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Requires very minor clean up but handles 300 wpm. Runs on PC, iPhone and Blackberry.
Mac Dictate for Mac OS.
http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/
For Mac OS, Mac Dictate - $199.99:
http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/products/macintosh/for-the-mac.asp
For iPhone - $349.99:
http://www.nuance.com/naturallyspeaking/products/macintosh/scribe.asp
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Medvedev Shows Off Sample Coin of New ‘World Currency’ at G-8
Medvedev Shows Off Sample Coin of New ‘World Currency’ at G-8
View the proposed coin from Russian President Dmitry Medvedev here:http://www.futureworldcurrency.com
http://preview.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aeFVNYQpByU4
By Lyubov Pronina - July 10, 2009 10:23 EDT
July 10 (Bloomberg) -- Russian President Dmitry Medvedev illustrated his call for a supranational currency to replace the dollar by pulling from his pocket a sample coin of a “united future world currency.”
“Here it is,” Medvedev told reporters today in L’Aquila, Italy, after a summit of the Group of Eight nations. “You can see it and touch it.”
The coin, which bears the words “unity in diversity,” was minted in Belgium and presented to the heads of G-8 delegations, Medvedev said.
The question of a supranational currency “concerns everyone now, even the mints,” Medvedev said. The test coin “means they’re getting ready. I think it’s a good sign that we understand how interdependent we are.”
Medvedev has repeatedly called for creating a mix of regional reserve currencies as part of the drive to address the global financial crisis, while questioning the U.S. dollar’s future as a global reserve currency. Russia’s proposals for the G-20 meeting in London in April included the creation of a supranational currency.
To contact the reporter on this story: Lyubov Pronina in L’Aquila, Italy at lpronina@bloomberg.net
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Clinton: Obama Administration To Sue Arizona Over Immigration Law
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20008066-503544.html
According to President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, the Justice Department is currently in the process of deciding whether or not to file suit over Arizona's controversial immigration law, which Mr. Obama has called "misguided" and potentially discriminatory.
According to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, the decision has already been made.
"President Obama has spoken out against the law because he thinks that the federal government should be determining immigration policy," she said in an interview with an Ecuadorean television station flagged by The Right Scoop. "And the Justice Department, under his direction, will be bringing a lawsuit against the act."
The Arizona law, which would go into effect in July, requires immigrants in the state to carry documents verifying their immigration status and requires police officers to question a person about his or her immigration status during a "lawful stop" if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be in the country illegally.
Holder has indicated that he believes "the law is an unfortunate one that will be subject to potential abuse" and said that the Justice Department is "considering a court challenge."
It is not clear whether Clinton was just making a prediction or whether she was getting ahead of a planned announcement by the administration.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/06/17/clinton_obama_administration_to_sue_arizona_over_immigration_law.html
According to President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder, the Justice Department is currently in the process of deciding whether or not to file suit over Arizona's controversial immigration law, which Mr. Obama has called "misguided" and potentially discriminatory.
According to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, however, the decision has already been made.
"President Obama has spoken out against the law because he thinks that the federal government should be determining immigration policy," she said in an interview with an Ecuadorean television station flagged by The Right Scoop. "And the Justice Department, under his direction, will be bringing a lawsuit against the act."
The Arizona law, which would go into effect in July, requires immigrants in the state to carry documents verifying their immigration status and requires police officers to question a person about his or her immigration status during a "lawful stop" if there is "reasonable suspicion" that person may be in the country illegally.
Holder has indicated that he believes "the law is an unfortunate one that will be subject to potential abuse" and said that the Justice Department is "considering a court challenge."
It is not clear whether Clinton was just making a prediction or whether she was getting ahead of a planned announcement by the administration.
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2010/06/17/clinton_obama_administration_to_sue_arizona_over_immigration_law.html
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Church bones 'belong to Caravaggio', researchers say
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/10333158.stm
Human remains found in a church in Tuscany almost certainly belong to Renaissance artist Caravaggio, Italian researchers said.
The team said they were 85% sure that the set of bones of a man who died in about 1610, aged between 38 and 40, were that of the painter.
The remains had been kept in an ossuary in a church crypt in Porto Ercole, after reportedly being exhumed in 1956.
Caravaggio was known for his "chiaroscuro" painting technique.
The method, in which light and shadow are sharply contrasted, revolutionised painting.
Mystery
The researchers, from four Italian universities, said they believed Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio died of sunstroke while weakened by syphilis.
The findings come after a year-long investigation using DNA, carbon dating and other analysis.
The cause of his death had been a mystery, with various theories put forward, including that he was assassinated for religious reasons, and that he collapsed with malaria on a deserted beach.
Some have said he was on his way to Rome to seek a pardon when he died.
