Twitter Hacked | Iranian Cyber Army Behind This Action?

"We definitely heard some news after the elections that the Iranian government had started a group called Cyber Army to help with Collecting names of protesters and Taking down opposition websites. Numerous opposition websites have been taken down since the elections, including the most recent mowjcamp.com which is Mousavi’s main communication to the opposition"

Popular microblogging site Twitter was briefly shut down overnight, its home page replaced with an image claiming the site had been hacked by the "Iranian Cyber Army."

The website's official blog acknowledged the disruption but gave no details as to how the site had been disrupted and who was responsible.

The message read:

Iranian Cyber Army

THIS SITE HAS BEEN HACKED BY IRANIAN CYBER ARMY

iRANiAN.CYBER.ARMY@GMAIL.COM

U.S.A. Think They Controlling And Managing Internet By Their Access, But THey Don’t, We Control And Manage Internet By Our Power, So Do Not Try To Stimulation Iranian Peoples To….

NOW WHICH COUNTRY IN EMBARGO LIST? IRAN? USA?

WE PUSH THEM IN EMBARGO LIST ;)

Take Care.

SkyGrabber | Used to Intercepts Data from U.S Predator Drones

"SkyGrabber is a offline satellite internet downloader. Skygrabber intercepts satellite data including movie, music, pictures etc that downloaded by other users and saves information in your hard disk. Skygrabber is really making news today around the world as the news broke that it was used by military operations for spying etc."

After all the reports of U.S. Armed forces scoring an upper hand over the militant forces of Iraq may not be as glorious as they seem. Latest intelligence probe has revealed that hard core Iraqi militant groups secretly used a powerful software named SkyGrabber to capture video feeds live from the U.S. Predator drones. This provided them with required information for evading the assault of U.S. military operations. SkyGrabber, the software allegedly used by the militants can be bought online for $26 approximately. The insurgents succeeded in breaching the security implemented in the software system in the planes that were operated remotely.

However, the U.S. officials say there exist no proof that those militants succeeded in interfering with security plans and control of the drones. It is obvious that the insurgents got basic idea about the forthcoming missions of the army. They also came to learn about the areas surveyed by the U.S. air force. Whatever the consequences may be, this incident points out the loopholes in the security measures in USA’s remotely operated drones.

The matter came into the notice of the U.S. military intelligence when some laptops captured from the militants revealed video streams leaked from the drones. After the startling discovery, U.S. military officials and security experts are working hard to encrypt the video feed of the drones. However, it will take some time before they can understand whether the encryption has thwarted the attempts of the militants. The Obama administration may do a rethink about employing more unmanned air troops into foreign countries.

tags: skygrabber review, sky grabber, gorgon stare, mc 12w, mc 12w aircraft

Dean | Health Care Bill, You Will be Forced To Buy Insurance

"You will be forced to buy insurance. If you don't, you'll pay a fine," said Dean, a physician. "It's an insurance company bailout." Interviewed on ABC's "Good Morning America," he said the bill has some good provisions, "but there has to be a line beyond which you think the bill is bad for the country."Former Democratic Party Chairman Howard Dean argued Wednesday that the health care overhaul bill taking shape in the Senate further empowers private insurers at the expense of consumer choice — a claim the White House rejected.

These days, the status and the support for the Senate health care bill seems to change by the hour. Over the weekend, Senator Joseph Lieberman said he couldn’t support the bill in its current form because of the expansion of Medicare through the buy-in compromise and the public option. And this week, amid much pressure and media attention, he’s sticking to his guns.

With other moderate Democrats vacillating on their votes as poll numbers continue to slip for support of this bill to all-time lows, can Harry Reid and Senate Democrats get this done by the arbitrary timeline of Christmas?

It’s likely something will get done, but questions about who, what, when and how still remain. Right now Senate Democrats are struggling to find the 60 votes they need to block a filibuster from Republicans who say the Democrat's proposed health care plan is too expensive and too bureaucratic--ironically, the main reasons Democrats argued we needed this plan in the first place.

What's the rush?

Senate Majority Leader Reid and his counterparts need to pass this bill because the longer they wait, the more likely its chances of dying on the vine become plausible. Plus, the American people want to see Washington focused on jobs -- not health care. The longer they spend talking about this (and it's been a while), the more disillusioned Democrats will look, and the more frustrated the voters will get (here’s the kicker) in an ELECTION year.

Moderates like Ben Nelson, Mary Landrieu, Blanche Lincoln and Lieberman might not be Reid's only problem. In a shocking twist, liberals are hearing the pragmatic opposition make threats and some are now suddenly starting to sing off the same sheet music as Republicans in a push to scrap the entire thing. It’s looking like some liberal Democrats might defect if the bill becomes watered down and stripped of its most questionable portions.

According to Greg Sargent of The Plum Line Blog, Howard Dean, de-facto leader of the progressive movement, in an interview "said the removal of the Medicare buy-in made the bill not worth supporting, and urged Dem leaders to start over with the process of reconciliation in the interview."

For the first time, I actually agree with Dean!

In the words of Dean, himself: “Yeeeeooooow!”

If liberals like Howard Dean and Obama-replacement Illinois Senator Roland Burris are poised to bail on a bill without a public option, how can Reid herd these cats?

To their credit, Republicans are fighting back, and hard. They are smartly messaging this as Democrats wanting to do this for themselves and Obama for his own lasting legacy.

On "60 Minutes" this past Sunday, Obama noted that though many have tried to pass health reform in his party, they’ve all failed, but that he would be the one to get it done.

