In perhaps one of a kind incident, an environment group that started campaign to preserve the species of the Atlantic Tuna with noble intentions, have unknowingly brought another species of fish, the Bluefin Tuna almost on the verge of extinction. A large number of environmentalists and scientists have criticized the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT) of ignoring the advice of the scientists, who were working for the agency and due to the reckless workings of the organization, the ecological balance of the Tuna fish is now in jeopardy. In an effort to save the Atlantic Tuna, the ICCAT immaturely increased the fishing quota for the Blufin Tuna fish that is now facing mas extinction.

According to Carl Safina  (President, Blue Ocean Institute),

“ICCAT is the poster child for not only failure… but cynicism and a real unwillingness to get serious, be professional and listen to what the science has to say. The world’s first fisheries management agency formed out of concern for this one species never followed their own science, never lived up to their mandate to manage for a sustainable yield.”

Due to the highly irresponsible behavior on the part of ICCAT, the organization is now under fire from various environmental groups and organizations and have been repeatedly accused of not taking advantage of the various opportunities through which it could not only complete its mission but would have also saved a lot of other species as well. The International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas or ICCAT was formed in the year 1960, in an effort to save and preserve the tuna fish and all other species resembling the tuna race.

One of the principle moves by ICCAT to save the Atlantic tuna was to increase the permissible amount fishing for the Bluefish tuna. However, the kept increasing the permissible amount and combined with the excessive commercial fishing of the Bluefin tuna, has effectively brought the species to the edge of extinction.

Via Seed Daily.

As of now, the Apple iPhone is set to work with the UMTS 3G networks alone and there is no support available for the CDMA network. However, with the new hybrid model, all this is set to change dramatically, as the new iPhone will be modified giving it the culpability of working on both  CDMA2000 networks and the UMTS 3G networks. This new compatibility mode will be especially helpful in the United States, where Verizon Wireless has a vast CDMA network, all set to embrace the new iPhone. The compatibility feature will be enabled with the help of the hybrid chip produced by Qualcomm. Furthermore, Apple has also changing its one sided business model of employing a s single handset manufacturer. Currently, all Apple iPhones are being built by Hon Hai. But the new hybrid iPhone will be manufactured by Pegatron, which is a long standing subsidiary of Asustek.

The new hybrid is expected to sport a 2.8 inch touch sensitive screen, which is quite the small than the current generation iPhones, that have been given a 3.5 inch touch sensitive display. The new iPhone is also beloved to be lighter and smaller than its predecessors. The availabliity of the Apple iPhone on Verizon Wireless is especially a good news for the consumers, as they no more have to stick with AT&T monopolized iPhone market and will also have the freedom of choosing the carrier they seem fit.

Via Apple Insider.

The long standing legal stand off between Skype, a leading online communications network and one of the largest online shopping websites, eBay has finally come to end with the founders of Skype being awarded a 14% stake in the company along with two seats on Skype’s board of directors. eBay retains 30% rights on Skype. The private investors, who helped Skype reach a global platform will have a 56% stake in the now divided company. The settlement also calls for an immediate drop of the lawsuit, that the Skype founders, Niklas Zennstrom and Janus Friis had brought upon eBay and a host of investors who had announced their intentions to buy 65% of Skype.

According to John J. Donahoe (CEO, eBay).

“Skype will be well positioned to move forward under new owners with ownership and control over its core technology. At the same time, eBay continues to retain a significant stake in Skype and will benefit from its continued growth. We look forward to closing the deal and focusing on growing our core e-commerce and payments businesses.”

However, one of the primary investors of Skype, Index Ventures, the venture capital firm that spawned the buyout offers for Skype and led to the grueling court room battle has decided to recede from the deal struck between Skype, eBay and the investors. Index Venture has stated that the deal does not match the company’s financial criteria and thus the firm has chosen to distance itself from the deal altogether.

Now that Skype is free of legal hassles, the global online communications service can finally look forward to innovate and create better ways of communications for the users. While Skype was busy tussling it out in court room arena, significant developments have taken place, that will surely compel the company to quickly get its act together and start building for the future. The emergence of Google Voice as a stark competitor in the international calling domain should be enough to get the spirit of competition back to Skype. Furthermore, the launch of new smart phones that are capable of running Skype, rather than on PCs, further gives the company a reason to innovate and grab the profits off the wireless online communication domain.

