Both candidates criticize Bush's failure to encourage volunteer involvement.
Columbia University students had it tough on Thursday, duking it out over seating arrangements and enduring intense security measures, as Senators John McCain and Barack Obama arrived on campus for their first televised appearances since their parties' national conventions. On the seventh anniversary of the September 11 attacks, the candidates tried to put politics aside to discuss their views on community service at the nonpartisan ServiceNation summit.
(Watch the entire ServiceNation presidential candidate forum here.)
The presidential forum, moderated by PBS' Judy Woodruff and Time managing editor Rick Stengel, drew an estimated 7,500 students and area residents who lined the steps of the library to watch on a JumboTron screen. The actual event took place in Roone Arledge Auditorium, where only 100 students were allowed (via a ticket lottery) to sit in the audience that also included families of September 11 victims, veterans, politicians and celebrities such as Tobey Maguire, Usher and Leonardo DiCaprio.
"We weren't Republicans on September 11. We weren't Democrats. We were Americans," said McCain, who was the first to appear. "This is an opportunity to lead the nation and talk to the American people and reform our government and ask for more service."
The Arizona senator criticized President Bush for not asking Americans to come together as volunteers after the attacks. While praising programs such as the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, McCain also said the government should be careful not to interfere with volunteer organizations. He also praised Obama's service as a community organizer early in his career, claiming that when Sarah Palin seemed to denigrate the job she was merely defending her own experience.
Michael Hennessy, 29, clapped enthusiastically during McCain's speech. "I appreciate that he's a big proponent of service. His personal history is a testament to government service and to the service of America," he said.
"I felt like he was just saying everything he knew that everyone wants to hear," Sharay Hale, a 19-year-old freshman, offered.
When Obama shook McCain's hand before his turn on the stage, the crowd inside and outside the auditorium erupted in applause. The Illinois senator, an alumnus of Columbia, joked that he had a home-court advantage.
Obama agreed with much of what McCain had said, but but he emphasized the important role the government plays in encouraging change and reiterated his campaign promise to institute an annual $4,000 college-tuition credit for students in exchange for community service.
"We've got to transform Washington, and we've got to do some housecleaning," Obama said. "But what we also want to do is to remind young people that if it weren't for government, then we wouldn't have a Civil Rights Act. If it weren't for government, we would not have the interstate highway system. If it weren't for government, we would not have some of our parks and natural wilderness areas that are so precious to America. And so part of my job, I think, as president, is to make government cool again."
Lisa Michl, a 23-year-old graduate student, said she was excited to see the candidates on campus. "Actually coming to a campus and doing this talk is a great way to get people more involved and inspire people to actually get out there and do something, because it's not a part of your daily conversation."
Not all of the action of the evening went down inside the auditorium. Three students were asked to leave the campus after donning boxing gloves and wearing homemade Obama and McCain cardboard boxes on their heads. Elliot D. (who would only give his last intial), a 21-year-old senior, was "Obama"; Gabe Espinal, a 21-year-old senior, was "McCain," and Jesse Waldman, also a 21-year-old senior, was a character on roller skates labeled "Spectacle." Waldman said that the three of them came to campus early and felt "uncomfortable with the lead-up to the event," so they decided to liven things up.
"We just wanted to get people to think about the political system itself, instead of 'Who are you voting for?' " Elliot D. said.
Thursday's presidential forum kicked off the two-day ServiceNation summit, where hundreds of students, businesses, universities, politicians and foundations will come together to expand national and community service opportunities.
Obama backers break cash records as Palin redraws campaign battleground
Barack Obama pulled in $66 million last month, smashing his previous fundraising record amid clear signs that Sarah Palin has mobilised many grassroots Democrats against her as much as she has energised the Republican Party.
Mr Obama's fundraising total for August beat his monthly record of $55 million (£31 million) and was the highest in US presidential history. It came with the addition of 500,000 donors, many of whom signed on to the campaign after the extraordinary entry of Mrs Palin into the race as the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
Although the news was a muchneeded boost for Mr Obama after a turbulent month in which he has slipped behind John McCain in the polls, Democratic strategists conceded that the race was now too close to call, with two new polls showing the candidates in a statistical tie 50 days before the election.
With a newly energised McCain campaign and Republican Party - the result of the impact of Mrs Palin on the race - and a relentless barrage of attack advertisements against Mr Obama, a growing number of Democratic strategists believed that the dream of the Illinois senator to redraw and expand the electoral map had probably ended.
Related Links
John McCain camp braced for Troopergate
‘Xena’ Palin scythes through Obama support
Former president to campaign with Obama
Instead, they said, the White House contest suddenly resembled the last two presidential elections in 2000 and 2004 - extremely close, deeply partisan and likely to be decided by a handful of big battleground states in the Midwest, particularly Ohio and Michigan, and in Pennsylvania.
Mr McCain is limited to spending, between now and election day, the $84 million supplied by the US Treasury after he opted to stay within the public financing system. Yet he will receive the help of the same outside operatives who started the devastating Swift Boat attacks against John Kerry in 2004.
Funded mainly by Harold Simmons, the Texas billionaire behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth organisation - which claimed that Mr Kerry had lied about his military service in Vietnam - the American Issues Project is about to start a television campaign against Mr Obama's record. It is entirely independent from the McCain campaign, but will seek to raise questions about Mr Obama's Chicago ties to William Ayers, a 1970s radical who bombed federal buildings, and his relationship with Jeremiah Wright, his controversial former pastor.
Meanwhile, liberal groups unaffiliated with the Obama campaign are about to unleash their own multimillion-dollar advertising campaign against Mr McCain.
Mr McCain started a series of advertisements against Mr Obama in recent days that his rival has called dishonest, sparking an almost hysterical note from the aides of the Democrat at the weekend.
Bill Burton, a spokesman for Mr Obama, accused Mr McCain of “cynically running the sleaziest and least honourable campaign in modern presidential campaign history” with his “disgusting lies”.
Mr McCain, appearing on a daytime talk show, denied that the advertisements contained lies. He said that the harsh tone of the campaign would be different if Mr Obama had accepted his invitation to appear at joint, freewheeling debates across the country during the summer.
Amid mounting concerns that attempts to undermine Mrs Palin were backfiring, Mr Obama has decided to ignore her and concentrate sharper and more aggressive attacks against Mr McCain. On Saturday, having conceded that there was a new urgency to the campaign, he continued a strategy that played on the age of Mr McCain and his ties to President Bush. A blistering memo to reporters from his campaign manager, David Plouffe, mentioned the Alaska governor in passing only.
Bill Clinton, more than two months after Mr Obama clinched the nomination, will finally make his first campaign appearances at the end of this month.
The two had their first post-primary meal together in New York on Thursday at a time when Mr Obama found himself under attack from Republicans - and a growing number of nervous Democrats - for not picking Mrs Clinton as his running-mate.
“I think he's regretting not picking her now, I do. What, what determination, and grit, and even grace through some tough shots that were fired her way,” Mrs Palin told ABC, as part of a strategy to woo women voters to the Republican ticket.
Mrs Clinton appeared for Mr Obama in Ohio yesterday, although there were lingering tensions between the two camps. There have been suggestions by some within the party that the Clintons were dragging their feet when it came to stumping for
Mr Obama. Aides to the former First Lady countered that she and her husband had simply not been asked to do very much.
Mr Obama's fundraising total for August beat his monthly record of $55 million (£31 million) and was the highest in US presidential history. It came with the addition of 500,000 donors, many of whom signed on to the campaign after the extraordinary entry of Mrs Palin into the race as the Republican vice-presidential nominee.
Although the news was a muchneeded boost for Mr Obama after a turbulent month in which he has slipped behind John McCain in the polls, Democratic strategists conceded that the race was now too close to call, with two new polls showing the candidates in a statistical tie 50 days before the election.
With a newly energised McCain campaign and Republican Party - the result of the impact of Mrs Palin on the race - and a relentless barrage of attack advertisements against Mr Obama, a growing number of Democratic strategists believed that the dream of the Illinois senator to redraw and expand the electoral map had probably ended.
Related Links
John McCain camp braced for Troopergate
‘Xena’ Palin scythes through Obama support
Former president to campaign with Obama
Instead, they said, the White House contest suddenly resembled the last two presidential elections in 2000 and 2004 - extremely close, deeply partisan and likely to be decided by a handful of big battleground states in the Midwest, particularly Ohio and Michigan, and in Pennsylvania.
Mr McCain is limited to spending, between now and election day, the $84 million supplied by the US Treasury after he opted to stay within the public financing system. Yet he will receive the help of the same outside operatives who started the devastating Swift Boat attacks against John Kerry in 2004.
Funded mainly by Harold Simmons, the Texas billionaire behind the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth organisation - which claimed that Mr Kerry had lied about his military service in Vietnam - the American Issues Project is about to start a television campaign against Mr Obama's record. It is entirely independent from the McCain campaign, but will seek to raise questions about Mr Obama's Chicago ties to William Ayers, a 1970s radical who bombed federal buildings, and his relationship with Jeremiah Wright, his controversial former pastor.
Meanwhile, liberal groups unaffiliated with the Obama campaign are about to unleash their own multimillion-dollar advertising campaign against Mr McCain.
Mr McCain started a series of advertisements against Mr Obama in recent days that his rival has called dishonest, sparking an almost hysterical note from the aides of the Democrat at the weekend.
Bill Burton, a spokesman for Mr Obama, accused Mr McCain of “cynically running the sleaziest and least honourable campaign in modern presidential campaign history” with his “disgusting lies”.
Mr McCain, appearing on a daytime talk show, denied that the advertisements contained lies. He said that the harsh tone of the campaign would be different if Mr Obama had accepted his invitation to appear at joint, freewheeling debates across the country during the summer.
Amid mounting concerns that attempts to undermine Mrs Palin were backfiring, Mr Obama has decided to ignore her and concentrate sharper and more aggressive attacks against Mr McCain. On Saturday, having conceded that there was a new urgency to the campaign, he continued a strategy that played on the age of Mr McCain and his ties to President Bush. A blistering memo to reporters from his campaign manager, David Plouffe, mentioned the Alaska governor in passing only.
Bill Clinton, more than two months after Mr Obama clinched the nomination, will finally make his first campaign appearances at the end of this month.