Republican Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell spelled it out perfectly on Tuesday:

“The supporters of this bill seem to think this is about them, about their legacies. This isn’t about them. This is about the American people. This is not about making history. This about doing the right thing for ever single American’s health care. And Americans have a message: Higher premiums, higher taxes, and higher health care costs are not what they signed up for. This is not what they were promised. This is not reform. Yes: Doing nothing is not an option. But making current problems worse is worse.”

Stay tuned. The standoff on health care reform is taking place right before our eyes. More and more, it’s looking like the gift that the left wants to give the American people for Christmas – the one that most of us don’t want – won’t end up under the tree. Sounds like a Merry Christmas to me.

Obama | we are on the precipice

"Obama inherited his own Democrat Congress economic failures. 100% of our economic problems belong to the Democrats, with their 3 years of Democrat Congress and 1 year of POTUS. The recession began in 2008, over a year AFTER after Democrats took control of Congress. Congress allocates, budgets, and spends money and deficits, passes laws, oversees financial systems, not the POTUS.
The Republican Congress had 4 budget surplus years, and left in 2006, with the DOW at record high, unemployment at record low (4%), deficits moderate and trending down, and after 52 straight months of economic growth".

President Obama, surrounded by Senate Democratic leaders, said today "we are on the precipice" of major health care changes, though "there are still some differences that have to be worked on."

Those differences over items such as abortion coverage and publicly funded insurance plans should not prevent the Senate from passing a package Americans need, Obama said after meeting with the 60-member Senate Democratic caucus.

"They are waiting for us to act," Obama said. "They are counting on us to show leadership. ... There's too much at stake for families who can't pay their medical bills or see a doctor when they need to or get the treatment they need."

Senate Democrats are struggling to find the 60 votes they need to block a filibuster from Republicans who say the Democratic health care plan is too expensive and too bureaucratic.

Independent Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut said before heading to the White House that Democrats have taken "significant steps" toward getting the 60 votes needed for passage of health care. Our On Politics blog discusses these issues here.

As Obama and Senate Democrats met at the White House complex, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he doesn't know what kinds of deals "may be struck behind closed doors."

"What we know for sure is that this bill includes a half-trillion dollars in Medicare cuts, $400 billion in new taxes and higher insurance premiums for everyone else," McConnell said.

Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said after the meeting that one contentious proposal -- an expansion of Medicare coverage to non-seniors -- is probably out of the bill. Lieberman and other Democrats had objected to the Medicare buy-in, as well as a publicly funded health insurance option, saying they would lead to a government-run program.

Durbin and other liberal Democrats are upset over the lack of a public option but want to make sure other health care changes are passed.

"We're still working with a few senators who have not made a commitment," Durbin said.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., has said he may block a Senate Democratic health care bill if it does not include enough restrictions on abortion.

In his brief remarks, Obama said there is general agreement on provisions to prevent insurance companies from dropping people because of pre-existing conditions or illness, and for reducing health care expenses. Obama said a pending bill would not increase the federal budget deficit.

"Now, let's be clear," Obama said. "The final bill won't include everything that everybody wants. No bill can do that. But what I told my former colleagues today is that we simply cannot allow differences over individual elements of this plan to prevent us from meeting our responsibility to solve a long-standing and urgent problem for the American people."

Here is the president's full statement:
" We just had a very productive session about the final stages of health care reform in the Senate. And from the discussions we had, it's clear that we are on the precipice of an achievement that's eluded Congresses and presidents for generations, a achievement that will touch the lives of nearly every American.


There are still some differences that have to be worked on. This was not a rollcall. This was a broad-based discussion about how we move forward.


But whatever differences remain, there is broad consensus around reforms that will finally, number one, protect every American from the worst practices in the health insurance industry. No longer will these companies be able to deny you coverage if you have a preexisting illness or condition. No longer will they be able to drop you from coverage when you get sick. No longer will you have to pay unlimited amounts out of your own pocket for the treatments that you need.


We are all in agreement on those reforms.


We agree on reforms that will finally reduce the costs of health care. Families will save on their premiums. Businesses that will see their costs rise if we do nothing will save money now and in the future.


This plan will strengthen Medicare and extend the life of that program. And because it gets rid of the waste and inefficiencies in our health care system, this will be the largest deficit reduction plan in over a decade.


And I just want to repeat this because there's so much misinformation about the cost issue here. You talk to every health care economist out there, and they will tell you that whatever ideas are -- whatever ideas exist in terms of bending the cost curve and starting to reduce costs for families, businesses and government, those elements are in this bill.


And in terms of deficits, because we keep on hearing these ads about how this is going to add to the deficit, the CBO has said that this is a deficit reduction -- not a deficit increase.


So all the scare tactics out there, all the ads that are out there, are simply inaccurate. Some of the same people who cited the CBO when it was saying it didn't reduce the deficit, saying CBO's the most credible possible arbiter of whether or not this adds to our deficit, now suddenly are ignoring what the CBO says.


Finally, we agree on reforms that will make coverage affordable for 30 million Americans who don't have it. Every day that goes by, another 14,000 Americans lose their health care coverage.


A recent study shows that in the next decade, half of all Americans under the age of 65 will be without coverage at some point.


On the other hand, if this reform passes, when it passes, for the very first time in their lives, these Americans will be able to provide health insurance for their families.


And those Americans who are already covered will no longer have to live in fear that their family might fall through the cracks of the system we have now.


These aren't small changes. These are big changes. They represent the most significant reform of our health care system since the passage of Medicare. They will save money. They will save families money. They will save businesses money, and they will save government money. And they're going to save lives.


