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In Google's words, its recently unveiled "Android" is the "first truly open and comprehensive platform for mobile devices." But it is a signal of much more. Google is as much an ideology as a firm and can resemble a nation-state in its pursuit of power rather than a mere corporation chasing quarterly numbers. Google and its allies are now trying to make the principles of openness—the commanding ideology of the Internet—the conquering principle of the wireless world, and the Android announcement is just the first step. Android is, in form, another of Google's giveaway strategies, a Linux-based operating system for mobile phones that comes with a free set of tools that should make it easy for any programmer to write applications for a mobile phone. It's clear that any Android-based Gphone will be far more "open" than any cell phone the world has yet seen.
The Top 10 Restaurants in Asia
Looking back on much of Asia's leap from the post-colonial frying pan into the full fire of globalization, I turn to certain tastes as my signposts. Take India. When I backpacked along the hippie trail there three decades ago, the country's largest cities only had a handful of eateries -- outside major hotels -- that could match the tidy ambience of a corner curry shop in London or New York. In the early 1990s, the Moscow Restaurant with its blinis and chicken Kiev, reflective of lingering socialist links, was Beijing's fanciest European venue. And until a few years ago, major Asian cities like Seoul, Jakarta, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur, were mostly one-dimensional showcases for local cuisine. While laudable, it was uninfluenced by foreign tastes and unimproved for generations. .
Nelson's gas severance tax: details
He said he felt the measure had the strong support of Beebe, who he believes would veto any major change to the 7 percent rate.) Nelson said he and his committee, the Committee for a Fair Severence Tax, plan to start collecting signatures during the May 20 primary elections. The committee will have over seventy-five members -- at least one from each county. It will be going for 70,000 signatures in order to meet the threshold of 62,000 needed to put the initiative on the ballot. Nelson said he expected the campaign for the initiative to cost about $1 million, which he will obtain through personal fund-raising efforts. Nelson expressed confidence that Arkansans would vote in favor of the measure. He also downplayed fears that a tax increase would cause gas companies to take their business out of state.
Environmental expert Harry Hollis
He has been active in environmental issues for more than 30 years. Please send your questions through the link at the top of this page. Harry, are you ready to get started? HARRY HOLLIS: Yes, I guess so. QUESTION: I know trees take in CO2 and produce oxygen. However, I have heard they are carbon neutral because they give the carbon back to the atmosphere when they die and decay. So planting trees will not help the greenhouse gas problem. Is this correct? William E Combs, Bloomfield HARRY HOLLIS: That's a difficult question to answer. I'm not sure that I can give you a very good answer, but trees do take CO2 out of the atmostphere. A mature tree, of course, takes more than will a smaller tree. What is necessary, in my opinion, is to plant more trees than we have now. At one time, the state of Indiana was 95% covered with forest, and now, it's 5% perhaps.
Three-way Onalaska mayoral primary Tuesday
ONALASKA, Wis. All three mayoral candidates in the Feb. 19 primary have extensive experience in different areas of city government.Mike Giese knows Onalaska as a newspaperman and a six-year member of the city council.
Calvin King knows Onalaska as a 14-year city employee and building inspector during a time of strong growth.And Bob Muth knows Onalaska from 30 years on its police force and less than a year on the city council.They're vying to replace Mayor Jim Bialecki, who's retiring in April after eight years leading this city of 16,425. The top two vote-getters will face off April 1 for the $50,000-a-year job as the city's chief executive.Giese said he strongly believes in good government, which he defines as one that "serves its citizens well at a high level and at a low tax rate."A self-described fiscal hawk, Giese said it's important that city development contribute to the economic well-being of its residents, neighboring municipalities and county.Muth wants to bring his sense of humor, knowledge of the law and experience of listening to all sides of a situation before making decisions to the mayor's office.
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