Current TV scores coup with Olbermann

Current TV is hoping Olbermann will transform the network from an also-ran into a contender. Olbermann declared his new affiliation Tues, a few weeks after the TV personality’s shock exit from cable channel MSNBC. At Current TV, Olbermann will host a prime-time news and commentary show he labeled a “new and improved version” of his MSNBC program.

Current TV no longer unseen

Al Gore founded TV Channel which might end up doing much better with Keith Olbermann now part of Current TV. Programming on Current TV was depending on short segments labeled “pods” targeted to an audience aged 18-34. The pods never took off, and now Current TV programming features re-runs of documentaries such as “This American Life.”. There are 60 million cable subscribers that currently have access to Current TV. There are only 23,000 prime time audiences though. Every weeknight, the "Countdown with Keith Olbermann" got about 1 million viewers. MSNBC appreciated this. Olbermann will hopefully be help Gore make the network do better.

Viewing what Keith Olbermann has to say

In order to let Olbermann express his point of view, he is being given free rein on Current TV. Before he left MSNBC, he got suspended. This was because a Democratic political candidate was getting money donated by him. Gore said Current TV will impose no such restrictions, as long as Keith Olbermann, who will become “chief news officer” of the network, fully discloses his allegiances. He has a nightly show that will keep Keith Olbermann busy. As part of this change, he will get an equity stake in Current TV as well. The Nielsen rankings don't even use Current TV. Gore explained that Current TV will work against major cable news networks as a commentary lineup on prime time after Olbermann's hire.

Show will feature more of the very same Olbermann

During the announcement of his move to Current TV, Keith Olbermann said that he accepted Gore’s offer for the possibility to produce news independent of corporate interference. He called Current TV a “model truth-seeking entity.”. He said the way stories are covered should not be decided by corporate people. He said his brand new show, as yet untitled, would be “an improved and amplified version of the show I just did.”

Citations

Entertainment Weekly

insideTV.ew.com/2011/02/08/olbermann-current-TV/

USA Today

usatoday.com/life/television/news/2011-02-08-keith-olbermann-current-TV_N.htm

New York Times

mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/08/keith-olbermann-to-host-show-and-have-executive-role-at-current-TV/?hp

Internet land rush might result in .nazi, .gay and .god domains

The .com domain was so 10 years ago. Now the Internet domain name system invented by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is preparing for some competition from a battery of subject-specific domains like .love, .god, .gay and .nazi. These and other colorful domains may be headed to your Web browser soon, reports the Washington Post. If you want a .com website, you might want to look into taking out a massive payday cash advance loan, because they are running out.

All of the Internet land rush

Simple domain names like .com, .net and .org have managed to get the job done for individuals and private enterprise for a while. You can see .gov, .edu, and .mil for the public sector. That's what the domain names are for. You will find more controversial domain names around now though. These contain .nazi, .god, .muhammad and even .gay. You will find ownership problems to consider. For example, .amazon could be a problem. Who would own .amazon: the online retailer or Brazil?. By March or April, issues ICANN expects to resolve are these. Soon, ICANN will open the floor for corporations and governments to solicit their claims in what is being called the Web land rush.

How to claim

Corporations and celebrities don't have to worry too much though. Not everybody can afford the huge price that comes with a potential new domain. According to the Washington Post, it costs a whopping $185,000 to apply and $25,000 annually to maintain the domain. And if a party applies for a brave new domain with Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers and is rejected, they only get back some of the application fee.

This has online activists like Lauren Weinstein of the Los Angeles-based Individuals for Internet Responsibility up in arms. Weinstein alleged that the outrageous fees are merely a moneymaking venture for Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, and that the rainbow of highly specific domain names will trigger aggravation for trademark holders – not to mention users. Thrush is the ICANN chairman who states that .gay, .nazi or other domains have fees. There will most likely be lawsuits for the organization. That means the non-profit Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers will need the money and may also have to defend against cybersquatting in the future.

