CNN - Report: U.S. rejected Israeli plea to attack Iran

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Report: U.S. rejected Israeli plea to attack Iran

President Bush rejected several Israeli requests last year for weapons and permission for a potential airstrike inside Iran, the author of an investigative report told CNN.

Israel approached the White House in early 2008 with three requests for an attack on Iran's main nuclear complex, said New York Times reporter David Sanger. His article appears in the newspaper on Sunday.

According to Sanger, Israel wanted specialized bunker-busting bombs, equipment to help refuel planes making flights into Iran and permission to fly over Iraq to reach the major nuclear complex at Natanz, the site of Iran's only known uranium enrichment plant.

The White House "deflected" the first two requests and denied the last, Sanger said.

"They feared that if it appeared that the United States had helped Israel strike Iran, using Iraqi airspace, that the result in Iraq could be the expulsion of the American troops (from Iraq)," he said.

Bush, instead, persuaded Israeli officials to not proceed with the attack by sharing with them some details of covert U.S. operations aimed at sabotaging Iran's nuclear ambitions, Sanger said.

The ongoing operations are designed to undermine Iran's ability to produce weapons-grade fuel and designs it needs to produce a workable nuclear weapon, the newspaper said.

"We know that the U.S. has been trying to conduct covert industrial espionage, if you will, against Iran's nuclear program for many years," said CNN's Pentagon Correspondent Barbara Starr. "[They have been] going to the suppliers, going other places; trying to make sure that things get messed up, if you will; that parts may not be what they should be; that certain processes may not work right. Anything that they can do to jam the work to delay the program."

Sanger said he based his report on conversations with intelligence officials, none of whom would speak on the record because of the topic's sensitivity.

"I suspect the Bush administration probably isn't going to comment very much on the details of this story, given the nature of this kind of intelligence operation and the sensitivity of the relationship with Israel," he said.

Sanger said President-elect Barack Obama, who said during the campaign he wants to engage in dialogue with Iran, now inherits the operation.

"He has got to figure out how to square the circle of having direct talks with the country while these are going on, or he could elect, I imagine, to modify this program or suspend it," Sanger said.

In his first post-election news conference, Obama said a nuclear-armed Iran would be "unacceptable." He also said he would help mount an international effort to prevent it from happening.

Iran maintains its nuclear program is for energy purposes only. It has been engaged in an escalating war of words with Israel, whom it accuses of trying to destabilize the republic.

Israel has said it will not rule out military action to halt Iran's nuclear aspirations.

Reuters - Nokia stops production of only WiMax device

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Nokia stops production of only WiMax device

Thursday, Jan 08, 2009 4:18PM UTC

HELSINKI (Reuters) - The world's top mobile phone maker Nokia said on Thursday it had ended production of its only mobile device using the U.S.-centered WiMax technology, another blow for the struggling wireless technology.

WiMax has been competing for the status of next generation mobile technology, but has largely lost the battle to Long-Term Evolution (LTE).

"We have ramped down the N810 WiMax Edition tablet. It has reached the end of its lifecycle," said a Nokia spokesman. Nokia unveiled the model only nine months ago, while usually even the most trendy models have a shelf life of well over a year.

Canada's Nortel Networks Corp has said LTE will be the most likely upgrade path for about 80 percent of the world's existing mobile phone providers, with others going for WiMax.

Nokia did not rule out introducing further WiMax phones in the future.

"We will continue to follow the technology and its evolution," the spokesman said.

(Reporting by Tarmo Virki; Editing by Jon Loades-Carter)

USA TODAY - Obama, Spider-Man on the same comic-book page

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By David Colton, USA TODAY

In a growing world of Barack Obama collectibles, one item soon may be swinging above the rest.

On Jan. 14, Marvel Comics is releasing a special issue of Amazing Spider-Man #583 with Obama depicted on the cover. Inside are five pages of the two teaming up and even a fist-bump between Spidey and the new president.

