four.

Riots and looting spread across London and other cities, at a huge cost to local businesses and communities.

London's Metropolitan Police said Saturday they had charged a man with handling stolen goods after recovering electrical products worth £40,000 ($65,000) in Tottenham.

Street gangs are "at the heart of all the violence," Cameron told an emergency Parliament session Thursday, citing evidence of their ties to police attacks and looting.

Cameron said he had asked senior government ministers to work "on a cross-government program of action to deal with this gang culture" to report back to Parliament in October.

"I also believe we should be looking beyond our shores to learn the lessons from others who have faced similar problems," he said. "That is why I will be discussing how we can go further in getting to grips with gangs with people like Bill Bratton."

Cameron's Downing Street office said he had spoken to Bratton Friday after the former police chief agreed to take part in a series of meetings on tackling gangs in the fall.

"Bill Bratton, who has long-standing links with British policing, will be providing this advice in a personal capacity and on an unpaid basis," a Downing Street statement said.

Bratton, who since 2009 has worked for private security consultancy Altegrity and its subsidiary Kroll, is seen as having taken bold steps to cut crime rates in New York and Los Angeles.

"I would certainly be in a position to discuss the contemporary American experience and my work in these areas -- in particular the successes that created real reductions in gang-related crime in Boston, New York and most recently in Los Angeles, where we also saw significant improvements in the relations between the police and the city's diverse communities," he said in a statement on Kroll's website Friday.

"There are many lessons from these experiences that I believe are relevant to the current situation in England."

Bratton said he believed the British government could overcome the problem, adding: "I support their resolve to seize upon this difficult situation as an opportunity to address the issues of gangs and gang violence and the resulting fear and disorder head-on."

While there have been sporadic incidents of disorder, London has been calm since Tuesday morning and other cities since early Wednesday.

About 16,000 officers -- many more than usual -- are expected to remain on London's streets through the weekend.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg warned against stirring up more trouble over the weekend, urging anyone planning to do so to "think again."

And Home Secretary Theresa May announced that a march planned for Saturday by the English Defence League, a far-right group, had been banned.

"It is clear that a ban is needed to ensure communities and property are protected," she said Friday.

Officers would be deployed to Telford, the venue of the march, she said.

In Birmingham, where three young men were killed in a hit-and-run this week thought to be connected to the unrest, community groups are planning a "peace rally" Sunday, West Midlands Police said.

Meanwhile, Cameron has angered some senior police officers by saying he thought that initially there were "simply far too few police deployed onto the streets" in London, and that "the tactics they were using weren't working."

"Police chiefs have been frank with me about why this happened," he said Thursday. "Initially, the police treated the situation too much as a public order issue rather than essentially one of crime."

source : (CNN)

Next Mars Rover Passes Key Tests on Road to Launch

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 15:01:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Next Mars rover passes key tests on road to launch

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla.--NASA's $2.4 billion Mars Science Laboratory has completed an exhaustive series of functional tests to verify the car-size rover's readiness for launch in November on an eight-and-a-half-month voyage to the Red Planet and a dramatic rocket-powered "sky crane" descent to the surface, officials said today.

Engineers now plan to carefully fold up the rover's robot arm, camera mast, wheels, and suspension so it can be packed inside a protective aeroshell that, in turn, will be attached to the bottom of a rocket-powered descent stage. The entire spacecraft then will be attached to its interplanetary cruise stage, encapsulated in a nose cone fairing in late October and hauled out to launch complex 41 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station for attachment to a United Launch Alliance Atlas 5 rocket.

Liftoff is targeted for 10:21 a.m. ET on November 25.

"We just wrapped up our last functional test of the vehicle," said Dave Gruel, who is assembly, test, and launch operations manager for the project. "Our functional test campaign included things like showing the vehicle can successfully go and do our entry, descent, and landing phase, get down to the surface and actually deploy the arm, deploy the mast, take images, things of that nature."

Starting tomorrow, he said, "we're going to start stowing the vehicle for launch."

"It's pretty overwhelming," Gruel said. "We all got to see the Juno launch just a couple days ago and realizing we are next up...is a pretty humbling experience for the team...We're all really confident we've exercised [the rover] to the best of our ability and what's next up for Curiosity is getting down to the surface of Mars and showing us what she's capable of doing."

NASA gave journalists a final chance to view the MSL flight hardware today before the rover is packed up for launch.

The Mars Science Laboratory rover, dubbed Curiosity in a student-naming contest, is the most sophisticated unmanned spacecraft ever built to rove about the surface of another planet.

Unlike past Mars missions, the Curiosity rover will not set down atop a legged lander or bounce to the surface encased in protective airbags. Instead, it will be lowered to the ground and set on its wheels by a slowly descending rocket-powered "sky crane" designed to unreel the lander like a lure on a fishing line.

