China mulls microblog limits before party meeting (AP)

BEIJING ? China's Communist Party is preparing for its biggest policy meeting of the year by ratcheting up pressure on social media sites that have fast become forums for information and public expression beyond government control.

The latest warning shots at social media were fired by Wang Chen, a senior propaganda official, who told a meeting of government and Internet company officials this week that Twitter-like microblog services need tighter regulation. Wang reiterated a warning that punishment will be meted out to people who post rumors or falsehoods.

"Microblog sites should strengthen the management of information dissemination, and not provide channels for the spread of rumors," Wang said, according to a transcript of his speech posted on Sina.com. "Those who fabricate facts and concoct lies online, resulting in serious consequences, should be severely punished according to the law."

Wang's remarks, widely reported in state media Friday, came ahead of Saturday's opening of the annual meeting of the party's Central Committee and fit with this year's stated agenda: reforming the cultural system.

Behind the scenes, the 200-plus members of the party elite drawn from the government, the provinces and the military will try to dampen infighting over who will lead China when President Hu Jintao and many in his collective leadership must retire a year from now.

The political transition comes at a time when the leadership wants to flex China's new power abroad and feels besieged at home by a fast-changing society that feels entitled to make demands on the authoritarian government, with social media amplifying grievances.

Previewing some of the themes the Central Committee will address, the leadership's propaganda chief Li Changchun last month said China needs a strong "ideological line of defense" to guard against harmful Western influences. He decried declining morality that was fueling public anger at a time of rising protests.

"Money worship, hedonism and extreme individualism are spreading among some members of society. Looking for profit and forgetting righteousness, a lack of integrity, a loss of moral norms are occurring," Li said in a speech carried by state media. "These problems seriously damage the social atmosphere. The masses' reaction is strong."

For a government that is used to controlling what information the public consumes, social media ? which encourage individuals to generate content ? are proving unnerving. Popular microblogs, or "weibo" in Chinese, helped mobilize 12,000 people in Dalian to successfully demand the relocation of a petrochemical factory and served as an outlet for public anger after a crash on the showcase high-speed rail system in which at least 40 people died.

After the July train crash, "authorities partially lost control of their own spin, their own message, and their own control of public opinion in this information sphere," said Xiao Qiang, director of the China Internet Project at the University of California-Berkeley. "Weibo was the engine for all these very critical comments that went beyond the railway crash, pointing to the system ... to hurt the legitimacy of the regime."

Chinese microblog sites have also provided independent candidates running for local legislative councils a platform that they have never had before to reach out to the public, Xiao said.

That the government is clamping down anew on social media shows how difficult the technology and society are to control. China unplugged Twitter and Facebook after they were instrumental in anti-government protests in Iran two years ago. To fill the vacuum, Beijing encouraged homegrown alternatives in the belief that domestic companies would be more responsive to government demands.

Those local services caught on quickly, especially with educated middle-class urbanites. The two largest sites run by Sina Corp. and Tencent Holdings Ltd. each claim to have around 200 million users, though it is unclear how many are active. With their explosive growth has come the expectation of frank, even critical discussion, at least by China's relatively narrow standards.

Beijing isn't likely to shut down the new services. The warnings from Wang, the vice minister of propaganda, were taken as a sign that the government wants to use social media to get its message out.

Wang urged party officials to take advantage of microblogs, opening accounts to disseminate information more quickly to meet "the urgent demands of strengthening the party and government's ability to govern in the new era."

Among the steps Beijing might take to rein in social media are requiring users to register accounts with their real names or imposing a time lag between when comments are posted by users and when they appear on the sites, said Mark Natkin, managing director of Marbridge Consulting, which is based in Beijing and specializes in China's telecommunications and IT sectors.

New licensing requirements may also be imposed to weed out some companies, concentrating the business among well-established players like Sina which already have systems for expunging undesirable content, he said.

The government, however, will have to proceed cautiously, factoring in how the tens of millions of users will respond to restrictions.

"It's not just an issue of how unhappy you might be with the change in user experience, it's also about whether microblogging continues to provide the sort of outlet that people are looking for to express their opinions and exchange information," Natkin said. "If that's taken away, something that they've already been enjoying for quite some time now, it will feel like a big step backwards and could cause a lot of frustration."

___

Associated Press writer Charles Hutzler contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/asia/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111014/ap_on_hi_te/as_china_blogging_backlash

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Obama sending troops to aid Africa anti-insurgency (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Intervening in a volatile and brutal crisis, President Barack Obama said Friday he has dispatched 100 U.S. troops to central Africa to support a years-long fight against a guerrilla group accused of horrific atrocities. Obama said they were sent to advise, not engage in combat, unless forced to defend themselves.

