Award Winning Graduation Announcement Invitations for Your School Graduates

Getting Graduation Announcement Invitations Prepared and Sent

As a party planner planning a grad party, it's important to know that getting graduation announcement invitations are part and parcel of party planning - the graduation announcements invitation stationery chosen by a party host will determine the atmosphere of a gathering and the tone of the cards or invites one sends to all the party guests. It is therefore important for a host to dedicate some time to making these selections.

Graduation Announcement Invitations Preparation

First things first - before you begin filling out announcing cards and invites you have to make important decisions like who is invited to the party and who isn't. Those who are not invited need to be put on a list to get an announcing card so that they can be notified of a grad's accomplishments. Once a list of invite and announcing card recipients is created, you'll know how many cards to order for each grouping.

Those who should be invited include close friends, neighbors, and family, and announcements should be saved for those who live too far away in order to attend. After making an invite list, you'll need to know party details before you can go any further - narrow down the date, time, location, and party theme before buying stationery.

Selecting your custom announcing cards should begin at the websites selling this type stationary. If you're somewhat unsure as to what you want, just talk to some of the staff and let them assist you with selecting your card or even create an exclusive design just for your special education occasion. Just tell them what you need, and they will take care of the details.

Mailing Graduate Announcing Invite Stationery

About four to six weeks before your party is a good time to mail out the stationery you invest in - make sure you use full, formalized names on the envelopes with every mailing too - this makes the envelopes attractive and also lets the receiver know that important information is contained within the envelope. Giving recipients a few weeks to respond is always ideal - it allows for invited guests to make any necessary arrangements so they can be in attendance the day of the event. It also allows for the invited guests to have time to shop for a gift for the grad if they intend to give one.

Graduation announcement Invitations are a vital part of the party planning process, so getting attractive, aesthetically pleasing invites is important to the success of your event.

What to Check When Getting a Home or Private Tuition

Tutoring is one of the fastest growing jobs out there today. But with the truckload of options available, it is extremely important that you choose a tutor that will meet your needs and will be dedicated enough to put in the tedious hours needed to make you achieve your true potential and reach new heights of academic success.
One of the most important questions that you must ask is the amount of money that you will have to pay your tutor. Those that are relatively less experienced and new to the tutoring profession usually charge less. However, it is important that you not only look at the charges, but also choose one that you will be able to work best with.
Attention:
Tutors that look good on paper and charge loads of money are not necessarily the best teachers. You should look for someone who can relate to and understand your child's needs. The duration and time spent between you and the tutor is also a very important consideration that needs to be taken into account.
Engagement:
It is usually seen that those tutors that meet their students at least two-three times a week are the ones that can provide the most effective means of help. Those with short attention spans should definitely be met more frequently. If the only time set to meet is once a week, then students will not be able to give substantial feedback. The tutoring session will also just be useless with money just being thrown away aimlessly without achieving any concrete results.
Experience and Mode of Teaching:
Experience is also very important especially when a private tutor is being judged. Usually, tutoring companies hire those teachers that have considerable experience and are able to understand all issues that children face especially when it comes to their academics.
People teaching through home tuition also have more than one year of experience, so they are able to take out all of the kinks out of their tutoring systems to guarantee maximum success. New tutors may also be exceptionally good teachers and should not be ruled out based on their lack of experience. Usually tutors that excel at certain subjects have the ability to teach them really well through different angles. The old tutors in comparison may be set in their previous ways and may not be willing to change their system even if a particular student may not understand their current teaching methodology.
Other Factors To Consider:
Other important factors that must be taken into consideration include the kind of subjects that a tutor can teach best and if they have the patience and the ability to teach students with certain disorders like dyslexia. Apart from these, there is also an age bracket that they feel most comfortable teaching.
These are just some of the things and factors you need to check when getting a home of private tuition. By taking them into consideration, you will be able to guide your child on how to excel academically.

Home Tuition - Is Grass Always Greener On The Other Side Of The Fence?

We always think that the effort our children are putting in their academics is below the required level. We would always condemn their television hours and hardly appreciate the time that they give towards their studies. Getting an A grade is not as much appreciated as getting a C grade is criticized.
Because of such a culture being instilled in our minds, we look for other ways to improve their academic performance. Unfortunately, the other ways are not as 'greener' as the morning school timings, but here is a quick flash about what they are.
You can get your child enrolled in a private tuition center, which might be owned, by one of the ex-principals or retired teachers. The private coaching school list of your local area may be obtained by the area head office, so you can choose which school fits the requirements of your child better. Usually, private tuition centers are the places where you can minimally monitor the activities of your child. The control of the tutor is also great, so you might want to rule this option out. Nobody will guarantee improvement in the grades of your kids, so you must invest some hours after school and help them complete their homework in time.
If you are well versed in the subjects that your child is studying at school, you might not even need to look at the 'greener' other side of the fence. You can tutor your child in the best possible way. This is because you, as a mother or father, know the capacity of your child.
Does Your Child Really Need Extra Tuition?
If you are still determined to improve the grades of your children and to guarantee a higher level of success, home tuition is the second best option. Getting your child an extra tuition for it will improve his performance in school. However, to secure that the money you will spend for the tuition is worth it, you should find a teacher who can easily develop a close relationship with your child. Make sure that you assess not just his or her skills and experience, but his or her attitude as well. As a parent, you always want your child to be in good hands, right?
Role of Internet in Providing Home Tuition:
If you are planning to choose online home tuition provided by online tutors, you need to be more careful. There are some who might play a fraud on you too, so you should be on guard. However, before this exercise, you should know that paying a tuition will not always improve the academic performance of your children. Extra coaching sessions can mark the progress of a child because the element of competition is absent in the evening schools, whereby the motivation mainly lies in lucrative business of getting higher fees from students.
Make a proper survey and ask from people in your locality who have been sending their children to coaching schools, before you change your mind to find the right coaching center for your child. You should think that progress comes with some opportunity cost.

