Calif. bill would bar toxins in cell phones, iPods 2 hours, 23 minutes ago
California would require manufacturers to phase out the use of hazardous materials in making cell phones, iPods and other electronic devices under a bill introduced by a state lawmaker.
The bill unveiled on Thursday by Assembly Member Lori Saldana, a Democrat from San Diego, would apply to any electronic or battery-operated device. The bill, which was introduced on Wednesday, would require manufacturers to stop using the substances in devices sold in California by 2008.
"We know that the manufacturers of these products are able to produce them without including harmful toxic materials," Saldana said in a written statement. "California deserves to be included among the markets that receive this cleaner stream of consumer electronics."
California already requires manufacturers of video displays in devices to phase out the use of toxic materials.
Environmental groups with clout in the state's Democrat-led legislature support the bill.
They are concerned about pollution from electronic devices discarded in landfills and want California to follow the example of the European Union, which has called for phasing out the use of toxic materials in making consumer electronics.
"Cell phones, iPods, computers and many other modern electronic devices have a useful life of maybe a year or two before they become obsolete," said Mark Murray, executive director of the group Californians Against Waste. "It doesn't make sense to use hazardous materials in these disposable devices."
About 70 percent of toxic heavy metals found in landfills come from electronic products, which may contain lead, cadmium, chromium and mercury, according to Californians Against Waste.
"This brew of toxic substances can damage nervous, kidney and reproductive systems, while some of the metals contain carcinogens," according a statement released by the group.
Apple Computer Inc. last year started a program at its retail stores to encourage consumers to recycle their iPod music- and video-playing devices in exchange for a discount on new devices.
Copyright © 2006 Reuters Limited.
Friday, February 24, 2006
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Port Authority suing to halt sale
Port Authority suing to halt sale
February 23, 2006
BY KAREN MATTHEWS ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK-- The Port Authority said Thursday it will file suit to block a Dubai-based firm from taking over operations at a Port Newark container terminal, saying the federal government has not given them assurances about security issues.
Anthony Coscia, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the agency would file a lawsuit later Thursday or Friday in New Jersey's Essex County state court.
"We as owners of that facility should be made comfortable that whoever operates it is capable of it," Coscia said.
Coscia wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff asking for details about how the federal government determined it was safe to allow Dubai Ports World, a state-run firm out of the United Arab Emirates, to buy a British company now doing business at the terminal.
The agency said it is not filing suit because of specific concerns about the Dubai company, but based on concerns that the government's secret vetting process was now thorough enough.
Many in Congress, including New York lawmakers, have complained the government did not do a comprehensive security review of the port operations purchase.
"To compare pre-9/11 reviews with post-9/11 reviews is difficult because we are in a very different environment," Coscia said.
The British firm, P&O, signed a 30-year lease with the Port Authority, and that lease would be assumed by DP World on March 2 unless Congress intervenes. President Bush has promised to veto any legislation blocking the sale.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press.
February 23, 2006
BY KAREN MATTHEWS ASSOCIATED PRESS
NEW YORK-- The Port Authority said Thursday it will file suit to block a Dubai-based firm from taking over operations at a Port Newark container terminal, saying the federal government has not given them assurances about security issues.
Anthony Coscia, chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, said the agency would file a lawsuit later Thursday or Friday in New Jersey's Essex County state court.
"We as owners of that facility should be made comfortable that whoever operates it is capable of it," Coscia said.
Coscia wrote to Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff asking for details about how the federal government determined it was safe to allow Dubai Ports World, a state-run firm out of the United Arab Emirates, to buy a British company now doing business at the terminal.
The agency said it is not filing suit because of specific concerns about the Dubai company, but based on concerns that the government's secret vetting process was now thorough enough.
Many in Congress, including New York lawmakers, have complained the government did not do a comprehensive security review of the port operations purchase.
"To compare pre-9/11 reviews with post-9/11 reviews is difficult because we are in a very different environment," Coscia said.
The British firm, P&O, signed a 30-year lease with the Port Authority, and that lease would be assumed by DP World on March 2 unless Congress intervenes. President Bush has promised to veto any legislation blocking the sale.
Copyright 2006 Associated Press.
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
BMW falls foul of Google ‘web spam’ rules
Blogger's Note: If Google really cracked down on web spam most of their content would be gone. MSN is a far superior search engine and delivers MUCH MORE relevant results.
BMW falls foul of Google ‘web spam’ rules
By Kate Mackenzie in London
Published: February 6 2006 16:10 | Last updated: February 6 2006 17:02
The German website of BMW, the carmaker, has been removed from Google’s search results as part of the web company’s crack down on the manipulation of its search engine.
