By Ina Fried, CNET News.com
28 February 2007. Microsoft Chief Software Architect Ray Ozzie doesn't necessarily think Google has all the answers, but he does credit the company for opening Microsoft's eyes.
"Google's success very clearly caused an inflection point within our industry and within Microsoft in terms of understanding advertising as an economic engine," Ozzie said on Tuesday, speaking to analysts at a Goldman Sachs investor conference in Las Vegas. "It was a wake-up call within Microsoft."
Despite pouring resources into its MSN and Windows Live efforts, Microsoft has struggled to compete broadly in the Web search space against Google. Ozzie said that the company is still working hard there, but is also putting some of its energy into more vertical types of search, which is industry- or topic-specific search. He pointed to this week's acquisition of Medstory, a California-based company that develops health care search technology.
"Just try it," Ozzie intoned. "Go there and type into the search box what ails you. I think you'll actually be quite surprised -- quite pleased with the results."
Ozzie said Medstory's technology is first being added to MSN Health, but that it will ultimately be included within Microsoft's broader Live search engine.
Vertical search pages are just one of the possibilities, Ozzie said, adding that advertisers are happy to look beyond Google if there are simple and effective ways of doing so. "Advertisers, they just want to reach their audiences," he said.
Beyond advertising, the second major influence of Google on Microsoft has been to point to the importance of being able to offer software-based services, he noted. Ozzie made several references to work Microsoft is doing behind the scenes to build a companywide services engine. All of its business units will be able to tap into the engine to add services components to their products, and those tools eventually will be available outside Redmond as well.
"We've been building that services platform," Ozzie said. "The economies of scale that we gain internally are going to be available to third-party developers and enterprises."
Microsoft first announced its Live online services effort at a November 2005 event in San Francisco with Chairman Bill Gates and Ozzie. Many of the initial efforts were simply existing MSN products rebranded with a Windows Live name. Recently, Microsoft has been putting some Windows Live products back under the MSN brand, including Windows Live Shopping and a Wi-Fi hot spot finder.
Microsoft has also since announced that it is pulling back from plans to drop the Hotmail name from its Free Web mail service. In that case, Microsoft is going for a hybrid name, Windows Live Hotmail.
Pressed about what all of these new services capabilities might cost, Ozzie deferred to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Chief Financial Officer Chris Liddell. However, he indicated that many of the costs are not one-time expenses.
"There is a level of datacentre and infrastructure that we continue to need to build," he said. "This is just going to be a continuous investment."
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Girl lost in poker game pleads for help...
>Reuters.com
Mon Feb 26, 2007. HYDERABAD (Reuters) - A teenage girl in southern Pakistan, whose late father lost her in a poker game when she was 2 years old, has asked authorities to save her from being handed over to a middle-aged relative.
Rasheeda, 17, said she has filed applications with the police and a local councillor asking them to prevent Lal Haider, 45, from taking her to his home.
Her mother, Nooran said her husband racked up a debt of 10,000 rupees ($151) to Haider playing cards.
"My husband didn't have money to pay, and instead he told Lal Haider that he could take Rasheeda when she grows up," she said.
Despite being paid his money last year, she said Haider still insisted the girl should be given to him because of tribal customs.
While both families live in Hyderabad, a city 160 km (100 miles) north of the southern city of Karachi, they belong to the same tribe in Baluchistan province.
The girl's uncle, Dur Mohammad said Haider apparently wanted to marry the girl to his son.
Khalid Rajput, a local councillor dealing with the case, said the decision that Rasheeda should be handed over to Haider was taken late last week at a tribal council meeting.
"We know some tribal elders from Baluchistan came for the meeting in which the girl's family was told to give her as per their customs," he said.
Irfan Bhutto, a police officer in Hyderabad, said Haider had been summoned. "We will ensure the girl does not have to do anything against her will."
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Mon Feb 26, 2007. HYDERABAD (Reuters) - A teenage girl in southern Pakistan, whose late father lost her in a poker game when she was 2 years old, has asked authorities to save her from being handed over to a middle-aged relative.Rasheeda, 17, said she has filed applications with the police and a local councillor asking them to prevent Lal Haider, 45, from taking her to his home.
Her mother, Nooran said her husband racked up a debt of 10,000 rupees ($151) to Haider playing cards.
"My husband didn't have money to pay, and instead he told Lal Haider that he could take Rasheeda when she grows up," she said.
Despite being paid his money last year, she said Haider still insisted the girl should be given to him because of tribal customs.
While both families live in Hyderabad, a city 160 km (100 miles) north of the southern city of Karachi, they belong to the same tribe in Baluchistan province.
The girl's uncle, Dur Mohammad said Haider apparently wanted to marry the girl to his son.
Khalid Rajput, a local councillor dealing with the case, said the decision that Rasheeda should be handed over to Haider was taken late last week at a tribal council meeting.
"We know some tribal elders from Baluchistan came for the meeting in which the girl's family was told to give her as per their customs," he said.
Irfan Bhutto, a police officer in Hyderabad, said Haider had been summoned. "We will ensure the girl does not have to do anything against her will."
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Heavy petting? Try this Dutch dating Web site
Reuters.com
Mon Feb 26, 2007.AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Looking for the love of your life? Does your pet put potential partners off? -- There is now a Web site where you can find a partner compatible with your dog, cat, snake or spider.
A new Dutch Web site -- www.dier-en-mens.nl -- says it is a meeting place for all animal lovers, whether you are looking for a partner, someone who also likes snakes and spiders or someone who takes care of your chickens when you want to go away for the weekend.
