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Limping Ship Hits High Waves

An Antarctic cruise ship operated by Polar Cruises out of Bend, Oregon, has lost an engine in high seas, but is limping safely to its scheduled port, the Argentine Navy said. The ship has 100 passengers and 60 crew members aboard. (8 December 2010)

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European carriers want content companies and smartphone makers to pay network usage fees

How do you start a net neutrality debate without ever saying “net neutrality?” If you’re a European wireless carrier like France Telecom, Telecom Italia, Telefonica, or Vodafone, you do it by just getting straight to the point: you say companies like Google, Apple, and Facebook need to start paying for continued network access because their devices and services use too much bandwidth. Yep, that’s a straight-up network neutrality issue, but the carriers are framing it like it’s an accounting problem — and they’re not being shy about wanting more cash to even out the books as they invest in next-gen networks. “It’s necessary to put in place a system of payments by service providers as a function of their use,” says France Telecom CEO Stephane Richard, while Telefonica CEO Cesar Alierta says that Google and Yahoo’s free use of his network is a “tragedy” that “can’t continue.” (No, we’re not making this up.) In addition to shaking down service providers and device makers, European carriers are also following AT&T and Verizon to tiered data plans — France Telecom is will move from unlimited pricing to something “more sophisticated,” and the other networks expected to follow. What’s most interesting to us is that the carriers are appearing to conflate bandwidth-heavy services like Facebook and YouTube with devices that customers use to access those services — does it really make any sense to charge Apple or Google a fee for making good phones that encourage more network use, on top of charging users for tiered data? That’s an unexpected — and unfortunate — twist on the standard net neutrality debate, and we’re not so sure we want to see where it’s going. Read the whole article at the source link, it’s a good one. European carriers want content companies and smartphone makers to pay network usage fees originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:22:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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Latvia: Swastikas spray-painted on 100 Jewish gravestones

White swastikas painted on tombstones in Riga cemetery, which was desecrated in the past; police launch investigation, mayor condemns act

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Toyota Prius to Become Japan’s Best-Selling Car Ever, Unseating the Corolla!

Photo: Michael (mx5tx) , Flickr, CC Who’d Have Thunk It 10 Years Ago? The Toyota Prius hybrid has been on fire (not literally) in its home market of Japan ever since it was redesigned for the 2010 model year. It has been the #1 best-selling car in the land of the rising sun for the past 18 months, and it eve… Read the full story on TreeHugger

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Intel quietly forms netbook and tablet group to fend off competition

There wasn’t even so much as a press release announcing this one, but The New York Times has confirmed with Intel that the chip maker recently formed a new business unit dubbed simply the netbook and tablet group. That’s apparently been tasked with fending off competition in the netbook and tablet space, and ensuring Intel remains as successful as it has been with its Atom processors — it will be led by the the current head of Intel’s embedded and communications group, Douglas L. Davis. Intel spokesman Bill Kircos further explained that “it makes sense for us to sharpen our focus on these friends of the PC, and Doug’s experience running a similar and very successful embedded division makes him the right guy to lead the group.” Intel quietly forms netbook and tablet group to fend off competition originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:01:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink

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UN: Hariri indictments will stay sealed for weeks

Tribunal spokesman says content of expected indictments following probe into 2005 assassination of former Lebanese PM to remain confidential until confirmed by pretrial judge

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Late yesterday evening, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer announced that the House will take up the American DREAM Act today — Wednesday, December 8th. Here is a statement from Frank Sharry, Executive Director of America’s Voice: “The news that the House of Representatives will hold a vote on the DREAM Act on Wednesday is historic. The DREAM Act is supported by educators, the military, small business, organized labor, and religious leaders from across the spectrum. This is the most significant pro-immigrant legislation this chamber will have taken up in a decade. The young people who would benefit from the DREAM Act are patriotic high-achievers who just want a chance to become full citizens of the only country they call home. “We applaud House Democratic leaders for scheduling a vote on this common sense, bipartisan, and fiscally responsible measure, and call on every Democrat and every Republican in the House to do the right thing. Pass this legislation so that young people who came to this country as babies and grew up as Americans can stabilize their lives and achieve their dreams. Pass this legislation so that our country can continue to benefit from their hard work and talent as they enroll in our universities and enlist in the Armed Forces. “Tomorrow will be the moment of truth: do you stand with these youth, their hard work, and their dreams, or do you stand for a darker America that would shun them and reject their vital contributions to this country?” Advocates have been calling their members of Congress all week, but they are being encouraged to make one final round of calls tomorrow: House: 866-967-6018; Senate: 866-996-5161. For more on the politics and policy, watch Frank on MSNBC this afternoon (above), and check out our DREAM Act resources below the jump. * Background Briefing: The DREAM Act * Editorial Boards Call for Passage of the DREAM Act * Quote Sheet: Passing the DREAM Act Would Benefit the U.S. Military * Let Us Serve 2010: Stories of DREAM Act Eligible Youth Ready for the Armed Forces * Fact Sheet: Military and National Security Leaders Support the DREAM Act * Fact Sheet: Immigrants and the Military * The DREAM Act: Creating Economic Opportunities * 5 Reasons to Support the DREAM Act * Letter from Robert Gates, Secretary of Defense, in Support of the DREAM Act * Letter from Education Secretary Arne Duncan, in Support of the DREAM Act * Poll: 70 percent of Americans Support the DREAM Act * Poll: DREAM Act Enjoys Strong Support Across Party Lines * Poll: Majority of Latino Voters Say Congress Must Pass the DREAM Act * National Immigration Law Center and United We Dream * Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) * Senator Dick Lugar (R-IN)

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Conn. Car Crash Kills Multiple Teens

Grief counselors were working with high school students in the small Connecticut town of Griswold, a day after a car crash killed four students and critically injured another, the superintendent said. (Dec. 8)

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NBC's Meredith Vieira, on Wednesday's Today show, hit David Axelrod repeatedly from the left as she lectured the White House senior adviser that the left is “furious” at Barack Obama for making a deal with the GOP on tax cuts as she

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Yishai on fire report: Everyone is accountable

After state comptroller says Interior Ministry responsible for ongoing failure regarding Carmel disaster firefighting efforts, Yishai claims, ‘If I weren’t haredi, people would say I predicted the future’

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