Google yields to China
The News Review:
- Google yields to China
- Boom in blooms
- Australia being Yanked around
- Better the distant queen than the dodgy mate
- Two bits for an apple
- Tip leads to PTC pot-growing operation
Google yields to China
Australian IT - Jan 25, 2006
cn will offer a censored version of Google’s popular search system that could restrict access to thousands of terms and web sites. Terms may include issues like independence for Taiwan or Tibet or outlawed spiritual group Falun Gong. In seeking to compete more aggressively in the world’s second biggest internet market - where Google has lost ground to the more popular home-grown Baidu - the company is facing the toughest challenge yet to its corporate mantra of “Don’t do evil. ”
In a compromise, Google will not offer its Gmail email service, web log publishing services or chat rooms in China - tools of self-expression that could be used for political or social protest. Instead, it said it would initially offer four of its core services - web site and image search, Google News and local search - while working toward introducing additional services over time. “Other products - such as Gmail and Blogger - will be introduced only when we are comfortable that we can do so in a way that strikes a proper balance among our commitments to satisfy users’ interests, expand access to information, and respond to local conditions,” the company said in a statement. The move in China comes less than a week after Google resisted the US Justice Department’s efforts to get information about commonly used sex search terms.
Boom in blooms
Al-Ahram Weekly - Jan 25, 2006
In addition to being a delight to the eye, first time visitors to the exhibition were surprised to find these magnificent flowers are all home grown. "Only a few years ago the majority of these flowers were unfamiliar to the Egyptian market," said Bassem El-Mohandis, assistant marketing manager at Egyptian Sun for Agricultural Development, one of Egypt’s largest cut flower exporters. Not only has Egypt succeeded in cultivating new strains of flower, since 2000 it has been exporting them in growing quantities. "In just five years Egypt has built a reputation as a flower producer in the international market," said El-Mohandis. Competition in the field of cut flowers and ornamental plants is as tough as it gets, and Egypt’s main competitors include Israel, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Spain and Italy.
Australia being Yanked around
NEWS.com.au - Jan 25, 2006
That is a bad thing. From: L Banister
Comment: It is true that Australia is becoming more ‘Americanised’, but this has a lot more to do with culture than politics. Most of our television shows, music and movies come from America. We should be making more of an effort to support home grown talent and to reinforce our own cultural identity. We have so much to be proud of. Butterworth
Comment: I visited the USA recently and was appalled at the low quality of life in such a large majority of the place.
Better the distant queen than the dodgy mate
The Age - Jan 25, 2006
Just what is a mate anyway? Does the term include women? And whoare the republicans trying to kid? None of our mates will ever makepresident. Honours of this nature are reserved for those specialpeople known as Eminent Public Figures. This implies that our firsthome-grown head of state could be someone with the poise andexquisite moral compass of “mates” such as Shane Warne or JohnLaws. I don’t think Steve Vizard is available at the moment. Just what is this stultifying fixation with the word “mate”?Tellingly, I have an Egyptian friend who says he always knowsthere is trouble coming when someone starts calling him “mate”. Inhis experience it’s a kind of preamble to vilification, as in,”This is Australia, mate, why don’t you go back to cameldriving?”Whether we should be a republic is, of course, one of the lastthings on most Australians’ minds.
Two bits for an apple
Seattle Times - Jan 25, 2006
We’d pick salmon and Mount Rainier. For that reason, the most appealing design for Washington’s new 25-cent piece is the one featuring Mount Rainier in the background and a large salmon jumping in the foreground. The design would be better if an apple were included, showcasing another defining home-grown beauty, the Washington apple. But stylistically, of three finalists selected by a special advisory commission, this is the most attractive quarter. Washington is a place of spectacular beauty and this design captures the grandeur. Salmon swim in both Eastern and Western Washington; Rainier is visible from parts of both sides of the state. Though pleasant-looking and appealing, the orca design does not offer enough of the varied treasures of Washington.
Tip leads to PTC pot-growing operation
Citizen.com - The Citizen.com - Jan 25, 2006
Lourim went a little too far with his home-grown business. Lourim used a bedroom closet to grow a significant amount of marijuana plants at his home in the Sandown Creek subdivision, said Peachtree City Police Chief James Murray. “It appeared to be for more than just recreational use,” Murray said of the crop, which was confiscated by police Tuesday. Officers serving a search warrant found that the marijuana was being grown in a closet of the master bedroom, complete with a watering system and special lamps designed to help the plant grow without sunlight.