"How can you find a nice partner who is just as crazy about animals as you are?" said Betty Mercey on Sunday who launched the dating site this weekend which is called "Animal and Human."
Members of the site can describe themselves and their pets, and when they think they have found someone who also likes their pets, they can contact each other through the Web site.
"I've heard from friends who have pets that it is difficult to find a partner. Specifically if you have more than one pet," said Mercey, who owns thirteen dogs and four cats with her partner.
Since the launch of the Dutch-language Web site, inspired by similar sites in the United States and Britain, 13 people have registered, of which the majority are female, Mercey said.
"I think women are quicker to do these things, and that there are more women than men who have several pets, as men tend to work full time and have less time for animals," she said.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
<---A woman walks her Dalmatians through a snow-covered Richmond Park in London February 8, 2007. There is now a Web site where you can find a partner compatible with your dog, cat, snake or spider. REUTERS/Kieran Doherty
Mon Feb 26, 2007.AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - Looking for the love of your life? Does your pet put potential partners off? -- There is now a Web site where you can find a partner compatible with your dog, cat, snake or spider.
A new Dutch Web site -- www.dier-en-mens.nl -- says it is a meeting place for all animal lovers, whether you are looking for a partner, someone who also likes snakes and spiders or someone who takes care of your chickens when you want to go away for the weekend.
"How can you find a nice partner who is just as crazy about animals as you are?" said Betty Mercey on Sunday who launched the dating site this weekend which is called "Animal and Human."
Members of the site can describe themselves and their pets, and when they think they have found someone who also likes their pets, they can contact each other through the Web site.
"I've heard from friends who have pets that it is difficult to find a partner. Specifically if you have more than one pet," said Mercey, who owns thirteen dogs and four cats with her partner.
Since the launch of the Dutch-language Web site, inspired by similar sites in the United States and Britain, 13 people have registered, of which the majority are female, Mercey said.
"I think women are quicker to do these things, and that there are more women than men who have several pets, as men tend to work full time and have less time for animals," she said.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Islamic spies to snoop on lovers...
Top News Reuters.com
Tue Feb 20, 2007. KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian state plans to recruit "spies" from the public to snoop on unmarried lovers and report them to Islamic religious authorities, a newspaper said Tuesday.
<---Muslims perform prayers in Putrajaya, Malaysia October 2, 2002. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad
The Terengganu state government plans to enlist the part-time spies to look out for un-Islamic behavior, such as unmarried couples kissing or holding hands, the Star daily said.
"Some of these 'spies' could be waitresses or even janitors at hotels acting as auxiliary undercover agents for our religious department," the head of the state government's Islamic and welfare committee, Rosol Wahid, was quoted as saying.
"Accurate details are required for the enforcement officers to act, otherwise they could be pouncing on married couples."
Last October, religious police in another part of this mainly Muslim country caused an outcry when they mistakenly raided the rented holiday apartment of a Christian American couple on suspicion that they were unmarried Muslims in "close proximity."
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Tue Feb 20, 2007. KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - A Malaysian state plans to recruit "spies" from the public to snoop on unmarried lovers and report them to Islamic religious authorities, a newspaper said Tuesday.<---Muslims perform prayers in Putrajaya, Malaysia October 2, 2002. REUTERS/Bazuki Muhammad
The Terengganu state government plans to enlist the part-time spies to look out for un-Islamic behavior, such as unmarried couples kissing or holding hands, the Star daily said.
"Some of these 'spies' could be waitresses or even janitors at hotels acting as auxiliary undercover agents for our religious department," the head of the state government's Islamic and welfare committee, Rosol Wahid, was quoted as saying.
"Accurate details are required for the enforcement officers to act, otherwise they could be pouncing on married couples."
Last October, religious police in another part of this mainly Muslim country caused an outcry when they mistakenly raided the rented holiday apartment of a Christian American couple on suspicion that they were unmarried Muslims in "close proximity."
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Please don't invite us to your wedding, couple says...
Reuters.com
Tue Feb 20, 2007. BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Fed up with spending too many weekends going to weddings, an Argentine couple took out a paid announcement on the social pages of a major newspaper expressing their desire for some social neglect.
"We thank you ahead of time for understanding this petition, which is due to our saturated social calendar," read the ad in La Nacion.
Adolfo Caballero, 66, told a La Nacion reporter the flood of invitations came from the children of his dozens of cousins, friends from his club, and clients of his law firm.
Argentine weddings are typically drawn-out affairs and Caballero said they take 12 hours out of most of his weekends, including long drives to and from the countryside, where it is currently fashionable to get married.
"It's fun for youngsters who want to dance until 5 a.m. ... but the next day I'm tired and I can't move when I want to go play tennis," Caballero said.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Tue Feb 20, 2007. BUENOS AIRES (Reuters) - Fed up with spending too many weekends going to weddings, an Argentine couple took out a paid announcement on the social pages of a major newspaper expressing their desire for some social neglect.
"We thank you ahead of time for understanding this petition, which is due to our saturated social calendar," read the ad in La Nacion.
Adolfo Caballero, 66, told a La Nacion reporter the flood of invitations came from the children of his dozens of cousins, friends from his club, and clients of his law firm.
Argentine weddings are typically drawn-out affairs and Caballero said they take 12 hours out of most of his weekends, including long drives to and from the countryside, where it is currently fashionable to get married.
"It's fun for youngsters who want to dance until 5 a.m. ... but the next day I'm tired and I can't move when I want to go play tennis," Caballero said.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Artificial retina implant holds promise for blind...
