Rare Naked Ladies Crocus Infected with Even Rarer Smutty Fungus

Who knew botany and mycology could be so naughty? Naked ladies and smut have come to light in the U.K., but not in the way you might think.

Yes, you can get your minds out of the gutter. We?re talking about the rare plant called the naked ladies crocus (Colchicum autumnale) and the even rarer sooty-black smut fungus (Urocystis colchici). The fungus showed up this month on a single naked ladies crocus at Westonbirt Arboretum in Gloucestershire, England, which marked only the fourth time the critically endangered smutty fungus has been observed since 1938. (At least eight other varieties and forms of the fungus can be found around the world, including the U.S., where it affects onions, but the base species has only been observed in the U.K.)

The naked ladies crocus, which itself is listed as a ?near threatened? species in the U.K., gets its name from its propensity to lose its spring leaves before the plant flowers in the autumn, leaving the buds ?naked.? The rotting spring leaves, meanwhile, are the only known host for the sooty-black smut fungus. (Smut fungi, by the way, get their name from the German word schmutz, meaning dirt, which they resemble. There are about 1,000 known species of smut fungi around the world.)

Dave Shorten of the Cotswold Fungus Group, who discovered this month?s fungus, found it growing on a few leaves of a single plant within the 242-hectare park during one of the group?s ?fungus forays,? in which the mycological enthusiasts spend their Sundays documenting the fungi of various parks in the Gloucestershire region. As you can see from the photo accompanying this article, the fungus does look like a small spot of dirt on the leaves of the crocus. According to the U.K. Forestry Commission, each cluster of fungus produces hundreds of thousands of brown-black spores, each 15 to 35 microns in diameter. (A micron is one millionth of a meter.)

This is actually the second sooty-black smut fungus sighting this year but just the 27th time it has ever been recorded in the U.K. The most recent sighting took place on May 10 about 80 kilometers away, in Oxfordshire. Mycologists also observed the fungus in 2002 and 2003 at Moccas Park in Herefordshire. Before that, the last sighting was in 1938.

Shorten says the way the Forestry Commission manages the arboretum makes the site a perfect habitat for a large variety of fungi. The arboretum?s many paths are kept clear, but any wood or leaves that fall on the ground are left to decay naturally. Not only does this provide extra nutrients to the soil, it has also created a perfect breeding ground for birds, insects and fungi. Shorten says he and his predecessors have cataloged 1,271 fungi species at Westonbirt so far, and expects to identify still more in the coming months.

Because of its rarity, the smutty fungus is a legally protected species in the U.K. and is considered to be of ?principal conservation importance.? The Forestry Commission warns that it should not be picked and asks anyone else who observes it in the region to contact the Cotswold Fungus Group.

Photo: The sooty-black smut fungus (Urocystis colchici) on the leaves of a naked ladies crocus (Colchicum autumnale). Photo by Dave Shorten, courtesy of the U.K. Forestry Commission

Previously in Extinction Countdown:

Source: http://rss.sciam.com/~r/sciam/basic-science/~3/2U5hj5xlXlc/post.cfm

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Animal Attraction: New York Ends Shark Fin Trade

Fourteen major animal welfare, environmental and conservation organizations are applauding Gov. Andrew Cuomo for signing into law A.1769b/S.1711b to end New York?s contribution to the dire collapse of shark populations worldwide. Taking effect on July 1, 2014, the law passed the state legislature under the leadership of Assemblymember Alan Maisel, D-Brooklyn and Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-Buffalo bans the possession, sale, trade and distribution of shark fins. Violations are punishable by up to 15 days in jail and $100 fine for each fish.?

New York ? one of the largest markets for shark fins outside Asia and the largest port of entry for shark fins on the East Coast ? joins seven states and all three Pacific U.S territories in passing similar laws to provide critical protection to sharks and preserve the health of the world?s ocean ecosystems.

The bipartisan state legislation is championed by Sen. Mark Grisanti, R-Buffalo, and Assemblymembers Alan Maisel, D-Brooklyn, and Linda B. Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, with the sponsorship support of 75 state legislators, U.S. Rep. Grace Meng, D-Queens, in addition to more than a dozen New York City Councilmembers through a resolution by Councilmember Margaret Chin, D-Lower Manhattan. It also has the support of every Chinese American legislator in the Empire State.

Assemblymember Alan Maisel, D-Brooklyn, said: ?Sharks occupy the top of the marine food chain and are a critical part of the ocean ecosystem. I am honored to join with Senator Grisanti in this historic effort to prevent the possession, sale and trade in shark fins in New York. I applaud the Governor for taking the final step in this process by approving the legislation. Our success will hopefully lead to additional nationwide actions to stop the inhumane and ecologically devastating shark fin trade.?

Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal, D-Manhattan, said: "I am so pleased that with the Governor's signature today, the possession and sale of shark fins will finally be illegal in New York State.? New York will no longer be complicit in the reprehensible practice of shark finning, which has led to the demise of shark populations worldwide. I commend the tireless efforts of Assemblymember Alan Maisel and The Humane Society of the United States in getting this important work accomplished.?

Senator Mark Grisanti, R-Buffalo, said: ?I am proud to be the Senate sponsor of A.1769b/S.1711b, prohibiting the possession, sale, and trade of shark fin in New York. The decimation of the shark population is a serious concern as it has a detrimental trickle-down effect for the entire oceanic food chain. With the shark population in serious peril, and other countries and states passing legislation to protect sharks, New York should be a leader in extending protection to these magnificent animals.?

U.S. Congresswoman Grace Meng, D-Queens, said: "I would like to congratulate Assembly Member Maisel and Senator Grisanti for taking the lead on this initiative. Shark finning is an irresponsible practice driven by the shark fin trade which kills millions of sharks every year. This law will help protect global shark populations for many years to come. It's critical for the environment and we must ensure that we do all we can to protect it."

New York City Council Member Margaret Chin, D-Lower Manhattan, said: "I am proud that New York is joining seven other states to ban the sale of shark fins and stand united against the cruel and inhumane practice of shark finning. I hope that New York will serve as an example not only nationally, but internationally, and that one day soon we will be celebrating the end of this industry all together."

California, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Delaware, Oregon, Washington, American Samoa, Guam and Northern Mariana Islands have enacted similar laws in recent years. The trade is spurred by the demand for shark fin soup, an expensive Chinese delicacy and status symbol commonly served at banquets and other celebrations.

Statements from the organizations leading the effort to protect sharks:

Patrick Kwan, director of grassroots organizing for The Humane Society of the United States, said: ?New York will no longer be a haven for the cruel and unsustainable trade in shark fins. The Empire State has long taken action to protect other threatened and endangered species such as tigers and elephants, now we?re taking action to protect sharks and help end the cruelty of shark finning worldwide.?

Beth Lowell, campaign director for Oceana said: ?New York said ?no? to shark fins today. The widespread support for this ban shows that sharks are worth more in the oceans than in a bowl of soup. By reducing the demand for their fins in New York, we can help to protect sharks worldwide.???

Michael Skoletsky, executive director of Shark Savers, said: ?Sharks are critically important to a healthy marine environment and divers like me have grown to appreciate sharks as being intelligent and graceful animals. Thank you, New York, for opting out of the deadly shark fin trade that is primarily responsible for devastating shark populations throughout the world.?

Iris Ho, wildlife campaigns manager of Humane Society International, said: ?Tens of millions of sharks are killed every year to meet global demand for shark fins. We applaud the humane leadership of New York Assemblymembers Alan Maisel and Linda B. Rosenthal, Sen. Mark Grisanti, Congresswoman Grace Meng, and Councilmember Margaret Chin for championing this historic effort and Gov. Andrew Cuomo for finalizing this law to end cruelty and protect shark populations and ocean ecosystems.?

Peter Knights, executive director of WildAid, said: "New York is the last major market for shark fin in the US to close and this encourages China, which has banned shark fin from state banquets, to take further action to reduce demand for shark fin. Finally some respite for beleaguered shark populations."

Alejandra Goyenechea, international counsel for Defenders of Wildlife, said: ?Finning is decimating the world's shark populations at an alarming rate and now New York has a chance to join the worldwide movement dedicated to halting this practice and ensuring this species' survival. This is truly an example of 'Think globally, act locally'."

John Hocevar, oceans campaign director for Greenpeace USA, said: ?Scientists are still just beginning to discover the role sharks play in maintaining a balance in our oceans. Ending the shark fin trade is a very important step in reversing the damage we have done through this unnecessary and wasteful practice."

David VanLuven, policy director for Environmental Advocates of New York said: "Existing laws banning shark finning are not enough to address the worldwide harvest of shark fins - a harvest that is inhumane and destroys fragile ocean ecosystems. Governor Cuomo and state legislators have set a national standard for other states to follow."

Roger Downs, conservation director for the Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter said: ?The important role that sharks play in maintaining marine biodiversity cannot be overstated. The catastrophic drop in shark populations across almost every species has sent shock waves through ocean ecosystems globally. Gov. Cuomo and the New York legislature should be commended for banning the sale of shark fins as a signal that New York is serious about the recovery of these keystone species.?

Christopher Chin, executive director of The Center for Oceanic Awareness, Research, and Education, said: ?Sharks are vital for healthy ocean ecosystems, but their populations have declined dramatically the last few decades as a result of human greed and lack of understanding. Animals at the top of the food chain, such as sharks, have few natural predators, so they are slow to mature and have very few young. As a result, they are extremely sensitive to fishing pressures, and are slow to recover from overfishing.?

Kate Dylewsky, program assistant for Born Free USA, said: "Born Free USA strongly believes that eliminating the market for shark fins is crucial to shark protection. While sharks face many threats in the wild, ?shark finning? is certainly the cruelest. It is time for New York to do its part in ending this horrifying practice."

Elizabeth Hogan, campaign manager for World Society for the Protection of Animals, said: "Shark finning is an extremely cruel and inhumane practice driven by the shark fin trade in which fishermen catch sharks, cut off their fins and throw the still-living animals back into the water, where they die slow and horrifically painful deaths. WSPA is happy to see New York state take this step to protect sharks from this needless cruelty, and plan to help other states follow their lead."

Marie Levine, executive director of the Shark Research Institute, said: ?Much of the shark fin trade uses fins hacked off living sharks. If we found dogs and horses with their legs severed, bleeding and dying, the public outrage would be deafening. The difference is that finning takes place at sea, out of sight. Because the trade is largely unregulated and unmonitored, and finning often takes place beyond national and state jurisdiction, the most effective method to bring an end to this brutal practice is through legislation such as this.?

Facts:

• The fins from up to 73 million sharks are used to make shark fin soup each year.
• Conservation, fisheries enforcement and a shark finning ban in the U.S. alone are not enough to conserve sharks. A ban on shark fin products is the most effective way to eliminate the demand for shark fins and to eradicate shark finning around the world.
• In March 2013, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species listed certain shark species on Appendix II ? the first time shark species with high commercial value have been granted such protections in the 40-year history of the convention.
• Shark fin soup is often the most expensive item on restaurant menus and typically served simply as a symbol of status. It has no nutritional value and is the main driver of the multi-billion dollar international shark fin trade. The dish is highly controversial because of the manner in which shark fins are harvested outside of the U.S. and the precarious status of many shark populations.
• In 2011, President Obama signed the Shark Conservation Act to strengthen the federal law against shark finning at sea and require that sharks be landed with their fins still attached.

SOURCE and LINK:
The Humane Society of the United States
http://www.humanesociety.org

Source: http://www.khou.com/community/blogs/animal-attraction/Animal-Attraction---217397391.html

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North Charleston mayor interested in Northwood Academy campus

In what could lead to the latest multimillion-dollar property deal for the city, North Charleston?s mayor has expressed interest in buying the Northwood Academy campus on Otranto Road.

The city is in the process of having the property appraised.

