Boy born without a brain dies after 3 yrs; Nickolas Coke, of Colorado , was born with only a brain stem, a condition known as anencephaly

Boy born without a brain dies after 3 yrs
Times of India
PUEBLO (COLORADO): A boy who survived three years without a brain has died. Nickolas Coke, of Colorado , was born with only a brain stem, a condition known as anencephaly (anen-SEF-uhlee ).



Let's Limit the Effect of Software Patents; Perhaps Richard Stallman Has The Solution?

Perhaps Richard Stallman Has The Solution To Software Patents?
For those who don't know who Richard Stallman is, well, he's one of the great gurus. Replace blogging with programming in this XKCD cartoon, Stallman for Doctorow and you've about got it. This does not mean that Stallman is always correct but it does mean that he's always interesting. And [...]
Forbes

FTC staff recommends Google be sued over patents: source
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A Federal Trade Commission staff report has recommended that the government sue Google for violating U.S. antitrust law because it asked courts to stop the sale of some products that infringe its essential patents, a source told Reuters Thursday. The five-member commission is inclined to vote in favor of suing Google Inc, the Internet search engine company, according to ...

Let's Limit the Effect of Software Patents, Since We Can't Eliminate Them
Patents threaten every software developer, and the patent wars we have long feared have broken out. Software developers and software users – which in our society, is most people – need software to be free of patents.
Wired News

Richard Stallman

XKCD cartoon, by Randall Munroe

Three CA governors sing: Save the death penalty; To save the CA budget Pass Proposition 34

Gray Davis is righteous — in favor of the death penalty and against Proposition 34. This week the Democrat joined two other former California governors, Republicans Pete Wilson and George Deukmejian, at a press conference urging voters to reject Prop. 34. It was like Three Tenors, but for public ... San Francisco Gate



G20 Finance Ministers Meet in Mexico; Germany's Schaeuble says deficit debt reduction is global task

G20 México 2012
Sitio Oficial de la Presidencia de México en el G-20 ...

G20 meet with eurozone again in limelight News.com.au
Germany's Schaeuble says debt reduction is global task Reuters
U.S. fiscal cliff looms large at Mexico G20 meet Reuters



William Shatner Talks Shatoetry, Star Trek and Apple iPhone, iPad App; Move Over Siri

William Shatner Talks Shatoetry, Star Trek and Apple
Forbes
William Shatner is the hottest thing going on Apple iTunes today. The actor, who is best known for portraying Captain James T. Kirk in the Star Trek TV series and movies, is attracting a mainstream audience with his new app that goes well beyond Trekkers.

William Shatner's 'Shatoetry' app recites messages in actor's voice
Los Angeles Times
Luckily, William Shatner, a.k.a. Captain Kirk, has come to the rescue. The space-traveling, price negotiating actor has released his own app for the iPhone called "Shatoetry.


Bay Area money exported out-of-state to fund Obama campaign coffers; Tim Draper on what this election means for Silicon Valley

Bay Area money fills Obama campaign coffers
San Francisco Chronicle
The stars of technology in the Bay Area and Silicon Valley - the capital of innovation - are now outpacing Hollywood celebrities and Wall Street moguls in fundraising for President Obama's re-election campaign.

Tim Draper on what this election means for Silicon Valley
San Jose Mercury News
For someone in the Silicon Valley, the President is 3000 miles away. He and his opponent come out to raise money every four years and neither stays long enough to hear what we have to say, because the Democrat always wins in California and both parties ...
So, for me, I will vote for change agents. I will vote for Proposition 32 to shake up union and corporate monopolies. I will support the new candidate over the incumbent, I will vote to encourage choice for all citizens, so that they can decide which government or union or corporation they want to support.



Groupon stock falls to all-time low as IPO anniversary nears

Groupon stock falls to all-time low as IPO anniversary nears
Chicago Tribune
Shares of Chicago-based Groupon Inc. fell to an all-time low Friday as the company approaches the one-year anniversary of its initial public offering.

Frightful week for Groupon
Crain's Chicago Business
Groupon Inc.'s already tough Halloween week turned downright gruesome Friday, with the stock hitting a new low and crashing below $4 per share for the first time, as the company revealed questions it has received from regulators about its financial ...



Google Wallet Just Made The Checkout Easier for Online Payments

Google Wallet Just Made The Checkout Process Easier
WebProNews
Google announced that starting today, users will no longer have to enter their credit/debit card numbers, billing addresses or other payment-related information on certain sites that accept Google Wallet for payments.