Top News Reuters.com
Thu Feb 15, 2007. SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A tiny electrical implant that attaches to the retina may someday restore partial sight to millions of patients blinded by age-related macular degeneration, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
The device, in the early stages of human clinical testing, is part of a new class of so-called "smart" prostheses that link with the brain and nervous system to restore function lost to disease or injury, the researchers told reporters at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco.
Similar electrical stimulation devices known as cochlear implants have been used to treat deafness, and scientists are developing others to restore bladder control and movement to patients with spinal cord injury.
The artificial retina is designed to take the place of photoreceptor cells in the brain that are charged with capturing and processing light.
"We anticipate this technology will help blind patients who have lost their sight through macular degeneration," said Dr. Mark Humayun, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older adults in the United States and the developed world, affecting approximately 25 million to 30 million people.
Humayun and his colleagues have teamed up with privately held Second Sight Medical Products to develop the implant, which just won clearance from U.S. regulators to test a second-generation device in a U.S. clinical trial.
An early version of the device implanted in six patients fared far better than its makers expected, allowing people who had been blinded for years to distinguish between simple objects, such as a cup, a plate and a knife.
The device consists of a tiny camera mounted on a pair of glasses that transmits information to the implant, which is attached to the outside of the eyeball with a cable running to the retina in the back of the eye. Patients wear a pager-sized transmitter on their belt, which handles the processing and powers the device.
Humayun, who helped implant the first six patients, said the best he had hoped for in that early trial was for patients to distinguish between light, dark and see some areas of gray.
"It really speaks to the brain's ability to fill in a lot of information," he said.
The earlier implant consisted of 16 electrodes or pixels. The newer version has about 60 electrodes and is about a quarter the original half-inch size.
In patients with diseases of the retina such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa, photoreceptor cells progressively degenerate, causing vision loss.
The artificial retina is designed to work by creating a new route for images to reach the brain.
The trial will enroll 50 to 75 patients in five U.S. centers, who will be followed for one to two years.
If it proves successful in a series of clinical trials, Humayun said the artificial retina could be on the U.S. market within two years.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Thu Feb 15, 2007. SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A tiny electrical implant that attaches to the retina may someday restore partial sight to millions of patients blinded by age-related macular degeneration, U.S. researchers said on Thursday.
The device, in the early stages of human clinical testing, is part of a new class of so-called "smart" prostheses that link with the brain and nervous system to restore function lost to disease or injury, the researchers told reporters at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in San Francisco.
Similar electrical stimulation devices known as cochlear implants have been used to treat deafness, and scientists are developing others to restore bladder control and movement to patients with spinal cord injury.
The artificial retina is designed to take the place of photoreceptor cells in the brain that are charged with capturing and processing light.
"We anticipate this technology will help blind patients who have lost their sight through macular degeneration," said Dr. Mark Humayun, a professor of ophthalmology at the University of Southern California.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in older adults in the United States and the developed world, affecting approximately 25 million to 30 million people.
Humayun and his colleagues have teamed up with privately held Second Sight Medical Products to develop the implant, which just won clearance from U.S. regulators to test a second-generation device in a U.S. clinical trial.
An early version of the device implanted in six patients fared far better than its makers expected, allowing people who had been blinded for years to distinguish between simple objects, such as a cup, a plate and a knife.
The device consists of a tiny camera mounted on a pair of glasses that transmits information to the implant, which is attached to the outside of the eyeball with a cable running to the retina in the back of the eye. Patients wear a pager-sized transmitter on their belt, which handles the processing and powers the device.
Humayun, who helped implant the first six patients, said the best he had hoped for in that early trial was for patients to distinguish between light, dark and see some areas of gray.
"It really speaks to the brain's ability to fill in a lot of information," he said.
The earlier implant consisted of 16 electrodes or pixels. The newer version has about 60 electrodes and is about a quarter the original half-inch size.
In patients with diseases of the retina such as macular degeneration or retinitis pigmentosa, photoreceptor cells progressively degenerate, causing vision loss.
The artificial retina is designed to work by creating a new route for images to reach the brain.
The trial will enroll 50 to 75 patients in five U.S. centers, who will be followed for one to two years.
If it proves successful in a series of clinical trials, Humayun said the artificial retina could be on the U.S. market within two years.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Friday, February 16, 2007
Microsoft warns of six "critical" security flaws...
Top News Reuters.com
Tue Feb 13, 2007. SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. issued six "critical" security patches on Tuesday to fix flaws in its software products that the company warned could allow attackers to take control of a user's computer.
<---Microsoft's Windows XP software in a file photo. Microsoft issued six "critical" security patches on Tuesday to fix flaws in its software products that the company warned could allow attackers to take control of a user's computer. REUTERS/You Sung-Ho
Microsoft, whose Windows operating system runs on more than 95 percent of the world's computers, issued the patches as part of its monthly security bulletin. There were no patches issued in the update for the newest version of Windows, called Vista.
Microsoft made Vista available to consumers in January after five years of development and a number of delays to improve security. The company says the new operating system is the most secure Windows program ever.
Microsoft defines a flaw as "critical" when the vulnerability could allow a damaging Internet worm to replicate without the user doing anything to the machine.
The world's biggest software maker said the critical flaws affected versions of its Windows, Office, Works, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Malware Protection Engine products. It rated the other holes at its lower threat level of "important."
The company has been working to improve the security and reliability of its software as more and more malicious software target weaknesses in Windows and other Microsoft software.
The latest patches can be downloaded at www.microsoft.com/security.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Tue Feb 13, 2007. SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. issued six "critical" security patches on Tuesday to fix flaws in its software products that the company warned could allow attackers to take control of a user's computer.<---Microsoft's Windows XP software in a file photo. Microsoft issued six "critical" security patches on Tuesday to fix flaws in its software products that the company warned could allow attackers to take control of a user's computer. REUTERS/You Sung-Ho
Microsoft, whose Windows operating system runs on more than 95 percent of the world's computers, issued the patches as part of its monthly security bulletin. There were no patches issued in the update for the newest version of Windows, called Vista.