That's why this reform is supported by groups like the AARP, who represents most of America's seniors. That's why this reform has to pass on our watch.


Now, let's be clear. The final bill won't include everything that everybody wants. No bill can do that. But what I told my former colleagues today is that we simply cannot allow differences over individual elements of this plan to prevent us from meeting our responsibility to solve a longstanding and urgent problem for the American people.


They are waiting for us to act. They are counting on us to show leadership. And I don't intend to let them down and neither do the people standing next to me. There's too much at stake for families who can't pay their medical bills or see a doctor when they need to, or get the treatment they need. The stakes are enormous for them.


The stakes are enormous for businesses, who are already seeing their premiums go up 15, 20, 30 percent. You know, a lot of the critics of this entire process fail to note what happens if nothing get done, and the American people have to be very clear about this. If we don't get this done, your premiums are guaranteed to go up. If this does not get done, more employers are going to drop coverage because they can't afford it. If this does not get done, it is guaranteed that Medicare and Medicaid will blow a hole through our budget.


Those things are guaranteed. That's the status quo. That is the trajectory that we are currently on.


I don't intend to have that happen. And I believe that the Senate doesn't intend to have that happen. And I think any fair reading of this bill will indicate that all the criteria that I laid out when I met before a joint session have now been met.


It is deficit-neutral. It bends the cost curve. It covers 30 million Americans who don't have health insurance, and it has extraordinary insurance reforms in there that make sure that we're preventing abuse.


By the way, it also does things that Tom Harkin has been a champion of for years, prevention and wellness, to make sure that people are getting the care they need and the check-ups they need and the screenings they need before they get sick, which will save all of us money and reduce pressures on emergency rooms all across the country.


So there are still disagreements that have to be ironed out. There is still work to be done in the next few days. I think it's important for every single member of the Senate to take a careful look at what's in the bill.


We welcome the scrutiny from the press. You know, recently, there was an article in The New Yorker that talked about all the cost savings and how important they are going to be in terms of bending the cost curve over the long term.


I am absolutely confident that, if the American people know what's in this bill and if the Senate knows what's in this bill, that this is going to pass. Because it's right for America, and I'm feeling cautiously optimistic that we can get this done and start rolling up our sleeves and getting to work improving the lives of the American people.


All right? Thank you, everybody".

Market Review | Summers: Job Growth By Spring

"Until there are rules governing Wall Street the economy will not improve for the average worker. They short sell stocks illegally every day, they have their special computer programs to manipulate huge stock trades to enrich themselves and they have way to much influence with congress. They are the reason jobs were sent overseas and wages were brought down to poverty levels. Rein them in"

The President’s top economic advisor, Larry Summers, told me that “by spring employment growth will start turning positive.”

During my "This Week" interview, Summers said that “everybody agrees that the recession is over,” but he did not say when the unemployment rate could be expected to drop further.

The unemployment rate dipped last month to 10 percent from a peak of 10.2 percent. Many private economists, like Moody’s Mark Zandi, predict unemployment will climb through the third quarter of next year to 10.6 percent.

Politics | Secret document exposes Iran’s nuclear trigger

"Over the weekend Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian Foreign Minister, said that Iran needed up to 15 nuclear power plants to meet its energy needs, despite the country’s huge oil and gas reserves. President Ahmadinejad then claimed that he wanted to build ten such sites. In September, Iran was forced to admit that it was constructing a secret uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom".

Confidential intelligence documents obtained by The Times show that Iran is working on testing a key final component of a nuclear bomb.

The notes, from Iran’s most sensitive military nuclear project, describe a four-year plan to test a neutron initiator, the component of a nuclear bomb that triggers an explosion. Foreign intelligence agencies date them to early 2007, four years after Iran was thought to have suspended its weapons programme.

An Asian intelligence source last week confirmed to The Times that his country also believed that weapons work was being carried out as recently as 2007 — specifically, work on a neutron initiator.

The technical document describes the use of a neutron source, uranium deuteride, which independent experts confirm has no possible civilian or military use other than in a nuclear weapon. Uranium deuteride is the material used in Pakistan’s bomb, from where Iran obtained its blueprint

“Although Iran might claim that this work is for civil purposes, there is no civil application,” said David Albright, a physicist and president of the Institute for Science and International Security in Washington, which has analysed hundreds of pages of documents related to the Iranian programme. “This is a very strong indicator of weapons work.”

The documents have been seen by intelligence agencies from several Western countries, including Britain. A senior source at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that they had been passed to the UN’s nuclear watchdog.

A Foreign and Commonwealth Office spokeswoman said yesterday: “We do not comment on intelligence, but our concerns about Iran’s nuclear programme are clear. Obviously this document, if authentic, raises serious questions about Iran’s intentions.”

Responding to The Times’ findings, an Israeli government spokesperson said: “Israel is increasingly concerned about the state of the Iranian nuclear programme and the real intentions that may lie behind it.”

The revelation coincides with growing international concern about Iran’s nuclear programme. Tehran insists that it wants to build a civilian nuclear industry to generate power, but critics suspect that the regime is intent on diverting the technology to build an atomic bomb.

In September, Iran was forced to admit that it was constructing a secret uranium enrichment facility near the city of Qom. President Ahmadinejad then claimed that he wanted to build ten such sites. Over the weekend Manouchehr Mottaki, the Iranian Foreign Minister, said that Iran needed up to 15 nuclear power plants to meet its energy needs, despite the country’s huge oil and gas reserves.

Publication of the nuclear documents will increase pressure for tougher UN sanctions against Iran, which are due to be discussed this week. But the latest leaks in a long series of allegations against Iran will also be seized on by hawks in Israel and the US, who support a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities before the country can build its first warhead.