At an altitude of about 65 feet, a gravity-fed harness system will lower the MSL rover away from the sky crane, which will continue its descent until the rover's wheels touch down. Sensing the change in its load, the computer will send commands to release the harness and cables; the sky crane, its job complete, will fly off to a crash landing a safe distance away.

The rover, meanwhile, will be ready to begin two Earth years of exploration to look for carbon compounds and evidence of past or present habitability. The rover also will study the chemistry and composition of rocks and soil in the landing zone, assess weather patterns, measure the radiation environment, and determine the long-term distribution of water and carbon dioxide.

By: William Harwood

source(CNETNews)

Spanish Supercopa Preview: Real Madrid - Barcelona

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 11:32:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Spanish Supercopa Preview: Real Madrid - Barcelona

The first Clasico of the season is nigh, and Goal.com takes a look at what can be expected ahead of Sunday's showdown between the Liga giants.

Probable Lineups

Real Madrid (4-2-3-1)
Casillas; Arbeloa, Pepe, Carvalho, Marcelo; Alonso, Khedira; Ozil, Di Maria, Ronaldo; Benzema

Barcelona (4-1-2-3)
Valdes; Dani Alves, Pique, Puyol, Abidal; Mascherano; Xavi, Iniesta; Pedro, Messi, Villa

Jose Mourinho is expected to field his strongest available XI on Sunday in the first leg of the Supercopa Final with Madrid missing a trio players due to injury. Sergio Ramos, Esteban Granero and summer signing Nuri Sahin are those set to miss out for los Blancos.

Ten Madrid players were on international duty during the week, with Xabi Alonso, Alvaro Arbeloa, Iker Casilla and Raul Albiol returning to training on Saturday following Spain's 2-1 defeat to Italy.

Barcelona may have to face to Real Madrid without several key players following knocks to Gerard Pique, Sergio Busquets and Xavi whilst on international duty for Spain. Xavi trained with the first team on Friday and is expected to recover in time for Sunday whilst Pique and Sergio will both face fitness test on Saturday to determine if they can play.

Pep Guardiola is expected to name a strong outfit but new signing Alexis Sanchez is likely to start on the bench for the current La Liga champions.
source(Goal)

LiveStream Manchester United vs Manchester City 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:21:00 +0000

LiveStream Manchester United vs Manchester City 2011

Breaking News Streaming TV

Probable Lineups Manchester United vs Manchester City

LiveStream Manchester United vs Manchester City 2011

Channel 1 | Channel 2 | Channel 3

LiveStream Manchester United vs Manchester City 2011

Preview : Manchester Unitd vs Manchester City

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 12:06:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Preview : Manchester Unitd vs Manchester City -- thebusbybabe

The Manchester derby is once again headed to Wembley Stadium - this time in the FA Community Shield, which is played between the English Premier League champion and the FA Cup winners. In their two league matches last season, Manchester United got the best of their "noisy neighbors" as they earned a draw at the Eastlands in a 0-0 stalemate while Wayne Rooney's famous overhead kick proved to be the winner in a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford. However, Manchester City got some vengeance in a FA Cup semi-final tie at Wembley with a 1-0 victory - this propelled them to their first trophy in 35 years after City defeated Stoke City in the final. While United have participated in 14 of the last 19 Community Shield matches, they have only met City once in this competition - a 1956 tie that United won 1-0. This fixture is typically a glorified pre-season match but both sides may potentially see this particular encounter as something more - especially when each considers who their opponent is and the context of City's ambition.

Manchester United

In preparation for the upcoming season, United embarked to the United States for a pre-season tour. While across the pond, the Reds played four matches against Major League Soccer (MLS) competition and outscored their counterparts 18-2. The grand finale of the tour was an exhibition versus FC Barcelona in Washington D.C. where United earned a small measure of revenge against the Catalan side with a 2-1 victory, whom they had just lost to in the UEFA Champions League final in May.

While United certainly looked the part as favorites to repeat as Premier League champions during their tour through the U.S., perhaps the most important part of their adventure was the acclimation of newcomers David de Gea, Ashley Young, and Phil Jones. de Gea, the presumed new No 1 after a £18.9 million transfer fee during the summer, joined the tour in Seattle after helping Spain's U-21 side win the European Championship in July. Young, the former Aston Villa attacker and current rising England international, looked electric at times during his stints on the left flank. Jones, the 19-year-old defender, showed his versatility and promise while featuring both at center-back and right-back.