In a letter to Congress, Obama said the troops will act as advisers in a long-running battle against the Lord's Resistance Army, considered one of Africa's most ruthless rebel groups, and help to hunt down its notorious leader, Joseph Kony.

The first of the troops arrived in Uganda on Wednesday, the White House said, and others will be sent to South Sudan, the Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

While the size of the U.S. footprint is small, Obama's announcement represents a highly unusual intervention for the United States. Although some American troops are based in Djibouti and small groups of soldiers have been deployed to Somalia, the U.S. traditionally has been reluctant to commit forces to help African nations put down insurgencies.

It demonstrates the Obama administration's escalating attention to and fears about security risks in Africa, including terror networks, piracy and unstable nations. The move was intended to show some engagement to lessen the impact of one of the worst protracted wars in Africa.

Obama declared his decision to send troops as in keeping with the national security interests of the United States. The White House announced it in a low-key fashion, releasing the Obama notification and justification of the troop deployment that the president sent to congressional leaders.

Pentagon officials said the bulk of the deployment will be of special operations troops, who will provide security and combat training to African units. The move raises the profile of U.S. involvement on the continent ? and represents an apparent victory for administration officials who have argued for more robust intervention in humanitarian crises.

The change in policy could reflect the long-standing concerns of a number of high-ranking Obama advisers left scarred by the U.S. failure in the 1990s to intervene to stop the genocide in Rwanda and the belated action to finally halt the violence in Bosnia. For a current parallel, the Lord's Resistance Army's 24-year campaign of rebellion, rape and murder represents one of the world's worst human rights crises today.

Coming off the administration's successful, if limited, intervention in Libya, the Uganda deployment represents a continued effort by Obama to use military force for humanitarian protection in areas where atrocities are occurring. Sending 100 troops may not be significant in terms of military numbers, but the composition of the force gives the United States a new counterterrorism foothold in a region of the world with terrorist networks, pirates and unstable nations.

A special forces unit can be highly effective beyond what the number of soldiers might suggest. They are highly skilled in disrupting insurgency networks by discovering where rebels are based and how they procure guns, money and other logistical support.

Obama's letter to Congress said the deployment "furthers U.S. national security interests and foreign policy and will be a significant contribution toward counter-LRA efforts in central Africa."

The Lord's Resistance Army has been pushing westward since it began its attacks years go, and the administration and human rights groups say its atrocities have left thousands dead and have put as many as 300,000 Africans to flight. They have charged the group with seizing children to bolster its ranks of soldiers and sometimes forcing them to become sex slaves.

Kony is wanted by the International Criminal Court under a 2005 warrant for crimes against humanity in his native Uganda. A self-styled prophet, who mixes Christian mysticism with politics, he is believed hiding along the Sudan-Congo border.

The deployment drew support from Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., who has visited the region.

"I have witnessed firsthand the devastation caused by the LRA, and this will help end Kony's heinous acts that have created a human rights crisis in Africa," he said in a statement. "Today's action offers hope that the end of the LRA is in sight."

Rep. Jeff Fortenberry, R-Neb., said he hopes it will "save innocent lives and begin to bring the LRA to justice for the immense human tragedy that has fallen across central Africa at its hands."

But Obama's letter stressed the limited nature of the deployment.

"Our forces will provide information, advice and assistance to select partner nation forces," it said. "Although the U.S. forces are combat-equipped, they will ... not themselves engage LRA forces unless necessary for self-defense."

Most of the troops will deploy to regional capitals to work with government officials and military commanders on countering the rebels and protecting civilians, Pentagon officials said.

In recent months, the administration has stepped up its support for Uganda, which has played a key role in battling extremists in Somalia.

In June, the Pentagon moved to send nearly $45 million in military equipment to Uganda and Burundi. The aid included four small drones, body armor and night-vision and communications gear and is being used in the fight against al-Shabab, an al-Qaida-linked group that U.S. officials see as an increasing threat and that African peace-keeping troops in Somalia have been battling to suppress.

At the State Department, officials portrayed the new troop deployment as part of a larger anti-LRA strategy that dates to the Bush administration but also includes legislation passed by Congress this year.

Victoria Nuland, a department spokeswoman, said the U.S. troops will aid in "pursuing the LRA and seeking to bring top commanders to justice." The broader effort includes encouraging rebel fighters to defect, disarm and return to their homes, she said.

The administration briefed human rights activists ahead of the announcement, and the groups' officials were encouraged.

"These advisers can make a positive difference on the ground by keeping civilians safe and improving military operations to apprehend the LRA's top commanders," said Paul Ronan, director of the group Advocacy at Resolve.

