Sunday, June 6, 2010

Al and Tipper Gore no longer Joined At The Heart

In an e-mail to friends and family Tuesday, Al Gore and Tipper Gore have announced that they will be separating. According to the couple, the decision to separate from their 40 year marriage was "mutual". The couple has four children and has stated that they “do not intend to comment any further.”

Source for this article: Al Gore and Tipper Gore separate – No longer Joined At The Heart By Personal Money Store

Al and Tipper Gore

When Tipper was just 16 years old, she met Al Gore at a high school dance. When they were both in their early twenties, they tied the knot. As a photographer, author, and public figure, Tipper Gore has been in and out of the spotlight. Tipper Gore is known best for her 1985 campaign against hard metal music. After serving eight years as Vice President, Al Gore created the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” That film earned Al Gore an Oscar and also the quick payday loan that came with his Nobel Peace Prize.

Al and Tipper Gore announce separation

Politico obtained the email sent to friends and family where they announced their separation. The email said, among other things:

We are announcing today that after a great deal of thought and discussion, we have decided to separate. This is very much a mutual and mutually supportive decision that we have made together following a process of long and careful consideration. We ask for respect for our privacy and that of our family, and we don’t intend to comment further.”

Al Gore and Tipper Gore’s public profile

The marriage between Al and Tipper Gore was usually seen, publicly, as very strong. The kiss between Al and Tipper Gore at the National Democratic Convention in 2000 was the subject of much news attention. Al and Tipper Gore published a book that discusses the history of the American Family in 2002 – called "Joined At The Heart". The book highlights "structurally strong" relationships, and highlights Al and Tipper Gore's relationship among others.

Read more on this topic here

Politico

Amazon.com "Joined At The Heart"



Google bans Windows over security concerns

Security concerns prompt Google to ban Windows OS

At the California Googleplex and around the world, concerns over security have led to Google officially giving Windows the boot. This move by Google is a response to security problems with Windows operating systems, also as a lead-up to Google's Chrome OS. Google employees will no longer be allowed to use Windows, but they will nevertheless be offered an option of operating systems.

Article Source: Google bans Windows over security concerns

Google dumps Windows officially

The official policy of Google on Windows has been, until now, more flexible. Google employees were offered the option of Windows, Linux or Mac operating systems. Now, if Google employees want to keep Windows as an operating system, they have to get CIO approval. At the same time that Windows use has been officially limited, Google’s Chrome OS is being pushed as an option option. The hacking of Google’s China channels created an urgency for this move.

Google is concerned about Windows security

About 80 percent of the computers in use today use the Windows operating system — every little thing from offices to credit counseling offices. This homogeneity across the system makes Windows an easy target for hackers and computer viruses. Google has moved to Mac and Linux operating systems because of this security hole. Because Google’s dedicated developers design programs for wide use, they are able to avoid many of the downfalls of Windows security holes.

Is this Google Windows move a publicity stunt?

Some wonder whether Google’s banning of Windows is a lot more of a publicity stunt than a security move. For the last year or two, Google has been creating Chrome OS – a Windows competitor. The Google Chrome web browser was the first public release of this operating system. The Google Chrome OS is an open-source operating system — an operating system that can be edited and improved by any user. Some may think an open-source programmed operating system may be less secure, but that has not proven true. Yes, Google will be introducing a competitor to the Windows operating system — but that is not the only reason Windows has been banned from the Google corporate operating system.



Guillermo Del Toro has to ramble on after he quits The Hobbit

Over two years ago, Guillermo Del Toro, the director of Pan’s Labyrinth and also the Hellboy series among other films, was attached to direct The Hobbit. It is the prequel to the wildly successful Lord of the Rings series, written by JRR Tolkien. Peter Jackson got Guillermo Del Toro to move to New Zealand to help him bring the book to the large screen. A new director is needed as the financial woes of MGM studios has caused too numerous delays, and Del Toro’s role as director has been put on the killing floor.

Source for this article: Guillermo Del Toro drops The Hobbit and rambles on to other work

Guillermo Del Toro attached after long struggle

A film of The Hobbit was inevitable after the success of the Lord of the Rings trilogy. The roadblock was the rights to The Hobbit are owned by United Artists and Metro Goldwyn Mayer, but Peter Jackson belongs to New Line and Warner Brothers. An agreement was made, but conditioned on someone other than Jackson directing. It was decided that Guillermo Del Toro would make online cash loans rain from the sky, as his films feature exquisite visual design.

