Britney's Top Fan Web Site to Close

Britney & her friend, Paris Hilton

By ANDREA DRESDALE

Dec. 29, 2006 — Britney Spears, who was famously photographed going without underwear last month, will now have to go without her No. 1 fan site.

The frustrated webmaster of WorldofBritney.com has decided to shut down the site permanently on Jan. 31, saying the pop star is "done."

"As Britney keeps losing her identity and credibility [with] fans and industry people, so is World of Britney … I think that World of Britney has had its run … its feet are not holding firm anymore, not because of my ability to run it, but because I believe Britney is, unfortunately, done (for me at least)," said Ruben Garay in a posting on his Web site.

"No matter what anyone thinks or how they may disagree, it's very hard to maintain the respect needed to keep things going."

In an exclusive interview with ABC Radio News, Garay says he has "exhausted his attempts" to make Spears "show appreciation for the millions of fans who have been waiting for her comeback after all these years."

Garay cites a recent incident in which Spears "blatantly stood up two winners who had won a meet-and-greet with her" through his Web site.

Garay also tells ABC Radio News that he plans to start a new state-of-the-art celebrity blog called ThatOtherBlog.com, which will cover all stars, not just Spears.

Garay adds that in addition to that aspect of the blog, he plans to use it to educate people about the entertainment industry.

Buck Wolf of ABCNEWS.com contributed to this report.
Source: abcnews.com

Mesothelioma - Risk Factors

In as many as 75-85% of mesothelioma cases, there is a history of exposure to asbestos. The material was used extensively in numerous industries from the early 1900’s through the 1960’s. Through the World War II era, over 8 million workers were exposed to asbestos. Evidence that serious health problems were related to asbestos began to mount, and in 1999, a conclusive link between asbestos exposure and mesothelioma was made.

Because it can take as long as 50 years for mesothelioma to develop, anyone who has been exposed should be evaluated by a physician experienced in this form of cancer. Even if you are not ill, you should learn about your legal rights in case mesothelioma is found in the future.

Asbestos is a broad term which refers to a collection of minerals know as asbestiform. It is a small mineral comprised of tiny fibers. Asbestos fibers exist in two forms; they can be either amphibole or serpentine (chrysotile). Several studies suggest that the amphibole form of asbestos is more dangerous than the chrysotile form, especially in mesothelioma.

These small particles float in the air, in an exposed environment and they may be inhaled or swallowed. Asbestos fibers breathed into the lungs cannot be expelled; they become embedded in the thin lining of the lungs, the mesothelium. Over the period of many years, cells in the mesothelium can become cancerous. In most cases of mesothelioma, it takes decades for the disease to cause symptoms.

Although a serious hazard to your health, asbestos is an excellent insulating material. It is used in many products that need to withstand high heat such as home insulation and construction, brake pads, electrical equipment, hot water piping, boilers, ship engines, and welding supplies. People who have worked in these industries should be screened regularly for the development of lung disease.

When the asbestos is contained within finished products such as walls and tiles, it does not appear to pose a health as long as it is not damaged or disturbed. However, damage or inadvertent destruction can release dangerous fibers into the air. When asbestos fibers are set free and inhaled, however, exposed individuals are at risk of developing an asbestos-related disease.

While smoking has not been found to cause mesothelioma, smoking has been linked to an increased incidence in mesothelioma in asbestos exposed workers. Therefore, if you have had occupational e exposure to asbestos, smoking could raise the risk of developing mesothelioma.

Asbestos exposure

The most common way in which people are exposed to asbestos is through their work. There are a number of jobs in which exposure to asbestos may have occurred. Asbestos has been extensively used in industrial products, including cement, brake linings, roof shingles, flooring products, textiles, and insulation as well as shipbuilding and other forms of construction. The risk of developing Mesothelioma increases according to the length and level of exposure to asbestos.

The number of workers exposed to asbestos far exceeds the number of documented cases. The reasons why some people who are exposed to asbestos do not develop the disease are not well understood.

The risk of developing asbestos-related diseases varies with the type of industry in which the exposure occurred and with the extent of the exposure. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) there is no safe level of exposure to asbestos fibers. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), however, has set a Permissible Exposure Limit (PEL) of 0.1 fibers per cubic centimeter (f/cc) for an 8 hour time weighted average. The safest course of action is to limit exposure and always wear protective gear when dealing with any type of suspected asbestos.

Hidden asbestos risks

The risk of developing mesothelioma is not just confined to the person directly exposed but may extend to family members and friends of those directly exposed. Even someone who has not been directly exposed or has been exposed at very low levels is at risk may develop the disease.

An increasing incidence of mesothelioma in spouses and children whose only to asbestos was from the dust laden work clothes of a family member is being reported. People who were in contact with workers in asbestos related injuries should also be vigilant for symptoms and be screened for lung disorders regularly.


Source: mesotheliomasos.com

Mr & Mrs Smith in Vietnam Pics

At 11/23/2006, Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie visited Vietnam ^^ They hired a motorcycle and took around in Ho Chi Minh city.