Mark Fitzpatrick, senior fellow for non-proliferation at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in London, said: “The most shattering conclusion is that, if this was an effort that began in 2007, it could be a casus belli. If Iran is working on weapons, it means there is no diplomatic solution.”

The Times had the documents, which were originally written in Farsi, translated into English and had the translation separately verified by two Farsi speakers. While much of the language is technical, it is clear that the Iranians are intent on concealing their nuclear military work behind legitimate civilian research.

The fallout could be explosive, especially in Washington, where it is likely to invite questions about President Obama’s groundbreaking outreach to Iran. The papers provide the first evidence which suggests that Iran has pursued weapons studies after 2003 and may actively be doing so today — if the four-year plan continued as envisaged.

A 2007 US National Intelligence Estimate concluded that weapons work was suspended in 2003 and officials said with “moderate confidence” that it had not resumed by mid-2007. Britain, Germany and France, however, believe that weapons work had already resumed by then.

Western intelligence sources say that by 2003 Iran had already assembled the technical know-how it needed to build a bomb, but had yet to complete the necessary testing to be sure such a device would work. Iran also lacked sufficient fissile material to fuel a bomb and still does — although it is technically capable of producing weapons-grade uranium should its leaders take the political decision to do so.

The documents detail a plan for tests to determine whether the device works — without detonating an explosion leaving traces of uranium detectable by the outside world. If such traces were found, they would be taken as irreversible evidence of Iran’s intention to become a nuclear-armed power.

Experts say that, if the 2007 date is correct, the documents are the strongest indicator yet of a continuing nuclear weapons programme in Iran. Iran has long denied a military dimension to its nuclear programme, claiming its nuclear activities are solely focused on the production of energy for civilian use.

Mr Fitzpatrick said: “Is this the smoking gun? That’s the question people should be asking. It looks like the smoking gun. This is smoking uranium.”

Health | |Lieberman Rules Out Voting for Health Bill

"Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, according to Senate Democratic aides. Reid could not immediately figure out how to achieve that goal at a meeting he held Sunday with senior Democratic senators and White House officials, including Mr. Mr.

Democrats are desperately trying to round up 60 votes and conclude Senate debate on the health care bill before Christmas."

WASHINGTON — In a surprise setback for Democratic leaders, Senator Joseph I. Lieberman, independent of Connecticut, said on Sunday that he would vote against the health care legislation in its current form.

The bill’s supporters had said earlier that they thought they had secured Mr. Lieberman’s agreement to go along with a compromise they worked out to overcome an impasse within the Democratic Party.

But on Sunday, Mr. Lieberman told the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid, to scrap the idea of expanding Medicare and abandon any new government insurance plan or lose his vote.

On a separate issue, Mr. Reid tried over the weekend to concoct a compromise on abortion that would induce Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, to vote for the bill. Mr. Nelson opposes abortion. Any provision that satisfies him risks alienating supporters of abortion rights.

In interviews on the CBS News program “Face the Nation,” Mr. Lieberman and Mr. Nelson said the bill did not have the 60 votes it would need in the Senate.

Senate Democratic leaders, including Mr. Reid and Senator Charles E. Schumer of New York, said they had been mindful of Mr. Lieberman’s concerns in the last 10 days and were surprised when he assailed major provisions of the bill on television Sunday. He reiterated his objections in a private meeting with Mr. Reid.

A Senate Democratic aide, perplexed by Mr. Lieberman’s stance, said, “It was a total flip-flop, and leaves us in a predicament as to what to do.”

Democrats are desperately trying to round up 60 votes and conclude Senate debate on the health care bill before Christmas.

Mr. Reid could not immediately figure out how to achieve that goal at a meeting he held Sunday with senior Democratic senators and White House officials, including Mr. Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, according to Senate Democratic aides.

Marshall H. Wittmann, a spokesman for Mr. Lieberman, said the Connecticut senator “notified Senator Reid on Friday that he had severe misgivings about the Medicare buy-in proposal, so his comments on ‘Face the Nation’ should not have come as a surprise to the leadership.”

The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, said that passage of the bill was looking less and less inevitable. The Democrats “are in serious trouble on this,” he said, “and the core problem is the American people do not want us to pass it.”

On television Sunday, Mr. Lieberman said: “We’ve got to stop adding to the bill. We’ve got to start subtracting some controversial things. I think the only way to get this done before Christmas is to bring in some Republicans who are open-minded on this, like Olympia Snowe.”

Senator Snowe, of Maine, has tried to find common ground with Democrats, but has rejected Mr. Reid’s proposal to let uninsured people 55 to 64 years old purchase coverage under Medicare.

“You’ve got to take out the Medicare buy-in,” Mr. Lieberman said. “You’ve got to forget about the public option. You probably have to take out the Class Act, which was a whole new entitlement program that will, in future years, put us further into deficit.”

Class Act refers to a federal insurance program for long-term care, known as the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports Act.

Mr. Lieberman said he would have “a hard time” voting for a bill with the Medicare buy-in.

“It has some of the same infirmities that the public option did,” he said. “It will add taxpayer costs. It will add to the deficit. It’s unnecessary. The basic bill, which has a lot of good things in it, provides a generous new system of subsidies for people between ages 55 and 65, and choice and competition.”

Mr. Nelson said he wanted to know the cost of the Medicare buy-in. “I am concerned that it’s the forerunner of single payer, the ultimate single-payer plan, maybe even more directly than the public option,” he said.

