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Hand gesture TV could kill off remote control

The days of hunting for the remote control down the back of the sofa could be numbered after scientists unveiled a television that responds to a viewer’s hand movements.  

By Matthew Moore
Last Updated: 10:37PM BST 04 Sep 2008

A researcher demonstrates Toshiba's gesture-sensing television Photo: MASONS

The ground-breaking technology will enable people to switch channels, change volume and pause films by gesture alone, like Tom Cruise in the film Minority Report.

A small camera built onto the television senses when someone enters its field of vision and searches for their hand.

"Gesture interface technology" inside the machine then interprets the hand’s signals; waving up and down could alter the volume, while a raised hand would pause a DVD.

Viewers would also be able to direct a cursor on the screen, raising their thumbs to “click” the options they wanted.

Dr Kate Knill, part of the Toshiba team researching the technology, said it could be adapted for use on PCs and other gadgets, and could one day make the computer mouse redundant as well.

To read the Whole Article Go To:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2681337/Hand-gestur
e-TV-could-kill-off-remote-control.html

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

BP moves to settle Russia dispute 

 The row has focused attention on the rights of foreign investors in Russia.

BP has signed an agreement aimed at solving a festering dispute over control of its Russian venture TNK-BP.

The boss of TNK-BP, Robert Dudley, will step down as part of the deal with the Russian billionaires that control half of the business.

Three independent directors will also be appointed to TNK-BP's board.

Mr Dudley's departure had been central to the power struggle between BP and the Russian investors in the venture, which accounts for 25% of BP's profits.

The memorandum of understanding, signed on Thursday, also includes the option to list up to 20% of the venture on international markets.

TNK-BP's Russian partners had long called for Mr Dudley's departure and Mr Dudley left Russia in July in the face of what he said was "sustained harassment".

"This is a positive signal for the Russian market "

Igor Sechin, Russian deputy prime minister

BP said it had agreed to offer a Russian-speaking candidate for the post, with extensive Russian business experience.

The Russian shareholders had accused BP of running TNK-BP like a subsidiary and Mr Dudley of favouring the British shareholder.

BP chairman Peter Sutherland said that the agreement, to be finalised over coming months, would relieve recent tensions between the two sides.

"It will create a stable base from which to grow the joint venture to the benefit of everyone involved, including the Russian state," Mr Sutherland said

He said that Mr Dudley had been an outstanding chief executive and would be hard to replace.

To read the Whole article Goto:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7597452.stm

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

Money Trail: Big Business Means Big Fun for Congress Members at RNC

 Corporations Spoil Congressmen, Throw Lavish Parties All Thanks to a Federal Loophole

 By BRIAN ROSS and AVNI PATEL

September 4, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS -- From the moment they arrived at the Twin Cities airport, Republicans have been reminded that this convention is being brought to them by corporate America.

From the moment they arrived at the Twin Cities airport, Republicans have been reminded that this convention is being brought to them by corporate America.(ABC News)
More Photos

Including a Swiss-based bank, UBS, under investigation by the government for allegedly helping the rich avoid billions of dollars in US taxes. The bank says it is cooperating with Congressional and federal authorities.

"I think it's very clear that those who give to the host committees are getting access and influence that they desire, said Meredith McGehee of the Campaign Legal Center.

In addition to spending millions on lavish parties, big corporations have put up $58 million dollars for the Republican convention.

They put up about the same for the Democrats in Denver.

The heavy funding of convention events is thanks to a huge loophole in the federal election law that otherwise bans corporate money in politics.

Related

  Money Trail: He's Baaaack! Tom DeLay Hailed as GOP Hero

PHOTOS: On the Money trail at the RNC

  More From Brian Ross and the Investigative Team

"It's really ironic too because this whole federal election campaign law was developed because in 1972 the Nixon administration had set up a slush fund through the 1972 Republican National Convention," said Craig Holman of the congressional watchdog group, Public Citizen. "We've gone full circle."

To read the Whole Article Go to:

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/story?id=5719036&page
=1

Yea..they are soo much better than the Dems...LOL  ..look the same to me.....

