The Hot New Presidential Canidate

Get a Wig for your "Bald Baby's Dome" from the WTF catagory!

BabyToupee.com is one-stop shopping for bald babies. While many parents worry themselves to death that they’re going to give their children some sort of weird complex, I say to get it over with early by making your baby wear a toupee.

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EasyTweets Offers an Almost Perfect Web-Based Twitter Management Tool

Hey look another twitter appythingie. Maybe this will help break twitter more often. Does look useful though I wonder if we are getting way to many ways to span the twitterverse.

Go give a go and tell me what you think.

From: http://ping.fm/W3xRv

It's So Official: Ronaldinho To Milan

Milan have confirmed the signing of Barcelona superstar Ronaldinho, with the transfer fee expected to be 25 million euros, of which 21 will be paid up front.

Reads a statement released by Milan: "AC Milan and FC Barcelona have reached an agreement for the transfer of Ronaldinho. 

"Tomorrow, the player will be in Milan for the medical, and to sign the contract which will tie him to Milan until June 30th 2011."

This announcement brings to an end months of speculation over the Brazilian's future. 

He had been on the outer at Barcelona pretty much since El Clasico in December, with his private life, his fitness and his bulging waistline making more headlines than his performances on the pitch.

Barcelona boss Frank Rijkaard, always one to back him given what they had achieved together, had to drop him due to his dropping fitness levels, and once Pep Guardiola was announced as the new coach in early May, a summer exit for the two time World Player of the Year was only a matter of time.

Chelsea and Milan were the early frontrunners, with the player himself expressing a desire to team up with Luiz Felipe Scolari once again last month. However, Big Phil was not too keen, and Manchester City subsequently came into the fray. 

But with Chelsea out, there was only going to be one winner, and that had been clear for two weeks now. City had a superior financial offer for Barca, but as with many things these days, the player's will had the final say and a deal was struck with Milan after intense negotiations between Adriano Galliani, Joan Laporta and Roberto de Assis.

During his five years in Spain, Ronaldinho won two La Liga titles (2004-05, 2005-06), one Champions League (2005-06), the World player of the Year award twice (2004, 2005), and the Ballon d'Or (2005). 

He leaves on a low, but when the dust settles, he will go down as one of the best to ever play for Barcelona - as much for what he won as for the way he heralded a new era for the club following the collapse of Real Madrid's 'Galactico' policy.

Some of his best displays also came on the biggest of stages - a sensational left footed strike against Milan in the Champions League in 2004, two more against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge that almost saw Barcelona through single handedly later that season, and then that sublime assist for Ludovic Giuly at San Siro a year later - which guaranteed Barcelona's progress to the final.

However, perhaps the crowning moment was his stunning showing at the Santiago Bernabeu in 2005, when he got a standing ovation from the Real Madrid fans after two goals and a mesmerising display of football in a 3-0 win.

The challenge for Milan now will be to get the player back to peak fitness, before we even speak of form. He still has the magic in his feet as we saw from his two goals on his return to football a couple of weeks ago, but whether he can roll back the years and offer the Rossoneri the kind of service he did to Barcelona, remains to be seen. His ability against rigid Italian defenses will also be tested to the limit.

It will also be very interesting to see how he fits into the team, and whether Ronaldinho, Kaka, Alexandre Pato, Andrea Pirlo and Clarence Seedorf (who has openly opposed this move) can play together.

Barcelona, in the meantime, are expected to announce the signing of Aliaksandr Hleb, with Arsenal seemingly having given the nod following the signing of Samir Nasri from Marseille.

Living without Twitter with No Regrets

Living without Twitter with No Regrets: "

I was going through my normal routine this morning of IV’ing my daily allotment of caffeine into my system, reading my email, going through my blog feeds in FeedDemon and then finishing up with a good round of FriendFeed when I realized something. My Twitter client wasn’t running, and in fact, it hadn’t been running for almost three days.

You know what?

I hadn’t missed not seeing all those tweets go by one little bit, which made me wonder if this whole thing about being available all the time wasn’t as important as it is cracked up to be. After all, I successfully get all my important stuff dealt with through either email or IM. As a matter of fact someone who wanted to talk to me about something specific got a hold of me with no problem via both Skype and MSN Messenger because that information is right there on my WinExtra blog’s About page. It wasn’t until this morning when I was checking my email that I even knew that he had followed me on Twitter.