Via ZDNet.

The launch if the Motorola Droid was hardly what Verizon and Motorola would have expected. The immense commercial campaign the hype created Verizon Wireless for the launch Droid wasn’t enough to make the consumers step out in the cold and wait to get their hands on perhaps the most anticipated Google Android handset. Unlike extreme enthusiasm that was seen during the launch of the Apple iPhone 3G last year, when the launch almost became the event of the year, the launch of Verizon Droid saw not more than 100 people standing outside Verizon outlets.

The Motorola Droid hasn’t even been given a chance to prove its worth, as with the launch of Droid, Verizon also announced the launch of HTC Eris, another Google Android based cell phone that out side the Verizon circles is commonly known as HTC Hero. The Verizon Eris though is built on an earlier version of Google Android, yet it sports a classy user interface and costs $99 excluding the data plan that comes with the connection.

The Motorola Droid, that comes with Verizon will cost the consumers $200 including a $100 no mail rebate and the discount is applicable only if the handset is purchased from a Verizon Store. Also, the consumers have no other option than to enroll in a two year contract with Verizon, if they really wish to get their hands on the Droid. The pricing and the contract might be fine with the users, but it is the data plan prices that can make potential customers wonder, whether the Droid is worth all the money they are going to shed or not. The Verizon data plans begins from $30 a month that will include an unlimited data plan capped at 5GB. However, if the users wish to use the Droid as a modem for their PCs, then they would be required to shell an additional $30 and then again the data plan is restricted to 5GB data transfer limit. Furthermore, for those who are looking forward to use the Microsoft Exchange email server, there is an additional charge of $15 making the monthly subscription to $45.

Via Moco News.

Those who want to play instruments but have at home no longer have a space for them can start using video games. The video site YouTube has launched an interactive channel that allows users to “touch” them online, called InstrumenTube.

The idea boils down to a simple series of videos where a single instrument is played so that every note fits perfectly with the red timeline video. After fully charge, click on the timeline, in places of the notes you want to create different sounds or songs.

Although impractical and restricted to only a few notes, the videos are a good hobby and an interesting way to discover the sounds of each instrument. Available to be “touched” are piano, guitar, bass, bass and rattle (which, instead of notes, offering different speeds).

Another way to have fun with the site is to mix the instruments, playing them at the same time. It is a creative possibility to assemble a “band online.

There are no classes to teach aspiring musicians, but who already have some idea will not have great difficulties to “compose”. The site reports that, soon, new tools are available.

Via: Geek.

Surprising common sense and putting it in check survey in 2006, a study by the Pew Internet and American Life Project found that people who use the internet and have a cell phone has a bigger and more diverse social network.

According to the study, the isolation rate of U.S. citizens remains the same in 1985: 6% of Americans feel they do not have with whom to discuss important issues. But the possession of a cell and participation in a variety of activities on the Internet were associated with greater and more extensive range of friends.

This is because the use of these services actually causes people to be more inter-connected and more open to communication. Data from Pew Internet shows that people who share photos online are more likely to discuss politics with people from other parties, and bloggers are 72% more likely to participate in a voluntary association site.

The conclusion is that although people spend more time in front of computer screens, it does not bring harm to their relationships in real life. The results show that social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn and MySpace encourage groups in which there is a greater likelihood of relationship between people with different life experiences, which is an advantage in terms of diversity.

Another finding of the study is that, although many believe the Internet as a means of global communication, people are using their tools, including social networks, email and instant messaging mechanisms to talk to people very close, as friends who live in the same area.

Via: CNET News.

Excessive salt might ruin the taste of your food, but when it comes to solar energy, plenty of salt seems to be very good news- at least for the folk in California. Using a technology that will harness power through the sun and molten-salt, Solar Reserve, a California based solar firm intends to generate power round the clock in a green and clean fashion. The site chosen for this project is Rice, a town in San Bernadino County of California and the planned plant will have a 12-foot pedestal to which a total of 17,500 24 x 28 feet heliostats will be placed surrounding the Solar Power Tower. In a technology that is fast gaining popularity, heat from the sun will be concentrated and used to generate power.