Hyundai, Kia overstated gas mileage on most models

EPA Finds Hyundai, Kia Overstated Gas Mileage New York Times
Hyundai, Kia overstated gas mileage on most models,... New Orleans Times-Picayune
EPA says Hyundai, Kia overstated gas mileage Richmond Times-Dispatch



Apple's iPad Mini off to strong start; supplies even in storm-ravaged New York City selling out quickly

Apple's iPad Mini off to strong start
San Francisco Chronicle
TECHNOLOGY. Apple's iPad Mini is big starter. Sales of Apple's iPad Mini were reportedly "off to a strong start" Friday, with supplies even in storm-ravaged New York City selling out quickly.

Opinion:It's not how big it is, it's what you do with it B&T Marketing & Media
In Depth:So many iPads, so tough to decide



Detroit Tops The 2012 List Of America's Most Dangerous Cities; Oakland is #3

The Most Dangerous Cities in America - 24/7 Wall St.
Today, the FBI announced that violent crime dropped 4% in 2011, compared to a 5.5% drop in 2010. Nationally, the murder rate fell 1.9% from 2010, and robbery ...

Detroit Tops The 2012 List Of America's Most Dangerous Cities ...
see photosLucas Oleniuk/ZUMA Press/NewscomClick for full photo gallery: The 10 Most Dangerous U.S. Cities At a community meeting in a Lutheran church ...

The 11 Most Dangerous U.S. Cities: The 11 Most Dangerous U.S ...
These are the 11 U.S. cities with the highest crime rates from 2003 through 2009, according to an analysis of FBI violent and property crime reporting data by Onboard ...



3. Oakland
Population: 395,317
Violent crime rate: 1,683 per 100,000 residents
Oakland's high levels of poverty and proximity to drug corridors combine to generate lots of violence. The city across the Bay from San Francisco ranks first nationwide in violent robberies.

Critics' first reactions to Halo 4


The blockbuster's latest version is the most expensive game that Microsoft has ever produced.



Wary of Future, Professionals Leave China in Record Numbers

Wary of Future, Professionals Leave China in Record Numbers
New York Times
BEIJING - At 30, Chen Kuo had what many Chinese dream of: her own apartment and a well-paying job at a multinational corporation. But in mid-October, Ms. Chen boarded a midnight flight for Australia to begin a new life with no sure prospects.

In 2010, the last year for which complete statistics are available, 508,000 Chinese left for the 34 developed countries that make up the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. That is a 45 percent increase over 2000



Microsoft To Build Its Own Windows Phones? Tests Smartphone With Asia Suppliers

Microsoft To Build Its Own Windows Phones?
InformationWeek
After denying it had such plans earlier this year, Microsoft reportedly is developing a self-branded Windows Phone 8 smartphone that would compete with products sold by its existing partners, including Nokia and Samsung.

Highly Cited:Microsoft Tests Smartphone With Asia Suppliers Wall Street Journal
In Depth:Microsoft Build: Wooing Windows 8 developers



Navy Test-Fires Missiles from Robot Boats

Robot Boats Tested | Today News Gazette
Robot Boats Tested, U.S. Navy ships face the growing threat of small boat swarms used by terrorists, pirates or enemy countries. New testing has shown off a ..

Navy Test-Fires Missiles from Robot Boats - Live Science | e ...
The Navy hopes robot boats armed with missiles can take out small boat swarms threatening larger warships.



Conan O’Brien Previews the iPad Mini Mega [VIDEO]

Meet the iPad Mini Mega, From Conan O'Brien - Yahoo! Finance ...
From Yahoo! Finance Canada : Taking a comical swipe at Apple's latest offering, the iPad Mini, Conan O'Brien made a spoof video of Apple's announcing even more iPads ...

Conan Previews the iPad Mini Mega [VIDEO]
Oh, iPad mini, will there ever be an end to the jokes pointed at your direction? Seemingly not, as Conan O’Brien has released another spoof video for the ...



Sergio Romo's 'illegal' shirt a showstopper at SF Giants parade

Sergio Romo's 'illegal' shirt a showstopper at San Francisco Giants parade Los Angeles Daily News
Sergio Romo wears 'I just look illegal' shirt at S.F. Giants parade Los Angeles Times



Alexis Ohanian, Reddit Co-Founder Defends Site and Internet Freedom of Speech

Reddit Founder: Tech Start-ups Will Save the U.S.
Fresh off his Internet 2012 campaign bus tour, Alexis Ohanian makes a pitch for how an open Internet will help stimulate the economy. Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian--a self-proclaimed “start-up guy"--recently returned from an eight-day bus tour with an answer for the country’s economic woes: technology start-ups. Between the first presidential debate in Denver and the vice-presidential debate ...
Inc Magazine

Reddit Co-Founder Defends Site and Internet Freedom of Speech
Reddit has had quite a few months of attention-grabbing news – both positive and negative. On the positive side, the social network, which is built around forum threads, was used by President Obama to connect with voters in one of the site’s “Ask Me Anythings



George Lucas to Donate Most of His $4 Billion; Educational Foundation, Edutopia, SFSU Media Center

George Lucas to donate most of money made from deal ...
Ok, so his work with the Star Wars prequel and "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" were...less then stellar.