"Our job is to protect competition and give extra choices for consumers and entrepreneurs," said Thrush.

Information from

Washington Post

washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/06/AR2011020603940.html?hpid=topnews

Rocketboom on the horror of the domain name shortage

youtube.com/watch?v=3267Uh632XA

More individuals watched Super Bowl XLV than any TV show

As Super Bowls go, Super Bowl XLV was a monster of a game for Nielsen ratings. At one hundred and eleven million viewers, the Packers-Steelers Super Bowl shattered the all-time Nielsen record set by last year’s Super Bowl. The Packers’ triumph bested the 106.5 million viewers who tuned in for Super Bowl XLIV past year, also as the 106 million viewers who viewed the series finale of "M*A*S*H" in 1983.

Reach numbers or real numbers for the Super Bowl

A lot of media reports the number of viewers the Super Bowl XLV had. It was reported to be 162.9 million. However, that number does not represent the actual number of viewers; it is a "reach" number that relates to advertisers. Six minutes or less was viewed by those individuals. The 111 million figures are for viewers who stuck around longer, even through the performance of the Black Eyed Peas during the Super Bowl halftime show.

Supporters for football and 'Glee' were different

Much of that audience failed to stick around once the game was over and the latest episode of "Glee" aired, though. After the game got over, 84 million of the 111 million got out, claims Nielsen Media Research. The post-Super Bowl audience of 27 million viewers this year was considerably lower than what CBS experienced in 2010 when it aired the reality show contrivance "Undercover Boss," which captured 39 million viewers.

Neither show could touch the numbers for the top two post-Super Bowl programs in television history. In 2001, an episode of "Survivor: The Australian Outback," got 45 million viewers. Then, there were 53 million viewers willing to stay after and watch an episode of "Friends" in 1996.

Possible effect of audience die off was the East Coast

The Super Bowl drop off likely was due to the start time of "Glee." This is just one idea. Because of the Super Bowl XLV post-game show, "Glee" started at 10:30 p.m. Eastern. One major reason why the drop off occurred could have been because of the Nielsen sector going to bed in the Easter time zone.

Information from

Washington Post

voices.washingtonpost.com/TVblog/2011/02/glee-post-super-bowl-episode-a.html

Super Bowl XLV Doritos commercial

youtube.com/watch?v=qRMMBXx3kqk

Tahrir Square overloaded with protesters requiring Day of Departure

Tahrir Square in Cairo is flooding with demonstrators requiring that President Mubarak resign in a "Day of Departure." For over thirty years, Mubarak has held power in Egypt, however has declined to run for reelection in the fall. That has not appeased the demonstrators. Demands for his resignation have only increased. This is one situation where he won’t be able to take out a pay day loan and buy off the protesters.

More demonstrations in Tahrir Square going on

The last few days of protests in Cairo in Tahrir Square have been crazy. The protestors of the government of Leader Hosni Mubarak have been attacked by Mubarak supporters wanting to be in the action. After several days of chaotic situations, a large number of anti-government demonstrators have filled the region, pushing for Mubarak to exit at once. NPR reports that a "Day of Departure" or "Friday of Departure" should be when he leaves. President Mubarak had previously made the concession that he wouldn’t seek re-election in Sept, but protesters are adamant that Mubarak must leave immediately. There is an increasing chorus of demands for Mubarak to leave office immediately from the international community also.

Followers in protest regions of Mubarak's administration

Tahrir Square is currently cordoned off by the Egyptian army and largely stuffed with anti-government protesters. There have been really chaotic situations recently though. Pro-Mubarak demonstrators have been getting to the location to do this. The Christian Science Monitor explains the Mubarak supporters didn't like journalists much. The journalists would get singled out. More than 100 incidents of physical assault occurred, including an incident where CNN anchor Anderson Cooper was beaten and threatened with further harm while fleeing the scene. There has been lots of trouble with foreign and domestic journalists. This is because "thugs" that are pro-Mubarak have stormed the Cairo Al-Jazeera offices.