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

Actually I am going to let the Candidate's Websites talk Issues....I am going to cut and paste from the Candidate's websites their ideas on Issues......one at a time..more or less...then everyone can actually debate the Issues.....  we have a few months till voting so this may take awhile...but since no one wants to talk Issues...I will. 

CANDIDATES VIEWS ON BREAKING DEPENDENCE ON FOREIGN OIL....

Obama's Ideas... 

Eliminate Our Need for Middle Eastern and Venezuelan Oil within 10 Years

• Increase Fuel Economy Standards.

  Obama will increase fuel economy standards 4 percent per year while providing $4 billion for domestic automakers to retool their manufacturing facilities in America to produce these vehicles.

• Get 1 Million Plug-In Hybrid Cars on the Road by 2015.

  These vehicles can get up to 150 miles per gallon. Barack Obama believes we should work to ensure these cars are built here in America, instead of factories overseas.

• Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.

• Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.

  Obama will establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) to reduce the carbon in our fuels 10 percent by 2020. Obama will also require 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels to be phased into our fuel supply by 2030.

• A “Use it or Lose It” Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.

  Obama will require oil companies to develop the 68 million acres of land (over 40 million of which are offshore) which they have already leased and are not drilling on.

• Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.

  An Obama administration will establish a process for early identification of any infrastructure obstacles/shortages or possible federal permitting process delays to drilling in the Bakken Shale formation, the Barnett shale formation, and the National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska.

• http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/newenergy_
  more#oil

• Mccain's Ideas...

• Taking Action Now To Break Our Dependency On Foreign Oil By Reforming Our Transportation Sector
  
  The Nation Cannot Reduce Its Dependency On Oil Unless We Change How We Power Our Transportation Sector.
  
  John McCain's Clean Car Challenge. John McCain will issue a Clean Car Challenge to the automakers of America, in the form of a single and substantial tax credit for the consumer based on the reduction of carbon emissions. He will commit a $5,000 tax credit for each and every customer who buys a zero carbon emission car, encouraging automakers to be first on the market with these cars in order to capitalize on the consumer incentives. For other vehicles, a graduated tax credit will apply so that the lower the carbon emissions, the higher the tax credit.
  
  John McCain Will Propose A $300 Million Prize To Improve Battery Technology For Full Commercial Development Of Plug-In Hybrid And Fully Electric Automobiles. A $300 million prize should be awarded for the development of a battery package that has the size, capacity, cost and power to leapfrog the commercially available plug-in hybrids or electric cars. That battery should deliver a power source at 30 percent of the current costs. At $300 million, the prize is one dollar for every man, woman and child in this country - and a small price to pay for breaking our dependence on oil.
  
  John McCain Supports Flex-Fuel Vehicles (FFVs) And Believes They Should Play A Greater Role In Our Transportation Sector. In just three years, Brazil went from new cars sales that were about 5 percent FFVs to over 70 percent of new vehicles that were FFVs. American automakers have committed to make 50 percent of their cars FFVs by 2012. John McCain calls on automakers to make a more rapid and complete switch to FFVs.
  
  John McCain Believes Alcohol-Based Fuels Hold Great Promise As Both An Alternative To Gasoline And As A Means of Expanding Consumers' Choices. Some choices such as ethanol are on the market right now. The second generation of alcohol-based fuels like cellulosic ethanol, which won't compete with food crops, are showing great potential.
  
  Today, Isolationist Tariffs And Wasteful Special Interest Subsidies Are Not Moving Us Toward An Energy Solution. We need to level the playing field and eliminate mandates, subsidies, tariffs and price supports that focus exclusively on corn-based ethanol and prevent the development of market-based solutions which would provide us with better options for our fuel needs.
  
  John McCain Will Effectively Enforce Existing CAFE Standards. John McCain has long supported CAFE standards - the mileage requirements that automobile manufacturers' cars must meet. Some carmakers ignore these standards, pay a small financial penalty, and add it to the price of their cars. John McCain believes that the penalties for not following these standards must be effective enough to compel all carmakers to produce fuel-efficient vehicles.