Mayor Keith Summey said the school, which previously announced plans to relocate to Carnes Crossroads in Goose Creek, could potentially become the site of a city center for seniors, arts programs and a new fire station.

?They have recreation fields, a gymnasium, a cafeteria,? said Summey, who suggested that a swimming pool could be built inside one of the five buildings on the 19-acre property.

No offers have been made, and a school official said any discussion would be premature, but Summey said the property is for sale and the city is determining what it?s worth.

?I don?t see that it?s a good market to sell a school, so it would probably help them to finish their relocation,? he said.

The private kindergarten-through-12th-grade Northwood Academy is controlled by Northwood Assembly, a non-denominational Christian church that established a location at Carnes Crossroads two years ago, and has long-standing plans to relocate the school.

In 2007, The Daniel Island Co. donated 60 acres of land at the Carnes Crossroads development for the church and school, the year after a fire destroyed Northwood Assembly?s main sanctuary building in North Charleston.

Summey said that if the city decides to pursue the Northwood Academy property, he expects that there would be an agreement to transfer the site after it?s no longer needed by the school.

Larry Evanoff, Northwood Academy?s director of schools, declined to discuss the school?s planned relocation or the city?s interest in the property.

?We have no definitive plans right now, and it would be premature to discuss,? he said in an email.

Summey has discussed the idea publicly with City Council.

?It would give us an opportunity to have a nice recreational area up there,? he told council members on July 18.

Summey said North Charleston already has about $4 million budgeted for a new fire station and a senior center in that northeast corner of the city. He estimated that $5 million might be a fair price for the school property.

Councilman Bobby Jameson represents the area, and said that while he doesn?t have any details, looking at Northwood Academy sounds like a good idea.

?We don?t have anything for seniors,? he said. ?And we need to relocate Fire Station No. 6, because it?s difficult for the ladder truck to get in and out.?

Summey said the city likes to put senior centers near fire stations, because the firefighters are all getting certified as emergency medical technicians.

Reach David Slade at 937-5552 or Twitter @DSladeNews.

Source: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20130729/PC16/130729457/1009/north-charleston-mayor-interested-in-northwood-academy-campus&source=RSS

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Pope Shifts Church's Tone on Gay People

Pope Francis departed from his predecessors' remarks on gay people, telling reporters today that he was not in a position to judge people based on their sexuality.

"If someone is gay and he searches for the Lord and has good will, who am I to judge?" Francis asked reporters aboard a plane returning to Italy following his first trip abroad as pope to Brazil.

The remarks caused a stir with some gay Catholics wondering if the newly elected pope, a Jesuit who made a career ministering to the poor and marginalized, was signaling a shift in Church doctrine.

In 2005, Francis' predecessor Pope Benedict XVI signed a document calling for a purge of gay priests and during his papacy equated gay people with pedophiles.

"It is remarkable and a decided shift in tone from the past," said the Rev. James Martin, a Jesuit priest and editor-at-large of America magazine. "It's probably the most positive statement that a pope has ever made about gays and shows great mercy and compassion."

The comments constituted a shift in tone, Martin said, but that trickles down to changes in policy because "every bishop and archbishop will have listened to what he said... and his advice was not to judge [gay people] but to call them our brothers. It's a shift in tone from exclusion to inclusion."

Pope Francis on Gay People: 'Who Am I to Judge' Watch Video Pope Francis Touches Millions of Lives During Brazil Trip Watch Video Argentina, Latin America Euphoric Over Choice of New Pope Watch Video

The pope, speaking casually and appearing relaxed, candidly addressed a question about an alleged "gay lobby" inside the Vatican, including recent allegations in an Italian magazine that a trusted adviser of the pope had been involved in a same-sex relationship.

The pontiff was also asked about reports that some in the Vatican have used information about gay priests to blackmail them. The pope said gay people should be treated with respect, and that no one should use blackmail as an instrument to exert pressure.

Gay Catholics, who have long been marginalized by the church and sometimes denied communion, were cautiously optimistic about the pope's comments.

"This doesn't break new ground on the church's position on homosexual acts, but what we've seen from this pope is a real shift in emphasis," said Marianne Duddy-Burke, executive director of Dignity USA, a group that advocates for gay Catholics.

"For so long the rhetoric coming out of the Vatican -- about gay and lesbian people and same sex marriage -- has been horrifically damaging. For the first time we're seeing a pope who says: 'Who am I to judge,'" Duddy-Burke said.

Francis, since his election in March, has marked his papacy by reaching out to underprivileged and underserved communities. Unlike his two immediate predecessors, Francis was never in the Vatican hierarchy.

He most recently served as archbishop of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he lived in a modest apartment and used public transportation. In 2010, then Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio said he would support same-sex civil unions but not gay marriage.

Source: http://feeds.abcnews.com/c/35229/f/654839/s/2f4d54d2/sc/6/l/0Labcnews0Bgo0N0CInternational0Cpope0Eshifts0Echurchs0Etone0Egay0Epeople0Cstory0Did0F1980A0A626/story01.htm

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Cambodia's Hun Sen shaken as opposition rejects poll result

By Prak Chan Thul

PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - Cambodia's long-ruling Prime Minister Hun Sen faced his biggest political setback in two decades on Monday as the country's opposition rejected an election result as tainted by widespread fraud, despite heavy losses for the ruling party.

Opposition leader Sam Rainsy, buoyed by a near doubling of seats in parliament, called for an inquiry into what he called massive manipulation of electoral rolls in Sunday's vote.

The government announced late on Sunday that Hun Sen's Cambodian People's Party (CPP) had won 68 seats in the 123-seat parliament to the opposition's 55, a loss of 22 seats for the ruling party.

That marked the 60-year-old Hun Sen's worst election result since the war-torn country returned to full democracy in 1998, although the CPP retained a governing majority to enable the prime minister to extend his 28-year rule.

Prolonged wrangling over the result and a weakened Hun Sen could raise policy uncertainty in the small but fast-growing Southeast Asian nation that is drawing growing investor interest and has forged strong economic ties with China and Vietnam.