The two had their first post-primary meal together in New York on Thursday at a time when Mr Obama found himself under attack from Republicans - and a growing number of nervous Democrats - for not picking Mrs Clinton as his running-mate.
“I think he's regretting not picking her now, I do. What, what determination, and grit, and even grace through some tough shots that were fired her way,” Mrs Palin told ABC, as part of a strategy to woo women voters to the Republican ticket.
Mrs Clinton appeared for Mr Obama in Ohio yesterday, although there were lingering tensions between the two camps. There have been suggestions by some within the party that the Clintons were dragging their feet when it came to stumping for
Mr Obama. Aides to the former First Lady countered that she and her husband had simply not been asked to do very much.
Lehman set to go into insolvency
Preparations are being made for Lehman Brothers, the fourth-largest investment bank in the US, to file for bankruptcy.
The two strongest potential buyers appear to have pulled out of talks to rescue Lehman - the latest victim of the American credit crisis.
If no new financing comes before Wall Street opens, it will have to seek "Chapter 11" bankruptcy protection.
This could result in a severe shock to the global financial system, as banks unwind their complex deals with Lehman.
Late on Sunday the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, announced new moves to ease access to emergency credit for struggling financial companies.
The Fed said the step - which broadens the types of securities financial institutions can use to obtain emergency loans - was designed to mitigate the potential risks and disruptions to markets.
In a related move, a consortium of 10 investment banks announced a $70bn (£39bn) loan program that troubled financial companies can use to help ease the credit shortage.
BBC business editor Robert Peston on the potential implications
The banks - Bank of America, Barclays, Citibank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and UBS - each agreed to provide $7bn (£4bn) to the pool.
On Monday, Asian stock markets fell amid concerns over the fate of Lehman Brothers.
Singapore stocks dropped 2.26% in morning trading and shares in Taiwan fell 1.83%.
Markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul were closed for public holidays.
Lehman employs about 25,000 worldwide, including 5,000 in the UK.
Accountancy firm PWC has already been lined up to run the British operations of Lehman should the firm go into administration.
BBC business editor Robert Peston says UK bank Barclays' decision to walk away from a Lehman deal was a huge setback for the effort to rescue the Lehman.
Barclays terminated the negotiations because it was unable to obtain guarantees in relation to financial commitments faced by Lehman when markets open on Monday.
Bad bank, good bank
The rescue effort for Lehman was being co-ordinated by the US Treasury and the New York Federal Reserve.
No other large firm should buy Lehman whole - its toxic real estate and securities are too difficult to value
Peter MoriciUniversity of Maryland
Robert Peston's BBC blog
The US government had hoped to arrange a bailout under which other US investment banks would finance a "bad bank" that would hold the most "toxic" investments of Lehman in the property and mortgage market.
The "good bank" or rest of the firm, including its investment and wealth management arms, would then be sold to another financial institution, for example Bank of America or the UK's Barclays.
Although such a deal would have cost the other investment banks millions, it might have restored confidence in the sector and avoided a sharp drop in the share price of all banks.
However, it appears that this plan is falling apart.
"The only thing that can prevent Lehman collapsing would be a huge injection of taxpayers' money," a banker close to the talks told the BBC, but added that US Treasury Secretary "Hank Paulson has made it clear he doesn't want to do that".
Hard choices
Bank of America, meanwhile, is said to be unconvinced that buying Lehman would be in the interest of its shareholders.
Instead, according to a report in the New York Times, Bank of America is in "advanced talks" to buy investment bank Merrill Lynch for more than $38bn.
HAVE YOUR SAY
It's amazing that companies which charge high interest to cover risk still need to be bailed out by the taxpayer.
Jack, Canada
Send us your comments
Like other US investment banks Merrill has suffered losses of tens of billions of dollars in the subprime crisis, and has seen its share price plummet during recent months.
"No other large firm should buy Lehman whole - its toxic real estate and securities are too difficult to value," said Peter Morici of the business school of the University of Maryland.
Lehman is up for sale after it reported a $3.9bn (£2.2bn) quarterly loss last week amid concerns over its long term financial viability.
The firm's share price has plummeted as fears over its future have mounted.
Former Federal Reserve boss Alan Greenspan said the US government faced "very difficult decisions" over Lehman if it could not secure a rescue deal that did not involve public funds.
Yet Mr Greenspan said it would be "unsustainable" for the government to bail out every US bank that got itself into difficulty.
Predicting that Lehman would not be the last to require rescuing, Mr Greenspan added that this would not necessarily pose a problem.
"The ordinary course of financial change has winners and losers," he said.
The two strongest potential buyers appear to have pulled out of talks to rescue Lehman - the latest victim of the American credit crisis.
If no new financing comes before Wall Street opens, it will have to seek "Chapter 11" bankruptcy protection.
This could result in a severe shock to the global financial system, as banks unwind their complex deals with Lehman.
Late on Sunday the US central bank, the Federal Reserve, announced new moves to ease access to emergency credit for struggling financial companies.
The Fed said the step - which broadens the types of securities financial institutions can use to obtain emergency loans - was designed to mitigate the potential risks and disruptions to markets.
In a related move, a consortium of 10 investment banks announced a $70bn (£39bn) loan program that troubled financial companies can use to help ease the credit shortage.
BBC business editor Robert Peston on the potential implications
The banks - Bank of America, Barclays, Citibank, Credit Suisse, Deutsche Bank, Goldman Sachs, JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Morgan Stanley and UBS - each agreed to provide $7bn (£4bn) to the pool.
On Monday, Asian stock markets fell amid concerns over the fate of Lehman Brothers.
Singapore stocks dropped 2.26% in morning trading and shares in Taiwan fell 1.83%.
Markets in Tokyo, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Seoul were closed for public holidays.
Lehman employs about 25,000 worldwide, including 5,000 in the UK.
Accountancy firm PWC has already been lined up to run the British operations of Lehman should the firm go into administration.
BBC business editor Robert Peston says UK bank Barclays' decision to walk away from a Lehman deal was a huge setback for the effort to rescue the Lehman.
Barclays terminated the negotiations because it was unable to obtain guarantees in relation to financial commitments faced by Lehman when markets open on Monday.
Bad bank, good bank
The rescue effort for Lehman was being co-ordinated by the US Treasury and the New York Federal Reserve.
No other large firm should buy Lehman whole - its toxic real estate and securities are too difficult to value
Peter MoriciUniversity of Maryland
Robert Peston's BBC blog
The US government had hoped to arrange a bailout under which other US investment banks would finance a "bad bank" that would hold the most "toxic" investments of Lehman in the property and mortgage market.
The "good bank" or rest of the firm, including its investment and wealth management arms, would then be sold to another financial institution, for example Bank of America or the UK's Barclays.
Although such a deal would have cost the other investment banks millions, it might have restored confidence in the sector and avoided a sharp drop in the share price of all banks.
However, it appears that this plan is falling apart.
"The only thing that can prevent Lehman collapsing would be a huge injection of taxpayers' money," a banker close to the talks told the BBC, but added that US Treasury Secretary "Hank Paulson has made it clear he doesn't want to do that".
Hard choices
Bank of America, meanwhile, is said to be unconvinced that buying Lehman would be in the interest of its shareholders.
Instead, according to a report in the New York Times, Bank of America is in "advanced talks" to buy investment bank Merrill Lynch for more than $38bn.
HAVE YOUR SAY
It's amazing that companies which charge high interest to cover risk still need to be bailed out by the taxpayer.
Jack, Canada
Send us your comments
Like other US investment banks Merrill has suffered losses of tens of billions of dollars in the subprime crisis, and has seen its share price plummet during recent months.
"No other large firm should buy Lehman whole - its toxic real estate and securities are too difficult to value," said Peter Morici of the business school of the University of Maryland.
Lehman is up for sale after it reported a $3.9bn (£2.2bn) quarterly loss last week amid concerns over its long term financial viability.
The firm's share price has plummeted as fears over its future have mounted.
Former Federal Reserve boss Alan Greenspan said the US government faced "very difficult decisions" over Lehman if it could not secure a rescue deal that did not involve public funds.
Yet Mr Greenspan said it would be "unsustainable" for the government to bail out every US bank that got itself into difficulty.
Predicting that Lehman would not be the last to require rescuing, Mr Greenspan added that this would not necessarily pose a problem.
"The ordinary course of financial change has winners and losers," he said.
T.I.’s Baby Mama Sues Rapper For More Child Support
Rap star T.I. has been sued by his former girlfriend and mother of two of his sons claiming she is in vital need of more child support payments.
According to the Associated Press, Lashon Dixon has reportedly been receiving $2,000 a month for their two children, ages 7 and 8 . Rather than demanding a specified amount, the 29 year-old is requesting a court to order a stipend equal to Tip’s financial success.
The two allegedly grew up together since they were teenagers and were romantically involved prior to his platinum-selling status in today’s hip-hop climate. In addition to Dixon’s two sons, Tip also has two boys with fiancée and R&B singer Tameka “Tiny” Cottle.
The Atlanta-bred rapper is currently fulfilling his 1,000 hours of community service for his gun possession charges last year.
T.I.’s rep was unavailable for comment at press time.
In related news, the self proclaimed “King of the South” made his first awards show appearance since being arrested at last year’s BET Hip-Hop Awards in Atlanta at MTV’s VMA’s last weekend. He gave a star-studded performance with his Billboard record-breaking smash “Whatever You Like.” Shown walking a video hottie across the Paramount Studios backlot, visiting a fur shop, a club and finally riding in a Phantom, Tip then hit the stage to debut his new single, “Live Your Life,” with Rihanna off his upcoming release Paper Trail.
Paper Trail is currently scheduled to hit stores Tuesday, September 30 on Grand Hustle/Atlantic Records.
Kanye West Arrested At LAX For Smashing Paparazzi Cameras
Kanye West was arrested today at Los Angeles’ LAX airport on charges of felony vandalism. West was walking through the American Airlines terminal when he allegedly confronted a photographer and a struggle ensued, with the photographer yelling for help but not before West smashed his camera by throwing it to the ground. A TMZ cameraman videotaped Kanye in the act of smashing the camera, so Kanye’s bodyguard told the cameraman to give him the camera.
Usher, Tameka Foster Expecting Second Child
second child, People magazine reports.