• http://www.johnmccain.com//Informing/Issues/17671aa
  4-2fe8-4008-859f-0ef1468e96f4.htm

Well lets Talk Issues....actually  I should look for the 3rd party view as well.....

www.poepdpatriot.blogspot.com

N Korea 'rebuilds nuclear plant'

North Korea has reportedly started reassembling a nuclear plant, reversing steps taken as part of an international deal to end its nuclear programme.

The Japanese news agency Kyodo said work began at the plant on Monday.

 Pyongyang warned last month that it had stopped disabling facilities at the Yongbyon plant, accusing the US of breaking its part of the agreement

To read the Whole Article Goto :

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7595863.stm

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

Nigeria Seizes Money "for Obama"

Nigerian anti-graft investigators have seized money raised by the head of the Nigerian Stock Exchange to support US presidential candidate Barack Obama. The money was for adverts telling Nigerians in the US to vote .

Nigerian anti-graft investigators have seized money raised by the head of the Nigerian Stock Exchange to support US presidential candidate Barack Obama.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission said it would give the money back to those who attended a gala dinner in Lagos last month.

The EFCC said it had seized 74m naira ($630,000, £314,000), but said no Nigerian laws had been broken.

US political parties are not allowed to receive contributions from abroad.

Stock exchange chairwoman Ndi Okereke-Onyuike is also the head of Africans for Obama, a Nigeria-based support group.

She was interviewed by the EFCC after media reports that the Obama campaign had disassociated itself from the group.

To Read the Whole Article Go To:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7592362.stmp>

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

Hollywood is latest target for Middle East oil money

After buying a £200 million slice of English Premier League Football, Abu Dhabi is now looking to increase its profile on another international platform and has turned its attentions to Hollywood.  

By Lucy Cockcroft
Last Updated: 9:43AM BST 03 Sep 2008

The emirate is to announce plans for a £560 million ($1 billion) investment in films, funded by the government, in a move that will make it one of the world's biggest producers.

Edward Borgerding, chief executive of the Abu Dhabi Media Company, has said it will allow the Gulf state to back up to eight films a year over five years.

The deal is part of a strategy engineered by the Abu Dhabi government and royal family to re-brand the nation as a hub of western culture by buying into globally renowned brands.

Work is underway for a Ferrari theme park in collaboration with the Italian sports car company, and to open an art Gallery which has been granted permission to use the Louvre name.

This week The Abu Dhabi United Group for Development and Investment spent £200 million to buy Manchester City football club, and another fund, The Abu Dhabi Investment Council, has recently bought a controlling stake in New York's Chrysler Building.

To read the Whole Article Go to:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeas
t/unitedarabemirates/2672293/Hollywood-is-latest-target
-for-Middle-East-oil-money.html

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

Tuesday, September 02, 2008

By Jana Winter

Being fat has long been blamed for conditions like diabetes, which can lead to heart, kidney and nerve diseases.

Alabama is rolling out a creative but controversial program that will subject its 37,527 state employees to possibly humiliating at-work weigh-ins and fat tests. If they tip the scales, they'll be given a choice: slim down or pay up.

The state is trying to solve two of its biggest problems — health insurance costs and obesity — in one fell swoop.

Beginning in 2010, Alabama, which has the second highest obesity rate in the country, will start charging all of its employees an extra $25 per month for health insurance. (Currently, single workers pay nothing; family plans cost $180 a month.)

But there's a way to avoid the fee: Get a check-up at an in-office "wellness center," where nurses will check for diabetes and hypertension and measure blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose levels and Body Mass Index (BMI).

The idea is to encourage employees to act responsibly, lose weight and lower their health care needs. But critics say it will humiliate and stigmatize obese employees and amounts to nothing short of a "fat tax."

To read the Whole Article Goto:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,414861,00.html

Funny there was an Article not too long ago talking about how half Obese People where Healthy and about Half Skinny people had the Same Symptoms of Being Overweight and UNhealthy.....please this is sad...

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

Ok ..Change of Subject...  