But the opposition's chances of overturning the outcome are slim given the ruling party's grip on the courts and with major foreign donors like the United States unlikely to reject the result without evidence of massive fraud.

The Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP), whose campaign was given a boost by the return from exile of leader Sam Rainsy, said it wanted an investigation committee set up with representatives from political parties, the United Nations, the election authority and non-governmental organizations.

"There were 1.2 million to 1.3 million people whose names were missing and could not vote. They deleted our rights to vote, how could we recognize this election?" Sam Rainsy, a French-educated former finance minister, told a news conference.

"There were ghost names, names only on paper."

The opposition tapped into growing concern among Cambodians over rising inequality and entrenched corruption that Hun Sen's critics say his policies have exacerbated.

Hun Sen, who has yet to speak publicly about the outcome, may have to adjust some policies in light of the surge in opposition support and show more sensitivity to public opinion. The loss of its two-thirds majority means the CPP will need opposition support to enact any changes in the constitution.

But Hun Sen still has the ability to control policymaking through his majority and the entrenched networks of political influence he has built within the CPP.

"It's definitely unprecedented and unexpected but for now I don't think regime stability is at stake," said Giulia Zino, a Southeast Asia analyst at Control Risks group in Singapore.

ANGRY VOTERS

The CPP had 90 seats in the outgoing parliament and the parties that united to form the CNRP had 29, with minor parties holding the remaining four. Cambodia's election commission has yet to announce how many seats each party has won, and will not announce full, official results until August 15 at the earliest.

Rights groups have criticized the electoral system as heavily biased in favor of the ruling party. The European Union declined to deploy poll monitors for this election after Cambodia did not act on its previous recommendations.

The Transparency International group, which helped monitor the election, cited various irregularities in the vote and said in a statement it was "very concerned about the disenfranchisement of citizens and suspect voters".

Voting on Sunday, like the campaign itself, was for the most part peaceful.

The CPP, backed by a compliant domestic media and superior resources, had been confident of victory. Analysts had predicted a reduction in its majority after the merger of two main opposition parties, as well as the return of Sam Rainsy, but the extent of opposition gains was a surprise.

Rising garment exports plus heavy flows of aid and investment from China have fuelled rapid economic growth, but that has been accompanied by a rise in social tension.

Cambodians have protested more frequently over poor conditions in the garment industry and land rights in the country of 14 million, where a third of people live on less than 65 U.S. cents per day.

The urban population has swelled in recent years, giving rise to a new generation of young voters who have access to wider sources of information online and who tend to support the opposition.

"Democracy is stronger in Cambodia than most outsiders anticipated," said Douglas Clayton, the chief executive of the Leopard Capital investment fund in Phnom Penh.

"The government will likely become more consultative and sensitive to public opinion."

The United Nations organized an election in 1993 that put Cambodia on a rocky path towards stability after decades of turmoil that included the 1975-79 "Killing Fields" rule of the communist Khmer Rouge.

Hun Sen, a former junior commander in the Khmer Rouge who broke away during their rule, lost that election but refused to accept the result and negotiated a position as joint prime minister before seizing power in a coup in 1997.

(Writing by Alan Raybould and Stuart Grudgings; Editing by Robert Birsel)

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/cambodian-opposition-party-rejects-poll-result-wants-inquiry-032938491.html

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How would you spend a windfall?

A large, unexpected sum of money is a dream many of us have. The amount you gain should determine how you spend it.?

By Trent Hamm,?Guest blogger / July 28, 2013

A worker counts US dollar bills inside a money changer in Manila in April. According to Hamm, getting the most out of an unexpected windfall means having different strategies for spending various amounts.

Romeo Ranoco/Rueters/File

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It?s a natural human dream that many of us have. Something happens and suddenly a substantial chunk of money falls on our lap ? enough to change the dynamics of our life in some fashion.

Skip to next paragraph Trent Hamm

The Simple Dollar is a blog for those of us who need both cents and sense: people fighting debt and bad spending habits while building a financially secure future and still affording a latte or two. Our busy lives are crazy enough without having to compare five hundred mutual funds ? we just want simple ways to manage our finances and save a little money.

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For a lot of people, a windfall would be used to pay off debts. That mortgage would disappear, as would those credit card debts.

For others (even many of the people with debts), a big splurge would be in order. It?s time for a shiny new truck or a big trip or a new speedboat.

That eliminates most of the people who would receive a windfall.

What about the rest of us, though? Neither of those options really apply to me. I don?t have any debts to pay off (thank goodness!), nor do I have a desire for any sort of big splurge. Even if I could, I wouldn?t go out and buy a new vehicle today, nor would I start packing my bags for a trip to New Zealand or something. I might eventually travel, but I?d still plan for it, regardless of how much money I have.

This begs the question, then: what would I do with a windfall?

My gameplan would be different depending on the amount, so let?s walk through those amounts.

If the windfall were less than $250,000 after taxes, I would fund my savings for various long-term goals. As I?ve mentioned before, I?m already saving for things like international vacations for my children when they get older, their college educations, and other initiatives. I would use a relatively small windfall to make sure all of those goals were well-funded.

If the windfall were less than $750,000 after taxes, I would also build our dream home. This is another long term goal we?re saving for, but this kind of money would enable us to start building now rather than later.

Our ideal home is in a rural environment with some wooded areas on our land as a nature preserve of sorts. It would be built from the ground up to be incredibly energy efficient, ideally so that it could be fully self-sustaining in terms of energy use with excess going back out onto the energy grid. We?re not interested in an extremely large home ? in fact, our floor plan wouldn?t be too different than the one we currently have except with only two floors instead of three (as our parents are getting old and our current floor plan has no main-floor sleeping areas).

Once we have the cash on hand to build this, we?re going to move forward with it.

If the windfall were more than $1.5 million after taxes, Sarah and I would both walk away from our day-to-day work. I?d love to be able to solely focus on writing fiction as well as on volunteer opportunities in our community. Sarah would probably be hard-pressed to walk away from her professional passions, so she?d likely seek another outlet for her teaching skills.

