1. Democrats Tee Up Comcast/NBCU Concerns 2 hours ago   permalink

Paidcontent.org

In Thursday’s (Feb. 4) hearing, the House Energy & Commerce Committee’s Communications & Internet Subcommittee will be looking at a merged Comcast/NBCU’s “unique and commanding” position in the media marketplace, including what could be its power to “fundamentally shape the way Web video evolves,” ...

2. Patent hints at next generation Apple TV 5 hours ago   permalink

Www.tuaw.com

The USPTO has published seven different patents from Apple today, including one that might be found in the next generation of the Apple TV. The patent allows for a "Remote Control System that can Distinguish Stray Light Sources" -- in other words, a Wii style remote that can pick out a certain type of light source from other bulbs in the house. ...

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Www.tuaw.com Apple forces Stanza to nix USB book sharing   —  Those who enjoy USB book sharing their ePub and eReader files in the current version of Stanza [iTunes link] will want to avoid the 2.1 version of the software, currently being distributed in the App Store. The update notes reveal that Apple apparently ordered Lexcycle to remove the USB sharing ability. Unfortunately, Lexcycle is forbidden from ...

Www.tuaw.com Dick Durbin presses Apple on human rights in China   —  Technology relations with China and their human rights situation is turning into a hot-button issue lately, especially given Google's recent troubles with that country. Now, my old senator from Illinois, Dick Durbin, has decided to raise the level of scrutiny, calling for a list of 30 companies, including Apple, to share information about their ...

3. Five customized Automator services to help save you time 4 hours ago   permalink

Www.tuaw.com

One gem in Mac OS X that sometimes gets glanced over is the Services menu. Lots of readers may not know yet that Snow Leopard brought with it the ability to create your own customized service in Automator -- in other words, you can get additional selections on a contextual menu when right-clicking within a certain context, say a file within a ...

4. Glam Raises $50 Million Mezzanine Round at $750 Million Valuation 3 hours ago   permalink

Paidcontent.org

Glam Media, the online women and lifestyle media and ad-network company, has raised another big round, this time a mezannine round before its logical next move of an IPO in the next year or so. It has received about $50 million in this fifth round, led by Aeris Capital, the European fund, with existing investors Hubert Burda Media and Mizuho ...

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Paidcontent.org Professional Social Network Brazen Careerist Raises About $1 Million   —  Brazen Careerist, a social networking site geared towards “next-generation professionals,” has raised about $1 million in a funding round, according to an SEC filing. As the name implies, no fun and games on this site. Instead, it’s specifically designed to help young people advance in their professions—a role that the ...

5. Jim Chanos Talks China 4 hours ago   permalink

Paul.kedrosky.com

SuperbHosting.net provides affordable managed dedicated server solutions to small and medium sized businesses throughout the world. SuperbHosting.net has generously donated a dedicated server to ensure maximum performance, reliability, and scalability.

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Paul.kedrosky.com Readings: China, Deficits, Energy, etc.   —  SuperbHosting.net provides affordable managed dedicated server solutions to small and medium sized businesses throughout the world. SuperbHosting.net has generously donated a dedicated server to ensure maximum performance, reliability, and scalability.

6. News Corp. Returns To Profit; Newspapers/Info Segment Rose Nearly 30 Percent 4 hours ago   permalink

Paidcontent.org

News Corp earnings were up across the board, as the company swung to a profit of $254 million ($0.10) in Q4, reversing $6.4 billion loss. The company said this reflected double-digit growth at its “majority business segments.” Even the newspaper/information segment was up, gaining 29.5 percent over last year’s period. While the ...

7. Mark It Zero: Institutions Calling It Quits on Venture? 6 hours ago   permalink

Paul.kedrosky.com

More evidence that institutions aren't just cutting back on their allocation to venture capital, but backing away altogether: "When I started Greycroft in 2006, I raised $75 million, all from high-net-worth individuals, and I did it in four weeks with a letter," said Alan Patricof, founder and managing director of Greycroft Partners LLC,

8. Journalism Online’s Private Beta Goes Public; First Press+ Screenshots 6 hours ago   permalink

Paidcontent.org

Finally some clarity after months of mystery about possible affiliates and constant questions about whether Journalism Online is reality or vaporware. A private beta has been underway for weeks but JO founders Steve Brill and Gordon Crovitz declined until now to identify any of the affiliates taking part. Turns out the hotbed for possible online ...

9. Pop culture loves the iPad: Paper presentation, Parry Grip anthem 6 hours ago   permalink

Www.tuaw.com

All of Apple's devices have been embraced by pop culture sooner or later, but I think the iPad has probably nabbed the record for quickest to the bear hug. Here's two silly things we've seen today, just a week after the iPad's official announcement. First up, songsmith Parry Gripp's latest mini-tune is all about the iPad, and as you can see above,

10. Energy Echelons: Global Average Energy Use/Capita 6 hours ago   permalink

Paul.kedrosky.com

I had someone cite data to me today about global per capita energy use. For my part I responded that such averages are meaningless: We live in a world of energy use echelons, as the following figure shows.

11. Japan: Tokyo 7 hours ago   permalink

Rajesh / Emergic

Every once in a while, I like to take a trip to a different place - to see things, put myself in a new context, meet people I have never met before, and experience situations that are not the ordinary. I used to do this a lot earlier, but this has reduced a lot over [...]

12. Ed Thorp Speaks 12 hours ago   permalink

Paul.kedrosky.com

In 1962, Ed Thorp became every gambler's favorite mathematician when he published the first mathematically proven method for beating the dealer at blackjack.

13. If you think you have it bad... 12 hours ago   permalink

Scriptingnewsmail / Scripting News

I can list all the conferences I'm not going to this year because I didn't get an invite. A friend who's going to TED this year for the first time (I've never been) says he's pissed at himself, ironically. I've never personally faced a life-and-death struggle as intense as Dana Jennings describes in a piece in at the NY Times. When I read it I ...

14. Man sues Boca Starbucks for discrimination after Tourette's episode 14 hours ago   permalink

Www.palmbeachpost.com

A man with Tourette's syndrome who was kicked out of a Starbucks on Powerline Road west of Boca Raton last year after he had an episode has sued the coffee shop giant for discrimination.

discussions

Jim Romenesko / Starbucks Gossip :   Man with Tourette's sues after being kicked out of Starbucks

15. Google Is Wrecking DoubleClick, Says Unhappy Client 15 hours ago   permalink

Www.businessinsider.com

I myself worked for firms that were acquired by Yahoo (YHOO) and AOL (AOL) for preposterous sums before management at the respective companies killed off all the value.

discussions

Fmpub.net / John Battelle :   Tuesday Signal

16. Neighbourhood Action Committees 1 day ago   permalink

Rajesh / Emergic

One idea I have been thinking about recently has been that of Neighbourhood Action Committees (NACs). These will be apolitical and based on volunteering. They will focus on making the neighbourhood better across the country, especially in urban India. This means ensuring [...]