Some images:





(I think they can't take a rest when they have fans around the world)

Pics from JustJared/ AP

NASA's vision lost on Web generation

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AP) -- Young Americans have high levels of apathy about NASA's new vision of sending astronauts back to the moon by 2017 and eventually on to Mars, recent surveys show.

Concerned about this lack of interest, NASA's image-makers are taking a hard look at how to win over the young generation -- media-saturated teens and 20-somethings growing up on YouTube and Google and largely indifferent to manned space flight.

"If you're going to do a space exploration program that lasts 40 years, if you just do the math, those are the guys that are going to carry the tax burden," said Mary Lynne Dittmar, president of a Houston company that surveyed young people about the space program.

The 2004 and 2006 surveys by Dittmar Associates Inc. revealed high levels of indifference among 18- to 25-year-olds toward manned trips to the moon and Mars.

The space shuttle program is slated to end in 2010 after construction of the international space station is completed with 13 more shuttle flights. The recent 13-day mission by Discovery's seven astronauts was part of that long-running construction job. (Full story)

When the shuttles are retired they will be replaced by the Orion spacecraft, which NASA hopes takes humans back to the moon and then on to Mars.

Even though the Dittmar surveys offer a bleak view, NASA Administrator Michael Griffin believes ventures to the moon and Mars will excite young people more than the current shuttle trips to low-Earth orbit.

"If we make it clear that the focus of the United States space program for the foreseeable future will be out there, will be beyond what we do now, I think you won't have any problem at all reacquiring the interest of young people," Griffin said in a recent interview.

At an October workshop attended by 80 NASA message spinners, young adults were right up there with Congress as the top two priorities for NASA's strategic communications efforts.

Tactics encouraged by the workshop included new forms of communication, such as podcasts and YouTube; enlisting support from celebrities, like actors David Duchovny ("X-Files") and Patrick Stewart ("Star Trek: The Next Generation"); forming partnerships with youth-oriented media such as MTV or sports events such as the Olympics and NASCAR; and developing brand placement in the movie industry.

Outside groups have offered ideas too, such as making it a priority to shape the right message about the next-generation Orion missions.

And NASA should take a hint from Hollywood, some suggested.

"The American public engages with issues through people, personalities, celebrities, whatever," said George Whitesides, executive director of the National Space Society, a space advocacy group. "When you don't have that kind of personality, or face, or faces associated with your issue, it's a little bit harder for the public to connect."

He said the agency could pick the crews for the moon and Mars trips earlier so the public can connect the faces with the far-off missions of the future.

"You can take advantage of these personalities and these stories about triumph over adversity to create heroes, if you will," said workshop leader Peggy Finarelli, a former NASA official who is now a researcher at George Mason University.

But embracing YouTube is no guarantee that NASA will get the results it wants.

Ali Kuwait, 19, who is studying civil engineering at Brevard Community College, said he recently watched a clip on YouTube that made a convincing case that NASA's moon landings between 1969 and 1972 were faked.

Repeating an old myth that NASA has not been able to kill, Kuwait said: "The moon thing was not real."

Copyright 2006 The Associated Press.
Source: cnn.com

Patients Listen to Mesothelioma Survivor Speak at Teleconference

Paul Kraus, a nine-year survivor of mesothelioma, recently delivered another inspiring presentation on how he healed his cancer. Every few months, Mr. Kraus presents his experience with mesothelioma and answers questions from newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients and their families. If you are a mesothelioma patient or a family member of a mesothelioma patient and wish to listen in to the next teleconference with mesothelioma survivor Paul Kraus, the schedule is available at: http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com or call 619-261-7922 to register.

Paul Kraus was diagnosed with mesothelioma in 1997. The cancer was so widespread that doctors told him there was little hope and he should get his affairs in order. Rather than giving up, he created his own path to healing. Today, over nine years later, he continues to enjoy a good quality of life.

Mr. Kraus wrote an acclaimed book about his diagnosis and healing called “Surviving Mesothelioma and Other Cancers - A Patient’s Guide.” This book, available on Amazon.com, is the best-selling mesothelioma book in the world. Wanting to inspire more patients, Paul Kraus took the unusual step of hosting free teleconferences so that newly diagnosed mesothelioma patients and their families would be able to speak directly to him.

During the most recent conference on Dec.14th, Mr. Kraus described the steps he took to heal his mesothelioma and answered questions from patients and their loved ones. Topics included: chemotherapy, holistic approaches, vitamins and other supplements, clinical trials, doctor-patient relationships, mind-body medicine and the specific treatments that he used. He also answered questions from the audience that included: How did he know his treatment was working? What therapies does he use now? What was his “Total Approach to Healing?” What treatments have other long-term mesothelioma survivors used?