Any amounts between $750,000 and $1.5 million would go solely toward funding an early retirement.

This seems boring, doesn?t it? There are no big splurges (aside from the house, but that?s just fulfillment of a goal that we?re already working on). Instead, it?s all about either saving for the future or investing in real estate. What?s the fun in that?

For us, the fun is being financially secure and enjoying the lack of stress plus the knowledge that our long-term goals will happen because the money is already set aside for them. That is worth its weight in gold to us. There is no splurge, to either myself or Sarah, that?s more fulfilling than having that.

It might be boring, but it?s also very low-stress and incredibly fulfilling over the long term. I wouldn?t have it any other way.

The Christian Science Monitor has assembled a diverse group of the best economy-related bloggers out there. Our guest bloggers are not employed or directed by the Monitor and the views expressed are the bloggers' own, as is responsibility for the content of their blogs. To contact us about a blogger, click here. To add or view a comment on a guest blog, please go to the blogger's own site by clicking on www.thesimpledollar.com.

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The smartphone market?s huge Q2 growth is awful news for big brands

Smartphone Market Share Q2 2013

Market research giant IDC recently announced?surprisingly strong?spring smartphone numbers. Global smartphone volume growth topped expectations handily, coming in at torrid +52% between the second quarter last year and the second quarter this year. This is not good news for the industry ? quite the opposite, in fact. We already know that companies like HTC, Nokia and BlackBerry missed shipment expectations and Samsung?s profitability came in weaker than expected, though Samsung?s volumes were fine. Out of leading brands, only Apple really beat consensus expectations, and that happened because consensus had plunged so low. Even though Apple beat Wall Street?s consensus, its global smartphone market share dropped by a stiff three percentage points.

[More from BGR: Ballmer reportedly admits Surface was a flop, says Windows 8 sales are disappointing]

That 52% global smartphone volume growth is a?brutal?shock for leading brands because it means that the cheapie vendors are stealing market share a lot faster than industry had previously assumed.

[More from BGR: Leaked Samsung Galaxy Note III specs include 5.7-inch display, LTE-Advanced, Android 4.3]

Lenovo delivered scorching 100%-plus volume growth even as Apple?s?sales volume increased by 20%. ZTE and the ?Others? category both posted roughly 60% volume growth. That ?Others? bundles hot new budget vendors like Karbonn and Spice with tepid old-timers like Nokia and BlackBerry. The fact that the ?Others? category managed to grow by 60% even though it was weighed down by Nokia and BlackBerry implies that the expansion of small Asian vendors must have been phenomenal.

When you miss your sales or profit estimates for the quarter the way HTC, Nokia, BlackBerry and Samsung did, you can only hope that the quarter was weak globally. We now know that the misses from these top brands were worse than they initially seemed; they were caused by big gains of second-tier brands, not an air pocket in demand.

This is a thorny problem, because the smartphone volume growth rate?will likely drop in the coming quarters, while?pricing pressure is only going to increase.

This article was originally published on BGR.com

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/smartphone-market-huge-q2-growth-awful-news-big-165038944.html

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Motorola Moto X camera app apk available for your Android phone

1. Shatter posted on 4 hours ago 0

How long till all the major features get put into custom roms making the software side of this phone pointless to anyone who can root their phone.

2. kozza3 posted on 4 hours ago 0

how could you say that, it wouldn't be pointless because you would get all of the features without voiding your warranty :P

3. AliNSiddiqui posted on 4 hours ago 3

The always on voice control and always on display can't be put on other phones without having a MAJOR MAJOR hit on battery life. Moto X has specific cores and display built in a specific way to save battery.

4. TheLolGuy posted on 3 hours ago 0

That's true. At least any phones with OLED screens should technically be able to get the cool notifications feature! I'm not sure if its worth doing on a Galaxy S4 though. Trading all the sensors functionality for that isn't worth it for my use case.

I don't even think the new camera functions would work well for anything other than the Moto X too. Without ClearPixel, maybe fast shutter speeds or some algorithms will funk with your camera and give you messed up pictures?

13. saiki4116 posted on 1 hour ago 0

I do remember that during S4 launch video, they have said that they have a co processor for sensors. the octa core X8 is just mere marketing. It all boils down how google is going to use that co processor to make a difference in real time usage. It's just like a solution for videos, where application cores delegate task to Hardware video encoders and decoders, which are essentially co processing units optimized for hardware implementation of the codec software.

5. c.sanchez posted on 3 hours ago 0

How do you install it please help?

9. proto posted on 2 hours ago 0

you have to enable unknown sources in your security settings and install it by some file explorer app (like ES file explorer... or "my files" app which have samsung with touchwiz pre-installed)

7. InspectorGadget80 posted on 3 hours ago 0

ONLY A FEW MORE days too go! now i have too decide on the X PHONE or the Z ULTRA

8. MingLiangChen posted on 2 hours ago 0

To 5. and 6. , please click on the source link right below the camera UI image.
"source: MotoXCameraAPK via RedmondPie"

10. HASHTAG posted on 2 hours ago 0

Downloaded it, and it's great!

12. HASHTAG posted on 1 hour ago 0

Well, I don't know anyone else's having this problem, but my camera won't flash when I have the settings on flash.

Source: http://www.phonearena.com/news/Motorola-Moto-X-camera-app-apk-available-for-your-Android-phone_id45781

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Activision Blizzard is going independent, buying out Vivendi for $8 billion

Gaming giant Activision Blizzard announced it's buying out most of majority shareholder Vivendi's stake, at a total price of about $8.2 billion. Activision will pay about $5.83 billion in cash to Vivendi for 429 million shares, while an investment group led by CEO Bobby Kotick and co-chairman Brian Kelly will pick up 172 million shares for $2.34 billion, leaving Vivendi with 83 million shares, or about 12 percent of the company. The publisher of titles like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft (and Guitar Hero before it ran that into the ground), Activision reported $1.05 billion in net revenue for Q2 and raised its full-year revenue outlook slightly, although full results won't be available until August 1st. As Joystiq mentions, Vivendi has been unsuccessfully trying to sell its part of the company for nearly a year, hopefully this transaction works out the best for everyone. By everyone, we mean people still waiting for StarCraft: Ghost.