Eight Tips On How To Do Good In School

Below the average, average people and super genius mega minds...nah, it's not about that, well yeah, a part of success is about that but, one still has a long way to go before having the time of his life. And everything starts at home...after that it's school so let's get down to business. Here are eight tips on how to do good in school.
1. Jot 'Em Down
This step is somewhat a must. However, if you consider yourself a super computer robot, you can skip number one and get down to number two...you're still reading so you don't think that you're a mega mind. That's good because it's never great to be too confident with yourself.
Number one is writing them all down. It never hurts to write all of the things you need to do. Write them in a small notebook, a tickler or something, or jot them down in a piece of paper and post it on your refrigerator door or on your own bulletin if you have one. And don't forget to write when you need to do or accomplish these things or in other words, your deadlines.
2. Prioritize
Imagine that you're a juggler. Now, you're juggling balls. These balls are made of various materials. Rubber, plastic, glass, and crystals. The balls that you're juggling got too many and you can't handle them all. Some balls MUST fall or the whole act will be a disaster. And that's when the word "prioritize" comes in. You have to let the rubber balls fall. Why? Because if you don't do this, say you refuse to let a ball or two fall, they'll all slip out of your hands. If you let the wrong ball fall, well, you're a wreck. That's why you have to set your priorities. Which in your to-do list is the most important and which things can be left out or can be given little attention.
3. Get To Work
Don't just get stuck with listing and prioritizing. Do them of course. Sometimes people tend to get discouraged when they look at the things they need to do and find that they're just so many! Well, nothing's gonna happen if you just sit around, stare at the things you got to do and think how much energy you need to exert to finish all those. Get on your feet. You'll be done without even knowing it.
4. Study Habits
I'm pretty sure this is not new to you. Nevertheless, it's still very important, maybe the most important, so you can't just set this aside. Study your lessons everyday for at least 30 minutes to 1 hour. This prevents cramming during exam weeks which you know isn't very helpful. And don't make your hectic schedule an excuse for not studying. Remember, if there's a will, there's a way.
5. Be A "Neat Freak"
I know this is hard but...you have to be organized. This may be the hardest part of being a student and at the same time of being a kid or a teenager. Because they're very restless and energetic and tend to just pile things up. But if you already did number one and number two, you're already started in being an organized person!
Give everything a proper place. Put your books and notebooks in one corner or a suitable place. Compile your test papers, certificates and other paper works from school. Place them in a folder, clear book, an envelope or a file case. You'll never know when you'll need them. Other materials which are reusable like envelopes, folders, colored papers and a lot more, keep them all together, may be in a case or a shoebox, it's up to you. Colors, pencils, paper clips and other materials of the same kind, separate them also, it's still up to you as long as it's organized. Educational materials, if you have, it's good to compile them too. Maybe you're asking, why do I need to do all these?
When your things and surroundings are organized, you tend to think clear. That's why organized people have organized minds. Lastly, the night before going to school, put everything you'll be needing for school inside your bag. Get your uniform or whatever it is that you're wearing for school ready. And don't forget to set your alarm clock.
6. Go For The Extra Mile
You don't just do things for compliance. You don't want to waste your efforts. Since you started to do things, give them your best shot. Do your best and that will be enough to go for the extra mile. You'll never know when an opportunity comes so always give it your all.
7. Be Humble
Now that you're a step ahead of your peers, don't be over confident, like the one stated at the first number. Don't be conceited because you didn't accomplish everything on your own. The higher you get, the harder you'll fall so always keep your feet on the ground. And being humble also gains you great friends.
8. Just Keep Going
You did it for the first time, you got to do it for the second, third, fourth, and so on...time. Be consistent for this will be the foundation of your success. Don't stop until you reach your goal. And when you reach your goal, reward yourself then look again for another goal. And when failure finds its way through your efforts, keep moving forward. Don't be afraid to make mistakes. Just keep going.
Please remember that these are all just tips. It's up to you to take it or leave it. These could mostly apply to high school students, nevertheless, it never hurts for a kid to start setting his priorities. I hope that these handful of tips helps.

How to Help a College Freshman Adjust to Their New Life

When you first start out preparing yourself for college life you think everything is going to be as easy as can be. You are headed for the adult world and you are more than ready. No more curfews, no more parents questioning everything you do. You are free! When you do need that parent support, or funding, you just need to pick up the phone and home. How can anything about this be bad?

Most college freshman think that going away to school is just going to be one big party after another. The only worry is about who is going to attend and where you are going to have it. If you are the parent of a soon to be college freshman you have probably seen this attitude that comes with the journey they are about to embark upon and if you are the student then you probably are just worried about how to finance your back to school fun-fund.

When the freshman first arrives at college they are excited and find that stopping what they are doing to call home every now and then can be a real hassle. Then about a month or so into it they realize that they are being to miss home, and miss the security that their parents have provided for them their whole life. These freshmen now call home more often and find themselves wanting to go back to their rooms so that they can make these phone calls. They call home about issues with their schedule, a class that is too hard or maybe a roommate that they are unable to get alone with. The co-dependent parents will tell their children what to do and even encourage them to come back home, where as other parents will encourage their college freshman to work through the issues they are having and try to prepare them for the adult world. These parents let their child know that they are always there to listen and help out, but life is never as simple as one thinks and you have to work at things.

One of the biggest issues that college freshman have to address is finding balance. Some will successfully balance their time to include plenty of time for school, work, and friends and others will go to one extreme or the other. While it may seem desirable to become engrossed in one's studies in the long run this can actually be detrimental to the student as well, because it will cause burnout which can send a student packing just as quickly as one that is partying too much.

Most students, however, will be able to find the balance they need by the time they come home for Thanksgiving. For the few that so not, they end up taking the rest of the year off and then registering at a local or community college close to home so that they are able to get the structure they require. Either way, in a few years, your college freshman will be entering the adult world- Whether they like it or not!

Make an Impact With an International Development Degree or Journalism Degree

There are many ways of going about finding a career that can give you opportunities to make a difference in the world and travel in the process. You may pursue an international development degree and have a part in the economic development in countries all around the world. You can also look into a journalism degree and be the first to report on the happenings all around the world. In either case, you want to have the right preparations and connections to get you closer to the career you want.

When you decide to pursue an international development degree, you want to make sure you have the right courses in your area. You not only need a theoretical foundation in which to understand international development and other disciplines related to it. You need to find a program that gives you the opportunity to perform analytical research, cross-cultural learning and directed studies. You can also find out if the program offers you a well-rounded understanding of concepts in international development studies, management skills, research skills and supplementary disciplines.

In addition to these theoretical foundations, it is also very important to have practical knowledge and the chance to work in the field before obtaining your degree. You should work with professors who have experience in the field and can give you a good idea of what to expect. They should also help you with the connections you need to establish yourself as an expert in your discipline whether you want to work directly with those in the developing countries or indirectly with international development funding and executing organizations.

You can also have an impact in a different way if you pursue a journalism degree. In journalism, you need to make sure you get the tools you need for effective communication through all forms of media, including the constantly evolving forms of social media that have changed the way people receive their news and information. Your program should teach you how to bring together audio, text and video once you have learned the important skills of interviewing, reporting and researching through traditional means.

While you are learning the fundamentals of journalism and the ways to incorporate social media into your work, you should also have the opportunity to work with the latest state of the art equipment to prepare yourself for what you will encounter on the job. You may not realize the importance of theory within the discipline, but you do need to acquire the theoretical and historical knowledge in journalism to help you understand your place in the field and society.

Both an international development degree and a journalism degree can offer you the opportunity to make a difference to others although in very different fashions. When making a decision, you must consider what kind of an impact you would like to have and how you feel most comfortable going about it. In either case, you just may find the chance to see the world while having a positive impact on others.

Caribbean Medical Schools - Advantages and Disadvantages

When considering whether one of the many Caribbean Medical Schools is right for you it's important to do thorough research and get as much information as possible so you can make an informed choice. There is no doubt that the Caribbean is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. If you decide to go to school in the Caribbean you'll be immersing yourself in that beauty while getting a world-class medical education.

Here are a few things you should consider when starting down the path to gather that information and making your choice:

ADVANTAGES

1. Cost

It is usually significantly less expensive to attend a Caribbean school. Even the top universities are a fraction of most top U.S. schools. An important note is the fact that there will be extra costs associated with studying abroad, such as travel expenses and travel student health insurance. However, even with those added expenses the total cost of education is far cheaper.

2. Rolling admissions

Some Caribbean medical schools have rolling admissions. What that means is that the window for applying to a given school can be very wide, often with 3 periods each year. This can make the application process far less stressful and allow more time to make sure everything you need is in order before submitting your application.

3. High USMLE pass rates

The top Caribbean medical schools have USMLE first-time pass rates that are at or above the U.S. average. High USMLE pass rates are a strong indicator that the programs offered by Caribbean schools are top level and that your education and advancement is taken seriously.

4. Admission Opportunities

Even with the best scores getting into medical school can sometimes be impossible. The number of applicants to U.S. schools is always far greater than the number of open slots. Caribbean medical schools give people opportunities to go to medical school that they might not otherwise have.