The couple welcomed a son, Usher Raymond V, in November. Usher, 29, recently told People that he is very excited about fatherhood. "I'm so proud to be a father by the time I'm 30," he told the magazine last month. "I'd hate to be 80 years old and not be able to run with my kids. I need to still be able to do flips when they're in high school!
"Having a child just completed the story," he told the magazine. "I already had a giving heart, and I wanted to do something to mentor children."
The singer also opened up to Essence magazine in a July interview. He described his son, nicknamed Cinco, as an "extension of his union" with his wife, whom he married in August 2007.
The news comes in the wake of Usher's recent announcement that he will kick off a ladies-only tour called One Night Stand later this fall. Now that Usher is a married family man, he hopes this tour, in support of his latest album, Here I Stand, will prove that he's still sex-symbol material.
"The ladies like to see that masculine build," he said. "They question if I still got it.
"There's only a few artists that can pull that off," he added. "I feel like I've had such a connection with my audience. This album, I felt like, was definitely the type of one that was more intimate. So what better way to get up close and personal than to make it all women?"
The couple welcomed a son, Usher Raymond V, in November. Usher, 29, recently told People that he is very excited about fatherhood. "I'm so proud to be a father by the time I'm 30," he told the magazine last month. "I'd hate to be 80 years old and not be able to run with my kids. I need to still be able to do flips when they're in high school!
"Having a child just completed the story," he told the magazine. "I already had a giving heart, and I wanted to do something to mentor children."
The singer also opened up to Essence magazine in a July interview. He described his son, nicknamed Cinco, as an "extension of his union" with his wife, whom he married in August 2007.
The news comes in the wake of Usher's recent announcement that he will kick off a ladies-only tour called One Night Stand later this fall. Now that Usher is a married family man, he hopes this tour, in support of his latest album, Here I Stand, will prove that he's still sex-symbol material.
"The ladies like to see that masculine build," he said. "They question if I still got it.
"There's only a few artists that can pull that off," he added. "I feel like I've had such a connection with my audience. This album, I felt like, was definitely the type of one that was more intimate. So what better way to get up close and personal than to make it all women?"
Facebook unveils new look with a new approach
SAN FRANCISCO - Since he started Facebook in college 4 1/2 years ago, Mark Zuckerberg has learned — sometimes painfully — that he can't make significant changes to the popular online hangout without triggering an uproar among indignant users who preferred the status quo.
But Zuckerberg, still only 24, is hoping he has found a way to ease the journey down a different road so he won't have to issue public apologies like he did in each of the previous two years after springing new products on users.
His theory will face a major test Wednesday when Facebook will begin forcing its 100 million users to adapt to a redesigned Web site, whether they like the new look or not.
Since unveiling the makeover seven weeks ago, Facebook had left it up to users to decide whether they wanted to switch over. If they didn't like what they saw, the converts could just click on a link to switch back to the old format.
But that option will be taken away from all users by the end of the week, a shift that Zuckerberg already knows will alienate some of Facebook's audience and raise the risk of driving more traffic to rival social networks like MySpace and Bebo.
"Any change can be a big deal to our users because this how they connect with their family and friends," Zuckerberg said. "So when you move things around, it can be perceived as being not a positive thing even when it's a positive change."
About 40 million users already have checked out the new design and about 30 million embraced it without reverting to the old look, Zuckerberg said.
But the seeds of an uprising already have been planted on Facebook's own site, where several groups and petitions have cropped up to protest the change.
"It's not that we don't want change, period, it's that we don't like these particular changes," said Scott Sanders, 19, an Austin Peay University student who started one of the petitions opposing the redesign. "You have to navigate more and you have to click more to get to personal profiles. It's too much effort to get to basic information."
Facebook's facelift separates users' personal profiles into different areas of the site and provides more tools that are meant to make it easier to share information and photos.
The revisions also shift various applications to the bottom of a person's home page and clears up more white space — a move that Sanders worries will lead to more intrusive advertising on the site, although Zuckerberg says that won't happen.
Hoping to minimize the sting of the anticipated backlash, Facebook announced the planned makeover in May and then waited until July to take the wraps off. The transition period since then was aimed at giving users time to make suggestions and get used to the change.
The gradual approach differed from how Zuckerberg and the rest of Facebook's unusually young management team have managed past revisions to the site.
In 2006, the Palo Alto-based startup infuriated thousands of users by introducing a tool called "news feeds" that automatically broadcast certain personal details. Last year, Facebook faced another revolt when it rolled out a tracking device, dubbed "Beacon," that tracked and shared information about users' shopping habits and other activities at other Web sites.
In both instances, Zuckerberg wound up apologizing for going too far and placated the protesters by giving more control over news feeds and Beacon. News feeds are now considered indispensable by many users, but Beacon still hasn't gained traction.
With Facebook's audience now roughly 10 times larger than when news feeds first came out two years ago, Zuckerberg understood he needed to do a better job preparing for changes.
"There is more weight on making things smooth when you are dealing with 100 million people," he said. "No one cared as much when a bunch of students from a few colleges were complaining about some changes to some Web site."
Although he is still hoping to persuade Zuckerberg to retreat from some of the changes included in the redesign, Sanders suspects resistance might be futile this time.
"I definitely won't stop using Facebook because it's still the best social network out there," said Sanders, who has been using the site for two years. "People will probably protest the changes in the beginning, but then they will just get used to them."
But Zuckerberg, still only 24, is hoping he has found a way to ease the journey down a different road so he won't have to issue public apologies like he did in each of the previous two years after springing new products on users.
His theory will face a major test Wednesday when Facebook will begin forcing its 100 million users to adapt to a redesigned Web site, whether they like the new look or not.
Since unveiling the makeover seven weeks ago, Facebook had left it up to users to decide whether they wanted to switch over. If they didn't like what they saw, the converts could just click on a link to switch back to the old format.
But that option will be taken away from all users by the end of the week, a shift that Zuckerberg already knows will alienate some of Facebook's audience and raise the risk of driving more traffic to rival social networks like MySpace and Bebo.
"Any change can be a big deal to our users because this how they connect with their family and friends," Zuckerberg said. "So when you move things around, it can be perceived as being not a positive thing even when it's a positive change."
About 40 million users already have checked out the new design and about 30 million embraced it without reverting to the old look, Zuckerberg said.
But the seeds of an uprising already have been planted on Facebook's own site, where several groups and petitions have cropped up to protest the change.
"It's not that we don't want change, period, it's that we don't like these particular changes," said Scott Sanders, 19, an Austin Peay University student who started one of the petitions opposing the redesign. "You have to navigate more and you have to click more to get to personal profiles. It's too much effort to get to basic information."
Facebook's facelift separates users' personal profiles into different areas of the site and provides more tools that are meant to make it easier to share information and photos.
The revisions also shift various applications to the bottom of a person's home page and clears up more white space — a move that Sanders worries will lead to more intrusive advertising on the site, although Zuckerberg says that won't happen.
Hoping to minimize the sting of the anticipated backlash, Facebook announced the planned makeover in May and then waited until July to take the wraps off. The transition period since then was aimed at giving users time to make suggestions and get used to the change.
The gradual approach differed from how Zuckerberg and the rest of Facebook's unusually young management team have managed past revisions to the site.
In 2006, the Palo Alto-based startup infuriated thousands of users by introducing a tool called "news feeds" that automatically broadcast certain personal details. Last year, Facebook faced another revolt when it rolled out a tracking device, dubbed "Beacon," that tracked and shared information about users' shopping habits and other activities at other Web sites.
In both instances, Zuckerberg wound up apologizing for going too far and placated the protesters by giving more control over news feeds and Beacon. News feeds are now considered indispensable by many users, but Beacon still hasn't gained traction.
With Facebook's audience now roughly 10 times larger than when news feeds first came out two years ago, Zuckerberg understood he needed to do a better job preparing for changes.
"There is more weight on making things smooth when you are dealing with 100 million people," he said. "No one cared as much when a bunch of students from a few colleges were complaining about some changes to some Web site."
Although he is still hoping to persuade Zuckerberg to retreat from some of the changes included in the redesign, Sanders suspects resistance might be futile this time.
"I definitely won't stop using Facebook because it's still the best social network out there," said Sanders, who has been using the site for two years. "People will probably protest the changes in the beginning, but then they will just get used to them."
Obama win preferred in world poll
All 22 countries in a BBC World Service poll would prefer Democratic nominee Barack Obama to be US president, ahead of his Republican rival John McCain.
Mr Obama was favoured by a four-to-one margin across the 22,500 people polled.
In 17 of the 22 countries surveyed the most common view was that America's relations with the rest of the world would improve under a President Obama.
If Mr McCain were elected, the most common view in 19 countries was that relations would remain about the same.
The poll was conducted before the Democratic and Republican parties held their conventions and before the headline-grabbing nomination of Sarah Palin as Mr McCain's running mate.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the results could therefore be a reflection of the greater media focus on Mr Obama as he competed for the presidential candidacy against Hillary Clinton.
International ties
The margin of those in favour of Mr Obama winning November's US election ranged from 9% in India to 82% in Kenya, which is the birthplace of the Illinois senator's father.
On average 49% preferred Mr Obama to 12% in favour of Mr McCain. Nearly four in 10 of those polled did not take a view.
Some 30% of Americans expected relations to improve under Mr McCain
On average 46% thought US relations with the world would improve with Mr Obama in the White House, 22% that ties would stay the same, while seven per cent expected relations to worsen.
Only 20% thought ties would get better if Mr McCain were in the Oval Office.
The expectation that a McCain presidency would improve US relations with the world was the most common view, by a modest margin, only in China, India and Nigeria.
But across the board, the largest number - 37% - thought relations under a president McCain would stay the same, while 16% expected them to deteriorate.
In no country did most people think that a McCain presidency would worsen relations.
US poll
Oddly, in Turkey more people thought US relations would worsen with an Obama presidency than under Mr McCain, even though most Turks polled preferred Mr Obama to win.
In Egypt, Lebanon, Russia and Singapore, the predominant expectation was that relations would remain the same if Mr Obama won the election.
The countries most optimistic that an Obama presidency would improve ties were US Nato allies - Canada (69%), Italy (64%), France (62%), Germany (61%), and the UK (54%) - as well as Australia (62%), along with Kenya (87%) and Nigeria (71%).
When asked whether the election as president of the African-American Mr Obama would "fundamentally change" their perception of the US, 46% said it would while 27% said it would not.