Mubarak’s defiant stance

Even when the unrest began, President Mubarak will not leave. He has made it clear that he doesn't intend to. There has not ever been a full democratic election confirming him to the office seat even though he has been in for 30 years. MSNBC reports that in an interview with him he did say that he was tired of it all. He said though that "there can be chaos" and "the Muslim Brotherhood will take over" if he were to leave. Leaders of opposition groups are now talking to him. A transitional government might be in the near future for Egypt.

Articles cited

NPR

npr.org/2011/02/04/133489032/egyptian-protesters-gear-up-for-friday-of-departure?ps=cprs

Christian Science Monitor

csmonitor.com/USA/Foreign-Policy/2011/0203/Egypt-protests-journalists-under-attack-on-an-unprecedented-scale

MSNBC

msnbc.msn.com/id/41402303/ns/world_news-mideast/n_africa/

Investigation finds clowns and In Vitro Fertilization success connected by tension lowering

A recent investigation has found a connection among clowns and IVF success, or successful in-vitro fertilization. The investigation discovered that women going through In Vitro Fertilization treatment were more prone to become pregnant if visited by a "medical clown" as the clowns reduce tension. Many people have taken out such huge personel loans to go through IVF, they will probably be much happier to find out the process worked.

Correlation discovered between In Vitro Fertilization victory and clowns

In Israel, a research hospital found an interesting link. It was among IVF treatment victory and clowns. During recovery from an implantation procedure, it was discovered that females who were visited by "medical clowns" ended up with a higher rate of success with becoming pregnant during in-vitro fertilization. The head of the study, Dr. Shevach Friedler, got the idea after reading about the good effects of laughter as a natural tension reducer. To see if a reduced-stress environment after embryo implantation would increase the chances of successfully implanting an embryo, Dr. Friedler’s team at Harofeh Medical Center arranged for some patients to be visited by a clown in the recovery room.

Study was not just clowning around

Laughter, evidently seemed the best medicine. A greater percentage of females who received the “clown treatment” successfully became pregnant than those who went without a visit from a clown. The study was done using a total of 209 women that were undergoing in-vitro fertilization. The in-vitro fertilization had a quite good success rate for the 209 females. The rate was at 36 percent. Only a 20 percent success rate was shown for women who didn't get the clown treatment. The investigation is going to be published in a reproduction science medical journal. "Fertility and Sterility" is the name of it. Since clowns reduce tension in patients, there are medical clown college degrees that the University of Haifa offers in Israel.

The extra cost of a clown

The amount that has to be paid to in-vitro fertilization is quite a bit. This is interesting thinking about it doesn't work the majority of the time and is dangerous. According to WebMD, the procedure outcomes in a pregnancy in 32 percent of all cases, however only 25.6 percent of treatments resulted in a live birth. You will find many factors that affect success though such as age group. After artificial insemination and natural opportunities, this therapy is generally chosen as it costs $12,400.

Citations

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/01/12/us-send-clowns-idUSTRE70B64P20110112

WebMD

webmd.com/infertility-and-reproduction/guide/artificial-insemination

Perchlorate targeted with brand new EPA drinking water specifications

The Environmental Protection Agency made a large announcement Wed morning. The drinking water standards, federally, are getting an revision. This announcement comes just a couple years late. In 2008, the EPA petitioned to update water supply standards, however the Bush administration disallowed it. 17 unstable organic compounds will be regulated by these brand new rules. People hopefully won’t have to take out a payday loan to buy their drinking water filtered. Really, this ought to help every person have healthy drinking water. Source for this article – EPA drinking water standards to get a 2011 update by MoneyBlogNewz.