Mr. Lieberman said: “The bill itself does a lot to bring 30 million people into the system. We don’t need to keep adding onto the back of this horse, or we’re going to break the horse’s back and get nothing done.”

Even if Senate Democratic leaders were prepared to meet Mr. Lieberman’s demands, they would still need to resolve intraparty disputes over insurance coverage for abortion.

Aides to Mr. Reid met Saturday with advocates of abortion rights to explore ideas for a compromise.

Details were sketchy. Under one idea, some health plans receiving federal subsidies could offer optional coverage for abortion, but they could not use federal money to pay for the procedure. They would have to use money taken from premiums paid by subscribers and would have to keep it separate from federal money.

Critics of abortion say such requirements for the segregation of funds are an accounting gimmick.

In hopes of placating opponents of abortion, Mr. Reid is also considering an increase in the federal tax credit for adoption of children and a new program to provide services to pregnant high school and college students.

Both ideas were proposed by Senator Bob Casey, Democrat of Pennsylvania, who opposes abortion but generally supports the overall bill.

“Many teens and women who face an unplanned pregnancy do so with little or no support,” Mr. Casey said.

Heart attack on live Danish TV | Henrik Svensmark was hit by a heart attack

He was immediately rushed to the hospital, and according to the latest reports his condition is steady now   On live TV during the COP15 Climate 09 debate on DR1, Henrik Svensmark was hit by a heart attack and his pacemaker kicked in

Taiwan checking report of Iran nuke

His comments Friday followed a report in the London Daily Telegraph that unidentified Taiwanese companies supplied Iran's Ministry of Defense with 100 pressure transducers, which can be used to produce weapons-grade nuclear material. An official in the Bureau of Foreign Trade said the investigation would also examine whether there are loopholes in Taiwanese trade regulatory procedures. Taiwan's government is investigating a report that local companies helped supply equipment to Iran that can be used to produce weapons-grade nuclear material.

The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements to the media.

The Daily Telegraph report, which cited unspecified Western intelligence sources, said Iranian officials have held meetings with Taiwan-based companies to buy hundreds of pressure transducers, and that 100 had already been shipped to Iran.

It said the transducers were manufactured in Europe, acquired by the Taiwanese companies, and then sent to Iran in an effort to foil a growing international effort to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Pressure transducers convert pressure into analog electrical signals. They have many commercial uses, but also are a vital component in the production of weapons-grade uranium because of the need for precise measurements.

Iran is banned from buying them on the open market by the Nuclear Suppliers Group, an international body established to limit nuclear proliferation by controlling the export of materials that can be used in building atomic weapons.

The U.S. and its allies accuse Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons secretly under the guise of a civilian atomic energy program, but Tehran insists its efforts are aimed only at generating electricity.

The Bureau of Foreign Trade official did not say why the investigation into the Daily Telegraph report had been launched. However, a Taipei-based foreign diplomat said it had been ordered by National Security Council chief Su Chi.

The diplomat spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

Presidential Office spokesman Wang Yu-chi declined to comment on the matter, saying it was not being handled by his office. Su Chi works directly for President Ma Ying-jeou.

Despite shifting its diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979, the United States remains Taiwan's most important foreign partner, supplying the island with the vast majority of its imported weapons systems.

Confirmation that Taiwanese companies sold nuclear-weapons-related equipment to Iran would almost certainly provoke a strongly negative American reaction, and could undermine long-standing trust between the sides.

A spokesman for the American Institute in Taiwan — the de facto U.S. embassy on the island — declined to say whether American diplomats had approached their Taiwanese counterparts to discuss the report.

Earlier this year, a Canadian citizen of Iranian descent was arrested on charges he tried to procure and export pressure transducers to his native country.

Get Car Insurance Online Today

Getting a car insurance quote in just a necessity of life. It is so fast and convenient to search several car insurance quote online saves you a lot of time and get a car insurance companies all at the same information over and over again. You can find the company that has the best rate while comparing the exact same policy coverage with each carrier. That is just a couple of minutes. If you plan to drive a car, you have to have car insurance.

Before you get insurance with any company, you need to check them out with the Better Business Bureau. You will want to find out if they have any outstanding complaints against them and if they actually pay their claims. Friends may also be a good tool to help you find an insurance company as well. They will be able to tell you what Customer Service is like both everyday and when you have a claim pending. If you are asking what your friend pays for insurance, make sure you compare the policy coverage's as well. They may pay less than you, but maybe they have substantially less coverage to go along with that price. As the old adage goes, "You get what you pay for!"

Car insurance is not just to protect you from having to pay for damages that your car receives in an accident, but also to protect other drivers on the road, and to protect you from financial bankruptcy in the event that there is a major accident. If you are in a major accident and it is your fault, damages could exceed $100,00 with medical bills and other expenses. If you did not have insurance, you would be sued to pay for those expenses. You definitely need auto coverage and a policy that will protect you in the long run.

Feds Employee Gets 6 Figures Salary

Surprisingly, the number of federal employees has increased to 6-figure salary during a recession increases, the number of them exploded dramatically. This is as expressed by a USA TODAY analysis of federal salary data.

These federal employees' salaries jump to $ 100,000 or has jumped 14% to 19% more than the salary of civil servants. This increase is actually happening during the 18 months of recession. Salary is not including bonuses and overtime. Very big.

The federal workers are enjoying tremendous profits in the recession that complicate the private sector.

The highest-paid federal employees are doing best of all on salary increases. Defense Department civilian employees earning $150,000 or more increased from 1,868 in December 2007 to 10,100 in June 2009, the most recent figure available.

When the recession started, the Transportation Department had only one person earning a salary of $170,000 or more. Eighteen months later, 1,690 employees had salaries above $170,000.

