Obama and Bill Clinton end chill

White House hopeful Barack Obama and Bill Clinton have had their first talks since Hillary Clinton pulled out of the race to be the US Democratic candidate.

An Obama spokesman said the two had had a "terrific" conversation during a 20-minute telephone call. A spokesman for the ex-president, who strongly criticised his wife's rival during the primaries, said he was keen to campaign for Mr Obama. Mrs Clinton and Mr Obama held a joint rally on Friday. Mr Clinton, who was in Europe and so missed the symbolic rally in the town of Unity, New Hampshire, the first since the fierce primary contest ended. He had earlier that week issued a short statement endorsing Mr Obama's campaign. During the primary battle he was often his wife's most fervent campaigner and one of the most outspoken Democratic critics of Mr Obama. Mr Obama will face Republican John McCain in November's US presidential election.

Patriotism

Obama spokesman Bill Burton said the senator for Illinois had telephoned Mr Clinton on Monday morning and was honoured to have his support.

"He has always believed that Bill Clinton is one of this nation's great leaders and most brilliant minds and looks forward to seeing him on the campaign trail and receiving his counsel," Mr Burton said.

Clinton spokesman Matt McKenna said: "President Clinton continues to be impressed by Senator Obama and the campaign he has run, and looks forward to campaigning for and with him in the months to come."

Later, Mr Obama used a speech in Missouri to stress his patriotism and love of his country.

His patriotism has been questioned by critics who point to his failure to always wear a US flag pin on his lapel.

Mr Obama also rejected a suggestion by one of his supporters, retired Gen Wesley Clark, that Mr McCain - who spent five years as a Vietnamese prisoner of war - had overstated the importance of his military service while campaigning.

Mr Obama said "no-one should ever devalue that service, especially for the sake of a political campaign".

Euro 2008: Spain crowned champions of Europe after defeating Germany in Vienna

Fernando Torres' clinical finish gave Spain their first trophy win for 44 years.

The Liverpool striker did superbly to latch on to a Xavi pass, skip past the challenge of Philipp Lahm and dink the ball over Jens Lehmann to give Spain a 33rd minute lead.

The impressive Torres had also earlier hit the post with a header as Spain recovered from a slow start to take control of the match.

Spanish coach Luis Aragones opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation this evening with Cesc Fabregas the closest line of support to Fernando Torres up front. Germany named Michael Ballack and Torsten Frings as fit and manager Joachim Low once again fielded the 4-5-1 formation.

Miroslav Klose led the Germans up front and it was him that opened the attacking opportunities following a defensive mistake by Sergio Ramos. Spain's Carles Puyol did just enough to put the German's strike off target. For the opening ten minutes the game was all Germany, they looked a far more assured side to that which faced Turkey last week. Before Spain even got a look in their goalkeeper Carles Puyol had seen most of the action.

Spain then found their forma dominated the rest of the first half. The German's did not learn from their mistakes and time after time Spain were getting in their fast runs down the wings and getting in behind their defenders around goal. A superb pass by Xavi put Andres Iniesta in behind full-back Arne Friedrich and the Barcelona man's subsequent low cross was deflected goalwards by Metzelder, and it needed a finger-tip save from Jens Lehmann to keep the ball out. Torres had the next chance which to Jens Lehmann's relief hit the outside of his post after the Liverpool player headed Ramos' cross in the German's direction.

Together Fans Germany and Turkey

Mandela condemns Mugabe 'failure'

Former South African leader Nelson Mandela has added his voice to the growing international condemnation of the political violence in Zimbabwe.

In his first public comments about the crisis, he noted "the tragic failure of leadership" of President Robert Mugabe.

Southern African leaders earlier called for Friday's run-off presidential vote to be postponed because conditions did not permit a free and fair election.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has urged foreign help to end the crisis.

Speaking at a dinner in London to mark his 90th birthday, Mr Mandela said:

"We watch with sadness the continuing tragedy in Darfur. Nearer to home we have seen the outbreak of violence against fellow Africans in our own country and the tragic failure of leadership in our neighbouring Zimbabwe."

Mr Mandela had held his silence until now, says the BBC's diplomatic correspondent James Robbins, to avoid undermining South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki's efforts as chief mediator on Zimbabwe.

Mr Mbeki's policy of "quiet diplomacy" has been criticised for its failure to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.

Nelson Mandela spoke few words but they will carry immense weight simply because of who he is, says our correspondent.

Earlier on Wednesday, southern African leaders holding an emergency summit in Swaziland called for the run-off vote to be postponed.

The governments of Swaziland, Tanzania and Angola said conditions would not permit a free and fair election.

The three countries from the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) are responsible for overseeing peace and security in the region.

The leaders said they were concerned and disappointed by Morgan Tsvangirai's withdrawal on Sunday from the vote.