Col. Felix Kulayigye, Uganda's military spokesman, said of the troops: "We are aware that they are coming. We are happy about it. We look forward to working with them and eliminating Kony and his fighters."

___

Associated Press writers Ben Feller, Matthew Lee, Lolita C. Baldor and Donna Cassata in Washington and Godfrey Olukya in Kampala, Uganda, contributed to this report.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111014/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama_troops_africa

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Siri For Venture Capitalists

This is so good I couldn't resist ... Oh entrepreneur angst! Have you no bounds? The above Xtranormal parody of a VC's first Siri experience is totally worth watching, for the "My assistant Sanjay...." and "I'd like to share my Path with her" lines alone.

Related:?iPhone 4S purchase = unlimited?Siri joke-potential.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Techcrunch/~3/TQQspjlpHNw/

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LaHood says he'll leave at end of Obama's term (AP)

WASHINGTON ? Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood will leave the Obama administration at the end of the president's current term, his top spokeswoman said Thursday.

LaHood, 65, indicated his intention to leave the cabinet at a media luncheon, but gave no reason for his decision, spokeswoman Jill Zuckman said. He hasn't yet discussed his intentions with President Barack Obama, she said.

Later in the day, LaHood released a statement:

"I serve at the pleasure of the president and it is an honor to look out for the safety of the American public when it comes to planes, trains, automobiles and more. Throughout this term, we have also focused our efforts on creating jobs as we rebuild our roads, rails and runways, and I look forward to working with Congress to pass the American Jobs Act so we can put Americans back to work."

LaHood was a Republican congressman from Illinois for 14 years until retiring in 2008, and a top aide to former House Minority Leader Bob Michel, R-Ill., before that.

He had a reputation in Congress as a moderate who tried to foster greater cooperation between Democrats and Republicans. While those skills made LaHood an attractive Cabinet choice, he has become better known as a plain-speaking advocate for safer driving and job-creating transportation projects.

Even when he has made a misstep ? such as last year when he urged the car owners during a House committee hearing to quit driving Toyotas when he meant to tell them to take their recalled vehicles to a dealer ? he has been quick to correct himself.

He endeared himself to bicyclists by standing on a table at a gathering of activists lobbying for more transportation dollars for bike paths and bike lanes and praising the importance of their cause. He later formally adopted a policy that the Transportation Department should give projects involving biking and walking the same consideration in determining grant eligibility as projects involving motorized transportation.

While one of the most prominent Republicans in Obama's administration, LaHood's political contacts and negotiating skills haven't made any meaningful dent in GOP opposition in the House to the president's current jobs proposal or his previous economic stimulus program.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/obama/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111013/ap_on_go_ot/us_lahood

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Bad Credit Car Finance Explained In Simple

An individual?s credit rating is quite relevant to his ability to secure loans and that includes car financing. Before, there are very limited financing options to people who possess bad credit but now, bad credit car financing has been made more available since the number of people with adverse credit has reached an all time high and several financial companies have realized that there is still a lucrative market in people who have struggled financially in the past and are now capable of paying considerably high monthly dues but are still hounded with bad credit. The reason why certain individuals, even though they are currently financially comfortable, possess bad credit is because a potentially negative entry in a persons credit report can stay there for the next seven to ten years. So even if a person has already recovered from bankruptcy or any other financially debilitating issue and is now capable of buying anything he wants, his credit rating will still be at the cellar in the next so many years.

The setback in opting for bad credit car finance is that it generally entails higher interest charges since you are still considered a credit high risk. And that is the reason why there are certain individuals who because of the status of their credit simply go for used cars and the cheaper brands. But the truth is, you just have to search thoroughly and you will discover financial companies which offer good cad credit car finance deals. These companies base their offers and approval on the loan applicant?s personal circumstances which will include employment history, the amount of the down payment, the make and brand of the vehicle that the applicant intends to purchase and the presence of a cosigner.

http://www.nocreditcheckcarloans.co.uk/increased-traffic-for-car-finance-web-site-specializing-in-bad-credit-buyers/

The amount of an applicant?s disposable income which refers to his net income after all bills have already been paid plays a very important role in the determination of his capability to repay a car financing loan, his length of stay in the company where he is currently employed at, the existence of someone who will cosign the loan, all these matched with the type of car that is being purchased can help the lending company ascertain the amount of interest charges that they will apply on the applicant?s bad credit car financing. The amount of the down payment and the length of time the applicant intends to pay the car loan will affect the monthly rates. This means that the higher the down payment that the applicant provides, the lower the interest charges become since the risk on the financing company?s part is greatly decreased. Reputable lenders are everywhere and you just have to match their offers to determine which matches your present financial situation.

