Top News Stories
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Less oil on surface means less work for fishermen 29 July 2010, 3:43 pm
Even when the oily sheen starts fading from the surface of the Gulf of Mexico, it manages to become bad news for fishermen....
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Adult industry sees potential in iPorn 29 July 2010, 3:36 pm
It's a maxim of technology: Invent the newest gadget and the porn industry will find a way to cash in....
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Toyota recalls more vehicles 29 July 2010, 3:02 pm
Toyota is recalling 412,000 passenger cars, mostly the Avalon model, in the United States and another 16,420 vehicles in Japan for steering problems, the automaker said Thursday....
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Obama: We'll get back money from auto bailout 29 July 2010, 2:31 pm
President Barack Obama said the government will recover all the taxpayer money his administration provided to bail out the auto industry last year....
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New rule cracks down on debt settlement industry 29 July 2010, 2:26 pm
Companies that promise to reduce or eliminate credit card balances and other debt for customers will no longer be allowed to charge an upfront fee....
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Winn-Dixie announces 30 stores closing 29 July 2010, 9:25 am
Winn-Dixie Stores Inc. announced which of the 30 underperforming stores it will close and none are in the Bay area....
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Melting Pot chain expanding to gourmet burgers and pizza 29 July 2010, 7:17 am
The Melting Pot chain of fondue restaurants will soon stick their skewers into a different sort of restaurant concept: Burgers and Pizzas....
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1,400 shuttle contractors to lose jobs 29 July 2010, 5:50 am
The private contractor that handles the bulk of the work servicing NASA's space shuttle fleet is notifying 1,400 employees in Florida, Texas and Alabama that they will be laid off in the fall....
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Foreclosure activity continues to rise locally 29 July 2010, 5:00 am
Nine of the nation's top 20 metro foreclosure rates are in Florida, with the Tampa area rounding out the list....
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AP: Weak economy to persist 28 July 2010, 10:00 pm
The U.S. economic recovery will remain slow deep into 2011, held back by shoppers reluctant to spend and employers hesitant to hire, according to an Associated Press survey of leading economists....
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Charlie Liem named to head Florida’s business regulation 29 July 2010, 2:08 pm
Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Charlie Liem secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation.
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Nicholas Financial branches added, 1Q income swells 29 July 2010, 1:30 pm
Nicholas Financial Inc. report net income of $3.6 million, or 30 cents a share, for the three months ended June 30, compared with net income of $2.3 million, or 20 cents a share, in the same period a year earlier. (NICK)
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HCHMA topics of the day: Recession, oil spill 29 July 2010, 12:55 pm
Before the Deepwater Horizon disaster sent oil in to the Gulf of Mexico, the Tampa Bay area tourism industry already was dealing with the economic downturn.
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Report: Oil spill will delay recovery 29 July 2010, 12:55 pm
A new statewide forecast released Thursday by University of Central Florida economist Sean Snaith concludes the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster isn’t just hurting tourism and the environment, it likely will delay the state’s economic recovery for at least a year.
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Jabil Circuit might expand in Kentucky 29 July 2010, 12:46 pm
Jabil Circuit Inc. is considering an expansion of its Jeffersontown, Ky., operation, a move that could create 241 jobs. (JBL)
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SEC settles with Clearwater investment advisor Scott Spencer 29 July 2010, 9:25 am
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission has agreed to a settlement with Spencer International Advisors Inc. of Clearwater and its president, Scott Spencer.
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With loan costs written off, MarineMax achieves profitability 29 July 2010, 9:01 am
MarineMax reported third quarter income of $512,000, or $0.02 per share, compared with a loss of $9.2 million, or $0.49 per share, in the same quarter last fiscal year. (HZO)
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Ochsner Health: Gulf oil spill spikes mental illness reports 29 July 2010, 8:20 am
A survey shows the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is impacting the mental health of coastal residents in four states bordering the Gulf.
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Proxy advisors back Gerdau merger 29 July 2010, 8:03 am
A $1.6 billion deal for Gerdau S.A. to take Gerdau Ameristeel Corp. private won the backing of two firms that provide advice to shareholders. (GGB) (GNA)
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New circulation rules could affect newspaper advertising 29 July 2010, 7:58 am
The St. Petersburg Times will soon be able count readers of its tabloid publication tbt along with daily subscribers when it sets advertising rates. (MEG)
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Top Technology Stories
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Canadian iPhone 4 launch details emerge: Rogers offers 6GB for $30, iPad sharing for $20 (update: Bell's iPad deal cheaper) 29 July 2010, 4:48 pm
The iPhone 4 may be launching on all the major Canadian carriers tomorrow, but we're only just now starting to get the actual details on what they'll be offering. Rogers is the first out of the gate and, for a change, it looks like folks in the US may just be a tad jealous of their northern neighbors. It's not only offering the iPhone 4 for a further discounted price -- $159 for the 16GB and $269 for the 32GB on a three-year contract (for both new and existing customers eligible for a hardware ...
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Ballmer on iPad: 'they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold' 29 July 2010, 4:32 pm
Poor guy can't catch a break. Talking to analysts today about the world of tablets, Steve Ballmer put on a brave face about his lack of a strong competitor to the iPad, saying of Windows 7 products in the works with third parties: "They'll be shipping as soon as they are ready." Unfortunately, Apple's iPad looms large, with Ballmer stating that "they've sold certainly more than I'd like them to have sold." Perhaps more revelatory, Steve likened the tablet challenge to the situation Microsoft fa...
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The Engadget Show returns Wednesday, August 4th with game designer Peter Molyneux, Windows Phone 7, and much more! 29 July 2010, 4:02 pm
Well ladies and gentlemen, it's that time again -- the Engadget Show is back in a big way on Wednesday, August 4th at 8pm! This time around, we'll have the inimitable Peter Molyneux, one of the world's most forward-thinking game designers and creator of "Black & White" and the "Fable" franchise. What's more, we'll have a rousing roundtable with Josh, Paul, and Nilay, some fine, fine music from Zen Albatross, mind-bending visuals from invaderbacca, and a few other big surprises. As usual, ...