But they said that holding the election under the present circumstances might undermine the credibility and legitimacy of its outcome.

They also said the people of Zimbabwe deserved a "cooling-off period".

Knighthood stripped

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), says some 86 of its supporters have been killed and 200,000 forced from their homes by militias loyal to the ruling Zanu-PF party. The government blames the MDC for the violence.

Mr Tsvangirai said he withdrew from the election over fears for the lives of his supporters.

The government and Zimbabwe's election authority insist Friday's vote will go ahead because Mr Tsvangirai's withdrawal came too late to prevent his name appearing on the ballot paper and was therefore invalid.

Mr Mugabe officially came second to Mr Tsvangirai in the first round in March.

The governing Zanu-PF party, led by Mr Mugabe, also lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in 1980.

'Sham vote'

The crisis has drawn growing international condemnation of Mr Mugabe and his government.

Britain has said it will withdraw an honorary knighthood granted to President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Mugabe is the first foreigner to be stripped of the award since Romanian dictator Nicolae Ceausescu in 1989, the day before his execution.

Morgan Tsvangirai speaking at a news conference at his home in Harare

US President George W Bush said Friday's vote appeared "to be a sham" because the opposition had not been able to campaign without fear of intimidation.

The US has said it will not recognise the results of the vote.

Mr Tsvangirai has appealed for the African Union and Zimbabwe's neighbouring states to intervene to resolve the situation.

"I am asking the AU [African Union] and Sadc to lead an expanded initiative supported by the UN to manage what I will call a transitional process," he said at a news conference in Harare.

Dismissing Friday's planned election as pointless, he said Zimbabwe should work out a political settlement based on genuine and honest dialogue.

Mr Mugabe has said his government was open to negotiations with "anyone" but only after the elections.

Green energy plans to be outlined

Proposals on renewable energy aimed at meeting EU climate change targets and securing the UK's future supply are to be unveiled by the government later.

More wind turbines and solar panels are expected to be signalled as ministers aim for 15% renewable power by 2020.

Less than 5% of Britain's electricity currently comes from green sources.

Environmental groups have hailed the strategy but say past promises have not been met and some industry groups have expressed caution over its timetable.

Philip Wolfe, director of the Renewable Energy Association, said: "The key missing factor is a greater sense of urgency.

"We have only 12 years left and government still wants to use two of those talking about it. The industry has a very short space of time in which to meet challenging targets.

"There are still gaps and anomalies that need to be addressed with fresh polices."

Meanwhile, a recent report from the Centre for Policy Studies suggested the wind power the plans would rely on is unreliable, intermittent and twice as expensive as coal or nuclear.

The number of onshore turbines could be increased from 2,000 to 6,000 by 2020 under the plans.

BBC environment correspondent Sarah Mukherjee said the Britain suggested by the strategy "would buzz with millions of hybrid electric cars and would be shaded by thousands of acres of trees grown to replace coal and oil as a source of energy".

The measures are also expected to include loans and grants for firms to increase green energy and compulsory measures on households.

But no major increase in government funding is expected and investment by power firms could be passed on to consumers through higher bills in the next decade.

Techno

Technorati Profile

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Delivers Soil Sample To Microscope

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Saturday beamed back images showing that Phoenix's Robotic Arm successfully sprinkled soil onto the delivery port of the lander's Optical Microscope.

Mission scientists said enough of the fine-grained soil sample remains in the scoop of the lander's Robotic Arm for delivery to either the Wet Chemistry Lab or Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer. Both the Wet Chemistry Lab and the Optical Microscope are part of the Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer, or MECA, instrument.

"We want to deliver similar soil samples to all three instruments," said Ray Arvidson, the mission's lead scientist for digging activities, from Washington University in St. Louis.

The lander's Robotic Arm has been commanded to remain in an "up" position to hold the collected soil in the scoop until it can be delivered to the other instruments.

Bush Refuses To Release EPA Documents

President Bush asserted executive privilege Friday to withhold documents from a congressional investigation into whether he pressured the Environmental Protection Agency to weaken decisions on smog and greenhouse gases.

White House officials notified a House committee of the rare assertion about 15 minutes before the committee was to vote on holding the head of the EPA and a White House budget official in contempt of Congress for not providing the documents.

The committee's chairman, Rep. Henry Waxman, D-Calif., then canceled the vote while expressing skepticism over the privilege claim.

"I have a clear sense that their assertion of this privilege is self-serving and not based on the appropriate law and rules," Waxman said from the dais of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing room.

"I don't think we've had a situation like this since Richard Nixon was president when the president of the United States may have been involved in acting contrary to law, and the evidence that would determine that question for Congress in exercising our oversight is being blocked by an assertion of executive privilege," he said.

Waxman said he wanted to review Attorney General Michael Mukasey's rationale for the executive privilege claim before deciding what to do next. He said he would not abandon his attempts to get what he wants from EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson and Susan Dudley, administrator for information and regulatory affairs at the White House Office of Management and Budget.

