Source: http://news.feedzilla.com/en_us/stories/politics/top-stories/159716595?client_source=feed&format=rss
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Wednesday, November 9, 2011
HP TouchSmart 620 adds 3D to touchscreen all-in-one (Digital Trends)
Back in February, HP rolled out a new reclining design for its high-end all-in-one desktop PCs, the TouchSmart 9300 Elite (for businesses) and the TouchSmart 610 (for home users). Now that HP has decided that, yes, it think it will stay in the PC business for a while, the company has updated the consumer version of the all in one?not so much with more brawn or storage, but with 3D display capabilities. The new TouchSmart 620 features a 23-inch touchscreen display, but folks who want to strap on 3D glasses can enjoy 3D depth and entertainment in full HD (1080p) resolution.
As a computer, the TouchSmart 620 is much like the earlier TouchSmart 610: an Intel Core i5 2400 processor running at 3.1 GHz, along with a 1.5 TB 5400 rpm hard drive, a slot-loating Blu-ray player, 8 GB of RAM, 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and gigabit Ethernet, all under a 23-inch multitouch LED-backlit display with a 1,000:1 contrast ratio, 4ms response time, and 250 nit of brightness. The system also features Beats Audio and an integrated TV tuner that enables users to watch, pause, and rewind live TV, along with seven USB ports, a six-in-one memory card reader, IR blaster, remote control, mic and headphone ports, etc. The real new addition to the mix is an AMD Radeon HD 6670A graphics controller with 1 GB of video memory to handle 3D content. HP is also shipping the systems with CyberLink PowerDVD 10 software that can generated 3D effects from 2D video, and the system also comes with a 3D-capable webcam, so user can shoot 3D images of themselves?or whatever else is in front of their computer?and post them to sharing sites, thereby encouraging other people around the world to, um, wear 3D glasses.
HP says the TouchSmart 620 should be available November 15 with a starting price of $1,900 (with one pair of active shutter glasses); however, HP will initially be offering the system with a $300 instant rebate.
Folks looking for 3D without the computer can check out HP?s new 2311gt 3D display, offering 23 inches and 1,920 by 1080-pixel resolution, although it uses Film Patterned Retarder (FPR) technology to more-or-less align alternating rows of pixels with the left or right eye in a focused area about two to two-and-a-half feet from the display?generally, the technology isn?t as well-regarded as 3D sets that use active shutter glasses, but it does have the advantage of, well, not using shutter glasses. The 2311gt display should go on sale tomorrow for a suggested price of $299.
This article was originally posted on Digital Trends
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Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Pressure mounts on Italy's Berlusconi to quit (AP)
ROME ? Italy became the latest target in Europe's financial crisis Monday, as soaring borrowing rates intensified pressure on Premier Silvio Berlusconi to resign and let a new government reform the country's spendthrift ways.
Berlusconi batted away reports that he was considering stepping down in favor of early elections, saying they were "without foundation."
But the prospect of financial disaster was real because of Italy's huge debts and slow growth. Unlike Greece, Ireland and Portugal ? the three countries that Europe has already bailed out ? Italy's economy could be too large to rescue.
Investors want the government to quickly pass measures to boost growth and cut debt. But defections from Berlusconi's coalition government mean he no longer commands enough loyalty to pass the reforms.
Increasingly, Berlusconi is himself being seen as the problem.
If Berlusconi should resign or lose a confidence vote, President Giorgio Napolitano would decide whether to call early elections, or name a government of technocrats rather than politicians. The most widely discussed name to lead a technical government is Mario Monti, the former EU competition commissioner who once blocked General Electric's takeover of Honeywell.
The opposition center-left has long demanded the resignation of Berlusconi, citing sex scandals, criminal prosecutions and legislative priorities it says are aimed at protecting his own business interests rather than those of the country. However, it has failed to come up with a leader who can energize the base and create a credible program, leaving the opposition divided and rudderless.
The ultimate fear is that Italy cannot pay for its euro1.9 trillion ($2.6 trillion) debt and need international help. Europe would struggle with a bailout that large, meaning a default that could break up the 17-nation eurozone and drag down the global economy.
During a G-20 summit last week, Berlusconi had to ask the International Monetary Fund to monitor the country's reform efforts, a humiliating step for the eurozone's third-largest economy.
The yield on Italy's 10-year bonds jumped another 0.42 of a percentage point Monday to 6.67 percent, its highest level since the euro was established in 1999. That is drawing uncomfortably near the 7 percent threshold that forced both Ireland and Portugal to accept bailouts. As yields rise, governments must devote more of their national budgets simply to paying interest costs, creating a vicious circle of debt.