Sure I use FriendFeed and some will say that is the same thing, only a little different. Well if it is the same or even the same but a little different, why do I need to worry about Twitter anymore? The funny thing is that I probably wouldn’t have been interested in Twitter as much as I have been if it wasn’t for the fact that I wrote a desktop client for it at one time. I might have gotten caught up in it the same way that I have with FriendFeed but there is the rub – why do I need both anymore?

As it is, I have enough communication tools running at any one time on my system that if someone really needs to get a hold of me they can. Whether it be by email, IRC, IM or even FriendFeed, I am reachable. Do we really need to have this feeling that we must be in constant contact with people? What is this pressure for constant contact really bringing to the table for us? I always joke in the WinExtra IRC chatroom that ‘Just because it’s called a chatroom doesn’t mean you have to chat’ and I have seen the better part of the day go by before anyone says anything other than ‘pass the coffee.’

Communication is a great thing but over-communication I think can also be a detriment. We seem to want to spend so much time talking about literally nothing in order it seems to justify our use of these tools. Communication tools are meant to enhance our lives and our work but it seems that they have become more of a means to lose ourselves in the mundane instead.

Do you really need this hyper-connectivity or could you live without Twitter as well?

---
Related Articles at Mashable! - The Social Networking Blog:

FriendFeed - Does It Enrich The Conversation Or Add To The Noise?
FriendFeed Brings Twitter Back
FriendFeed Recommendations? Who Are You Likely to Like?
@mashable, Twitter Replies Are WORKING!!
Lifestream.fm: FriendFeed with Twitter’s UI
FriendFeed for iPhone Coming - I’ve Waited For This All My Life
When Twitter Goes Down, You Still Have Twiddict

"

(Via Mashable!.)

Domain Shortcut Helps Type URLs in Your iPhone More Quickly

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iPhone/iPod touch only: The iPhone has sported a .com keyboard shortcut for making quick work of URLs in Mobile Safari since it was released, but reader George points us to an expansion to this keyboard shortcut that can save tons of time for entering email addresses and non-.com URLs. First, in Mobile Safari, just hold down the .com button for a second to see other domain options (namely .net, .edu, and .org). Second, when the keyboard has the @ symbol but no .com key, you can hold the '.' (period) key to get the same domain shortcuts—something that comes in especially handy when you're manually entering email addresses or filling in login credentials in new apps. I'm not sure if this keyboard shortcut is an iPhone 2.0 feature or something that was added when hold-for-accents was added for international language support, but it's definitely one to know. Thanks George!

NetNewsWire spoon-feeds iPhone the news

Of the several news readers offered in Apple's iTunes App Store to date, NetNewsWire stands out as the most appealing. Unlike Mobile News from the Associated Press, NetNewsWire pulls in stories from multiple sources, and unlike Google Reader, it does so nearly instantly in a true native application (Google Readers whisks you to an iPhone-optimized Web application after you select it from a list of more options on Google Mobile.)

Like many other applications, NetNewsWire is the iPhone version of an already-brawny Web service operated by NewsGator, and one whose desktop versions CNET Download.com editors have already acclaimed for its usability on Macs and on PCs, where it's known as FeedDemon.

NetNewsWire for iPhone is a feeds repository, but a good one. You won't be able to add feeds at this early stage, but the application will syncs with any of your existing NewsGator accounts for NetNewsWire for Macintosh, FeedDemon, Inbox, and NewsGator Online. The application lets new users to sign up from the iPhone. You'll also be able to save posts in a clippings folder for later perusal, and read the full article on Safari.

Football(UK) corruption dossier handed over to prosecutors

Detectives investigating some of the most high-profile figures in football have sent the results of their inquiries into fraud allegations involving player transfers and agents' fees to prosecutors.

Police delivered their dossier of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service last Thursday after a two-year investigation. Seven well-known figures are mentioned, including Portsmouth's FA Cup-winning manager, Harry Redknapp, and the most powerful woman in English football, Birmingham City director Karren Brady. The development threatens further to tarnish football's reputation amid criticism over player wages and agents' fees.

Last week detectives from the City of London economic crime unit, the country's top fraud squad, formally requested 'advice' from the CPS on whether there was sufficient proof to charge any of the individuals following an exhaustive inquiry.

Prosecution sources last night confirmed that they had been instructed to offer a 'charging decision' after receiving the completed file from the police inquiry, known as Operation Apprentice. A CPS statement said: 'We have received a file in relation to criminal allegations involving the transfer of football players and agent fees.'