No quarter from troubles in development

As MGM is still within the vice like grip of money troubles, work on The Hobbit has ground to a halt. The film can be in two installments scheduled for release a year apart, and initially the first was due in 2010, but now won’t debut until at least 2012, as outlined by CNN. Del Toro confirmed that him leaving the project has anything to do with the financial difficulties of the studio, but he will remain in no matter what capacity he can, as so much pre-production has already been done. He relocated himself and his family to Wellington to make the film.

Another film trampled underfoot by studio troubles

The live action version of The Hobbit is one of the latest projects in what is called development hell. Development hell is what it is called when a project, be it a movie or album or video game, has a real hard time getting put together and released. There appears to be a lot of smog around The Hobbit, and 2012 is beginning to look optimistic at best.

Read more on this topic here

CNN

Wikipedia



Friday, June 4, 2010

New AT and T data plan - Lower prices and lower limits

On Monday, there could be new data plans a pricing for AT and T smartphones and tablets. This new AT and T data plan pricing is intended to help reduce network usage while providing more transparency in the billing process. Many wonder whether other wireless carriers will follow suit.

Article Source: a title=”Lower prices and lower limits – New AT and T data plan” href=”http://personalmoneystore.com/moneyblog/2010/06/02/new-att-data-plan/”>New AT and T data plan – Lower prices and lower limits

AT and T data plans will eliminate ‘unlimited’

When the iPhone was introduced on the AT and T network within the beginning, the one-size-fits-all data plan was a $29.99 a month “unlimited” plan. Sometimes the definition of unlimited was confused. Some of the AT and T customers got huge data-use bills that indicated there was a limit to network usage that they weren’t aware of. Some customers had to pay their bills with easy payday loans . Such heavy use of the data network has also led to quite a couple of dropped calls and slow data speeds that are a tough sticking point between the carrier and customers.

The AT and T data plan

The new data plans revealed by AT and T can have 3 “levels” of data use. The first can be a $15 plan that will allow 200 mb of data per month. The second is a $25 plan allowing 2 gb per month. It costs an additional $20 per month to connect a laptop to the internet. These new AT and T data plans will send a free text message to users when they’re approaching their data limit. These data limits will not apply when the smartphone or tablet is being used at a WiFi hotspot – only the 3G network. Users that already have a contract with AT and T can keep their “unlimited” plans and pricing, even when renewing their contracts.

Different effects on the AT and T data plans

While the new AT and T data plans will reduce cost for light data users, heavy data users will feel the strongest effects. Many wireless carriers and app developers have been working to move streaming video and data-intense applications onto smartphones and tablets. By limiting all of their data use so heavily, AT and T will be limiting the accessible applications on its 3G or 4G network. The chairman of the FCC showed concern over the “bandwidth crisis” that smartphones have created. If other wireless carriers don’t follow the AT and T data plan model and limit their data usage, then heavy users will probably just switch carriers. Though demand for wireless data services has increased dramatically within the last few years, capacity is growing at a much slower rate.



Thursday, June 3, 2010

Guillermo Del Toro has to ramble on after he quits The Hobbit

After directing the wildly successful Pans Labyrinth and also the Hellboy series, Guillermo Del Toro was hired to direct The Hobbit. The Hobbit was written by JRR Tolkien as the prequel to the Lord of the Rings trilogy. Peter Jackson really certain Del Toro to move to New Zealand to help him get it onto the large screen. However, the tandem of the future of MGM Studios and also the enormous commitment caused Del Toro to bring the metaphorical hammer of the gods down on the project, and a new director is being sought.

Article Resource: Guillermo Del Toro drops The Hobbit and rambles on to other work

After a long struggle Guillermo Del Toro was hired

Since The Lord of the Rings trilogy was so popular, a film of The Hobbit was all but inevitable. The problem is that LOTR and Peter Jackson belong to New Line, and the Hobbit is owned by United Artists and Metro Goldwyn Mayer. An agreement was made, but conditioned on someone other than Jackson directing. It was decided that Guillermo Del Toro would make instant cash rain from the sky, as his films feature exquisite visual design.

No quarter from development troubles

When MGM became plagued with financial troubles, work on The Hobbit slowed. According to CNN, the film can be in two installments, and the first was originally going to be out in 2010, but now the releases are believed to be in 2012 and 2013. Del Toro confirmed that him leaving the project has every little thing to do with the financial difficulties of the studio, but he will remain in no matter what capacity he can, as so much pre-production has already been done. He moved to Wellington to work on the project.