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Hitachi shows off new gesture-based interface, touts grand plans 29 July 2010, 2:51 pm
Hitachi's already dipped its toes (or hands, as it were) into the gesture-based waters before, but it looks to have refined things quite a bit for its latest Minority Report-esque demo, which the company is showing off as part of its 100th anniversary celebration. While complete details are a bit light, the system does seem to be reasonably responsive, and appears to rely on a projection-based system and a single camera to track movements. Perhaps what's most interesting, however, is that Hitac...
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How many trees must die for iWave's Earth-friendly headphones, iPhone cases? (update) 29 July 2010, 2:23 pm
We're not experts or anything, but cutting down trees to manufacture your headphones ($30), ear buds ($20), and iPhone cases ($25) does not really seem all that "green" to us. But what good is selling stuff made from "reusable, environmentally friendly and recyclable materials" if you can't broadcast your sense of social responsibility with "rustic wood grain finishes and smooth earthy tones" that "mirror the true beauty that surrounds us?" Is we right, or is we right? The Grass Roots Collecti...
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Parrot AR.Drone now available for pre-order, shipping September 3rd 29 July 2010, 2:01 pm
Been itching to get your hands on the Parrot AR.Drone ever since it first took flight at CES way back in January? Well, you can now finally get your $299 pre-order in to ensure it ships to you on the September 3rd launch date. What's more, Parrot has also announced that the Drone will be exclusively available at Brookstone stores in the U.S., where you'll be able to try it out first-hand through October 31st. Head on past the break for the complete press release, and be sure to check out our re...
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EVO 4G's Android 2.2 update starts trickling out tomorrow, loads of new features and fixes in store? 29 July 2010, 1:18 pm
We're not certain that this date is going to hold -- things like this have an uncanny tendency to slip at the last possible moment -- but we're at least hopeful to see some internal Sprint communication that they're trying to get the EVO 4G updated to Froyo as soon as tomorrow, July 30. It'd be the perfect way to kick off the weekend, wouldn't it? Turns out this is no mere 2.2 upgrade, though -- they're making a bunch of changes, too, including a host of new preloaded widgets, a flashlight mode...
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Droid 2 manual leaks, teaches you everything you need to know about a phone you don't have 29 July 2010, 12:57 pm
You know the drill: blurry shots of phone get leaked... user's manual gets leaked... excited would-be buyers voraciously consume manual's contents... phone finally gets released. Indeed, that's precisely the same well-trodden path the upcoming Droid 2 is taking, so if you're looking at getting this thing in the next few weeks, you might want to start skimming the documentation so there aren't any embarrassing newbie missteps in your first few moments of ownership. As Droid Life notes, we've got...
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Think City electric car gets bigger American batteries for bigger American roads 29 July 2010, 12:15 pm
The electric Think City has been targeting an American release for well over two years now but, like many EVs, those dates just kept on 'a slipping. Now the cars are finally starting to hit the colonies and, as a reward for the wait, we're receiving models with more powerful batteries. The cells are supplied by Indiana-based Ener1, a new lithium-manganese pack that offers 25kWh. Those cells are said to double the car's previous expected range, up to 100 miles from 50, yet still recharge in a sc...
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T-Mobile's apparent myTouch 3G HD gets spied from the rear 29 July 2010, 11:27 am
So, how do you feel about the look of this myTouch 3G HD we've been seeing this week? Haven't formed a complete opinion yet? Well, maybe this new shot -- seemingly of said phone's backside -- will help. As we've seen on past models, the rear features a tastefully-sized myTouch logo, lending a dose of credibility to the picture that seems to have been covertly snapped off a monitor where the render was being shown. In other words, we don't have much reason to doubt this thing -- and considering ...
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Wear Your iPod Shuffle and Nothing Else [Accessories] 29 July 2010, 4:40 pm
What to make of the diminutive iPod Shuffle? It's handy for working out, but immediately less handy if you don't have a sporty top to clip it to. That leaves you with two options: your earlobe or the Pod-à-porter neckband. More »
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What's the Best Graphics Card for StarCraft II? [Gaming] 29 July 2010, 4:20 pm
The gang over at TechSpot loaded up the newly-released StarCraft II on what seems like a hundred different PC setups to determine what the best hardware setup for the insanely popular real-time strategy game is. Here are the results: More »
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Apple Patents Suggest You'll Soon Rely On Apps To Get Dressed And Leave The House [Apple] 29 July 2010, 4:13 pm
As if some of us aren't already too attached to our iOS devices, Apple seems to be working on ways to add to our addictions: Recent patent applications show that Apple may be creating virtual closet and travel apps. More »
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CIA and Google's Joint Investment Raising Eyebrows [Google] 29 July 2010, 4:00 pm
Cambridge startup Recorded Future trawls the internet for raw data that it uses in an attempt to predict world events—understandably interesting stuff. But what do both Google and the CIA both see in the company? Wired digs deeper. More »
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Amazon Tote Hand Delivers Your Orders Weekly, In a Bag, To Your Door [Amazon Tote] 29 July 2010, 3:59 pm
As an (greener) alternative to Amazon Prime's free two-day shipping, there's Amazon Tote, which gives you all your orders from the last week delivered once a week in a snazzy reusable tote bag. More »
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Major Corporations Are Downloading Those 100 Million Facebook Profiles off BitTorrent [BitTorrent] 29 July 2010, 3:20 pm
Remember that torrent yesterday that contained the personal information off of 100 million scraped Facebook profiles? I thought it was strange that the guy didn't sell this information, since many companies would be interested. Turns out they are interested. More »
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Steve Ballmer On iPad Sales: Not Happy [Blockquote] 29 July 2010, 3:19 pm
Asked by analysts about the 3 million magical iPads sold in 80 days, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer wasn't very happy. I'm not surprised: They only sold 1.32 million Tablet PCs in 2008, with 1.25 million estimated for 2010. [Techflash] More »
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Motorola's Sales Jump 600% Since Last Year [Motorola] 29 July 2010, 3:19 pm
Selling 8.3 million mobile phones, 2.7 of which were smart phones, provided Motorola with earnings of $162 million this quarter, compared to $26 million this time last year. Motorola's success is largely due to the Droid, which was dropped late last year and leads the market in Android phone sales. [TG Daily] More »
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Jailbreak Matrix Matches Your iOS Device to the Right Jailbreak Tool [Jailbreak] 29 July 2010, 3:00 pm
Confused on what you need to jailbreak your iOS device? Whether you've got a brand new iPad or a first-generation iPod Touch, Jailbreak Matrix dishes the dirt on what you need to jailbreak your device. More »
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Hacker Develops Program To Make ATMs Spit Out Free Cash [Atm] 29 July 2010, 2:49 pm
ATMs use computers. Computers have weaknesses. Hackers exploit weaknesses. See where this is going? A hacker developed software that can force an ATM's computer to give free cash. Luckily for banks, he showed off his technique at the Black Hat conference. More »
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"Animal connection" helps separate humans from other species 29 July 2010, 4:10 pm
For centuries, people have tried to pinpoint what makes humans unique. The most current scientific theory suggests that three main qualities separate Homo sapiens from other animals: the construction and use of complex tools, the use of symbolic behavior including language, art, and ritual, and the domestication of other plants and animals. However, in a new paper in Current Anthropology, Dr. Pat Shipman suggests a fourth trait unique to humans.Shipman cites humans' lon...