While Mr. Kraus is a patient, not a doctor, and he does not provide medical advice, he inspires patients with his own story of success and survival. Comments received after the teleconference included: “The teleconference with Paul was excellent. I found it very informative, educational and uplifting.” “Thank you for writing the book, doing the call and providing patients and their families with hope.” “Thank you so much for your time, insights, and inspiration.” “Great Teleconference. Lot’s of helpful information.”

If you are a mesothelioma patient or a family member of a mesothelioma patient and wish to listen in to the next teleconference with mesothelioma survivor Paul Kraus, the schedule is available at: http://www.survivingmesothelioma.com/speak-to-paul-kraus.cfm or call 619-261-7922 to register.

Source: mesotheliomacenter.org

What is Mesothelioma?

Mesothelioma is a serious and rare form of lung cancer. It is most frequently seen in men between the ages of 50 to 70. Women are affected far less frequently. In the US, between 2000 and 3000 cases are diagnosed each year. Estimates suggest that the incidence of mesothelioma for every 100,000 in the US is about 1.8 and 0.9 internationally. This form of cancer affects people of every race equally. The number of people who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma has increased significantly in the past 30 years. Although many advances in treatment have been made, there is no cure for this type of cancer.

In mesothelioma, the cells of the mesothelium become cancerous and grow out of control. The mesothelium is a protective, two-layered membrane that covers the internal organs of the body including the lungs, heart and abdominal organs. Between these layers, the cells produce fluid, which allows easy movement of the heart and lungs within the chest cavity. The layer that covers the lungs is called the pleura, and the layer that covers the heart is called the pericardium. The peritoneum lines the abdominal cavity. Mesothelium also lines the male and female reproductive organs. Mesothelioma can affect any of these cells, but is usually seen in the pleural or peritoneal mesothelium. The most common form of mesothelioma is pleural.

The primary risk factor for developing mesothelioma is exposure to asbestos. Between 70-80% of people diagnosed with mesothelioma have been exposed to asbestos, usually in the workplace. Although it is possible to develop mesothelioma without any exposure to asbestos, it is very rare. While one person for every million people in the US will be diagnosed with mesothelioma, about 7-13 men who have been exposed to asbestos will be diagnosed with the disease. Symptoms frequently take 20 years to develop, but can take as long as 50 years to occur.

When cancerous cells invade the mesothelium, it becomes increasingly difficult to breathe. In the pleural form of mesothelioma, tumors growing in the mesothelium cause pleural effusions, which prevent the smooth movement of the lungs and other organs in the chest. Peritoneal mesothelioma invades the abdominal cavity and can cause loss of appetite weight loss, nausea and vomiting. Most patients seek medical care after having symptoms only 4-6 months.

Mesothelioma is a very aggressive form of cancer. Because it takes so long for symptoms to appear it can spread to the other organs in the chest, the chest wall and into the lymph nodes. The cancerous cells spread, or metastasize from the mesothelium into other parts of the body and damage internal tissues and organs. Treatment is more effective when the disease is detected early.

Treatment is aimed at reducing the size of tumors, and relieving symptoms. Chemotherapy, radiation treatment and surgery are some of the traditional treatment strategies used to help patients live longer, with fewer symptoms. New advances in photodynamic therapy and immunotherapy give hope for prolonging the lives of patients with mesothelioma. On average, however, the life expectancy after being diagnosed with mesothelioma is less than one year.

Source: mesotheliomasos.com

THE STARS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS

Actress Jennifer Love Hewitt cooks for the needy at the Los Angeles Mission, Dec. 22, 2006, in Los Angeles. (Photo by Chad Buchanan/Getty Images) (Arnaldo Magnani/Getty Images)

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Vista flaw discovered, risk believed low

By ANICK JESDANUN

NEW YORK

Windows Vista, the new computer operating system that Microsoft Corp. is touting as its most secure ever, contains a programming flaw that might let hackers gain full control of vulnerable computers.

Microsoft and independent security researchers, however, tried to play down the risk from the flaw, which was posted on a Russian site recently and is apparently the first affecting the new Vista system released to larger businesses in late November.

The software company said it was investigating the threat but found so far that a hacker must already have access to the vulnerable computer in order to execute an attack.

That could occur if someone is actually sitting in front of the PC or otherwise gets the computer's owner to install rogue software, said Mikko Hypponen, chief research officer for Finnish security research company F-Secure Corp.

"The bottom line is you couldn't use a vulnerability like this to write a worm or hack a Vista system remotely," Hypponen said Tuesday. "It only has historical significance in that it's the first reported vulnerability that also affects Vista. It's a nonevent in other ways."

Attackers with low-level access privileges on a vulnerable machine could theoretically use the flaw to bump up their status, ultimately gaining systemwide control, Hypponen said.

The flaw affects older Windows systems, too, and Hypponen said vulnerabilities like these are quite common and can be fixed with a software patch, which Microsoft releases on the second Tuesday of each month except for the most serious threats. The flaw remains a proof of concept, with no one known to have actually launched an attack with it, Hypponen said.