Microsoft made Vista available to consumers in January after five years of development and a number of delays to improve security. The company says the new operating system is the most secure Windows program ever.
Microsoft defines a flaw as "critical" when the vulnerability could allow a damaging Internet worm to replicate without the user doing anything to the machine.
The world's biggest software maker said the critical flaws affected versions of its Windows, Office, Works, Internet Explorer and Microsoft Malware Protection Engine products. It rated the other holes at its lower threat level of "important."
The company has been working to improve the security and reliability of its software as more and more malicious software target weaknesses in Windows and other Microsoft software.
The latest patches can be downloaded at www.microsoft.com/security.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Beware the pitfalls of office romance..
Top News Reuters.com
Tue Feb 13, 2007. NEW YORK, Feb 12 (Reuters Life!) - Cupid in the cubicle can be a problem for employers who are unprepared to deal with the fallout from workplace romances.
<--- A couple watches the sun set at Kuta beach on Bali October 3, 2005. With Valentine's Day looming, experts warn that many employers are caught by surprise by the ripple effects of intra-office relationships, which can demoralize staff and spread envy and resentment. REUTERS/Luis Ascui
With Valentine's Day looming, experts warn that many employers are caught by surprise by the ripple effects of intra-office relationships, which can demoralize staff and spread envy and resentment.
The problems range from the serious, such as a messy breakup between a boss and a subordinate, to the less obvious, such an exchange of risque e-mails or a kiss in the hallway that can distract colleagues and hurt productivity.
"People are a little sloppier around Valentine's Day," said Debra Mandel, a psychologist and author on the subject of office relations. "They might let the relationship out of the box more."
Employers are not just at risk when a staff member becomes romantic with a supervisor, which can lead to claims of sexual harassment. A soured relationship between peers also puts the company at risk if it leaves one of the workers feeling harassed at work.
Companies may be at risk even if the office relationship ends well, said Shanti Atkins, president of ELT, which offers online ethics and legal compliance training. She cites the example of Gavin Newsom, San Francisco's single mayor who recently admitted having an affair with a married staff member, and the impact it could have on staff in city government.
She said it could create the impression "one has to sleep with the boss to get ahead," and an employee could sue, claiming it created a hostile working environment.
A recent poll by Spherion Corp., a workplace recruiter, shows that nearly 40 percent of U.S. workers have dated an office colleague.
The same survey also showed that 84 percent of U.S. workers said their employer did not have a policy covering office romance or they were not sure if such a policy existed.
In part, that reflects the difficulty employers face in balancing the need to maintain a comfortable work atmosphere with employees' right to privacy. Experts say many employers decide it is easier to do nothing.
"As long as people are professional in the office, it's no one's business what people do outside the office," says Barbara Pachter, who writes about business etiquette.
Enforcing a policy that forbids office dating could drive some staff to quit. Also, like decrees that ban Internet surfing at work, rules against dating co-workers risk being considered frivolous by staff and could undermine a company's authority.
"People don't follow the dress code so how will you get them to follow a romance code?" Pachter said.
Instead, experts suggest companies educate staff about what is considered appropriate behavior at the office and incorporate it into training.
"You want to set basic guidelines, such as keeping the interaction out of the office," said Ayana Brooks, an associate at Meyer Suozzi English and Klein, a law firm that specializes in sexual harassment claims.
Proper training can alert supervisors to issues that are born out of office romances but extend to more serious problems. The recent case of astronaut Lisa Nowak, accused of being obsessed with another astronaut to such an extent that she stalked and attacked a perceived romantic rival, might have been prevented if colleagues had been trained to tell supervisors about unusual behavior, Atkins said.
"My prediction on that case is that as news trickles out there will be reports of people knowing about a lot of cumulative behavior over time," she said. "There is a lack of reporting from employees on these issue. That's the high price of silence. The only way to get these addressed is to get at them early."
Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Tue Feb 13, 2007. NEW YORK, Feb 12 (Reuters Life!) - Cupid in the cubicle can be a problem for employers who are unprepared to deal with the fallout from workplace romances.<--- A couple watches the sun set at Kuta beach on Bali October 3, 2005. With Valentine's Day looming, experts warn that many employers are caught by surprise by the ripple effects of intra-office relationships, which can demoralize staff and spread envy and resentment. REUTERS/Luis Ascui
With Valentine's Day looming, experts warn that many employers are caught by surprise by the ripple effects of intra-office relationships, which can demoralize staff and spread envy and resentment.
The problems range from the serious, such as a messy breakup between a boss and a subordinate, to the less obvious, such an exchange of risque e-mails or a kiss in the hallway that can distract colleagues and hurt productivity.
"People are a little sloppier around Valentine's Day," said Debra Mandel, a psychologist and author on the subject of office relations. "They might let the relationship out of the box more."
Employers are not just at risk when a staff member becomes romantic with a supervisor, which can lead to claims of sexual harassment. A soured relationship between peers also puts the company at risk if it leaves one of the workers feeling harassed at work.
Companies may be at risk even if the office relationship ends well, said Shanti Atkins, president of ELT, which offers online ethics and legal compliance training. She cites the example of Gavin Newsom, San Francisco's single mayor who recently admitted having an affair with a married staff member, and the impact it could have on staff in city government.
She said it could create the impression "one has to sleep with the boss to get ahead," and an employee could sue, claiming it created a hostile working environment.