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Sprint set to release 3G-enabling "case" for iPod touch 29 July 2010, 3:20 pm
Recently released FCC documents reveal that Sprint is set to launch what appears to be a new case for the iPod touch that would enable 3G networking on the WiFi-only device. Manufactured by ZTE and called the "Peel," the case is essentially a MiFi-like mobile hotspot that snaps on to an iPod touch, giving it a network connection wherever you can get a Sprint 3G signal.
The Peel has its own 3.4Whr lithium ion battery, which is good for about 40hrs of standby time...
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Congress ponders privacy of your underwear, immortal soul 29 July 2010, 2:44 pm
At a Congressional Internet privacy hearing on Tuesday, a group of middle-aged men had some questions about the 'Net. Why was it such a creepy place? How come replying to spammers doesn't get one immediately removed from their e-mail lists? And what is this talk we hear about websites gaining the rights to one's immortal soul?
The creepiness was best summed up by the Senate Commerce Committee's Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), who in his opening statement compared the Internet to ...
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Feature: WiFi "Hole196": major exploit or much ado about little? 29 July 2010, 2:10 pm
The latest hole in WiFi security is quite serious, but it's unlikely to cause widespread disruption in the corporate and government networks for which it would have the potential to cause the biggest headaches.
In fact, the exploit continues to demonstrate a lack of any effective method of cracking the WiFi Alliance WPA/WPA2 certified versions of IEEE encryption standards found in WiFi gear of the past seven years. Brute force and dictionary attacks against short passphr...
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Internet Explorer 9 beta to arrive in September 29 July 2010, 1:04 pm
Microsoft Chief Operating Officer Kevin Turner revealed today at the company's annual financial analyst meeting that the first beta of the Internet Explorer 9 Web browser is planned for release in September. This is a little later than expected; leaked documents that emerged last month pointed at an August release date for the beta.
Some apparently authentic screenshots of Internet Explorer 9 have leaked, though perhaps surprisingly, they show few changes from the curren...
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Magic Trackpad or tragic Mac pad? A review 29 July 2010, 12:37 pm
When I was 12, using a Performa 600CD, my parents gave me an external trackpad accessory that connected via ADB (a moment of silence for Apple Desktop Bus, please... thank you) for my birthday. The useable surface area was tiny—maybe three-quarters the size of a 3.5" floppy—and clunky, but I thought it was the coolest thing ever... for about five minutes. I soon learned that tracking around your desktop computer to play Oregon Trail and put together school proj...
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Bridging the gap between biomass and petrochemicals 29 July 2010, 12:00 pm
This week's issue of Science
takes a look at work that could help bridge the gap
between biomass fuel production and traditional
petrochemical engineering. Modern
society relies on petrochemicals not only for our primary transportation needs,
but also for most
of the chemicals and polymers that we use. With the
increased focus on using woody and agricultural stock to create
biofuels, most notably bioethanol, it is worth asking if these feedstocks can support the rest of ou...
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StarCraft 2 is a full game, no matter what whiners say 29 July 2010, 11:35 am
The Internet, taken as a sort of buzzing collective, can be hard on games. The Amazon ratings for StarCraft 2 have become a battlefield, with many rating the game based on features that gamers feel should have been included, or trashing the game because it's only one-third of the full release; the Zerg and Protoss sections of the campaign will be released at some point in the future. Looking at Blizzard's history with shipping games, we feel safe assuming that it won't be ...
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Google in the clear over UK WiFi snooping 29 July 2010, 11:02 am
The Information Commissioner's Office has said that Google did not grab "significant" amounts of personal data when photographing the UK with its StreetView cars, and that the information captured is unlikely to include "meaningful personal details" or information that could be linked to an "identifiable person."
In its statement, the ICO said that Google was "wrong" to collect the information, but that ultimately, there was no evidence that the data collected could cause...
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Windows 7 trounces Windows XP at green computing 29 July 2010, 10:37 am
Mindteck, a company that offers embedded software development and consultancy services, has released power consumption data after testing sleep, idle, low-use, and high-use scenarios of various Windows PCs. The researchers also built a model to estimate cost savings (pictured above) by using a centralized power management policy. What really piqued our interest, though, was that Mindteck looked at the effect of processor chipset drivers on the power consumption (in w...
Top Health Stories
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What your scale won't tell you 27 July 2010, 11:00 pm
Normal weight obesity — normal BMI but too much body fat — can be a health risk....
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Septic arthritis: Stopping the pain, damage to your joint 27 July 2010, 11:00 pm
Septic arthritis — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms and treatment of joint infections caused by bacteria....
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Technology can extend life, but at what cost? 27 July 2010, 11:00 pm
No one lives forever, so why do so many people keep trying?...