The heat reflected from the vast set of heliostats onto the tower will be used to melt the4.4 million gallons of molten salt on top of the 100 meter tower. This molten salt will drive the attached turbines to generate power and to convert all that solar power into useful electricity. While this is not the first project to use molten salt, SolarReserve claims that their special technique of using synthetic oil along with the salt will make their plant 3-times more efficient than others before it.

So when can we see the plan at Rice operational? If all goes well the California can expect a salty tinge added to their electricity by 2013!

Goodcleantech

Another shining beacon for green architecture and energy conservation, the Cité du Design in Saint-Etienne has just opened its green gates for the world to step into and the view of this grand façade is truly mesmerizing for environmentalists and commoners alike. Designed by LIN, the energy efficient Cité du Design is powered by a vast solar roof that drives the energy needs inside and is supplemented by a heat exchange and recovery system to reduce energy used for heating. The €41.5 million latest eco-friendly design consists of a latticed 3D external wall that is composed up of 14,000 equilateral triangles. These triangular blocks act both as heat and light regulators along with some of them converting the solar power into electricity.

To further reduce its energy needs the Cité du Design pre-conditioned air from the internal gardens is circulated throughout to ensure that the heating needs of the building are kept to a minimum. Integrating old with the new and the traditional with the energy-efficient, the latest symmetric solar marvel of Saint-Etienne is alluring both for lovers of design and energy conservation.

Merging visual delight with green needs, the complex of auditoriums, meeting rooms, exhibition space, media library, and indoor gardens with an observation tower, Cité du Design is another shining jewel in the eco-architecture crown.

Arplus/ Notcot

If you are looking for an exclusive and elite Swiss watch brand in the US market and your budget is around $ 350,000, then it is quite obvious that the economic meltdown has not hit you quite as hard as in most other cases. The added good news is that now you have a grand new watch to sport as the Swiss made luxury icon in the world of luxury wrist gear, Cephee all set to make its US debut with the Ether. Mind you, this is not just any other luxury watch that is just about the hype and the bling! Introduced by noted Swiss watchmaker Christophe Golay, the $ 350,000 beauty is an amalgamation of mechanical perfection and graceful precision.

Studded with over 150 baguette diamonds, sapphire cradle and endowed with a gorgeous handmade supple leather strap with hand-crafted diamond buckle, the masterpiece is scratch-proof and sports an anti-reflection surface. One look at this superb work of art and you are sure to be floored by its regal appeal, trendy design and the sheer overwhelming charm that it exudes. Timeless and enchanting, this is one early holiday season gift that none would hate to receive- surely not us!

prnewswire

Since the arrest the Mexican authorities have been running DNA tests on the recovered babies and in one case, a baby girl named Diana Fernanda Castillo has finally been reunited with the woman who gave birth to her or in scientific terms, her biological mother, Vanesa Edith Castillo Guzmán. The reunion of the two was based on the DNA tests conducted that established their relationship.

The accused Dr. Victor Manuel Mancera Gonzalez, Dr. Jorge Adalberto Guerrero Bustos, Dr. Alfredo Ortiz Rosas, Nurse Maria Guadalupe Castro Morales and receptionist Leonel Rodriguez Mondragon have all been arrested and are currently in custody with the married couple of Antonio Merino Hernandez and Maria de la Luz Ruiz Padilla.

Vanesa Edith Castillo Guzmán gave birth to a healthy baby girl and at the time of the birth, though she couldn’t see her, yet she could hear the baby crying. Later, Dr. Alfredo Ortiz Rosas told Vanesa that, her child was ill and had to be taken to the infants’ hospital and the next day Dr. Rosas told the mother that the baby had died and had been cremated as well. However, after arriving home, Vanesa received an e-mail from the son of of the hospital’s owner, who blew the whistle on the infant trade scam that was being carried out from the clinic. The email also stated, that her baby girl had been sold to a married couple residing in the San Vicente municipality in Mexico state. This tip off led to the arrest of the marries couple and then to the horrible medical staff.

Via CNN.