When traders thought early Monday that Berlusconi might resign, those borrowing rates eased. But later in the day, when it was clear the 75-year-old would not leave willingly, rates shot up again, reflecting market fears that he is not the leader who can turn Italy around.
"The leader and his country are in danger of taking the rest of Europe, if not the world, into economic hell," said Louise Cooper, markets analyst at BGC Partners.
Stocks worldwide recovered from big losses, while U.S. stock indexes edged lower Monday, gyrations driven by speculation over Berlusconi's future.
The European Central Bank said Monday that it stepped up its program to buy government bonds last week, spending euro9.5 billion ($13 billion). It has been buying bonds for weeks to keep a lid on borrowing costs to help prevent Italy and Spain from succumbing to the debt crisis.
Berlusconi had lunch Monday with his children and friends at his villa near Milan, sparking Italian news media to speculate he was devising an exit strategy. But the lunch is a long family tradition and his Facebook page said "the reports of my resignation are without foundation."
Public administration minister Renato Brunetta, a Berlusconi loyalist, acknowledged Monday that the government has a "numbers problem" in parliament and if a majority is lacking then "everybody goes home." Interior Minister Roberto Maroni agreed, adding "it is useless to persist."
James Walston, professor of political science at the American University of Rome, said Berlusconi's time is quickly running out, even though elections are not due until 2013.
"He could go tomorrow. He could go next week. The sort of pressure that he is under, coming from his own people, will make it sooner than later," he said.
But Berlusconi has remained defiant, insisting he still commands enough support in Parliament.
"I don't understand how rumors of my resignation are circulating," Berlusconi was quoted as saying Monday by Libero newspaper.
Only the loss of a confidence vote can force a government to resign. Opposition leader Pierluigi Bersani said lawmakers are planning exactly that. Political analysts say a vote could come as early as Tuesday, when parliament is expected to approve the state's balance sheets ? a routine measure that failed by one vote last month.
Other analysts say should Berlusconi step down, he would seek to have his right-hand man, Gianni Letta, named to succeed him as premier until early elections can be organized. It is not known whether the Italian president, Napolitano, would agree to that.
If the opposition doesn't call a vote of confidence this week in an effort to unseat him, Berlusconi has pledged to call one himself to prove his majority stands, possibly next week, on reforms and other stopgap measures to lower Italy's debt ? now near 120 percent of GDP ? and revive the dormant economy.
The reform measures include a plan to sell government assets ? expected to raise euro5 billion ($6.9 billion) a year for three years ? and tax breaks to reduce youth unemployment of 29 percent and to get women back into the work force in a country where just 48 percent of women have jobs. The legislation would also allow stores to stay open on Sundays and open up closed professions.
Berlusconi has also pledged to raise the retirement age to 67 for all to match European trends, despite the fierce resistance of his allies in the Northern League, on whom Berlusconi relies to govern. They have proven at times difficult allies, exerting a strong independent streak and challenging Berlusconi on key policies. The leader, Umberto Bossi, also has on several occasions expressed doubts about Berlusconi's ability to complete the current mandate.
The leader of Italy's largest labor confederation, meanwhile, predicted 2012 will be a "terrifying" year for the economy even if Berlusconi leaves power. CGIL leader Susanna Camusso also slammed Berlusconi's anti-crisis plan as containing virtually nothing to spark economic growth.
"I hope there will be (early elections), and that they will be soon for the good of the country," she told The Associated Press on Monday.
Mario Draghi, an Italian who just took over as European Central Bank president, said last week that since joining the euro, Italy has enjoyed unnaturally low interest rates for years because its monetary policy has been linked to that of stronger economies like Germany.
"For a long time spreads between sovereign bonds in the euro area were very narrow," he said. "They did not reflect the different realities of different countries."
In contrast, German borrowing costs hit a record low Monday, as investors fled to their bonds as a safe haven in Europe.
___
Associated Press writer Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.
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Monday, November 7, 2011
Why Did This Man Have 26 Female Corpses in His Apartment? (NSFW Images) [Nsfw]
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MF Global CEO Jon Corzine resigns under fire (Reuters)
(Reuters) ? Jon Corzine has resigned as MF Global Holdings Ltd's chairman and chief executive, four days after the futures brokerage filed for bankruptcy protection, culminating a rapid downfall for one of Wall Street's best-known executives.
Corzine, 64, had run Goldman Sachs & Co from 1994 to early 1999, and was later a U.S. senator from New Jersey and governor of that state.
MF Global, a company that Corzine joined in March 2010 and had once joked was viewed as "too small to care about," had been his ticket back to Wall Street.
Corzine's departure came after MF Global's $6.3 billion bet on sovereign debt from Belgium, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain scared away clients, counterparties and investors.