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Vitamin B-12 injections for weight loss: Do they work? 26 July 2010, 11:00 pm
Vitamin B-12 injections — A weight-loss shot sounds appealing, but does it work?...
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Tips for diffusing anger in those with dementia 26 July 2010, 11:00 pm
As a caregiver, provide a sense of control to your loved one with dementia....
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Bilirubin test: An important liver function indicator 23 July 2010, 11:00 pm
Bilirubin test — Overview covers definition, results of this test for liver disease....
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Ischemic colitis: Most mild cases improve on their own 23 July 2010, 11:00 pm
Ischemic colitis — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms, causes, treatment of this disorder of the colon....
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Zollinger-Ellison syndrome: Treatment addresses excess acid, tumors 23 July 2010, 11:00 pm
Zollinger-Ellison syndrome — Comprehensive overview covers symptoms and treatment of this rare disorder....
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Get positive about quitting smoking 23 July 2010, 12:26 pm
Find a way to think positive about quitting smoking and empower yourself to go smoke-free....
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Stress relief from laughter? Yes, no joke 22 July 2010, 11:00 pm
Laughter is powerful stress-relief medicine. Discover how to fire up your sense of humor....
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More Evidence Links Fractures to Diabetes Drugs 29 July 2010, 5:37 pm
The popular diabetes drugs Actos and Avandia boost the risk of fracture in older women, according to findings from a new study that echo those of earlier research....
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Swine Flu Pandemic Hit Children the Hardest 29 July 2010, 4:29 pm
The H1N1 flu strain that sparked the first influenza pandemic in four decades has caused the majority of flu cases so far in the 2009-2010 season, the CDC says....
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Bedbugs Biting All Over U.S. 29 July 2010, 3:14 pm
The largest survey examining bedbug infestations ever conducted suggests that the creepy, blood-sucking creatures are being found and fought all over the United States....
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Unusual Ways to Quit Smoking 29 July 2010, 2:36 pm
WebMD discusses ways you can kick the smoking habit for good....
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Teach Your Kids Cold- & Flu-Fighting Habits 29 July 2010, 12:32 pm
Can a preschooler really learn ways to protect herself from cold and flu viruses? Here’s what the experts had to say....
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Potty Training the Clean Way 29 July 2010, 12:31 pm
Make potty training easier -- and keep germs at bay -- with these quick toilet training tips for your tot....
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When Kids Are Sick: How to Prevent Germs from Spreading 29 July 2010, 12:30 pm
Want to prevent viruses from spreading in your home? These quick tips from the pros may help....
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Diaper Change: Diapering Baby the Healthy Way 29 July 2010, 12:29 pm
Take some of the germy mess out of diaper changes with these quick changing tips from the pros....
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Protecting Your Baby From Other's Germs 29 July 2010, 12:23 pm
How can you keep your baby healthy and get other people to keep their germs to themselves? Follow these tips....
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Healthy Baby: Protecting Babies and Toddlers From Germs at Home 29 July 2010, 12:22 pm
It’s a germy world. To keep your baby healthy, it pays to know how tackle germs -- and to know when you don’t have to....
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Eldercare Questions 29 July 2010, 3:01 pm
Submit your questions about caregiving to an elder law attorney.
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Monitoring Mother 29 July 2010, 2:22 pm
New technology is making it possible for adult children to monitor aging parents closely -- perhaps too closely.
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When Unemployed Means Unhealthy Too 29 July 2010, 2:02 pm
As a primary care doctor in a city hospital clinic, I see patients from all cultures, speaking all languages. But lately there have been patients from a new culture-the recently -laid-off-now-without-insurance culture.
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Monitoring Elderly Parents 29 July 2010, 12:39 pm
New technologies can help adult children keep track of their aging parents.
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Are Migraines Linked to a Heart Defect? 29 July 2010, 11:37 am
Dr. David Dodick of the Mayo Clinic explores the link between migraines and a hole in the heart.
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Washington State Moves to Tighten Controls on Pain Killers 29 July 2010, 9:55 am
Regulators in Washington State are attempting to stem what some see as the excessive use of prescribed narcotics.
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The Cruelest Month: For Some Fitness Buffs, July Heat Is No Obstacle 29 July 2010, 1:00 am
When you’re dedicated to your fitness routine, weeks of 90-something weather is no obstacle.
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Sanofi Said to Plan a Bid of $70 for Genzyme 28 July 2010, 11:20 pm
A deal would bolster Sanofi’s drug pipeline and significantly increase its presence in biopharmaceuticals.
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Novartis Plans Giveaway of New Children’s Medicine 28 July 2010, 11:17 pm
The Swiss drug giant will give away up to 250,000 bottles of a liquid medicine to woo parents frustrated by the recall of liquid children’s Tylenol.
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Personal Health: What Do You Lack? Probably Vitamin D 28 July 2010, 9:04 pm
If recent findings hold up in future research, the consequences of vitamin D deficiency are likely to go far beyond excessive bone loss.
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Top Politics Stories
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Obama Takes On Critics of Education Program 29 July 2010, 4:01 pm
President Obama on Thursday sought to deflect criticisms from some minority and teachers groups.
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Political Points: WikiLeaks and Watchdogs 29 July 2010, 3:19 pm
Times reporters discuss the Afghanistan documents and the search for a consumer protection chief in this week's podcast.
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Rangel to Stand Trial on Ethics Violations 29 July 2010, 2:53 pm
Members of the House ethics committee on Thursday detailed the charges against Representative Charles B. Rangel, who failed to reach a settlement to avoid the proceeding.
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U.S. Nuclear Forensics Skill Is Declining, Report Says 29 July 2010, 2:40 pm
A lack of resources and organizational problems are hampering America’s ability to identify nuclear weapons used in a terrorist attack, researchers say.
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Congress Is Rethinking Its Ban on Internet Gambling 29 July 2010, 2:11 pm
Under pressure to find new revenue sources, Congress is reconsidering legalizing, and taxing, Internet gambling.