Filed under: Gaming, HD

Comments

Via: Joystiq

Source: Activision

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/07/26/activision-blizzard-vivendi-buyout/?utm_medium=feed&utm_source=Feed_Classic&utm_campaign=Engadget

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Jorge Masvidal is concerned he will catch something from Michael Chiesa?s beard at UFC on Fox 8

UFC on Fox 8's Michael Chiesa has a magnificent beard. A Grizzly Adams-esque, mountain man, perhaps even Tom-Hanks-in-Castaway beard. But you know who isn't a fan of that beard? His opponent on Saturday.

Jorge Masvidal is concerned he might catch something from the beard.

"I'm going to tell the commission to wrap that thing up," Masvidal said to MMA Junkie. "I don't want to get no mat herpes or nothing on my face. I've been in this game a long time, and I ain't got nothing on my face. I ain't about catch some syphilis or whatever he's got going on in that beard, you know?"

It's not completely out of line for a fighter to ask for hair to be held back during fights. Gray Maynard did for his bout with Clay Guida, but that was about Guida's long hair, not a beard. Is it possible Masvidal is just trying to mess with Chiesa's head before their fight? If so, Chiesa is not paying attention to it.

"To my fans, I refuse to talk [expletive] in interviews to get attention. I'll do my talking, Saturday night under the lights," Chiesa tweeted.

Related coverage on Yahoo! Sports:
? Super prospect Rory MacDonald still seeking defining win
? Fatherhood won't soften flyweight king Demetrious Johnson
? Dana White and Demetrious Johnson in can't-miss 'Jeopardy!' spoof

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/mma-cagewriter/jorge-masvidal-concerned-catch-something-michael-chiesa-beard-130051583.html

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249: Is Resveratrol Really Bad For You, The Shocking Ingredients in ...

July 25, 2013 Podcast: Is Resveratrol Really Bad For You, The Shocking Ingredients in Beer, Debunking The Magic of Vitamins And Supplements, How To Use Activated Charcoal, SweetBeat vs. InnerPeace, Is Your pH Too Low, The Difference Between TianChi and Inner Peace, What Are Isotonic Supplements, Are Male Pattern Baldness Drugs Healthy?

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Have a podcast question for Ben? Click the tab on the right, use the Contact button on the app, call 1-877-209-9439, Skype ?pacificfit? or use the ?Ask Ben? form? but be prepared to wait ? we prioritize audio questions over text questions.

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Special Announcements:

The Ben Greenfield Fitness phone app - is your portal to all of Ben?s best fitness shows, special episodes, and videos in one convenient spot ? including exclusive bonus content you won?t get anywhere else except inside this app!

2013 Thailand Triathlon Adventure with Ben Greenfield - details at pacificfit.net. Now including the pre-camp: It?s a ?high end? triathlon training resort. Brand new facilities ? check ?em out! We?re going to do coached sessions every day. It won?t be hardcore training as much as a focus on learning about nutrition, training, fitness, and how to ?get the edge? in endurance, life and health!

Want to get into the Perfect Health Diet retreat in Austin, Texas? Click here for all details. Ben Greenfield will be presenting at the February 6-March 6 retreat.

The Global Business Triathlon Conference is featuring Ben Greenfield as a speaker. September 10-12, 2013, Hilton London Metropole, London, UK ? Join us for the premier global gathering of leaders of the triathlon business community. Enjoy three days of learning, networking and fun at the newly renovated Hilton London Metropole, conveniently located near the ITU World Championship activities in Hyde Park.

If you?re looking for a topic we covered in the past ? we have released the Ben Greenfield Fitness Top Hits, Vol. 1. Including:

1. The Benefits of Fish vs. Fish Oil
2. The Best Ways to Stop Hair Loss
3. Increase Your Hematocrit & Oxygen Levels
4. Strengthen Your Immune System & Shorten the Duration of a Cold
5. Top 10 Ways to Boost Libido
6. Get Rid of Migraines Naturally
7. Become a Curvaceous, Lean, Ripped Female Athlete Without Destroying Your Health
8. Stop Side Stitches as Fast as Possible
9. Is It Possible for a Vegan to Be a Healthy Endurance Athlete
10. How Much Water Do You Really Need to Drink Each Day

And of course, this week?s top iTunes review gets a care package straight from Ben ? leave your review for a chance to win one:

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Listener Q&A:

As compiled, edited and sometimes read by Brock, the Ben Greenfield Fitness Podcast ?sidekick?.

How To Use Activated Charcoal

Heather says @ 00:30:20
She would like to know more about using charcoal to mitigate the damage caused by conventional meat and/or alcohol. Is it possible to take too much or take it too often? How does it know to only bind to toxins? Can it bind to good stuff as well?

~ In my response, I mention ?taking?activated charcoal called CharcoCaps?prior to any meals that contain potential toxins, such as meat, animal products from unknown sources, foods that tend to give you gas, etc.

SweetBeat vs. InnerPeace

Clay says @ 00:36:49
Can you compare and contrast the Sweetbeat app and Heartmath?s Inner Balance app? Is one better than the other? Which should he use?

Is Your pH Too Low?

Keith says @ 00:41:30
He is using litmus strips to test his PH and is wondering if 6.4 is too low. Is there any optimal level and should he be trying to raise his level?

~ In my reply I mention this interview with Dr. Ted Morter on pH diet.

The Difference Between TianChi and Inner Peace

Craig says @ 00:49:45
He would like to know the difference between TianChi and Inner Peace. He is taking both and is wondering if that is necessary or should he just take one?

What Are Isotonic Supplements?

Erin says @ 00:58:41
She is a registered dietitian who works in functional medicine and is wondering what you think of the Isotonic Supplements. She believes in a whole diet but is wondering if this might be of help to her clients.