Studios have yet again trampled underfoot a huge film

Difficulties like plague The Hobbit put it in what is called development hell. When an album, film, or video game, has too numerous obstacles to get released, that’s when it is in development hell. Due to the intense haze of smog around The Hobbit, 2012 is looking unrealistic.

More information on this topic

CNN

Wikipedia



Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Mark Twain still making headlines after a century

There are two recent happenings that are starting to put the Lincoln of our literature, as Howells put it, into headlines as of late. Tina Fey is receiving the Mark Twain Award For American Humor, for starters. It’s a prestigious award, to be sure. It’s the other news that’s a bit juicier. We have had to wait a hundred years for Mark Twain’s autobiography, which is slated to come out soon.

Tina Fey receives Mark Twain prize

Tina Fey has been named the recipient of the 2010 Mark Twain Award for American Humor. The prize is granted by the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, beginning in 1998. The list of past winners is a who’s who of humor. Past winners include Richard Pryor, Billy Crystal, Lorne Michaels, Neil Simon, Steve Martin and George Carlin. Fey will be the second woman to receive the award, along with Lily Tomlin. Though Tina Fey is deserving, it’s the other Mark Twain news I’d give some instant cash to get the inside scoop on.

The 100 year wait was his idea

As he neared his death, Mark Twain put into his will that his memoirs would not be released until 100 years after he died. Well, Mark Twain (Samuel Longhorn Clemens) died April 21, 1910. It has been 100 years, so it’s high time for his memoirs to finally see the light of day. The collection of memoirs has been in storage, according to CBS, at University of California, Berkeley, for a long time. Some editing is likely necessary, but his autobiography may be out by the end of the year.

Why a century of waiting?

Twain loved having an adoring public, and he didn’t want to sully himself in the public eye with revelations about his views of his personal life. Some of his last works, such as The Mysterious Stranger and Letters From Earth had to be published well over a decade after his death to the work being incredibly dark. The books were pieced together by his editor and published against his daughter’s wishes. The autobiography ought to be riveting, and congratulations are in order to Tina Fey.

Citations:

Mark Twain

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Twain

CBS

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/05/24/national/main6514831.shtml



Determining Whether Your Car Is Classic Or Antique

Nothing really beats a perfectly restored antique or classic car. Elegant line, dazzling chrome and even genteel carriage evoke pleasant memories of the past, transporting us into personal fantasy where “They don’t make them like they used to” will never ring false. But how are people ever to tell if their hobby cars are antique or classical? Thankfully, there are guidelines. Just remember, whether a car is classic or antique, it should generally not be used as a daily commuter, unless you have unlimited funds at your disposal and don’t need auto loans to purchase vehicles.

Arent classic and antique the same thing?

It isn’t necessarily true that classic and antique are the same as some would argue. According to Wikipedia, “classic car” is used to refer to high quality vehicles from pre world war II era. However, according to U.S. auto insurance laws, 20 years of life for a car is approximately double the expectancy intended for most modern cars, so the “classic car” title sets in after a car is 20 years old. And classic or antique car insurance is always more expensive than insurance for a standard vehicle because older models don’t have the same safety features that come standard in newer cars. In the United Kingdom, the term “antique car” isn’t used, although they do use the phrase “vintage” to refer to vehicles more than 100 years old.

Contact the Classic Car Club of America

The Classic Car Club of America (aka the CCCA) is full of people who live and breathe classic and antique cars. They have their own standards of what is considered antique or classic. Classic is what they call cars that are considered expensive mass market vehicles made between 1949 and 1985. Original parts need to be included in these cars and it doesn’t necessarily have to be American-made. The Antique Automobile Club of America classifies cars that are older than 25 years antique, but “the legal definition for the purpose of antique vehicle registration varies widely,” according to Wikipedia.

Things are different in the UK

Car insurance companies in the UK also decide what a classic car is. Cars made 15 to 25 years ago are considered modern classic cars, but to confuse things a bit, UK insurance companies aren’t sticklers about this. Cars that don’t fall within the guidelines can still be considered collectible.

Classic car insurance final word

Funneling money into maintaining and restoring a classic or antique car makes insuring it essential. Discussing the matter with a licensed insurance agent is what you should do if you want to fully protect your classic or antique car investment.

Citations:

Wikipedia (classic car)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_car

Wikipedia (antique car)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antique_car

HowToDoThings.com

http://www.howtodothings.com/automotive/how-to-determine-if-your-car-is-a-classic

Classic Car Club of America

http://www.classiccarclub.org/