George Lucas Plans to Give Away Most of His $4 Billion in Disney Money ... Lucas heads up the George Lucas Educational Foundation, which includes Edutopia.



Meet the iPad Mini Mega, From Conan O'Brien [VIDEO]

Meet the iPad Mini Mega, From Conan O'Brien - Yahoo! Finance ...
From Yahoo! Finance Canada : Taking a comical swipe at Apple's latest offering, the iPad Mini, Conan O'Brien made a spoof video of Apple's announcing even more iPads ...

Conan Previews the iPad Mini Mega [VIDEO]
Oh, iPad mini, will there ever be an end to the jokes pointed at your direction? Seemingly not, as Conan O’Brien has released another spoof video for the ...



China Top-Selling American Car: Buick Excelle; Popularity: Number one seller

GM sells more Buick Excelles in China each year—a quarter-million of them—than all Buicks combined in the U.S. The Excelle comes in several models, the most popular built by GMDAT (GM Daewoo Auto and Technology, a company GM owns in South Korea). The compact sedan powered by a 1.6-liter four-cylinder is also known as the Daewoo Lacetti and was called the Chevrolet Optra when it sold in Canada until 2008. These days an Excelle runs the equivalent of about $21,000.



News? CA Democrats Hold Early-Voting Advantage Over Republicans; AG keeps focus on women's issues

California AG keeps focus on women's issues, early voting in ...
Kamala Harris, attorney general of California, joined Democratic supporters at Wilmoore Cafe in downtown Raleigh on Wednesday to reiterate the party's focus on women ...

CA Democrats Hold Early-Voting Advantage Over Republicans ...
View: California Vote Won’t Be a Quick Tax Fix.



Pentagon airlifts experts, equipment from California to NYC

Pentagon airlifts experts, equipment to NYC
Military transports are deployed from California to help restore power to the stricken city.



Boxee lands exclusive Walmart distribution deal for its Boxee TV device, retail for $99

Boxee lands exclusive Walmart distribution deal for its Boxee TV device
GigaOM
Boxee's new device, the Boxee TV streaming box with cloud DVR, will start selling exclusively at Walmart beginning November 1. This retail partnership is a big deal for Boxee, as Walmart will promote the device with display stations and additional ...

Boxee TV to arrive at Walmart stores, retail for $99
TechHive
Walmart stores across the U.S. on Thursday will start carrying the Boxee TV set-top box just in time for a holiday showdown with competitors such as Apple TV, Roku, and the Xbox 360.

Boxee, Used to View Web on TV, Generates Buzz



Bob Mansfield's Back at Apple Because Everyone Hated Scott Forstall

Bob Mansfield's Back at Apple Because Everyone Hated Scott Forstall
Gizmodo
Bob Mansfield's Back at Apple Because Everyone Hated Scott Forstall. By Leslie Horn. Apple's former senior vice president of Hardware Engineering Bob Mansfield has pulled a Michael Jordan and come out of retirement, just after Scott Forstall was pushed ...

Highly Cited:An Apple Exit Over MapsWall Street Journal - by Jessica Vascellaro
In Depth:Apple's Scott Forstall ousted over Maps apology ...CNET

Bob Mansfield IN


Scott Forstall OUT

Jeremy Lin Victorious in Debut With Houston Rockets

Lin Victorious in Debut With Rockets
New York Times
AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - For the immensity of his profile, Jeremy Lin's ascent to stardom occurred within a notably short time frame.



Pentagon plans to buy iPhones, Androids in threat to BlackBerry's market share

Pentagon plans to buy iPhones, Androids in threat to BlackBerry's market share
Washington Post
The Pentagon is planning to open its network for the first time to Apple iPhones and devices running Google's Android operating system, a threat to BlackBerry maker Research in Motion.


Compare Hurricane Sandy to the Japanes Tsunami, Which Wins the Damage Award?

Billions for Japan tsunami recovery went elsewhere, reports find
Los Angeles Times
TADANOUMI, Japan -- Billions of dollars meant to help Japan recover from its devastating tsunami went to government projects that had little or nothing to do with the disaster, a new spending review shows.