A recent poll by Spherion Corp., a workplace recruiter, shows that nearly 40 percent of U.S. workers have dated an office colleague.
The same survey also showed that 84 percent of U.S. workers said their employer did not have a policy covering office romance or they were not sure if such a policy existed.
In part, that reflects the difficulty employers face in balancing the need to maintain a comfortable work atmosphere with employees' right to privacy. Experts say many employers decide it is easier to do nothing.
"As long as people are professional in the office, it's no one's business what people do outside the office," says Barbara Pachter, who writes about business etiquette.
Enforcing a policy that forbids office dating could drive some staff to quit. Also, like decrees that ban Internet surfing at work, rules against dating co-workers risk being considered frivolous by staff and could undermine a company's authority.
"People don't follow the dress code so how will you get them to follow a romance code?" Pachter said.
Instead, experts suggest companies educate staff about what is considered appropriate behavior at the office and incorporate it into training.
"You want to set basic guidelines, such as keeping the interaction out of the office," said Ayana Brooks, an associate at Meyer Suozzi English and Klein, a law firm that specializes in sexual harassment claims.
Proper training can alert supervisors to issues that are born out of office romances but extend to more serious problems. The recent case of astronaut Lisa Nowak, accused of being obsessed with another astronaut to such an extent that she stalked and attacked a perceived romantic rival, might have been prevented if colleagues had been trained to tell supervisors about unusual behavior, Atkins said.
"My prediction on that case is that as news trickles out there will be reports of people knowing about a lot of cumulative behavior over time," she said. "There is a lack of reporting from employees on these issue. That's the high price of silence. The only way to get these addressed is to get at them early."
Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Oostenrijkse meisjes 7 jaar opgesloten
Eindhovens Dagblad
13 Februari 2007 WENEN – Drie Oostenrijkse meisjes zijn zeven jaar lang door hun moeder opgesloten in een kelder. Ze verbleven daar in vrijwel volkomen duisternis, speelden met muizen en spraken in een eigen taal, meldden Oostenrijkse media maandag.
De minister van justitie wil een diepgaand onderzoek. De politie ontdekte Viktoria, Katharina en Elisabeth al in oktober 2005, nadat een buurman herhaaldelijk zijn vermoedens had geuit en dreigde met een rechtszaak tegen de gemeente. Pas zondag maakten de autoriteiten de ontdekking van de zusjes (nu 14, 18 en 21 jaar) bekend.
In Oostenrijk is geschokt gereageerd op de onthulling. Een half jaar geleden werd het land al opgeschikt door de verschijning van Natascha Kampusch, die na acht jaar opsluiting in een kelder aan haar ontvoerder had weten te ontsnappen. Minister Maria Berger (justitie) wil een diepgaand onderzoek. Zij wil ook nieuwe regels voor kinderbescherming.
De drie zussen waren het slachtoffer van hun eigen moeder, die na haar echtscheiding in een depressie raakte. Ze is inmiddels in hechtenis en moet over enkele weken voorkomen wegens het toebrengen van zwaar lichamelijk letsel en mishandeling. Ze kan vijf maanden tot vijf jaar gevangenisstraf krijgen.
De meisjes werden aangetroffen in een volkomen vervuilde woning. Er was geen stromend water en het vuil en uitwerpselen lagen tot een meter hoog. De vloer was aangetast door de muizenpoep. De meisjes zijn er zowel lichamelijk als geestelijk ernstig aan toe.
Deskundigen spraken maandag in de Oostenrijkse media de vrees uit dat zij nooit over hun afschuwelijke jeugd zullen heenkomen.
13 Februari 2007 WENEN – Drie Oostenrijkse meisjes zijn zeven jaar lang door hun moeder opgesloten in een kelder. Ze verbleven daar in vrijwel volkomen duisternis, speelden met muizen en spraken in een eigen taal, meldden Oostenrijkse media maandag.
De minister van justitie wil een diepgaand onderzoek. De politie ontdekte Viktoria, Katharina en Elisabeth al in oktober 2005, nadat een buurman herhaaldelijk zijn vermoedens had geuit en dreigde met een rechtszaak tegen de gemeente. Pas zondag maakten de autoriteiten de ontdekking van de zusjes (nu 14, 18 en 21 jaar) bekend.
In Oostenrijk is geschokt gereageerd op de onthulling. Een half jaar geleden werd het land al opgeschikt door de verschijning van Natascha Kampusch, die na acht jaar opsluiting in een kelder aan haar ontvoerder had weten te ontsnappen. Minister Maria Berger (justitie) wil een diepgaand onderzoek. Zij wil ook nieuwe regels voor kinderbescherming.
De drie zussen waren het slachtoffer van hun eigen moeder, die na haar echtscheiding in een depressie raakte. Ze is inmiddels in hechtenis en moet over enkele weken voorkomen wegens het toebrengen van zwaar lichamelijk letsel en mishandeling. Ze kan vijf maanden tot vijf jaar gevangenisstraf krijgen.
De meisjes werden aangetroffen in een volkomen vervuilde woning. Er was geen stromend water en het vuil en uitwerpselen lagen tot een meter hoog. De vloer was aangetast door de muizenpoep. De meisjes zijn er zowel lichamelijk als geestelijk ernstig aan toe.
Deskundigen spraken maandag in de Oostenrijkse media de vrees uit dat zij nooit over hun afschuwelijke jeugd zullen heenkomen.
Viagra sold over counter on Valentine's Day...
Top News Reuters.com
Sun Feb 11, 2007. LONDON (Reuters) - Men will be able to buy impotence treatment Viagra over the counter in Britain for the first time from Valentine's Day, chemist chain Alliance Boots said on Sunday.