The US public was polled separately and Americans also believed an Obama presidency would improve US ties with the world more than a McCain presidency.
Forty-six per cent of Americans expected relations to get better if Mr Obama were elected and 30% if Mr McCain won the White House.
A similar poll conducted for BBC World Service ahead of the 2004 US presidential election found most countries would have preferred to see Democratic nominee John Kerry beat the incumbent George W Bush.
At the time, the Philippines, Nigeria and Poland were among the few countries to favour Mr Bush's re-election. All three now favour Mr Obama over Mr McCain.
In total 22,531 citizens were polled in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, the UAE and the UK. A parallel survey was conducted with 1,000 US adults.
Polling firm GlobeScan and the Program on International Policy Attitudes carried out the survey between July and August.
Mr Obama was favoured by a four-to-one margin across the 22,500 people polled.
In 17 of the 22 countries surveyed the most common view was that America's relations with the rest of the world would improve under a President Obama.
If Mr McCain were elected, the most common view in 19 countries was that relations would remain about the same.
The poll was conducted before the Democratic and Republican parties held their conventions and before the headline-grabbing nomination of Sarah Palin as Mr McCain's running mate.
BBC diplomatic correspondent Jonathan Marcus says the results could therefore be a reflection of the greater media focus on Mr Obama as he competed for the presidential candidacy against Hillary Clinton.
International ties
The margin of those in favour of Mr Obama winning November's US election ranged from 9% in India to 82% in Kenya, which is the birthplace of the Illinois senator's father.
On average 49% preferred Mr Obama to 12% in favour of Mr McCain. Nearly four in 10 of those polled did not take a view.
Some 30% of Americans expected relations to improve under Mr McCain
On average 46% thought US relations with the world would improve with Mr Obama in the White House, 22% that ties would stay the same, while seven per cent expected relations to worsen.
Only 20% thought ties would get better if Mr McCain were in the Oval Office.
The expectation that a McCain presidency would improve US relations with the world was the most common view, by a modest margin, only in China, India and Nigeria.
But across the board, the largest number - 37% - thought relations under a president McCain would stay the same, while 16% expected them to deteriorate.
In no country did most people think that a McCain presidency would worsen relations.
US poll
Oddly, in Turkey more people thought US relations would worsen with an Obama presidency than under Mr McCain, even though most Turks polled preferred Mr Obama to win.
In Egypt, Lebanon, Russia and Singapore, the predominant expectation was that relations would remain the same if Mr Obama won the election.
The countries most optimistic that an Obama presidency would improve ties were US Nato allies - Canada (69%), Italy (64%), France (62%), Germany (61%), and the UK (54%) - as well as Australia (62%), along with Kenya (87%) and Nigeria (71%).
When asked whether the election as president of the African-American Mr Obama would "fundamentally change" their perception of the US, 46% said it would while 27% said it would not.
The US public was polled separately and Americans also believed an Obama presidency would improve US ties with the world more than a McCain presidency.
Forty-six per cent of Americans expected relations to get better if Mr Obama were elected and 30% if Mr McCain won the White House.
A similar poll conducted for BBC World Service ahead of the 2004 US presidential election found most countries would have preferred to see Democratic nominee John Kerry beat the incumbent George W Bush.
At the time, the Philippines, Nigeria and Poland were among the few countries to favour Mr Bush's re-election. All three now favour Mr Obama over Mr McCain.
In total 22,531 citizens were polled in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Kenya, Lebanon, Mexico, Nigeria, Panama, the Philippines, Poland, Russia, Singapore, Turkey, the UAE and the UK. A parallel survey was conducted with 1,000 US adults.
Polling firm GlobeScan and the Program on International Policy Attitudes carried out the survey between July and August.
Ciara poses nude
Ciara has found a failsafe way to focus attention on her forthcoming third LP, Fantasy Ride: The singer appears nude (albeit with parts of her body strategically covered) on the cover of the October issue of Vibe magazine.
And the revelations don’t end there: The 22-year-old singer — who has been rumored to be romantically linked with 50 Cent — also talks about fame and her love life in the magazine, which hits newsstands on September 16.
More on Ciara, plus the controversial photo, after the jump.
According to a press release, Ciara addresses her relationship with 50 in the article, but we guess we’ll have to wait till the magazine arrives to find out what she said! She did, however, confirm that she and producer Jazzy Pha are no longer an item.
The singer also divulged her motto when it comes to dating: “You don’t have to sell yourself out,” she said. “Take your time to get to know somebody before you involve the physical aspect … it’s just not the way to start off. It creates confusion.
“When you subtract those things,” she continued, “it allows you to focus more on who the person is.”
The singer also provided some info about her forthcoming new LP, which she described as more eclectic than her previous efforts, and noted that some new producers came on board. “You’re gonna get more attitude, more aggressiveness — everything is intensified,” she said. “You get your sensual vibe. You’re gonna get the street, you’re gonna get the ‘hood.”
Ciara also talked about dealing with public scrutiny — including a bizarre rumor she heard that the Vibe cover should put to rest once and for all. “I was meticulous about the things I would share, but people are gonna say what they wanna say … they said I was a man!” she laughed. “It doesn’t get any worse than that.”
Ciara will be a presenter at Sunday’s Video Music Awards, along with Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson, Olympian Michael Phelps, “High School Musical” stars Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, and many more!
And the revelations don’t end there: The 22-year-old singer — who has been rumored to be romantically linked with 50 Cent — also talks about fame and her love life in the magazine, which hits newsstands on September 16.
More on Ciara, plus the controversial photo, after the jump.
According to a press release, Ciara addresses her relationship with 50 in the article, but we guess we’ll have to wait till the magazine arrives to find out what she said! She did, however, confirm that she and producer Jazzy Pha are no longer an item.
The singer also divulged her motto when it comes to dating: “You don’t have to sell yourself out,” she said. “Take your time to get to know somebody before you involve the physical aspect … it’s just not the way to start off. It creates confusion.
“When you subtract those things,” she continued, “it allows you to focus more on who the person is.”
The singer also provided some info about her forthcoming new LP, which she described as more eclectic than her previous efforts, and noted that some new producers came on board. “You’re gonna get more attitude, more aggressiveness — everything is intensified,” she said. “You get your sensual vibe. You’re gonna get the street, you’re gonna get the ‘hood.”
Ciara also talked about dealing with public scrutiny — including a bizarre rumor she heard that the Vibe cover should put to rest once and for all. “I was meticulous about the things I would share, but people are gonna say what they wanna say … they said I was a man!” she laughed. “It doesn’t get any worse than that.”
Ciara will be a presenter at Sunday’s Video Music Awards, along with Lindsay Lohan, Scarlett Johansson, Olympian Michael Phelps, “High School Musical” stars Ashley Tisdale, Corbin Bleu, Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens, and many more!
Jacksons reunite at BMI Urban Awards
The Jacksons were crowned icons at the BMI Urban Awards, but the King of Pop was an absentee.
Janet Jackson presented her music-making brothers — Michael, Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Jermaine and Randy — with the lifetime achievement BMI Icon award following a musical tribute at the award show celebrating R&B and hip-hop's top hitmakers. While Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Randy reunited Thursday to accept the award, Jermaine and Michael didn't attend the Wilshire Theatre ceremony.
Where was the Moonwalker?
"I don't know," Marlon told The Associated Press before the show. "I think he's in Egypt riding a camel or something."
The Jackson Five — which included Michael along with Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine — was a groundbreaking, best-selling act that debuted on the 1969 album "Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5." The group simply became the Jacksons after leaving Motown in 1976, replacing Jermaine with Randy. They continued their multiplatinum success with such hits as "ABC" and "I Want You Back."
"It's a great honor to know your music influenced a generation," said Tito. "We're very proud of this moment."
The tribute kicked off with dance troupe Jabbawockeez performing a funky "Dancing Machine" routine. Music group ONE sang "I Want You Back." JoJo and Lloyd partnered on "I'll Be There" before Mario unleashed a high-energy rendition of "Heartbreak Hotel" and Keri Hilson crooned "Who's Loving You." The finale featured Mario, Bobby Valentino, Lloyd and Ray J teaming up for "Never Can Say Goodbye."
Before presenting her brothers with the award, Janet said her family was her greatest commodity and that she was proud to salute her siblings for their accomplishments in the music industry.
Following the acceptance of the icon award, the Jackson brothers posed on stage for photos with father Joseph, mother Katherine and sisters Janet, LaToya and Rebbie. The Jacksons did not perform.
Other BMI Urban Award winners included Soulja Boy, Polow Da Don, Rodney Jerkins and DJ Montay. Song of the year was awarded to Ne-Yo, Espen Lind and Amund Bjorklund for "Irreplaceable." Jonathan "J.R." Rotem, Kanye West and T-Pain were honored as producers of the year. T-Pain was also selected as songwriter of the year. Universal Music Publishing Group was given the publisher of the year award.
BMI — Broadcast Music Inc. — is a performing rights organization that collects license fees on behalf of its songwriters, composers and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed.
Janet Jackson presented her music-making brothers — Michael, Tito, Jackie, Marlon, Jermaine and Randy — with the lifetime achievement BMI Icon award following a musical tribute at the award show celebrating R&B and hip-hop's top hitmakers. While Tito, Jackie, Marlon and Randy reunited Thursday to accept the award, Jermaine and Michael didn't attend the Wilshire Theatre ceremony.
Where was the Moonwalker?
"I don't know," Marlon told The Associated Press before the show. "I think he's in Egypt riding a camel or something."
The Jackson Five — which included Michael along with Marlon, Jackie, Tito and Jermaine — was a groundbreaking, best-selling act that debuted on the 1969 album "Diana Ross Presents The Jackson 5." The group simply became the Jacksons after leaving Motown in 1976, replacing Jermaine with Randy. They continued their multiplatinum success with such hits as "ABC" and "I Want You Back."
"It's a great honor to know your music influenced a generation," said Tito. "We're very proud of this moment."
The tribute kicked off with dance troupe Jabbawockeez performing a funky "Dancing Machine" routine. Music group ONE sang "I Want You Back." JoJo and Lloyd partnered on "I'll Be There" before Mario unleashed a high-energy rendition of "Heartbreak Hotel" and Keri Hilson crooned "Who's Loving You." The finale featured Mario, Bobby Valentino, Lloyd and Ray J teaming up for "Never Can Say Goodbye."