5. Clinical Rotation Opportunities

The first two years will be at the overseas campuses for all Caribbean medical schools, but the clinical rotations for the top schools are in the U.S. This offers a huge advantage to students in that they can benefit from the higher acceptance rates to get into the Caribbean universities while still being able to learn from the doctors at U.S. hospitals during their clinical rotations.

DISADVANTAGES

1. Wide range of quality

Not all Caribbean medical schools are the same, to say the least. The folks who run the schools know that there is high competition among prospective students to find a school to attend. At the top schools this has led to greater competition to elevate their programs and attract the best students. However, It has also meant the opportunity for lesser schools to make their way into the market and take advantage of those who might fall prey. Sticking to one of the best and oldest universities like is a safe decision because they are very well known and highly reputable. If you decide to investigate one of the newer schools be sure you research them especially well.

2. Language barrier

Again, this is something that you won't have to worry about at the top schools, but some Caribbean medical Schools don't use English as their primary teaching language. If you aren't fluent in the spoken language (usually Spanish) you will have a considerable disadvantage and will struggle unnecessarily.

3. Living in a foreign country can be challenging

The beginning of this article highlights the fact that the Caribbean is an incredibly beautiful part of the world. It is still a foreign country though, and its customs and culture are different than what most North Americans are used to. Most people find the differences exciting and fun, but some do find that it adds more stress to the already demanding medical school curriculum.

Deciding which medical schools to attend is a life-changing decision. It's important that you put a lot of time into gathering as much information as you can. Caribbean medical schools offer much to the student who puts forth the effort. Investigate the possibilities and see if a Caribbean medical school might be a perfect fit for you.

Excellent and Awesome Tips on How to Study Well in College

For many students, being able to study well in college means that they have a better shot at a bright future. If they are able to get good grades, there is a chance that they will get good jobs with substantial paychecks. Indeed, in these economically-depressed times, it only through a good education that they can be able to find better employment.

Being able to study well in college would require you, the student, to develop the skills that will greatly enhance both your memory and your capacity for learning. These skills fall under five specific factors related to memory and learning enhancement.

1. Study Time = This pertains to the number of hours that you spend for studying and just how appropriately you are using them. This does not include the time you spend listening to lectures in class and doing your homework in the evening. Research studies have clearly documented that students do better in their exams if they squeeze in 30 minute to 1 hour study periods in their daily college schedule. While such a short duration may seem counterproductive, in reality, a shorter time period means that you can concentrate better on what you are studying. With study periods of 3 hours or longer, concentration dwindles to the point that you can no longer understand what you are reading.

2. Study Location = This pertains to the places where you choose to hit the books. Although the library remains the best place to study, research has shown that it is more effective if you alternate study places, particularly if you choose locations that are somehow related to the topics that you are reading on. Do you want to be able to understand those complex theories in Biochemistry? Ask your professor if you can study in the chemistry lab. The sight of the many charts and formulas on the walls, as well as the labeled bottles of chemicals can help you to remember what you are studying more. If you want to do even better in your tests, psychologists highly recommend that you study in the exam room or the lecture room that is very similar to where you will be given the test. Study location helps to "color" the knowledge that you are reading.

3. Putting Information in Short-Term Memory (STM) = Not too many students know that cramming and doing all-nighters primarily uses your short-term memory. Unfortunately, STM is not very effective since there are only 5 to 9 bits of information that you can remember at a time. Worse, if you don't reinforce this with constant memorization and repetition, you can expect all the information you have crammed into your brain within 15 to 20 seconds flat. In order for STM to work for you during cram sessions, you can combine all related facts together in easy-to-memorize chunks (a technique known as "chunking").

4. Storing Information in Long-Term Memory (LTM) = Research studies have confirmed that whatever information that you have crammed into your mind during an all-nighter will only stay inside your brain for 2 weeks at the most. For the information to stick inside your head until Final exams, you need to encode this knowledge into your long-term memory. If the information is encoded properly, it will be very convenient for you to get them out of your head during exams. Check out tutorials on techniques such as Mnemonics, the Peg Word Method and the Loci Method.

5. Retrieving Knowledge from Memory = Believe it or not, knowledge retrieval from your memory is actually being facilitated by the exams you take. The easy sections, like Matching Type, Multiple Choice and True or False, help you to develop the skills of knowledge retrieval with the help of "cues". As you move on to the more difficult Essay section, you will find that the "cues" which you have noted in the early parts can actually help you to delve deeper into your memory for the answers to the essay questions (that don't have the "cues").

Discover the basic strategies that will help you to study well in college today!

Facts About LPN Programs in New York

There are a lot of LPN programs in New York for you to choose from if you are interested in becoming an LPN. As states go this is one of the best ones to earn your LPN qualification because there is just so much choice. Some examples of schools are the State University of New York at Farmingdale, the Marion S. Whelan School of Practical Nursing, and the Lee G. Peters Career Training Center. However these are just a few of the many options. The important thing to ascertain before enrolling is whether or not the school is accredited with the New York State Board of Nursing if you want to become a certified LPN nurse.

In order to enroll in LPN programs in New York you have to meet a few requirements. Unlike in many other states you only have to be 17 or older to qualify. You will also have to have a high school diploma, pass a background test and be in good health to get into most New York LPN schools. Some schools may require that you write an entrance exam to get into the program and study for your qualification.

Good LPN programs in New York will always include practical as well as theoretical classes. In fact if you want to become an LPN you absolutely have to do hands-on training. This is an unavoidable requirement that you have to meet if you want to succeed as an LPN nurse in your studies. Online LPN schools in New York, for example, will not offer the clinical training that you need and you will have to organize that side of things for yourself in order to properly qualify as an LPN. A school or program that offers very little or no clinical training should be avoided altogether.

When it comes to choosing LPN programs in New York you will want to, then, choose one that has good clinical facilities and that will provide you with a high degree of clinical exposure during your time in the program. The better the facilities of a school, the higher the school should be on your list of possible schools to attend. This part of your training is not only essential for the examination, but also for preparing you for your actual career as an LPN nurse in the future, so it should form the basis of your decision.

If you are someone who is going to need financial aid to get through your studies then you may want to only consider those LPN programs in New York that offer financial aid options. There are many LPN programs out there that will be happy to provide you with the financial aid you need. Sometimes the aid is merit based, sometimes it is need based. You may also be able to qualify for loan forgiveness programs where you will be able to have a portion of your loan paid off on your behalf. In return for this you will be required to work for a set period of time in a designated undeserved facility as an LPN once you have qualified.

UC lab makes robot that emulates leaping lizard

Scientists and their students in a UC Berkeley lab have learned how African lizards use their tails to leap from predators - a discovery that allowed them to create a tiny robot with a tail that uses the same acrobatics for unprecedented maneuverability.

Similar robots could eventually be used, the scientists say, to search for bodies buried underneath earthquake rubble, or to land a spacecraft on low-gravity asteroids, or - as the Army suggests - to sneak inside buildings where enemy combatants lurk.

In today's edition of the journal Nature, UC Berkeley biologist Robert J. Full and Thomas Libby, his mechanical engineering graduate student, describe a series of experiments observing the leaping African rainbow lizards. The lizards swing their tails upright to balance themselves in midair and keep them from tumbling head over heels as they leap.

After detailed studies of the lizards' physiology, the team developed mathematical models of their tail motions. They used that information to build a movable tail for a four-wheeled, mini-robot that mimics the lizards' flights.

The inch-long robot, named "Tailbot," can take off from a ramp at a yard per second and land safely, tail-up, across a void several inches wide. Without the tail to balance and stabilize it, Tailbot crashed.

