Coming to Google Labs: Social search results

Google Vice President Marissa Mayer made a surprise announcement at the Web 2.0 Summit in San Francisco on Wednesday: "Social Search," a new Google Labs experiment that will bring in search results from a member's social-network contact circle.

It'll be launching as an opt-in project in the next few weeks. Then, you'll need to have a Google account and set up a Google Profile to fill in information about the social networks that you use. Google first launched Profiles about a year ago.

"What we've done here is inserted, on the bottom of the page, content written by people in your social network," Mayer said, adding that Google hopes this will "really improve the overall relevance, comprehensiveness, and quality" of search results. A search for a local restaurant, for example, could bring up your friends' Yelp reviews for the same establishment. A search for travel destinations could bring up a post from a friend's blog.

This comes on the same day that Google announced that it had entered into an agreement with Twitter to bring real-time "tweets" to search results. That's another product that has yet to actually launch.

"The idea is for...these fast-rising queries, where there's a period of time (when there are) actually tweets about that topic, and the definitive news source hasn't been written yet," Mayer said of the Twitter partnership, declining to disclose its financial terms.

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Argentina launches new debt deal

Latin America's third-largest economy is trying to rebuild its reputation with international investors and sell bonds to raise money.

It wants to buy $20bn in outstanding defaulted bonds held by investors who refused a previous offer in 2005.

Argentina defaulted on $95bn of bonds in 2001, a record amount at the time.

Since the 2001-2002 economic crisis, Argentines have seen a president chased through the streets by rioting mobs and seven subsequent presidents come and go.

But Argentina's economy has recovered relatively strongly. The country wants to raise at least $1bn in fresh capital.

Nestor Kirchner had restructured most of the debt, and repaid money borrowed by the International Monetary Fund.

Economy Minister Amado Boudou said investors would have to take losses of at least 65% to enter the new swap, an even deeper discount than what was offered in 2005.

The 2005 offer was accepted by some 75% of bondholders who owned the defaulted debt.

Last year, Ms Fernandez pledged to repay the entire $6.7bn of defaulted debt still owed to foreign governments.

She said Argentina would use about one-sixth of the nation's reserves to pay the debt.

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Science to 'stop age clock at 50'

Half of babies now born in the UK will reach 100, thanks to higher living standards, but our bodies are wearing out at the same rate.

To achieve "50 active years after 50", experts at Leeds University are spending £50m over five years looking at innovative solutions.

They plan to provide pensioners with own-grown tissues and durable implants.
New hips, knees and heart valves are the starting points, but eventually they envisage most of the body parts that flounder with age could be upgraded.

To replace all donor tissue using this technology will take 30 to 50 years
Material scientist Professor Christina Doyle
Send us your comments.

The university's Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering has already made a hip transplant that should last for life, rather than the 20 years maximum expected from current artificial hips.

The combination of a durable cobalt-chrome metal alloy socket and a ceramic ball or "head" means the joint should easily withstand the 100 million steps that a 50-year-old can be expected to take by their 100th birthday, says investigator Professor John Fisher.

Meanwhile, colleague Professor Eileen Ingham and her team have developed a unique way to allow the body to enhance itself.

The concept is to make transplantable tissues, and eventually organs, that the body can make its own, getting round the problem of rejection.

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The International Crime Court

As I have recall in this blog, we have talked about the universal organizations that many countries form part of. One organization which I find really interesting and has not yet been discussed is the International Criminal Court. We have been victims in the news of the outrageous things people have come up with. We saw it in the massacre of Hitler to relatively recent Omar Al Bashir. But first let's start talking about what is this organization about. Located in The Hague, Netherlands this organization has its headquarters there. With a 109 members this organization was made after World War II, to prevent that fatal events. This organization will have jurisdiction to prosecute individuals for the most horrific of crimes: genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. The jurisdiction of this organization will be complementary to national courts, which means that it will only act when countries are unable or unwilling to investigate or prosecute. From July 1, 2002 onwards, any acts of genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity committed after this date would be permissible for trial by the Court. In Rome, during July 1998, the ICC was given the go-ahead with a vote of 120 to 7. The seven who voted against the International Criminal Court were USA, China, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Qatar and Yemen (as you can see the mayor potency of the time didn't wanted to get in). Many questioned the US vote due to the majority of its allies voted in favor. It was on May 2002 that the USA decides to drop out. What The US and the other countries, which aren’t so sure about this organization, is that if the act imparted by the International Court will undermine the sovereignty of each country. I think that is selfish there is an organization concerned about the polemic fatal issues and that the US don't want to be part of only because it feels vulnerable of loosing its power in any minute over a situation like that. Lets hope nothing as crude as a world war 2 ever happens again!

