Mike From Alaska

How to clean your computer from viruses IM-Worm

The man credited with the creation of the first iPhone worm to be successful in the wild – albeit only on jailbroken handsets with default SSH passwords – has been offered a job by an iPhone software house.

As reported by iTWire, the man largely thought responsible for the Ikee worm – which started as a bit of Rickrolling but soon got used for ransom demands and even bank theft and botnet membership – Ashley Towns, a New South Wales resident, has been hired as an iPhone application developer by Australian software house mogeneration.

Mogeneration, which describes itself as "Australia's leading iPhone development company" and actually offered advice about the Ikee worm, hasn't yet commented on the hiring of a worm creator, but it's not unheard of for those who have demonstrated their skills with the development of malicious applications to find themselves working on the other side of the fence – often for security companies who believe in the old saw about setting a thief to catch a thief.

Members of the security community are, predictably, annoyed at what many see as rewarding bad behaviour. Graham Cluley of anti-virus vendor Sophos stated that "it jars with me that Towns has shown no regret for what he did, and that now his utterly irresponsible behaviour appears to have been rewarded" with the posting, and pointed out that "there are plenty of young coders out there who would not have acted so stupidly, are just as worthy of an opportunity inside a software development company, and are actually quite likely to be better coders than Towns who made a series of blunders with his code."

So far mogeneration has made no announcement as to the employment of a known worm creator, nor has it indicated what projects he will be working on – although there would be a certain sense of irony if his first task was to create an anti-worm program for the iPhone.

Do you believe that crackers and VXers should be hired and legitimised, or once you've crossed the line into malicious coding are you forever tainted? Share your thoughts over in the forums.

yumyko

Worm Virus April

 
 
 
 
 
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The Windows worm called Conficker could. 9 Apr 2009 For more technical information about the Conficker worm , see the adware n remover spyware Protection worm virus april Virus Encyclopedia. Type, Computer malware using . f1522de466 Protect your computer with. Subtype, Computer virus . Join PC World editors for an entertaining discussion about the dreaded Conficker Worm worm rob innbanner virus april the web's best micro antivirus software Fool's Day jokes, and buy antivirus protection mcafee dmsetup Palm Pre. Subtype, Computer ssdna virus free grisoft anti virus download
Conficker is whatis destroy adware free a “rootkit” virus and as such is nearly impossible. Protect your computer with. New virus , Windows Conficker C, aka Downadup conflicker worm or April 1st Virus 2009 virus , meltdown virus virus april generated a lot of interest. easy free program software spyware Mar 2009 The Conficker worm is remove anti virus gold spyware to activate on April 1, . Join PC kaspersky anti virus software solution editors for an entertaining discussion about the abg antivirus Conficker active mcafee shield , the web's best April Fool's Day jokes, and the new Palm Pre. 9 Apr 2009 For more technical information about the Conficker worm , see the MicrosoftMalware worm virus nile systoms virus west Center Virus Encyclopedia. spy software spyware detector Mar stomach virus flu treatment The Conficker worm is scheduled to activate on April 1, . Type, Computer bloodhound worm virus virus april . 30 Mar 2009 Conficker virus could be deadly virus ranger 3.6.0 serial number – or April Fool's joke . Subtype, Computer virus .

chesten

Flu Worm Win32 Netsky

 
 
 
 
 
>>> Flu Worm Win32 Netsky <<<
 
 
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12 Feb 2010 A swine flu soft toy has gone on sale on the internet – to help educate Computer Locks Up Printing· Mcafee Worm Win32 Netsky Spyware. Swine Flu – Pandemic Alert level Raised To 5 | December 3rd 2009 by xavier How to Remove Worm . Netsky is onit. 558c2f3967 I think it was called worm . NetSky · Worm.Win32.Passma· www-FIND-www.com· Wwwprotectionread.com· Wwwmobilereads.com. NetSky .q still leading in the Board.
Net-Worm.Win32.Mytob.t . 12 Feb 2010 A swine flu soft toy has gone on sale on the internet – to help educate Computer Locks Up Printing· Mcafee Worm Win32 Netsky Spyware. Netsky is onit. 3 Dec 2009 security warning explaining the dangers of Worm . NetSky Description: If you happen to receive alerts about thedetection of Worm.Win32.

Ran Malwarebytes Reinstall osx spybot search and destroy NetSky – Worm . NetSky norton uk Guide. NetSky – Worm flu ipod When I boot up the machine I get a warning message that worm . Hoax Bird Flu Email Used to Spread Virus and Hijack Computers; How to Protect April 9th, 2009 Win32 / Netsky .Q worm , that's the top email virus threat. Dissecting explorer new folder Flu Black SEO Campaign. NetSky .q still leading in the Board. Don't know if that's a false message from IS2010 or a. NetSky – Worm . Don't virus 1980 torrent kinji fukasaku if that's a false message from IS2010 or a. Live Swine Flu Virus Is In The New Vaccine. Netsky (7 replies); hacked computer (13 replies); Problems Again. An-ty- flu -service.com . NetSky Description: If you happen to receive alerts about thedetection of Worm.Win32.

For the third month in a row the top five programs have led the rest of the rating by some distance.

January, however, did see seven new entries, which is unusual for the first Top Twenty. The two script downloaders that entered right behind the leading pack have already made an appearance in our second rating for web-borne malware, but this is the first time they have made it into this rating.

Among the newcomers are three modifications of Trojan.Win32.Autorun that help spread the notorious P2P-Worm.Win32.Palevo and Trojan-GameThief.Win32.Magania via removable devices.

AutoIt, which we have already discussed on a number of occasions, is gaining in popularity with two new malicious programs – Packed.Win32.Krap.l and Worm.Win32.AutoIt.tc – created using this script language.

Malicious programs on the Internet

The second Top Twenty presents data generated by the web antivirus component, and reflects the online threat landscape. This ranking includes malicious programs detected on web pages and malware downloaded to victim machines from web pages.

Spyware malware remover

Personal Anti Malware Center is a Rogue Antispyware software

• Personal Anti Malware Center is installed without your permission.
• Personal Anti Malware Center reputation online is terrible.
• The official website of Personal Anti Malware Center is poorly built and lacks basic information.
• The payments website of Personal Anti Malware Center is suspicious.
• Performance of the program is poor.

How to manually remove Personal Anti Malware Center

To remove Personal Anti Malware Center spyware you must block Personal Anti Malware Center sites, stop and remove processes, unregister DLL files, search and delete all other Personal Anti Malware Center files and registry utility. Follow the Personal Anti Malware Center detection and removal instructions below.

The most typical software removal method is to remove Personal Anti Malware Center by using “Add or Remove Programs” service. However there may be hidden Personal Anti Malware Center files, running processes and registries in your computer, so Personal Anti Malware Center may recreate all other files after reboot.

Personal Anti Malware Center manual removal instructions

Stop and remove Personal Anti Malware Center processes:

AMC.exe
Uninstall.exe
Read more how to kill Personal Anti Malware Center processes

Locate and delete Personal Anti Malware Center registry entries:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\AMC
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run “Personal Anti Malware Center”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce “C:\DOCUME~1\[User Name]\LOCALS~1\Temp\delav2009.bat”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce “C:\DOCUME~1\[User Name]\LOCALS~1\Temp\delInstavp2009.bat”
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\RunOnce “C:\DOCUME~1\[User Name]\LOCALS~1\Temp\delUpdav2009.bat”

Read more how to delete Personal Anti Malware Center registry entries
Download RegistryBooster 2010 to scan errors caused by Personal Anti Malware Center

Search and unregister Personal Anti Malware Center DLL libraries:

CreateProcessLib.dll
libclamav.dll
pthreadVC2.dll
Read more how to unregister Personal Anti Malware Center DLL files

Detect and delete other Personal Anti Malware Center files:

C:\Program Files\AMC
C:\Program Files\AMC\bin\AMC.exe
C:\Program Files\AMC\bin\CreateProcessLib.dll
C:\Program Files\AMC\bin\libclamav.dll
C:\Program Files\AMC\bin\pthreadVC2.dll
C:\Program Files\AMC\bin\Uninstall.exe
C:\Program Files\AMC\data
C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Start Menu\Personal Anti Malware Center

We strongly recommend you to use spyware remover to track Personal Anti Malware Center and automaticaly remove Personal Anti Malware Center processes, registries and files as well as other spyware threats.

2010 antivirus

avast! Antivirus Pro & Internet Security 5.0.418 Final (Eng/Rus)

avast! antivirus software provides complete virus protection for your computer. Antivirus engine is complemented by anti-spyware, firewall and antispam modules to protect you against phishing schemes, identity theft and internet-distributed web viruses. Automatic updates for greater user convenience and safety. Top user ratings among free antivirus software. The new avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 includes a spyware detection engine. To protect you from identity theft as well as viruses.

avast! antivirus software provides complete virus protection for your computer. Antivirus engine is complemented by anti-spyware, firewall and antispam modules to protect you against phishing schemes, identity theft and internet-distributed web viruses. Automatic updates for greater user convenience and safety. Top user ratings among free antivirus software. The new avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 includes a spyware detection engine. To protect you from identity theft as well as viruses.

avast! Pro Antivirus – better protection during web surfing. Full-featured antivirus software. Better than our free antivirus, especially for web surfing, but without the firewall and antispam included in avast! Internet Security. Also if you wish to customize your security, this is the recommended software.

• Continuous protection against viruses and spyware
• Ensures all mails sent and received are clean
• Keeps you protected from "chat" infections
• Stops attacks from hijacked websites
• Lets you safely browse suspicious websites or run unknown applications
• Allows safe and uninterrupted gaming
• Compatible with Windows XP, Vista and 7
• New user interface

Key technologies:
• Improved Antivirus and anti-spyware engine
• New avast! Intelligent Scanner
• New Silent/Gaming Mode
• New Behavior Shield
• New avast! Sandbox
• Smart virus updates
• Real time anti-rootkit protection
• avast! Community IQ
• Behavioral Honeypots
• Green computing
• avast! iTrack
• File System / Mail Shield
• Web Shield
• IM / P2P Shield
• Network Shield
• Script Shield

avast! Internet Security 5.0.377 Final

avast! provides a package of applications that aim to protect your computer from a possible virus infection or other malware threat. If you use it correctly, and in combination with other programs such as data backup utilities, it will significantly reduce the risk of your computer being attacked or infected by a virus, and thus the risk of losing important or private data.
The Avast! Internet Security application comes with an antispam filter and built-in firewall. Once installed, avast! runs silently in the background to protect your computer against all known forms of malware. You don't need to do anything else – just install and forget! Active internet users need greater protection for themselves as they shop and bank on-line. To secure against threats from infected web sites and the growing risk of identity theft, avast Internet security provides you with continuous protection from its layers of antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-rootkit protection, firewall and antispam.