Others named in the file include Leicester City chairman Milan Mandaric, Portsmouth chief executive Peter Storrie, Rangers and former Portsmouth midfielder Amdy Faye, Birmingham City co-owner David Sullivan, and agent Willie McKay. All seven strongly deny any wrongdoing.

Prosecutors will now ask counsel to decide whether police have sufficient evidence to charge any of those investigated.

When Redknapp won a judgment against City of London police last May, claiming that officers unlawfully raided his home as part of their investigation, the court heard that the inquiry was launched to probe 'suspected conspiracy to defraud, false accounting and money-laundering offences', although its focus may have shifted as the investigation evolved.

Corruption claims concerning football have been rife since former Luton Town manager Mike Newell denounced a 'bung' culture in football. His comments prompted the Premier League to launch an investigation headed by former top policeman Lord Stevens into all transfers between January 2002 and January 2004. Instead of naming names, however, the former Scotland Yard chief strongly criticised accounting procedures at several unnamed clubs.

Forensic accountancy firm Quest reported in June 2007, having failed to uncover any evidence of bungs, but passed to the FA 17 cases in which, it said, more evidence was required. 

TinyURL finally adds vanity URLs

Not content to just sit around recovering from Independence Day shenanigans this past weekend, TinyURL released a much-needed feature to its URL-shortening service that others have had for ages: vanity URLs. This means the nonsensical shortened URLs it spits out from your 1,000 character-plus links can now be changed to whatever name you want after the forward slash--that is as long as it hasn't been taken by someone else.

With the popularity of TinyURL and it's automatic integration with services like Twitter, most of the good ones have already been snatched up, so if you're looking to get a vanity mini URL from another similar service, your best bet is to go with one of the little guys. My CNET colleague Nicole Lee did a great roundup on some competitors back in March. Of the bunch, my favorite MooURL has always seemed to have the most open of any, but now that I've told you, the secret is out.

Google Maps takes steps toward walking directions

Google Maps is starting to roll out a beta of walking directions in addition to driving directions, the Google Operating System fan blog noticed on Monday.

It looks like it's available to select users in select locations for the time being, and indeed, I can't access it from my Google account yet. It's also unclear whether this will get expanded to the mobile version of Google Maps, where the availability of walking directions would certainly help.

This sort of feature can be very useful in cities with lots of one-way streets, like New York, or with parks and thoroughfares that accommodate pedestrians but not cars. Currently, Google Maps directions may suggest an extremely roundabout route when a much more direct one is possible by walking or biking.

Google Maps, which recently expanded its partnership with mapping company Tele Atlas, notes to "use caution when walking in unfamiliar areas," which is Googlespeak for "don't blame Larry and Sergey if you get mugged."

Gmail now blocking fake eBay, PayPal e-mails

Google on Tuesday said it is now using an e-mail authentication technology to keep phishers from luring Gmail users to fake eBay and PayPal Web pages in order to steal usernames and passwords.

The technology, DomainKeys, uses cryptography to verify the domain of the sender of an e-mail. It allows e-mail providers to validate the domain from which an e-mail originates, and it enables easier detection of phishing attempts by helping identify abusive domains.

Last October, Yahoo announced that it was protecting Yahoo Mail users with eBay and PayPal accounts from phishing attempts using the same technology.

The DomainKeys technology is covered by a patent assigned to Yahoo. The company released it under a dual-license scheme that allows the companies to use it royalty-free under the GNU General Public License (GPL 2.0), which enabled the Internet Engineering Task Force to approve it as a proposed Internet standard.

Originally posted at News Blog: http://ping.fm/xzM9l

R.I.P. Tiffany "Little Tiffie" Takao

I will truly miss my friend who was always true to herself, nice to everybody, and she always made my friends feel welcome when they came to visit me at work.  Having not met any of them before she would always be so inviting to them and provide them with company and a loving smile that warmed everyones heart. When I speak to many of my friends in Japan the often ask me how is Tiff as she left such great impressions.  

I grew close to Tiffany as she was the one person who stuck out in a crowd of thousands not because of her beauty but because she had a kindness glowing from her that was so genuine.  The many people in my business of promoting will tell you this is so rare to find.  She never asked for anything but gained all the respects of a lifelong friend.  That is exactly why i love her and always will. 

I will miss talking to her about how she thought she could kick my butt in golf and generally hanging out with her.  Her caring smile and love for all around her is a big loss to us all.  We will always have you in our thoughts Tiffany.  I miss you so much already.