Carravagio was famed for his wild lifestyle, including often starting fights and ending up in jail. He even killed a man.
He was born in either 1571 or 1573, according to varying scholars, and spent the last few years of his life fleeing justice in southern Italy.
His works include Bacchus, The Supper at Emmaus and Sacrifice of Isaac.
The remains are believed to have laid originally in an umarked grave among around 200 others at the church cemetary, until they were exhumed in 1956 and placed in the ossuary.
Human remains found in a church in Tuscany almost certainly belong to Renaissance artist Caravaggio, Italian researchers said.
The team said they were 85% sure that the set of bones of a man who died in about 1610, aged between 38 and 40, were that of the painter.
The remains had been kept in an ossuary in a church crypt in Porto Ercole, after reportedly being exhumed in 1956.
Caravaggio was known for his "chiaroscuro" painting technique.
The method, in which light and shadow are sharply contrasted, revolutionised painting.
Mystery
The researchers, from four Italian universities, said they believed Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio died of sunstroke while weakened by syphilis.
The findings come after a year-long investigation using DNA, carbon dating and other analysis.
The cause of his death had been a mystery, with various theories put forward, including that he was assassinated for religious reasons, and that he collapsed with malaria on a deserted beach.
Some have said he was on his way to Rome to seek a pardon when he died.
Carravagio was famed for his wild lifestyle, including often starting fights and ending up in jail. He even killed a man.
He was born in either 1571 or 1573, according to varying scholars, and spent the last few years of his life fleeing justice in southern Italy.
His works include Bacchus, The Supper at Emmaus and Sacrifice of Isaac.
The remains are believed to have laid originally in an umarked grave among around 200 others at the church cemetary, until they were exhumed in 1956 and placed in the ossuary.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Fugitive TV tycoon denounces Venezuela's Chavez
http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-49300520100615
By Esteban Israel
World
CARACAS (Reuters) - The fugitive boss of Venezuela's opposition Globovision television station accused socialist President Hugo Chavez on Monday of ordering his arrest to stifle his criticism of the government.
Authorities in the OPEC nation issued a warrant for Guillermo Zuloaga and raided his house on Friday, accusing him of illegally storing new vehicles last year for speculative purposes. He was not home at the time.
Zuloaga said in a telephone call to Globovision from an undisclosed location that the charges were politically motivated and he was the victim of a witch hunt.
"We have been viciously attacked again by the government for the sole purpose of trying to silence us," he said. "I have come to the conclusion that handing myself in would do no good for the country, for Globovision, or for my family."
Zuloaga was detained for a few hours in March after criticizing Chavez at a media conference in Aruba. The attorney general said then he was being investigated for possible crimes of giving false information and offending the president.
He faces between one and five years in prison if convicted of usury in the new case. That warrant is linked to a 2009 case in which Zuloaga was accused of illegally storing 24 new Toyota vehicles to manipulate prices.
Globovision is often described as operating like an opposition political party, offering outspoken criticism of Chavez as well as a venue for politicians to gain exposure.
The station is the last main Venezuelan channel to hold its editorial line. One station, RCTV, was taken off the air in 2007 when Chavez refused to renew its concession after it supported a short-lived coup against him in 2002. Other networks toned down their opposition after the coup to avoid reprisals.
The government has brought several legal cases against opposition politicians, prompting some to flee the country.
Venezuelan authorities also took over the mid-sized Banco Federal -- which has links to Globovision -- citing liquidity problems and risk of fraud.
(Writing by Daniel Wallis; editing by Chris Wilson)
By Esteban Israel
World
CARACAS (Reuters) - The fugitive boss of Venezuela's opposition Globovision television station accused socialist President Hugo Chavez on Monday of ordering his arrest to stifle his criticism of the government.
Authorities in the OPEC nation issued a warrant for Guillermo Zuloaga and raided his house on Friday, accusing him of illegally storing new vehicles last year for speculative purposes. He was not home at the time.
Zuloaga said in a telephone call to Globovision from an undisclosed location that the charges were politically motivated and he was the victim of a witch hunt.
"We have been viciously attacked again by the government for the sole purpose of trying to silence us," he said. "I have come to the conclusion that handing myself in would do no good for the country, for Globovision, or for my family."
Zuloaga was detained for a few hours in March after criticizing Chavez at a media conference in Aruba. The attorney general said then he was being investigated for possible crimes of giving false information and offending the president.
He faces between one and five years in prison if convicted of usury in the new case. That warrant is linked to a 2009 case in which Zuloaga was accused of illegally storing 24 new Toyota vehicles to manipulate prices.
Globovision is often described as operating like an opposition political party, offering outspoken criticism of Chavez as well as a venue for politicians to gain exposure.