Real-time shields. The real-time shields are the most important part of the program, as they are working continuously to prevent your computer from becoming infected. They monitor all your computer's activity, checking all programs and files in real-time – i.e. at the moment a program is started or whenever a file is opened or closed.

Virus Chest. The virus chest can be thought of as a folder on your hard disk with special properties, that make it a safe, isolated place for storing potentially harmful files. You can work with the files in the virus chest, with some security restrictions.

avast! antispam filter. avast! Internet Security includes a fully integrated antispam filter to detect unwanted email.
Spam delivered to your mailbox can result in your mailbox quickly becoming full, as a result which, legitimate emails may not be received. It can also unnecessarily increase the load on the email server, internet connection, local networks etc.

Firewall. avast! Internet Security includes a fully integrated firewall which can be controlled directly from the avast! user interface.
The firewall monitors all communication between your computer and the outside world and blocks unauthorized communication based on a number of "allow" and "deny" rules. In this way, the firewall can prevent sensitive data from leaving your computer and can also block attempted intrusions by external hackers

Command-line scanner. The ashCmd program uses the same avast! scanning engine to detect potential malware infections so the results are exactly the same as running a scan via the normal program interface. The avast! command-line scanner, ashCmd.exe, is normally installed in the directory Crogram FilesAlwil Softwareavast5.
A scan is run from the command prompt using various switches and parameters. To see a description of the parameters, locate the ashCmd file and double click on it. This will open a new window in which the various parameters are displayed.

• Continuous protection against viruses and spyware
• Ensures all mails sent and received are clean
• Keeps you protected from "chat" infections
• Stops attacks from hijacked websites
• Lets you safely browse suspicious websites or run unknown applications
• Blocks hacker attacks to protect your identity
• Keeps your mailbox free from spam
• Allows safe and uninterrupted gaming
• Compatible with Windows XP, Vista and 7

Key technologies:
• Improved Antivirus and anti-spyware engine
• New avast! Sandbox
• New Silent Firewall
• New Antispam
• NewBehavior Shield
• New avast! Intelligent Scanner
• New Silent/Gaming Mode
• Real time anti-rootkit protection
• avast! Community IQ
• Behavioral Honeypots
• Smart virus updates
• Green computing
• avast! iTrack
• File System / Mail Shield
• Web Shield
• IM / P2P Shield
• Network Shield
• Script Shield

Enter the year of 2010, here is the best 2010 free anti virus software that available to protect your Windows system from virus thread.  This best 2010 free antivirus software list doesn’t indicate any ranking but it is good to give them a try if you are not ready to buy an Anti virus solution.

Best 2010 Free Antivirus Software:

Panda Cloud Antivirus – Free Cloud Antivirus Software

Panda Cloud Antivirus is a something different free antivirus, which use cloud computing technology to protect faster against the newest malware variants without impacting PC performance. Meanwhile, this free cloud antivirus can works with other desktop antivirus software simultaneously provide better level security protection for your computer.

With the cloud-based scanning from PandaLabs’ servers, it has shorten the virus scanning time to 6 minutes, thus becoming the lightest and fastest antivirus service. It supports Windows 7, Vista and XP (32bit) operating systems. Plus more, the latest Panda cloud antivirus version is Version 1.0.

Immunet Pro – Free Cloud Antivirus Software

Free cloud anti virus software based on four fronts such as Cloud computing, Community based protection, Collective wisdom and Coincidental with installed antivirus provides virus prevention and malware protection on your computer.

Beside that, Immunet protect consume very less computer resources while running and it can run on support Microsoft Windows XP (SP2 or later), Vista and Windows 7 (RC 32Bit only).

AVG 9 Antivirus Free Edition – Free Windows Antivirus Software

AVG 9 Antivirus software has been improved significant in speed and levels of security protection. It also features an antivirus module but also modules for detecting spyware, basic rootkit protection, email and phishing protection as well as the AVG Link scanner to provide safety ratings for websites.

AVG antivirus 9 free edition download size is around 70MB.

Forticlient EndPoint Security Suite – Free Internet Security Suite

FortiClient Endpoint Security software that provides an SSL/IPSec VPN, WAN optimization client, antivirus and anti-spyware, anti rootkit protection, Execution Behavioral Analysis, firewall and intrusion prevention.

FortiClient Endpoint Security free edition also provides automatic updates from the FortiGuard™ subscription service ensure protection against the latest threats.

Comodo Internet Security – Free Windows Internet Security Suite

Comodo Internet Security comes with Comodo AntiVirus and Comodo Firewall to eliminate ALL known Viruses, Worms and Trojans from desktops and networks with no license fees or hidden costs. Meanwhile, the free windows Internet security is free for life.

Meanwhile, Comodo Internet Security 3.13 includes many new features and services, including Comodo Secure DNS, Comodo HopSurf and the ability to specify alternative URLs for program and virus updates.

Avira Antivir 9 Free Edition – Free Antivirus Software

Avira Antivir 9 doesn’t appear to have changed much compare to previous Antivir free edition. The most important changes on Avira antivirus are: locked file scanning (files in use), faster scanning for multi-core processors, much improved disinfection and most importantly the added adware \ spyware detection in the FREE version.

However, it still remains as a good free antivirus to use for protecting your windows system.

BitDefender 10 antivirus Free Edition – Free BitDefender antivirus

BitDefender 10 antivirus free edition is equipped with latest BitDefender antivirus engine. The best part of this free anti virus comes with the ICSA Labs certified scanning engines found in other BitDefender products which allowing you to enjoy basic virus protection for no cost at all.

However, BitDefender Free Edition is an on-demand virus scanner, which is best used in a system recovery or forensics role.

Avast 5 Free Antivirus – Free Windows Antivirus Software

The biggest changes of Avast 5 free anti virus edition are the new user interface plus improvements on the antivirus scanning engine, performance and memory, disk and cpu usage.

this free anti virus comes with full load of security system protection features to protect users computer. The most impressive security features perhaps is multi threaded scanning optimization, which allows the splitting of large individual files between cores, accelerating the scanning process.

So, i hope above the best free antivirus can protect Windows system. Let me know if i missed your favorite antivirus in comments below.

avast! Antivirus software provides complete virus protection for your computer. Antivirus engine is complemented by anti-spyware, firewall and antispam modules to protect you against phishing schemes, identity theft and internet-distributed web viruses. Automatic updates for greater user convenience and safety. Top user ratings among free antivirus software. The new avast! Free Antivirus 5.0 includes a spyware detection engine. To protect you from identity theft as well as viruses.

avast! Internet Security – Active internet users need greater protection for themselves as they shop and bank on-line. To secure against threats from infected web sites and the growing risk of identity theft, avast Internet security provides you with continuous protection from its layers of antivirus, anti-spyware, anti-rootkit protection, firewall and antispam.

avast! Pro Antivirus – better protection during web surfing. Full-featured antivirus software. Better than our free antivirus, especially for web surfing, but without the firewall and antispam included in avast! Internet Security. Also if you wish to customize your security, this is the recommended software.

Change log (incomplete list):
- stability improvements in the Behavior Shield
- improved compatibility with MBAM Pro (Windows XP)
- improvements in the rootkit scanner
- solved a vulnerability in AavmKer4.sys (Windows 2000/XP only) – special thanks to Tobias Klein
- ProAV + IS: solved a problem with Acrobat hanging when opening pdf files directly from IE
- firewall: low-level packet rules are back in the Expert settings
- improvements in the licensing engine
- new languages: Traditional Chinese, Swedish, Korean, Bulgarian, Hungarian. This makes the current number of supported languages 16

Extras. Information: During installation, you have to specify the license file, which is located in the folder with the program. Base new. Upgrading from a site can not work you can download off-line database. For Internet Security has a beta key.

OS: Windows® 98/ME/NT4/2000/XP/2003/Vista
Language: Multi
License: Key
Size: 46.84 MB/41.88 MB

Download avast! AInternet Security 5.0.418 Final ML:

Need me? firewall review

RISING Antivirus protects your computers against all types of viruses, Trojans, Worms, Rootkits and other malicious programs.

View post:
Rising Antivirus

Patented Scanning Technology for Unknown Viruses:
is protected by patents in the United States of America and Europe. This technology protects your personal computer before new virus definitions are available. Active Defense Technology:
designed to prevent the execution of malicious programs. Unknown Virus Scan&Clean (Patent No.:ZL 01 1 17726.8) It provides more open rules for advanced user customization, which enables the user to define unique defense rules depending upon the special circumstances of his/her own system, thus maximizing the system’s protection,

Patented Fully Automatic SmartUpdate:

Again troubles. windows defender spyware.

Not good enough for us to find malware, see the below:

Welcome to Major Geeks!

Please read ALL of this message including the notes before doing anything.

Pleases follow the instructions in the below link:

READ & RUN ME FIRST. Malware Removal Guide

and attach the requested logs when you finish these instructions.

• **** If something does not run, write down the info to explain to us later but keep on going. ****
• Do not assume that because one step does not work that they all will not. MGtools will frequently run even when all other tools will not.

• After completing the READ & RUN ME and attaching your logs, make sure that you tell us what problems still remain ( if any still do )!

Helpful Notes:

1. If you run into problems trying to run the READ & RUN ME or any of the scans in normal boot mode, you can run the steps in safe boot mode but make sure you tell us what you did later when you post logs. See the below if you do not know how to boot in safe mode:
   • Starting your computer in Safe mode
2. If you have problems downloading on the problem PC, download the tools and the manual updates for SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes ( links are given in the READ & RUN ME) onto another PC and then burn to a CD. Then copy them to the problem PC. You will have to skip getting updates if (and only if) your internet connection does not work. Yes you could use a flash drive too but flash drives are writeable and infections can spread to them.
3. If you cannot seem to login to an infected user account, try using a different user account (if you have one) in either normal or safe boot mode and running only SUPERAntiSpyware and Malwarebytes while logged into this other user account. Then reboot and see if you can log into the problem user account. If you can then run SUPERAntiSpyware, Malwarebytes, ComboFix and MGtools on the infected account as requested in the instructions.
4. To avoid additional delay in getting a response, it is strongly advised that after completing the READ & RUN ME you also read this sticky:
   • Don't Bump! It Only Hurts You!!!

Any additional post is a bump which will add more delay. Once you attach the logs, your thread will be in the work queue and as stated our system works the oldest threads FIRST.

Comment

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The HijackThis program, owned by Trend Micro, works differently from other anti-spyware programs. The program works with the different components of your system that may be susceptible to changes coming from outside of it such as autorun items, browser helper objects, certain kinds of registry keys and processes. The items are logged and flagged, and they are presented to you by HijackThis explaining the reasons for the flag, then you decide whether or not to delete them. If you find that malware is on your computer, you can check those programs off, click \”Fix Checked\” and before you know it, everything is fixed.

