URI GELER PREDICTS THE WINNER of Eurovision 2011

Uri Geller, the world famous Israeli mystifier and entertainer,mostly known for his ability to bend spones used his psychic powers in order to predict the winner ofthe Eurovision Song Contest. It was last week, during the Swedish TV-show “Fenomen”.Uri Geller predicted the winner. His prediction was written down on a paper noteand put in to an envelope andthen locked in a glasbox and was kept in a public area of a hotel in Stockholm. During yesterday’s final of “Fenomen”, the glasbox with the envelope was opened andsure enough it said “Azerbaijan” on the paper. Although a little bit misspelled. But Uri himself had another favorite: Swedenshould have won Eurovision, he told tv-viewers.

Weylandt sent his manager a text message voicing his concerns about the dangers cyclists

Weylandt sent his manager a text message voicing his concerns about the dangers cyclists faced shortly before he died racing in the Giro d’Italia.
Jef van den Bosch revealed that the Leopard-Trek rider had contacted him about safety matters in the sport.  
“It’s strange how things go sometimes,” van den Bosch said.  
“He sent me a text in which he said that cycling had become too dangerous and that the riders were living with nervousness.  
“It bothered him, but unfortunately it is too late.”  
Van den Bosch flew out to Milan with Weylandt’s parents and pregnant girlfriend Sophie Ann.  
“I rode in the same team, and we had great times together. It’s a nightmare, hard to believe,” he continued.  
“I want to be there for his family. They are devastated and what follows risks being more painful still.”
read more at http://m.eurosport.com/cycling/weylandt-warned-in-text_sto2788490/m-story.shtml

Oprah’s Grand Finale: Will and Jada Pinkett Smith are the guests on last show

Cementing their place in history as two of Oprah Winfrey’s favorite guests, Will Smith and wife Jada Pinkett Smith will appear May 25 on the daytime talk queen’s final show, Flash has learned exclusively.
Speculation about who will appear on the mystery-shrouded last episode has been building as Oprah ends her 25-year run of “The Oprah Show.” Fans’ and journalists’ guesses have included Oprah’s longtime love Stedman Graham, Tom Cruise, Dr. Phil McGraw, Jennifer Aniston and Gabrielle Giffords. It’s not clear how many guests will appear on the final show. And there’s no word on whether the Smiths’ famous kids — “KarateKid” star Jaden Smith and “Whip My Hair” singer Willow Smith — will join their parentson the couch.
The season already has featured President Obama andMichelle Obama, Michael Douglas, Johnny Depp, and today’s guest Sarah Ferguson. Since the Smiths and the Cruises are close friends, though, we wouldn’t be surprised if Tom and Katie Holmes did end up showing up — maybe to jump on that couch one last time? The last week of the show alsowill feature a two-episode rematch between Oprah and James Frey, the controversial writer of “A Million Little Pieces,“ which is being teased as ”the biggest controversy in Oprah show history.”
Speaking of a million little pieces, Oprah’s Harpo Productions is asking $1 million for 30-second commercials for the last week of the show.
Story Source: The Daily

Google Hot Trends 16 May 2011

2011/05/16 -  日付を変更  16分前更新			サイト フィード
1. docomo 2. メイちゃんの執事 3. ガタカ 4. 高橋周平 5. リッカーマン	6. テザリング 7. 阿蘇山 8. ハイビック 9. ドリームジャンボ 10. ハリナックス	11. 白畑将一 12. おしゃれ美人122 13. ping t 14. エクスペリア・アクロ 15. 江藤拓	16. xperia acro 予約 17. ガラケー 18. 内部割込みに分類されるものはどれか。 19. ＋チック姉さん 20. 菅聡子

Read More http://www.google.co.jp/trends/hottrends?q=%E3%83%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%81%A1%E3%82%83%E3%82%93%E3%81%AE%E5%9F%B7%E4%BA%8B&date=2011-5-16&sa=X

夏のドコモは「選べる、使える、楽しめるスマートフォン」

NTTドコモの2011年夏モデル発表会は、冒頭、東日本大震災を受けたドコモの災害対応と、今後の災害対策について説明する場所となった。NTTドコモの代表取締役社長である山田隆持氏は、「一日も早い復興を祈りたい」と被災地へのお見舞いの言葉を述べた。
　被災地のドコモの通信設備は、4月末までにほぼ復旧しており、東北三県の307基地局のうち290局が復旧し、震災以前とほぼ同じ状況になっているという。未だ復旧していない基地局も5月中にも復旧させる予定。福島原発の30km圏内については、68局のうち51局が復旧しているという。
　また、未曾有の大災害を教訓とし、ドコモは新たに10項目の災害対策を実施する。より広範囲をカバーする基地局の「大ゾーン化」や基地局の無停電化、バッテリーの24時間化含め、2011年度の対策費は235億円にのぼるという。さらに、音声メッセージをパケットで送信するサービスなども2011年中にも提供する予定。
　なお、震災の影響は、携帯電話の供給体制にも影響が出ている。山田氏によると影響は軽微だが、7月までは部品が枯渇している状況という。このため、夏モデルのうち4機種が当初の発売予定より2週間程度遅れて販売されることになる。7月以降は供給体制も回復する見通しだ。