The Hurricane wasn't as Bad as the Media Hoped it would...and it was a Little overblown by some folks...but..How did the Government's Do this time???   Does the Federal and State Governments Get a Passing Grade for evacuating the Citizens and providing Trasport???   What Grade and Why?

Grades

A - F

Ok, this Whole Palin thing is getting kind of Crazy.  Since I have been away from the Internet for a Few Days..it appears it's all anyone can talk about.   So here is my 2 cents...

First, Inexperience...please.  If you are talking about Obama or Palin I personally could care less.  This Country was founded by People who had never run a Nation or held a High political Office.  Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson.....None had been President before, So they were Inexperienced.....if we had the Media of Today then...None of them would have gotten Elected....and we would have re-instated the King of England...since he had all the Experience.....

The 17-year old Pregnant Daughter......Again....What Age did you all on this Blog start having Sex???    ......Be Honest...Just because you used "Safe" Methods... ....and Just because you didn't get pregnant or inpregnate someone else..just means you got lucky....it could have happened to most of us.......so Please people....lets be mature...leave the canidates Kids Alone....argue Issues not Child Rearing....  

Obama and Palin are Americans...unknonwn Americans at First but it appears they were picked by their respective parties...so Oh well...  They Both have Different Personal Beliefs...but then who doesn't...either you agree with them or not....so what.....look at what they Bring.....look at their Positives or Negatives...but Please..let it be on Issues.....not Personal Attacks....

My fear is that this is going to turn into a Gender/Race issue......  Instead of Real Issues.... 

Now if either one gets elected..it's a Historical Event...that should excite everyone...   These Folks are Americans....   and Everyone makes mistakes...  So Lets Stop acting like we are all so Perfect...and rate these canidates on the Issues....or maybe pass a Law mandating Blindfolds for everyone..so we can rate these Canidates on the Issues...instead of appearance............

If it was a Obama/Palin Ticket  and a Mccain/Biden Ticket......who would you vote for then??   The New People or the Old Established??  Who cares...

Lets get to the Nitty Grittty....  not the Childish...bs.....

Politicians are Corrupt, Liars...that usually do nothing they Promise... while stealing our Freedom, and Property...while telling us it's good for us.......All of them..

But all we can argue about is if a Woman's Pregnat daughter...dis-qualifies her for Vice-President.....wow....    Stop the Ride I want to get off.....

Money Trail: What Hurricane?

Lobbyists, GOP Party On As NOLA Residents Flee, Republican Party Officials Don Pink Boas and Swig Vodka Shots

By BRIAN ROSS, RHONDA SCHWARTZ, AVNI PATEL, ASA ESLOCKER, and ANNA SCHECTER

Sept. 1, 2008

MINNEAPOLIS -- As residents of New Orleans were fleeing Hurricane Gustav, top Republican party officials donned pink boas and swigged vodka shots at a wild whirl of corporate and lobbyist-paid parties this weekend in Minneapolis-St. Paul.

More than a hundred people jammed a Minneapolis restaurant where waiters wore pink wigs and guests wrapped themselves with pink boas, on the weekend before the start of the Republican National Convention.(ABC)
More Photos

Many corporate sponsors and their lobbyists carried through with plans for lavish entertainment of GOP lawmakers and others despite calls from the campaign of Sen. John McCain that Republicans should tone down the convention festivities.

"We will be contacting corporations and others to ask them to be respectful of events in the gulf," McCain campaign manager Rick Davis said Sunday afternoon.

Yet, last night lobbyists for the National Rifle Association, Lockheed Martin and the American Trucking Association put on a raucus six-hour party at a downtown bar featuring music by the band "Hookers and Blow." There was no evidence of any actual prostitutes or cocaine.

To read the Whole Article Go to :

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/Conventions/story?id=
5699123&page=1

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

Comcast to Make Monthly Internet Use Cap Official

Service Provider to Set Official Limit on Internet Use to Deter Bandwidth Hogs

NEW YORK

August 29, 2008

(AP) The Associated Press

Comcast Corp., the nation's second-largest Internet service provider, Thursday said it would set an official limit on the amount of data subscribers can download and upload each month.