In Full's lab, biologists and engineers work together on how animal motions can be used to design robots with more useful legs or wheels.

"The science of robotics is just beginning," Full said. "We build our robots to behave the same way that our little animals, like crabs or geckos or cockroaches, have evolved to confront obstacles in their environment."

Full's lab also has created a six-legged robot named Ariel that mimics a crab's scuttle, allowing it to walk on sandy beaches, rock piles, underwater and in ocean surf.

Another six-legged robot named RHex moves with the persistence of a sniffing terrier, Full said, but is modeled after the way a cockroach speeds into the hidden cracks of a cupboard.

And then there's Mecho-Gecko, a robot whose three legs are tipped with pressure-sensitive adhesive, enabling it to climb vertical walls much the way geckos do.

Stanford robotics engineer Mark Cutkosky, who has worked with Full in the past, said the new report on leaping lizards and the Tailbot robot's performance "provides valuable insights for the next generation of mobile robots.

"In the past, robots haven't moved fast enough to take advantage of acrobatic maneuvers that involve dynamic effects such as rapidly rotating or flicking a tail, or rapidly rotating the limbs, as human jumpers or pole vaulters do."

But Full's report, Cutkosky said, "shows us how a tail and a flexible spine can be used to increase mobility and maneuverability at high speeds when robots can jump, spin and glide across the terrain."

There were also side benefits of the lizard research, Full said.

The models his team created confirmed a hypothesis about how swift dinosaurs moved - a theory developed more than 40 years ago by John Ostrom, a Yale paleontologist.

Ostrom studied the vicious racing and slashing theropods like deinonychus, and velociraptor, the evil co-star of the later movie "Jurassic Park."

Their leaping attacks, Full said, followed the "dynamic stabilizer" models of his team's research.

He said the movie appropriately captured how the velociraptor moved. Without knowing the mathematics of the leaping African lizards, the movie creators still "got it right!" Full said.

Full's team's research was supported by grants from the National Science Foundation and MAST, the U.S. Army's Micro Autonomous Systems Technologies Alliance.

Indonesia’s 2012 Rubber Production Growth May Slow on Weather

Jan. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Natural-rubber production in Indonesia, the second-largest grower, may increase at a slower pace this year as a moderate La Nina potentially disrupts tapping even as more trees are maturing, an industry group said.

Output may rise 6.5 percent to 3.3 million metric tons this year after gaining 12 percent to 3.1 million tons last year, said Suharto Honggokusumo, executive director at the Rubber Association of Indonesia.

Exports may gain to 2.8 million tons from 2.6 million tons, supported by demand from tire makers in the U.S., Japan and China, he said by telephone from Jakarta today.

Rubber plunged 36 percent last year on concern the European sovereign-debt crisis hurt demand. June-delivery futures rose 0.75 percent to 268.2 yen per kilogram ($3,490 a ton) on the Tokyo Commodity Exchange at 2 p.m. Jakarta time.

“Rubber trees that were replanted in 2007 and 2008 will start producing this year,” Honggokusumo said. “Demand remains good, with consumption from Europe expected to improve in the second half.”

Output from the world’s biggest growers, which represent 92 percent of global supply, may rise 3.1 percent to 10.42 million tons this year, the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries said yesterday. Last year, output increased 6.4 percent to 10.1 million tons, it said, a faster pace than its November forecast of 5.6 percent.

--Editor: Greg Ahlstrand

To contact the reporter on this story: Yoga Rusmana in Jakarta at yrusmana@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: James Poole at jpoole4@bloomberg.net

American Diplomat Urges China to Consult Over North Korea

SEOUL, South Korea — The highest American official to visit northeast Asia since the death of Kim Jong-il, the North Korean leader, urged China on Thursday to help restrain the new leadership in the North from military provocations as it goes through a sensitive transition of power.

“We also urge China to make clear the importance of restraint by the new North Korean leadership,” Assistant Secretary of State M. Kurt Campbell told reporters in Seoul after meeting Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan of South Korea.

Mr. Campbell discussed developments in North Korea following Kim Jong-il’s death with Mr. Kim and other senior South Korean officials, as well as briefing them on the meetings he had with Chinese officials in Beijing on Wednesday.

When he met Vice Foreign Minister Cui Tiankai and other senior Chinese officials, Mr. Campbell said, he asked Beijing to “consult closely” with Washington on developments in North Korea.

Although there is doubt on Beijing’s ability to influence the North Korean regime, China remains Pyongyang’s last remaining major ally. North Korea’s economic dependence on China has deepened in recent years as it suffered more international sanctions following its nuclear and long-range missile tests. That dependence has magnified the potential role China might be able to play in stabilizing the Korean Peninsula if the transition in Pyongyang went awry. China was the first country to endorse the new North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, the third son of Kim Jong-il, who died on Dec. 17.

One of the biggest concerns in the region is that Kim Jong-un — or whoever is engineering his rapid rise to top leadership of the North’s 1.2 million-member military and other key agencies of power — might initiate military provocations against South Korea to help consolidate internal unity.

Mr. Kim is believed to be in his late 20s. Whether he will be able to consolidate the kind of grip on power his father did — or how the power elites might behave if he fails to do so — remain topics of intense speculation and of potentially grave implications for the stability of the region.

“We underscore the strongest possible commitment of the United States to the enduring partnership between the United States and the Republic of Korea and the determination to be tightly aligned as we together face the new leadership transition in North Korea,” Mr. Campbell said, using the official name of South Korea.

The military commitment of the United States, which keeps 28,500 troops in South Korea, is crucial to South Korea’s defense against the North.

Bobby Tonelli: Learning Mandarin one arm curl at a time

SINGAPORE: Most artistes learn their lines at home, but US-born Singapore actor Bobby Tonelli learned the Mandarin lines for his role in the Channel 8 drama "Double Bonus", his biggest Mandarin-speaking role yet, by going to the gym.

Strange you say?

Tonelli doesn't think so – the hunky actor believed that learning his lines at the gym made it easier for him to remember and understand them.

"The memorisation is very tough. I know what I am saying but I have to memorise all these sounds and try to make it flow, so what I did is I would record lines and I would play it through my headphones while at the gym while working out.

"It does help because when you kind of doing two things at the same time, it sort of gets ingrained into your brain a bit more," said Tonelli, who also hosts Class 95FM's "Cartunes" show with Jean Danker.

"I'm learning Mandarin one arm curl at a time man!"

"The only problem is you start mouthing [the words] out so people are looking at you and are like 'What the hell are you doing in the gym? He's gone mad at the gym!'," said Tonelli, bursting into laughter.
"I was scared sh*tless!"

He may laugh about it now, but Tonelli revealed that he literally shook with fear during the first few days of shooting for the drama, which also stars local actresses Zoe Tay and Tracy Lee along with Hong Kong actor Tom Price.

"I was nervous as hell because acting generally is hard , acting in a foreign language is even harder.

"I remember I was literally shaking the first few days. I was so nervous I couldn't sleep at night," said Tonelli.

"I was scared sh*tless! But that was part of the challenge of it and that's what made it fun for me."

Besides the challenge of acting in a foreign tongue, Tonelli's sense of obligation to Channel 8 also pushed him to take the job and get the job done right.

"Channel 8 has been really good to me. To the mass audience, they didn't notice me till I did 'The Little Nyonya'. It was thanks to Channel 8.

"So there's a part of me that always feels indebted to them for what they have given me," said Tonelli, explaining that he was especially grateful to Channel 8 for bringing him and his actress girlfriend Joanne Peh - whom he met on the "The Little Nyonya" set - together.