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Sherrod Says She Will Sue Blogger 29 July 2010, 1:53 pm
Speaking to the National Association of Black Journalists, Shirley Sherrod said she intended to sue Andrew Breitbart, the blogger who posted the edited video of her making what appeared to be antiwhite remarks in a speech that was really about racial conciliation.
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Small-Business Bill Falters on Senate Partisanship 29 July 2010, 1:51 pm
The procedural blockade underscored how determined Republicans are to deny Democrats any further victories.
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Rangel to Stand Trial Before House Ethics Panel 29 July 2010, 1:27 pm
Charles B. Rangel and the ethics committee fail to reach a settlement to avoid a potentially embarrassing proceeding.
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Pelosi Defends Democrats on Ethics 29 July 2010, 1:23 pm
The speaker says her party managed to "drain the swamp" of misconduct. Republicans see things differently.
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U.S. Military Scrutinizes Leaks for Risks to Afghans 29 July 2010, 12:53 pm
Some of the documents released by WikiLeaks contain the names of Afghans who gave information to NATO troops.
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Tom Tancredo Officially Enters Colorado Governor's Race 29 July 2010, 5:36 pm
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Former U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo has made it official – he's running for Colorado governor on the American Constitution Party ticket. Tancredo......
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HUFFPOST HILL - JULY 29TH, 2010 29 July 2010, 5:32 pm
With the August recess quickly approaching it looks like Congress won't be able to pass the comprehensive energy reform oil spill bill before September. There......
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Joe Minarik: "Good Debt" and "Bad Debt?" 29 July 2010, 5:15 pm
Borrow for "consumption," and you get "bad debt." Borrow for things that increase future economic growth, and that is "good debt." There is no "good" public debt....
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Michael P. McDonald: Young People Don't Vote in Midterm Elections 29 July 2010, 4:55 pm
Among the reasons why Democratic candidates face a difficult electoral environment this year has to do with who is most likely going to vote this......
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Noelle Bell: Governor Perry Caught in Explosive Dirty Deals Scandal 29 July 2010, 4:51 pm
This week, Governor Rick Perry has found himself mired in a growing scandal over his sneaky land deals that have netted him over a million dollars while in public office. Here's more on this nasty scandal....
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Sherrod's Suit Against Breitbart May Be Hurt By Her Quickly Repaired Reputation 29 July 2010, 4:37 pm
In deciding to sue conservative Internet provocateur Andrew Breitbart for libel, former Agriculture Department official Shirley Sherrod may end up being harmed by the quick......
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Erin Burnett: 'Everyone's Talking About' How We Should Extend Bush Tax Cuts To Wealthiest Americans 29 July 2010, 4:13 pm
Here's a bizarre exchange between CNBC's Erin Burnett and Representative Barney Frank (D-Mass.) that occurred on the teevee today. It began with this set-up from......
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Sharron Angle Senate Campaign: How To Lose An 11-Point Lead In 7 Weeks 29 July 2010, 4:10 pm
Following Tea Party-backed candidate Sharron Angle's come-from-nowhere win in Nevada's Republican primary, the conservative hopeful has found herself trekking along a rocky road in her......
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Michael Crawford: NOM's Growing Desperation 29 July 2010, 4:05 pm
In a clear sign of its growing desperation to place positive spin on its failing anti-gay bus tour, National Organization for Marriage is now throwing......
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Jessica DuLong: Learning From Shirley Sherrod: Finding Common Ground With the Working Class 29 July 2010, 3:47 pm
Sherrod's take-home message wasn't promoting race-based division. Instead she pointed out the importance of recognizing the injustice that affects people of all races, across the political spectrum: Economic inequality....
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Obama v. Rockefeller on EPA carbon regulations 29 July 2010, 5:20 pm
While the energy bill won't do much in the way of carbon regulation, the EPA still can. That is, if coal state Senators can be stopped. Via David Dayen, earlier this week the White House vowed to veto legislation that would block the EPA from writing new climate change rules. Coal-state Democrats, led by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (W. Va.), Reps. Rick Boucher (Va.) and Nick Rahall (W. Va), are trying to limit the federal government’s ability to control greenhouse gases from power plants. The...
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FL-Sen: Can Meek even get out of the Democratic primary? 29 July 2010, 4:40 pm
Quinnipiac. 7/22-27. Likely primary voters. MoE 3.5% (June 10 results) Democratic Senate primary Jeff Greene (D) 33 (27) Kendrick Meek (D) 23 (29) Don't know 35 (37) One of the knocks against Meek is that he's never run a tough race in his life. He inherited his safe Democratic House district from his mother, and his inexperience gaining traction in a less hospitable environment isn't just about the general election anymore, but in a primary against a joke candidate. Remember, Greene is th...
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NV-Gov: Sandoval (R) isn't worried about SB 1070 because his kids look white 29 July 2010, 4:00 pm
Wow. By Adriana Arévalo, News Director, Univision Nevada Special to El Tiempo All of a sudden, it seems Brian Sandoval is Hispanic. How curious! The saying that you never know where life will take you is definitely true. In fact, on his life journey, Sandoval must have taken a fall, lost his memory and woken up believing what his campaign advisors are telling him -- “you’re Hispanic.” [...] As for Sandoval, many people were left with their mouths wide open (including ...
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Obama administration wants more warrantless surveillance of Americans 29 July 2010, 3:20 pm
As Yglesias says, "The End of Probable Cause." WaPo reports: The Obama administration is seeking to make it easier for the FBI to compel companies to turn over records of an individual's Internet activity without a court order if agents deem the information relevant to a terrorism or intelligence investigation. The administration wants to add just four words -- "electronic communication transactional records" -- to a list of items that the law says the FBI may demand without a judge's approva...
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KY-Sen: Big Coal aims to buy elections in post-Citizens United world 29 July 2010, 2:42 pm
Democracy, American-style: Several major coal companies hope to use newly loosened campaign-finance laws to pool their money and defeat Democratic congressional candidates they consider “anti-coal,” including U.S. Senate nominee Jack Conway and U.S. Rep. Ben Chandler in Kentucky. The companies hope to create a politically active nonprofit under Section 527 of the Internal Revenue Code, so they won’t have to publicly disclose their activities — such as advertising ̵...