In a posting on Microsoft's security-response Web journal, a senior security manager, Mike Reavey, said he remained confident "Windows Vista is our most secure platform to date."

Vista, the first major Windows upgrade since Windows XP launched in 2001, was made available Nov. 30 to businesses that buy Windows licenses in bulk. Consumers generally won't be able to get Vista until Jan. 30.

In trying to improve security, Microsoft redesigned its flagship operating system to reduce users' exposure to destructive programs from the Internet. But most security researchers believe a complex product like Vista can never be error-free, so it was a matter of time for someone discovered a security vulnerability.

Microsoft shares rose 10 cents to $29.74 in midday trading Tuesday on the Nasdaq Stock Market.

Source: Businessweek.com

Crowd Wisdom vs. Google's Genius

The founder of Wikipedia plans to take on the giant by offering search results that tap the knowledge of people across the Web
by Catherine Holahan

Can the wisdom of crowds trump the genius of Google? The founder of Web encyclopedia Wikipedia believes it not only can, but it will. Jimmy Wales, the man behind Wikipedia, which ranks among the top 15 online destinations worldwide, plans to launch a new search engine in the first three months of 2007. He believes the project, which is called Wikiasari, could someday overtake Google (GOOG) as the leader of Web search.

Like Wikipedia, the new search engine will rely on the support of a volunteer community of users. The idea is that Web surfers and programmers will be able to bring their collective intelligence to bear, to fine-tune search results and make the experience more effective for everyone. "If you search in Google, a lot of the results are very, very good and a lot of the results are very, very bad," says Wales. What that shows, Wales says, is that mathematical formulas alone do not produce consistently relevant results. "Human intelligence is still a very important part of the process," he says.

People can contribute to Wikiasari in one of two ways. The first is by enabling ordinary computer users to rerank search results. When a user performs a search on Wikiasari, the engine will return results based on a formula akin to Google's own Page-Rank system, which determines relevance by counting the number of times other Web pages link to a specific page, among other things. Unlike Google, however, users will then be able to reorder the results based on which links they find most useful by selecting an edit function. Wikiasari's servers will then store the new results along with the original query. When the same query is made in the future, Wikiasari will return the results in the order saved by most users.

"Google-Killing" Potential

Web users with programming knowledge have a second way to contribute. Wikiasari's technology is based on Apache's open-source Web search software Lucene and Nutch, and Wales plans to unveil all the company's computer code to the outside world. This kind of open-source development is in sharp contrast to the approach of the leading search engines, which do not release their search ranking formulas. Yet Wales contends that his open approach will ultimately prevail, because anyone any place in the world can weigh in with tweaks to Wikiasari's code to help return more relevant results.

Google has proven to be a fearsome competitor, however, against some of the most powerful companies in technology. In recent years, Google has increased its lead in search over Yahoo! (YHOO) and Microsoft's (MSFT) MSN, despite vows from both companies to catch up. Google controlled 49.5% of the searches in December, up from 43% two years earlier, according to Nielsen//NetRatings (NTRT). Meanwhile, Yahoo has 24.3% of searches and MSN, the third highest ranking search engine, controls just 8.2% of searches. Microsoft's share of the search market has slipped from 14% two years ago, despite a technology revamp and a multimillion-dollar ad campaign. If the searches that Google performs for Time Warner's (TWX) AOL and News Corp.'s (NWS) MySpace are added to the equation, its lead is even greater.

Though the Wikiasari project is scheduled to debut in the first quarter of next year, Wales suspects it will take roughly three years of user input before it has enough information to become a real competitor to the top search engines. "I wish I could write a Google-killing project in three months, but it is going to take a little bit longer than that," says Wales. "We will have something up in '07, but it won't be very good or interesting. It will be a starting point for people to play with."

Source: Businessweek.com

Microsoft: Vistagami Rising

Despite the harsh criticism received over its Origami, the software outfit is introducing another supersmall computer
by Ina Fried

This spring, Microsoft attracted huge buzz for the Origami prior to its launch, but as details emerged and the products hit the market, they were roundly criticized as overpriced and underpowered.

Next month, at CES, Microsoft will be back with another round of the tiny computers. The latest tablets, code-named Vistagami because of their Windows Vista support, also will come in a wider range of looks, including some models with keyboards. Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates is expected to mention some of the new devices in his CES keynote as part of a broader discussion of the new types of computers that will be enabled with Vista, including new all-in-one PCs and other esoteric designs.

But it's unclear whether the new crop of devices will do that much to address the two biggest criticisms of the category: price and battery life.

"Certainly there is progress still to be made in the category," said Mika Krammer, a director in Microsoft's Windows product marketing unit.

Intel has a new platform, McCaslin, that aims to offer more energy-efficient chips, though it is not expected until around mid-year. Taiwanese chipmaker Via Technologies has also exerted a lot of effort in this area.