The great thing about this software is that it does not just look for predetermined spyware programs on your computer. Rather, it hunts for the kinds of entries and activities that would be used to invade and infect your computer. You\’ll find a subtle variation in how it works compared to other programs, since it doesn\’t have to know about all the different malware programs out there.

On CNET.com, editors reviewed HijackThis and gave it high praises with the software earning a perfect rating, giving it five out of five stars. There was a slightly lower score with the SnapFiles review, and it only got a three of five score from PCWorld. Their complaints aren\’t as much about the operations of the software, as they praised and lauded those aspects; the only real issues they had were that they were difficult to understand by people who are unaware of how to look for malware and registry keys, etc.

Every time a new program is downloaded or existing programs are given updates, the computer registry changes. HijackThis simply creates a list but does not evaluate the list, therefore, a lot of the items you might find on the list may actually belong there. If a computer user does not really understand what they are doing, they may make a mistake and get rid of items that should not be touched and ruin their computer. However, these lists can be a useful tool for users to research, to find out what\’s on their computers and how things work. All you have to do is just avoid hitting \”Fix Checked\” until you\’ve gone through every item and eliminated the good ones.

Basically, the software is held in very high regard. HijackThis is the perfect way to rid your computer of the great majority of malware and spyware that might end up on your machine, as long as you\’re careful with it.

You need an effective spyware removal tool in order to protect your computer and your personal data from hackers and thieves. Fortunately, there is plenty of spyware removing freeware online at any number of sites that have freeware spyware removal software.

get these free tools… adaware(lavasoft.com) spybot(safer-networking.org) HiJackThis(trend.com) winsockfix v1.2(majorgeeks.com)
install and run the adaware/spybot updater
disable restore
start-run-apps-accessories-sys… disk cleanup
reboot safe mode w/ networking (continually press f8 upon reboot)
Run adaware and spybot deleting anything they find.
Run Hijackthis (this shows all BHO’s on ur browser~very important)
Run free online scan (trend.com bitdefender.com pandasoftware.com) remove any findings
Run winsockfix v1.2
reboot
enable restore
you might also try these commands in your run box
start run cmd ~ (or cmd /k “any command without the quotes”)
ipconfig /release
ipconfig /flushdns
ipconfig /renew
netsh int ip reset
regsvr32 softpub.dll
netsh int ip reset resetlog.txt
netsh winsock reset catalog
netsh interface ip delete arpcache
please note ::: using mozilla firefox with the following addons noscript noflash adblock (95% reduction in spyware/malware)

Trojan Remover aids in the removal of Malware – Trojan Horses, Worms, Adware, Spyware – when standard anti-virus software either fails to detect them or fails to effectively eliminate them. Standard antivirus programs are good at detecting this Malware, but not always good at effectively removing it. The majority of Anti-Malware Scanners are well able to detect malicious software – Trojan Horses, Internet Worms, Adware/Spyware etc. – but are not always efficient in removing them once they have been triggered. Trojan Remover is designed specifically to disable/remove Malware without the user having to manually edit system files or the Registry. The program also removes the additional system modifications some Malware carries out which are ignored by some standard antivirus scanners. Trojan Remover scans ALL the files loaded at boot time for Adware, Spyware, Remote Access Trojans, internet Worms and other malware. Two types are available. The Standard scan quickly scans the system with no need for further configuration of the scan parameters.The Custom scan… allows the user to select any of the folders for scan. 

MWC

HTC has a press conference at Mobile World Congress tomorrow. Android.Modaco.com just got some interesting information…

First we have the HTC Desire (codename: Bravo)

It packs Android 2.1 with HTC Sense, a 1Ghz processor, a 3.7″ AMOLED WVGA resolution touchscreen with the optical trackpad into a package that is only 11.9mm thin. The spec sheet stated that it has “Friend Stream” which is probably part of HTC Sense, which is revamped for the Android 2.1 handsets.

Next up, the HTC Legend:

This looks to be the successor of the HTC Hero, which launched last year. The HTC Legend has a 3.2″ HVGA touchscreen, optical trackpad, Android 2.1 with HTC Sense, Friend Stream, and a aluminum construction.

And last we have the HTC Touch HD Mini:

No specs on this one, but it looks exactly like the Touch HD, expect it’s a lot smaller…and the addition of the “Mini” in it’s name. It’s probably running Windows Mobile 6.5 like the Touch HD.

We will only know if this is real at HTC’s conference tomorrow, but wow these handsets look amazing. Now…if one of you guys could just send a Desire my way….

[Source: PhoneDog]

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• Allowed HTML tags: <a> <em> <strong> <cite> <code> <ul> <ol> <li> <dl> <dt> <dd> <img>
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More information about formatting options

The upcoming Mobile World Congress, or MWC, has many technology enthusiasts excited about the possible release of Windows Phone 7. Rumors have been flying non-stop over the past weeks, most recently regarding the lack of Flash support, and even a Windows Mobile 'Starter Edition', much like Microsoft's desktop offerings. As the Microsoft stage at the MWC was undergoing some last minute minor changes, learnbemobile managed to get photos of the interface for Windows Mobile 7, which will be unveiled in the hours ahead.

The photos, unlike most spy shots of pre-released products, are good quality, and display some of the very welcome changes that Microsoft has made to its mobile operating system. Interestingly, there seems to be support for Xbox Live, in addition to a revamped home screen, showing off information crucial to most users. There also appears to be a new section labeled 'Me', which will of course be detailed when the announcement is made. We've included an image of the interface below, along with a gallery (again thanks to learnbemobile).

Neowin will be covering the MWC live, so keep your eyes on us for any announcements.

Olympic luge tragedy video

Olympic Luge Tragedy Video : Olympic Luge tragedy through a video showing the BBC still haunts most people, after the incident of the luge athlete who flew over the air hits the steel … read more…

Olympic Luge Tragedy Video | Watch Olympic Luge Tragedy | Latest … : Olympic Luge Tragedy Video | Watch Olympic Luge Tragedy | Luge Crash Video Nodar Kumaritashvili | Luger Who Died Video | Nodar Kumaritashvili | Luge Crash Nodar Kumaritashvili | Luge Crash Video Nodar | Crash Nodar Kumaritashvili … read more…

Olympic Luge, Nodar Kumaritashvili Tragedy Video aptness &amp; Dialog … : Nodar Kumaritashvili an Olympic Luger, who died on Friday, this news spread up like fire. Internet users are searching up Olympic Luge tragedy video. On Friday, Nodar smashed down on Whistler track while preparing for Vancouver 2010 … read more…

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Hot Current News Trends: Olympic Luge Tragedy Video : Olympic Luge tragedy through a video showing the BBC still haunts most people, after the incident of the luge athlete who flew over the air hits the steel pillar in the padded speed 140mph. He was actually training before the opening … read more…

Best Videos Youtube Ever: Most Viewed Youtube Ever : Raw video of fatal luge accident crash that killed olympic star: http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/nodar-kumaritashvili-video-fatal-luge-crash-9823485 Winter Olympics 2010: Nodar Kumaritashvili luge death due to "driver error. … Olympic luge to go head after tragedy. Officials at the Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver have decided to reopen the luge track and allow the competition to take place as scheduled after an investigation into the death of Georgia's Nodar … read more…

Comments

1. February 15, 2010 @
   4:00 am, by
   abby

   Can’t wait for the ladies long program on the 25th! Tell Rick to have the vodka sodas ready for my visit. The smurf outfit was horrific!

2. February 15, 2010 @
   6:51 am, by
   kristen

   my favorite event is the biathalon. too bad i missed the womens’ event, NBC was too busy broadcasting those human interest stories.

   i love rick’s training regime.

3. February 15, 2010 @
   7:48 am, by
   Jodi Press

   My fave outfit too. loved when they were in sync and the striped side was perfectly matched up. No joke – last night we were watching and I too proclaimed, I should have been an olympic athlete. Josh wondered which event and I couldn’t pick just one that I’d clearly excel in and Clyde reminded me loud and clear (as we’re hanging at our SKI house) “Mom, you don;t have an idea how to ski!”

4. February 15, 2010 @
   8:12 am, by
   Crystal

   I had dreams of being an Olympic athlete once…then my mom told me they don’t hand out gold medals for being a diva. I settled on being a ROCKING mom instead (still waiting for my gold medal)! LOVE Rick’s training regimen!

5. February 15, 2010 @
   9:09 am, by
   Wendi

   You are so funny.
   And I had to listen to my Fashion Police husband rank the opening ceremony jackets (loser: Finland–winner: Sweden.)

6. February 15, 2010 @
   9:14 am, by
   Becky

   These blue outfits were WAY better than THE CLOWNS! OMG The Clowns!
   Remember when they used to just wear pretty little things. Sigh. Those were the good ol days.

   I can’t wait to cheer on Rick in 2020

7. February 15, 2010 @
   9:31 am, by
   Daphne

   The French hottie won that ski really far for a long time race. And Ohno is always nice to look at.

8. February 15, 2010 @
   9:40 am, by
   Jen

   We turned on the ceremony for only 2 seconds — there was a heavy set dude with a mohawk in a horrible red and black outfit singing on stage. Only in Canada, folks…hysterical- Rick’s shredded wheat and vodka, that what having children will do to you!

9. February 15, 2010 @
   10:05 am, by
   Jen

   Remember the commercial we did in Montana with the line about the triple salchow? hee, hee!

10. February 15, 2010 @
    12:08 pm, by
    Chris

    Your Rick cracks me up. I won’t let my husband have a glass of my wine if he eats cinnamon bears with it. Pig.

    The blue costumes are fabulous. Very “electric”!

11. February 15, 2010 @
    12:09 pm, by
    traci

    The Sweeds weren’t too slouchy. Tony and I always exclaim our desire to be olympic athletes as well. I, looking for track and field and Tony keeps it Lo Pro with Curling. For the love of Pete, can someone explain that sport.

12. February 15, 2010 @
    1:14 pm, by
    Maureen@IslandRoar

    We did have that same conversation. We decided Sweden hotness was overrated, and some countries need new outfit designers… Yet inspiring nonetheless.

13. February 15, 2010 @
    2:37 pm, by
    Gretchen

    It’s hard to have a conversation about athlete hotness when your watching companion is 6. Our conversation went something like this -
    The son: Where’s Shawn White? Is that Shawn White? Where’s the Mericans? When’s the snow boarding? When’s Shawn White? Is that the sled guy who DIED? Where’s Shawn White? Why’d the sled guy DIE? Where’s the Mericans? When’s the snow boarding? I like that funny commercial with the dragon! Where’s Shawn White?