"Yeah, you can't beat that! That's always a plus!" said the actor of gaining both his big break as well as a girlfriend from his stint on "The Little Nyonya".

The only problem he had with shooting the show was that it left him with precious little time to spend with Peh, who was also busy with "A Song To Remember" at the time.

"When she was free and wanted to go out, I can't because I'd have Mandarin tuition," said Tonelli.
More Mandarin in his future

Although filming for "Double Bonus" has wrapped and the show is now airing, Tonelli expressed that he intends to continue learning Mandarin, even though he is still struggling with it.

"I love the Chinese language … I enjoy the culture. I'm still taking [Mandarin] lessons.

"It's just that in Singapore, it's hard to learn because you are not around it all the time," said Tonelli, adding that he is also bracing himself for criticism about his Mandarin.

"Singapore audiences can be quite critical of other people's Mandarin ... I know I will probably get slammed for my Mandarin at some point.

"All I can say is I'm trying my best and I'll continue to get better."
"Double Bonus" airs every weeknight at 9pm on Channel 8.

-CNA

Bollywood Tops India’s Twitter Rankings

Although Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan did not deliver a box office hit in 2011, this did not stop him from being crowned India’s Twitter king.

Big B was the most popular Indian celebrity on the micro-blogging site in 2011, with over 1.85 million followers on Jan. 1. The host of India’s edition of “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire” claimed last year’s title after overtaking 2010’s Twitter queen Priyanka Chopra, who came a close second, ending the year with around 1.84 million followers.

What’s the secret behind Mr. Bachchan’s Twitter success? Not only is he one of the best-known Bollywood names globally: While celebrities often refrain from tweeting on their private lives, last year Mr. Bachchan has been anything but reclusive on Twitter.

In June he broke the news of his daughter-in-law Aishwarya Rai’s pregnancy and in November he tweeted in excitement after the birth of his second granddaughter, who was immediately dubbed “Baby B.”

Following Bollywood diva Ms. Chopra is cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who ranked third with over 1.78 million followers, most of whom have been eagerly awaiting his 100th ton since March last year. Though the little master seldom tweets, ardent cricket fans have set him trending on the micro-blogging site pretty much each time he set foot on the pitch.

Bollywood’s “King Khan” is unlikely to shy away from popularity rankings. Sure enough, he came fourth with over 1.61 million Twitter followers, over 100,000 ahead of actor Aamir Khan, who ranks fifth. The other Khan, Salman, came sixth with around 1.5 million followers.

Twitter’s year-end statistics for India are more Bollywood-heavy than last year’s, when the followers of politician Shashi Tharoor outnumbered both Mr. Bachchan’s and Mr. Tendulkar’s. The Congress party lawmaker is still the most followed tweeter in Delhi, but with around 1.2 million followers he comes nowhere close the top five nation-wide.

Indian celebrities were no match for global superstars, many of whom have a fan following on Twitter in the 10-to-20 million range. Pop diva Lady Gaga tops the list with over 17 million followers followed by teenage sensation Justin Bieber, who has 16 million followers. Not a single Indian made it on the list of the top 100 most-followed celebrities of the year, which includes the likes of U.S. President Barack Obama, the Dalai Lama and Brazilian soccer star Kaka.

To spot the first Indian, you have to dig 12 pages deep into the list after which Mr. Bachchan finally appears at No. 244.

Follow India Real Time on Twitter @indiarealtime.

Data security, privacy concerns may hit cloud computing growth in India

Concerns over data security and privacy and an immature ecosystem are likely to stunt the growth of cloud computing in India. Despite the obvious benefits of lower capital expenditure and quicker rollout of new products and services, chief information officers (CIOs) are hesitant to make full-scale investments in the new technology.

For now, they are rolling out pilot projects or waiting for the technology to stabilise, before making this radical shift. Unlike traditional information technology, cloud computing relies on storing, managing and retrieving data hosted on the internet, rather than on a local server. As the amount of data generated grows exponentially - a McKinsey estimate believes the amount of data will grow 44-fold between 2009 and 2020 - companies may find it more viable to store this data virtually in a distant server, rather than buy more servers and storage systems to keep it in-house.

As broadband services expanded, more companies across sectors started exploring this possibility. Over the past 12 to 18 months, India's largest two-wheeler maker, Hero MotoCorp, has added 40 dealers to its sales and distribution network as it expands its reach across the country.

Hero's CIO Vijay Sethi leant on a new cloud-based software to hasten this process -- from weeks to a matter of days -- since the rapid expansion would have been impossible with its old technology. "Time reduction from four months to four days is much more advantageous than Rs 1 lakh saved in vendor negotiations," he says.

Based on the success of this project, Hero wants to extend its 'cloud' presence into six or seven other functional areas, he pointed out. Despite this major investment, Hero's Sethi and his peers across India Inc remain cautious about the rollout of cloud computing wherein applications related to supply chain and human resources are hosted on the internet.

In theory, this would have resulted in lower capital expenditure because companies would have needed to buy fewer servers and other hardware to store and access their data.

The concerns
However, concerns over security, insufficient development of cloudready applications, lack of case studies measuring returns from cloud computing investments and erratic broadband availability have forced CIOs to adopt a slow and steady route to cloud computing. Despite the service network implementation at Hero, Sethi doesn't think cloud computing will see widespread implementation across India Inc.

"There has been a lot of talk about this," he says. "But few companies have taken concrete steps to adopt this technology." HDFC Bank, India's second-largest private bank, is taking baby-steps to implement cloud computing. Anand Sankararaman, senior vice-president of IT, HDFC Bank, says a few pilot projects have been rolled out internally to gauge how ready the bank is for cloud computing.

However, it neither has a private (data hosted exclusively for the bank) or public (data hosted securely with other firms) cloud set-up yet. "In financial services, there are several concerns over data security and privacy, which aren't fully answered yet," he says.

According to experts, security and access to data is the biggest stumbling block to a wider cloud computing implementation across India Inc. Sid Deshpande, senior research analyst with technology consultancy Gartner, says basic tools like email , data back-up and video conferencing are the first tools to be moved to the cloud. "There are few cases yet of critical data related to customers or supply chain being cloud based," says Deshpande.

The mismatch
Executives at storage and security giant Symantec are closely watching the evolution of cloud computing to keep their products and services upto-date and according to one of their internal surveys, there's a lot to worry.

According to the firm's State Of The Cloud Survey, there is a stark mismatch between expectations from cloud computing and the end results. According to results from this survey , 85% of those interviewed expected cloud technology to improve their IT agility, but only 57% said that it actually did. Results also fell short in areas of disaster recovery, efficiency and security.

"CIOs are concerned about access to data and if their IT infrastructure and applications are cloud ready," says Vijay Mhaskar, VP, Information Management Group, Symantec. Others also think that cloud computing has got off to a slow start in India.

Under a third of 150 CIOs interviewed by Zinnov, a management consultancy based out of Bangalore, have full-scale implementations in place and just over a fifth have pilot projects underway. "While security and data privacy are the top concerns, companies are worried about how long they will spend (and how much money they will invest) in integrating older systems with those built around cloud computing.

"Nearly 75% of the CIOs we spoke to agreed that cloud computing would be an important part of their strategy," says Praveen Bhadada, director, Zinnov. "The biggest issue is one of perception."

The slow shift
There's no denying that cloud computing is an area of future technology investment for India Inc. Gartner says the move towards cloud computing is still in its infancy. Globally, Gartner estimates that while $74 billion was spent on public cloud services in 2010, this was a measly 3% of enterprise technology spending.