The trend to six-figure salaries is occurring throughout the federal government, in agencies big and small, high-tech and low-tech. The primary cause: substantial pay raises and new salary rules.

"There's no way to justify this to the American people. It's ridiculous," says Rep. Jason Chaffetz, R-Utah, a first-term lawmaker who is on the House's federal workforce subcommittee.

Jessica Klement, government affairs director for the Federal Managers Association, says the federal workforce is highly paid because the government employs skilled people such as scientists, physicians and lawyers. She says federal employees make 26% less than private workers for comparable jobs.

USA TODAY analyzed the Office of Personnel Management's database that tracks salaries of more than 2 million federal workers. Excluded from OPM's data: the White House, Congress, the Postal Service, intelligence agencies and uniformed military personnel.

The growth in six-figure salaries has pushed the average federal worker's pay to $71,206, compared with $40,331 in the private sector.

Key reasons for the boom in six-figure salaries:

•Pay hikes. Then-president Bush recommended — and Congress approved — across-the-board raises of 3% in January 2008 and 3.9% in January 2009. President Obama has recommended 2% pay raises in January 2010, the smallest since 1975. Most federal workers also get longevity pay hikes — called steps — that average 1.5% per year.

•New pay system. Congress created a new National Security Personnel System for the Defense Department to reward merit, in addition to the across-the-board increases. The merit raises, which started in January 2008, were larger than expected and rewarded high-ranking employees. In October, Congress voted to end the new pay scale by 2012.

•Pay caps eased. Many top civil servants are prohibited from making more than an agency's leader. But if Congress lifts the boss' salary, others get raises, too. When the Federal Aviation Administration chief's salary rose, nearly 1,700 employees' had their salaries lifted above $170,000, too

Movie Review | Avatar

"In the cartoon series that aired on television, Avatar is a man who has the ability to fight and control the human than usual. He can control the 4 elements, water, air, fire and earth. His job is to keep the peace 4 kingdom representing 4 elements . 4 elements of balance is needed to avoid chaos. The balance is threatened when the king of the kingdom of fire began to conquer other 3 kingdoms  and attacked them. Avatar task is to restore peace and punish the king of fire for his actions"

A dozen years later, James Cameron has proven his point: He is king of the world.

As commander-in-chief of an army of visual-effects technicians, creature designers, motion-capture mavens, stunt performers, dancers, actors and music and sound magicians, he brings science-fiction movies into the 21st century with the jaw-dropping wonder that is "Avatar." And he did it almost from scratch.

There is no underlying novel or myth to generate his story. He certainly draws deeply on Westerns, going back to "The Vanishing American" and, in particular, "Dances With Wolves." And the American tragedy in Vietnam informs much of his story. But then all great stories build on the past ( "Avatar" premiered Thursday in London).

After writing this story many years ago, he discovered that the technology he needed to make it happen did not exist. So, he went out and created it in collaboration with the best effects minds in the business. This is motion capture brought to a new high where every detail of the actors' performances gets preserved in the final CG character as they appear on the screen. Yes, those eyes are no longer dead holes but big and expressive, almost dominating the wide and long alien faces.

The movie is 161 minutes and flies by in a rush. Repeat business? You bet. "Titanic"-level business? That level may never be reached again, but Fox will see more than enough grosses worldwide to cover its bet on Cameron.

But let's cut to the chase: A fully believable, flesh-and-blood (albeit not human flesh and blood) romance is the beating heart of "Avatar." Cameron has never made a movie just to show off visual pyrotechnics: Every bit of technology in "Avatar" serves the greater purpose of a deeply felt love story (watch the trailer here).

The story takes place in 2154, three decades after a multinational corporation has established a mining colony on Pandora, a planet light years from Earth. A toxic environment and hostile natives -- one corporate apparatchik calls the locals "blue monkeys" -- forces the conglom to engage with Pandora by proxy. Humans dwell in oxygen-drenched cocoons but move out into mines or to confront the planet's hostile creatures in hugely fortified armor and robotics or -- as avatars.

The protagonist, Jake Sully (Sam Worthington), is a crippled former Marine who takes his late twin brother's place in the avatar program, a sort of bone thrown to the scientific community by the corporation in hopes that the study of Pandora and its population might create a more peaceful planet.

Without any training, Jake suddenly must learn how to link his consciousness to an avatar, a remotely controlled biological body that mixes human DNA with that of the native population, the Na'vi. Since he is incautious and overly curious, he immediately rushes into the fresh air -- to a native -- to throw open Pandora's many boxes.

What a glory Cameron has created for Jake to romp in, all in a crisp 3D realism. It's every fairy tale about flying dragons, magic plants, weirdly hypnotic creepy-crawlies and feral dogs rolled up into a rain forest with a highly advanced spiritual design. It seems -- although the scientists led by Sigourney Weaver's top doc have barely scratched the surface -- a flow of energy ripples through the roots of trees and the spores of the plants, which the Na'vi know how to tap into.

The center of life is a holy tree where tribal memories and the wisdom of their ancestors is theirs for the asking. This is what the humans want to strip mine.

Jake manages to get taken in by one tribe where a powerful, Amazonian named Neytiri (Zoe Saldana) takes him under her wing to teach him how to live in the forest, speak the language and honor the traditions of nature. Yes, they fall in love but Cameron has never been a sentimentalist: He makes it tough on his love birds.

They must overcome obstacles and learn each other's heart. The Na'vi have a saying, "I see you," which goes beyond the visual. It means I see into you and know your heart.