The station is the last main Venezuelan channel to hold its editorial line. One station, RCTV, was taken off the air in 2007 when Chavez refused to renew its concession after it supported a short-lived coup against him in 2002. Other networks toned down their opposition after the coup to avoid reprisals.
The government has brought several legal cases against opposition politicians, prompting some to flee the country.
Venezuelan authorities also took over the mid-sized Banco Federal -- which has links to Globovision -- citing liquidity problems and risk of fraud.
(Writing by Daniel Wallis; editing by Chris Wilson)
WickedLasers Unveils "Lightsaber" Powerful Enough to Set People on Fire
http://www.dailytech.com/WickedLasers+Unveils+Lightsaber+Powerful+Enough+to+Set+People+on+Fire/article18681.htm
View product website:
http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/Spyder_III_Pro_Arctic_Series-96-37.html
With recent advances in lasers, many have fantasized about creating "real life lightsabers". Many military commanders have fantasized about creating portable blasters along the lines of those portrayed in fictional workers like Star Trek and Star Wars. The Spyder III Pro Arctic laser from WickedLasers can be seen perhaps as the culmination of those efforts and perhaps the first consumer laser weapon.
The laser is built with a diode from Casio's new mercury-free Green Slim projectors which ironically have a somewhat blue tint. The laser is rated at 1 watt of power and retails for a mere $200 USD.
And here's the best (or worst) part -- it can set people (or things) on fire. Apparently the laser is so high powered that shining it on fleshy parts will cause them to burst into flames. Of course it's equally capable of blinding people. The retailer warns:
Warning: Extremely dangerous is an understatement to the power of 1W of laser power. It will blind permanently and instantly and set fire quickly to skin and other body parts, use with extreme caution and only when using the included eye protection. Customers will be required to completely read and agree to our Class IV Laser Hazard Acknowledgment Form.
If you're willing to "sign the form", WickedLasers warns you "With greater power comes the need for greater responsibility." (We can't make this stuff up, really!)
The laser comes in sleek packaging that looks, unsurprisingly like a lightsaber. Hopefully its users follow the path of the light side. The last thing we need is a bunch of Sith running around.
The price of $200 is quite commendable, considering it's 20 times as powerful as the company's previous best model, "Sonar", while a mere tenth of the cost ("Sonar" sells for $2,000 -- we imagine it will be discontinued as it seems most customers will flock to the Spyder III). The product even comes with a free pair of safety glasses, so you don't accidentally blind yourself.
View product website:
http://www.wickedlasers.com/lasers/Spyder_III_Pro_Arctic_Series-96-37.html
With recent advances in lasers, many have fantasized about creating "real life lightsabers". Many military commanders have fantasized about creating portable blasters along the lines of those portrayed in fictional workers like Star Trek and Star Wars. The Spyder III Pro Arctic laser from WickedLasers can be seen perhaps as the culmination of those efforts and perhaps the first consumer laser weapon.
The laser is built with a diode from Casio's new mercury-free Green Slim projectors which ironically have a somewhat blue tint. The laser is rated at 1 watt of power and retails for a mere $200 USD.
And here's the best (or worst) part -- it can set people (or things) on fire. Apparently the laser is so high powered that shining it on fleshy parts will cause them to burst into flames. Of course it's equally capable of blinding people. The retailer warns:
Warning: Extremely dangerous is an understatement to the power of 1W of laser power. It will blind permanently and instantly and set fire quickly to skin and other body parts, use with extreme caution and only when using the included eye protection. Customers will be required to completely read and agree to our Class IV Laser Hazard Acknowledgment Form.
If you're willing to "sign the form", WickedLasers warns you "With greater power comes the need for greater responsibility." (We can't make this stuff up, really!)
The laser comes in sleek packaging that looks, unsurprisingly like a lightsaber. Hopefully its users follow the path of the light side. The last thing we need is a bunch of Sith running around.
The price of $200 is quite commendable, considering it's 20 times as powerful as the company's previous best model, "Sonar", while a mere tenth of the cost ("Sonar" sells for $2,000 -- we imagine it will be discontinued as it seems most customers will flock to the Spyder III). The product even comes with a free pair of safety glasses, so you don't accidentally blind yourself.
Gates, venture capitalist Doerr issue warning about America's future
http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9177949/Gates_venture_capitalist_Doerr_issue_warning_about_America_s_future?taxonomyId=12
Gates, venture capitalist Doerr issue warning about America's future
Join GE CEO Immelt in effort to help U.S. gain an innovation edge in the push for clean tech
By Patrick Thibodeau
June 10, 2010 03:13 PM ET
Computerworld - WASHINGTON -- The ever expanding BP oil spill, in a sense, provides Bill Gates the perfect backdrop for selling Congress and the White House on a proposal to increase annual U.S. spending on clean energy research and development from $5 billion to $16 billion.