Environmental Protection Agency specifications for drinking water

There is the EPA for a good reason. It’s meant to make sure the contaminants in drinking water are not too much. Almost all drinking water contains something other than pure hydrogen dioxide — minerals, dissolved solids and thousands of chemicals can be in water. The amount of chemicals and bacteria in water is regulated by the Environmental Protection Agency. It makes sure water is purified if needs be.

What the EPA drinking water specifications say about perchlorate

Rocket fuel, bleach, fertilizers and fireworks all use perchlorate that is a naturally occurring chemical. The iodine uptake within the thyroid can be affected by the perchlorate although it isn't dangerous to human health otherwise. It could be bad to have less iodine than necessary though. This is because it causes obesity, preterm births, neurological disorders and clinical depression. You will find 17 million people that drink municipal water though. There might be a lot of perchlorate contamination in 4 percent of this water, even though state shave perchlorate limits.

What water supply standards from the Environmental Protection Agency with VOC compound resemble

The new 2011 EPA regulations for water supply contain limits on more than just perchlorate. Volatile organic compounds, otherwise known as VOC compounds, are also going to be regulated. Perchlorate isn't the only chemical with a limit. There are 17 chemical limits total that are new. Volatile organic compounds are typically found in industrial manufacturing and solvents and can have a wide variety of detrimental effects. In general, VOC compounds are considered dangerous. The brand new Environmental Protection Agency restrictions are set to take effect this year.

Information from

CNN

cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/02/02/epa.water.chemical/index.html?npt=NP1

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyroid_hormones#Related_diseases

Hedge fund manager Paulson - Criminal or master?

Hedge fund director John Paulson bet in opposition to the health of the United States real estate industry by funneling money into credit default swaps in opposition to subprime mortgages, which effectively made certain that as homeowners defaulted he would receive a huge cash loan on his investment in failure. Because of the bursting of the United States housing bubble and some shrewd choices with U.S. financials, John Paulson is a billionaire. He will not be taking out a payday loan to cover his home mortgage anytime soon.

Betting for the U.S. this time, Paulson puts money into Citigroup

John Paulson is anything that is wrong with Wall Street, according to many. After earning approximately $15 billion betting in opposition to the U.S. real estate market in 2007 – and being labeled a "guru" for doing so – John Paulson moved to the other side of the investment speculation fence. He bet the U.S. economy would soon rebound. He bet on high gold prices and rebounding house prices with his "after the fall" outlay while also putting investments into several indexes. About $1 billion was earned this year by Paulson's stake in Citigroup using Paulson & Co. Over the past year, Citigroup’s share price shot up 50 percent.

About $35 billion in investments are owned by Paulson & Co. right now. In the beginning of 2010, John Paulson and business took small lump gains while getting to the double digit gains later even though most hedge funds avoided the volatile market, reports Reuters. The Paulson Advantage Plus Fund rose 17 percent for the year, while Paulson’s gold investments jumped 35 percent this year.

How good is 17 percent?

When it comes to John Paulson being successful, the Globe and Mail points out the 15 percent gain that the S&P 500 had is not much farther down than the 17 percent the Paulson Advantage Plus Fund gained. But the Canadian newspaper’s viewpoint could just as easily be considered sour grapes. Nobody can really be upset with John Paulson for making millions betting "against-the-bubble" and making the market crash even harder. The federal regulators failed to do their job as well. The majority are upset about this though. They say it isn't an excuse to do what he did.

Articles cited

The Guardian

guardian.co.uk/books/2010/mar/07/the-greatest-trade-ever-by-gregory-zuckerman-review-heather-stewart

The Globe and Mail

theglobeandmail.com/globe-investor/markets/markets-blog/paulsons-5-billion-haul-big-deal/article1886319/

Reuters

reuters.com/article/2011/01/25/us-hedgefunds-paulson-idUSTRE70O4G820110125

Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_default_swap

John Paulson and Joe Stiglitz on the mispricing of risk

youtube.com/watch?v=l8G-b315B6E