On Oct. 1, the cable company will update its user agreement to say that users will be allowed 250 gigabytes of traffic per month, the company announced on its Web site.

Comcast has already reserved the right to cut off subscribers who use too much bandwidth each month, without specifying exactly what constitutes excessive use.

To read the Whole Article Go To:

http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/wireStory?id=56837
90

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

Changing the Fat in Chocolate

 New Proposal Urges FDA to Allow Vegetable Oil Instead of Cacao Butter; Health Experts Say This Would Not Make Chocolate Healthier

By DAN CHILDS
ABC News Medical Unit
April 27, 2007

A petition to change the way the Food and Drug Administration defines chocolate could have implications beyond the candy aisles, health experts suggest.

The candy business is likely to fare well in these economically trying times.(PhotoDisc )

The petition, signed by players in the chocolate lobby and representatives from various sectors of the food industry, seeks changes in certain food standard definitions.

Among these suggested changes is one that would allow manufacturers to use vegetable oil rather than the current standard, cacao fat, also known as cocoa butter, to make chocolate.

The move, if it ever becomes reality, would strike at the heart of many chocolate aficionados, as many true connoisseurs have been known to choose their chocolate based on cacao content alone.

For the candy industry, on the other hand, the move could be a boon. The switch to vegetable oil could mean a sweeter profit margin for manufacturers who use less expensive vegetable oil in their products.

But some nutrition experts say that aside from commercial dividends, chocolate manufacturers may also tout the move away from cocoa butter, which is rich in saturated fatty acids, to give their products a healthier image.

To Read the Whole Article Go to:

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Diet/story?id=3089769&
page=1

OK ....It's Chocolate....Leave it Alone!   Someone Start Shooting the Health Nazis...they are Messing With Chocolate!

www.poedpatriot.blogspot.com

OK I was suprised too.....    While I was away enjoying the Holiday, I heard about Mccain's V.P. pick.  My first thought was...wow didn't see that coming...but it will make the Race a bit more interesting.  My second thought was in Reference to a Certain reporter on this Blog that Kept Bringing up Race in this Election.......Well what about Sexism?  

Hillary got a Full Dose of Sexism while running, implied and otherwise.  I always was asking where are the Feminists to defend Hillary?  Now I ask the same..where are the Feminist to defend Palin?  

There is a reason Sex Sells, it is because most Men are perverts.....don't lie..it's True you know it.  Yea..Hooters is really named after an Owl!.......That is why when we Men find out we are having a Daughter...we get Terrified.....because we know how we thought as Teenagers and how we think now.   And the thought of some other Male thinking those things about our Child...scares us......because Men look at women as Objects....at First.   I think most people Men or Woman Look First and Decide if they like what they see....then they decide if they want to get to know that person based on that......it's an instinct to a point...most Animals do it.....but we are Humans with Supposed Self Control.......But I have yet to be around another Man while Driving down the Street and Not have them point out a Woman to me....usually followed with a Derogatory Remark....If I were Honest I would say I have done it myself.... 

So that is why I heard some people on the Radio say, Well it's Great that Palin was Picked...and She is Hot!    OH COME ON....it's supposed to be the Vice-President!   Not a Playboy Bunny!   An Attractive person, Male or Female, is usually nice to look at...and Everybody Looks!   But to State that as a Reason or a Qualification for anything...is stupid....and Degrading...a Person should be Judged on their Record, Principles and Stances on Issues..Not Race or Sex....especially for public Office...

But to make a Long Blog Short(TOO LATE)  I did ask people this weekend at a party and other places if Race and Sex were to play parts in the Decision for who they would vote for....  I am suprised at how many Men and Women were dissappointed in Palin..not for her Beliefs..but because she is a Woman.   I also did hear some about Race, but not as Many as I did about  Sexism.   Hillary or Palin..didn't seem to matter.......It was pointed out to me that Racism does span the Races..but in a Small segment of each...but Sexism also Spaned all the Races...but was a HUGE part and was widely accepted in Many.

So Now..I ask You...Is there More Sexism...than there is Racism?