Several CIOs suggested that this would go up to 10-12 % of spending overall, as several issues surrounding cloud computing are sorted out. India's largest mobile services firm Airtel has been one of the most aggressive adopters of cloud computing.

According to Amrita Gangotra, director-IT , India and South Asia, Bharti Airtel, the firm began switching to cloud technology around two years ago primarily to reduce costs and carbon footprint globally. Gangotra says that the firm will have a common pool of infrastructure on demand for application developers. "We will have a common pool of technology resources using cloud computing, rather than a dedicated pool to each team," says Gangotra.

This means that there will be fewer peaks and troughs of server and storage usage and projects can be rolled out quicker - a key competitive advantage in the extremely competitive mobile services market. Gangotra says that Airtel has even completed at least five proof of concept to manage new cloud-centric applications with its vendors.

But not everyone is willing to take such a leap of faith. Sethi is hesitant to place the firm's mission-critical applications on the cloud because he is unsure of its availability at all times. "This is not because of the service provider but because we can't live with the slow speed of broadband," he says.

When there are hundreds or thousands of users trying to access this data, bandwidth costs shoot up and return on investment calculations go flying out of the window. Security paranoia and technology complexity too play a key role in cloud computing. "What happens if a provider goes bankrupt," asks Sethi.

"Most applications are not standalone today...enterprise resource planning software is integrated with data management tools, which are linked to the business intelligence software. How do you decide which goes on the cloud first?" Consequently, few CIOs across India Inc are willing to be pioneers in investing aggressively in cloud computing.

"There are no financial services companies on the cloud," argues Sankararaman of HDFC. The hesitancy is because there are few reports which have measured returns from these cloud computing investments-and as the economy sourspeople would prefer to restrict their expenditure on technology.

The uptick in cloud computing then, may not come from large enterprises such as HDFC, Airtel or Hero, but rather from small companies , who have limited budgets but need to have a full-fledged technology set-up.

For example, a small-sized readymade textiles maker in Tirupur in Tamil Nadu, may have to invest in IT to keep pace with a flood of orders from mega retailer Wal-Mart , which can happen only on an online order ful fillment system.

Rather than invest heavily in a complete set-up, such a company may prefer to host most of its data online and use pay-per-use software to keep costs down. With over 8 million small and business units in India, less than 10% of them connected , this may be a latent opportunity waiting to be tapped.

Changes in the approach to IT are also likely to influence a CIO's decision on cloud computing.

The explosion of mobile devices, the growing trend of bringing your own device to work, desktop and server virtualisation, explosive rate of data growth and a changing security threat landscape are the key drivers in this transition, says Symantec's Mhaskar. Before this opportunity can be tapped, a tight-fisted India Inc will need to be convinced cloud computing is worth their time-and money.

Review: Meet 'Lisa,' Linux Mint 12

For someone who has never before tried out a Linux desktop, consider telling them to make Linux Mint 12 their initial exploration.

This version of the Linux distro, which launched late last year, is code-named “Lisa” and runs the relatively new Gnome 3 desktop graphical user interface. It is based on Ubuntu 11.10.
This version has become known throughout Linux circles for a couple of big reasons. First, for new Linux adoptees, Linux Mint 12 comes across as just an outstanding, easy-to-deploy, easy-to-manage PC operating system. Linux Mint 12 is the kind of OS that, were it around in this iteration at the same time as Microsoft (NSDQ:MSFT) Launched Windows Vista, it might have rendered Microsoft into little more than the Xbox company.
Linux Mint 12, in deploying with Gnome 3, means essentially this: Instead of being able to customize features like themes, it trades in those capabilities for the ability to create multiple “workspaces.” And that has led to the second better-known result of Linux Mint 12: an effort by developers to keep as much of the Gnome 3 functionality while combining it with the Gnome 2 features they have all come to know and love. That effort, code-named “Cinnamon,” is now in the works.
But for now, back to Linux Mint 12. Here are some of the details:
• It took us under 20 minutes to complete a full, clean installation of Linux Mint 12 on a laptop built with a Core i7 quad-core CPU. The wizard-based process was smooth, with no hiccups or suprises.
• All primary drivers on the laptop – including those for Bluetooth, WiFi, Ethernet, audio and – this surprised us – on-board webcam worked the first time out of the gate. In fact, during installation the OS activated the webcam to provide the option of creating a user photo icon for the new account.
• Navigation is different than you’ll see in Windows XP, Windows 7 or Mac OS X, but similar to Ubuntu. Linux Mint 12 has an “infinity” icon in the top left corner of the desktop; once clicked, it provides a full menu of almost 100 pre-loaded applications and tools that can be sifted by type, from “Office” applications to Internet, games, and so on.
• It took between one and two minutes to configure the PC to print to a printer on the network, with no need to install drivers. Print management can also be easily locked to the user by the administrator.
• The default productivity suite, as it is with Ubuntu now, is LibreOffice.
If you’ve never used a PC operating system in earlier versions of Gnome, LinuxMint 12 is intuitive, straightforward and efficient if not elegant. (Think of this when installing and testing out the forthcoming Windows 8 from Microsoft, which is on track to provide significant changes in PC interface with its Metro GUI.)
On installation, one is presented with the option of encrypting the desktop, which is nice.
Linux Mint has been increasing in popularity over the past several years along with continued growth of Ubuntu. It’s not just a viable PC operating system, it’s a legitimate OS that stands as a solid option for engagements with lower-cost of acquisition demands, for repurposing existing PCs or for virtual PC deployments. (It supports VirtualBox.)
With many inside the community still disappointed that Linux Mint 12 is opting for Gnome 3 and continuing to work on preserving the Gnome 2 capabilities, it’s better to not get sucked in to that internal discussion and just enjoy a piece of great software for what it is.

Microsoft sues Comet for making 'fake' Windows discs

Microsoft are after blood, issuing proceedings against the UK's own Comet for allegedly creating and then selling 'counterfeit' Windows discs

Microsoft have filed legal proceedings against Comet on the grounds that it believes the UK retailer created and sold 'counterfeit' copies of Windows Vista and Windows XP.

In a statement released today the company laid out its plans on how to proceed and on what grounds it believes it has a right to sue. David Finn, associate general counsel, Worldwide Anti-Piracy and Anti-Counterfeiting at Microsoft believes that Microsoft has more than a strong case.

“Comet’s actions were unfair to customers. We expect better from retailers of Microsoft products — and our customers deserve better, too.”

Countering this Comet came forward with their own statement arguing that they too have a strong case and that by copying the discs they were acting in the interests of the customer.

"Comet has sought and received legal advice from leading counsel to support its view that the production of recovery discs did not infringe Microsoft’s intellectual property."

"Comet firmly believes that it acted in the very best interests of its customers.  It believes its customers had  been adversely affected by the decision to stop supplying recovery discs with each new Microsoft Operating System based computer."

Kim Walker, Partner and Intelectual Property expert at Pinsent Mason's is however less sure about Comet's defence, arguing that actually Microsoft has pretty solid ground to stand on.

"They [Comet] say what it has been doing was in the best interest of customers, but as you know making copies in the interests of customers is not a defence to copyright infringement. Making a backup copy of software is allowed, but only if it’s done by the person entitled to use the software and needing the backup, which is the owner of the PC and not Comet. If the court were to find infringement of copyright then Microsoft would be entitled both to an injunction and damages."

"I doubt Microsoft will get an expedited trial, in which case there would be a wait of around 12 to 18 months before this reaches the courts. In the meantime Comet will no doubt be going for risk mitigation and trying to settle, especially with its own sale being at the top of its agenda."