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Midday open thread 29 July 2010, 2:02 pm
FL-Sen: The GOP hopes Florida voters have short memories. NRSC Chairman John Cornyn told my colleague Manu Raju today that Florida Gov. Charile Crist's Senate mo will slow now that BP has finally plugged the leak in the gulf, but acknowleded that the independent candidate has enjoyed a boost from his on-the-scene role. “I think now that Gov. Crist is no longer going to get as much free TV time because the well has been capped and, hopefully, the beaches are being cleaned up, that I thi...
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NV-Sen: fiscal irresponsibility, Sharron Angle-style 29 July 2010, 1:30 pm
Remember BMW Direct aka Base Connect? BMW Direct, the GOP fundraising firm known for taking long-shot candidates for a ride while raking in big bucks off their campaigns, has re-emerged under a new name -- but with a similar modus operandi. And this time around, even some Republicans are crying foul, with one consultant accusing the firm of engaging in "sub-prime fundraising." One 2010 client of BMW Direct -- now rechristened as Base Connect -- is William Russell, the retired lieutenant colon...
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Kaiser poll: Health care reform support reaches new high 29 July 2010, 12:56 pm
From the non-profit part of Kaiser, which runs a well-respected health poll, via the Hill: Americans view Democrats’ signature health reform bill more positively now than at any point since it was signed into law, a new poll found Thursday. 50 percent of the public say they view the new healthcare law favorably, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll that has been tracking public opinion about the legislation since it became law. 35 percent of adults said they view the law unfavo...
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MO-Sen: Teabaggers want Bachmann to stay away 29 July 2010, 12:16 pm
Roy Blunt is birther-curious. Roy Blunt says maybe the government "should have never have gotten in the health care business" with Medicare and Medicaid. Roy Blunt used a parable to compare President Obama and other Democrats in Washington to monkeys. Roy Blunt wants to repeal health care reform. Roy Blunt is not conservative enough for his state's teabaggers. When they heard Michele Bachmann was coming to Missouri to campaign for Blunt, 28 Tea Party groups issued a statement: When we rece...
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Breitbart was the problem, not "bloggers" 29 July 2010, 11:30 am
From the geniuses at CNN: Should there be a “gatekeeper” regulating internet bloggers? In the aftermath of the Shirley Sherrod incident, that’s what CNN promoted on July 23. Anchors Kyra Phillips and John Roberts discussed the “mixed blessing of the internet,” and agreed that there should be a crackdown on anonymous bloggers who disparage others on the internet. “There are so many great things that the internet does and has to offer, but at the same time, ...
Top Economics Stories
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Bullard Remarks Don’t Signal Wider Fed Shift 29 July 2010, 1:25 pm
James Bullard's line that the Fed should consider reviving a crisis program to buy government debt to avoid a Japanese-style deflationary trap shouldn't be seen as a shift in central bank policy.
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The Venus-Mars Split in Confidence and Shopping 29 July 2010, 11:52 am
A survey of 1,070 women and 935 men showed a gender divide when it comes to assessing the economy's recovery.
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Fed’s Bullard Raises Policy Concerns 29 July 2010, 10:17 am
The Fed's promise to keep its target interest rate near zero for an "extended period" could have the counterproductive effect of encouraging a Japan-like deflation trap, St. Louis Fed President Bullard said.
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Goldman: Pullback by Government Set to Drag on Growth 29 July 2010, 9:46 am
The pullback in fiscal policy at the federal, state and local levels is expected to have a sharp negative impact on U.S. economic growth this year and next, according to a new analysis from Goldman Sachs economists.
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Secondary Sources: Science Jobs, China Housing, Money and Inflation 29 July 2010, 7:52 am
A roundup of economic news from around the Web.
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The Amish Population Boom 29 July 2010, 6:44 am
The number of Amish in North America has doubled since 1991 and their distinctive communities can now be found in Canada as well as 28 U.S. states, including unlikely ones like Texas and Maine.
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SF Fed Official: Economy Suffering From Temporary Weakness 28 July 2010, 1:44 pm
The recent slowdown in the U.S. economy should prove transient, although it will take years for the nation's unemployment rate to fall toward more acceptable levels, an official at the San Francisco Fed said.
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Beige Book Highlights Weariness of Consumers 28 July 2010, 12:43 pm
The strength of U.S. consumer represents one of the biggest question marks about the recovery. The Fed's latest beige book didn't offer much reassurance that Americans are ready to loosen the purse strings.
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City Unemployment: Vegas, Washington at Opposite Ends 28 July 2010, 10:36 am
A dozen of the nation’s 372 metropolitan areas had unemployment rates in June of at least 15%, led by El Centro, Calif., where the jobless rate hit 27.6%, the Labor Department said. Ten of them were in California.
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Economists React: Encouraging Details in Durables Report 28 July 2010, 9:47 am
Economists and others weigh in on the drop in durable-goods orders.
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Caption Contest Thursday 29 July 2010, 2:05 pm
Chris Bosh, on the floor of the NYSE, daring to dream. [NYP]...
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Patricia Cohen Now Offering To Settle For Less Than The Amount Steve Has In His Wall RIGHT NOW 29 July 2010, 1:19 pm
Not too long ago, Patricia Cohen, the ex-wife of Steve, had a dream. It wasn’t just that she wanted to successfully sue her former husband, who she’d accused of insider trading, hiding marital assets, and so on and so forth and it wasn’t just about money. “No,” Patty said to herself, “dream bigger.” …...
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Citi To Pay SEC $75 Mill Over Forgetting To Tell Investors This, Like, Minor Li’l Thing Of Practically No Significance 29 July 2010, 1:00 pm
Things just fall through the cracks sometimes. They had a lot going on that day.
“The bank will pay $75 million to settle regulatory charges that it failed to disclose $40 billion in subprime exposure to investors in the second and third quarters of 2007, according to people familiar with the matter.The settlement with the Securities…...