Three Manchester Boots pharmacies will sell the prescription-only medication made by U.S. drugs group Pfizer in a pilot program from February 14.
Men aged between 30 and 65 suffering from erectile dysfunction will be able to buy four Viagra pills for 50 pounds ($97) without having to get a prescription from a doctor first.
Instead, they will have a private consultation with a Boots pharmacist, when their medical history will be checked and measurements taken of their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
On a return visit patients will see a private doctor to ensure they are suitable for a further supply of pills.
"By creating a service that is easily accessible on the high street we hope that we help many more men seek help for a very common condition," said Boots Director of Healthcare Alex Gourlay.
He said it was estimated that only one in 10 men suffering from erectile dysfunction were currently being treated.
Boots already offers similar services for weight loss, hair retention and chlamydia treatment.
A national roll out of the Viagra service will be assessed later in the year.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Sun Feb 11, 2007. LONDON (Reuters) - Men will be able to buy impotence treatment Viagra over the counter in Britain for the first time from Valentine's Day, chemist chain Alliance Boots said on Sunday. Three Manchester Boots pharmacies will sell the prescription-only medication made by U.S. drugs group Pfizer in a pilot program from February 14.
Men aged between 30 and 65 suffering from erectile dysfunction will be able to buy four Viagra pills for 50 pounds ($97) without having to get a prescription from a doctor first.
Instead, they will have a private consultation with a Boots pharmacist, when their medical history will be checked and measurements taken of their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood glucose levels.
On a return visit patients will see a private doctor to ensure they are suitable for a further supply of pills.
"By creating a service that is easily accessible on the high street we hope that we help many more men seek help for a very common condition," said Boots Director of Healthcare Alex Gourlay.
He said it was estimated that only one in 10 men suffering from erectile dysfunction were currently being treated.
Boots already offers similar services for weight loss, hair retention and chlamydia treatment.
A national roll out of the Viagra service will be assessed later in the year.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
And the sports fans who drink the most wine are..
Top News Reuters.com
NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters Life!) - Fans of women's golf are the biggest wine drinkers among sports fans in the United States, according to figures released on Thursday.
A study by market researcher Nielsen found wine consumption among U.S. sports fans increased to $81.40 in 2006, which was up $14.60 from 2005 which was in line with increasing consumption of wine in the United States.
But results also indicated that this increase in wine spending was slightly stronger among avid fans and certain fan bases among 12 different groups.
Households with at least one fan of the Ladies Professional Golf Association spent almost $125 on wine in 2006, which was up 17 percent over the year -- overtaking fans of men's golf.
Tennis fans came in second with wine consumption in households with at least one tennis fan rising nearly 20 percent in 2006 to $111.9 a household.
Fans of the PGA came in third, down from leading the pack in 2005, spending nearly 30 percent more on wine last year at $109.40 a household.
But the biggest gain in 2006 was among NFL Football fans who spent over 63 percent more on wine over the year at $94.30 per household.
Retail spending on wine in the United States grew seven percent last year from 2005 to $8.4 billion, according to the study.
A study commissioned by the organizers of the VinExpo trade fair in Bordeaux last June recently projected that the United States is set to overtake France in the next five years as the world's largest wine market.
Karen Ross of the California Wine Growers Association said company innovation and Americans' acceptance of wine over time explained the growing popularity of wine among sports fans.
She said age and image played a role in wine's appeal.
"Part of it is growing up with parents and grandparents who had wine with dinner," said Ross.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
NEW YORK, Feb 8 (Reuters Life!) - Fans of women's golf are the biggest wine drinkers among sports fans in the United States, according to figures released on Thursday.
A study by market researcher Nielsen found wine consumption among U.S. sports fans increased to $81.40 in 2006, which was up $14.60 from 2005 which was in line with increasing consumption of wine in the United States.
But results also indicated that this increase in wine spending was slightly stronger among avid fans and certain fan bases among 12 different groups.
Households with at least one fan of the Ladies Professional Golf Association spent almost $125 on wine in 2006, which was up 17 percent over the year -- overtaking fans of men's golf.
Tennis fans came in second with wine consumption in households with at least one tennis fan rising nearly 20 percent in 2006 to $111.9 a household.
Fans of the PGA came in third, down from leading the pack in 2005, spending nearly 30 percent more on wine last year at $109.40 a household.
But the biggest gain in 2006 was among NFL Football fans who spent over 63 percent more on wine over the year at $94.30 per household.
Retail spending on wine in the United States grew seven percent last year from 2005 to $8.4 billion, according to the study.
A study commissioned by the organizers of the VinExpo trade fair in Bordeaux last June recently projected that the United States is set to overtake France in the next five years as the world's largest wine market.
Karen Ross of the California Wine Growers Association said company innovation and Americans' acceptance of wine over time explained the growing popularity of wine among sports fans.
She said age and image played a role in wine's appeal.
"Part of it is growing up with parents and grandparents who had wine with dinner," said Ross.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Candy with a surprise inside! Okay, it's a finger ...
Top News Reuters.com
Thu Feb 8, 2007. FRANKFURT, Feb 7 (Reuters Life!) - A man in Germany was put off his Italian chocolate treat when he noticed that a bump in the bar was not a nut but part of a human finger.
"He found a fingertip, complete with fingernail, right in the middle of the bar," said a police spokesman in the town of Mainz, close to Frankfurt.
"I suppose it went unnoticed because there were nuts in the chocolate and it was hard to tell the difference," the police spokesman said, adding the fingertip was being examined by forensic experts.