    Me: Sh! I want to watch this part. Sh! I want to watch this part. Sh! I want to watch this part.

14. February 15, 2010 @
    3:32 pm, by
    ErinB

    I need blair. bring her back!!! oh and go team USA.

15. February 15, 2010 @
    3:52 pm, by
    Aunt Marcia (Guess Whose?)

    If FARTING becomes an Olympic Sport, my entire family gets a gold medal.

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A good opportunity? Shen and Zhao have been unbeatable this season after two years on the sidelines thanks to a short-lived retirement. They didn't flinch at drawing the unenviable first position in the short program, then mesmerized the audience – and the judges – with their precision, athleticism and total mastery on the ice.

“We feel pretty good even though we were the first to go today,” Zhao said of their record 76.66 points. Then he added with a laugh: “I can barely feel my legs and I want to sit down.”

He wasn't laughing at the competition, which is quite strong. Two-time world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy were just .70 points behind, even though their routine to “Send in the Clowns” didn't have the same electricity as Shen and Zhao's program to “Who Wants to Live Forever?”

Savchenko and Szolkowy seemingly had to wait forever to get on the ice. They skated last among the 20 competitors – a spot Shen and Zhao will have in Monday night's free skate – and knew several others had performed well.

So they skated like champions, too, ending thoughts of any runaway by the Chinese.

“The points are so close,” Szolkowy said. “There are some people who will say, 'In my mind, the Germans were best, or the Chinese were best or they say the Russians were best.

“We're looking forward to a good fight,” Szolkowy said.

Russia's Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov are in third, giving them a chance to continue what is one of the longest winning streaks in sports. A Russian or Soviet pair has won the gold medal at every Olympics dating to 1964.

“I think I speak for all the Chinese competitors, we're here to give it our all and go for the gold,” Zhao said. “We don't feel anything about the dominance of any one country. We just have to give our best performances.”

This sure was their best short program.

Shen and Zhao retired after winning their third world title in 2007. But an Olympic gold medal is powerful motivation and it proved irresistible.

Veritable senior citizens in the skating world, the 31-year-old Shen and 36-year-old Zhao are no aging champions. Once lauded for their athleticism but criticized for a lack of artistry, they now skate with their hearts as well as their feet.

And, as only the greatest pairs do, they seem to skate as one, with perfect timing on every element, from the most simple turn to the roof-dusting throws.

Their triple twist was so huge he looked as if he was shooting a 3-pointer – and hitting nothing but net as she floated to the ice.

Asked if it was their best performance, coach Yao Bin said, “Just about.”

Savchenko and Szolkowy, successors to Shen and Zhao at the top of the pairs world, lost their European title to Kavaguti and Smirnov last month. But they were the only skaters truly in the Chinese team's class Sunday night.

If not for unison trouble on their side-by-side spins, Savchenko and Szolkowy might be sitting in first place – ironic considering both wore the tears of a clown painted on their faces.

Unlike at Europeans, where Savchenko was getting over an illness, they are clearly back to full strength. Their throw triple flip was huge, and they did nice side-by-side triple toe loops in unison – not always their forte.

Kavaguti and Smirnov were 2.5 points behind the leaders after a balletic “The Swan” program. That's easy to make up in some free skates, but maybe not against this field.

China's Pang Qing and Tong Jian are fourth and Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao are fifth.

Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, surprise silver medalists at last month's U.S. championships, are 10th after the performance of their career at their first major international event. U.S. champions Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett were 14th.

“I can definitely say we've already had many Olympic moments,” Evora said. “So whatever we can do the rest of the Olympics is icing on the cake.”

WHISTLER, British Columbia – “This is the party place,” the P.A. announcer bellowed. The knit-capped spectators and patriots at Whistler Sliding Center agreed, ringing cowbells, hollering and waving their nation's flags between swigs of beer and hot cocoa.

And when Germany's Felix Loch, the final slider of the men's singles luge competition of the Vancouver Olympics, slid past the finish line and claimed the gold medal, his euphoria came pouring out.

Countryman David Moeller and Italy's Armin Zoeggeler, who earned silver and bronze, lifted Loch on their shoulders.

This event, held on a gorgeous, sunny Sunday, was not a funeral, nor a place of quiet reflection for fallen luger Nodar Kumaritashvili of the Republic of Georgia.

And that was OK.

The athletes of a sport shaken by the deadly training run Friday deserved their Olympics, or what was left of it. Everything had changed, from the starting point of their race to a wall built near the deadly turn to the emotional feel of these Games.

The International Olympic Committee and Vancouver Organizing Committee are under fire for blaming the death on the driver, and the track's safety continues to be questioned.

But here on Blackcomb Mountain, the athletes relished the chance to slide. Perhaps the Germans, the best starters in the world, benefited from the lower start, designed to decrease speeds, over Zoeggeler, a two-time Olympic champion.

It's what was done – and what many sliders Sunday said had to be.

“We're all competitors, and we're all going to compete with what we're given,” said American luger Chris Mazdzer, who finished 13th. “It's a difficult decision.”

Admittedly, it was almost eerie to see the pristine condition of the fatal Turn 16, with no tribute to the life lost there.

Kumaritashvili was not forgotten. But striking the appropriate balance between respect and grief and celebration of the sport is a difficult task.

“It was a very, very emotional race,” Moeller said. “I knew this happened and it probably can happen to anybody. But that's our sport.”

Ruben Gonzalez, a slider for Argentina who lives in Katy, Texas, had trained with the late Georgian in Latvia, and questioned what was appropriate.

“He was just happy to be here, his first one,” Gonzalez said. “He'd probably want me to enjoy myself just in the spirit of the Games.”

Mazdzer's mother, Marty Lawthers, brought yellow tulips Sunday to a makeshift memorial at the base of a sculpture of the Olympic rings in Whistler Village. She wanted something bright.

“I think about it a lot,” she said. “In this case, you have to go on. I'm happy [for my son]. But I'm really sad.”

Growing up near Lake Placid, Mazdzer picked up the sport through a $40 program that included free McDonald's Happy Meals with luge lessons. He said his worst injuries have been concussions and bruises – even in rough crashes.

Athletes know danger is inherent and say that can't be their focus.

“You never really want to think about that when you're going down,” Mazdzer said.

Still, British luger A.J. Rosen admitted it was hard to take his first run down the track when it reopened. Slovakia's Domen Pociecha crossed himself – probably a habit – before his final run Sunday.

But athletes compete – women's sliders are upset that their start as been moved down to the junior start. Olympic champions celebrate – Loch gyrated and fist-pumped on the track after his win.

And the Games go on.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Yevgeny Plushenko, the reigning Olympic champion, has snubbed reporters since arriving last week, saying he would not speak until the men’s short program on Tuesday.

But his coach, Alexei Mishin, spoke in Plushenko’s stead Saturday, using the opportunity to criticize skaters who are not going to attempt a quadruple jump here.

Mishin said the skater who won the gold medal in Vancouver would need to land the quadruple, skating’s hardest jump, which requires enough speed and power to complete four full revolutions in the air. The last time a male figure skater won the Olympic gold medal without a quadruple jump was in 1994, when Aleksei Urmanov of Russia finished first, with seven triple jumps.

“Modern figure skating without the quad is going back to the time,” he said, adding that it would set back the sport at least 10 years. “If you look at the Olympic motto, ‘faster, higher, stronger,’ the quad represents exactly that.”

The last two world champions — the American Evan Lysacek (2009) and the Canadian Jeffrey Buttle (2008) — won without performing quads. Lysacek hopes to win here, too, without one.

Lysacek, from Naperville, Ill., said Saturday that the strength of his other moves — including solid triple jumps and complicated footwork — would make up for his lacking the quad in either of his programs.

“A positive grade of execution can make up for a quad,” he said. “This is going to be my strategy. I looked back at the score sheets, saw where I gained points and saw they were more valuable than the quad.”

Lysacek, who finished second to Jeremy Abbott at the United States Figure Skating Championships last month, fell when attempting a quad in his long program at the nationals. He had not been practicing it as rigorously as he had in the past, after being slowed last year by a stress fracture in his left foot.

“For me, the quad is a risk,” Lysacek said, leaving him thinking if “this is going to be the one that breaks my foot again.”

He added, “I didn’t want that to be my Olympic experience.”

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Comments

1. February 15, 2010 @
   4:00 am, by
   abby

   Can’t wait for the ladies long program on the 25th! Tell Rick to have the vodka sodas ready for my visit. The smurf outfit was horrific!

2. February 15, 2010 @
   6:51 am, by
   kristen

   my favorite event is the biathalon. too bad i missed the womens’ event, NBC was too busy broadcasting those human interest stories.

   i love rick’s training regime.

3. February 15, 2010 @
   7:48 am, by
   Jodi Press

   My fave outfit too. loved when they were in sync and the striped side was perfectly matched up. No joke – last night we were watching and I too proclaimed, I should have been an olympic athlete. Josh wondered which event and I couldn’t pick just one that I’d clearly excel in and Clyde reminded me loud and clear (as we’re hanging at our SKI house) “Mom, you don;t have an idea how to ski!”

4. February 15, 2010 @
   8:12 am, by
   Crystal

   I had dreams of being an Olympic athlete once…then my mom told me they don’t hand out gold medals for being a diva. I settled on being a ROCKING mom instead (still waiting for my gold medal)! LOVE Rick’s training regimen!

5. February 15, 2010 @
   9:09 am, by
   Wendi

   You are so funny.
   And I had to listen to my Fashion Police husband rank the opening ceremony jackets (loser: Finland–winner: Sweden.)

6. February 15, 2010 @
   9:14 am, by
   Becky

   These blue outfits were WAY better than THE CLOWNS! OMG The Clowns!
   Remember when they used to just wear pretty little things. Sigh. Those were the good ol days.

   I can’t wait to cheer on Rick in 2020

7. February 15, 2010 @
   9:31 am, by
   Daphne

   The French hottie won that ski really far for a long time race. And Ohno is always nice to look at.

8. February 15, 2010 @
   9:40 am, by
   Jen

   We turned on the ceremony for only 2 seconds — there was a heavy set dude with a mohawk in a horrible red and black outfit singing on stage. Only in Canada, folks…hysterical- Rick’s shredded wheat and vodka, that what having children will do to you!

9. February 15, 2010 @
   10:05 am, by
   Jen

   Remember the commercial we did in Montana with the line about the triple salchow? hee, hee!

10. February 15, 2010 @
    12:08 pm, by
    Chris

    Your Rick cracks me up. I won’t let my husband have a glass of my wine if he eats cinnamon bears with it. Pig.

    The blue costumes are fabulous. Very “electric”!

