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  • Wikipedia, Other Sites Shut Down to Protest 'Censorship' Legislation

     

    ABC News(NEW YORK) -- The English-language version of Wikipedia went dark Wednesday, along with hundreds of other sites including Reddit and Boing Boing, to protest the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and Protect Intellectual Property Act (PIPA) proposed by congressional lawmakers and supported by Hollywood to block the sale of counterfeit goods by websites outside the U.S.

    Wikipedia, as well as search engine site Google and social networking site Facebook, argue that the legislation encourages censorship and will alter the structure of the Internet. Google was operating, though its iconic logo was shown as blacked out Wednesday, as if it had been redacted.

    The co-founder of the online encyclopedia giant, Jimmy Wales, defended the decision to close down Wikipedia for 24 hours, charging that SOPA and PIPA, "endanger free speech both in the United States and abroad, and set a frightening precedent of Internet censorship for the world."

    The White House is also opposed to the anti-piracy measures before Congress.

    Texas Republican Congressman Lamar Smith, who sponsored SOPA in the House, chastised Wikipedia for what he says amounts to a publicity stunt, adding, "it is ironic that a website dedicated to providing information is spreading misinformation about the Stop Online Piracy Act."

    According to Smith, Wikipedia, social networking sites and domestic blogs won't be affected by his legislation.

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    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

  • Four US Airport Terminals Among Frommers' 10 Worst in the World

     

    iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Weary travelers stuck at New York's JFK airport or Chicago's Midway airport may be all too familiar with the drab surroundings and sketchy service during a delayed layover.

    In what may be affirmation for some frequent fliers, Frommers.com has included four U.S. hubs in its list of the 10 worst airport terminals.

    The list included the 10 best and worst terminals, basing the ranking on cleanliness, services, on-time departures, navigation and ease of travel to and from a city's center.

    New York JFK's terminal 3, now used for Delta flights, was ranked as the worst in the world.  However, Delta said a renovation project to be completed by 2013 will transform the terminal into a modern facility.

    "Terminal 3 is known for endless immigration lines in a dank basement, an utter lack of food and shopping options, three crowded and confusing entry points, and hallways that could have been designed by M.C Escher for vomiting international travelers out onto an underground sidewalk with no cabs available," Frommers.com said.  "There's also a sense that the cleaning crew gave up in despair a while ago."

    While four of the 10 worst terminals are in the U.S., only one American terminal made it to the top 10 list of the best terminals: Jetblue Airway's Terminal 5 in New York's JFK Airport, which was number five.

    The best airport terminal is Hajj Terminal at King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.  It is only open during the six-week Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. Muslims traditionally must travel to Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

    Here is Frommers.com's list of the 10 worst airport terminals in the world:

    1. New York JFK Airport Terminal 3
    2. Manila, Philippines Airport Terminal 1
    3. Moscow Sheremetyevo Airport Terminal B/C
    4. Nairobi, Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport
    5. Paris' Charles de Gaulle Airport, Terminal 3
    6. Amman, Jordan Queen Alia Airport
    7. New York LaGuardia Airport Terminal 5
    8. Terminal B at Newark Liberty International Airport
    9. Paris' Beauvais Airport
    10. Chicago Midway Airport?

    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

  • Italian Cruise Ship Wreck Costs Could Surpass $130 Million

     

    STRINGER/AFP/Getty Images(GIGLIO, Italy) -- The near-sinking of the Costa Concordia cruise ship will send a tidal wave of bills at the owners that could reach $130 million -- if the ship can be salvaged.

    If it is determined that the $650 million luxury liner is too badly damaged, the owners -- Costa Cruises and its parent company Carnival Cruises -- will have to absorb the loss of the ship.

    "They just lose," said Jaime Katz, an equity analyst for Morningstar Inc., an independent investment research firm.  "The ship is gone.  They will have to start over or have one less ship in that market."

    That determination has yet to be made, but even a bill that big would not sink the company, experts said.

    Carnival Cruises is the largest company in the cruise industry with more than 100 ships in service and 11 global brands. Nevertheless, the company is bracing for an iceberg of bills heading its way.

    Already, the disaster has affected Carnival's stock. On Tuesday shares of Carnival were down nearly 14 percent to $29.53.  Bloomberg said it was the biggest drop for the company since April 2009.

    Morningstar has estimated that the company will face $85 million to $95 million loss in revenue while the ship is out of service.

    Carnival, which is based in Miami, has a $30 million insurance deductible for damage to the ship.