■ スマートフォンが普及期に

夏のドコモは、山田氏が「選べる、使える、楽しめるスマートフォン」と紹介するように、バラエティ豊かな9モデルのスマートフォンを中心に、フィーチャーフォン12モデル、Xi対応のモバイルWi-Fiルーター2モデル、FOMAデータ通信端末1モデルの合計24モデルがラインナップされる。
　ドコモは4月より、これまでスマートフォンとフィーチャーフォンで分断されていた企画開発チームを統合し、スマートフォンを軸に展開する体制へと布陣を変更した。夏のスマートフォンでは、Android 2.3が8モデル、下り最大14MbpsのFOMAハイスピード対応が6モデル、Wi-Fiテザリング対応モデルが7モデルと充実しており、さらに、おサイフケータイやワンセグ、赤外線通信機能といったこれまでフィーチャーフォンで受け入れられてきたニーズのある機能もサポートされている。
　山田氏が「これまでスマートフォンは特別な存在だった」と語るように、ドコモの夏モデルは、スマートフォンをより普及層にアプローチする形をとった。端末の機能や仕様はもちろん、iモード端末を利用するユーザーの乗り換えを意識し、「iチャネル」や「メロディコール」「Gガイド番組表」などのスマートフォン対応もこの夏から本格化する。
　緊急地震速報にあたる「エリアメール」がスマートフォンでもサポートされ、2011年冬モデル以降の端末では標準対応となる見込み。このほか、冬モデルより、iモードコンテンツの認証課金をスマートフォンでも取り入れる。iモード端末でMyメニュー登録していたコンテンツが、スマートフォンでも継続利用できるようになる。
　また、ドコモの独自開発によるユーザーインターフェイス「docomo palette UI」も夏モデルで数機種に搭載し、冬モデル以降、標準搭載していく。
　フィーチャーフォンやiモード端末向けのサービスについては、ドコモのプロダクト部長である丸山誠治氏より説明があった。丸山氏は、動画サービスのiモーションが夏モデル以降、従来の最大10MBから最大50MBに拡張すると発表した。また、コンテンツをパッケージ化してダウンロードする機能などもサポートされた。
　このほか山田氏は、グローバルモデルのスマートフォンを求めるユーザーは、スマートフォンをパソコンのように使いたいユーザーであるとした。夏モデルはより一般層を意識し、iモード端末でできたことをスマートフォンにも求めるユーザーに、より強く響くものと言えそうだ。
　このほか発表会後に実施された山田社長の囲み取材では、4月より始まったSIMロックの解除サービスの利用件数は20件程度、microSIMカードの単体販売が2000枚程度となっていることが語られた。 

■ URL 
　ニュースリリース 
　http://www.nttdocomo.co.jp/info/news_release/2011/05/16_00.html

■ 関連記事 
・ドコモ、2011年夏商戦向け24モデル発表 (2011/5/16)

(津田 啓夢) 

2011/5/16 17:44

Google close to settling drug ad probe

Google is close to settling a federal criminal inquiry into its acceptance of advertisements from companies selling unlicensed pharmaceuticals, according to a person involved in the case. The leading search engine disclosed this week that it had reserved $500m to resolve an unspecified US justice department probe into its advertising practices, with speculation quickly turning toward counterfeit and unapproved drugs. The Wall Street Journal reported late on Thursday that the pending deal would resolve an investigation of drug ads by the US justice department, with participation of the Food and Drug Administration and the federal prosecutor in Rhode Island. A person familiar with thematter confirmed the talks to theFinancial Times. The justice department, FDA and Google all declined to comment. Google, Microsoft and Yahoo havebeen changing their policies under pressure from licensed pharmacies, major drug makers and the FDA to do more to filter out ads that tout prescription medications, often ostensibly from Canadian companies but manufactured in China, India and elsewhere. Many of the drugs advertised are counterfeit, raising intellectual property issues. The FDA and the Drug Enforcement Administrationhave also complained about a public health threat, because some US consumers have died from drugs bought online without a prescription. The issue has been complicated by varying international laws. It is illegal to import unlicensed drugs into the US, but not illegal for Canadian firms to sell them. Companies that manufacture the knock-offs may not be violating the laws of the places where theyare based. The search engines were thoughtto have legal risk. A section of the1996 Communications Decency Act protects internet service companies from being held accountable for virtually any content provider by users or advertisers, but there is an exception for federal criminal cases. The search engines in 2007paid $31.5m to resolve justice department objections to ads run for online gambling firms. Online drug sales have been one of the largest sources of income for cybercrime gangs. A large percentage of unwanted commercial e-mails touts such wares, and viruses often steer infected personal computers to such websites.