11. February 15, 2010 @
    12:09 pm, by
    traci

    The Sweeds weren’t too slouchy. Tony and I always exclaim our desire to be olympic athletes as well. I, looking for track and field and Tony keeps it Lo Pro with Curling. For the love of Pete, can someone explain that sport.

12. February 15, 2010 @
    1:14 pm, by
    Maureen@IslandRoar

    We did have that same conversation. We decided Sweden hotness was overrated, and some countries need new outfit designers… Yet inspiring nonetheless.

13. February 15, 2010 @
    2:37 pm, by
    Gretchen

    It’s hard to have a conversation about athlete hotness when your watching companion is 6. Our conversation went something like this -
    The son: Where’s Shawn White? Is that Shawn White? Where’s the Mericans? When’s the snow boarding? When’s Shawn White? Is that the sled guy who DIED? Where’s Shawn White? Why’d the sled guy DIE? Where’s the Mericans? When’s the snow boarding? I like that funny commercial with the dragon! Where’s Shawn White?

    Me: Sh! I want to watch this part. Sh! I want to watch this part. Sh! I want to watch this part.

14. February 15, 2010 @
    3:32 pm, by
    ErinB

    I need blair. bring her back!!! oh and go team USA.

15. February 15, 2010 @
    3:52 pm, by
    Aunt Marcia (Guess Whose?)

    If FARTING becomes an Olympic Sport, my entire family gets a gold medal.

Add a comment

Name :

Email (required) :

Website :

Comment :

You can use these tags: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <strike> <strong>

Notify me of followup comments via e-mail

Your Information

Name and email address are required. Email address will not be displayed with the comment.

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A good opportunity? Shen and Zhao have been unbeatable this season after two years on the sidelines thanks to a short-lived retirement. They didn't flinch at drawing the unenviable first position in the short program, then mesmerized the audience – and the judges – with their precision, athleticism and total mastery on the ice.

“We feel pretty good even though we were the first to go today,” Zhao said of their record 76.66 points. Then he added with a laugh: “I can barely feel my legs and I want to sit down.”

He wasn't laughing at the competition, which is quite strong. Two-time world champions Aliona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy were just .70 points behind, even though their routine to “Send in the Clowns” didn't have the same electricity as Shen and Zhao's program to “Who Wants to Live Forever?”

Savchenko and Szolkowy seemingly had to wait forever to get on the ice. They skated last among the 20 competitors – a spot Shen and Zhao will have in Monday night's free skate – and knew several others had performed well.

So they skated like champions, too, ending thoughts of any runaway by the Chinese.

“The points are so close,” Szolkowy said. “There are some people who will say, 'In my mind, the Germans were best, or the Chinese were best or they say the Russians were best.

“We're looking forward to a good fight,” Szolkowy said.

Russia's Yuko Kavaguti and Alexander Smirnov are in third, giving them a chance to continue what is one of the longest winning streaks in sports. A Russian or Soviet pair has won the gold medal at every Olympics dating to 1964.

“I think I speak for all the Chinese competitors, we're here to give it our all and go for the gold,” Zhao said. “We don't feel anything about the dominance of any one country. We just have to give our best performances.”

This sure was their best short program.

Shen and Zhao retired after winning their third world title in 2007. But an Olympic gold medal is powerful motivation and it proved irresistible.

Veritable senior citizens in the skating world, the 31-year-old Shen and 36-year-old Zhao are no aging champions. Once lauded for their athleticism but criticized for a lack of artistry, they now skate with their hearts as well as their feet.

And, as only the greatest pairs do, they seem to skate as one, with perfect timing on every element, from the most simple turn to the roof-dusting throws.

Their triple twist was so huge he looked as if he was shooting a 3-pointer – and hitting nothing but net as she floated to the ice.

Asked if it was their best performance, coach Yao Bin said, “Just about.”

Savchenko and Szolkowy, successors to Shen and Zhao at the top of the pairs world, lost their European title to Kavaguti and Smirnov last month. But they were the only skaters truly in the Chinese team's class Sunday night.

If not for unison trouble on their side-by-side spins, Savchenko and Szolkowy might be sitting in first place – ironic considering both wore the tears of a clown painted on their faces.

Unlike at Europeans, where Savchenko was getting over an illness, they are clearly back to full strength. Their throw triple flip was huge, and they did nice side-by-side triple toe loops in unison – not always their forte.

Kavaguti and Smirnov were 2.5 points behind the leaders after a balletic “The Swan” program. That's easy to make up in some free skates, but maybe not against this field.

China's Pang Qing and Tong Jian are fourth and Zhang Dan and Zhang Hao are fifth.

Amanda Evora and Mark Ladwig, surprise silver medalists at last month's U.S. championships, are 10th after the performance of their career at their first major international event. U.S. champions Caydee Denney and Jeremy Barrett were 14th.

“I can definitely say we've already had many Olympic moments,” Evora said. “So whatever we can do the rest of the Olympics is icing on the cake.”

WHISTLER, British Columbia – “This is the party place,” the P.A. announcer bellowed. The knit-capped spectators and patriots at Whistler Sliding Center agreed, ringing cowbells, hollering and waving their nation's flags between swigs of beer and hot cocoa.

And when Germany's Felix Loch, the final slider of the men's singles luge competition of the Vancouver Olympics, slid past the finish line and claimed the gold medal, his euphoria came pouring out.

Countryman David Moeller and Italy's Armin Zoeggeler, who earned silver and bronze, lifted Loch on their shoulders.

This event, held on a gorgeous, sunny Sunday, was not a funeral, nor a place of quiet reflection for fallen luger Nodar Kumaritashvili of the Republic of Georgia.

And that was OK.

The athletes of a sport shaken by the deadly training run Friday deserved their Olympics, or what was left of it. Everything had changed, from the starting point of their race to a wall built near the deadly turn to the emotional feel of these Games.

The International Olympic Committee and Vancouver Organizing Committee are under fire for blaming the death on the driver, and the track's safety continues to be questioned.

But here on Blackcomb Mountain, the athletes relished the chance to slide. Perhaps the Germans, the best starters in the world, benefited from the lower start, designed to decrease speeds, over Zoeggeler, a two-time Olympic champion.

It's what was done – and what many sliders Sunday said had to be.

“We're all competitors, and we're all going to compete with what we're given,” said American luger Chris Mazdzer, who finished 13th. “It's a difficult decision.”

Admittedly, it was almost eerie to see the pristine condition of the fatal Turn 16, with no tribute to the life lost there.

Kumaritashvili was not forgotten. But striking the appropriate balance between respect and grief and celebration of the sport is a difficult task.

“It was a very, very emotional race,” Moeller said. “I knew this happened and it probably can happen to anybody. But that's our sport.”

Ruben Gonzalez, a slider for Argentina who lives in Katy, Texas, had trained with the late Georgian in Latvia, and questioned what was appropriate.

“He was just happy to be here, his first one,” Gonzalez said. “He'd probably want me to enjoy myself just in the spirit of the Games.”

Mazdzer's mother, Marty Lawthers, brought yellow tulips Sunday to a makeshift memorial at the base of a sculpture of the Olympic rings in Whistler Village. She wanted something bright.

“I think about it a lot,” she said. “In this case, you have to go on. I'm happy [for my son]. But I'm really sad.”

Growing up near Lake Placid, Mazdzer picked up the sport through a $40 program that included free McDonald's Happy Meals with luge lessons. He said his worst injuries have been concussions and bruises – even in rough crashes.

Athletes know danger is inherent and say that can't be their focus.

“You never really want to think about that when you're going down,” Mazdzer said.

Still, British luger A.J. Rosen admitted it was hard to take his first run down the track when it reopened. Slovakia's Domen Pociecha crossed himself – probably a habit – before his final run Sunday.

But athletes compete – women's sliders are upset that their start as been moved down to the junior start. Olympic champions celebrate – Loch gyrated and fist-pumped on the track after his win.

And the Games go on.

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Yevgeny Plushenko, the reigning Olympic champion, has snubbed reporters since arriving last week, saying he would not speak until the men’s short program on Tuesday.

But his coach, Alexei Mishin, spoke in Plushenko’s stead Saturday, using the opportunity to criticize skaters who are not going to attempt a quadruple jump here.

Mishin said the skater who won the gold medal in Vancouver would need to land the quadruple, skating’s hardest jump, which requires enough speed and power to complete four full revolutions in the air. The last time a male figure skater won the Olympic gold medal without a quadruple jump was in 1994, when Aleksei Urmanov of Russia finished first, with seven triple jumps.

“Modern figure skating without the quad is going back to the time,” he said, adding that it would set back the sport at least 10 years. “If you look at the Olympic motto, ‘faster, higher, stronger,’ the quad represents exactly that.”

The last two world champions — the American Evan Lysacek (2009) and the Canadian Jeffrey Buttle (2008) — won without performing quads. Lysacek hopes to win here, too, without one.

Lysacek, from Naperville, Ill., said Saturday that the strength of his other moves — including solid triple jumps and complicated footwork — would make up for his lacking the quad in either of his programs.

“A positive grade of execution can make up for a quad,” he said. “This is going to be my strategy. I looked back at the score sheets, saw where I gained points and saw they were more valuable than the quad.”

Lysacek, who finished second to Jeremy Abbott at the United States Figure Skating Championships last month, fell when attempting a quad in his long program at the nationals. He had not been practicing it as rigorously as he had in the past, after being slowed last year by a stress fracture in his left foot.

“For me, the quad is a risk,” Lysacek said, leaving him thinking if “this is going to be the one that breaks my foot again.”

He added, “I didn’t want that to be my Olympic experience.”

Make SEO easier than you think

Loan without income verifition

Nba player of the decade

See your favorite Chicago Bulls play at United Center on Jan 9, 2010 against Minnesota Timberwolves! Tickets with …

Event Date: 01.09.2010

Section: 326

Price: $27 ea

More than 3,300 consumers texted in to participate in the NBA’s New York Knicks’ four-week interactive out-of-home media campaign featuring an SMS call-to-action.

To promote the Knickerbockers’ 2009-10 season, the team created a campaign that included CBS Outdoor’s text-messaging platform txt2go.  The Knicks “Declare” marketing campaign included widely deployed posters in New York subway platforms, which asked fans to text in for a chance to win Knicks season tickets.

“By collaborating with CBS Outdoor to utilize txt2go for part of the Knicks early season marketing campaign, we were able to introduce new fans to the Knicks mobile platform and provide added value for those fans through targeted promotions,” said Howard Jacobs, senior vice president of marketing and ticket sales at Madison Square Garden Sports, New York.

“The campaign was a success and we hope to explore utilizing more mobile marketing tactics like this in the future for the Knicks,” he said.

The NBA’s New York Knicks basketball team is part of Madison Square Garden L.P., which is owned by Cablevision Systems Corp.