    Lawsuits will also sink the company's bottom line. The company reportedly has a $10 million deductible on third-party personal injury liabilities, and Italian laws regarding civil suits may protect Carnival and Costa from mega suits that are common in the U.S.

    And, according to Bloomberg, Carnival said it, "further anticipates other costs to the business that are not possible to determine at this time."

    But despite the public relations nightmare, Katz said that passengers would continue to sail the high seas after a bit of assurance from the industry, especially Carnival and Costa.

    "People are not going to be booking as quickly," she said. "[Carnival] is going to have to assure people this is a safe way to travel."?

    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

  • Wall Street Headed Up Ahead of More Earnings Reports

     

    Mario Tama/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Wall Street appears poised on Wednesday to add to the gains it made after coming off the Martin Luther King Jr. Day holiday; stock futures are up ahead of the opening bell.

    On Tuesday, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 60 points on its first day back from break, while the Nasdaq climbed 17 and the S&P 500 jumped five.

    Whether or not the stock market can close in the green again on Wednesday will likely depend on a slew of earnings reports coming out before the trading session begins. Goldman Sachs is scheduled to unveil its fourth quarter earnings, as is Charles Schwab Corp. and PNC Financial Services Group Inc., among others.

    So far, the earnings season has generated mixed results. Among the disappointments were Citigroup and JPMorgan Chase, who both reported drops in profits.

    Overseas, European stocks are trading slightly higher as investors await the latest talks over the debt crisis in Greece.  In Asia, stocks closed the day mixed.  Japan's Nikkei index rose 0.99 percent, Hong Kong’s Hang Seng added 0.30 percent, Taiwan’s Taiex gained 0.17 percent, and Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 tacked on 0.05 percent.

    China’s Shanghai Composite, on the other hand, fell 1.39 percent, while South Korea's Kospi slipped 0.02 percent.?

    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

  • Poll: Most Americans Still Say Economy Is on the Wrong Track

     

    Comstock Images/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- The nation’s economic ice jam is showing tentative signs of a thaw, warming some political sentiment along with it.  But is the change enough to boost President Obama -- and incumbents generally -- in the election year ahead?

    According to the latest ABC News/Washington Post poll, 68 percent of Americans still say the country’s headed seriously off on the wrong track.  But that’s down from 77 percent in September, and “right direction” ratings -- at 30 percent -- while weak, are their best since June.

    This shift in economic sentiment can be seen in the political mood.  Forty-five percent of Americans now say an economic recovery is under way -- still fewer than half, but up by 9 points from two months ago.  The president’s approval rating on handling job creation has advanced by 6 points to its best in nearly two years.  And the number of Americans who say they’ve gotten worse off financially under this president has eased by 5 points since September, to 30 percent.

    Yet, there’s still a deep chill.  This poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates, finds that even with his gain on jobs, 51 percent disapprove of how Obama’s handling them.  Despite the change in “worse-off” ratings, twice as many have lost ground financially under Obama compared to those that say they’ve moved ahead.  And while more say a recovery’s begun, three-quarters of them also say it’s a weak one.

    There’s also one particular risk ahead: The federal Energy Information Administration reported this week that the price of gasoline has risen by 16 cents in the past month to an average $3.39 a gallon -- its highest in any January in records since 1990.  If gas keeps rising, the recent, tentative advances in economic and political sentiment would be imperiled.?

    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

  • Yahoo! Co-Founder Jerry Yang Resigns

     

    Ethan Miller/Getty Images(SUNNYVALE, Calif.) -- Jerry Yang is stepping down from his positions at Yahoo! Inc., the startup-turned-Internet search giant he helped found, the company said Tuesday.

    "My time at Yahoo!, from its founding to the present, has encompassed some of the most exciting and rewarding experiences of my life,” Yang wrote in a letter to Yahoo! board chairman Roy Bostock. “However, the time has come for me to pursue other interests outside of Yahoo!”

    Yang’s resignation from the company’s board of directors and “all other positions with the company” – including his roles on the boards of Yahoo Japan and Alibaba Group Holding Limited – are effective immediately.

    “As I leave the company I co-founded nearly 17 years ago, I am enthusiastic about the appointment of Scott Thompson as Chief Executive Officer and his ability, along with the entire Yahoo! leadership team, to guide Yahoo! into an exciting and successful future," Yang wrote.

    The move has industry analysts speculating what Yang’s departure could mean for the company. The Yahoo! co-founder played a key role in blocking the Microsoft takeover in 2008, “which of course would have been a boon for the company,” Tim Stevens, editor-in-chief of the tech blog Engadget, told ABC News Radio.