Diamond Head Mortuary TIFFANY SACHIE TAKAO Age 21, of Kaneohe, passed away June 29, 2008 at Straub Hospital. Tiffany was born October 30, 1986 in Honolulu and was a dental hygienist assistant for Clyde Uchida, DDS. She was a Junior Golfer who participated in many state major Junior Golf Tournaments. An avid viewer of the Food Network, she had a passion to cook and shared her cooking with her family and friends. Tiffany was always happy because she knew she was loved, and everyone loved Tiffany because of the happiness she gave them. This is the true circle of love, and Tiffany always wore this circle right above her head as her halo. Tiffany was our Special Angel. Tiffany is survived by her father, Dennis; sister, Kimberly Kaneshiro; brother, Christopher; grandfather, Roy Takao; nephew, Haden and niece, Cailyn; as well, aunts, uncles, cousins, and her many, many adopted uncles and aunties of golf, judo, UH football and Wahine volleyball. VISITATION WILL BE FROM 5-6 P.M., SUNDAY (7/13) AT DIAMOND HEAD MORTUARY; SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE AT 6 P.M. WITH A RECEPTION TO FOLLOW. COMMITTAL SERVICES AND INURNMENT WILL BE AT 11:30 A.M., SUNDAY (7/20) AT THE BYODO-IN TEMPLE GAZEBO, VALLEY OF THE TEMPLES MEMORIAL PARK. CASUAL ATTIRE.

Nineteen words that don't belong in your resume

It's hard to believe that a few words could irritate someone enough to make them stop reading your resume, but it's true. Some hiring managers and recruiters admit that they have their own mental lists of words that annoy them. Resume how-to books may recommend that you pack your resume full of as many verbs, adjectives, and adverbs as you can. But if you aren't careful, you could turn off more prospective employers than you entice. Effective word choice is what really appeals to hiring managers--not action verbs and glittery modifiers. Here's a rundown of some words that hiring managers say detract from the persuasiveness of resumes they see.

Assist, assisted

• Reasons to avoid: Hiring managers want to know what you did, not how you helped. If you're familiar enough with a task to put it on your resume, you can choose a better word than assist.

• Example: Assisted marketing director by researching PDAs.

• Possible rephrasing: Researched PDAs for marketing department.

Experiment

• Reasons to avoid: No one wants to hear about what you tried to do--only what you have accomplished.

• Example: Experimented with new LAN management software.

• Possible rephrasing: Tested and evaluated new LAN management software.

Skillfully, effectively, carefully, quickly, expert, mastered

• Reasons to avoid: Hiring managers often object to words that describe how well you do a particular task. In many cases, it comes across as boastful--and it's unnecessary. "If you aren't good at it, why are you putting it on your resume?" one recruiter said.

• Example: Skillfully managed transition from Windows NT to Windows Server 2003.

• Possible rephrasing: Migrated organization from Windows NT to Windows Server 2003 with no downtime during business hours.

Cutting-edge, detail-oriented; coordinate, facilitate, transform; proven ability, synergy, and liaison

• Reasons to avoid: Hiring managers say such words take up space without communicating much. They've seen them so often that the words have lost their original energy.

• Example: Detail-oriented manager with proven ability to oversee day-to-day network operations and to implement major technology initiatives.

• Possible rephrasing: Supervised an eight-member IS staff; completed two full-scale platform migrations; consolidated equipment and resources following facilities move.

Responsible for...

• Reasons to avoid: You're a manager, so of course you're responsible for something. Specify exactly what your responsibilities are and work in a few numbers to convey the scope of what you do.

• Example: Responsible for managing inventory, overseeing network operations, making new equipment purchases, troubleshooting workstation issues.

• Possible rephrasing: Supervised the support of 70 users running Windows XP and two servers running Windows Server 2003; implemented asset management plan for inventorying equipment; built a network operations team responsible for the internal infrastructure.

Ronaldo going to have surgery: I'm so Sad!

Manchester United winger Cristiano Ronaldo is set to undergo ankle surgery in the next ‘two to three days’.

The Portuguese picked up the injury on international duty at Euro 2008 and the problem failed to settle down while he was on holiday in Italy.

Ronaldo was assessed by Manchester United and Portugal medical officials on Wednesday and they have taken the decision that the winger requires surgery.

The surgery is expected to sideline Ronaldo for around six weeks and casts doubt on his future.

Real Madrid are desperate to sign Ronaldo and had hoped to secure his signature before July 7, but the surgery may well force a rethink.

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