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The Question Isn’t ‘Is This Based On Something A Hedge Fund Manager Actually Did,’ It’s ‘Which One’? 29 July 2010, 12:37 pm
It’s no secret that hedge fund professionals are typically Wall Street’s oddest ducks, which is something I mean in the best possible way (and is probably the reason they and I have such electric chemistry). Whereas investment bankers are generally cookie cutter little drones, afraid to break from the mold, alternative asset managers—and in…...
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“Bullied” Trader Offers Managers Everywhere Genius New Excuse For Poor Performance 29 July 2010, 11:25 am
One of the hardest parts of being a hedge fund manager is coming up with new ideas. Not investment ideas but those related to explaining to clients, via letter, why last month/quarter/year went ass-bleedingly bad. There’s the challenge of generating new ways to describe the massacre (Sac-ripping, clown-facing, donkey punching, etc), the silver-lining (“Now…...
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Is Louis Bacon Attempting To Irritate And/Or Kill Bahamas Neighbors Via Annoying Soundwaves? 29 July 2010, 9:41 am
If you were going to (ALLEGEDLY!) try to murder someone, how would you do it? For those who’ve been searching in vain for a way that might not immediately reveal itself to the authorities, a pioneering hedge fund manager’s got a tip for you.
Police have allegedly confiscated four pieces of dangerous sound equipment from…...
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Goldman Sachs Forces Employees To Come Up With New And Inventive Ways To Describe Not So Great CDOs Sold To Clients 29 July 2010, 7:45 am
As you may have heard, Goldman Sachs has “banned the use of profanity” in emails. Some are heralding the move as the end of Goldman, where describing the various ways in which clients are screwed (I kid the Sachsians) is part of the daily grind. And at another bank, staffed by unimaginitive fucks* whose…...
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Opening Bell 07.29.10 29 July 2010, 7:15 am
FSA To Expand Bonus Rules (WSJ)
The U.K.’s financial regulator said on Thursday that it plans to change remuneration rules for the financial-services industry, which could include imposing the changes on all banks, asset managers and hedge funds. The FSA said that while the current rules apply to the largest banks, building societies and broker dealers,…...
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Write-Offs: 07.28.10 28 July 2010, 3:33 pm
$$$ Comerford was working in Goldman’s document production division by evening, while running tours for a firm called The Wall Street Experience during the daytime. But he’s since quit the bank after being told to choose between Goldman and his tours. Comerford tells me that after The Guardian’s coverage of his tours, he was summoned…...
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In The Event You’re Looking To Get On Or Off Bill Gross’s Good Side… 28 July 2010, 3:28 pm
FYI, in addition to hating these newfangled automatic flushers, the PIMCO founder will cut a bitch for speaking and/or audibly breathing on the floor.
Gross is surrounded by seven computer screens with two stuffed animals — a bull and bear — sitting on top of them; El-Erian uses four monitors. The two leaders rarely speak…...
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What's Harder: Science or Rapping? 29 July 2010, 12:00 pm
Three interns at Intellectual Ventures have made a rap video.
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Quotes Uncovered: On Tools and Problems 29 July 2010, 10:00 am
The origins of "If the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem looks like a nail."
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A Clue to Referee Bias? 29 July 2010, 8:30 am
The BPS Research Digest reports that "[a] simple perceptual bias could influence football referees' judgments about whether a foul occurred or not."
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Teen Sex, Binge Drinking, and Obesity 29 July 2010, 7:30 am
In "Binge Drinking & Sex in High School" (abstract here; PDF here), Jeffrey S. DeSimone argues that "binge drinking significantly increases participation in sex, promiscuity, and the failure to use birth control, albeit by amounts considerably smaller than implied by merely conditioning on exogenous factors."
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Too Many Constraints 28 July 2010, 1:00 pm
One of my German colleagues has access to €30,000 for Gleichstellung-a German version of an EU-wide initiative to achieve equality between healthy white males and various "disadvantaged" groups, including women. Cleverly, the German government does not want people to substitute these moneys for other funds; as with any subsidy, there is a concern that people will spend it on activities they would have undertaken anyway.
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Our Daily Bleg: Keep Your Hands Off My Ghana! 28 July 2010, 10:30 am
A reader named Karisa Cloward, a school teacher, needs your help. Her dilemma calls to mind earlier blegs about roommates/rent and dividing up a loved one's earthly goods.
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The United Mistakes of America 28 July 2010, 8:30 am
Kathryn Schulz, the author of Being Wrong, has been guest-blogging for us about being wrong - and admitting our mistakes. Her latest post examines the historical culture of error in the United States.
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What if TV Networks Aired All Their Pilots? 28 July 2010, 7:30 am
In Hollywood, a lot of people make a good living by making TV pilots that never end up on the air. (There's also a strong market for writing film scripts that are never turned into films.) According to Variety, roughly one-third of pilots end up on the air; here's a primer about the process. With each pilot costing hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of dollars, that's a lot of money spent so that a handful of TV executives can give something a thumbs-down and consign it to the trash.
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Do Building Codes Actually Save Energy? 27 July 2010, 1:00 pm
A new paper says yes.
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The Economics of Gypsies 27 July 2010, 11:30 am
Peter Leeson's new research.
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Top Science Stories
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Regulation could save genome scanning, not kill it 29 July 2010, 3:00 pm
The personal genomics industry has been bruised by the US Congress, but embracing sensible regulation could shift it to the heart of clinical medicine...
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E. coli engineered to make convenient 'drop-in' biofuel 29 July 2010, 12:00 pm
Genetically modified bacteria that munch on sugar to produce refinable oil could bring down the cost of switching to cleaner liquid fuels...
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Today on New Scientist: 29 July 2010 29 July 2010, 11:00 am
All today's stories on NewScientist.com, including: doubts over shaken baby syndrome, a new take on Alzheimer's and the decline of Phytoplankton...
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Galapagos off the Danger List – but why? 29 July 2010, 9:30 am
The World Heritage Committee has taken the Galapagos off its Danger List, says Michael Marshall. In other news, mice have nothing to fear from cats...