    “I think his leaving the company will be perceived as a good thing and should certainly make the investors happy,” Stevens said.

    And early indicators seemed to show as much. In late trading Tuesday, shares of Yahoo! were up nearly 4 percent.

    Yang co-founded Yahoo! in 1995 with David Filo. During his time with the company, Yang served on its board of directors and, for a brief time, as its chief executive officer.

    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

  • Average Years Americans Keep Cars Reach Record High

     

    iStockphoto/Thinkstock(DETROIT) -- The clunker in the driveway's reached a record-old age. The average age of a car or truck in the U.S. is now almost 11 years, according to an analysis released by automotive research firm Polk. Job security and other economic worries kept many people from making big-ticket purchases such as a new vehicle.  

    Back in 1995, Americans kept cars for an average of 8.5 years, according to the analysis that looked at vehicle registration data.

    Polk global aftermarket practice leader Mark Seng said the increase in vehicle age could bring positive outcomes for vehicle maintenance services and parts dealers.

    "Dealer service departments and independent repair facilities, as well as aftermarket parts suppliers, will see increased business opportunity with customers in need of vehicle service," Seng said.

    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

  • Positive Gains for US Stocks

     

    iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- Stocks closed higher on some positive signs about Europe's debt. Auctions by Spain, Greece and Europe's bailout fund drew solid interest from investors Tuesday.

    The Dow added 60 points, while the Nasdaq and S&P posted positive gains of 17 and 5 points, respectively.

    Meanwhile, gas prices could accelerate to all-time highs this summer. Analysts at GasBuddy.com say global demand and conflicts around the world could push prices at the pump up to $5 a gallon.

    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

  • Burger King Tests Out Delivery

     

    Scott Olson/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- Fast food restaurants like Burger King and McDonald’s have always been known for their convenience, but now Burger King is taking the term “fast food” to another level. Starting this week, the chain is offering delivery from 10 locations in the Washington, D.C., area.

    For an additional $2, you can get your burger, fries or anything else you want without leaving your desk. Delivery is available between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m., which means the breakfast menu isn’t an option. They also aim to get you your food within 30 minutes, but you also have to be within a 10-minute drive of the restaurant.

    And don’t worry that your food won’t be of the same caliber if you opt for delivery over drive-thru. The burgers are delivered in strategic packaging, with the top part of the bun covered to prevent it from becoming soggy during travel. John Fitzpatrick, chief brand and operations officer for Burger King, told USA Today they used “proprietary thermal packaging technology” to guarantee “that the Whopper is delivered hot and fresh, and the French fries are delivered hot and crispy.”

    Six more locations in Virginia plan to start delivery the week of Jan. 23, and if all goes well, Burger King hopes to expand the service to other areas over time.

    Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio

Business News - ABC News Radio Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:11:29 +0000

