"The Texas attorney general has opened an antitrust investigation into how Google ranks search results, the first United States case to strike at the heart of the company’s main search business.
The issue at hand — referred to as search neutrality — is whether Google manipulates results to thwart competitors and advance its own businesses. Some companies worry that Google has the power to discriminate against them by lowering their listings in search results or charging higher fees for their paid search ads.
“This whole issue of how Google treats these vertical competitors, that’s a big issue now,” said Gary L. Reback, a lawyer at Carr & Ferrell in Palo Alto, Calif., who has advised small companies that have brought antitrust cases against Google.
Google announced the inquiry by the Texas attorney general, Greg Abbott, on Friday after Search Engine Land, an industry blog, reported on it. Lauri Saathoff, a spokeswoman for Mr. Abbott, confirmed the existence of the investigation but declined to give more information because the review was not complete.
Don Harrison, Google’s deputy general counsel, wrote in a company blog post that Google’s responsibility is to its users, not to Web sites, and that the company’s priority was to “provide the most useful, relevant search results and ads for users.”
“Given that not every Web site can be at the top of the results, or even appear on the first page of our results, it’s unsurprising that some less relevant, lower-quality Web sites will be unhappy with their ranking,” Mr. Harrison wrote…" New York Times
I been blogging since 1982. I have covered a lot of subjects. I was a member of the Green Party back a long time ago. I have always been interested in living green and promoting it.
But I knew nothing about gas drilling and fracturing fluid until I moved to Fort Worth. It is an issue in Fort Worth and Dallas. It is an issue in Texas and in other states.
It seems when the oil corporations drill for natural gas they use dangerous hydraulic fracturing fluid. They drill by using a LOT of water with sand and hydraulic "fracturing" fluid. The oil corporations refuse to tell the public or government what fracturing fluid they use!
I know it is hard to believe that they have been doing this for years and they just thumb their nose at the public and government. Hell they give us the finger.
Now the oil corporations say that the fracturing mix is 95% water. Hell they will say it is 99.5 % water. But they use millions of gallons of water.
After they pour that dirty dangerous mix down the well to do the drilling they pump out the sludge and they may bury the sludge right there. We do not know what they do with the left over unknown crap.
"I think there are many of you on the list that might enjoy this event. Fort
Hood is supposed to be sending up quite a bit of equipment.
The DFW Wing of the Commemorative Air Force is hosting its annual Warbirds
on Parade September 4th from 10AM to 4PM, at the Lancaster Airport, south of
Dallas.
For more details, please visit the link below.
http://www.contrails.us/caf_dfw_wing/index.htm
It’s primarily a static display show, other than the aircraft arriving and
departing. There will be several ground vehicles and lots of equipment from
Ft. Hood. There is also a classic car show area.
Happy Scanning,
Ben"
ZUMBA
They have classes about one block from here.
"The Zumba® program fuses hypnotic Latin rhythms and easy-to-follow moves to create a one-of-a-kind fitness program that will blow you away. The Zumba goal is: We want you to want to work out, to love working out, and to get hooked. Zumba® Fanatics achieve long-term benefits while experiencing an absolute blast in one exciting 45 minute to hour of calorie-burning, body-energizing, awe-inspiring movements meant to engage and captivate for life! Our classes are a combination fast and slow rhythms for a full body workout. In a true Zumba workout the music is the KEY element, Instructors use non-verbal cueing where the students learn the steps by following the movements and hand signals. The purpose of format is to get participants to “feel” the music and not get caught up in perfect 32 counts that other aerobics depend on…" Zumba Fort Worth
Summer Heat Wave and Power Costs
In June we used 814 Kw. In July we used 864 Kw. The August amount was 1567 Kw! I am in Fort Worth and we have had weeks of temps over 100 degrees.
I got my electric bill and this month it was $130.12 for the month.
That is a lot of money for me but I know it has been hot and the air has been going full time.
But I noticed something on the bill this month. I got two credits that total $55.63 so my bill should have been $185.75 without that discount. I would have a hard time paying an electric bill of that amount.
The discount is for low income people. I am sure a low income person but I do not remember applying for any assistance. I checked last months bill and I got no discount so something is going on. I will have to find out what is going on.