Google confirmed on Monday that BMW.de had been removed from all search engine results. A spokeswoman said the company could not comment on specific cases but said: “We cannot tolerate websites trying to manipulate search results as we aim to provide users with the relevant and objective search results”.
The website used “doorway” pages, which can be employed to trick search engines into leading their users to websites that are not directly related to the search terms.
Marc Hassinger, spokesperson for business and finance communications at BMW Deutschland, said the BMW.de doorway pages only redirected users to relevant pages - for example, one doorway page that frequently used the German word for “used car” redirected users to a page about BMW used car sales. He said this was done so that German web users searching for a second-hand BMW car dealership would find an index of dealerships around the country.
“We can’t see a ‘manipulation’ which they said was happening regarding those websites,” Mr Hassinger said.
Matt Cutts, a software engineer at Google, wrote last month in his weblog that the company would begin to take a tougher line on web spamming by non-English language websites.
On Saturday Mr Cutts wrote that BMW.de had been removed, for violating the guideline: “Don’t deceive your users or present different content to search engines than you display to users.”
However Mr Hassinger said the “doorway” pages had been removed last Thursday after BMW noticed criticism on some blogs.
“Nevertheless Google has decided to spread this information which has created this, I’d almost say, media hype,” he said. “They spread it on Saturday, a few days after the pages had been taken off. They hadn’t talked to us beforehand which we found a bit surprising.”
He said there had been talks between BMW and Google and that he was confident the website would soon be re-included by Google.
Mr Hassinger added that only 0.4 per cent of BMW.de’s traffic came from search engines such as Google, because most people wanting to visit the site either knew or could guess the correct address.
Mr Cutts also wrote on his blog that Ricoh.de, the German website of the Japanese electronics and office equipment company, would be removed from Google for similar reasons. The website could not be found on a Google search on Monday, but Google’s spokeswoman said she could not comment on whether that site had also
BMW falls foul of Google ‘web spam’ rules
By Kate Mackenzie in London
Published: February 6 2006 16:10 | Last updated: February 6 2006 17:02
The German website of BMW, the carmaker, has been removed from Google’s search results as part of the web company’s crack down on the manipulation of its search engine.
Google confirmed on Monday that BMW.de had been removed from all search engine results. A spokeswoman said the company could not comment on specific cases but said: “We cannot tolerate websites trying to manipulate search results as we aim to provide users with the relevant and objective search results”.
The website used “doorway” pages, which can be employed to trick search engines into leading their users to websites that are not directly related to the search terms.
Marc Hassinger, spokesperson for business and finance communications at BMW Deutschland, said the BMW.de doorway pages only redirected users to relevant pages - for example, one doorway page that frequently used the German word for “used car” redirected users to a page about BMW used car sales. He said this was done so that German web users searching for a second-hand BMW car dealership would find an index of dealerships around the country.
“We can’t see a ‘manipulation’ which they said was happening regarding those websites,” Mr Hassinger said.
Matt Cutts, a software engineer at Google, wrote last month in his weblog that the company would begin to take a tougher line on web spamming by non-English language websites.
On Saturday Mr Cutts wrote that BMW.de had been removed, for violating the guideline: “Don’t deceive your users or present different content to search engines than you display to users.”
However Mr Hassinger said the “doorway” pages had been removed last Thursday after BMW noticed criticism on some blogs.
“Nevertheless Google has decided to spread this information which has created this, I’d almost say, media hype,” he said. “They spread it on Saturday, a few days after the pages had been taken off. They hadn’t talked to us beforehand which we found a bit surprising.”
He said there had been talks between BMW and Google and that he was confident the website would soon be re-included by Google.
Mr Hassinger added that only 0.4 per cent of BMW.de’s traffic came from search engines such as Google, because most people wanting to visit the site either knew or could guess the correct address.
Mr Cutts also wrote on his blog that Ricoh.de, the German website of the Japanese electronics and office equipment company, would be removed from Google for similar reasons. The website could not be found on a Google search on Monday, but Google’s spokeswoman said she could not comment on whether that site had also
Friday, February 03, 2006
Groundhog Day quote:
Groundhog Day quote:
This year, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address occur in the same week. It is an ironic juxtaposition of events: one involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to a creature of little intelligence for prognostication while the other involves a groundhog.
This year, both Groundhog Day and the State of the Union address occur in the same week. It is an ironic juxtaposition of events: one involves a meaningless ritual in which we look to a creature of little intelligence for prognostication while the other involves a groundhog.
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