What do you think, who's in the right and who's in the wrong? Let us know what you think via the comments box below...

Lenovo announces seven laptops for small businesses

In addition to rolling out a ThinkPad X1 running Android and a buttoned-up Ultrabook, Lenovo announced a handful of mainstream laptops aimed at the small business set. Starting at the high end, the 14-inch Edge S430 (pictured) looks the part of a traditional ThinkPad (nay, IBM box), though Lenovo's sprinkled in metal accents and whittled the chassis to a reasonably narrow .8 inches (20.3mm). As the cream of this crop, it packs Thunderbolt technology, Dolby Home Theatre sound, optional NVIDIA Optimus graphics and up to 1TB in storage.

Moving on down the line, the 14-inch Edge E430 and 15-inch E530 give you a choice of Intel Core processors and AMD Fusion APUs. These, too, can be configured with discrete graphics and 1TB hard drives, though being the less-premium systems they are, you can get them in more playful colors like red and cobalt blue. If you crave a little more portability, Lenovo's also offering smaller versions, the 11-inch E130 and the 13-inch E330. Only have $400 to spend? The budget B480 and B580 bring Fusion and Core CPUs, USB 3.0 and 1TB hard drives, at the high end. The S430 will start at $749 when it hits select markets in June, but the rest will arrive in April, with the ThinkPad Edge models going for $549-plus and the B-series laptops fetching $399 and up. Though the 11- and 13-inch Edge laptops and the B-series notebooks will only be offered in certain markets the 14-inch E430 and 15-inch E530 are slated to ship worldwide. More info in the press release, just past the break.

Obama Blasts Republicans on First 2012 Campaign Trip

President Barack Obama has made his first campaign trip of 2012, taking his re-election campaign to Ohio, one of the states where the election is likely to be decided.  The president defied Republican lawmakers by announcing a key appointment over their objections.

A day after the first battle in the presidential election, President Obama directly confronted the opposition Republicans Wednesday by appointing a director for the new U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

The president had nominated former Ohio attorney general Richard Cordray to lead the financial watchdog agency last July. But Senate Republicans refused to confirm him, saying the agency would be too powerful and unaccountable.

Mr. Obama told a crowd at a suburban high school the U.S. financial industry needs more regulation, not less.

“The only reason Republicans in the Senate have blocked Richard is because they do not agree with the law that set up a consumer watchdog in the first place," said President Obama. "They want to weaken the law.  They want to water it down.”

The president, frustrated by the blocked nomination, Wednesday sidestepped the Senate and appointed Cordray.

“When Congress refuses to act and as a result hurts our economy and puts people at risk, then I have an obligation as president to do what I can without them," said Obama.

Angry Republican lawmakers were quick to react, saying the president overstepped his authority in making the appointment.

A so-called recess appointment can only be made when the Senate is out of session.  Republicans say that since Senators have been meeting every three days, the Senate is in session.  The White House disagrees.

In a written statement, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called Mr. Obama’s move an “unprecedented power grab” that “arrogantly circumvented the American people.”

A statement from House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner said he expects the courts to find the appointment to be illegitimate.

House Republicans have asked Cordray to testify before Congress later this month.

Mr. Obama spoke one day after Republican contenders Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum finished in a virtual first place tie in the Iowa caucuses, with Ron Paul coming in a close third.

Mr. Obama’s visit to Ohio enabled him to take his campaign to one of the states that could decide whether he is re-elected this November.

Much of his speech focused on the president’s advocacy of the middle class, a theme he is likely to highlight throughout the campaign.

“I promise to do everything I can, every day, every minute, every second, to make sure this is a country where hard work and responsibility mean something and everybody can get ahead," said President Obama.

With the Iowa caucuses over, the Republican candidates will battle next in New Hampshire, then South Carolina and Florida, which all have primary elections this month. The candidates have spent much of the campaign so far criticizing Mr. Obama and the Democrats because of the country's weak economy and high unemployment rate.

The president is unopposed for the Democratic Party nomination.

These .xxx domains are ready to hook up

If you always fancied your very own .xxx domain name, it's not too late: plenty of real estate in the Internet's official red light district remains unclaimed, CNET has learned.

WhiteHouse.xxx and NASA.xxx are reserved, but USDOJ.xxx, Treasury.xxx, DARPA.xxx, and USEmbassy.xxx could be yours for as low as $100 a year.

Many school names remain unclaimed. Stanford.xxx, Harvard.xxx, and Princeton.xxx may be off-limits, but Brynmawr.xxx and LoyolaCollege.xxx are available. Others, including Cornell.xxx and UPenn.xxx have been earmarked for auction. (Playboy, which recently published a "Girls of the SEC" feature, take note.)

That's according to a new analysis by Elie Bursztein, a Stanford University researcher who found that of the 50,000 most popular Web sites in the world, only 24 percent have their .xxx counterpart registered.

"There's been a lot of news about people rushing to buy .xxx," Bursztein told CNET today. "But after the dust settled, it turns out that the data don't agree with the hype."

Early reports suggested that companies and schools were snapping up .xxx domains to prevent them from being used for pornographic purposes--especially, perhaps the types of hardcore parodies the adult industry is known for.

Bursztein provided CNET with the raw data from his review of more than 55,000 .xxx domains, which show that the triple-X counterparts of many popular Web sites, including Posterous.xxx and Feedburner.xxx, have not been reserved. We've placed some excerpts below (scroll down).

The list of news organizations that chose not to claim their corresponding .xxx domains includes: TheAtlantic.xxx, DenverPost.xxx, MercuryNews.xxx, NewScientist.xxx, CSMonitor.xxx, PostGazette.xxx, and FinancialPost.xxx.

Salon.xxx will be awarded after an auction, the process that .xxx creator ICM Registry has established for certain popular words. In October, ICM announced that it had sold Gay.xxx at auction for $500,000.

The reluctance of some news organizations to venture into the seamer side of the Web might be no surprise, but there are also plenty of popular adult sites that chose not to make the leap. Dot-com sites that rank among the Internet's most popular 5,000 destinations, according to Alexa, that have left their corresponding triple-X domains unclaimed include H2Porn.com, PornControl.com, and IntPorn.com. Porn star Lexi Love has left LexiLove.xxx unclaimed. (See related CNET article.)

Other domains that will be awarded after an auction: BankOfAmerica.xxx, Missouri.xxx, Toronto.xxx, SanDiego.xxx, Career.xxx, Seattle.xxx, Data.xxx, Library.xxx, Fit.xxx, Worldwide.xxx, and HowTo.xxx.

Elie Bursztein, a Stanford researcher who found that of the top 50,000 most popular Web sites, only 24 percent have registered the corresponding .xxx domains.

(Credit: Declan McCullagh/CNET)

For would-be porntreprenuers, there is one catch: ICM's policies for .xxx say that only "sponsored community" domains will actually become live Web sites. To make that happen, your .xxx domain has to "provide online entertainment" or be a supporting business, such as providing legal, accounting, catering, and so on. "Manufacturers" also qualify.

ICM Registry, which operates the .xxx top-level domain, said on December 6 that triple-X domains would be available for purchase by the general public. That was preceded by a so-called sunrise period, which allowed adult and non-adult businesses and universities to claim trademark rights to certain .xxx domains.

That resulted in a list of off-limits names unavailable for registration. Jocelyn Johnson, a spokeswoman for ICM Registry, said that other additions to the list came from government agencies that "submitted names to be pulled out of the registry permanently."

Those were "culturally sensitive names, political leaders--it was a wide variety of names," Johnson told CNET. That's "the list of names that are on permanent reserve."