Executive privilege, while not explicitly mentioned in the Constitution, is grounded in the constitutional doctrine of separation of powers and is sometimes invoked to keep executive branch deliberations private.

Mr. Bush has also asserted executive privilege to keep his chief of staff, Josh Bolten, and former White House counsel Harriet Miers from having to provide information to Congress about the firing of a group of U.S. attorneys in what Democrats consider a political purge.

Save as Draft

In February the Democratic-led House voted to hold Miers and Bolten in contempt of Congress despite the assertion of executive privilege. When Mukasey refused to refer the contempt citations to a federal grand jury, the House Judiciary Committee sued in federal court to enforce them, arguing that Bush was making an overly broad use of executive privilege.

Waxman contends the White House intervened with EPA to produce more industry-friendly outcomes in setting new smog standards and denying California and more than a dozen other states permission to cut greenhouse gas emissions from cars and trucks.

EPA and White House officials have turned over thousands of pages of documents in response to Waxman's subpoenas, but Waxman contends they are keeping back some that would clearly reveal President Bush's role.

These include documents about Mr. Bush's participation in the smog decision, talking points on the smog rule for Johnson to use with Mr. Bush, and communications about preparing talking points for Mr. Bush to use in discussing the greenhouse gas waiver with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

These documents and others are referenced in a June 19 letter from Mukasey to Mr. Bush supporting a claim of executive privilege to block their release. The letter was provided Friday to Waxman's committee.

"I believe that publicly releasing these deliberative materials to the committee could inhibit the candor of future deliberations among the president's staff in the (Executive Office of the President) and deliberative communications between the EOP and executive branch agencies, particularly deliberations concerning politically charged issues," Mukasey wrote.

"Accordingly, I conclude that the subpoenaed materials at issue here fall squarely within the scope of executive privilege."

A congressional committee can overcome an executive privilege claim if the documents in question are critical to fulfilling its functions, Mukasey said, but he argued that's not the case here. He cited the many documents Waxman already has received and the conclusions he's been able to draw from them.

On the smog issue, EPA and White House officials have acknowledged that only hours before the rule was announced in March, Bush intervened directly on behalf of White House staff who opposed a tougher standard to protect the environment from smog.

On the California greenhouse gas issue, Waxman's committee staff produced a report last month concluding from interviews with high-level EPA officials that Johnson initially supported giving California full or partial permission to limit tailpipe emissions - but reversed himself after hearing from the White House. Waxman contends such intervention by the White House could be illegal since the outcome, according to Waxman, runs contrary to the Clean Air Act.

More than a dozen other states were also blocked from implementing the tailpipe emission limits after Johnson rejected California's request for a required federal waiver in December.

How To Make A JAR File

JAR files are Java's version of ZIP files. In fact, JAR uses the ZIP file format. There are two main uses for JAR files which I shall explain here. The first use is to compress (make a smaller size) a number of files into one file (archiving). The second use is to make a Java executable JAR file.

Compress Files To A Java Archive (JAR)

Common Examples

Compress Files To An Executable Java Archive (JAR)

Create An Executable JAR

Running An Executable JAR From Command Line

Running An Executable JAR From Explorer (Windows)

Further Resources

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Compress Files To A Java Archive (JAR)

This is by far the most common use for JAR files: to compress multiple files into a single JAR archive. JAR files can be opened with WinZip or WinRar. In terms of Java applications, the ability to archive any number of source or class files into one single archive represents the biggest advantage - distributing one file containing hundreds of files is so much easier than distributing hundreds of files separately!

The jar utility program is run from the command line (DOS prompt or bash for example, depending on your OS). Here is how to create a compressed JAR file:

   jar cf archive_name.jar files

Let's look at each part of that command line.

jar

The command to run the jar utility.

CF

Create a new archive with the file name specified. These two options are from this list of common options:

- c create new archive
- t list table of contents for archive
- x extract named (or all) files from archive
- u update existing archive
- v generate verbose output on standard output
- f specify archive file name
- m include manifest information from specified manifest file
- 0 store only; use no ZIP compression
- M do not create a manifest file for the entries
- i generate index information for the specified jar files
- C change to the specified directory and include the following file

Multiple options can be used together. They all must appear after the "jar" command with no white space separating them.

archive_name.jar

Name of the JAR file. This can only be included if you use the 'f' option.

files

Names of all the files you want to put in the jar file. This could be just one name or a list of multiple names separated by space. Names can use pattern matching characters to match multiple files.

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Common Examples

Let's say I have a Java application consisting of three source files that I wish to distribute:

One.java
Two.java
Three.java

I also want to call my JAR file example.jar. To make a JAR file with just One.java:

   jar CF example.jar One.java

To make a file with all three files listed separately:

   jar CF example.jar One.java Two.java Three.java

To make a file with all three files using a pattern match:

   jar CF example.jar *.java

It goes (almost) without saying that the source files are in the same directory you are running the jar command in.