You get the discount if you are on food stamps or Medicade. I am not getting food stamps or Medicade.
You also can get it if you apply and your income is less than 125 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
You can find those numbers at this LIHEAP ClearingHouse Site.
So for one person 125% of the poverty guidelines would be $13,538.00
For two people 125% of the poverty guidelines would be $18,213.00
With my SS of $1095.00 a month and the $175.00 retirement I get that puts me just over the guidelines. If my grandson was counted I am not sure where that would put me. He is working part-time. So I do not think we would be over the poverty guideline. I sure do not feel like it.
So I will have to find out why I got a discount. I may have filled out some form but I sure do not remember filling out a form and if I did fill one out it does not look like I would be accepted.
I was just watching the car chase (well pickup truck) by Dallas PD. They chased the guy for about an hour and he drove to Love Field and crashed a gate and drove out on the runway of Love Field. They got him on the grass and fishtailed his truck and got him.
Love Field had to close down. I hope they check that runway. He was driving on a rim and there might be metal bits on the runway. I hope the airport has enough sense to check that runway before they allow any aircraft to land or take off.
I worked FAA control tower security for a few months back about 7 or 8 years ago.
"(CNN) — Erykah Badu must pay a $500 fine and serve six months on probation for her naked stroll through downtown Dallas, Texas, while making a music video last March, a city official confirmed Tuesday.
Badu reached a plea deal to settle a misdemeanor disorderly conduct citation issued after she released a music video, according to Dallas spokesman Jose Torres.
The singer shed her clothes as she walked through Dealey Plaza until she was nude and then fell near where President John F. Kennedy was assassinated.
Badu said the video was "shot guerrilla style," without a crew and in one take March 17, 2010…"
"I want to thank the OFA supporters who stood with House Democrats as they raced back to Washington this week to cast a vote on a state assistance bill. I’m proud to say they passed the bill yesterday and the President immediately signed it into law.
And, because of it, hundreds of thousands of jobs will be saved — including an estimated 14,500 public school teachers across Texas.
Republicans called this bill a "bailout" and a "handout." They called the police officers, firefighters, and teachers whose jobs were on the line "special interests." And nearly every House Republican voted no.
But Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats did the right thing, reminding us again of what we’re fighting for in the upcoming elections. When voters cast their ballots in November, it’s up to us to make sure they remember who’s fighting for them.
Thanks for all you do,
Mitch
Mitch Stewart
Director
Organizing for America"
"Washington (CNN) — President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed into law a $26 billion measure to help avoid teacher layoffs — a move Democrats claim is necessary in the wake of state and local government cutbacks.
The House gave final approval earlier Tuesday to the bill, which had already passed the Senate.
The measure, which passed the House on a largely party-line 247-to-161 vote, is designed to save the jobs of approximately 160,000 teachers across the country, as well as create and save positions for police officers, firefighters and nurses, according to Democratic leaders.
Specifically, it includes $10 billion for teacher positions and $16 billion to help cover state Medicaid payments…"
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is such a fucking prick. He met the President of the United States at Love Field (Dallas, TX) and had a letter in his hand that he wanted to give to the president.
He was allowed to hand-deliver it to an Obama aide.
It was all just a fucking stunt .. a PR piece …. President Obama should have had the aide hand him a letter saying if you attempt to take Texas out of the United States we will hang you for treason you piece of shit.
The letter from Gov. Perry asked for resources to secure the border of Texas with Mexico.
First LTE Phone headed to Metro PCS & DFW!
"When you think of LTE, regional carrier Metro PCS may not be the first thing that comes to mind. That will change soon, however, as Metro PCS has announced that they will be bringing an LTE-capable handset onto its 4G network called the Samsung Craft. The Craft is the same device we saw about a week ago passing through the FCC as theSCH-R900, and will cost around the same as Metro PCS’s other smartphone offerings, around $250-$280. Metro PCS plans to launch its LTE network later this year in Las Vegas, and they’ll be adding the Dallas-Ft. Worth area early next year.