Are Male Pattern Baldness Drugs Healthy?

John says @ 01:06:31
He took Propecia every day for 9 years until he found out that he had low testosterone and estradiol. He stopped taking it 2 years ago but is still concerned that he will have ongoing issues. Is there anything he should be doing to mitigate the damage Propecia caused.

~ In my response I mention:
-Vitamin D3?(ideally test first) ~ 35IU/lb
-Fish oil?? 2-5g/day +?cod liver oil, 1-2T/day
-Magnesium?(500-1000mg/day)
-Brazil nuts (selenium) ? 5-6/day (get raw from health food store and keep frozen)
-Grass fed beef?? several 6-8oz servings/week
-If you do not eat shellfish or use zinc regularly, also include?2-4?Prostelan?capsules per day (5 Alpha Reductase inhibitor + Zinc)
And then use either:
-D-Aspartic Acid?? 3g/day (approx 1 teaspoon) combined with?Myomin?(aromatase inhibitor) ? 1000-1500mg/day
OR
-5 day on/2 day off of herbal blend of tribulis, maca, nettle, fenugreek (recommend?RenewMale,?Aggressive Strength, or?Onnit T+)

? And don?t forget to go to BenGreenfieldFitness.com/love! ?

Prior to asking your question, do a search in upper right hand corner of this website for the keywords associated with your question. Many of the questions we receive have already been answered here at Ben Greenfield Fitness!

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Source: http://www.bengreenfieldfitness.com/2013/07/249-is-resveratrol-really-bad-for-you-the-shocking-ingredients-in-beer-debunking-the-magic-of-vitamins-and-supplements/

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Google Working on Mysterious Set-Top Box That?s Not Chromecast

By Brandon Russell | July 25, 2013

Stay Connected with Us! Follow TechnoBuffalo

Google is reportedly working on a set-top box similar to devices such as Roku and Apple TV, according to the WSJ. Sources close to the search giant?s plans claim the company privately showed off a device back at CES in January, but the project was only in the prototype phase. An earlier report claimed Google was approaching media companies in an attempt to license content for an upcoming Internet TV service.

The news comes in hot after Google?s latest streaming device, Chromecast, which allows users to beam content from their mobile device to an HDTV. The mysterious device supposedly runs Android, and will use video conferencing?probably Hangouts?as a core feature; additional features apparently include a video camera and motion sensor.

Many competing companies have made TV a priority?or at least that?s what the rumor mill claims?with even Intel jumping into the fray with some sort of on-demand service. Apple, too, is reportedly preparing some type of streaming service that could allow users to skip commercials. Google has tried entering the TV market before, but has so far had limited success.

According to someone who saw Google?s mysterious set-top box in action, the device has the ability to stream YouTube videos, play shows and movies from Google Play, and access Android apps. The WSJ reiterates this is not the Chromecast, even though the little $35 dongle is capable of doing such things. Google apparently had plans to unveil something at Google I/O, but decided against it for reasons unknown.

It sounds to us like the project was eventually watered down into the Chromecast, though Google could still be planning something else for your living room. The company is constantly working on things in its labs, so we?ll see if anything materializes in the coming months.

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Source: http://technobuffalo.com.feedsportal.com/c/35293/f/658062/s/2f2ce86a/sc/5/l/0L0Stechnobuffalo0N0C20A130C0A70C250Cgoogle0Eworking0Eon0Emysterious0Eset0Etop0Ebox0Ethats0Enot0Echromecast0C/story01.htm

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There?s A Man Who Lives a Life of Danger? (Powerlineblog)

Share With Friends: | | Politics - Top Stories Stories, RSS Feeds and Widgets via Feedzilla.

Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/321615623?client_source=feed&format=rss

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Plea deal offered to Cleveland kidnapping suspect Ariel Castro, TV station reports

A plea deal has been offered to the man accused of kidnapping three Cleveland women and raping them repeatedly while he held them in captivity at his home during the past decade, according to a Cleveland TV station.

If Ariel Castro, 53, of Cleveland accepts the deal, he would avoid the death penalty, according to a report by WKYC-TV in Cleveland. The deal, however, has not been finalized. The station reports a hearing, during which Castro would accept the offer, was to be held on Friday.

Maria Russo, Cuyahoga County Prosecutor Timothy McGinty?s spokeswoman, said she could not confirm if a formal deal had been offered to Castro.

Phone calls to Castro?s defense attorneys were not immediately returned. A spokeswoman for Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Russo said a hearing had not yet been scheduled for Friday.

Prosecutors and defense attorneys met in Russo?s courtroom on Wednesday and said they were working toward a plea deal.

A trial for Castro is scheduled for Aug. 5. He has pleaded not guilty to 977 charges, including murder, rape and kidnapping. According to the indictments, he is accused of beating and starving one of the women to force her to miscarry ? a charge that could lead to the death penalty.

The women ? Gina DeJesus, 23, Michelle Knight, 32, and Amanda Berry, 27 ? were freed from Castro?s home on the west side of Cleveland on May 6, along with Berry?s 6-year-old daughter, who was fathered by Castro during her captivity.

?

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/plea-deal-offered-to-accused-cleveland-kidnapper-ariel-castro--165830942.html

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Pence joining other GOP governors to talk about state-level answers at Aspen Institute

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INDIANAPOLIS ? Gov. Mike Pence and a group of other Republican governors are planning to talk together about what's working in their states.

Pence, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie will participate in an Aspen Institute discussion moderated by biographer Walter Isaacson. The Thursday talk is also being coordinated by the Republican Governors Association.

Pence will be the rookie in the group, having served roughly half a year in office. The Aspen Institute says on its website the group will talk about "important social issues affecting their communities," but does not specify an issue.

Last year's Republican panel focused on gun control.

Source: http://www.tribtown.com/view/story/2ce44a7cb57341b293d54f17612463a7/IN--Pence-Aspen-Talk

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Microbusinesses inject more jobs into California economy

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Microbusinesses tend to add the most jobs and keep them. In the depths of the recession, they added jobs even when other larger businesses shed them.