FIRST LOOK: Check out some panels from 'Amazing Spider-Man #583'

"It was a natural after we learned the new president is a Spider-Man fan," says Marvel editor in chief Joe Quesada about reports that Obama once collected Spider-Man comics. "We thought, 'Fantastic! We have a comic-book geek in the White House.' "

The White House transition team did not respond to a question about the extent of Obama's comic-book geekiness, but Obama did mention Spider-Man during the campaign, primarily at children-oriented events. And during an Entertainment Weekly pop culture survey, Obama said Batman and Spider-Man were his top superheroes because of their "inner turmoil." (John McCain picked Batman.)

In the story by Zeb Wells, Todd Nauck and Frank D'Armata, Spider-Man stops the Chameleon from spoiling Obama's swearing-in. At one point, Spider-Man says he mistook Vice President-elect Joe Biden for the Vulture (a vintage Spider-Man villain).

The issue, selling for $3.99 at comic-book specialty shops (find one at comicshoplocator.com), is expected to be an instant sellout, especially because the Obama cover, by Phil Jimenez, is limited to half the run.

"This issue will have a lot of heat and go for premium prices. I already have people calling about it," says Alan Giroux, owner of All About Books and Comics in Phoenix. "I expect this will be on the collectors' market for $20 by the first day."

Presidents have been supporting characters in comics before: During World War II, superheroes fought Hitler as FranklinD. Roosevelt cheered them on. John F. Kennedy appeared in Action Comics #309 in 1963, when he helped protect Clark Kent's secret identity.

"If I can't trust the president of the United States, who can I trust?" Superman tells Kennedy.

That issue appeared a week after Kennedy was assassinated. DC Comics had to explain later that it was too late to recall the book.

Presidents have appeared as more shadowy figures in recent years.

"We do our best to be completely non-partisan and treat presidents with respect," Quesada says.

"This is not so much a pro-Obama statement but a tip of the hat to having a Spider-Man fan in the White House."

Would McCain have gotten a special issue had he won?

Says Quesada: "If McCain was a Spider-Man fan, I'm sure he would."

Website address: http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2009-01-07-obama-spiderman-comic_N.htm

CNN - CES preview: Touting tech in a brutal economy

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CES preview: Touting tech in a brutal economy

As 130,000 techies converge on Las Vegas this week for the 42nd annual International Consumer Electronics Show, they're encountering an industry that's anxious about marketing high-tech gadgets in a tightwad economy.

With many Americans struggling to pay bills, find jobs and even avoid foreclosure, it may seem like an extravagance to spend hundreds of dollars on a laptop or a digital camera.

But financial fears also are causing consumers to spend more time at home, where they still want to be entertained. Industry observers believe this nesting trend could sustain demand for products -- Blu-ray players, stereos, video games, cheap computers -- that brighten the family room while easing the sting of canceling that Disney World vacation.

"We're about to experience a renaissance in in-home entertainment," said Scott Steinberg, publisher of DigitalTrends.com. "History proves that even during times of recession, people are willing to invest heavily in great escapes, and products that take their mind off the concerns and vagaries of everyday life.

"That being said, consumers are becoming smarter about how they spend their money," he added. "This year's mindset will be less about luxury than convenience, and a specific gadget or technology's pure ability at the end of the day to get the job done."

With an uneasy eye on the economy, tech companies seem to be scaling back expectations for CES, which kicks off officially on Thursday. Attendance will likely be down about 8 percent, and few blockbuster announcements are expected. Industry heavyweights also are downsizing the usual slate of lavish corporate parties that in 2006 saw the Foo Fighters gigging for Motorola and Intel hosting The Black Eyed Peas.

"The pre-buzz has really been a lot quieter than it's been in recent years," said Kent German, a senior editor at CNET.com, who is attending his fifth CES. German believes more tech companies are choosing to launch products at other times of the year when they don't have to compete for attention.

"At CES there's just so much noise," he said. "I can see companies saying, 'Let's do it [another time] on our own terms.' "

Even so, as the biggest annual showcase of new tech products, CES will always make headlines. After all, past shows have introduced the world to the CD player and the plasma TV. This year's trade show, which wraps Sunday, features 2,700 exhibitors, including the CES debuts of such marquee companies as Blockbuster, Electronic Arts, Mattel and Verizon Wireless.