BarackObama.xxx, HillaryClinton.xxx, RonPaul.xxx, and MittRomney.xxx are all set aside and listed in Whois data as "ICM Registry Reserved." So is ChelseaClinton.xxx, Vatican.xxx, God.xxx, and JesusChrist.xxx. The domain ProphetMohammad.xxx is reserved, but blasphemers can purchase the common variant of ProphetMuhammet.xxx.

Ex-presidents aren't necessarily treated equally: JimmyCarter.xxx can't be bought. But GeorgeHWBush.xxx was available until it was purchased on December 13 by Chicago-based Skylark Enterprises LLC.

Santorum.xxx was bought by a fellow named Vladimir Karastoyanov in Toronto, who did not respond to an e-mail query asking him what exactly he'll do with it. And Palin.xxx was purchased on December 11 and is currently parked at GoDaddy.com without any content, not even a link to the porn parody Who's Nailin' Paylin?.

Update 11 p.m. PT: Since this article appeared, some of the domains mentioned have been purchased, including ProphetMuhammet.xxx. Skylark Enterprises, which bought GeorgeHWBush.xxx, responded with this message: "Skylark originally intended to syndicate adult content on this site as well as several others. Upon further consideration, we concluded that it would not be worth our time to do so. Thus, Skylark has decided to resell it to other interest [sic] parties instead." And we've updated the article to clarify how ICM's auction process works.

Samsung Galaxy Note rocking Android 4.0 with CM9

Probably one of the most impressive devices as of late is the Samsung Galaxy Note. While it’s still currently not available in the US or many other parts of the world it still has seen wide adoption with over 1 million sales, and the development community is flourishing. Below we have some Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich on the 5.3″ phone — tablet — cutting board.

Below is a video showing the progress of Android 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich and CyanogenMod 9 on the Galaxy Note. Obviously this is still very much in the early stages but as you can see in the video performance is quite stellar already.

Having Ice Cream Sandwich on that gorgeous 5.3″ AMOLED display sure sounds nice although I’m not sure I’d use that thing as a phone or not still. The Galaxy Nexus seems perfect for me (and I love it). According to the awesome developer at XDA, Maui this is still heavily under development and things such as the camera, bluetooth, some hardware accel and more are all not working just yet.

Galaxy Note CM9 ICS

WiFi, data and calling, the s-pen (stylus) and more are all working just great and enough to make this almost a daily driver unless you need a highly accurate battery reading or bluetooth. Accessing the internal storage with MTP is still having issues and you’ll need to push things with ADB. If you are wondering what that is then this project isn’t for you. Being in an early beta stage it’s recommended that you know what you are doing if you decide to flash and give this ROM a try on your own Galaxy Note. Give it a try at your own risk and make sure to ask any questions before getting started. All the information, links, and download are available at the link below.

Galaxy Note XDA Thread

Oracle, Google Android Patent Infringement Trial Set for March

he judge in the Oracle versus Google patent infringement case has set a March 2012 trial date, established a three-part trial and ruled on several outstanding motions in the case.

The ongoing legal battle between Oracle and Google has come one step closer to a head, with the presiding judge setting a date for the trial to begin in March and ruling on several motions that give both sides mini victories.

Jan. 4 was a busy day for the parties in the Oracle versus Google patent infringement lawsuit. U.S. District Judge William Alsup said the case will go to a jury trial that will start on or after March 19, 2012. The trial had originally been set to start on Oct. 31, 2011, but was postponed because of scheduling conflicts with the court.

Oracle had recently asked the court for the trial to begin as early as January, while Google was fine with waiting until at least July for the trial to begin. Oracle’s claim was that the longer the company waits for relief from Google’s alleged patent infringement, the more time Google has to reap rewards from the increasing consumer adoption of Android devices.

Judge Alsup also stuck to his earlier proposal for a three-part or trifurcated trial. The first part of the trial will be deal with the copyright infringement claims of the case, the second part will deal with patent infringement claims and the third part will deal with “all remaining issues,” including “damages and willfulness,” said Florian Mueller, author of FOSS Patents, who has been watching the case closely. Oracle and Google have seven days to file objections to the judge’s pretrial order.

Meanwhile, perhaps going to the issue of “willfulness,” Judge Lindholm ruled on Jan. 4 that a possibly incriminating email by Google engineer Tim Lindholm could be entered into evidence. Google had argued that the Lindholm email should not be admitted into the case because it was subject to attorney-client privilege or work-product rules.

Alsup shot that argument down for the sixth time, Mueller said. Google had argued that Lindholm was not in a position to analyze whether Android infringed on Oracle’s Java patents. But the Judge cited Lindholm’s background saying he was “quite knowledgeable about Java and Android technology as separate platforms and any potential crossover between the two platforms." Lindholm joined Google from Sun Microsystems, which created Java, and he was part of the team that developed the Java language and platform.

The Lindholm email reads:

"What we've actually been asked to do (by Larry [Page] and Sergey [Brin]) is to investigate what technical alternatives exist to Java for Android and Chrome. We've been over a bunch of these, and think they all suck. We conclude that we need to negotiate a license for Java under the terms we need."

Earlier in the case, Judge Alsup cited the potential importance of the Lindholm email, saying that all a competent lawyer might need is Lindholm’s comments “and the Magna Carta” to argue that Google had willfully infringed on Oracle’s patents. If found to have willfully infringed on Oracle’s patents, Google could be forced to pay triple damages by the court.

In another important ruling, Judge Alsup ruled that Oracle cannot exclude evidence relating to any ongoing U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) reexaminations of Oracle’s patents claimed in the case. Google asked the USPTO to reexamine the Oracle patents. Recently, the USPTO came back with a “final” rejection of one of the Oracle patents in the case. However, Oracle has the right to appeal that decision and may yet do so.

In all, Judge Alsup ruled on nine outstanding motions in the case, including denying an Oracle motion to exclude evidence or argument that third-party OEMs changed infringing components of Android and restricting Oracle's ability to present evidence obtained from Motorola Mobility, among other things.

Samsung’s new Galaxy Ace Plus announced, looks very familiar

Samsung has given its popular Galaxy Ace an update, releasing the Galaxy Ace Plus. Features include a larger screen, more powerful processor and a very familiar design.

Not content with enraging Apple with their alleged iPhone 4-alike designs, Samsung has now taken a shine to the previous model. We can see it, you can see it and it’s fairly likely the lawyers can see it too. We’re talking about the distinct design similarity between Samsung’s new Galaxy Ace Plus and the Apple iPhone 3G/3GS.

Yes, the camera lens may be in a different spot, but the front and side views along with that grey surround make it uncannily reminiscent of the previous iPhone. Well, we’re sure Samsung knows what it’s doing, so let’s move on and take a look at the spec of the new device.

The original Galaxy Ace has been a big seller, thanks to a very reasonable price and the Android operating system. The new Galaxy Ace Plus improves in some areas, but decides to play it safe in others.

Samsung has ever-so slightly increased the screen size, from 3.5-inches to 3.65-inches, but has left the resolution the same at 320 x 480. Next is a slight boost in power, with the Ace Plus using a 1Ghz processor instead of the old 800Mhz chip.

Like its predecessor, it uses a 5-megapixel camera with an LED flash and Google Android 2.3 Gingerbread, but adds Bluetooth 3.0 and Samsung’s range of apps and services, such as the ChatON service.

Initially, the Ace Plus will launch in Russia later this month, but will then spread to the rest of the world including Europe, Asia and Latin America. The price has yet to be confirmed, and the lawsuit yet to be filed.