Small businesses are driving California?s economic recovery, according to a new chart released this week by an industry advocacy group.

Small Business California found that businesses with less than five employees, known as microbusinesses, were the state?s main engine of job growth between 2003 and 2010. These firms added 719,729 positions over that time period, while all other small businesses lost a combined 460,368 jobs during the same time.

California?s microbusinesses added jobs even during the depths of the recent recession, creating 120,818 positions between 2008 and 2010. Larger businesses, including firms with more than 500 workers, lost a combined 1.02 million jobs in those years ? causing California?s unemployment rate to spike to 12.4 percent by October 2010.

The microbusinesses were also job creators outside of California, injecting 719,729 net new jobs into the national economy between 2003 and 2012.

To see the chart and compare how smaller firms fared against larger California companies for creating jobs, click here or go to the Small Business California website.

Christopher Arns covers state legislation, regulation and contracts, as well as economic news, international trade and economic development for the Sacramento Business Journal.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/vertical_15/~3/ZsBd0igKGyU/microbusinesses-inject-jobs-calif-econom.html

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Mapping the Brain in Unprecedented Detail

July 24, 2013 11:33 AM Text Size: A . A . A At Stanford researchers have developed a technique to make the brain see-through, allowing them to trace individual neurons, and their sometimes far-flung connections, from end to end. They?ve succeeded in doing so with an entire mouse brain and portions of human brains.

Meanwhile, the federal government in 2014 is investing $100 million in Brain Research through Advancing Innovative Neurotechnologies (BRAIN). The BRAIN scientists want to chart the simultaneous functions and activity of the brain?s 100 billion neurons and its 100 trillion synapses at an unprece?dented resolution. Understanding the brain?s circuitry could lead to better treatments for dementia and other neurological ailments, as well as developing mind-controlled prostheses and computers that ?think? like humans. The National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, and DARPA will contribute to the project, expected to cost millions more over the next few years.

Meanwhile, here are the frontiers of neuroscience where scientists are learning more about the brain:

Brain Highways

When brain signals need to travel long distances, they take the highway. Researchers at Indiana University and the University Medical Center Utrecht in the Netherlands have uncovered high-capacity pathways that form the backbone of the neural network, facilitating communication between far-off brain regions.

Gene Mapping

The variance in how different areas of the brain express the same genes may play a role in shaping the brain?s architecture. Icelandic Heart Association researchers discovered a gene that?s overactive in the brains of people with Alzheimer?s, disrupting the activity of many other genes.

Deep-Brain Stimulation

Some diseases interrupt the electrical signals neurons use to communicate. In deep brain stimulation, implanted electrodes deliver weak impulses to the brain, changing how neurons fire. The technique, a Parkinson?s disease treatment since 2002, may also be effective against depression and bipolar disorder.

Mind-Controlled Prostheses

Electrode implants allow patients paralyzed from the neck down to operate thought-controlled robotic arms to independently drink coffee, eat chocolate, and reach out to a loved one. Better understanding of the motor cortex?s cir?cuitry may unlock new prosthesis abilities.

Source: http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/health/nueroscience/mapping-the-brain-in-unprecedented-detail-15727629?src=rss

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Google doodle salutes DNA pioneer Rosalind Franklin

Who discovered the DNA double helix? The obvious answer is Nobel prizewinners Watson and Crick. The fellow scientists who aided them have all too frequently been forgotten ? but not by Google, which today boasts a home-page doodle marking what would have been the 93rd birthday of British biophysicist and crystallographer Rosalind Franklin.

The Google doodle includes Franklin's face in the second 'O' and the DNA double helix in the 'L'. The 'E' is a depiction of Photo 51 - the X-ray diffraction image that was instrumental in allowing Watson and Crick to crack DNA's structure.

Franklin died aged 37 from ovarian cancer, four years before Watson, Crick and fellow researcher Maurice Wilkins won the 1962 Nobel prize in physiology or medicine. Her death made her ineligible to share the prize.

Unfortunately for Franklin, her role in the groundbreaking discovery in 1953 was mostly overlooked. Crick later wrote that "the data which really helped us to obtain the structure was mainly obtained by Rosalind Franklin".

At least the Google doodle is one small way of ensuring Rosalind Franklin can now get the recognition she deserves.

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Tim Berners-Lee testifies as Google and Amazon win patent dispute against Eolas

An appeals court this week upheld a lower court ruling regarding patents that covered the basic workings of the Internet, coming down in favour of some of the world's biggest tech firms.

The US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit found that Amazon, Yahoo, Google, YouTube, and JC Penney are not guilty of infringing on two patents held by Eolas Technologies and the Regents of the University of California, because those patents are in fact invalid.

"This Court affirmed the judgment or decision that was appealed. None of the relief sought in the appeal was granted," according to the appeals court, which did not release an opinion explaining its decision.

The battle dates back to October 2009, when Eolas sued nearly two dozen companies for violating two of its patents. The first patent focused on technology that enables web browsers to act as platforms for fully interactive embedded applications and provides rich online experiences.

The second patent was for technology that allows websites to add fully interactive embedded applications to their online offerings through the use of plug-in and AJAX web development techniques.

Last year, the tech companies prevailed in a Texas district court, and Eolas appealed, prompting this week's decision.

As noted by Bloomberg, Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, was among those who testified against Eolas during trial.

Eolas also sued Microsoft in 1999, winning a $521 million (?339 million) settlement in August 2003. Microsoft appealed the following year, but the case was remanded. In 2005, the Supreme Court refused to hear Microsoft's appeal, so Microsoft tried to go through the Patent & Trademark Office. When that also failed, Microsoft and Eolas announced in 2007 that they had agreed upon a settlement, the terms of which were not released.

Published under license from Ziff Davis, Inc., New York, All rights reserved.
Copyright ? 2012-2013 Ziff Davis, Inc

Source: http://www.itproportal.com/2013/07/24/tim-berners-lee-testifies-as-google-and-amazon-win-patent-dispute-against-eolas/

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