Before presenting her brothers with the award, Janet said her family was her greatest commodity and that she was proud to salute her siblings for their accomplishments in the music industry.
Following the acceptance of the icon award, the Jackson brothers posed on stage for photos with father Joseph, mother Katherine and sisters Janet, LaToya and Rebbie. The Jacksons did not perform.
Other BMI Urban Award winners included Soulja Boy, Polow Da Don, Rodney Jerkins and DJ Montay. Song of the year was awarded to Ne-Yo, Espen Lind and Amund Bjorklund for "Irreplaceable." Jonathan "J.R." Rotem, Kanye West and T-Pain were honored as producers of the year. T-Pain was also selected as songwriter of the year. Universal Music Publishing Group was given the publisher of the year award.
BMI — Broadcast Music Inc. — is a performing rights organization that collects license fees on behalf of its songwriters, composers and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed.
Google turns up heat on Microsoft with Chrome's global debut
Google has declared war on Microsoft with the launch across the world last night of its new web browser.
As the first internet users tried out the free Chrome browser, analysts predicted a new front line in the battle to dominate the way in which users access and interact with the web.
Google has been working on the browser project for some years, but decided that, with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser hoarding three quarters of the market, there was no more time to lose. Consumers in 100 countries began to download the software last night after its existence was leaked a day early, when Google prematurely sent out by post a comic designed to explain its features.
Related Links
Review: intuitive system that guards against crashes
'Kangaroo' plans leap into new era for web TV
Microsoft browser could hit Google
Chrome is designed to run on Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Versions for other systems, including Apple’s Mac, are in the pipeline.
Microsoft unveiled a test version of its latest browser update Internet Explorer 8 last week. Updates included more tools for surfers to hide their online preferences, which could cut into the profits from targeted advertisements produced by Google.
Microsoft dismissed the threat posed by Chrome. Dean Hachamovitch, Internet Explorer’s manager, said: “The browser landscape is highly competitive, but people will choose Internet Explorer 8 for the way it puts the services they want right at their fingertips . . . and, more than any other browsing technology, puts them in control of their personal data online.”
Chrome promises to load pages more quickly and securely and includes a new engine for loading interactive JavaScript code, dubbed V8, designed to run the next generation of not-yet-invented web applications.
Google is pitching its browser as the new tool for the modern internet, with all its rich content, such as video and music. Sundar Pichai, vice-president of product management, said: “Google Chrome was built for today’s web and for the applications of tomorrow. We think of the browser as the window to the web — it’s a tool for users to interact with the websites and applications they care about, and it’s important that we don’t get in the way of that experience.”
That desire to become a kind of operating system for the emerging “cloud computing” world will set alarm bells ringing at Microsoft. Essentially, Google wants to tap into a growing trend for computing functions to take place not on individual desktops but on the internet itself (“the cloud”). Chrome could become part of a strategy to accelerate that process and make Microsoft’s software less useful.
Eric Tholomé, a Google product management director, said last night that browsers had become the pinch point through which frustrated Google engineers had to work, so they had decided to reinvent the product.
Although Google has a lucrative lead in internet searches, with about two thirds of the global market, it has been trying to extend its reach with a bundle of computer programs, including word-processing and spreadsheet applications, such as Google Docs. This is in direct competition with one of Microsoft’s biggest money-makers, its Office products suite, which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Google has offered its products free over internet connections instead of requiring users to pay a licensing fee to install them on individual computers, as Microsoft typically does.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has tried to thwart Google by investing billions of dollars in the development of its own search engine. Microsoft’s doomed attempt to buy Yahoo! would have also boosted its ability to take on Google.
The last big browser war was won by Microsoft when it gained dominance in the 1990s against Netscape Navigator.
Until now, Google had been trying to undermine Internet Explorer by supporting Firefox, a web browser developed by the open-source Mozilla Foundation. According to estimates by Net Applications, the research firm, Internet Explorer is used by 74 per cent of computer users worldwide, against 18 per cent for Firefox. Google has recently extended its advertising alliance with Firefox to 2011.
Although not everything that Google touches turns to gold, analysts predicted that Chrome would be a formidable rival to Internet Explorer. Henry Blodget, of Silicon Alley Insider, said: “If you’re thinking about Chrome as just another web browser, you’re missing the larger point.
“In a couple of years, you won’t be downloading Google’s ‘browser’.
You’ll be downloading Google’s software — or, rather, you’ll be clicking on a series of Google icons that come pre-installed. Specifically, you’ll be working within a Google software environment that works sort of like Windows.”
Google says that “this is just the beginning” for Chrome. However, it will live or die on its merits. Millions are expected to download the software from www.google.com/chrome in the next few days, but it will take something pretty special to beat the inertia of all those users who have Internet Explorer already on their computers. The real test for Google began last night in the massive public test of Chrome: does it work? Is it fast and functional?
As the first internet users tried out the free Chrome browser, analysts predicted a new front line in the battle to dominate the way in which users access and interact with the web.
Google has been working on the browser project for some years, but decided that, with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer browser hoarding three quarters of the market, there was no more time to lose. Consumers in 100 countries began to download the software last night after its existence was leaked a day early, when Google prematurely sent out by post a comic designed to explain its features.
Related Links
Review: intuitive system that guards against crashes
'Kangaroo' plans leap into new era for web TV
Microsoft browser could hit Google
Chrome is designed to run on Microsoft’s Windows operating system. Versions for other systems, including Apple’s Mac, are in the pipeline.
Microsoft unveiled a test version of its latest browser update Internet Explorer 8 last week. Updates included more tools for surfers to hide their online preferences, which could cut into the profits from targeted advertisements produced by Google.
Microsoft dismissed the threat posed by Chrome. Dean Hachamovitch, Internet Explorer’s manager, said: “The browser landscape is highly competitive, but people will choose Internet Explorer 8 for the way it puts the services they want right at their fingertips . . . and, more than any other browsing technology, puts them in control of their personal data online.”
Chrome promises to load pages more quickly and securely and includes a new engine for loading interactive JavaScript code, dubbed V8, designed to run the next generation of not-yet-invented web applications.
Google is pitching its browser as the new tool for the modern internet, with all its rich content, such as video and music. Sundar Pichai, vice-president of product management, said: “Google Chrome was built for today’s web and for the applications of tomorrow. We think of the browser as the window to the web — it’s a tool for users to interact with the websites and applications they care about, and it’s important that we don’t get in the way of that experience.”
That desire to become a kind of operating system for the emerging “cloud computing” world will set alarm bells ringing at Microsoft. Essentially, Google wants to tap into a growing trend for computing functions to take place not on individual desktops but on the internet itself (“the cloud”). Chrome could become part of a strategy to accelerate that process and make Microsoft’s software less useful.
Eric Tholomé, a Google product management director, said last night that browsers had become the pinch point through which frustrated Google engineers had to work, so they had decided to reinvent the product.
Although Google has a lucrative lead in internet searches, with about two thirds of the global market, it has been trying to extend its reach with a bundle of computer programs, including word-processing and spreadsheet applications, such as Google Docs. This is in direct competition with one of Microsoft’s biggest money-makers, its Office products suite, which includes Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Google has offered its products free over internet connections instead of requiring users to pay a licensing fee to install them on individual computers, as Microsoft typically does.
Meanwhile, Microsoft has tried to thwart Google by investing billions of dollars in the development of its own search engine. Microsoft’s doomed attempt to buy Yahoo! would have also boosted its ability to take on Google.
The last big browser war was won by Microsoft when it gained dominance in the 1990s against Netscape Navigator.
Until now, Google had been trying to undermine Internet Explorer by supporting Firefox, a web browser developed by the open-source Mozilla Foundation. According to estimates by Net Applications, the research firm, Internet Explorer is used by 74 per cent of computer users worldwide, against 18 per cent for Firefox. Google has recently extended its advertising alliance with Firefox to 2011.
Although not everything that Google touches turns to gold, analysts predicted that Chrome would be a formidable rival to Internet Explorer. Henry Blodget, of Silicon Alley Insider, said: “If you’re thinking about Chrome as just another web browser, you’re missing the larger point.
“In a couple of years, you won’t be downloading Google’s ‘browser’.
You’ll be downloading Google’s software — or, rather, you’ll be clicking on a series of Google icons that come pre-installed. Specifically, you’ll be working within a Google software environment that works sort of like Windows.”
Google says that “this is just the beginning” for Chrome. However, it will live or die on its merits. Millions are expected to download the software from www.google.com/chrome in the next few days, but it will take something pretty special to beat the inertia of all those users who have Internet Explorer already on their computers. The real test for Google began last night in the massive public test of Chrome: does it work? Is it fast and functional?
Bush backs McCain for president
President George W Bush has praised John McCain's service and leadership in a speech to the Republican convention.
Speaking via video-link from the White House, he told delegates in St Paul, Minnesota, that Senator McCain was "a great American and the next president".
Mr McCain is due to be nominated on Thursday as the party's presidential candidate for the 4 November election.
Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2000, said Mr McCain was the man to unite the US.
In his eight-minute address, Mr Bush described Mr McCain as a president ready to make the tough decisions needed "in a dangerous world".
John McCain's life is a story of service above self
President George W Bush
Speech in full: George W Bush
Wife's role in the show
Republican Convention diary
Convention in pictures
"John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation," Mr Bush said.
He also spoke of Mr McCain's life as "a story of service above self" and emphasised the "independence and character" he showed in backing the administration's "surge" strategy of pouring more forces into Iraq.
President Bush cancelled his planned opening night speech amid concerns that overt political campaigning would play badly with voters when the US Gulf Coast was suffering the effects of Hurricane Gustav.
But many Republicans would have been glad he was not there in person, as the convention aims to define Mr McCain as very different to his unpopular predecessor, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in St Paul.
Bipartisan politics
Giving the night's keynote speech, Mr Lieberman spoke of Mr McCain as "the best choice to bring our country together and lead our country forward".
Mr Lieberman - a former Democrat who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000 - told those who wondered what he was doing at a Republican convention: "I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party."
Senator Lieberman on why he backs John McCain
He praised Mr McCain for his independence, commitment to bipartisan politics and determination to root out corruption and fight special interests in Washington.
"Only one leader has shown the courage and the capability to rise above the smallness of our politics and get big things done for our country and our people," Mr Lieberman said.