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Compress Files To An Executable Java Archive (JAR)

It is also possible to make an archive that can be executed (run) by Java and even by a double click through your OS, if you have it set up correctly. Of course, to do this you must store compiled class files in the archive, as well as or instead of Java source files, since Java source files cannot be run!

Continuing the example above, I now compile my Java source files:

   javac *Java

or

   javac One.java Two.java Three.java

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Create An Executable JAR

All JAR files contain something called a manifest file which holds information Java wants to know. One piece of information a manifest file may contain is the name of a class that will be run if the JAR file is executed.

The first thing you must do is create a text file that lists the "main" class - the class that has the main method you want executed when the JAR is executed. Let's say that Three from the above example has the main method I want executed. I create a text file called "mainClass.txt" with the following text:

Main-Class: Three

IMPORTANT: the text file only needs the one line of text for this purpose. However, the file must end with a blank line or this will not work, ie the file has two lines in it - the second one is empty. Note too the class is called "Three" and not "Three.java" (the file containing the source code) or "Three.class" (the file containing the byte codes). If your class file is in a package hierarchy, you must use the fully qualified name of the class (eg "myPackage.MyClass").

I then run the jar utility with this command line:

   jar cmf mainClass.txt example.jar *.class

With this line, I told jar to create a JAR file (option c) with modifications to the manifest file (option m) as specified within mainClass.txt, naming the JAR file (option f) as example.jar and including everything that matches the pattern *Class

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Running An Executable JAR From Command Line

I can run it from the command line like this:

   java -jar example.jar

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Running An Executable JAR From Explorer (Windows)

Within Windows, it is also possible to set up Windows Explorer so that you can double click on the JAR file icon to execute the file (handy for GUI applications). The first thing you must do is set up the correct association with the 'javaw.exe' application that JDK for Windows will have. Click here for an older example with pictures! Open Windows Explorer and select Tools | Folder Options | File Types.

If there is no JAR file type, create it. Give it a description like

   jar - Executable Jar File

to ensure it sorts under 'jar'. Create or edit the action called "open" and associate it with the following action:

   "C:\Java\jdk1.4.0\bin\javaw.exe" -jar "%1"

Of course, you will replace "C:\Java\jdk1.4.0\bin\javaw.exe" with whatever path is correct on your machine.

IMPORTANT: include the double quotes to take care of names with spaces.

If you are using something other than Windows and you know how to set up an association in your OS, please contact me.

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Further Resources

Java's Tutorial on Jar files:

http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/jar/

Roedy Green's JAR file page:

http://www.mindprod.com/jglossjar.html#JAR

Yogyakarta / Jogja Visit

Yogyakarta (some people call it Jogja, Jogjakarta, or Yogya) is a city with outstanding historical and cultural heritage. Yogyakarta was the centre of the Mataram Dynasty (1575-1640), and until now the kraton (the sultan's palace) exists in its real functions. Also, Yogyakarta has numerous thousand-year-old temples as inheritances of the great ancient kingdoms, such as Borobudur temple established in the ninth century by the dynasty of Syailendra.

More than the cultural heritages, Yogyakarta has beautiful natural panorama. The green rice fields cover the suburban areas with a background of the Merapi Mountain. The natural beaches can be easily found to the south of Yogyakarta.

Here the society lives in peace and has typical Javanese hospitality. Just try to go around the city by bike, pedicab, or horse cart; and you will find sincere smiles and warm greeting in every corner of the city.

An artistic atmosphere is deeply felt in Yogyakarta. Malioboro, as the center of Yogyakarta, is overwhelmed by handicraft from all around the city. Street musicians always ready entertain the visitors of the lesehan food stalls.

Those who have visited Yogyakarta reveal that this city makes them long for it. Just visit here, then you will understand what this means.

Transportations to Yogyakarta:

• Train
  You may reach Yogyakarta by train from Jakarta, Bandung, or Surabaya
• Bus
  Yogyakarta is reachable by bus from Sumatra Island, Bali Island, and most cities of Java Island.
• Plane
  Recently, international direct flights from Kuala Lumpur are established to Yogyakarta. In addition, domestic flights to Yogyakarta from Jakarta, Denpasar, Balikpapan, and many others, are available now..

What is the secret of Turkey's success?

Croatia coach Slaven Bilić admitted there was "something special" about Fatih Terim's side after their thrilling win at the Ernst-Happel-Stadion on Friday night. Turkey's run to the semi-finals of UEFA EURO 2008™ has been sensational but what is the secret of their success – and can they reproduce it against Germany in Basel next Wednesday?