In his months with the Na'vi, Jake experiences their life as the "true world" and that inside his crippled body locked in a coffin-like transponding device, where he can control his avatar, is as the "dream." The switch to the other side is gradual for his body remains with the human colony while his consciousness is sometimes elsewhere.

He provides solid intelligence about the Na'vi defensive capabilities to Col. Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang), the ramrod head of security for the mining consortium and the movie's villain. But as Jake comes to see things through Neytiri's eyes, he hopes to establish enough trust between the humans and the natives to negotiate a peace. But the corporation wants the land the Na'vi occupy for its valuable raw material so the Colonel sees no purpose in this.

The battle for Pandora occupies much of the final third of the film. The planet's animal life -- the creatures of the ground and air -- give battle along with the Na'vi, but they come up against projectiles, bombs and armor that seemingly will be their ruin.

As with everything in "Avatar," Cameron has coolly thought things through. With every visual tool he can muster, he takes viewers through the battle like a master tactician, demonstrating how every turn in the fight, every valiant death or cowardly act, changes its course. The screen is alive with more action and the soundtrack pops with more robust music than any dozen sci-fi shoot-'em-ups you care to mention (watch the "Avatar" video game trailer here).

In years of development and four years of production no detail in the pic is unimportant. Cameron's collaborators excel beginning with the actors. Whether in human shape or as natives, they all bring terrific vitality to their roles.

Mauro Fiore's cinematography is dazzling as it melts all the visual elements into a science-fiction whole. You believe in Pandora. Rick Carter and Robert Stromberg's design brings Cameron's screenplay to life with disarming ease.

James Horner's score never intrudes but subtlety eggs the action on while the editing attributed to Cameron, Stephen Rivkin and John Refoua maintains a breathless pace that exhilarates rather than fatigues. Not a minute is wasted; there is no down time.

The only question is: How will Cameron ever top this?

Opens: Dec. 18 (20th Century Fox)
Production companies: 20th Century Fox in association with Dune Entertainment and Ingenious Film Partners
Cast: Sam Worthington, Zoe Saldana, Sigourney Weaver, Stephen Lang, Michelle Rodriguez, Giovanni Ribisi, Joel David Moore, CCH Pounder, Wes Studi, Laz Alonso
Director/screenwriter: James Cameron
Producers: James Cameron. Jon Landau
Executive producers: Colin Wilson, Laeta Kalogridis
Director of photography: Mauro Fiore
Production designers: Rick Carter, Robert Stromberg
Music: James Horner
Senior visual effects supervisor: Joe Letteri
Costume designers: Mayes C. Rubeo, Deborah L. Scott
Editors: Stephen Rivkin, John Refoua, James Cameron
Rated PG-13, 161 minutes

Woods Take A Break from Professional Golf

One athlete with the highest incomes in this decade and also the most successful golfer of his generation, Tiger Woods, on Friday he said he would take a break from the world of professional golf until the time that has not been determined to focus on his family. Tiger Woods was trying to calm down after a scandal involved an unusual romance with some beautiful woman, 2 of them are porn film artist. The incident caused the rift with his wife's household.

In a statement posted on his Web site late Friday, Mr. Woods, who has won 14 major championships, acknowledged for the first time that he had committed "infidelity," and said he was "deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt" his actions had caused his family. "I want to say again to everyone that I am profoundly sorry and that I ask forgiveness," he wrote. "It may not be possible to repair the damage I've done, but I want to do my best to try."

The golfer, who hasn't been seen in public since the early-morning car accident, asked for understanding from "my fans, the good people at my foundation, business partners, the PGA Tour, and my fellow competitors." He also requested privacy to help create a "safe haven" for his family.

In a statement sent via email Friday, Mr. Woods's agent, Mark Steinberg, said he stood by his friend's decision and reiterated his privacy request. "The entirety of someone's life is more important than just a professional career," he said.

The move comes as a serious blow to the sport of golf, which has relied on Mr. Woods's star power to drive television ratings and sell sponsorships. In 13 and a half seasons as a professional, he has won 71 times on the PGA Tour and collected $93 million of prize money. Since his debut, prize money on the tour has more than tripled, with weekly purses averaging more than $3 million. Along the way, Mr. Woods has captivated the sports world, becoming arguably the world's most recognizable athlete. Television audiences for tournaments can double in size when he is in contention in the final round.

Tim Finchem, the commissioner of the PGA Tour, said the tour supported Mr. Woods's decision. "His priorities are where they need to be, and we will continue to respect and honor his family's request for privacy," he said. Augusta National Golf Club, which hosts the Masters, couldn't be reached for comment. The United States Golf Association, which hosts the U.S. Open, said it planned to release a statement.

Mr. Woods's major sponsors pay him about $90 million annually in sponsorship.

A spokesman for one ofthem, AT&T Corp., said that in light of the recent news, "we support Tiger's decision and our thoughts will be with him and his family. We are presently evaluating our ongoing relationship with him."

Brian Kelly press conference | 5 Point in His Press Conference

Brian Kelly, a former football coach of the University of Cincinnati in his press conference saying that he has officially become the new head coach a football team of Notre Dame Fighting Irish. At the press conference we know of Brian Kelly's contract with the Notre Dame Fighting.

In addition there are also some interesting points of public concern about Brian Kelly in a press conference. Here are 5 points in a press Brian Kelly conference.

One: He's Not Saying Anything About Coaches Yet. Includes keeping anyone from the current staff or taking anyone with him from Cincinnati.

Two:Brian Kelly Never Been To A Game In The Fall There: He does have a good excuse, though, since he is a head football coach for 19 years, has been kind of busy the whole time.