MSG Interactive oversees all of the company’s wireless and online initiatives.

CBS Outdoor is an out-of-home media firm with both traditional outdoor and transit properties. The company’s txt2go lets advertisers of any size add a text-messaging element to their overall marketing strategy. 

SMS is a slam dunk
The call-to-action on the subway posters asked consumers to text the keyword DECLARE to the short code 64444 for the chance to win Knicks tickets.

New Yorkers who texted in to enter the sweepstakes received a special promotional offer, which was periodically changed throughout the pre-season campaign.

One promotion sent to the opted-in SMS database offered the chance to win individual game tickets and achieved a 25 percent response rate.

The team also incorporated a direct response element, which enabled additional ticket sales.   

Using txt2go, the Knicks were able to access real-time performance data that could help measure how various promotions performed and allowed them to make adjustments on an ongoing basis.

This provided the Knicks with a significant base of individuals to test promotions prior to finalizing general market strategies for the season, and helped increase the team’s mobile fan base. 

The Knicks Declare marketing campaign is focused on connecting the fans, the city and the team and establishing a two-way dialogue with basketball fans, according to Madison Square Garden Sports.

The mobile component was critical to the Knicks’ Declare campaign, as it was the only call-to-action for consumers to respond to.

Using txt2go, the Knicks incorporated sweepstakes, digital couponing and customer loyalty elements into the campaign and gained insight into its fan base via CBS Outdoor’s real-time performance data.

“Txt2go provides our clients with real-time performance data which allows them to adjust their marketing strategy during a campaign to more effectively reach their target audience and increase the success of the campaign,” said David Lane, vice president of digital media at CBS Outdoor, New York.

“We design the mobile strategy around our client’s campaign objectives,” he said. “We ensure they effectively use txt2go during the media campaign, as well as the ongoing communication to their lists of mobile subscribers.”

Source: http://www.mobilemarketer.com/cms/news/messaging/5079.html

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There’s been a lot of talk about Kobe’s shooting from a % perspective and from the standpoint of volume. I think we’re all seeing the same thing – Kobe is not reducing his shot attempts and his % is not very good either. This has led to questions about Phil’s approach with Kobe and why he doesn’t get the same amount of grief that Farmar gets. That LO gets. That even Pau gets. I think the answer to that is both simple (and somewhat of a double standard): he’s Kobe Bryant. Phil can be a lot of things to us fans – both brilliant and innovative while being frustrating and confusing at the same time. But I’ll tell you one thing he’s not – unaware.

I truly think he understands that Kobe is sometimes too agressive, too confident. But I think he also understands that these traits are what make Kobe the player that he is and you live with the good and the bad because you trust the player. Especially the player that is the driving force behind your team. Behind your championship team. I’m going to rattle of some shooting stats, so excuse me if this gets a bit tedious:

FGA/FGM:
Player 1 – 5/17, 9/20, 8/20, 11/25, 10/28, 5/11, 16/34, 9/24, 13/23, 14/31, 11/21, 7/17, 11/19, 13/20, 7/25

Player 2 – 16/30, 14/26, 13/27, 6/12, 9/23, 10/30, 14/37, 4/21, 7/10, 5/11, 10/20, 4/19, 12/31, 8/24

Player 2 is Kobe Bryant’s last 15 games. That’s 8 games that are right at or above 50% shooting. The 7 that aren’t represent some pretty poor nights, I’ll admit. But in those other 8 games, he’s been pretty damned good, I’d argue. Player 1 is Michael Jordan in a 15 game stretch during the 1997 season (2nd title season in the 2nd three-peat run) from late February to late March. Jordan showed more consistency than Kobe, but I’d say that his volume of shots and his overall %’s are very similar to what Kobe has done in this stretch where many have been disappointed in his play.

I bring this up not to start another debate on Kobe vs. Jordan as players in a historical context. But I do bring it up because Kobe and Jordan play/played the same role(s) for their respective teams. And, within the context of that role, they have the same respect from the coach that they’ve shared. Phil is not going to tell Kobe to shoot less just as he was not going to tell Michael to shoot less. Not when Kobe is a 13 year veteran and MJ was also in his 13th year. Both of these players had the same m.o. and had (essentially) the same role within this offense. So, rather than go after his top guy, Phil is going to ask the rest of the team to do what they’re supposed to in order to help the team win. That means calling out the other players after Kobe takes 37 shots in a loss by saying that they can’t defer to Kobe so much (because #24 will take the opportunities that you give him). That means calling a timeout to grill Farmar about what he should do on a particular play to get it in that player’s head that he needs to do the right thing more often (which, hopefully, will lead to the player actually listening and running the offense – something that will result in more shots for other players, btw). It means emphasizing what can be done by others because *those* players need to be told what to do. The Kobe’s/MJ’s don’t need to be told. This may sound off, but it’s true – those Kobe’s and MJ’s and Shaq’s and Pippen’s are going to play their game no matter what their teammates do so getting their teammates to do what they need to do to make the *team* its most effective is the tact to take.

One thing I’ve learned about Kobe after watching him for all these years is that he wants to win first and be your friend second. Over the last two seasons, he took the steps that (I think) he thought would lead to a better team – more hands on leadership, more taking players to the side, more explaining, a friendlier demeanor. And it worked to the tune of two straight Finals appearances and a championship. But, what I’m seeing now is Kobe going back (not reverting, mind you) to a mindset of “these guys should know what it takes now” and acting accordingly. He’s not going to hold these players’ hands this season. And honestly, I don’t see too much wrong with this. The rest of the guys should know now. The Lakers returned an entire championship team save for one player (Artest). This group knows what it takes and needs to start playing accordingly.

Yes, it takes two to tango. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that Pau got it going in the 4th quarter against the Knicks when Kobe deliberately fed him and went almost exclusively to the two man game that Kurt described in an earlier comment. And maybe it will take more of that from Kobe to help aid his team along this path. But, in the end, the entire team needs to take ownership of the game. Kobe, despite what people may think of his decision to shoot the shots he’s taking, is doing just that. The other guys need to insert themselves into the game more. Force the issue a bit more. Go away from Kobe when they think it’s the right choice. But do it by running our sets. By feeding the post. By cutting hard. By making quick and smart decisions with the ball. By being more mentally tough and rising to the level that is needed for a repeat champion. Are we there yet? No. But I think we’ll get there. And I think Kobe and Phil are doing exactly what is needed to get us there.

GERY WOELFEL

DALLAS – Caron Butler should learn today whether he’ll be changing NBA teams.

Butler, the Washington Wizards’ standout small forward from Racine, has been the subject of trade rumors for several weeks.

Friday, it was reported by several media outlets that the Wizards had agreed to trade Butler, a two-time All-Star, to the Dallas Mavericks in a multi-player deal.

In the proposed trade, Washington would send Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson to Dallas for Josh Howard and Drew Gooden.

However, I was told late Friday night the trade hasn’t been finalized and that there was still a possibility the deal might not be consummated.

* Whether veteran Bucks point guard Luke Ridnour is dealt to the New York Knicks before the Feb. 18 deadline remains to be seen, but there is little doubt the Knicks are keenly interested in his services.

I was told by an NBA executive that the Knicks “want a guard bad.’’

There have been some rumblings the Bucks would receive point guard Chris Duhon – who once played for Bucks coach Scott Skiles in Chicago — from the Knicks, but that apparently isn’t the case.

* Bucks reserve guard Jerry Stackhouse won’t be in Sunday’s All-Star game, but his son, Jaye, will be.

Sort of.

Jaye Stackhouse, a seventh grader who lives in Atlanta, will be a ball boy for Sunday night’s All-Star game.

“He’s been a ball boy before; when I was in Dallas, he did the games,’’ Jerry said. “But this is his first All-Star game. He’s excited, obviously.’’

Stackhouse, by the way, said he hasn’t given much thought to playing beyond this season.

“I’m day to day,’’ Stackhouse said, smiling.

However, Stackhouse made it clear there is one factor that would prompt him to call it quits.

“If anything significant happens again, as far as injuries, I would come to that point of retiring,’’ Stackhouse said. “But, hopefully, I can help the Bucks get into the playoffs and then come back next year with them. That would be a no-brainer.’’

* Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings, who acquitted himself quite well in Friday night’s Rookie Challenge when he scored 22 points and had eight assists, was asked the difference between his torrid start this season – which included a scintillating 55-point outing against Golden State — and his recent shooting struggles where shots 30 percent in his last six games.

“Going through the different defenses,’’ Jennings said. “Ever since that 55 points, I don’t think I’ve been able to shoot an open shot since.

“I wouldn’t say I’m hitting the rookie wall. I would just say I’m playing the different defenses.’’

Jennings on the Bucks making the playoffs:

“It will be big for us, for the city and for the Milwaukee Bucks to make the playoffs this year. So that’s our main goal.’’

FREE THROWS: For Brian McIntyre, All-Star games are becoming old hat. McIntyre, the NBA’s senior vice president o basketball communications, is working his 28th All-Star games. … Los Angeles Clippers guard Eric Gordon on Bucks assistant coach Kelvin Sampson, who was his coached at Indiana University: “I liked playing for him. He gave me a lot of freedom to show my skills.’’ … Gordon on new Clippers coach Kim Hughes, a former Wisconsin Badger: “Every time Indiana and Wisconsin play, we talk about it. If Indiana wins, I give him grief. If Wisconsin wins, he gives me grief. We have a lot of fun with it.’’ … The scuttlebutt is that a record 95,000 tickets have been sold for Sunday’s All-Star game at Cowboys Stadium. Don’t be surprised if the final attendance hits the 100,000 mark. Don’t also be surprised if the Mavericks play host to another All-Star game within the next three years.

Winter olympics

Angelina Jolie dashed from the Super Bowl to the Dominican Republic, where she visited Haiti earthquake survivors hospitalized in the Caribbean nation, on Monday.

Angie slipped out of neighboring Miami after cheering the New Orleans Saints to victory and flew to Santo Domingo, where dozens of survivors of the Jan. 12 quake are still receiving medical help.

The 7.0 earthquake is believed to have killed more than 200,000 people.

The actress and devoted humanitarian, who serves as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and UNICEF, visited Haitian children in the pediatric wing of Dario Contreras Hospital, The Associated Press said Monday. Angie was joined by it’s director Hector Quezada and Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, the son of famed Peruvian writer, Mario Vargas Llosa.

She’s expected to travel to Haiti today.

I find myself very awake, very early this morning, and I am beginning to wonder if the Illinois earthquake woke me up, since everyone else in the house seemed to be awake, too. It was blamed on the loud TV in the family room (where I had fallen asleep during the 10 o'clock news, and where the TV had been on for hours). The earthquake happened at 3:59 am, and I don't remember feeling anything. Since the earthquake measured 4.3 on the Richter Scale and the epicenter was only 48 miles from Chicago, it wouldn't surprise me at all if that's what woke everyone up.