Gates, General Electric Co. CEO Jeff Immelt and venture capitalist John Doerr, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byer, are among the well-known business people involved in high-level lobbying effort on clean energy.
The trio discussed the need for clean energy investment at a press conference here today, and are slated to discuss it further with President Barack Obama this afternoon.
Today's message, and a related American Energy Innovation Council report listing a number of energy policy recommendations, didn't cite BP oil spill. It was about which country will lead in what may easily be the world's next big industrial push.
Gates, Immelt and Doerr are all members of the energy innovation council.
This business-driven push for a better energy plan already has some congressional support, principally from U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), who heads the House Committee on Science and Technology. He said Thursday that he plans to work with the group on legislation that implements its proposals.
At an earlier meeting with congressional leaders on the BP oil spill, Obama made note of today's planned meeting today with Gates and others.
"We can't keep our eye off the importance of having an energy policy that meets the needs of the next generation and ensures that the United States is the leader when it comes to energy policy," said Obama. "We are not yet that leader, and that's what I want us to do."
The U.S. isn't the worldwide leader in clean technology today, agreed Doerr during the press conference. America is a worldwide leader in biotechnology and information technology, he said, but "that's not the case in today's energy technologies."
Of the top 30 new energy technology companies worldwide that produce batteries, solar technologies and advanced wind energy, only four are headquartered in the United States, Doerr said.
"It's very sad that Americans spend more on potato chips than we do on investment in clean energy R&D," said Doerr.
Gates said more federal research spending is needed to spur investment in clean technologies. "The incentives aren't there to make it happen," said Gates.
"In the same way that the U.S. has led in health care, the same way we have led in IT, it takes an upfront investment," said Gates.
U.S.-based General Electric is one of the top companies on Doerr's list, and Immelt said that its revenue from clean energy products has gone from $5 billion to $20 billion.
"It's created jobs, and it's created competitive advantage," said Immelt, adding that the company plans to increase R&D spending in this area.
The timeline for producing results is years away.
It will take a decade to bring a number of technologies in the pilot stage, and perhaps take 20 years before there is a clear idea what the winning technologies look like, according to those involved in this effort.
Gates, venture capitalist Doerr issue warning about America's future
Join GE CEO Immelt in effort to help U.S. gain an innovation edge in the push for clean tech
By Patrick Thibodeau
June 10, 2010 03:13 PM ET
Computerworld - WASHINGTON -- The ever expanding BP oil spill, in a sense, provides Bill Gates the perfect backdrop for selling Congress and the White House on a proposal to increase annual U.S. spending on clean energy research and development from $5 billion to $16 billion.
Gates, General Electric Co. CEO Jeff Immelt and venture capitalist John Doerr, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byer, are among the well-known business people involved in high-level lobbying effort on clean energy.
The trio discussed the need for clean energy investment at a press conference here today, and are slated to discuss it further with President Barack Obama this afternoon.
Today's message, and a related American Energy Innovation Council report listing a number of energy policy recommendations, didn't cite BP oil spill. It was about which country will lead in what may easily be the world's next big industrial push.
Gates, Immelt and Doerr are all members of the energy innovation council.
This business-driven push for a better energy plan already has some congressional support, principally from U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-Tenn.), who heads the House Committee on Science and Technology. He said Thursday that he plans to work with the group on legislation that implements its proposals.
At an earlier meeting with congressional leaders on the BP oil spill, Obama made note of today's planned meeting today with Gates and others.
"We can't keep our eye off the importance of having an energy policy that meets the needs of the next generation and ensures that the United States is the leader when it comes to energy policy," said Obama. "We are not yet that leader, and that's what I want us to do."
The U.S. isn't the worldwide leader in clean technology today, agreed Doerr during the press conference. America is a worldwide leader in biotechnology and information technology, he said, but "that's not the case in today's energy technologies."
Of the top 30 new energy technology companies worldwide that produce batteries, solar technologies and advanced wind energy, only four are headquartered in the United States, Doerr said.
"It's very sad that Americans spend more on potato chips than we do on investment in clean energy R&D," said Doerr.
Gates said more federal research spending is needed to spur investment in clean technologies. "The incentives aren't there to make it happen," said Gates.
"In the same way that the U.S. has led in health care, the same way we have led in IT, it takes an upfront investment," said Gates.
U.S.-based General Electric is one of the top companies on Doerr's list, and Immelt said that its revenue from clean energy products has gone from $5 billion to $20 billion.
"It's created jobs, and it's created competitive advantage," said Immelt, adding that the company plans to increase R&D spending in this area.
The timeline for producing results is years away.
It will take a decade to bring a number of technologies in the pilot stage, and perhaps take 20 years before there is a clear idea what the winning technologies look like, according to those involved in this effort.
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