Source: http://billscotts.com/blog/bad-credit-car-finance-explained-in-simple/2011/10/12/

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EU unveils plan to boost health of banks (AP)

BRUSSELS ? Banks in Europe should temporarily raise their capital buffers to better withstand the effects of debt market turmoil, the president of the European Commission said Wednesday as he presented a broad new crisis plan that was thin on details.

Jose-Manuel Barroso said that until systemically important banks have raised their capital buffers to new standards, they should not be allowed to pay out dividends or bonuses.

The fear gripping the financial sector now is that banks could take big losses on bonds they own from governments with shaky finances, like Greece. That uncertainty is stifling lending ? between banks and to the wider economy ? which threatens to throw the eurozone into recession.

To assess banks' capital needs, their exposure to all sovereign debt should be taken into account "in a transparent way," Barroso said.

He said that if banks can't raise the capital on the market, they should get help from governments, who in turn can ask for money from the eurozone bailout fund.

Barroso also called for a permanent bailout fund, the European Stability Mechanism, to come into force already in mid-2012, one year ahead of schedule.

The ESM, in contrast to the current bailout fund, requires private investors to take losses on government bonds if a state needs to write off some of its debt load.

In his proposals, Barroso aimed to hit at all fronts in Europe's debt troubles, but remained thin on details.

On Greece, he said the next tranche of aid money should be paid out and that the country should get a second bailout "based on adequate financing through public sector and private sector involvement."

He also lobbied for bigger powers for the EU's monetary affairs commissioner, which would give him more influence over national budgets.

Source: http://us.rd.yahoo.com/dailynews/rss/europe/*http%3A//news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20111012/ap_on_bi_ge/eu_europe_financial_crisis

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Blue Chip Technology launches long life compact SBC ...

Based on AMD?s Athlon and Dual Core Turion Neo processors, the NV1 offers a high performance embedded platform with powerful graphics capabilities, Gigabit LAN, a COM port, 4 USB ports, support for up to 8GB of the latest DDR3 memory plus Solid State and SATA drive support.

?The NV1 is a very capable fanless single board computer that can be used in either rugged industrial projects or demanding multi-media applications, ? said Barry Husbands, Managing Director of Blue Chip Technology. ?Indeed, a complex real-time control system requiring a high quality HMI or video capability would be an ideal project for the NV1.?

Combined with the critically acclaimed Radeon GPU, the AMD chipset can handle any current high-definition video codec, making the NV1 a true multimedia solution for high definition video playback or user interface.

Furthermore, a groundbreaking aspect of the NV1 design is an expansion that includes two mini PCI-E sockets (one with SIM for GPRS/3G use), MXM graphics expansion socket and an optional on-board KVMA transmitter. The base NV1 has dual video outputs and a total of four video outputs when the MXM module is fitted, making it an ideal platform for the digital signage and gaming market.

Blue Chip Technology is one of Europe?s leading designers and manufacturers of industrial and embedded computers. The company designs and manufactures computer boards for a broad range of industrial sectors such as automotive, public transportation, medical, defence and energy. Blue Chip Technology provides mission critical computer systems to engineering and media projects around the world.

?An important aspect of the design of the NV1 was to build a powerful embedded platform that would support projects with a long life cycle,? said Barry Husbands. ?Many of our customers are in sectors such as transport, medical and the military, where they need to know that they will be able to source identical hardware for many years to come. In this respect our engineers have been very careful in their component selection and the overall design of the NV1.?

Although the NV1 is available off-the-shelf in its standard form, Blue Chip Technology also offers a customisation service, enabling it to provide hardware specific to the needs of its customers. Blue Chip Technology also offers extensive software support and a complete product manufacturing and testing service. The company has recently tripled its manufacturing capacity with investment in new surface mount production technology.

About Blue Chip Technology Ltd
Blue Chip Technology Ltd is a European leader in the design and manufacture of industrial and embedded computer systems. Blue Chip Technology serves a wide range of industries, from mission critical systems to the global railway industry to diagnostic test equipment for the automotive sector. It provides a range of standard products such as COM (ETX, XTX and COM Express) and rack mounted PC?s but also manufactures high volumes of customer specific hardware. In addition to its technical capabilities, Blue Chip Technology has gained a reputation for being a trustworthy and co-operative supplier, working closely with its clients during development, and reliably delivering components and products to schedule.

Source:http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/article/default.aspx?objid=85483

Source: http://onlyhardwareblog.com/2011/10/blue-chip-technology-launches-long-life-compact-sbc/

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