In addition, United have mostly gone through the pre-season unscathed. The one major exception to this is the concussion that Javier 'Chicharito' Hernandez suffered while training in New Jersey. It is being speculated that the Mexican striker will miss the early portion of the Premier League season. In less serious news, it has been reported that both Michael Carrick and Rafael have both received minor knocks, however, the latter participated last night in Paul Scholes' testimonial match at Old Trafford. Darren Fletcher and Antonio Valencia both stayed back in Manchester during the tour to recover from illness and injury, respectively. Manager Sir Alex Ferguson has indicated each should be available at season's beginning.

Manchester City

While United's preparation for the season can generally be described as having gone smoothly thus far, the same probably cannot be said for their neighbors.

Quite simply, this has to do with their talisman and Manchester-hating captain Carlos Tevez showing himself to be selfish - the reports that he had to be threatened with fines in order to show up for their FA Cup winning parade during the Spring is incredibly telling of his situation at City. While he has been linked with a move to Corinthians or for a loan spell to Inter, the Argentine striker is still a City squad member. The mercurial, but immensely talented striker will miss the Community Shield match as he is still on leave after his Copa American duty for Argentina.

There certainly is a positive side though for City in regards to their summer - mainly in the £38 million acquisition of Sergio 'Kun' Aguero. The Argentine attacker is arguably world-class and he may prove to the be signing of the summer transfer window. If Tevez does depart City, Aguero could show himself to be more than suitable as a replacement. If the Tevez saga continues at Eastlands, Aguero theoretically could play in the hole right behind Tevez in attack. In addition, City have brought in Gael Clichy from Arsenal FC and the promising Stefan Savic from Partizan Belgrade over the summer.

Probable Lineups

Despite the high-profile nature of this match, it is still a friendly. Therefore, attempting to project lineups may prove to be a futile exercise. However, I will have a go at it because the discussion of it can still provide a useful preview of the tie.

A few weeks back, while still on tour in the U.S. Fergie indicated that de Gea would be his man in between the posts at Wembley. In recent days, and despite playing in last night's testimonial for Scholes, the manager ruled out Rafael while citing a knock. Thus, this likely means his twin brother Fabio starting at right-back with the possibility of either Jones or Chris Smalling deputising as well. At the left-back, it is likely that the durable Patrice Evra gets the nod but Fabio or Jonny Evans could feature as well. At center-back, captain Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are clear first-choice but the youngster Smalling is a strong possibility to deputise for Ferdinand. If United play with a two-man central midfield, Anderson and Tom Cleverley may get the nod in the center of the park with Carrick ruled out and also with possible limitation of minutes for the 37-year-old Ryan Giggs. On the flanks, Park Ji-sung is possible on the left after not featuring versus FC Barcelona and also in last night's testimonial. Nani appears most likely on the right flank but Fergie may seek to get Valencia some playing time as well prior to the season's start.

Rooney is almost certainly to start - either in the attack line if Fergie uses a three-man central midfield or playing withdrawn and between the lines in attack if United play 4-4-1-1. Michael Owen or Dimitar Berbatov is the likely choice at striker. If United do play with three in the center, an interesting possibility is Jones at the base of the midfield - a role he played 18 times last season for Blackburn Rovers.

For City, their No 1 Joe Hart will be in goal. His center-back pairing is likely to be Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott. Newly acquired Clichy is probable at left-back while Micah Richards could lineup on the opposite side. Nigel De Jong will probably shield his defense with Gareth Barry as the possession midfielder alongside him.

Further up the pitch, Yaya Toure likely starts and he could be flanked by David Silva and James Milner - Adam Johnson is a possibility as well. Up top, expect to see either Mario Balotelli or Edin Dzeko. Aguero is reported to have a stomach bug but he is expected to make the trip to London and he could be featured as a substitute.

Lucille Ball Biography and Videos

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 16:11:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Lucille Ball Biography and Videos -- www.biography.com

Television comedienne and film actress. Born on August 6, 1911, in Jamestown, New York, to Henry Durrell Ball and his wife Desiree. The oldest of the couple's two children (a brother Fred, was born in 1915), Lucille's childhood was a bit of a hardscrabble affair, one shaped by tragedy and a lack of money.

Ball's father Henry, or Had as he was known to his family, was an electrician and not long after his daughter's birth he relocated the family to Montana for work. Then it was off to Michigan, where Had took a job as a telephone lineman with the Michigan Bell Company. Life came undone in February 1915 when Had was struck with typhoid fever and died. For Ball, just three years old at the time, her father's death not only set in motion a series of difficult childhood hurdles, but also served as the young girl's first real significant memory.

"I do remember everything that happened," she said. "Hanging out the window, begging to play with the kids next door who had measles the doctor coming, my mother weeping. I remember a bird that flew in the window, a picture that fell off the wall."