Mr Lieberman described the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, as a "gifted and eloquent young man", but added: "Eloquence is no substitute for a record, not in these tough times."
Former Senator Fred Thompson, who ran against Mr McCain in the party's primaries, delivered fierce criticism of the Democrats.
Mr Obama, he said, was "the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president".
Mr Thompson praised Mr McCain's military service, his courage while a prisoner of war in Vietnam and his commitment to reform in Washington.
He also rounded on the media for their scrutiny of Mr McCain's vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin, and her family.
Speaking via video-link from the White House, he told delegates in St Paul, Minnesota, that Senator McCain was "a great American and the next president".
Mr McCain is due to be nominated on Thursday as the party's presidential candidate for the 4 November election.
Senator Joe Lieberman, the Democratic vice-presidential nominee in 2000, said Mr McCain was the man to unite the US.
In his eight-minute address, Mr Bush described Mr McCain as a president ready to make the tough decisions needed "in a dangerous world".
John McCain's life is a story of service above self
President George W Bush
Speech in full: George W Bush
Wife's role in the show
Republican Convention diary
Convention in pictures
"John McCain's life has prepared him to make those choices. He is ready to lead this nation," Mr Bush said.
He also spoke of Mr McCain's life as "a story of service above self" and emphasised the "independence and character" he showed in backing the administration's "surge" strategy of pouring more forces into Iraq.
President Bush cancelled his planned opening night speech amid concerns that overt political campaigning would play badly with voters when the US Gulf Coast was suffering the effects of Hurricane Gustav.
But many Republicans would have been glad he was not there in person, as the convention aims to define Mr McCain as very different to his unpopular predecessor, says the BBC's Adam Brookes in St Paul.
Bipartisan politics
Giving the night's keynote speech, Mr Lieberman spoke of Mr McCain as "the best choice to bring our country together and lead our country forward".
Mr Lieberman - a former Democrat who was Al Gore's running mate in 2000 - told those who wondered what he was doing at a Republican convention: "I'm here to support John McCain because country matters more than party."
Senator Lieberman on why he backs John McCain
He praised Mr McCain for his independence, commitment to bipartisan politics and determination to root out corruption and fight special interests in Washington.
"Only one leader has shown the courage and the capability to rise above the smallness of our politics and get big things done for our country and our people," Mr Lieberman said.
Mr Lieberman described the Democratic presidential candidate, Barack Obama, as a "gifted and eloquent young man", but added: "Eloquence is no substitute for a record, not in these tough times."
Former Senator Fred Thompson, who ran against Mr McCain in the party's primaries, delivered fierce criticism of the Democrats.
Mr Obama, he said, was "the most liberal, most inexperienced nominee to ever run for president".
Mr Thompson praised Mr McCain's military service, his courage while a prisoner of war in Vietnam and his commitment to reform in Washington.
He also rounded on the media for their scrutiny of Mr McCain's vice presidential choice, Sarah Palin, and her family.
Facebook's Live Feed challenges FriendFeed, Twitter
Facebook has recently launched a new feature that takes aim at life-streaming sites FriendFeed and Twitter. Facebook's Live Feed is an evolved version of its hugely popular News Feed feature.
Found via a tab on the Facebook homepage, Live Feed loads up all of the stories from your friends and updates the list in real-time. The feed is available in Log Mode (seen above) or the more traditional Full Stories. When one of your friends does something, Live Feed slides everything down, making room for the new story, which fades in. The stream is very cool to watch roll down the screen and makes good use of the classic Web 2.0 AJAXy feel.
It's no secret that Facebook has been pushing its microblogging and life-streaming features to the forefront of the site recently. Facebook's "What are you doing right now?" feature is extremely similar to Twitter and its commenting system for news items is very reminiscent of FriendFeed. Facebook's implementation of Live Feed makes it a lot easier to watch what all of your friends are doing.
FriendFeed and Twitter are both very good at what they do, but have yet to gain the mainstream appeal that Facebook enjoys. Facebook is adding another feature that FriendFeed has long had and that has very similar functionality to Summize (nowTwitter Search), so maybe it's time for them to start getting worried. By exposing its large user base to these features that FriendFeed and Twitter have perfected, Facebook poses a real threat.
Barack Obama
Barack Obama's spokesman fired off a fast criticism of Republican John McCain's new running mate Friday, but the Democratic candidate himself quickly stepped in to offer her congratulations and praise.
Obama, who is eager to win over female voters who backed his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primaries, blamed the mixed messages about McCain's choice, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on campaign aides with a "hair trigger."
He and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, followed up with congratulatory phone calls to Palin.
McCain made his surprise announcement moments before Obama flew from Denver with Biden and their wives. Fresh off Obama's nomination acceptance speech before 84,000 people Thursday night, the foursome launched a three-day bus tour of crucial industrial states, which began with a visit to a biodiesel fuel plant near Pittsburgh.
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As the plane was lifting off from Denver, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement calling Palin an abortion-rights opponent and "the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience."
Soon thereafter, with the plane over the Midwest, a spokeswoman gave reporters on board a much kinder statement from Biden and Obama.
"Her selection is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics," their statement said. "While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward, Gov. Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."
After touring the steamy biodiesel fuel plant in Monaca, Pa., Obama offered reporters still another comment on Palin.
He has not met her, he said, but "she seems like a compelling person. Obviously a terrific story, personal story. And I'm sure that she will help make the case for the Republicans. Unfortunately, the case is more of the same," an allusion to his theme that McCain will continue Bush administration policies.
Palin's selection, Obama said, "is one more indicator of this country moving forward. The fact that you've got a woman" as the "vice presidential nominee of one of the major parties, I think, is one more hit against that glass ceiling."
Clinton often says she made "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling," a reference to the number of votes she won in primaries as she sought to become the nation's first female president.
Asked why Burton's statement had been far more critical of Palin, Obama said, "I think, you know, campaigns start getting these hair triggers. And the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments."
In his telephone call to Palin, Obama "told her she would be a terrific candidate," campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs said later. "He also wished her good luck, but not too much luck."
Spokesmen said Biden also called Palin to congratulate her.
When Obama named Biden his running mate earlier this month, McCain congratulated the Delaware senator while many of his surrogates criticized Biden. Since then, the barbs between Obama and McCain have grown sharper.
In Monaca, Obama, Biden and their wives stopped at an industrial warehouse where chicken fat is converted to tractor fuel. The visit made two things clear: Western Pennsylvania, where Clinton easily bested Obama in the primary, will be hotly contested in the fall campaign, and energy will be a top campaign issue, because the two parties disagree over which new energy sources should be pursued hardest.
At an evening rally with several thousand people in Beaver, floodlights bathed a bunting-draped bandstand where Obama repeated several of his themes from Denver.
He noted that McCain has vowed to purse Osama bin Laden "to the gates of hell."
"Well, he should start by going to where Osama bin Laden actually lives," Obama said, in mountain caves "between Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Obama, who is eager to win over female voters who backed his rival Hillary Rodham Clinton in the primaries, blamed the mixed messages about McCain's choice, Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, on campaign aides with a "hair trigger."
He and his running mate, Sen. Joe Biden of Delaware, followed up with congratulatory phone calls to Palin.
McCain made his surprise announcement moments before Obama flew from Denver with Biden and their wives. Fresh off Obama's nomination acceptance speech before 84,000 people Thursday night, the foursome launched a three-day bus tour of crucial industrial states, which began with a visit to a biodiesel fuel plant near Pittsburgh.
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As the plane was lifting off from Denver, Obama campaign spokesman Bill Burton issued a statement calling Palin an abortion-rights opponent and "the former mayor of a town of 9,000 with zero foreign policy experience."
Soon thereafter, with the plane over the Midwest, a spokeswoman gave reporters on board a much kinder statement from Biden and Obama.
"Her selection is yet another encouraging sign that old barriers are falling in our politics," their statement said. "While we obviously have differences over how best to lead this country forward, Gov. Palin is an admirable person and will add a compelling new voice to this campaign."
After touring the steamy biodiesel fuel plant in Monaca, Pa., Obama offered reporters still another comment on Palin.
He has not met her, he said, but "she seems like a compelling person. Obviously a terrific story, personal story. And I'm sure that she will help make the case for the Republicans. Unfortunately, the case is more of the same," an allusion to his theme that McCain will continue Bush administration policies.
Palin's selection, Obama said, "is one more indicator of this country moving forward. The fact that you've got a woman" as the "vice presidential nominee of one of the major parties, I think, is one more hit against that glass ceiling."
Clinton often says she made "18 million cracks in the glass ceiling," a reference to the number of votes she won in primaries as she sought to become the nation's first female president.
Asked why Burton's statement had been far more critical of Palin, Obama said, "I think, you know, campaigns start getting these hair triggers. And the statement that Joe and I put out reflects our sentiments."
In his telephone call to Palin, Obama "told her she would be a terrific candidate," campaign spokesman Robert Gibbs said later. "He also wished her good luck, but not too much luck."
Spokesmen said Biden also called Palin to congratulate her.
When Obama named Biden his running mate earlier this month, McCain congratulated the Delaware senator while many of his surrogates criticized Biden. Since then, the barbs between Obama and McCain have grown sharper.
In Monaca, Obama, Biden and their wives stopped at an industrial warehouse where chicken fat is converted to tractor fuel. The visit made two things clear: Western Pennsylvania, where Clinton easily bested Obama in the primary, will be hotly contested in the fall campaign, and energy will be a top campaign issue, because the two parties disagree over which new energy sources should be pursued hardest.
At an evening rally with several thousand people in Beaver, floodlights bathed a bunting-draped bandstand where Obama repeated several of his themes from Denver.
He noted that McCain has vowed to purse Osama bin Laden "to the gates of hell."
"Well, he should start by going to where Osama bin Laden actually lives," Obama said, in mountain caves "between Afghanistan and Pakistan."
Kenya's Wanjiru wins men's Olympic marathon
BEIJING - Samuel Wanjiru already had made a name for himself in the heady world of Kenyan distance running. Now he stands alone.
He pulled away over the final few miles Sunday to become the first Kenyan to win an Olympic marathon — and he did it faster than anyone ever has.
Wanjiru negotiated the 26.2-mile course through the Beijing streets in bright morning sunshine in anOlympic record of 2 hours, 6 minutes, 32 seconds.