Suicide blamed on Facebook faker

Peter Russell took his life after falling for Facebook persona
Laura Jane West. Photo / Supplied

The mother of a man who committed suicide after he was rejected by an online persona of the "Facebook Predator" has spoken of her hatred for the woman. Distraught mum Raewyn Ford said her son, Peter Russell, 21, took his life after being dumped by Natalia Burgess. His family now want police to refer the case back to the coroner after discovering the degree to which he was manipulated. Russell, from Christchurch, who had proposed to vivacious blonde "Laura Jane West", never found out that she was in fact a bogus identity. "I hate her," said Ford. "I hate her for everything she's doing to these young boys - playing head games with kids and actually convincing them she's a real person. It's just wrong." It is the latest twist in the bizarre story of Burgess, 27, who is under investigation after developing dozens of online relationships with teenagers. Raewyn Ford said "West" asked to be added as a friend to her son's Facebook page in January last year. They were in regular contact by phone and online, and in April Russell posted a video clip on YouTube proposing marriage.

Read more at http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10725758

Burson-Marsteller Caught Deleting Facebook Criticism; Facebook Delivers Statement

Both Facebook and PR firm Burson-Marsteller—the two companies caught right in the middle of the unfortunately titled "Googlegate" episode from last week—have issued statements describing their involvement in the situation. According to both companies, the plan to pitch articles to newspapers describing Google's alleged privacy violations wasn't intended to be a negative campaign against the company.

Yet, Burson-Marsteller apparently hasn't learned its lesson from the influx of criticism surrounding its involvement in the mess. The company has since been caught deleting criticism from Facebook users posting on the company's official Facebook page.

First, Facebook's statement:

"No 'smear' campaign was authorized or intended. Instead, we wanted third parties to verify that people did not approve of the collection and use of information from their accounts on Facebook and other services for inclusion in Google Social Circles—just as Facebook did not approve of use or collection for this purpose," said a Facebook representative to USA Today.

Via http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2385394,00.asp

Oma als social media-deskundige

HELMOND - De wereld van de professionele inzet van social media kent vele deskundigen. ED-abonnee Anne Raaymakers (50) uit Helmond is zo'n deskundige. Om niet te zeggen een goeroe, voor veel mensen die geïnteresseerd zijn in de ontwikkelingen op het gebied van onder andere LinkedIn, Hyves, Facebook en twitteren.

De site van Anne Raaymakers wordt wekelijks bezocht door duizenden mensen. En tijdens haar BLT-trainingen (bloggen, LinkedIn en twitteren) door heel het land, hangen iedere maand honderden cursisten aan haar lippen. Daarnaast wordt Anne door tig bedrijven en organisaties geconsulteerd over het inzetten van social media. Volgende maand gaat ze haar werkterrein naar België uitbreiden.

Waarom ze zo succesvol is? Anne Raaymakers denkt na. "Door mijn leeftijd en voorkomen neem ik het misverstand weg dat het gebruik van social media alleen iets is voor jonge, hippe mensen. Ik ben een gewone vrouw, niet zo'n snelle twintiger die roept dat het 'éécht niet meer kan als je niet twittert, of niet op Hyves of Facebook zit. Ik ben een nuchtere oma van drie kleinkinderen en vertel anekdotes over hen tijdens mijn trainingen. Als mensen mij zien, denken ze: als zij het kan, kan ik het ook. Zo werkt het, denk ik."

Wie is Anne Raaymakers? Anne werd 50 jaar geleden geboren in Nuenen. Als peuter verhuisde ze naar Helmond. Op haar twintigste kreeg Anne haar eerste kind. Later voedde ze drie kinderen in haar eentje op en inmiddels heeft ze drie jonge kleinkinderen. "Ik heb vanaf mijn achttiende gewerkt voor mijn eigen geld. Ik ben altijd geïnteresseerd geweest in alles wat met computers en ICT te maken heeft. Zo maakte ik met mijn zoon de website voor mijn eerste bedrijfje. Toen moest je zelf nog programmeren. Dat vond ik leuk. Ik e-mailde toen het nog geen gemeengoed was en ik zat in 1995 al op kabelinternet in Helmond."

Anne heeft verschillende banen en eigen bedrijven gehad. Onder andere in secretariële ondersteuning en in coaching. "Het belangrijkste vind ik dat ik deskundig ben in alles wat ik doe en zeg. Ik bijt me vast in nieuwe ontwikkelingen op mijn vakgebied."

En wat zijn die ontwikkelingen op het gebied van social media? "Nou, ik kom net bij een groep winkeliers vandaan. Die willen Foursquare inzetten, puur op de persoon gerichte marketing. Simpel voorbeeld: als jij een winkel binnenkomt, log je in. Die winkel komt op jouw mobiele telefoon meteen met informatie en aanbiedingen die bij jou, als bijvoorbeeld 45-jarige vrouw, passen. Dit systeem kun je enorm uitbreiden en er tal van extra toepassingen bij bedenken."