In Kane County, people reported being “shaken out of bed,” Fox News has the story, and is also collecting videos of damage. So far, no videos have been posted, but they may be on the morning news. Unfortunately, most of Chicago will be outside shoveling the snow and unable to see them in the event some are collected. Mysteriously, I remember being tuned to Channel 5 for the news, but when I awoke, the TV was tuned to Channel 11. How weird is that?

Earthquake Strikes Haiti; Imperialism is a Disaster

(www.raimd.wordpress.com)

On Tuesday, January 12th, a 7.0 magnitude earthquake rocked the country of Haiti, its epicenter a mere fifteen miles from the country’s capital, Port-au-Prince. By that Thursday, 80,000 people were already buried in mass-graves and 200,000 people were estimated to have perished. In the wake of the tremor, international aid has rushed to the small Caribbean country. The news of the massive earthquake and its human toll has overshadowed a larger crisis in Haiti: crushing poverty, widespread malnutrition and imperialist super-exploitation.

A history of imperialism

Haiti became the second independent republic in the Western Hemisphere after Black slaves rose up against their owners and then the French between 1791 and 1804. Quickly after defeating France, however, they were straddled with debt. Their former colonial masters demanded 130 million francs (later lowered to 90 million) in indemnity for the Haitian war of liberation. The newly consolidated Haitian government had no such funds and resorted to borrowing the first 30 million from the Bank of France at exorbitant interest rates. It would not be until after World War II that Haiti fully repaid debt accrued from its war of independence.

During the Haitian Revolution, US President Thomas Jefferson initial offered military aid to the French, but backed out at the last minute. After Haiti attained independence, Jefferson signed a legislative bill barring trade between the two countries. The United States, a country with its own substantial Black-slave population, refused to recognize the new, Black republic for six decades in an attempt to stifle it.

Haiti, one of the poorest countries in the Western Hemisphere, has also suffered the most imperialist meddling. Between 1849 and 1919 US troops were sent to the country 24 times to “protect American (sic) lives and property.” Throughout the 1960’s, 70’s and 80’s, the US supported ‘Papa’ and ‘Baby Doc’ Duvalier as strong-men puppets in country. This ended after much conflict in 1990 when a reformer, Jean-Bertrand Aristide, was elected to the presidency.

In 1991, Aristide was overthrown by a U.S.-backed military coup. As part of a compromise deal to return to power three years later, Aristide made a slew of concessions, including wholesale, IMF-sponsored structural adjustments and the occupation of the country by U.N. ‘peacekeepers.’ Aristide began appealing to the international community regarding the plight of Haiti and Third World. Aristide was again ousted in 2004, Haiti’s bicentennial.

Throughout this process, imperialism has tightened its squeeze on the Haitian masses. Prior to the 1970’s and 80’s, Haiti was a moderately self-sufficient, agrarian society. Then, the IMF forced the Haitian state to cut tariffs on US imports of rice and other food commodities. Because US farms are heavily subsidized, a flood of cheap agricultural imports drove the Haitian masses off the land and into the slums. Another major blow to Haitians came when international agencies persuaded the Haitian government that a pig acclimated to the island needed to be killed off and replaced. The native pig, which served as a hedge against starvation, needed little water or food, whilst the breed imported from Iowa needed clean water, shelter and feed daily, something the majority of Haitians couldn’t provide even for themselves. Thus, Haitians were deprived of their two traditional, staple foods and left at the whim of international food prices. Western-demanded privatizations have also swept Haiti in recent years, closing of country’s only flour mill and cement factory and furthering the Haitian masses’ dependence on an unfair, uncaring market. Despite so-called ‘aid,’ foreign debt has crippled the Haitian economy. In 2003, for example, Haiti paid $57 million dollars to service foreign loans while receiving $39 million from aid programs.

An ongoing disaster in Haiti

During the Summer of 2008, it was reported that Haitians in the slums of Port-au-Prince began widely eating sun-baked mud pies. Food riots occurred the same year. An estimated three-quarters of the country lives on less than $2 a day. Over half the country subsists on less than a dollar a day.

Cite Soleil, the shanty town adjacent to Port-au-Prince, is home to 2-300,000 residents and is one of the largest slums in the Western Hemisphere. The residents, often the children of former farmers, are said to sleep in shifts for lack of space. Basic education is a privilege; illiteracy is on the rise. There is no welfare or economic safety-net in Haiti. Life expectancy in the country is around 52. Very little modern infrastructure exists.

The Haitian masses are trapped in their miserable condition. Their border with the Dominican Republic is closed and the surrounding waters are patrolled by the US Coast Guard. Haitians caught on the water or ‘illegally’ inside the US are forced back into the squalid conditions of their home country. Even after the quake, US military airplanes have broadcast a message over Haiti, telling residents to not flee the country. This stands in stark contrast to Cubans, who are deemed ‘political refugees’ and given free residency status once inside the US.

Most Haitians were unaware the possibility of a quake even existed. In 2008 however, Patrick Charles of Havana’s Geological Institute reported, “conditions are ripe for major seismic activity in Port-au-Prince. The inhabitants of the Haitian capital need to prepare themselves for an event which will inevitably occur….” “Thank God that science has provided instruments that help predict these type of events and show how we have arrived at these conclusions,” he added.

Unfortunately, social conditions prevailed over science’s ability to predict and mitigate the human devastation caused by natural occurrences. The earthquake struck Haiti’s capital city just before 5 pm, rocking the imperialist-ravaged country at the peak of daily activity.

The response from the West

Predictably, the response from the West, especially Amerikans, has been disgusting. Pat Robertson, a right-wing, Amerikan religious leader, said on his television show, the 700 Club, that the earthquake, along with Haiti’s poverty, was a punishment from god. According to Robertson, Haiti’s 18th-century rebels  “signed a pact with the devil” in order to get free from the French. Racist to the extreme, Robertson has a daily television audience of 1 million viewers.

Within the more mainstream of Amerikan society, the response has been similar but toned-down. ‘Why were so many Haitians killed? Can’t they build proper buildings? Now we have to help them, again? They really owe us now!’ Most Amerikans expressed a viewpoint which blames the victim; views them as ‘backwards’; offers ‘aid’ as part of the responsibility carried by ‘advanced’ countries; and expects ‘gratitude,’ i.e. unchallenged political and economic control of their country, in return.  Amerikan broadcasters played into the view that Haitians are incapable of being anything besides poor and miserable. Associated Press, in one early story, quoted a man who was “wielding a broken wooden plank with nails to protect his bottle of rum.” Western media has sensationalized so-called looting while extolling the roll of the US military in the quake’s aftermath. Youth in “lawless” Haiti are said to be at risk of “sex trade, slavery and murder.” Reports tell of difficultly getting food to hungry Haitians due to civil disorder, as if such is somehow exceptional in a deeply impoverished, densely-populated city after a major earthquake. All of this paints a picture of Haitians as violent imbeciles whose misery is their own fault. This racist narrative ignores the two-centuries-long unnatural disaster that has crippled Haiti’s self-reliance, including Haiti’s institutions’ ability to respond.

US take-over and imperialist penetration

By January 24th, 20,000 US troops arrived to ’save’ Haiti. As part of the first act of the relief effort, the US military seized the airport in Port-au-Prince, one of the few in the country. Thereafter, the US has controlled all air-traffic in and out of the capital. Thus far the US has assumed a de facto governing role in Haiti, with the Dept. of Defense, the State Dept., and USAID taking the lead. Of the 20,000 US troops in Haiti, over half are stationed off the coast, a virtual blockade meant to prevent Haitians from taking to the waters in an expected wave of migration.

Some commentators have called it an occupation. Some have condemned the security-style tactics, such as shooting live rounds into the air and pointing M16s at crowds. Others have noted the impediment to relief efforts the massive troop presence is causing. Journalists and Haiti-advocate, Kim Ives, explained:

“Watching the scene in front of the General Hospital yesterday said it all. Here were people who were going in and out of the hospital bringing food to their loved ones in there or needing to go to the hospital, and there were a bunch of Marine—of US 82nd Airborne soldiers in front yelling in English at this crowd. They didn’t know what they were doing. They were creating more chaos rather than diminishing it. It was a comedy, if it weren’t so tragic.”

One thing that can’t be missed is the near-hegemonic role the US has played in the so-called relief and recovery effort. Despite the good intentions of some individuals, intervention in Haiti is part of a larger strategy for imperialism.

One influential group, the right-wing Heritage Foundation, noted early-on how the crisis could be used to further Amerikan interests. “In addition to providing immediate humanitarian assistance, the US response to the tragic earthquake in Haiti offers opportunities to reshape Haiti’s long-dysfunctional government and economy as well as to improve the public image of the United States in the region,” it stated in a draft report.

Thus far imperialism has rushed in and already pulled off a number of PR stunts. First, Obama granted temporary amnesty to Haitians scheduled for deportation from the US, after it was demanded by advocacy groups. Likewise, it was reported early on, perhaps erroneously, that the US-controlled IMF demanded wage freezes and rises in electricity prices as part of an emergency 100 million dollar loan package. Later, the IMF came out with a statement, declaring that the $100 million loan would be interest and condition-free. Managing director of the fund, Dominique Strauss-Kahn, went even further by saying, “the most important thing is that the IMF is now working with all donors to try to delete all the Haitian debt, including our new loan. If we succeed–and I’m sure we will succeed–even this loan will turn out to be finally a grant, because all the debt will have been deleted.”

The IMF’s statement should be seen for what it is: imperialist doublespeak. While imperialism, especially Amerikan imperialism, is promising to help Haiti, the real intention is to help itself.

Under the imperialist system, ‘aid’ is almost exclusively used as a political weapon. Aid packages and loans often come with strings, such as the freezing of wages and rises in prices for public services, among other things. When Washington’s edicts are not followed, aid money to poor countries is withheld and instead given to opposition groups, as was the case in Haiti after Aristide was reelected in 2000. Additionally, ‘aid’ rarely makes it to those it is professed to serve. 84% of US aid money to the Third World returns to the US economy in the form of contracts, wages, consulting fees and payments for goods. Of the remaining 16%, an unknown amount is pocketed by the recipient country’s goonish puppet-elite.

Recently, the United Snakes has been touting investment in Haiti. Twice in 2009, Bill Clinton, acting on behalf of the UN, made high-profile visits to Haiti. In one trip, Clinton gave 150 investors a tour of potential investment sites in the country. Prior to this, Clinton visited with UN General Secretary, Ban-Ki Mon, who said during a press conference the country must do more to attract investment. However, this investment is of a narrow type, as illustrated by a post-earthquake opinion piece in the Ottawa Citizen:

“[Regarding 'rebuilding' and 'development' plans,] he Haitian government has singled out tourism, “export processing zones” (EPZs) and agriculture as sectors that hold promise and should be supported. But donors seem to be placing the bulk of their faith in EPZs, or expanding the textile industry.”