"Right now we have the lowest power and also the smallest form factor," said Richard Brown, Via's VP of corporate marketing. Brown noted that by switching to its chips, Samsung was able to achieve five hours of battery life on its Q1B tablet, double the life on the original, Intel-based Q1.

Even with some improvements over the course of 2006, the first Origami devices have had very limited appeal.

"They haven't done very well," said IDC analyst Richard Shim. Some of the ultramobile PCs even found their way onto a list of biggest tech disappointments of 2006.

Shim pointed out that the best-selling of the super-tiny devices isn't even an Origami. Sony's UX series devices cost even more than the minitablets and sports a built-in keyboard and built-in wireless. "They figured the audience they are going for," Shim said. "They built a device that audience wanted and they set it at a price point that audience wouldn't mind paying for."

Making Windows more manageable

The first devices are likely to start shipping when Vista goes on sale at the end of the month. For its part, Microsoft plans at CES to show off the updated Origami software it has for Vista. The "touch pack," as the software is known, aims to make Windows more manageable on a device that typically has a screen smaller than 7 inches. Among the additions for Vista is a customized version of the operating system's built-in Windows Photo Gallery that's easy to navigate through touch.

While much of the focus remains on touch-screen abilities, Microsoft is also making way for keyboards, noting that they have become increasingly popular even on smaller devices, such as cell phones.

"There's a lot of emphasis on slide-out keyboards for the newer (devices) you will see at launch," Krammer said.

Not all of the minitablet excitement will be focused on Vista, however.

Provided by ZDNet Asia—Where Technology Means Business

Source: Businessweek.com

2006: The Tech Year in Quotes

A roundup of the sage, the silly, and the storied in technology news of the past year.
China Martens, IDG News Service

Technology news in 2006 has been anything but dull as industry titans Bill Gates and Scott McNealy prepared to exit stage right, long-time bitter foes Novell and Microsoft cuddled up, and Hewlett-Packard saw a spying scandal shred its reputation.

Plenty of commentary accompanied all that activity, so let's check out some of the most quote-worthy artifacts from IDG News Service stories.

Good Night and Good Luck

"I'm thrilled not to have to be CEO anymore. That was a temporary thing that I took on about 22 years ago."

--Scott McNealy on handing over Sun Microsystems CEO honors in May to ponytailed whippersnapper President Jonathan Schwartz. McNealy appeared upbeat despite having failed to fully reverse the company's poor financial performance.

"The world has had a tendency to focus a disproportionate amount of attention on me."

--Bill Gates, claiming in June he won't be missed all that much as he steps away from his daily chief software architect role at Microsoft come July 2008 to focus on his charity organization. Gates will remain as company chairman "indefinitely."

Sure, We Love Linux, But We Love Windows More

"If you want something, I'm still going to tell you [to buy] Windows, Windows, Windows."

--Steve Ballmer, Microsoft CEO, aiming to "bridge the divide" between open-source and proprietary software with a surprise partnership with Novell announced in November. Sounds like he hasn't got that whole co-opetition thing straight yet, ditto on what the whole lovefest means for patents, with the vendors differing on their interpretations of what the deal will mean.

"I prefer to be an optimist, and will happily take the option that not everybody needs to be enemies."

-- Mr. Maverick himself, Linus Torvalds, the creator of the Linux kernel, with his sunny take on Microsoft/Novell, at odds with the disgust voiced by many in the open-source community with the Suse distributor.

Could've, Would've, Should've ... Didn't
"I understand there is also a written report of the investigation addressed to me and others, but I did not read it. I could have, and I should have."

--Mark Hurd, Hewlett-Packard's embattled CEO, stating the obvious in September over his failure to peruse key information describing the company's bizarre attempts to unearth the source who leaked board-level confidences.

"If I knew then what I know now, I would have done things differently." -- Patricia Dunn, HP's former chairman, testifying before a U.S. Congress subcommittee about those techniques Hurd didn't bother to look into, which included pretexting. Forced out of HP in the wake of the spy scandal, Dunn continues to maintain the methods were legal. After all, she was assured of their legality by HP's own lawyers.

Touching Evil

"We actually did an evil scale and decided not to serve at all was worse evil."

--Eric Schmidt, Google CEO, about the year-long soul-searching process that the company went through before deciding to offer a censored version of its services in China. Google famously espouses the "don't be evil" credo.

Telling It Like It Is

"I think my response was 'What idiot dreamed this up?'"

--Mary Ann Davidson, Oracle's chief security officer, in typical blunt manner, remembering her reaction to the company's scheme to brand its databases as "unbreakable."

"Anybody [in the Internet space] who wasn't interested in YouTube was either asleep or not being honest."

--Jonathan Miller, AOL chairman and CEO, in November, regretting that Google, not his company, bought the video-sharing startup. Less than a week later, Miller was out of a job as Time Warner replaced him with veteran television executive Randy Falco. Could the two events, perchance, be related?

The Batteries and the Bees

"It's kind of like impregnating someone. It only takes one, so the more of them there are, the more likely that you'll impregnate someone."