The 28-year-old man was in shock when he took the bar to police after a family doctor confirmed its contents.
Police declined to name the brand of the chocolate.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Thu Feb 8, 2007. FRANKFURT, Feb 7 (Reuters Life!) - A man in Germany was put off his Italian chocolate treat when he noticed that a bump in the bar was not a nut but part of a human finger.
"He found a fingertip, complete with fingernail, right in the middle of the bar," said a police spokesman in the town of Mainz, close to Frankfurt.
"I suppose it went unnoticed because there were nuts in the chocolate and it was hard to tell the difference," the police spokesman said, adding the fingertip was being examined by forensic experts.
The 28-year-old man was in shock when he took the bar to police after a family doctor confirmed its contents.
Police declined to name the brand of the chocolate.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Lipitor may cut hospitalizations for heart failure
Top News Reuters.com
Thu Feb 8, 2007 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For people with coronary artery disease, treatment with high doses of Lipitor (generic name, atorvastatin) may reduce their odds of having to be hospitalized for heart failure, according to a new report. However, this benefit is largely confined to individuals with a history of heart failure.
The findings come from an analysis of data from the Treating to New Targets (TNT) study, which has already shown that patients treated with high-dose atorvastatin had 22 percent fewer 'cardiac events' than those given low-dose atorvastatin. "The focus of our analysis was to determine if high-dose atorvastatin had any effect on hospitalizations for heart failure," Dr. David D. Waters, from San Francisco General Hospital, explained to Reuters Health.
As Waters and his colleagues note in their report in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, statin drugs like Lipitor have effects that suggest they might be useful for treating heart failure, but there's also a possibility that they may actually worsen the condition.
The team's analysis involved 10,000 patients with heart disease who were assigned to take Lipitor at a dose of 80 milligrams or 10 milligrams per day and were followed for an average of nearly 5 years. None of them had advanced heart failure, but about 8 percent of them had a history of heart failure.
The hospitalization rate for heart failure in the high-dose group was 2.4 percent compared with 3.3 percent in the low-dose group, which translates to a reduction in risk of 26 percent.
Most of the benefit was seen in the patients with a history of heart failure. In this group, high-dose and low-dose atorvastatin were associated with hospitalization rates of 10.6 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively.
"Atorvastatin and other statins are not specifically approved to treat heart failure, but our findings suggest that if you have a patient who is taking atorvastatin for another reason -- such as high cholesterol or heart disease -- it might be smart to use the higher dose," Waters commented.
SOURCE: Circulation, February 6, 2007.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
Thu Feb 8, 2007 NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For people with coronary artery disease, treatment with high doses of Lipitor (generic name, atorvastatin) may reduce their odds of having to be hospitalized for heart failure, according to a new report. However, this benefit is largely confined to individuals with a history of heart failure.
The findings come from an analysis of data from the Treating to New Targets (TNT) study, which has already shown that patients treated with high-dose atorvastatin had 22 percent fewer 'cardiac events' than those given low-dose atorvastatin. "The focus of our analysis was to determine if high-dose atorvastatin had any effect on hospitalizations for heart failure," Dr. David D. Waters, from San Francisco General Hospital, explained to Reuters Health.
As Waters and his colleagues note in their report in the American Heart Association's journal Circulation, statin drugs like Lipitor have effects that suggest they might be useful for treating heart failure, but there's also a possibility that they may actually worsen the condition.
The team's analysis involved 10,000 patients with heart disease who were assigned to take Lipitor at a dose of 80 milligrams or 10 milligrams per day and were followed for an average of nearly 5 years. None of them had advanced heart failure, but about 8 percent of them had a history of heart failure.
The hospitalization rate for heart failure in the high-dose group was 2.4 percent compared with 3.3 percent in the low-dose group, which translates to a reduction in risk of 26 percent.
Most of the benefit was seen in the patients with a history of heart failure. In this group, high-dose and low-dose atorvastatin were associated with hospitalization rates of 10.6 percent and 17.3 percent, respectively.
"Atorvastatin and other statins are not specifically approved to treat heart failure, but our findings suggest that if you have a patient who is taking atorvastatin for another reason -- such as high cholesterol or heart disease -- it might be smart to use the higher dose," Waters commented.
SOURCE: Circulation, February 6, 2007.
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved.
CORRECTED: Autism more common than thought in U.S.: survey...
Top News Reuters.com By Maggie Fox, Health and Science Editor
Thu Feb 8, 2007.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Autism is more common in the United States than anyone had estimated, affecting about one in every 150 children, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday.
Two surveys by the agency encompassed 14 states and represented the largest and most comprehensive studies of how many children have autism. It showed a wide variation among the states, ranging from 4.5 per 1,000 children having an autism-related disorder in West Virginia to 9.9 per 1,000 in New Jersey.
"There's been a lot of concern about what the prevalence of autism is in the United States and we haven't really had the data systems to answer that completely," said Catherine Rice of the CDC's birth-defects division, who helped lead the study.
The surveys look at 8-year-olds, the first in eight states and the second looks at 8-year-olds in 14 states. On average, they found that about one in 150 children born in 1992 and 1994, or 6.7 per thousand, have autism.
Previous estimates had put the incidence at somewhere between one in 166 children and one in 175.
"Finally, we can end the debate on the prevalence of autism in our nation and focus on getting the services and supports the families need," said Lee Grossman, Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Society of America.
The reports are the first from the government-funded Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.
"We really do think that these data are important because they represent the most complete and accurate picture of autism spectrum disorders in the United States to date," Rice said in a telephone interview.
Types of "autism spectrum disorder" range from autism, which can severely disable a child by interfering with speech and behavior, to Asperger's syndrome, a much milder behavioral problem.