Late goals
When Portugal beat Turkey in their opening Group A game there was no indication of the incredible theatre that was to follow. First Terim's side stunned co-hosts Switzerland in their own backyard, fighting back from a goal down to clinch victory in the last minute thanks to Arda Turan's powerful strike. Even more drama came against the Czech Republic when the Crescent Stars (Ay Yıldızlılar) overturned a 2-0 deficit in the final 15 minutes to win 3-2 with two late Nihat Kahveci goals.

Crowning glory
Then the crowning glory against Croatia – Semih Şentürk driving in via a deflection in the last second of extra time to force penalties. It was Turkey's first shoot-out at a major tournament but they looked like old hands as Arda, Semih and Hamit Altıntop scored before Rüştü Reçber saved from Mladen Petrić to spark the celebrations. Having got this far, Turkey now face the might of Germany with Emre Aşık, Tuncay Şanlı, Volkan Demirel and Arda all suspended in addition to injuries to Emre Güngör, Servet Çetin, Emre Belözoğlu and Tümer Metin. Terim said in his post-match news conference there should be no limits to his team's success but can they overcome Germany to reach the final? And what is the secret behind Turkey's success? Click below to let us know your thoughts.

operating system

The most important program that runs on a computer. Every general-purpose computer must have an operating system to run other programs. Operating systems perform basic tasks, such as recognizing input from the keyboard, sending output to the display screen, keeping track of files and directories on the disk, and controlling peripheral devices such as disk drives and printers.

For large systems, the operating system has even greater responsibilities and powers. It is like a traffic cop -- it makes sure that different programs and users running at the same time do not interfere with each other. The operating system is also responsible for security, ensuring that unauthorized users do not access the system.

Operating systems can be classified as follows:

multi-user : Allows two or more users to run programs at the same time. Some operating systems permit hundreds or even thousands of concurrent users.

multiprocessing : Supports running a program on more than one CPU.

multitasking : Allows more than one program to run concurrently.

multithreading : Allows different parts of a single program to run concurrently.

real time: Responds to input instantly. General-purpose operating systems, such as DOS and UNIX, are not real-time.

Operating systems provide a software platform on top of which other programs, called application programs, can run. The application programs must be written to run on top of a particular operating system. Your choice of operating system, therefore, determines to a great extent the applications you can run. For PCs, the most popular operating systems are DOS, OS/2, and Windows, but others are available, such as Linux.

As a user, you normally interact with the operating system through a set of commands. For example, the DOS operating system contains commands such as COPY and RENAME for copying files and changing the names of files, respectively. The commands are accepted and executed by a part of the operating system called the command processor or command line interpreter. Graphical user interfaces allow you to enter commands by pointing and clicking at objects that appear on the screen.

How to Make a RJ45 Cable Tester

Plug and Socket Wiring Details - T568A Standard:

NOTE: There are various wiring "standards". Some standards have different arrangements of colours. The basic configuration uses two pairs of wires ... Pair 1 - 2 and Pair 3 - 6. The other four wires are connected, but not used. In some standards, the wires in each active pair cross over.

(To find out about "Balanced Transmission Lines" see: http://www.brandrex.com.au/bptute.htm )

Also see: http://www.cabletron.com/support/techtips/tk0231-9.html - A great starting point for UTP CAT 5 wiring conventions. (NOTE: The diagrams are based on Standard T568B! The colour arrangement is different from the T568A Standard shown at the top of this page.)

Also see: http://www.netspec.com/helpdesk/wiredoc.html , http://www.techfest.com/networking/lan/ethernet.htm and http://www.engr.csulb.edu/~kwhittie/cecs572/gigabit.html

For an absolutely wonderful page on how to assemble RJ45 connectors see: http://www.lanshack.com/make-cat5E.asp

Crossover Cable - For connecting TWO (and only two) computers together. If possible use a different coloured cable, or mark it very clearly. If someone picks up your 'crossover' cable later and tries to use it as a conventional network cable, it won't work! Generally crossover cables are RED.

Crossover Cable
RJ-45 PIN	RJ-45 PIN
1 Rx+	3 Tx+
2 Rc-	6 Tx-
3 Tx+	1 Rc+
6 Tx-	2 Rc-

NOTE: A "crossover" cable is wired with T568A at one end and T568B at the other.

Rollover Cable -

A Rollover cable is used to connect between a computer and the "Console" port on a Router to allow programming of the Router. To make a rollover cable you arrange wires as per a standard patch lead of either type "A", or "B" with the jack on one end "rolled over". ie you turn the jack upside down and then insert the wires. (NOTE: you only 'flip' one end, not both!) Commercial rollover cables are usually made from flat cable to avoid confusion. If you cannot find flat cable you should use YELLOW cable when making rollover cables.