Global warming systemically caused Hurricane Sandy: Mad Scientists; Great Pictures

Climate change returns to conversation
Financial Times
The long-dormant political issue of climate change is returning to the national conversation with less than a week until the November 6 presidential election, following the hurricane that devastated parts of New York and New Jersey.

Opinion:The candidates won't discuss a warming planet, but Hurricane Sandy filled in the ...Baltimore Sun
In Depth:How Insurers Can Foil the Next Hurricane Sandy
Global warming systemically caused Hurricane Sandy: Scientists - NewsX



High-Tide Storm Was a Known Risk for New York

High-Tide Storm Was a Known Risk for New York
Bloomberg
Researchers used storm surge models to study how events of varying sizes - and hitting at varying tide levels - affected the city.



Chromebook laptop spot, set to the 1986 song "Raining Blood" by the iconic thrash-metal band

Samsung's $249 Chromebook: If You Like The Web, And You Like Cheap, This ...
TechCrunch
Samsung and Google recently introduced the simply named Chromebook, a $249 computer with an 11.6-inch screen and around 6.5 hours of battery life in a slim and svelte 2.5 lb, 0.8-inch-thick shell.

The tech company shows its fangs this Halloween with the short-and-sweet 30-second spot below for its Chromebook laptop, set to the 1986 song "Raining Blood" by the iconic thrash-metal band.



Big turnout for SF Giants World Series parade down Market Street to the Civic Center

Big turnout for Giants parade down Market
San Francisco Chronicle
A police officer tells fans to move off of Montgomery Street before the street closures go into effect for the Giants' World Series victory parade on Market Street in San Francisco, Calif.

Live Updating:Watch live: San Francisco Giants parade



Siri now gives Chinese prostitutes the cold shoulder; Google Adds Siri-Like Voice Search #cartoon

Google Adds Siri-Like Voice Search to iOS App
Google this week unveiled a revamped search app for iOS that adds a Siri-like voice-recognition service. The search giant said the app update brings its "most advanced voice search" to iOS.

In Depth:Google updates iOS Search app with enhanced voice capabilities: Hands-on NDTV

Siri now gives Chinese prostitutes the cold shoulder -- report
CNET
Siri now gives Chinese prostitutes the cold shoulder -- report. After Apple's voice-activated assistant reportedly directed some users to Chinese brothels, the company made some adjustments to Siri's attitude on the subject, state-run media reported ...



Smartphones linked to increased sexual activity in teens

Smartphones Linked to Sexual Activity in Teens: Study MedicineNet.com
Smartphones linked to increased sexual activity in teens FOX 19 Cincinnati
Smartphones Linked to Teen Sex, Says Study WebProNews



Hurricane Sandy Status: Severe damage, but Will it create net real jobs?



Judge Denied Satellite Voting for Montana Indians

Judge denies American Indians’ emergency request for ...
BILLINGS, Mont. — A federal judge has denied an emergency order sought by American Indians who wanted election officials to provide satellite voting ...

Judge Denies Satellite Voting for Montana Indians - ABC News
A federal judge has denied an emergency order sought by American Indians who wanted election officials to provide satellite voting stations on remote ...



Ohio Teen Convicted In Deadly Craigslist Scheme

Ohio teen convicted in deadly Craigslist scheme - Businessweek
AKRON, Ohio (AP) — An Ohio teenager taken under the wing of a man defense attorneys described as a master manipulator was found guilty of aggravated ...

Brogan Rafferty Guilty: Ohio Teen Convicted In Deadly Craigslist Scheme By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS




China's search engine Baidu says 3Q profit grows 60%

China's search engine Baidu says 3Q profit grows 60%
Industry Leaders Magazine
China's search engine Baidu Inc. reported that third-quarter profit grew approximately 60 percent from a year earlier to about $478.6 million due to advertisements.



How Paintballs Could Force an Asteroid Off Course

How Paintballs Could Force an Asteroid Off Course
Tom's Hardware Guide
The idea is to increase an asteroid's reflection ability of sunlight and take advantage the force of bouncing photons to push an object off its course.



Disney buying 'Star Wars' maker Lucasfilm for $4.05B; New Star Wars Film Coming in 2015!

New Star Wars Film Coming in 2015!
E! Online
Uh, Star Wars geeks enthusiasts? Brace yourselves for a double whammy. One: Disney has purchased Lucasfilm for a whopping $4.05 billion (yes, with a "b"). Which brings us to two: Stars Wars Episode VII is not only happening, but it has a release date for ...