Jobs North West - Jobs North West
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Hot Tubs In Glasgow - Hot Tubs In Glasgow
...and cricks in the neck are just some of the symptoms that you seem to experience more and more these days. Juggling a hectic home life with work certainly doesn`t help and you really need to allocate a little time that is reserved solely for yourself. When you get the chance you head off to you local health centre to take a dip in one of their hot tubs. You feel wonderfully relaxed as the water does its wonders and you dearly wish you had a tub of your own. Why not make enquiries with a local suppler who sells Hot tubs in glasgow because you could be surprised at how affordable they are. A tub could be delivered and installed at your home and full instructions on how to keep the water clean would be provided as standard. It`d be an investment to buy one of the Hot tubs in glasgow because you could use it countless times in the future. On cold and cris...
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Worthing Removals - Worthing Removals
...ou begin the packing process. This isn`t as easy you might think and you`ll need the right types of packaging materials to ensure that your precious possessions are safe whilst they are in transit. Of course, you can make things simple for yourself when you are moving from your worthing home. You could call in the experts who have carried out hundreds if not thousands of worthing removals in the past. This trusted team only employs the very best team members who can provide excellent customer service levels. They can supply you with packaging materials for you to pack your own goods or they can even provide packaging services on your behalf. The worthing removals team use modern trucks to transport their customer`s belongings from their old home to the new location. These vehicles are ideal for the task in hand and the most appro...
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Caravan Parks North Wales - Caravan Parks North Wales
...k is a tourism set up where people driving recreational vehicles can hault. Generally it provides basic services such as electric power, water shower, laundry and grocery. Even some of the caravan parks also offer recreational facilities, including swimming pools and tennis courts. Since 1960s this form of mobile tourism has gained popularity. In 1970s UK observed heavy crisis of energy, which made it popular to rent recreational vehicles at caravan parks, in an almost similar manner to rent a hotel room. Carewaysview is happy to present Caravan Parks North Wales services which is available in North Wales countryside. Carewaysview is situated in the lap of green and hilly countryside backdrop of North Walse. Caravan Parks, North Walse give the opportunity to spend few lazy days of gentle week end with your friends and family. Here at Caravan Parks North Wales you can enjo...
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Loyalty Fundraising - Loyalty Fundraising
...y to get involved in, not to mention how rewarding it could be as raising regular amounts of money can be vital for charities and organizations to keep going. There are many different ways of raising money and many fundraising ideas are tried, tested and have been done many times before, which is great, but the really good and successful ideas are the ones where people think outside the box and do things that may not have necessarily been done before. Charity parachute jumps, fun runs and raffles have been done by charities in the past but have you thought about starting a loyalty fundraising scheme? For example loyalty fundraising could involve people donating or sponsoring a brick for a new school sports hall and in return the sponsor could have their name or company logo engraved into the brick. Another example of loya...
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Furniture Manchester - Furniture Manchester
...niture for your home why not go to one of the very best furniture Manchester companies currently operating in the United Kingdom today. With over twenty years of success in an industry that is constantly changing this is one company who can definitely say that they know what they are talking about. Apart from offering you furniture Manchester for every single room in you house ? from the living room to the bed room ? they can also help advice you on how to furnish your home. If you are not sure what will go with your current colour scheme, or just need a little helping hand to ensure you get exactly the right furniture Manchester for your home, they are only too happy to help. They can also deliver as soon or as late as you need it as they carry stock of almost all the items on show. So why not go down to their ware house today and see what they can do for...
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Pool Maintenance - Pool Maintenance
...s first completed yet over a period of time it can begin to look a little jaded and be in need of TLC. People that have owned a pool for quite some time will have regular pool maintenance carried out on it and at some stage in its life a complete refurbishment might be required. Routine pool maintenance will help to keep the pool in fabulous condition and this process can be carried out by vastly experienced pool technicians. They`ll ensure the pool performs perfectly throughout the year and they can be called in if problems occur, regardless of the nature. Owners might find that they need pool maintenance when cracks develop or the pool liner begins to leak. Problems with lighting can be addressed and new pumps can be fitted if old ones are having trouble. Leaking pipes are another common problem and depth reduction services are often requ...
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Jewellery Display - Jewellery Display
...hes they had for sale. There`s something about these high quality watches that makes me go all weak at the knees. The crafty jewellers have worked hard on their jewellery display and it certainly grabs your attention as you walk by. I`ve actually been in this store a few times in the past year to buy items for my forthcoming wedding. The last time I went in was to buy my wedding ring and I saw the perfect item staring back at me from the jewellery display they had inside the store. Luckily the jewellers had the ring in my size and it was promptly purchased there and then. I like it when a store makes an effort with their jewellery display and from their point of view it must do the business no amount of good. If the display attracts people there`ll be more chance that they want to buy th...
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Uk Work Visa - Uk Work Visa
...hinking of immigrating in to the United Kingdom and are currently based out side the European Economic Area, then you will need to obtain a uk work visa. A uk work visa is issued as part of an immigration scheme and they are aimed at highly skilled migrants, entrepreneurs, investors and also foreign graduates who have successfully completed their studies here in the UK. Like in other countries a points system is in place for the uk work visa and 75 points have to be obtained before the visa can be granted. Anyone that thinks they qualify for the visa will have to meet set criteria from one of four categories. Highly skilled migrants will score points on the system as will business types who are willing to invest in the county by setting up their own business. They will need to have a certain amount of disposable capital as well that is held in bank or other financial estab...
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Remanufactured Cartridges - Remanufactured Cartridges
... getting on very well so I am very hopeful for the future. He sells remanufactured cartridgesfor a living and the fact that the customers for his remanufactured cartridgesare from all areas of the country, means that he has to travel quite extensively as part of his week. That does not put me off at all however, as I like a person who is widely travelled and I am certainly not the type who wants to be glued to the person I am with exclusively. I am also not the type of person to stay at home waiting for my boyfriend anyway so his travelling suits me as it means that I can spend time with my friends whilst he is away. However, even though I relish this time to myself, I also really enjoy his company and we do have such a laugh together. The other day, he came to pick me up to take me out to dinner and, I am not j...
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