Three: He Didn't Want To Talk About Cincy. "Transition is very difficult, and those situations are extremely emotional." Leaving a job is awkward no matter how it happens, especially when you're dealing with something as touchy as contract negotiations for million dollars.

Four: Brian Kelly Daughter's Name Is Grace.

Five: He Did Guarantee One Win. The spring game, which Kelly gamely promised a victory in for the reporters.

Media Newswire reports on the Brian Kelly press conference, stating he was hired after Charlie Weis was fired. Brian Kelly has coached for 19 seasons and looks forward to being the head coach of the Fighting Irish

Tiger Holly Sampson

Two American porn star who allegedly involved in a romantic relationship with the world number one golfer Tiger Woods. They are Holly Sampson and Joslyn James. The first is Holly Sampson, and was soon followed Joslyn James. Some people say the involvement of two porn stars in the life of Tiger Woods could threaten his career. Many unsolved mysteries. How deeply these women play a role in sex life of the star? Is Tiger Woods a sex maniac?

Around the same time that Holly Sampson was outed as possible mistress, Gatorade announced that they were closing down their Tiger Focus line of beverages. Although Gatorade maintain that the decision was made months ago, the timing of the announcement couldn't come at a worse time for Woods.

A second porn star was quickly added to Tiger Woods' roster. Joslyn James, who is know for "kinky sex" and maintains that she was Tiger's "full time" mistress surfaced. News of the porn star mistresses broke around the same time it was announced that Elin Nordegren Woods moved out of the home she shared with Tiger.

Some reports say that Elin Nordegren Woods purchased a home in her native Sweden. Speculation centers on the possibility that Elin could be leaving Tiger. Other speculation includes claims that Tiger and his entire family are getting ready to flee the US.

Although there is no concrete evidence that Tiger Woods' life was dramatically altered because of Holly Sampson and Joslyn James, the timing of many other reports looks a little suspicious. Have Elin and Tiger's sponsors had enough? Only time will tell.

Tiger Woods Women List Photos | 8 Photos of Tiger Woods women

In this week seems scandals involving number one world golf athletes  Tiger Woods  still become hot trends in google. Tiger Woods involved an unusual romance with many beautiful womans, this is understandable because he was often surrounded by women who wanted to attract attention. He was well known and has a lot of money, which women can avoid it. See the photos below for Tiger Woods women list photos.

 Tiger Woods women List Photos | Mindy

Tiger Woods women list photos | Kalika Moquin

Tiger Woods women list photos | Joslyn

Tiger Woods women list photos | Jamiee

Tiger Woods women list photos | Jamie

Tiger Woods women list photos | Holly

Tiger Woods women list photos | Cori Rist

Tiger Woods women list photos | Rachel

WWMT | Broadcast in West Michigan

CBS television has been working with WWMT to broadcast in the West Michigan area using a digital signal that is broadcast on VHF channel 8. Emit this signal via a transmitter station located near the southeast Gun Lake Wayland. Digital signals are transmitted with the VHF waves have the advantage, among others: the picture was clear, clear sound and very little noise occurs.

This television channel is owned by the Freedom Communication. It has studios in Kalamazoo on West Maple Street. There are some syndicated programs that are on aired on WWMT television station like “Jeopardy!”, “Wheel of Fortune”, “Dr. Phil” and “Oprah”. CW affiliate of the area is also being operated by the TV station on Charter cable channel 7 and a 2nd digital sub-channel.

On air branding of CW-7 is also being got by WWMT from the location of cable channel. WLAJ is the affiliate of Lansing’s ABC and WWMT is the sister television station of this station. This television station has its own master control room, studios and some operations of its own and a sub-channel of CW that are located at the studios of WWMT.

First broadcast of the WWMT television station was on aired as WKZO-TV on June 1, 1950 in Kalamazoo which was also its debut transmission. This station is also recorded as the second oldest TV station of the West Michigan and John Fetzer, broadcasting pioneer was the owner of this station along with WKZO-AM 590. WKZO-AM 590 had been launched by Fetzer in 1931. In addition to the main studios of this television station, two news bureaus have also been operated by the WWMT.

Most Fascinating People of 2009 | 10 Most Fascinating People of 2009 by Barbara Walters

Is Barbara Walters would choose Adam Lambert?
The answer is no, the newswoman chosen  first lady Michelle Obama as the most fascinating people in 2009.
10 most fascinating people 2009 who offered Walters  on ABC special tonight, and they ranged from "American Idol" runner-up Lambert to Glenn Beck to Lady Gaga.

The Barbara Walters interview with Adam Lambert aired tonight on her special, “10 Most Fascinating People of 2009″ and it was…underwhelming.

No new insights to be had in this ultra-short interview, pretty much the same stuff we’ve been hearing all week regarding the AMAs–No, he doesn’t regret anything, yes, he’s surprised it became such a big deal.

The Wonder Girls | Wonder Girls so you think you can dance

Looks like The Wonder Girls will be the most popular newcomers star's this season, they made a big impression on U.S. audiences after the opening the Jonash Brother in their tour. Many K-pop fans who began to glance at this group, although at first they were ignored. The Wonders Girls will be the ambassador for K-Pop in the U.S.. Appearance next week on American TV would be a spectacle that awaited.

The Wonder Girls will release a new album in February with producer and musician Dave Stewart.
Stewart is best known as one half of the band, the Eurythmics. The band had a string of hits in the 1980s including “Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)” and “Here Comes the Rain Again.”

The Wonder Girls is a Korean pop group and has had No. 1 hits with the songs “Tell Me” and “So Hot.”