| Sun backs Web 2.0 startups
Sun Microsystems has put its weight behind up and coming web 2.0 companies with the launched this week of a new initiative designed to provide UK startups with discounts on Sun technology and services. The Sun Startup Essentials programme, which was originally launched in the States, will help eligible companies purchase a range of discounted products and services, including Sun Fire x64 servers and Sun Fire servers with CoolThreads technology, according to the firm. Startups under the scheme can also rent discounted web hosting infrastructure from Sun partners Layered Technologies, NaviSite and NTT Europe Online, and gain access to free open source software including Sun's own. "They will also get free technical support – the idea is to help startups make good decisions up front so as their needs go up they can sustain higher traffic," said Sun's Juan Carlos Soto.
Gloucester Goings On, part 1
Performances are at 7 p.m. on Dec. 20, 21 and 22, and at 3 p.m. on Dec. 22 and 23. Tickets are $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $6 for students and $4 for children under 12. For tickets, call 978-281-4433 or visit www.gloucesterstage.org.
Constituent service visit
State Sen. Bruce Tarr will hold a constituent service visit Friday, Dec. 28, 11:30 a.m., at the Rose Baker Senior Center. All are welcome. Call the Council on Aging at 978-281-9765 to schedule an appointment, or just stop in.
Brown bag program
Brown bag food packages will be available Friday, Dec. 28, 10:15 to 11:15 a.m., at the Rose Baker Senior Center, for those who have registered to participate in the program. Call the Council on Aging at 978-281-9765. The Open Door Food Pantry, SeniorCare Inc.
Make My Day
Did it commit identity theft and buy thousands of dollars of electronics? We'll probably never know, because Meckler's lawsuit conveniently does not say what injuries she suffered, other than unspecified "internal and external" ones. So that makes one wonder what she'll use the $50,000 for? Hours of physical therapy? Deep psychological counseling to help her overcome her fear of small woodland creatures? A credit counselor to restore her credit score? And why would she blame the mall? How does a squirrel, who woke up one morning and found that his home had been replaced by a Cinnabon, become the responsibility of the Old Orchard Mall? According to the suit, it's because mall personnel "were aware of the longtime presence of said squirrel on the premises and allowed the squirrel to remain on the premises, despite the fact that the squirrel had previously attacked and harassed other customers, a fact known to Westfield." Ignoring the fact that Meckler's attorney writes run-on sentences that would make William Faulkner weep with jealousy, how does knowing about the squirrel make it their fault? Apparently it's because mall personnel "encouraged the squirrel to remain on the premises by feeding and caring for the squirrel, despite the dangerous conditions that arose from allowing said animal to remain on the premises." Squirrel: Dude, do you mind if I crash here for a while? My house smells like cinnamon rolls.
Pentagon Aide's Invitations Contradicted U.S. Policy
At the urging of a subordinate, Deputy Secretary of Defense Gordon England scheduled at least two meetings with foreign emissaries in direct contradiction of U.S. policy at the time. The meetings date back to 2005. They involved a Lebanese ambassador considered a proxy for the Syrian government and a leading member of Syria's Muslim Brotherhood. U.S. policy at the time was not to engage in talks with either man, because they represent groups with whom the United States was not to communicate. The meetings were organized by England's special assistant for international affairs, Hesham Islam. An invitation to Muslim Brotherhood official Husam al-Dairi was canceled in late 2005 after a senior State Department official heard about it and insisted it not take place.
Will authorized hosting put MySQL on a par with Oracle and DB2?
Although real comparability to Oracle and IBM databases could still be some time away, MySQL's new authorized hosting program might help broaden out the niche for the open source database a lot more quickly. MySQL AB started developing a new program for hosting partners in early 2007, about a year before Sun announced its $1 billion bid to acquire the open source database vendor, said Rich Nigro, MySQL's service provider business manager. Unveiled earlier this week, the new MySQL Authorized Hosting Partner Program gives managed hosting companies using the top-of-the-line Enterprise edition of the MySQL database an option for 24/7 database support directly from MySQL. .
NORM: Knievel pal recalls rapper's shooting
One more Evel Knievel story from his Vegas days with buddy Joey Battig. They were riding in a limo with dates after attending the Mike Tyson-Bruce Seldon fight on Sept. 7, 1996. The limo was heading eastbound on Flamingo Road and was about to pull into the driveway of the Maxim Hotel (now the Best Western), where Knievel lived in the penthouse. "Michael Jordan's limo was in front of us," Battig said. "All of a sudden we heard about six loud pops and Evel said, 'Those are gunshots, hit the floor.'" .
Facebook snatches ex-Google executive
Founded in February 2004, Facebook has grown rapidly. It now has 34 million visitors a month, according to comScore. It is bringing in $100 million in revenue and has more than 500 employees. McNamee said the company needs to scale its organization and monetize the site in a way that matches the needs of the community. "Those are very hard things to do and they require very different skills than historically have been the company's strength," McNamee said. Facebook was harshly criticized for a recent initiative called Beacon that allowed advertisers to exploit the connections between friends. In 2006 Facebook triggered a user revolt when it released a news feed feature that let people track each other's activities on the site. Sandberg joined Google in 2001 when the search giant was figuring out an advertising strategy that did not detract from the user experience or go against the company's core values of providing search results untainted by commercialism.
New Hampshire II?
New Clinton ad: "Hillary's mom lives with her." But does her husband? Mickey's Assignment Desk: Has anybody updated Patrick Healy's May, 2006 story and calculated the number of days Bill Clinton has spent in Hillary's Washington, D.C. house in the past year (now that it's been officially designated as the place where you live when you live "with" Hillary)? If you're going to flaunt your home life then people are entitled to examine your home life. ... Assigned to: Healy. Hillaryland already hates him. He might as well take all the flak. ... 5:19 P.M. ___________________________ .
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