Wiring a Wall Plate -

From Wally Krueger ... if you look at an RJ45 wall plate (socket) from the back side the lower right wire is pin number 1. It then follows that pins 1,3,5, & 7 are on the bottom from right to left. The top row are pins 2,4,6, & 8. I wired my CAT5 cable to the wall plate using the same sequence as my straight through cable and everything works perfectly.

Wiring a Wall Jack -

A Simple Cable Tester

How it Works - The wires in CAT 5 Unshielded Twisted Pair (UTP 8-wire) are arranged in pairs. (Pin1/Pin2, Pin3/Pin6, Pin5/Pin4, Pin7/Pin8). The circuit below is designed so that when the ends of a UTP cable are plugged into each of the "RJ45 Sockets", the circuit for each pair is completed and the LEDs light up. If there is a break in a wire (or the leads are incorrectly terminated) the corresponding LED will not light. For remote testing (where you can't get at both ends) cut the board apart and plug the "terminator" section into one end and the "Tester" end into the other. - I haven't tested over how long a distance it will work. Good Luck!

Barack Obama Biography

QUICK FACTS Born: August 4, 1961 (Hawaii) Lives in: Chicago, Illinois Zodiac Sign: Leo Height: 6' 1" (1.87m) Family: Married wife Michelle in 1992, 2 daughters Malia and Sasha Parents: Barack Obama, Sr. (from Kenya) and Ann Dunham (from Kansas) Religion: United Church of Christ Drives a: Ford Escape hybrid, Chrysler 300C Education: - Graduated: Columbia University (1983) - Major: Political Science - Law Degree from Harvard (1991) - Major: J.D. - Magna Cum Laude - Attended: Occidental College Career: U.S. Senator from Illinois sworn in January 4, 2005 Government Committees: - Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee - Foreign Relations Committee - Veterans Affairs Committee - 2005 and 2006: served on the Environment and Public Works Committee Books: - Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance (1995) - The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (2006) - It Takes a Nation: How Strangers Became Family in the Wake of Hurricane Katrina (2006) Barack Obama, the junior U.S. Senator from Illinois, is the first ever African-American to become the presumptive presidential nominee for a U.S. major political party. On June 3, 2008, he gained enough delegates to be nominated by the Democratic party at its national convention in August. Barack Hussein Obama was born Aug. 4, 1961, in Honolulu, Hawaii. His father, Barack Obama, Sr., was born of Luo ethnicity in Nyanza Province, Kenya. He grew up herding goats with his own father, who was a domestic servant to the British. Although reared among Muslims, Obama, Sr., became an atheist at some point. Obama's mother, Ann Dunham, grew up in Wichita, Kansas. Her father worked on oil rigs during the Depression. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, he signed up for service in World War II and marched across Europe in Patton's army. Dunham's mother went to work on a bomber assembly line. After the war, they studied on the G.I. Bill, bought a house through the Federal Housing Program, and moved to Hawaii. Meantime, Barack's father had won a scholarship that allowed him to leave Kenya pursue his dreams in Hawaii. At the time of his birth, Obama's parents were students at the East-West Center of the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Obama's parents separated when he was two years old and later divorced. Obama's father went to Harvard to pursue Ph.D. studies and then returned to Kenya. His mother married Lolo Soetoro, another East-West Center student from Indonesia. In 1967, the family moved to Jakarta, where Obama's half-sister Maya Soetoro-Ng was born. Obama attended schools in Jakarta, where classes were taught in the Indonesian language. Four years later when Barack (commonly known throughout his early years as "Barry") was ten, he returned to Hawaii to live with his maternal grandparents, Madelyn and Stanley Dunham, and later his mother (who died of ovarian cancer in 1995). He was enrolled in the fifth grade at the esteemed Punahou Academy, graduating with honors in 1979. He was only one of three black students at the school. This is where Obama first became conscious of racism and what it meant to be an African-American. In his memoir, Obama described how he struggled to reconcile social perceptions of his multiracial heritage. He saw his biological father (who died in a 1982 car accident) only once (in 1971) after his parents divorced. And he admitted using alcohol, marijuana and cocaine during his teenage years. After high school, Obama studied at Occidental College in Los Angeles for two years. He then transferred to Columbia University in New York, graduating in 1983 with a degree in political science. After working at Business International Corporation (a company that provided international business information to corporate clients) and NYPIRG, Obama moved to Chicago in 1985. There, he worked as a community organizer with low-income residents in Chicago's Roseland community and the Altgeld Gardens public housing development on the city's South Side. It was during this time that Obama, who said he "was not raised in a religious household," joined the Trinity United Church of Christ. He also visited relatives in Kenya, which included an emotional visit to the graves of his father and paternal grandfather. Obama entered Harvard Law School in 1988. In February 1990, he was elected the first African-American editor of the Harvard Law Review. Obama graduated magna cum laude in 1991. After law school, Obama returned to Chicago to practice as a civil rights lawyer, joining the firm of Miner, Barnhill & Galland. He also taught at the University of Chicago Law School. And he helped organize voter registration drives during Bill Clinton's 1992 presidential campaign. Obama