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9 million died this year

As I was reading my classmates posts I saw the common thing that they all have. They all taking about the global issues that endures us. From the swine flu, to wars, to economic crisis, etc, we can see all these new problems that are affecting us in so many ways. In our homes, school, jobs. We like to think of us and our security. We think of the other people when they are in catastrophes and sympathize with them for the while. But have you thought about other constant problems that are happening to people of all times? We need to start concerning, we need to start caring. Let's stop being egocentric and start caring about all these people that needs us. The main problem that I think is hitting the globe intensely is famine, poverty, and diseases. 25 000 children dies every day in the whole world. This is equivalent to 1 per 3.5 seconds, 17 each minute, 9 million dying every year and 70 million in 7 years.

This doesn't take the front page news each day, it doesn't have a lot of reportage. This rate should cause a global blast but it doesn't get as much attention. We need to fight it. In guatemala the majority of the country is in extreme poverty, let's not even talk about Africa whose death rate is overflowing. But you may think what can I do from Hermosillo, well your answer is simple start helping from here! We have a lot of people here who needs a hand. When you see people asking for money give them food, this is because they are used to use that money sometimes in drugs or to give it to their parents who will spend it on drugs, give hem quality food or offer them help, information about places where they will help them overcome their addictions or just a place who will provide shelter, education and food. There are places like Unacari that can grant this things to kids. Let's start making the difference, if everyone helped their people this dying rates wouldn't be so high.

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Latin America and the economical crisis

As a country bordering the US we know we depend on them, but we aren't the only ones. A great number of Latin American countries depends on trade with the United States. And for that matter we are, and will continue to be, completely affected economically by the crisis that is upon the USA.

Via the NAFTA, border with USA, and other agreements we are supposed to be the most affected. For our bad luck, decisions, position of the globe and other characteristics, we are expected to be in Mexico one of the lowest increased growth in the world over the next year this being with a 1.9% while all the other latin american countries are expected a 3%.

To help their economy boost up, a number of countries of Latin America have come together in the form of the Latin American Pacific Arc and are hoping to improve trade and investment with Asia. This is a great option as it opens a new pad for trading and help by getting an income from other than the United States.

But, besides of this measures taken by the LA countries other concerns arose in the Mercosur (south trading market) as they imply that a numerous group of countries don't make trading easy as they built up trading barriers against their neighbors as the crisis keep developing. Fear to worsen their situation or what could it be is my question? I think that in these concerns they should gather and form regional alliances and unify to make a more solid image so the other countries can feel more secure to trade with them. Let's hope that the greatest economical power country in these area which is Brazil doesn't feel so threaten by its neighbors.

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Yukio Hatoyama, Japan's Next Leader

YUKIO HATOYAMA

Yukio Hatoyama who is now 62 years old, is head of the Democratic Party of Japan, won August 31 won over the most predominant politic group Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which had governed the nation since 1955. This is a great impact in Japan's history due to the changes that the country is going to endure. They are promising to increase the economy and strengthen ties with Asian neighbors, signaling a potential weakening of the close military and economic relationship with USA. Hatoyama was born into a wealthy political dynasty which people refer to as the Japanese Kennedys having his grandfather as a Prime Minister, his father a Foreign Minister, his brother a Cabinet member, and for last but not least they are one of the founders of Bridgestone tires. He was born Feb. 11, 1947, in Tokyo. Heirs to the Bridgestone tire fortune, he and his younger brother Kunio Hatoyama are believed to be worth a combined $100 million or more. He is an engineer with a PHD. Left teaching in 1983 to work as his father's private secretary. Three years later, assumed his father's seat in parliament and was re-elected seven times. Ironically, Hatoyama's party seeks to end the tradition of inherited parliament posts.Helped found the Democratic Party of Japan and served as its head from 1999 to 2002. Took over again in May. He is a man interested in addressing climate change and nuclear disarmament as he said in a phone call with President Barack Obama. A good change is always good and I think that eliminating the parliamentary rights in the country will help it change the people mind and give more opportunities to other prepared people.