"In Kenya we have many medals," Wanjiru said, "but I'm glad I have this one."
His name was listed on the official results sheet as Wansiru, but the Kenyan said that spelling was incorrect.
Kenyans had twice won men's marathon silver, most recently in 2000, but never a gold.
At the Beijing Games, Kenya won 14 track and field medals, behind only the United States (23) and Russia (18). Five of them were gold.
The biggest concern about this race leading to the Olympics was the quality of the air. World record-holder Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia decided not to run because of the pollution. But on Sunday, after an overnight thunderstorm, a glorious blue sky greeted the final day of these games.
The women's marathon a week earlier was run in a light rain, and the air quality posed no problems for the runners.
The race began at the edge of Tiananmen Square, then wound around the Temple of Heaven before turning toward the Olympic Green and the Bird's Nest, where colorful dancers, drummers and cyclists entertained the crowd as it awaited the runners.
This was just the third marathon for the 21-year-old Wanjiru, who first set the world half-marathon record at age 18, then broke it twice again last year.
Two-time world champion Jaouad Gharib of Morocco won the silver in 2:07:16. Ethiopian Tsegay Kebede, winner of this year's Paris Marathon, took the bronze in 2:10:00. Ethiopian Deriba Merga led much of the race but faded badly at the end to wind up fourth.
The crowd roared as Wanjiru entered the Bird's Nest, and he responded by raising his left hand, then clapped several times. The final lap in the last event of track and field at the Beijing Olympics was run around an infield painted blue for the night's closing ceremony.
Just across the line, Wanjiru — all 112 pounds of him — kneeled and crossed himself several times. He had just broken the Olympic mark of 2:09:21 set by Carlos Lopes of Portugal in the 1984 Los Angeles Games.
As Wanjiru was still on one knee, Gharib crossed the line for the silver.
"I had to push the pace to tire the other runners," Wanjiru said. "I had to push the pace because my body gets tired when I slow down."
Wanjiru, who trains at 7,600 feet on a trail that runs alongside spectacular Thompson Falls, won the Fukuoka International Marathon in Japan last December and was runner-up at the London Marathon in April.
Americans Dathan Ritzenhein and Ryan Hall finished ninth and 10th, respectively.
Defending Olympic champion Stefano Baldini of Italy, in his final marathon, finished 12th, then praised those who finished at the front.
"In the last 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) it was unbelievable what the ... Africans were able to do under these conditions," he said.
The temperature was 75 degrees with 52 percent humidity when the race began at 7:30 a.m. and it heated up steadily through the morning, reaching 86 degrees by the finish.
The lead pack began to separate through the first three miles. By the halfway mark, eight were grouped at the front, led by Eritrean Yonas Kifle.
After almost 19 miles, the pack had dwindled to three — Wanjiru, Merga and Gharib.
Reigning world champion Luke Kibet of Kenya stayed with the leaders through the early stages but fell back and finally pulled out of the race shortly past the halfway mark. He later said he had a stomach problem.
Beijing Olympics
Kenya's steeplechase star eyes gold in Beijing Olympics
NAIROBI, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Africa 3,000 meters steeplechase champion Richard Mateelong has expressed confidence that Kenya will continue its tradition of winning the steeplechase at the Beijing Olympics.
"I stepped up my training and avoided much of the cross-country season. That's why I am running well. I am aiming to secure my place in the national team at the trials and from there, anything is possible," Mateelong told journalists late Thursday.
Kenya has won every Olympic gold medal in the steeplechase since 1968 and Mateelong says the tradition should continue in Beijing.
"I will compete in the 5,000m race for my endurance build-up before the national trials. This year they will be very tough since we have good runners invited to try for a place in the national team," he added.
Mateelong, an instructor at Kiganjo Police Training College who arrived for the Inter-Provincial Kenya Police Championships that start on Friday in Nairobi said he has been training at the Athletics Kenya (AK) mid and long distance camp in Eldoret since returning from Hengelo where he won the city's grand prix in 8:13.00 last month.
"The training conditions at the camp are good and morale is high. I support the initiative but they should have set much earlier," he noted.
The steeplechaser who set his seasonal best of 8:07.64 on May 9 while winning the lucrative Doha Grand Prix said his aim was to get the top medal in Beijing after playing second fiddle to Brimin Kipruto and Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi.
"One cannot say that he will win for a fact but I believe that it can be achieved if the form I have now and physical condition remains the same. I will not relent on training until I achieve my goal," he said.
"According to the way we have been running, we are progressing well and I don't see why we should be the generation to let go of that great tradition of winning gold," said Mateelong.
"I am confident we shall do well despite the fact that we shall have opposition especially from Kenyan athletes running for other countries, we shall work hard and win the gold again."
The Kiganjo based policeman has been in great form this season winning three races last month.
He won the African title and followed it up with a win at the Doha Super Grand Prix on May 11 before winning in Hengelo.
While expressing satisfaction with his form so far, Mateelong said that his main concern right now to ensure he makes the Beijing team at the July 4-5 national athletics trials in Nairobi.
"Going by my results in Addis, Doha and Hengelo, I am hoping to do well because I am currently in great shape. The toughest part will be the trials which are always so competitive. I am praying that I stay injury free ready for them and hopefully I will make it and only after that shall I think of Beijing," he said.
He attributed his great form this season to having started his season early. "I took part in the cross country season and that helped me get into good shape early in the season and it has continued since."
But Mateelong will not compete in his specialty at the forthcoming Kenya Police Championships.
"I will not compete in the steeplechase at the police championships. I will run 5,000 metres race instead because I want to build on my speed and endurance hence the longer race. I will revert to steeplechase at the trials," said Mateelong.
Mateelong, 24, began the season with victory at the national trials for the African Championships where he ran a quick 8:16.7 to lead All Africa Games champion, Willy Komen and Bernard Kipyego to the podium.
NAIROBI, June 6 (Xinhua) -- Africa 3,000 meters steeplechase champion Richard Mateelong has expressed confidence that Kenya will continue its tradition of winning the steeplechase at the Beijing Olympics.
"I stepped up my training and avoided much of the cross-country season. That's why I am running well. I am aiming to secure my place in the national team at the trials and from there, anything is possible," Mateelong told journalists late Thursday.
Kenya has won every Olympic gold medal in the steeplechase since 1968 and Mateelong says the tradition should continue in Beijing.
"I will compete in the 5,000m race for my endurance build-up before the national trials. This year they will be very tough since we have good runners invited to try for a place in the national team," he added.
Mateelong, an instructor at Kiganjo Police Training College who arrived for the Inter-Provincial Kenya Police Championships that start on Friday in Nairobi said he has been training at the Athletics Kenya (AK) mid and long distance camp in Eldoret since returning from Hengelo where he won the city's grand prix in 8:13.00 last month.
"The training conditions at the camp are good and morale is high. I support the initiative but they should have set much earlier," he noted.
The steeplechaser who set his seasonal best of 8:07.64 on May 9 while winning the lucrative Doha Grand Prix said his aim was to get the top medal in Beijing after playing second fiddle to Brimin Kipruto and Olympic champion, Ezekiel Kemboi.
"One cannot say that he will win for a fact but I believe that it can be achieved if the form I have now and physical condition remains the same. I will not relent on training until I achieve my goal," he said.
"According to the way we have been running, we are progressing well and I don't see why we should be the generation to let go of that great tradition of winning gold," said Mateelong.
"I am confident we shall do well despite the fact that we shall have opposition especially from Kenyan athletes running for other countries, we shall work hard and win the gold again."
The Kiganjo based policeman has been in great form this season winning three races last month.
He won the African title and followed it up with a win at the Doha Super Grand Prix on May 11 before winning in Hengelo.
While expressing satisfaction with his form so far, Mateelong said that his main concern right now to ensure he makes the Beijing team at the July 4-5 national athletics trials in Nairobi.
"Going by my results in Addis, Doha and Hengelo, I am hoping to do well because I am currently in great shape. The toughest part will be the trials which are always so competitive. I am praying that I stay injury free ready for them and hopefully I will make it and only after that shall I think of Beijing," he said.
He attributed his great form this season to having started his season early. "I took part in the cross country season and that helped me get into good shape early in the season and it has continued since."
But Mateelong will not compete in his specialty at the forthcoming Kenya Police Championships.
"I will not compete in the steeplechase at the police championships. I will run 5,000 metres race instead because I want to build on my speed and endurance hence the longer race. I will revert to steeplechase at the trials," said Mateelong.
Mateelong, 24, began the season with victory at the national trials for the African Championships where he ran a quick 8:16.7 to lead All Africa Games champion, Willy Komen and Bernard Kipyego to the podium.
Katy Perry's kiss hate
Katy Perry is tired of girls wanting to kiss her.
The 'I Kissed a Girl' singer insists that despite her raunchy lyrics, she is not interested in locking lips with her female fans.
"Girls now keep asking for a kiss. After every show on my tour I stay behind to do an autograph signing. But about a dozen women will want a snog. I just sweetly say, 'No, thank you'. If I kissed everybody who asked I'd probably go away with something I don't really want."
Katy, 23, has also revealed her same-sex crushes on Hollywood stars inspired her to write the song.
She added: "I was reading a magazine and opened it up to a picture of either Scarlett Johansson or Megan Fox, and I turned to my boyfriend and said, 'You know, if they walked through the door and asked me to pucker up, I would just do it.' "
Katy - the daughter of two pastors, who refused to let her listen to rock music or watch music TV - has enjoyed number ones in the US and UK singles chart with 'I Kissed a Girl', and has already acquired some celebrity fans.
At the weekend, Lindsay Lohan - who is dating DJ Samantha Ronson - reportedly requested the track at a Los Angeles nightclub.
The 'I Kissed a Girl' singer insists that despite her raunchy lyrics, she is not interested in locking lips with her female fans.
"Girls now keep asking for a kiss. After every show on my tour I stay behind to do an autograph signing. But about a dozen women will want a snog. I just sweetly say, 'No, thank you'. If I kissed everybody who asked I'd probably go away with something I don't really want."
Katy, 23, has also revealed her same-sex crushes on Hollywood stars inspired her to write the song.