Disney buying Lucasfilm, prepping new 'Star Wars' movie for 2015 -- BREAKING - Entertainment Weekly
Disney buying 'Star Wars' maker Lucasfilm for $4.05B - Fox News



49ers demolish Cardinals; Alex Smith’s performance quiets ‘Jive-Turkey gobblers’

Maligned quarterback's stunning game
San Francisco's Alex Smith falls just one pass short of a new NFL record.

49ers demolish Cardinals; Alex Smith’s performance quiets ‘Jive-Turkey gobblers’



Awash in cockroaches, Mill Valley restaurant calls health department on itself

Awash in cockroaches, Mill Valley restaurant calls health department on itself
San Francisco Chronicle
Usually, restaurants prefer to keep their infestation problems on the down-low, but one Marin restaurant is owning its massive cockroach problem.



Hurricane Sandy takes data centers offline; Huffington Post, Gawker Down

Hurricane Sandy takes data centers offline with flooding, power outages
Ars Technica
Flooding and power outages caused by Hurricane Sandy have forced several New York data centers to switch to generator power. But those generators are quickly running out of fuel, so data center companies are telling their customers to shut down their ...

Highly Cited:Hurican Sandy Takes Down Popular Websites: Huffington Post, Gawker Among ...



PayPal cutting jobs as part of major reorganization by its new president, David Marcus

PayPal to cut about 325 jobs in major reorg - Business - US ...
PayPal is cutting about 325 jobs as part of a major reorganization by its new president, David Marcus, designed to regain an innovative edge and head off rising ...

UPDATE 2-PayPal cutting jobs as part of major reorganization ...
[Oct 29, 2012] PayPal is cutting about 325 jobs as part of a major reorganization by its new president, David Marcus, designed to regain ...



Google's Nexus 4: A closer look at Android's new flagship phone

Google's Nexus 4: A closer look at Android's new flagship phone Computerworld (blog)
Outward aesthetics aside, the Nexus 4's screen has a resolution of 1280 x 768 with 320ppi, all protected by Corning Gorilla Glass 2. Based on the time I spent with the Optimus G, which uses the same display technology, I expect the image quality on ...

Nexus 4 phone with Android 4.2 confirmed ...CNET
The Nexus 4, as previously reported by CNET, is an altered version of LG's flagship Optimus G smartphone.



Barack Obama worries about Malia on Facebook

Obama worries about Malia: Daughter in danger? - Boston Pop ...
Barack Obama worries about Malia, his oldest daughter, when it comes to Facebook. On Oct. 28, MTV reported on Obama's fears as a parent.

Barack Obama worries about Malia on Facebook
Barack Obama has made an appeal to younger voters by appearing for a live 30 minute interview on MTV. The US President answered viewer submitted questions on a range ...



Riverside Police Arrest 60-Year-Old Woman Speaking At City Council for Speaking Too Long

Police Arrest 60-Year-Old Woman Speaking At City Council ...
RIVERSIDE (CBSLA.com) — A Riverside woman is facing misdemeanor charges following her arrest for speaking too long at a Riverside City Council meeting ...

Karen Wright Arrest for Speaking Too Long Prompts Riverside ...
LOS ANGELES (LALATE) – The arrest of someone for speaking too long during a Riverside City Council meeting is prompting a local scandal tonight. A 60 ...



SF Giants Fans celebrate World Series Win: 36 arrested, 70 fires

Fans celebrate: 36 arrested, 70 fires
San Francisco Chronicle
An Instragram photo of a burning bus in downtown San Francisco following celebrations of the Giants World Series win on Sunday, October 28, 2012.


Tablet Wars 2012: iPad mini v Kindle Fire v Nexus 7: the Christmas fight approaches; Consumers unaware of Windows 8

iPad mini v Kindle Fire v Nexus 7: the Christmas fight approaches
The Guardian
Charles Arthur
So the big reveal has happened, and now it's down to the Christmas race, in which everyone is going to be talking about the different mini-tablets on offer - principally, the Amazon Kindle Fire family, Google's Nexus 7, and Apple's iPad mini.

Consumers unaware of Windows 8, unimpressed with Surface RT
Computerworld
Computerworld - Fewer than half of U.S. consumers have heard of Windows 8, hinting that Microsoft faces a tough task convincing buyers that they need to jump on the bandwagon.



Mitt Romney ad suggests US auto jobs headed to China

Mitt Romney ad suggests US auto jobs headed to China
Boston.com
A new Mitt Romney campaign ad seeks to undercut President Obama's claim to be a champion of the auto industry by suggesting a Detroit automaker that received government bailout money plans to ship American jobs to China.



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