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Globalization

Last class we learned about globalization all around the world. As we said on class it isn't all about economy it is also a technological and cultural move. To see a little bit more about what is globalization you can see this video:

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Cold war

Here is a very interesting and clear video of the cold war which is entretaining and really informative hope you like it.

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International institutions

As we saw in last class we have International institutions all around the world. Each of them have different functions, many of you only see the initials and take a guess of what they are and I find it interesting and cultural for us to know what they are, for what they are, and whom is in them we saw this on class but some more information should be really interesting for all so check it out:

UN(United Nations): is an international organization who facilitates all the members in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and the achieving of world peace. There are 192 members (countries) which all together integrates this groups assemblies:The General Assembly (the main deliberativeassembly);The Security Council (decides certain resolutions for peace and security);The Economic and Social Council (assists in promoting international economic and social cooperation and development);The Secretariat (provides studies, information, and facilities needed by the UN);The International Court of Justice (the primary judicial organ). They are all to help the world be a better place for all. There are models of this made all around the world by students which try to educate them and some even prepare them for this. They are really cool.

IMF(International Monetary Fund): is an international organization that checks the global financial system by following the macroeconomic policies of its member countries, in particular those with an impact on exchange rates and the balance of payments. They also make loans to help the most needed countries.It is made with 186 countries which are helped and controlled with them.

NATO(North Atlantic Treaty Organization): is anorganization which constitutes a system of collective defence where its member statesagree to mutual defence in response to an attack by any external party. It has 28 members and after the terrorist attacks they have had a lot of work.

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Cold war time line

I found a really interesting simple but explanatory timeline of the cold war which can help all understand it better.

1940s

• 1945: February 4-11-- Yalta Conference Cold War Begins

• 1945: August 6 -- United States first used atomic bomb in war

• 1945: August 8 -- Russia enters war against Japan

• 1945: August 14 -- Japanese surrender End of World War II

• 1946: March -- Winston Churchill delivers "Iron Curtain" Speech

• 1947: March -- Truman declares active role in Greek Civil War

• 1947: June -- Marshall Plan is announced

• 1948: February -- Communist takeover in Czechoslovakia

• 1948: June 24 -- Berlin Blockade begins

• 1949: July -- NATO ratified

• 1949: May 12 -- Berlin Blockade ends

• 1949: September -- Mao Zedong, a Communist, takes control of China

• 1949: September -- Soviets explode first atomic bomb

1950s

• 1950: February -- Joe McCarthy begins Communist witch hunt

• 1950: June -- Korean War begins

• 1951: January 12 -- Federal Civil Defense Administration established

• 1953: June 19 -- Rosenberg executions

• 1953: July -- Korean War ends

• 1954: March -- KGB established

• 1954 -- CIA helps overthrow unfriendly regimes in Iran and Guatemala

• 1954: July -- Vietnam split at 17th parallel

• 1955: May -- Warsaw Pact formed

• 1956: October - November -- Rebellion put down in Communist Hungary. Egypt took control of Suez Canal; U.S. refused to help take it back

• 1957: October 4 -- Sputnik launched into orbit

• 1958: November -- Khrushchev demands withdrawal of troops from Berlin

• 1959: January -- Cuba taken over by Fidel Castro

• 1959: September -- Khrushchev visits United States; denied access to Disneyland

1960s

• 1960: May -- Soviet Union reveals that U.S. spy plane was shot down over Soviet territory

• 1960: November -- John F. Kennedy elected President

• 1961: April -- Bay of Pigs invasion

• 1961: July -- Kennedy requests 25% spending increase for military

• 1961: August 13 -- Berlin border closed

• 1961: August 17 -- Construction of Berlin Wall begins

• 1962: -- U.S. involvement in Vietnam increased

• 1962: October -- Cuban Missile Crisis

• 1963: July -- Nuclear Test Ban Treaty ratified

• 1963: November -- President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas, Texas