Tech observers also are curious to see Internet giant Cisco Systems launch its first-ever line of consumer-electronics products, Palm unveil its long-delayed Nova operating system, and Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer offer an early preview of Windows 7.

"It's not going to be exactly the same. Attendance is going to be down," PC Magazine editor Dan Costa told CNN. "But it's still a massive show. And there's going to be a lot of news there." iReport.com: Are you excited about CES?

So what trends and products will be making news most often at CES? Based on a scouring of tech blogs and interviews with industry observers, here's a brief roundup of what will be hot in Vegas this week:

Netbooks. In a weak economy, these small and cheap laptops will continue to be popular. Already loaded with Wi-fi, webcams and other features, these ultra-portable computers will soon come with GPS and touch screens as well -- all for prices under $500. Look for a new wave of them at CES.

Thin OLED TVs. You've heard of LCD and LED -- now meet OLED, which stands for organic light-emitting diode and creates a gorgeous picture. For now, they're also way too expensive -- Sony's XEL-1, the world's first OLED TV, costs $2,500 for an 11-inch screen -- but they're cool to look at. The screen panel on the Sony model is only 3 millimeters thick.

"Sony has showcased its OLED TVs at CES before, but expect to see larger-size prototypes from them and from Samsung, who's said it plans to show its version of the technology as well," said CNET news reporter Erica Ogg.

Mobile devices. Touch screens, once limited to high-end smartphones such as Apple's iPhone, are filtering down to mid-range devices as well. Cell phone manufacturers also are increasingly building phones that shoot sharper photos and better video.

The biggest buzz might be building around Palm (remember the Palm Pilot?), which is looking to regain relevance with the launch of an overhauled -- and much-hyped -- Nova operating system for its mobile phones.

"I'm very interested to see what Palm has to say," said CNET's Ogg. "The company really needs a hit -- it has fallen so far behind its competitors like RIM and Apple in terms of smartphone innovation that Palm really has to hit this one out of the park."

Wireless home electronics. Will this mark the year we can finally say goodbye to that cumbersome tangle of wires behind our TVs and stereos? Probably not, but we're getting there.

"Interconnected smartphones, PCs, laptops, media extenders, video game consoles and digital music players are quickly infiltrating the mainstream consciousness, and modern home," said Steinberg of DigitalTrends.com.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say that the wireless revolution is completely in full swing, but it's definitely patiently waiting its turn at bat," he added. "All the market lacks at the moment is standardization, and a core catalyst -- a single, unifying code of conduct that enables media of all sorts to play well together on devices of all sorts."

More "green" products. Motorola is rumored to be launching a phone made from recycled tech waste. And at least several manufacturers are promising to unveil pioneering, environmentally safe batteries -- including one made without lithium or lithium ion.

Downloadable video players. "We're going to see a lot of devices that offer downloadable video, be they Blu-Ray players [or video game consoles]," said Costa of PC magazine, who believes prices of Blu-ray players will keep dropping. "All these devices can download video over the Internet, some of it in HD quality. That's the type of device we're going to see a lot more of, and it makes perfect sense when people are looking to nest [at home]."

Reuters - Private sector cut 693,000 jobs in December

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Private sector cut 693,000 jobs in December

Wednesday, Jan 07, 2009 2:42PM UTC

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Private-sector employers shed 693,000 jobs in December, a private employment service said on Wednesday in a report that was far worse than expected and pointed to more ugly news from the government's jobs data due later this week.

The drop, much bigger than the revised 476,000 private sector jobs lost in November, is consistent with about a 670,000 fall in December non-farm payrolls, said Joel Prakken, chairman of Macroeconomic Advisers LLC, which jointly develops the private sector employment report with ADP Employer Services.

On Friday the government will release its non-farm payrolls report, considered the most authoritative gauge of the U.S. labor market.