--Rick Clancy, a Sony spokesperson, indulging in some plain speaking in August as to how short circuits caused by microscopic metal particles in the vendor's lithium ion batteries led to a handful of laptops catching fire. The result? A series of major recalls of millions of Sony batteries.

Slicing off the Fat

"We had become bloated. It's like middle-age spread. You don't know how it happens, but one day you look down and it's there."

--Donald MacDonald, vice president and general manager of Intel's digital home group in July, as he patted his belly, graphically describing the chip giant's attempts to slim down its 100,000-strong work force.

Paul Krill at InfoWorld and Jim Dalrymple at Macworld contributed to this report.

Source: pcword.com

2006: The Year in PCs and Chips

From Macs running Windows to Justice Department probes to quad-core processors: 2006 was a busy year.
Ben Ames, IDG News Service

Vendors in the PC and chip industries moved boldly in 2006, changing the marketplace map through mergers, recalls, layoffs, and lawsuits. Oh, and they launched some impressive new products too, keeping Moore's Law moving as they built smaller, faster chips and cooler, more efficient computers. Here, in chronological order, we share a sampling of the biggest events of the past 12 months.

Apple Releases Macs That Run on Intel Chips

In January Apple Computer sold its first Mac PCs that run on chips from Intel instead of on chips from IBM and Motorola, fulfilling a promise made in June 2005. Apple substitutes Intel's Core Duo chip for the PowerPC and G4 chips in its iMac and 15-inch MacBook Pro, soon followed by the Mac mini and 13-inch MacBook.

The move also let Apple expand from its own operating system. In April, Apple launches its Boot Camp software, enabling Intel-based Macs to run their choice of Apple's OS X or Microsoft's Windows XP.

AMD Announces ATI Acquisition

In July Advanced Micro Devices announces it would buy Canadian graphics chip vendor ATI Technologies for $5.4 billion. Integrating its processors with ATI's chip sets would allow AMD to sell platforms of integrated technologies, competitive with Intel bundles like Centrino, Viiv, and VPro, analysts say. Another effect of the merger is to leave Nvidia as the only independent graphics chip vendor in the market.

By November, Nvidia also says it will expand, paying $357 million to buy PortalPlayer, a maker of semiconductors for digital music players.

Battery Recall Begins

Dell recalls 4.1 million notebook batteries in August as a growing number of customers report they could short-circuit, causing some to overheat and catch fire. Within days, other vendors join the recall, leading to 8.1 million recalls of the lithium ion cells manufactured by Sony. Other PC vendors affected by the largest recall in consumer electronics history include Apple, Fujitsu, Hitachi, Lenovo, and Toshiba.

Intel Reorganizes, Lays Off Thousands

In September, Intel lays off 10,500 workers--about 10 percent of the workforce--as Chief Executive Paul Otellini enacts a promised reorganization that has already included the sale of its media and signaling business, the firing of 1000 executives, and the sale of its XScale smart phone chip division. Otellini blames slowing growth in the PC market when he predicts Intel's annual profits will reach only $9.3 billion for 2006, down from $12.1 billion in 2005. Analysts point out that Intel had also lost revenue by slashing prices on its chips in an effort to slow gains in market share by rival AMD.

Justice Department Investigates SRAM Market

The Department of Justice launches a probe in October of sales practices in the SRAM memory chip market, serving subpoenas to Cypress Semiconductor, Mitsubishi Electric, Samsung Electronics, Sony Electronics, and Toshiba. The investigation comes shortly after the Justice Department wins convictions and multimillion-dollar fines for price fixing in the closely related DRAM industry. By December, the Justice Department also turns its focus to graphics chips makers, demanding documents from AMD and Nvidia as part of an antitrust investigation.

Meanwhile, AMD continues another antitrust fight, continuing its long-running suit against Intel over accusations that the much larger chip-maker intimidated vendors from using AMD chips. That case is scheduled to come before a judge in April 2009.

HP Tops Dell as World's Largest PC Vendor

Hewlett-Packard overtakes Dell in October as the world's largest PC vendor, capping a year when Dell had reported a series of sagging profits and the start of an accounting investigation by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. HP has its own problems, coping with a spying scandal on its board of directors that leads to criminal investigations and the resignation of chief executive Patricia Dunn. But Dell is unable to stop its loss of market share even when the company ends its longtime allegiance to Intel and begins selling PCs powered by chips from AMD as well. Dell Chief Executive Kevin Rollins says the company was also hurt by slashing prices in order to bolster market share, and pledges to spend $100 million to hire more sales and call-center workers.

Intel Launches Quad-Core Processors for PCs

Intel launches the first quad-core processors for mainstream desktops and servers, continuing its effort to rebound from a loss of sales to AMD. The new chips include the Core 2 Extreme QX6700 for gamers and Xeon 5300 for servers, coming just a few months after Intel launches a new family of dual-core chips including the "Conroe" Core 2 Duo for desktops and "Woodcrest" Xeon 5100 for servers.