published an autobiography in 1995 Dreams From My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance. And he won a Grammy for the audio version of the book. Obama's advocacy work led him to run for the Illinois State Senate as a Democrat. He was elected in 1996 from the south side neighborhood of Hyde Park. During these years, Obama worked with both Democrats and Republicans in drafting legislation on ethics, expanded health care services and early childhood education programs for the poor. He also created a state earned-income tax credit for the working poor. And after a number of inmates on death row were found innocent, Obama worked with law enforcement officials to require the videotaping of interrogations and confessions in all capital cases. In 2000, Obama made an unsuccessful Democratic primary run for the U.S. House of Representatives seat held by four-term incumbent candidate Bobby Rush. Following the 9/11 attacks, Obama was an early opponent of President George W. Bush's push to war with Iraq. Obama was still a state senator when he spoke against a resolution authorizing the use of force against Iraq during a rally at Chicago's Federal Plaza in October 2002. "I am not opposed to all wars. I’m opposed to dumb wars," he said. "What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other arm-chair, weekend warriors in this Administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne." "He’s a bad guy," Obama said, referring to Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. "The world, and the Iraqi people, would be better off without him. But I also know that Saddam poses no imminent and direct threat to the United States, or to his neighbors, that the Iraqi economy is in shambles, that the Iraqi military a fraction of its former strength, and that in concert with the international community he can be contained until, in the way of all petty dictators, he falls away into the dustbin of history." "I know that even a successful war against Iraq will require a U.S. occupation of undetermined length, at undetermined cost, with undetermined consequences," Obama continued. "I know that an invasion of Iraq without a clear rationale and without strong international support will only fan the flames of the Middle East, and encourage the worst, rather than best, impulses of the Arab world, and strengthen the recruitment arm of al-Qaeda." The war with Iraq began in 2003 and Obama decided to run for the U.S. Senate open seat vacated by Republican Peter Fitzgerald. In the 2004 Democratic primary, he won 52 percent of the vote, defeating multimillionaire businessman Blair Hull and Illinois Comptroller Daniel Hynes. That summer, he was invited to deliver the keynote speech in support of John Kerry at the 2004 Democratic National Convention in Boston. Obama emphasized the importance of unity, and made veiled jabs at the Bush administration and the diversionary use of wedge issues. "We worship an awesome God in the blue states, and we don't like federal agents poking around our libraries in the red states," he said. "We coach Little League in the blue states, and yes, we've got some gay friends in the red states. There are patriots who opposed the war in Iraq, and there are patriots who supported the war in Iraq. We are one people, all of us pledging allegiance to the Stars and Stripes, all of us defending the United States of America." After the convention, Obama returned to his U.S. Senate bid in Illinois. His opponent in the general election was suppose to be Republican primary winner Jack Ryan, a wealthy former investment banker. However, Ryan withdrew from the race in June 2004, following public disclosure of unsubstantiated sexual allegations by Ryan's ex-wife, actress Jeri Ryan. In August 2004, diplomat and former presidential candidate Alan Keyes, who was also an African-American, accepted the Republican nomination to replace Ryan. In three televised debates, Obama and Keyes expressed opposing views on stem cell research, abortion, gun control, school vouchers and tax cuts. In the November 2004 general election, Obama received 70% of the vote to Keyes's 27%, the largest electoral victory in Illinois history. Obama became only the third African-American elected to the U.S. Senate since Reconstruction. Sworn into office January 4, 2005, Obama partnered with Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana on a bill that expanded efforts to destroy weapons of mass destruction in Eastern Europe and Russia. Then with Republican Sen. Tom Corburn of Oklahoma, he created a website that tracks all federal spending. Obama was also the first to raise the threat of avian flu on the Senate floor, spoke out for victims of Hurricane Katrina, pushed for alternative-energy development and championed improved veterans’ benefits. He also worked with Democrat Russ Feingold of Wisconsin to eliminate gifts of travel on corporate jets by lobbyists to members of Congress. His second book, The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream, was published in October 2006. In February 2007, Obama made headlines when he announced his candidacy for the 2008 Democratic presidential nomination. He is locked in a tight battle with former first lady and current U.S. Senator from New York, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Obama met his wife, Michelle, in 1988 when he was a summer associate at the Chicago law firm of Sidley & Austin. They were married in October 1992 and live in Kenwood on Chicago's South Side with their daughters, Malia (born 1999) and Sasha (born 2001).

Five Great Add-Ons for Firefox 3

f you've installed Firefox 3, you know that your favorite add-ons and extensions may no longer work. But there are plenty of great ones that are already updated for the new version of the browser. Here are five of the best.