After the ADP report, U.S. Treasury bonds regained some lost ground, the dollar extended its losses against the euro and the yen and U.S. stock futures slid.

The median of estimates from 20 economists surveyed by Reuters for the ADP Employer Services report was for a loss of 473,000 private-sector jobs in December.

The report for December was the first month the data was issued using a new methodology, which ADP said was designed to more closely predict the outcome of the government's non-farm payrolls report.

"It's obviously a terrible number, though everyone was expecting a terrible number," said Steven Butler, director of FX trading at Scotia Capital in Toronto.

"The initial shock is a big one...and should keep the dollar under pressure for the rest of the session," he said.

(Reporting by John Parry and Burton Frierson; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama)

From the 'Rider's Desk'

Good morning folks. Another day to fight the recession. today most of us will wake up and go to work, clock in, perform and clock out. If you love what you do, you will relish your performance, and try your best everyday to make it the performance of a lifetime. If you are apathetic about your gainful occupation, your performance today will have no import to your existence. If you detest your job, your performance will reflect that in turn, and reward you and your audience in kind.

For those of us that fall in the latter two categories, if we have any ego or sense of our self, then we desire an escape to fulfill our dreams. That of being gainfully rewarded doing that which we 'love'.

The question today is, how do we, while clocking in and clocking out daily, accomplish fulfilling our dreams, whilst we occupy most of our waking hours, fighting against it?



click here for more news and cool stuff
The Black Rider

CNN - Sources: CNN's Gupta approached for surgeon general

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Sources: CNN's Gupta approached for surgeon general

The Obama transition team approached Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN's chief medical correspondent, about becoming U.S. surgeon general, according to sources inside the transition and at CNN.

Gupta was in Chicago, Illinois, in November to meet with President-elect Barack Obama on the matter, sources said.

Gupta has declined comment.

The transition team is impressed with the combination of Gupta's past government experience, as a White House fellow in 1997 and a special adviser to then-first lady Hillary Clinton, along with his medical career as a neurosurgeon and his communication skills, the transition source said.

Gupta is a member of the staff and faculty of the Department of Neurosurgery at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, Georgia. He regularly performs surgery at Emory University Hospital and at Grady Memorial Hospital, where he serves as associate chief of neurosurgery.

CNN released a statement saying, "Since first learning that Dr. Gupta was under consideration for the surgeon general position, CNN has made sure that his on-air reporting has been on health and wellness matters and not on health-care policy or any matters involving the new administration."

Gupta joined CNN in 2001. As chief medical correspondent for the health and medical unit, he is a lead reporter on breaking medical news, provides regular health and medical updates for "American Morning," anchors the half-hour weekend medical affairs program "House Call with Dr. Sanjay Gupta" and reports for CNN documentaries. Based in Atlanta, Gupta also contributes health stories to CNN.com, co-hosts "Accent Health" for Turner Private Networks, provides medical segments for the syndicated version of "ER" on TNT and writes a column for Time magazine. He also anchors the global health program "Vital Signs" for CNN International and is featured in a weekly podcast on health issues called "Paging Dr. Gupta."

Just after joining CNN, Gupta became part of the team covering the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on New York and Washington. Later that year, he led breaking news reporting on a series of anthrax attacks.

In 2003, Gupta reported from Iraq and Kuwait as an embedded correspondent with the U.S. Navy's medical unit -- and worked alongside them, performing brain surgery five times.

In addition, Gupta reported from Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the tsunami that swept the region in December 2004. He also helped cover the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina from New Orleans, Louisiana, in 2005.

He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Michigan and his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical Center.

USA TODAY - Will brain waves help pilot future space ships?

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NASA's plans to ship people to the moon and some day Mars are very much up in the air these days, with debate over Barack Obama's plans for the space agency a hot water cooler topic in the aerospace industry. Budget battles aside, one new study asks, how should these future astronauts steer their way around our solar system?

Brain waves, suggests the current Acta Astronauticajournal report. Fans of Neuromancer may recall the story's hero using brain implants to navigate around cyberspace, but the researchers led by Carlo Menon of the European Space Agency, see astronaut brain-machine interfaces as a the way to get around outer space.