Still, the arms race continues, as AMD emphasizes its advantage in power efficiency and pledges to launch its own quad-core processor by the second quarter of 2007, the "Barcelona" quad-core Opteron 8000 for servers.

Source: pcworld.com.vn

MCDST to MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician

Microsoft has introduced a new structure of certifications to better reflect both technology and job-role skills. Aligned with the release of Windows Vista, these new IT professional certifications will be available in early 2007:

• Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS): Windows Vista, Configuration

• Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP): Consumer Support Technician

• MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician

Although progressive organizations will adopt Windows Vista immediately, Windows XP will continue to be a driving force in IT for years to come. If you have taken only exam 70-271 or 70-272, we recommend that you complete your MCDST in early 2007 to validate your skills on Windows XP and position yourself to take advantage of a one-exam upgrade path—and limited-time 40 percent savings on the exam—to Windows Vista certifications when they become available. With both MCDST and MCITP: Enterprise Support Technician, you can offer an employer, a client, or a project team confidence on any platform.

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(from Microsoft.com)

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Overweight? It Could Be Your Intestinal Bacteria

(Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images)

Obese People Could Have Different Germs in Their Guts That Encourage Weight Gain

By APRIL ARMSTRONG, M.D.ABC News Medical Unit

Dec. 20, 2006— Overweight individuals may now have a new factor to blame for their excess weight — the germs living inside their guts.
The trillions of microbes living inside our intestines may play a role in the differences in body weight among people, suggests a new study published in this week's issue of the journal Nature.

"Groundbreaking work like this that opens up a novel hypothesis is important," said Dr. Randy Seeley, associate director of the obesity research center at University of Cincinnati.

Researchers found that the bacteria in the guts of obese mice are better at extracting energy from food than gut bacteria in lean mice. In short, the fat mice take away more calories from their food.

Moreover, when the bacteria from the guts of obese mice were transplanted to slimmer, germ-free mice, these germ-free mice got fatter.

"There is a tremendous battle waged by scientists from many different backgrounds to try to understand this worldwide epidemic of obesity," said Dr. Jeffrey Gordon, director of the genome science center at Washington University in St. Louis and senior author of the study. "We want people to consider the microbial community as a potential factor."


'We Never Dine Alone'

"We had a question about the role our gut microbes play in human health," said Gordon. "Because we never dine alone."

Humans have had a long-standing, evolutionary relationship with bacteria and other microorganisms living in the gut. Many of these bacteria are necessary for well-being because they help us digest food particles that we cannot digest on our own.

"These trillions of microbes provide us with different sets of attributes that are important," said Gordon. "For example, the sugars known as polysaccharides in grains and vegetables have complex structures. Our microbial organisms have the tools to break down these structures and help us extract energy."

The differences in the identity of these gut bacteria may be a clue into why some people are obese and others are lean.

"One interesting idea [from this research] is that our gut microbes may be responding to changes in our body weight," said Seeley.

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(from abcnews.go.com)

Microsoft's New Vista, Office, Exchange Certs on Track

11/15/2006 -- Right on the heels of the releases of Windows Vista and Office 2007 to manufacturing, Microsoft has released some details on its new-generation tracks for those software releases. Lutz Ziob, director of the Microsoft Learning Group, announced the new tracks today at the company's IT Forum conference in Barcelona, Spain.

The next-generation tracks follow a simpler path: one exam at the Microsoft Certified Technical Specialist (MCTS or TS) level that focuses on Vista skills, and one or two more at the new Microsoft Certified IT Professional (MCITP or PRO) level that focus on job role.

The first exam, now in beta, is currently called 70-620 TS: Windows Vista Client Configuration.

"The new exam will be the entry point for all that is Windows Vista," said Keith Loeber, group product manager of Microsoft's certification group. (And while this report might toss out names liberally, Loeber explained that names for many of the tracks and exams have yet to be determined as of this writing.)


At the next level up, the track splits in two. The Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Enterprise Support track, says Loeber, is equivalent to the current MCDST, while another track, currently called MCITP: Consumer Support, goes in a new direction for Microsoft. "It will really focus on technicians that work in the retail environment selling to a home user or a consumer crowd."

Only one exam is currently planned for the MCITP: Consumer Support track, and it's a mouthful: 70-623 PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Consumer Support Technicians. The other track, MCITP: Enterprise Support, has two: 70-622 PRO: Supporting and Troubleshooting Applications on a Windows Vista Client for Enterprise Support Technicians; and an exam to be named later, but which the company says will test skills based on Enterprise Support.

For those who already possess an MCDST, Loeber says that an upgrade path will be made available, with details forthcoming.

If the surprise is that the track appears simpler than its predecessors, that's because Loeber says the framework really tries to align itself with job roles. So, rather than the seven exams in the current MCSE program and several entry points into the premium certifications -- which included a mix of either Windows XP or Windows 2003 knowledge on top of specializing in a technology set such as deploying or designing messaging, security or database administration -- the new Vista track requires only two or three exams to complete and the track focuses exclusively on Windows Vista deployments.