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Satellite quantum communication circles closer 29 July 2010, 8:03 am
A trick used in 3D-movie theatres could enable totally secure quantum communication with satellites...
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Phytoplankton in decline: bye bye food chain? 29 July 2010, 7:30 am
Tiny marine plants that help support life in the oceans are declining in numbers – and that's worth worrying about, says Michael Marshall...
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Inside TRAK: a new robot shows us how we think 29 July 2010, 7:10 am
A new robot called TRAK has been programmed to map its surroundings – but it could also tell us more about the human brain...
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Spinning black holes could expose exotic particles 29 July 2010, 6:30 am
If a potential dark matter particle – the axion – exists, it could reveal itself in explosions around black holes...
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Doctor gagged for doubting shaken baby syndrome 29 July 2010, 5:28 am
A pathologist in the UK who argues that symptoms of "shaken baby syndrome" can have an innocent cause has been prevented from testifying in court...
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Alzheimer's unlocked: New keys to a cure 29 July 2010, 4:26 am
Attempts to treat the world's most common form of dementia may have been attacking its symptoms, not its root cause...
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Galapagos Islands Kicked Off International Endangered List 29 July 2010, 4:02 pm
Conservationists call the move premature, saying the delicate ecosystem is still in peril....
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Antarctica Experiment Discovers Puzzling Space Ray Pattern 29 July 2010, 2:09 pm
A detector designed to search for neutrino particles instead found an intriguing signal from cosmic rays flying in from space....
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Giant Sand Dunes on Titan Shaped by Backward Winds 29 July 2010, 1:40 pm
Gusty winds that blow in reverse of prevailing weather on Saturn's largest moon Titan appear to shape some of the moon's odd equatorial sand dunes, a new study finds....
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What Will Happen During the Next 100 Days of the Oil Spill? 29 July 2010, 1:38 pm
What Will Happen During the Next 100 Days of the Gulf Oil Spill?...
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Prostate Cancer 'Cell of Origin' Identified 29 July 2010, 12:59 pm
Scientists watched as healthy cells embedded in mice grew into prostate tumor cells....
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Huge Chilean Earthquake Raised Country's Coast 29 July 2010, 12:25 pm
The temblor also moved cities and sank inland areas....
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Scientists Look to Spiders for Hi-Tech Fibers 29 July 2010, 12:23 pm
Unlock spider silk secrets can open the door to better brain implants, new drug-delivery systems, and degradable and flexible electronics....
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Donkey's Wild Ass Ancestor Confirmed 29 July 2010, 12:10 pm
The Nubian wild ass indeed was domesticated into some of today's donkeys...
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Daydream Distractions Depend on How Far Mind Wanders 29 July 2010, 11:18 am
Daydreams affect your memory. The farther away your mind wanders, in time and space, the harder it is to remember what you just did....
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Internet 'Key Holders' Are Insurance Against Cyber Attack 29 July 2010, 9:48 am
In a move that seems inspired by "The Lord of the Rings," seven "keys" have been handed out to a trusted circle of people who might get called upon to "save" the Internet in the aftermath of a cyber attack....
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A blueprint for blue planet protection 29 July 2010, 1:10 pm
More than 70 percent of the world is covered by oceans. There are currently more than 4,000 marine protected areas covering just over 1 percent of the oceans, but the vast majority of reserves have only limited protection.We are asking too much of our oceans and not paying enough attention to their long-term health........
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"The End of Fish - Can't We Invent New Ones?" 29 July 2010, 12:50 pm
I was teaching my Astro104 class –- “The Planets” — and I always spend some time looking at the evolution of life on Earth. I have come to see the class as a kind of lesson in Comparative Planetology in service of Sustainably....
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Revolutionary "Smart Sponge" Sucks Up Oil Spills 29 July 2010, 11:30 am
AbTech's cleanup technology has worked wonders with stormwater, and may be employed in the Gulf of Mexico....
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How computers and politics revolutionized the oldest science 29 July 2010, 9:30 am
The ability of early cultures to track the orderly motion of the solar system's inhabitants may make planetary science the oldest area of scientific study, but according to a perspective published in "Nature," it took some modern developments like computers for the field to come into its own....
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What NASA Means to America's Future: Neil deGrasse Tyson 29 July 2010, 7:50 am
In light of recent budget cuts, NASA has decided to forget about frontiers, ignore the moon, kick the Mars can down the road, & settle for promoting commercial access to ‘low-earth orbit.’ Would Neil deGrasse Tyson like to comment on NASA’s big fade? Yes, he would, and in no uncertain terms. In this thundering response, Tyson, astrophysicist &...
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Cleaning Dalian harbor (PICS) 29 July 2010, 5:46 am
The oil spill resulting from a pipeline explosion in the port city of Dalian on July 16th is being cleaned up by a small army of fisherman, locals, and government workers manning over 250 oil-skimming vessels and 8,000 fishing boats - much of the work being done by hand....
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Extreme Close-Up of the Face on Mars 29 July 2010, 5:27 am
Here's a picture you probably won't see in the tabloid racks while waiting in line at the grocery store. This is the famous "Face on Mars," and is the closest image ever of the this landform, taken by the best Mars camera ever....
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Global Warming "Undeniable," U.S. Government Report Says 29 July 2010, 4:10 am
"Global warming is undeniable," and it's happening fast, a new U.S. government report says.An in-depth analysis of ten climate indicators all point to a marked warming over the past three decades, with the most recent decade being the hottest on record, according to the latest of the U.S. National Atmospheric and Oceanic Administration...
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We are Attracted to People Who Look Like our Parents...Gross 29 July 2010, 1:30 am
Researchers reporting in the Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin last week say people are drawn to others who resemble their parents or themselves. This may explain why incest taboos are found in many cultures - to counter a natural tendency....
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A Brief History Of Possibly Obsolete Time Travel Paradoxes 28 July 2010, 11:40 pm
In honor of recent developments in theorizing paradox-free time travel via quantum mechanics and one of its particular weirdnesses, called “postselection.”...