Desiree, still reeling from her husband's unexpected death and still pregnant with Fred, packed up and returned to Jamestown, New York, where she eventually found work in a factory and a new husband, Ed Peterson. Peterson, though, wasn't a fan of kids, especially young ones, and with Desiree's blessing, he moved her to Detroit without his wife's young son or daughter. Fred moved in with Desiree's parents while Lucille was forced to make a new home with Ed's folks. For Ball that meant contending with Peterson's stern mother who didn't have much money to lavish on her step-granddaughter. The family, Lucille would later recall, lacked enough money even for school pencils.

Finally, at age 11, Lucille reunited with her mother when Desiree and Ed returned to Jamestown. Even then, Ball had an itching to do something big and when she was 15, she convinced her mother allow her to enroll in a New York City drama school. But despite her longing to make it on the stage, Ball was too nervous to draw much notice.

"I was a tongue-tied teenager spellbound by the school's star pupil, Bette Davis," said Ball. The school finally wrote her mother. "Lucy's wasting her time and ours. She's to shy and reticent to put her best foot forward."

She remained in New York City, however, and by 1927 Ball, who had started calling herself Montana and later Diane Belmont found work as a model, first for fashion designer Hattie Carnegie, and then, after overcoming a debilitating bout of rheumatoid arthritis, Chesterfield cigarettes.

In the early 1930s, Ball, who had dyed her chestnut hair blonde, moved to Hollywood to seek out more acting opportunities. Work soon followed, including a stint as one of the 12 "Goldwyn Girls" to promote the 1933 Eddie Cantor flick, Roman Candles. She landed as an extra in the Ritz Brothers film, The Three Muskateers, and then in 1937, earned a sizeable part in Stage Door, starring Katherine Hepburn and Ginger Rogers.

Watch Lucille Ball Videos

Highlights All Goal and SuperCoppa Italiana 2011 Match Result

noreply@blogger.com (Breaking News) — Sat, 06 Aug 2011 15:31:00 +0000

Breaking News -- Highlights All Goal and SuperCoppa Italiana 2011 Match Result -- source(Goal)

AC Milan 2-1 Inter: Kevin-Prince Boateng and Zlatan Ibrahimovic complete comeback to give Serie A champions Supercoppa Italiana. Italian champions recover from going behind to an early Wesley Sneijder strike to secure victory and seal the first silverware of the season.

AC Milan beat Inter 2-1 in the Supercoppa Italiana final in an enthralling encounter which saw the Rosseneri come from a goal down to claim the trophy. Wesley Sneijder’s free-kick gave Gian Piero Gasperini’s men an early advantage. However strikes from Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Kevin-Prince Boateng completed the comeback as Massimiliano Allegri’s men won the first silverware of the 2011-12 season.

The match opened in frantic fashion as seconds after Wesley Sneijder’s ambitious effort flew wide, Milan counter-attacked and almost took the lead. Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s exquisite touch was met by Robinho but the Brazilian forward wasted a glorious chance by curling it past Julio Cesar’s post.

Massimiliano Allegri’s men would go on to regret that missed opportunity as Inter began to dominate proceedings. Their pressure culminated in Sneijder curling home a free-kick into Christian Abbiati’s top left corner to give the Coppa Italia winners a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute.

Inter looked to make the most of their control of the game as Samuel Eto’o and Ricky Alvarez saw efforts but neither of their efforts troubled Abbiati significantly. Ibrahimovic gave the opposition a reminder of his quality as he saw his header rebound off the post just before half-time as Inter held a deserved 1-0 lead after 45 minutes.

Milan emerged from the dressing room in a much more determined mood and they began the second period as the better team. Robinho’s skill helped tee up Clarence Seedorf but the Dutchman could only put the ball wide. However they did not have to wait long more to get back onto level terms. Robinho lofted a super ball over the Inter defence and Seedorf squared the ball for Ibrahimovic to equalise on the hour.

The comeback was complete just nine minutes later as Boateng pounced on a parry from Julio Cesar. Alexandre Pato, just on as a sub, saw his shot cannon off the post via Cesar’s hand but the Ghanaian international was on hand to follow up and make the score 2-1.

Inter looked to have snatched an equalier through Eto'o late on as they relentlessly searched for a lifeline. However the ex-Barcelona striker was judged to have been offside as he put the ball in the net.

Allegri's charges held on for the first Milan derby win of the season over their rivals in a win which is sure to fill with them confidence as they set out to retain their Serie A title this season. The champions open their Scudetto defence away to Cagliari on August 27th. Meanwhile Gasperini's men will begin their quest to reclaim the Serie A title at home to Lecce on August 28th.

Watch Highlights All Goal SuperCoppa 2011