Facing a ‘financial crisis,’ US imperialism likely sees the Haitian earthquake as an opportunity to ratchet up and expand exploitation in the country. Food sustainability and commercial agriculture for Haitians is not profitable for imperialism and will not be promoted as part of imperialist ‘development’ schemes.

Impetus will be given to legal ‘reforms,’ new building construction and infrastructure development. However, such will not be geared to the benefit of the people of Haiti, but rather those who control the Haitian economy: imperialists and a small comprador class. Infrastructure and ‘development’ will expand imperialism’s exploitation of the country and perhaps convert the country’s north shore into a resort destination for the exclusive use of Western vacationers. For the bulk of Haiti’s population though, conditions will not change. Though a few new sweatshop jobs may come to the country, most Haitians will continue to rely on small-scale agriculture, the informal sector and remittances from abroad for daily survival.

Recent resistance in Haiti

Since the mid-90’s, resistance to continual imperialist meddling and economic strangulation amongst Haitians has coalesced under former president Jean-Bertrand Aristide and the Fanmi Lavalas [Avalanche Family] party.

While president of Haiti, Aristide used Fanmi Lavalas and other independent institutions to provide services to and render support from the poor, especially where the Haitian state’s hands were tied by US-sponsored trade agreements. Chief among Aristide’s plans for Haiti was a more democratic productive and distributive method within the grassroots and informal sector, those areas which imperialism and the Haitian state had the least control over.

Though Aristide was supported by the masses of Haiti, he never prepared them to struggle against inevitable imperialist suppression. His politics and program were heavily tinged with liberalism: an inability to make and follow through with clear distinctions. In a very real sense, he wanted to have it both ways. He wanted to be both a legitimate statesman within the imperialist system as well as someone leading progressive social change within Haiti. This, in addition to his pacifist tendencies, left himself and his supporters vulnerable to attacks.

Aristide’s liberalism was perhaps best expressed as he looked for allies in Haiti’s struggle against imposed poverty. Rather than building alliances on the basis of clear common interest, i.e. with those countries also struggling under IMF-imposed debt and unfair trade deals, Aristide spent a considerable amount of time appealing to rich countries. Rather than championing and joining in solidarity with those being attacked and threatened by the imperialism globally, he formed a government-in-exile inside the US after his first ouster. In Eyes of the Heart, a short book published in 2000, he made a moral case against modern globalization; attempting to expose the plight of Haitians to Western audiences in a non-threatening way.

The logical result of Aristide’s misguided politics came in 2004, an election year. The US-funded opposition made allegations of fraud and labeled Aristide a dictator. They staged acts of civil unrest and launched a rebellion which threatened to violently overtake the capital, prompting the US to “restore democracy,” i.e. kidnap Aristide and fly him to Africa as part of a coup d’etat. Since Aristide’s ouster, Fanmi Lavalas has been banned from running in elections, branded “violent, pro-Aristide gangs” and subject to repression. The small gains Haitians made during Aristide’s short stints as president have been reversed. For all his internationally-directed  appeals, they went unheard and ignored in the West. When he was overthrown a second time by the US, there was no outcry from the Western “masses.”

What is revealed here is that the struggle for Third World liberation is a political-military one. In this regard, Aristide’s strategy failed the Haitian masses, leaving them to languish under the jackboot of imperialism.

It also reveals the saliency of class in today’s world. The illusionary ‘morality’ of the First World is not reliable in any effective sense. Any ‘progressive movement’ within Amerika is overstated, largely for propaganda purposes. Generally, First Worlders are exploiter enemies of the Third World masses.

Anti-Imperialist Alternative

One thing should be clear: the disaster that’s befallen Haiti is not natural. It is the result of an economic system, a class system which actively benefits a minority of humanity at the expense of the majority.

There are two ideas at the core of this. First, Haitians are far from alone in their plight. They are one small part of the exploited masses of the world. Second, it will take more than reforms or even revolution in a single country to relieve its people of the capitalist-imperialist threat eternally. It will take a global revolution- an uprising of the exploited Third World masses against imperialism, its agents and supporters- to end this system forever.

The idea that a cataclysmic, global revolution will be unleashed upon the world is millenarian. Because of this, the Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Movement (RAIM) supports various forces actively opposing imperialism throughout the Third World. We support a united front against imperialism, i.e. unity between forces resisting imperialism in individual countries.

Revolutionaries push for widespread social transformation. While it is important to accept and support reforms when they are on the table, revolutionaries must also defend reforms from attacks and organize to transform society on a more widespread basis. Society must be revolutionized on all levels, including the adoption of a foreign policy based on revolutionary internationalism and not narrow state interests. Revolutionaries the world over must make clear distinctions and have a clear strategy; not cloud up the picture with liberalism, uninhibited moralism and unwarranted reverence for the First World.  Above all, revolutionaries are anti-imperialists and see their own struggle as global in scope.

Which way from here

The lack of a revolutionary or popular democratic movement in Haiti places it in great disadvantage vis-a-vis imperialist penetration and restructuring in the aftermath of the recent earthquake. As it looks, the living conditions in Haiti will be hellish for some time.

However, from this ongoing disaster, Haitians and the global masses have the opportunity to learn from and reject the errors of Haiti’s most recent struggles. As revolutionaries, we also have an obligation to study and learn from what is happening in the world, presenting our findings with utmost clarity to the Third World masses and those who might be their allies. In the First World, we have an obligation to agitate for and meaningfully support the united front, using our own bourgeois privilege when expedient.  In the Third World, revolutionaries must incorporate these lessons into their struggle, so as to not repeat the same mistakes.

While doctors and food may help in this time of emergency, they are hardly long-term solutions to the problems inherent in capitalist-imperialism. The best form of relief for Haiti would be a global, anti-imperialist movement. Unlike the US-dominated ‘recovery’ effort, a successful, class-conscious movement on the part of exploited Haitians and the Third World masses is the only thing capable of truly saving Haiti.

Sources:

(1) http://earthquake.usgs.gov/earthquakes/recenteqsww/Quakes/us2010rja6.php

(2) http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/jul/29/food.internationalaidanddevelopment

(3) http://blogs.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendId=4010185&blogId=526390389

(4) http://www.cbn.com/700club/showinfo/about/about700club.aspx

(5) http://www.cbn.com/700club/showinfo/about/about700club.aspx

(6) http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=130993

(7) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122777051

(8) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122669505

(9) http://www.haiti-info.com/spip.php?article2713

(10) http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122803650

(11) http://www.defense.gov/news/newsarticle.aspx?id=57661

(12) http://newsjunkiepost.com/2010/01/20/us-militarys-security-not-helping-haitians/

(13) http://www.democracynow.org/2010/1/20/journalist_kim_ives_on_how_decades

(14) http://content.usatoday.com/communities/Religion/post/2010/01/sex-haiti-earthquake-relief-mark-driscoll-/1

(15) http://www.naomiklein.org/articles/2010/01/imf-clarifies-terms-haitis-loan

(16) http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/01/economic-shock-haiti-disaster

(17) http://www.thenation.com/blogs/notion/517494/

(18) http://www.ottawacitizen.com/opinion/really+help+Haiti/2484340/story.html

(19) http://www.haiti.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=115:092609-royal-caribbean-boosts-haitis-tourism-comeback-efforts&catid=1:latest-news

(20) http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N10536583.htm

(21) http://www.cnn.com/2004/WORLD/americas/03/02/aristide.claim/

(22) http://www.uruknet.info/index.php?p=m62226&hd=&size=1&l=e
Aristide, Jean-Bertrand. Eyes of the Heart: Seeking a Path for the Poor in the Age of Globalization. 2000. Common Courage Press. Monroe, ME.

I had the amazing privilege to travel to all corners of this amazing state, from the 3rd-gender muxes of Juchitan where mothers are so thrilled to have an openly gay son, to the mind-blowing coast at Zipolite and Huatulco where Y Tu Mama Tambien was filmed, to the western highlands at a ceremony for the tiny minority but incredibly vibrant Triqui people (in the midst of a civil war at the time) and timeless Tlaxiaco, birthplace of the lovely Lila Downs.

not to mention the wonderful capital, which was just recovering from a serious blow from the unrest a few years back when it was hit last year by Mexico Fever yet again.

in many ways it's a country unto itself, with over a dozen living languages like Zapotec, Mixtec, and Chatino, food that seems to come from another planet, and sweet, outgoing people who, between them have one of the world's great heritage traditions of dance and spectacle.

ahhh Oaxaca… gotta get back! I'm in India and of course it's incredible but there's no place like the big “O”.

murtha

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At a briefing for the media, Toyota said a software glitch was behind the failing brakes, and that the fix, which would be handled by dealers, would take about 40 minutes for each car.

Toyota has recalled about eight million cars worldwide over gas pedals that could stick or become caught on floor mats. As more details have emerged about the problems, the automaker is facing questions over whether it routinely fixed potentially dangerous defects in new models without recalling those already on the road.

Toyota executives acknowledged last week that the company had identified a flaw in the Prius’s braking system and corrected it for cars built since late January, which would not be part of the recall.

The official announcement of the Prius recall came just hours after the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration in Washington said that it had been alerted by State Farm, the insurance company, in 2007 about unintended acceleration that led to a crash of a 2005 Toyota Camry.

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Following the most recent bump in Toyota's road, the Prius recall in the making, the Japanese carmaker has reportedly begun investigating the same issue in the Lexus HS hybrid, which shares some braking components with the Prius.

"They have very similar braking systems and we are currently checking whether they have the same problem,” Toyota spokeswoman Ririko Takeuchi said according to Autonews. “Nothing has been decided.”

The HS, which is the first dedicated hybrid in Lexus' line-up, went on sale last year and so far retailed 6,699 units, according to data provided by Autonews. The Toyota Sai, which is a version of the HS, may also be subject to review.

Toyota is said to announce another voluntary recall this week, this time regarding the Prius. Toyota confirmed on Friday the Prius is subject to antilock brake system glitches, to which a fix has already been found and implemented in vehicles manufactured starting January this year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) also announced last week it is opening a formal investigation of the 2010 Toyota Prius. According to the NHTSA, the main goal of the investigation is to find out whether allegations that the Prius experiences momentary loss of braking capability while traveling over an uneven road surface, pothole or bump.

The Prius issue prompted Akio Toyoda, the company's CEO, into formally apologizing last week.

"I would like to take this opportunity to apologize from the bottom of my heart for causing many of our customers concern after the recalls across several models in several regions."