• 1964: August -- Gulf of Tonkin incident

• 1965: April -- U.S. Marines sent to Dominican Republic to fight Communism

• 1965: July -- Announcement of dispatching of 150,000 U.S. troops to Vietnam

• 1968: January -- North Korea captured U.S.S. Pueblo

• 1968: August -- Soviet troops crush Czechoslovakian revolt

• 1969: July 20 -- Apollo 11 lands on the moon

1970s

• 1970: April -- President Nixon extends Vietnam War to Cambodia

• 1972: July -- SALT I signed

• 1973: January -- Cease fire in Vietnam between North Vietnam and United States

• 1973: September -- United States helps overthrow Chile government

• 1973: October -- Egypt and Syria attack Israel; Egypt requests Soviet aid

• 1974: August -- President Nixon resigns

• 1975: April 17 -- North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam

• 1979: July -- SALT II signed

• 1979: November -- Shah of Iran overthrown; Iranian Hostage Crisis

1980s

• 1983: -- President Reagan proposes Strategic Defense Initiative

• 1983: October -- U.S. troops overthrow regime in Grenada

• 1985: -- Iran-Contra Affair (arms sold to Iran, profits used to support contras in Nicaragua)

• 1985: -- Mikhail Gorbachev ascends to power in Soviet Union

• 1986: -- Gorbachev ends economic aid to Soviet satellites

• 1986: October -- Reagan and Gorbachev resolve to remove all intermediate nuclear missiles from Europe

• 1986: November -- Iran-Contra Affair revealed to public

• 1987: October -- Reagan and Gorbachev agree to remove all medium and short-range nuclear missiles by signing treaty

• 1989: January -- Soviet troops withdraw from Afghanistan

• 1989: June -- China puts down protests for democracy; Poland becomes independent

• 1989: September -- Hungary becomes independent

• 1989: November -- Berlin Wall falls

• 1989: December -- Communist governments fall in Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, and Rumania; Soviet empire ends

1990s

• 1990: March -- Lithuania becomes independent

• 1990: May 29 -- Boris Yeltsin elected to presidency of Russia

• 1990: October 3 -- Germany reunited

• 1991: April -- Warsaw Pact ends

• 1991: August -- End of Soviet Union Cold War Ends

  
  

  http://library.thinkquest.org/10826/timeline.htm

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Strong Countries

One of the classes we had we talked about what makes a country powerful. The factors that make one country powerful is their military force, technology, democracy, education and of course economy. As in everyday story of our days the one with the most money has the last word and there for is the most powerful of all. When the USA economy failed it affected the whole world that is because of that power. Many countries depended on them and if their economy changed the way it did of course it will damage the others and even though they have this problem they continue being the number one of the world. An actual list of 2009 indicating the most powerful countries around the world indicates that the USA is followed by Russia with the second most powerful army. China is in third but it will not take long for it to make the number one of the list they are really promising, being the country with the most population and who have a lot of technology don't impact to see this change and having to speak mandarin as an universal language instead for English. The number three is France who has UN security and who is a nuclear power. And for last and not least in this top 5 countries we have the United Kingdom. In this country we can find UN security council status, nuclear weapons, G7 economy, a leading democratic state, and an incredible influence and popularity around the world. So here you had some interesting facts about strong countries and let see who will become the number one or if it will stay the same.

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Saudi Arabia's 3000 people arrest

As I was seeing our group's videos one news really took my attention. The al qaeda terrorists are being seek all around the country. For that matter all suspects have become prisoners. An estimate of 3000 people has been arrested for a long period of time and without any access to a lawyer how can liberate them from unjust accusation on their behalf. It is said that these extreme measures of capturing suspects has decrease the rate of terrorist attack being one in 2005 the last. I think it is something good that innocent people is being deprived from their liberty, they should make further investigations. But at another point of view you can think they are a few bunch of people with this situation and if a terrorist attack takes place that number wouldn't be near as much as the ones hurt in the second one. We should not lose hope, someday the gobernment is going to become a more organized and helpfull system or so we wish.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/08/19/saudi.alqaeda.arrests/index.html#cnnSTCTex

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