No matter what carrier pushes it out, I know I’m excited to finally see some LTE phones hit the market. The fact that the Craft is hitting Metro PCS, known to be more of a budget-friendly carrier, just adds to the excitement. With around 7 million subscribers, Metro PCS may not be the biggest wireless carrier out there, but they definitely seem to be one of the most aggressive when it comes to 4G, and I love them for it." www.phonedog.com
"The HTC EVO and soon to be released Samsung Epic may be the only 4G handsets available right now, but they’ll be getting some company some time in the near future. The very first LTE handset has gotten the FCC’s stamp of approval, and it’s the CDMA/LTE Samsung SCH-R900. The device, heading to Metro PCS, will be released before the end of the year. The SCH-R900 includes a 1700/1900 MHz LTE radio, Bluetooth, and WiFi. There’s not much else to learn about the device, but who cares? It’s the first LTE phone!
It’s kind of surprising to see that the first LTE phone passing through the FCC will be heading to Metro PCS, but the company did announce the device back in March. We haven’t heard any information yet about LTE phones on any other carriers that are supporting it, so this is great news for Metro PCS. There’s no definite launch date for the device, but it wouldn’t it be interesting if Metro PCS was the first carrier out of the gate with an LTE device on the market?" www.phonedog.com
LTE is "Long Term Evolution" network and operates in the 700 MHz band. It is going to be 4G.
Work for the USPS? We need Form 2976-E.
My ex-wife needs to send a package via Priority Mail to Australia. She does not have the Form 2976-E (she needs the clear envelope). I am looking for someone that can send us the form. She needs it fast. The post office will send out supplies to her but it takes x number of days. I do not want my son to have to take the bus and then walk in this heat (105 F).
Darlene is all worrying about it. She makes little things into big things.
So I am wondering if there is someone out there in ShowMeBlog land that works for the post office (US) or lives right next to one or has to go to one for their work or something that can send us the form she needs. I can put a couple bucks in your PayPal account when you send it or if you want to send it Priority Mail I will pay you for it. (I just don’t want her to know I paid for sending Priority Mail. She tries to save and get by on as little as she can.)
Let me know if you can help out. showmeblog@mail.com
Texas mosque vandalized
"A mosque in Texas was heavily vandalized last weekend, coming in the wake of anational intolerance movement by the right wing against Muslim places of worship. On Friday, members of the Dar El-Eman Islamic Education Center, in South Arlington, found “graffiti depicting Uncle Sam and Allah in a sexual position spray-painted in the parking lot.” Then, early Sunday morning, in a case of suspected arson, a fire destroyed playground equipment at the mosque, causing $20,000 worth of damage. The vandals also cut a pipe, allegedly thinking that it was a natural gas line. The playground equipment had been purchased with funds raised from “relatives, neighbors and friends” of the center’s students:…
The mosque’s president told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram that it is “hard” for the children to understand the incident, “because this is a house of prayer.” The vandalism “is the fruit of hate,” he said. “You keep implanting fear in people’s hearts, and it makes them evil.” An open gas canister was left inside a mosque under construction in the same town last summer, and there was a separate “attack” reported recently in nearby Rockwall. Meanwhile, in Temecula, CA, where the local Muslim community wants to build a new mosque, about 20 people protested its construction Friday, carrying signs reading, “Muslims Danced for Joy on 9/11” and “No Sharia Law.”…
I hope that when something like this happens that other religions in the area are there the next day to help clean up the mess, to pray with the people, to re-build and make the place better than it was before the damage.
That is the sort of story I want to hear about.
TXU Energy Bill
Russell and I first moved here to Fort Worth in November of 2009. We had lived in Miami for about six years.
We moved into a one bedroom apartment. I got the bedroom this time. In Miami Russ had one of the two bedrooms and Ken had the other. So this time I got the bedroom.
One of my concerns was the electric bill here. I am living on a very limited income until I win the lottery (just joking everyone …I am not one of those people that thinks he is going to win the lottery).
I signed up with TXU Energy and I been very happy with the bills. The first full bill was for December (2009) and it was $104.44, then the next bill was $150.14, $110.79, $85.68, $69.94, $57.40 and last month was $95.56 and this month was $74.29 for July.
So I have four months that I have never seen a past bill; August, September, October and November.
If the monthly bill is $100.00 or under I am happy.
We do not pay a water or gas bill. We do not own a car.
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