"Brains are characterized by every property that engineers and computer scientists detest and avoid. They are incredibly complex, and their processes at every level are chaotic," say the study authors. "Yet brains, and human brains in particular, are undeniably among the most successful "devices" that evolution has produced."

For that reason, Menon and colleagues survey the world of brain-machine interfaces, ranging from genuine implants to magnetic resonance imagers, and conclude that relying on electroencephalographic (EEG) signals, a decades-old technology in which electrodes placed on the scalp detect electrical activity inside the brain, offers the best opportunity for space explorers. Portable EEGs are a coming thing, even seen in video games and used to move robots, although most research in the area is aimed at helping paralyzed patients regain movement.

Because such brain controls cut out the technological middle man buttons, dials, steering wheels and whatnot they could potentially allow for far more refined control of devices in by astronauts, find the study authors. "The possibility of controlling external devices using brain-machine-interface technology could have a tremendous influence on strategic plans for future space missions," they suggest, listing tasks such as:

Reducing the need for dangerous extra-vehicular activities (EVA) or "spacewalks" by letting controllers operate robots remotely.

Allowing more than one astronaut to perform crowded tasks in confined spaces.

Improving and speeding interactions with computer systems during dangerous operations. (Last week's report on the 2003 Columbia space shuttle tragedy, for example, noted the difficulties experienced by crewmembers in pushing buttons.)

"Robotic aids could also be useful to astronauts weakened after many months in micro-gravity," adds the study. The space environment is a hazardous one, and future space explorers may find interstellar space between stars is even more dangerous due to cosmic rays, completely removing the possibility of EVA repairs. Refining astronaut controls to perform remote operation makes sense, they argue.

Science fiction author Frank Herbert's 1966 novel, Destination Void, suggested a different brain-machine interface, implanting a human brain in a space ship to let it control the vehicle. That didn't work out too well in the novel, which richly deserves movie treatment, but Menon and colleagues have higher hopes for real-world interfaces.

"In our opinion, the introduction of novel interfaces capable of reading and interpreting brain activities to control external artificial systems is expected to happen in the relatively near future," they conclude, before adding a scholarly note of caution. "So far, this technology has not, however, reached the readiness level necessary for any realistic implementation. Deep investigations and further developments are therefore expected."

Website address: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/2009-01-03-brain-waves_N.htm

NYTimes.com: Bright New Phone Displays That Don't Guzzle Power

This page was sent to you by:  bombastic4000@gmail.com BUSINESS   | January 04, 2009 Novelties:  Bright New Phone Displays That Don't Guzzle Power By ANNE EISENBERG Several companies are developing power-saving technologies for bright color displays on phones and other handhelds. 1. Op-Ed Columnist: A President Forgotten but Not Gone 2. Op-Ed Contributors: The End of the Financial World as We Know It 3. A New Cigarette Hazard: ‘Third-Hand Smoke’ 4. The Irish Economy’s Rise Was Steep, and the Fall Was Fast 5. Blood Sugar Control Linked to Memory Decline, Study Says »  Go to Complete List Advertisement The Wrestler Nominated for 3 Golden Globe Awards, including Best Actor-Mickey Rourke. Directed by Darren Aronofsky. Now playing in select theaters. Click here to view trailer Copyright 2009  The New York Times Company | Privacy Policy

Reuters - Richardson withdraws as Obama's commerce pick

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Richardson withdraws as Obama's commerce pick

Sunday, Jan 04, 2009 7:10PM UTC

CHICAGO (Reuters) - New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has withdrawn as President-elect Barack Obama's nominee for commerce secretary, an Obama aide said Sunday.

The aide gave no further details, saying only that a statement was due to be released shortly.

NBC news quoted a statement by Richardson as saying he withdrew due to a pending investigation into a company that has done business with his state.

Richardson said on the NBC news website that he had done nothing wrong but he said the ongoing investigation would have caused a long delay in the confirmation process.

(Reporting by Deborah Charles, Editing by Sandra Maler)