"At the TS level we have the technology skills, and the Enterprise IT Professional level we add the job role," as well as the addition of another job role track for the consumer side, he said.

Loeber says the group is already contemplating how Windows "Longhorn" Server will fit into the new-generation framework a year from now, but said that development was too raw to reveal at the moment.

Exams 70-620 is currently in beta, with availability expected in January 2007. Exams 70-622 and 70-623 are expected to be beta tested in the next few weeks, with live versions in the first quarter of 2007.

The Exchange 2007 track follows a similar, Vista-like pattern, with a focus on skills and then job roles. The MCTS level, which can be referred to at the moment as the MCTS: Exchange Server 2007 title, requires one exam: 70-236 TS: Exchange Server 2007 Configuration. On the MCITP level, the group so far has developed one track, MCITP: Enterprise Messaging Administrator, with two exams: 70-237 PRO: Designing Messaging Solutions with Exchange Server 2007 and 70-238 PRO: Deploying Messaging Solutions with Exchange Server 2007.

"The real win for the Exchange folks here is that it, currently, in order to get any recognition in terms of a logo, you have to take four exams to get the Exchange specialization for the MCSA...in the new round, you only have to take one to get the MCTS," said Loeber. Likewise, for the seven exams needed to complete the MCSE: Messaging, Leober says "now you only have to take three [for the MCITP].

"We focused it on the Exchange administrator role, rather than you having to take all the Windows stuff first and then moving to Exchange," he added.

"When we rolled this out to a session at Tech Ed, we got a round of applause, which is unusual for a certification," said Microsoft Learning Group Program Manager Rob Linsky. "The fact that made the track tighter and much more specific to the needs of the audience, I think, was appreciated."

Because the 2007 Office System encompasses a set of technologies, the formula does get a bit more complicated here. The Office IT Professional track contains a number of TS entry points: MCTS Windows SharePoint Services 3.0, with one exam whose name is to be decided later; MCTS: Office SharePoint Server 2007 (exam name TBD); MCTS: Deploying and Maintaining Vista Client and Office 2007 Desktops (exam TBD); and several TS tracks for Project (not to be confused with a project management track that the company announced a few weeks ago), Office Live Communications Server 2007 and Windows Mobile. And other TS tracks and exams may follow in the months to come.

The Professional Developer side has similar exams and tracks, but adds a TS certification and exam for Visual Studio Tools for Office.

Loeber explains that the group's goal here is a bit more difficult, since they're trying to line up the IT Professional and Professional Developer titles under Office System within the Microsoft Partner competencies, particularly for Information Worker. "All of those [exams] are directly applicable to the Partner program, so one or more of the exams will be required."

Microsoft plans to hold two LiveMeeting events on Dec. 6, to introduce the Windows Vista certifications and exams. Click here for details. -Michael Domingo

(from Certcities.com)

Can Microsoft Save the World?

Microsoft Research teams with top scientists to tackle the world's most pressing problems -- and it could turn conventional computing on its head in the process.

December 2006 • by Doug Barney


Three years ago, William Henry Gates III ordered Microsoft Research to launch a Science division. Money was one motive -- by staking out a position in the growing field of scientific computing, future profits were insured. Fortunately Microsoft Research doesn't have to turn every dollar and man-hour into marketable products. The Science group has the wonderful freedom to work on the big problems: global warming, disease, the future of medicine, the origin of the universe and the creation of life -- those sorts of things.

Leading this charge is Stephen Emmott, director of the Microsoft Research European Science Program, an Englishman with some 20 years of experience in science and computing, including a stint at Bell Labs.

Emmott's main goal is to blend computer science and traditional science, and in the process transform both. "We are at a profoundly important point in time where computer science and computing have the potential to completely revolutionize the sciences," Emmott says.

Microsoft doesn't plan to do this all alone. Today 14 Microsoft researchers are working with some 40 scientists around the world. Those numbers are rapidly expanding. "Within 12 months, there'll be 30 Microsoft Research Cambridge scientists collaborating with around 80 to 100 scientists worldwide to build new software tools for addressing important scientific challenges," Emmott explains.

These efforts were given legs during the 2020 Science conference, where some 30 scientists, hailing from nations from Japan to Germany and representing universities such as Stanford and companies like GlaxoSmithKline Inc., gathered. The group produced an 82-page oversized glossy book, "Towards 2020 Science," outlining their goals, technologies and plans.

The conference also set the stage for research projects, now ongoing, that match Microsoft researchers with their scientific counterparts.

"The real benefits come from bringing together people from Microsoft Research -- whether they're computer scientists or computational biologists or computational climatologists or oceanographers -- with people in the wider science community, to do the kinds of things that neither of us could do on our own," Emmott explains.

Understanding Life Bit by Bit
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(from http://redmondmag.com)