She added: "I was reading a magazine and opened it up to a picture of either Scarlett Johansson or Megan Fox, and I turned to my boyfriend and said, 'You know, if they walked through the door and asked me to pucker up, I would just do it.' "
Katy - the daughter of two pastors, who refused to let her listen to rock music or watch music TV - has enjoyed number ones in the US and UK singles chart with 'I Kissed a Girl', and has already acquired some celebrity fans.
At the weekend, Lindsay Lohan - who is dating DJ Samantha Ronson - reportedly requested the track at a Los Angeles nightclub.
RONALDO DECISION MADE A MONTH AGO?
Careful reading of the exclusive interview, published on Wednesday night, in which Cristiano Ronaldo announced his decision to stay at Manchester United indicates that both the interview and decision were made up to a month ago.
At the start of the interview, conducted with Bruno Prata of the Portuguese newspaper Publico, Ronaldo is quoted as saying: "My coach was kind enough to come and see me in Lisbon a few days ago, which I think is common knowledge."
In fact, although the exact date is not known, it is understood that Ferguson met with Ronaldo during the second week of July - something which the Scot acknowledged in his response to Ronaldo's announcement when he remarked, "We knew this would be the case because I flew to Portugal some weeks ago and we cleared the air."
That Ronaldo, who made no secret of his wish to join Real Madrid, apparently confirmed he would stay at Old Trafford for another season just "a few days" after meeting Ferguson indicates that the u-turn was forced upon him by United's refusal to sell.
The delay in announcing the decision is curious but has an obvious explanation for those of a cynical mind. Releasing the interview during the week in which the forward is due to return to England would apparently signal the start of a choreographed attempt by the Ronaldo camp to win back the hearts and minds of the United supporters who have turned against their former hero in the wake of his attempts to wrangle a move out of Old Trafford.
The hitherto unknown Prata should not have required much persuading in agreeing to delay the publication of his exclusive interview: he is the husband of Manuela Brandao, an employee of Jorge Mendes, the agent of Ronaldo.
At the start of the interview, conducted with Bruno Prata of the Portuguese newspaper Publico, Ronaldo is quoted as saying: "My coach was kind enough to come and see me in Lisbon a few days ago, which I think is common knowledge."
In fact, although the exact date is not known, it is understood that Ferguson met with Ronaldo during the second week of July - something which the Scot acknowledged in his response to Ronaldo's announcement when he remarked, "We knew this would be the case because I flew to Portugal some weeks ago and we cleared the air."
That Ronaldo, who made no secret of his wish to join Real Madrid, apparently confirmed he would stay at Old Trafford for another season just "a few days" after meeting Ferguson indicates that the u-turn was forced upon him by United's refusal to sell.
The delay in announcing the decision is curious but has an obvious explanation for those of a cynical mind. Releasing the interview during the week in which the forward is due to return to England would apparently signal the start of a choreographed attempt by the Ronaldo camp to win back the hearts and minds of the United supporters who have turned against their former hero in the wake of his attempts to wrangle a move out of Old Trafford.
The hitherto unknown Prata should not have required much persuading in agreeing to delay the publication of his exclusive interview: he is the husband of Manuela Brandao, an employee of Jorge Mendes, the agent of Ronaldo.
RONALDO: `I`LL TELL MANYOO I`M OFF`
Cristiano Ronaldo has reportedy sent a message to Real Madrid to promise that he will tell Manchester United that his transfer to Spain is "non-negotiable".
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Ronaldo's exact message to Madrid was as follows: "It's ok. Next week, I'll fix everything. I'll go to Manchester and tell them my only desire is to play for Real Madrid and that the decision is non-negotiable."
Sir Alex Ferguson has publicly stated that Ronaldo will not be leaving United but he could be put in a very difficult position if Ronaldo returns to Manchester demanding a transfer. He will know that Ronaldo's value will only fall if he is playing below his capabilities or not playing at all.
AS claims that Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes was under strict instructions to tell Real that his client had 'decided more than ever to make the promised step and make clear that his determination to play for Real Madrid, next season, remains intact'.
Reports suggest that next Tuesday is the day that Ronaldo will return and confront Ferguson.
Your Comments
Muffy
"This is supposedly a message between Ronaldo and Real. But somehow along the way it has come via an agent (always the most honest and dependable characters) and is "according to Spaninsh newspaper AS" (a Spanish rag worse than the Daily Star). Er, yeah, right. Let's put it in big letters and state it as fact. Good journalism again F365."
03bault
"im sure this is true. its all rubbish - what is AS anyway. anyone who takes this seriously lacks some sort of mental capability. quote - "Reports suggest that next Tuesday is the day that Ronaldo will return and confront Ferguson." - what the hell? haha he will come and confront ferguson will he. take a look on the sky sports website see if they have this message from ronaldo. the article looks like it written as a joke , "AS claims that Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes was under strict instructions to tell Real that his client had 'decided more than ever to make the promised step and make clear that his determination to play for Real Madrid, next season, remains intact'." lol this is a loaddd of rubbishhh !!! "
hatchking
"This 'story' is a joke. I'm at the end of my teather with F365. I'm off to TeamTalk.com. Awful work guys. really disappointing!"
Number6
"If this latest report happens to be true, when the worm asks Sir Alex for a transfer it should be granted......but to any other club than Real. Then he can say goodbye to his "dream" (for a while at least). True professionals at the club like Giggs and Charlton must be disgusted. "
charley
"Is Football365 so bad now that they print rubbish stories from AS? Look at the AS.com website. The story is hidden away because they know it's rubbish. They don't even claim they got the quotes direct from Ronaldo in their "story". It's what they claim is in the message Ronaldo has somehow trasmitted to Madrid. There must be some dodgy Spanish journalist p***ing himself at how easy it is to wind up the UK "news" media. "
wigclyne
"I agree with fla5hboy. England fans crying and making a scapegoat. Its unfortunate we have fans like utd4life. And jamiifer aswell seems to have lost the plot, I see it now Ronaldo goes to Madrid and they spend 10million on jamiifer's gran!"
THESPUR1
"He is a total preening little pillock who deserves nothing short of the firing squad."
arye
"boring news...spanish newspaper try to make news to increase their sales again...i don't care he is going to real madrid or not even i'm manutd fan, but this news is another example that to hurt other people in order to get what they want. "
silentbob
"GOOD RIDDENCE FOR BAD LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
mutdgloryhunter
"boring as fcuk now. i've an idea - screw real madrid and ruud the reject and give barca a ring to ask if they'd consider swapping ronnie for messi?? i think that'd be just the ticket. rooney tevez up front with messi just behind then anderson carrick and nani midfield, wes right back, rio, vida and evra at left back..... AWESOME!!!! "
According to Spanish newspaper AS, Ronaldo's exact message to Madrid was as follows: "It's ok. Next week, I'll fix everything. I'll go to Manchester and tell them my only desire is to play for Real Madrid and that the decision is non-negotiable."
Sir Alex Ferguson has publicly stated that Ronaldo will not be leaving United but he could be put in a very difficult position if Ronaldo returns to Manchester demanding a transfer. He will know that Ronaldo's value will only fall if he is playing below his capabilities or not playing at all.
AS claims that Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes was under strict instructions to tell Real that his client had 'decided more than ever to make the promised step and make clear that his determination to play for Real Madrid, next season, remains intact'.
Reports suggest that next Tuesday is the day that Ronaldo will return and confront Ferguson.
Your Comments
Muffy
"This is supposedly a message between Ronaldo and Real. But somehow along the way it has come via an agent (always the most honest and dependable characters) and is "according to Spaninsh newspaper AS" (a Spanish rag worse than the Daily Star). Er, yeah, right. Let's put it in big letters and state it as fact. Good journalism again F365."
03bault
"im sure this is true. its all rubbish - what is AS anyway. anyone who takes this seriously lacks some sort of mental capability. quote - "Reports suggest that next Tuesday is the day that Ronaldo will return and confront Ferguson." - what the hell? haha he will come and confront ferguson will he. take a look on the sky sports website see if they have this message from ronaldo. the article looks like it written as a joke , "AS claims that Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes was under strict instructions to tell Real that his client had 'decided more than ever to make the promised step and make clear that his determination to play for Real Madrid, next season, remains intact'." lol this is a loaddd of rubbishhh !!! "
hatchking
"This 'story' is a joke. I'm at the end of my teather with F365. I'm off to TeamTalk.com. Awful work guys. really disappointing!"
Number6
"If this latest report happens to be true, when the worm asks Sir Alex for a transfer it should be granted......but to any other club than Real. Then he can say goodbye to his "dream" (for a while at least). True professionals at the club like Giggs and Charlton must be disgusted. "
charley
"Is Football365 so bad now that they print rubbish stories from AS? Look at the AS.com website. The story is hidden away because they know it's rubbish. They don't even claim they got the quotes direct from Ronaldo in their "story". It's what they claim is in the message Ronaldo has somehow trasmitted to Madrid. There must be some dodgy Spanish journalist p***ing himself at how easy it is to wind up the UK "news" media. "
wigclyne
"I agree with fla5hboy. England fans crying and making a scapegoat. Its unfortunate we have fans like utd4life. And jamiifer aswell seems to have lost the plot, I see it now Ronaldo goes to Madrid and they spend 10million on jamiifer's gran!"
THESPUR1
"He is a total preening little pillock who deserves nothing short of the firing squad."
arye
"boring news...spanish newspaper try to make news to increase their sales again...i don't care he is going to real madrid or not even i'm manutd fan, but this news is another example that to hurt other people in order to get what they want. "
silentbob
"GOOD RIDDENCE FOR BAD LOVERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"
mutdgloryhunter
"boring as fcuk now. i've an idea - screw real madrid and ruud the reject and give barca a ring to ask if they'd consider swapping ronnie for messi?? i think that'd be just the ticket. rooney tevez up front with messi just behind then anderson carrick and nani midfield, wes right back, rio, vida and evra at left back..... AWESOME!!!! "
OWEN TO LEAVE ON A FREE?
Owen's current contract expires next summer, and is in talks to extend his deal at St James' Park.
However, The Guardian reports that Newcastle are reluctant to match or increase his current £105,000-a-week wage as they look to cut costs.
Owen and his representatives know that he could get a better deal elsewhere should he not sign a fresh contract, and could begin negotiations with other clubs from January.
The paper claims Owen would rather stay at Newcastle, but is negotiating from a position of considerable strength considering the offers he might receive from elsewhere.
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