Foxmarks

I frequently switch between two PCs --- a desktop in my office, and a laptop for the road --- and I've found it just about impossible to keep the same bookmarks on both. This nifty Foxmarks add-in (shown below) neatly solves the problem. Install it on each machine whose bookmarks you want to keep in synch, and it synchronizes them automatically or manually. The bookmarks are also stored on a server, so you can access them from any machine, even if Foxmarks isn't installed on it.

Got an extension that won't work with Firefox 3? This add-on can solve the problem. It will force Firefox 3 to use your existing add-ons, even if newer versions aren't available. Keep in mind that forcing an extension to work in Firefox 3 can cause compatibility problems. So use this one at your own risk.
By the way, the add-on has plenty of other uses for developers. But normal folks who want to force their extensions to work with Firefox 3 should download it as well.

Anyone who has ever wished they could bend Google to their will should download this add-on. It gives you a tremendous amount of control over the way Google and its associated sites work. Want to remove all ads from Google and Gmail? It can do it. Want to add links to the Wayback Machine in your search results so that you can find Web pages from long ago and far away? It'll do that as well. It will also anonymize the Google cookie UID so that Google can't create a profile about you, and much more.

Mouse lovers will want to install this one. It lets you execute a wide variety of commands and run scripts with five types of mouse gestures. So if you want to move forward or back, open tabs, close tabs, reload pages --- do just about anything --- you can just make a gesture with your mouse, and it will be done.

Good news: What may be the most popular add-on of all time works with Firefox 3. This extension does exactly what it says: It blocks banner ads so that you can surf the Internet without flashing, annoying advertisements. Nothing more, and nothing less.

PORTUGAL VS GERMANY EURO 2008

Germany progressed to the semi-finals of the UEFA European Championship for the first time since 1996 as goals from Bastian Schweinsteiger, Miroslav Klose and Michael Ballack secured a 3-2 victory over Portugal in Basel.

Heads, you win
The Mannschaft ended up lifting the Henri Delaunay trophy that year and the way they raised their game to meet the challenge of a Portugal side that refused to lie down – halving a two-goal deficit twice through first Nuno Gomes and then, in the dying minutes, Hélder Postiga – augurs well for Joachim Löw's team. By contrast, it was a night when the worst fears of Portugal's Chelsea FC-bound coach Luiz Felipe Scolari were realised, his pre-match nightmares about Germany's aerial superiority materialising in the form of headed goals by Klose and Ballack. Portugal were semi-finalists in 2000 and runners-up in 2004 and Scolari had hoped to take that final step at UEFA EURO 2008™ but his farewell party fell flat at St. Jakob-Park, where Portugal were overpowered by opponents who shrugged aside impressively their occasional first-stage torpor.

Debt paid
With Simão probing down the right, Scolari's men appeared to be finding their stride as they offered the first threat on goal when Bosingwa crossed and João Moutinho, free of his marker but seemingly caught in two minds, steered the ball over at the near post with his knee. Yet in the 22nd minute they fell behind. It was a wonderfully worked goal too, swift passing between Philipp Lahm, Ballack and Lukas Podolski advancing the ball down the left, with Podolski bursting clear to drive in a low cross which Schweinsteiger converted with a sliding finish. Schweinsteiger's coach Löw had told the midfielder he had a "debt" to his team-mates after his red card against Croatia and here, in his first start of the finals, he resembled a man on a mission.

Scoring feat
Scorer of two goals against Portugal at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Schweinsteiger was the architect of their second here too, drifting a free-kick into the Portugal box which Klose, ghosting clear of the red shirts, headed past Ricardo. Raul Meireles replaced the injured Moutinho and Portugal went in search of a lifeline. It came via captain Nuno Gomes five minutes before the break. Simão's crossfield ball sent Ronaldo racing clear of Per Mertesacker down the inside-left channel and though Jens Lehmann blocked his shot, Gomes was first to the rebound, striking first time into the net via the foot of Christoph Metzelder, defending desperately on the line. It was Gomes's sixth goal on the European stage over three tournaments – a scoring span only achieved by Jürgen Klinsmann, Thierry Henry and Vladimír Šmicer before him.

Tense finish
Ronaldo was a whisker away from an equaliser moments before half-time, flashing the ball past Lehmann yet just wide of the far post. Deco did find the net shortly after the interval but was in an offside position and the little midfielder then flicked on a Simão corner to set up Pepe, only for the defender to nod over. Ballack showed him how it should be done in the 61st minute when – to the displeasure of his future manager – he shrugged off Chelsea FC team-mate Paulo Ferreira and beat Ricardo to another Schweinsteiger free-kick to head home. Scolari sent on Nani and Postiga as Portugal chased the game and the pair combined to ensure a nervy finale when Postiga headed in from Nani's left-wing delivery but the glimmer of hope was soon extinguished.