The researchers hope to eventually use the surveys to help figure out what causes autism. They also want to be able to verify suspicions autism may be growing more common in the United States.
BUILDING AWARENESS
"We hope these findings will build awareness," Rice said.
Activists have said for years that autism was becoming more common. Some experts discount claims of skyrocketing rates, saying the definition of autism has changed over the years, but reliable survey figures have been scarce.
"A lot of professionals were asking what had changed, had we seen more children than in the past?" said Dr. Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, who helped lead the study.
The CDC surveys, published in Thursday's weekly report on death and disease, use a variety of sources such as schools, physician reports and other data. Rice said it took years to get required approvals to see the data.
The autism rates remained fairly stable over the two years in which the surveys were taken, Rice said, except in West Virginia, where the prevalence rose greatly. Rice said it is unclear why.
The studies also showed far fewer of the autistic children had mental retardation than in previous estimates.
"The older statistics always estimated 70 to 75 percent of kids with autism had cognitive impairment," Rice said. "We found 33 to 62 percent."
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved
Thu Feb 8, 2007.WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Autism is more common in the United States than anyone had estimated, affecting about one in every 150 children, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday.
Two surveys by the agency encompassed 14 states and represented the largest and most comprehensive studies of how many children have autism. It showed a wide variation among the states, ranging from 4.5 per 1,000 children having an autism-related disorder in West Virginia to 9.9 per 1,000 in New Jersey.
"There's been a lot of concern about what the prevalence of autism is in the United States and we haven't really had the data systems to answer that completely," said Catherine Rice of the CDC's birth-defects division, who helped lead the study.
The surveys look at 8-year-olds, the first in eight states and the second looks at 8-year-olds in 14 states. On average, they found that about one in 150 children born in 1992 and 1994, or 6.7 per thousand, have autism.
Previous estimates had put the incidence at somewhere between one in 166 children and one in 175.
"Finally, we can end the debate on the prevalence of autism in our nation and focus on getting the services and supports the families need," said Lee Grossman, Chief Executive Officer of the Autism Society of America.
The reports are the first from the government-funded Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.
"We really do think that these data are important because they represent the most complete and accurate picture of autism spectrum disorders in the United States to date," Rice said in a telephone interview.
Types of "autism spectrum disorder" range from autism, which can severely disable a child by interfering with speech and behavior, to Asperger's syndrome, a much milder behavioral problem.
The researchers hope to eventually use the surveys to help figure out what causes autism. They also want to be able to verify suspicions autism may be growing more common in the United States.
BUILDING AWARENESS
"We hope these findings will build awareness," Rice said.
Activists have said for years that autism was becoming more common. Some experts discount claims of skyrocketing rates, saying the definition of autism has changed over the years, but reliable survey figures have been scarce.
"A lot of professionals were asking what had changed, had we seen more children than in the past?" said Dr. Marshalyn Yeargin-Allsopp, who helped lead the study.
The CDC surveys, published in Thursday's weekly report on death and disease, use a variety of sources such as schools, physician reports and other data. Rice said it took years to get required approvals to see the data.
The autism rates remained fairly stable over the two years in which the surveys were taken, Rice said, except in West Virginia, where the prevalence rose greatly. Rice said it is unclear why.
The studies also showed far fewer of the autistic children had mental retardation than in previous estimates.
"The older statistics always estimated 70 to 75 percent of kids with autism had cognitive impairment," Rice said. "We found 33 to 62 percent."
© Reuters 2007. All Rights Reserved
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
Google Deletes Post from a Blogspot Blog at Digital Inspiration
Digital Inspiration Posted by Amit Agarwal on 2/05/2007 12:37:00 PM');
This is probably the first time when the Blogger team has censored selected posts from a blog hosted on Blogger rather than banning or deleting the entire blog.
Here's a copy of the letter [Blogger TOS Violation- content removed] from the Blogger team received by the CYFSWATCH blog
We'd like to inform you that we've received a complaint regarding your blog cyfswatch.blogspot.com. Upon review, we've noted that your blog is not in compliance with Blogger Terms of Service (http://beta.blogger.com/terms.g).
As a result, we've been forced to remove the infringing posts from your blog.The anonymous anti-CYF blog invites people to post complaints about social workers in what it says is an effort to name and shame them.What's even more interesting is this second email from Google to the blogger stating reasons why the post was removed from the blog:
When we receive complaints that a post appears to violate the privacy of others by, for example, publishing non-public personal information like residential addresses, we remove the post.
Likewise, we may remove posts that appear to threaten actual harm to specific individuals.Also read: What can you do when people copy your content on Blogspot hosted blogs without permission.
This is probably the first time when the Blogger team has censored selected posts from a blog hosted on Blogger rather than banning or deleting the entire blog.
Here's a copy of the letter [Blogger TOS Violation- content removed] from the Blogger team received by the CYFSWATCH blog
We'd like to inform you that we've received a complaint regarding your blog cyfswatch.blogspot.com. Upon review, we've noted that your blog is not in compliance with Blogger Terms of Service (http://beta.blogger.com/terms.g).
As a result, we've been forced to remove the infringing posts from your blog.The anonymous anti-CYF blog invites people to post complaints about social workers in what it says is an effort to name and shame them.What's even more interesting is this second email from Google to the blogger stating reasons why the post was removed from the blog:
When we receive complaints that a post appears to violate the privacy of others by, for example, publishing non-public personal information like residential addresses, we remove the post.
Likewise, we may remove posts that appear to threaten actual harm to specific individuals.Also read: What can you do when people copy your content on Blogspot hosted blogs without permission.
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