The New York-based company's decline accelerated last week after it revealed more details about this exposure, posted a larger-than-expected quarterly loss, and was downgraded by major credit rating agencies to "junk" status.
U.S. regulators, meanwhile, are conducting a broad review of the company's business as they try to track down more than $600 million of missing customer money.
It is unclear how Corzine's resignation might affect the various investigations. Neither MF Global nor Corzine has been accused of wrongdoing.
'GREAT SADNESS'
In a statement, Corzine said his "difficult" decision was voluntary, and was best for the company and its stakeholders.
"I feel great sadness for what has transpired at MF Globa and the impact it has had on the firm's clients, employees and many others," Corzine said. "I intend to continue to assist the company and its board in their efforts to respond to regulatory inquiries and issues related to the disposition of the firm's assets."
Corzine is not seeking severance, the company said. He had been entitled to a $9 million payout if he were let go without cause, a July regulatory filing shows.
MF Global said Chief Operating Officer Bradley Abelow and lead director Edward Goldberg will remain in their positions.
The company's bankruptcy is the seventh-largest in U.S. history, according to BankruptcyData.com and Reuters data. A trustee plans to liquidate MF Global's U.S. broker-dealer unit.
LAWYERS HIRED AS REGULATORS ZONE IN
Brokerages such as MF Global are required to keep customer money segregated from their own cash.
Questions about whether MF Global failed to do this have attracted the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation as well as regulators.
Corzine has hired prominent white-collar defense lawyer Andrew Levander of the law firm Dechert to represent him in cases that might stem from the bankruptcy filing, a legal source briefed on the matter said on Thursday.
Levander has represented outside directors of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc and former Merrill Lynch & Co chief John Thain, among others. Corzine hired another lawyer, Schuyler Carroll of Perkins Coie, for the bankruptcy case.
"We will look at every aspect of how the firm conducted business," Mary Schapiro, chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, told Reuters on Thursday.
SURPRISE HIRE
Corzine's decision to join MF Global surprised many on Wall Street at the time.
He has referred to himself as a "recidivist banker," saying that financial regulatory reform would force big banks to shrink, leaving growth opportunities for potential rivals that were "too small to care about."
One of the biggest market concerns about MF Global had been its roughly 33-to-1 leverage ratio, with well in excess of $40 billion of assets despite having just $1.4 billion of equity.
Going into the 2008 financial crisis, some of Wall Street's biggest companies had had similar leverage, and Corzine has called that risk unacceptably high.
Last month, before MF Global's collapse, Corzine spoke with a group of equities traders in New York and said that his perspective had changed.
"He said Wall Street needs more clarity about the rules and better incentives for doing business and taking risk," said a person who attended the off-the-record event organized by the National Organization of Investment Professionals.
(Reporting by Jennifer Ablan, Matthew Goldstein, Jed Horowitz, Jennifer Merritt and Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Derek Caney and Lisa Von Ahn)
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Sunday, November 6, 2011
White House hopefuls pitch GOP insiders in Iowa (AP)
DES MOINES, Iowa ? Herman Cain's presidential rivals focused Friday on anything but the decade-old sexual harassment allegations dogging the Georgia businessman's campaign.
No one, it seemed, was eager to weigh in on Cain and the furor that has consumed the race for the GOP nomination over the past week. Five of Cain's opponents were in Iowa to court Republicans at a GOP dinner in the state that holds the race's leadoff caucuses in just two months.
Before the event, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum outlined his social agenda during a morning speech to supporters and later visited a gun show. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas planned an afternoon town hall. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Texas Gov. Rick Perry were arriving just before the dinner.
As the day began, Minnesota Rep. Michele Bachmann, campaigning in Iowa, told NBC's "Today" show "you won't find any surprises with me" but otherwise refused to talk publicly about the allegations against the Georgia businessman. She focused, instead, on talking about the economy and taxes.
Back in Washington, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney delivered a speech about cutting spending in an appearance before Americans for Prosperity, a conservative group aligned with the tea party. He made no mention of Cain even though he spoke just minutes before the Georgia businessman took the stage.
Neither Romney nor Cain was attending the Iowa dinner, though both are competing in the state.
As the controversy entered its fifth day, none of Cain's rivals rushed to criticize or defend him against allegations of sexual harassment made in the 1990s by at least two women who worked with him when he was head of the National Restaurant Association. Two reportedly received financial settlements.
However, earlier in the week, a Santorum adviser suggested the public didn't know all the facts, and Cain should allow the trade group to release his accusers from confidentiality agreements. And Gingrich decried media coverage of the allegations and said Cain's tax plans deserve more attention.
Over the past five days, Cain has repeatedly denied wrongdoing even as he gave conflicting accounts about what ? if anything ? he knew about the alleged incidents as well as whether he knew about the financial settlements.
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