| Google's business Apps sparks debate
With the launch of Google Apps for Your Domain, the online search giant hopes to cash in on the market for-on demand applications. Analysts have welcomed the move but some question the company's motives and wonder whether our personal data is safe in Google's hands. Launched on Monday, Google Apps for Your Domain is a series of on-demand applications that individuals and companies can use to handle basic functions. It includes Gmail (Google Mail in the UK) for email, Google Calendar, Google Talk for instant messaging and Page Creator for page design. A word processor and a spreadsheet are still in beta testing. James Governor, of analysts Red Monk, said that the current Google approach was to produce applications that were "Good enough. It's not about releasing polished applications".
What's new for travelers in Germany, Scandinavia
In June, several Swiss and Austrian cities, including Zurich and Bern, will host the Euro 2008 soccer championships (see schedule at www.uefa.com/competitions/euro/index.html). Expect crowds.
Zermatt's former Alpine Museum, now renamed the Matterhorn Museum, has been rebuilt as a glass-dome-covered quasi-archaeological dig, featuring old buildings of Zermatt's past. (If you ever need to say "glass-dome-covered quasi-archaeological dig" in German, that's "Glaskuppelverdecktquasiarchaologischeausschachtung.")
Lausanne's funicular, connecting the lakefront with the upper part of town, should be finished by the end of 2008 (until that time, a bus covers the route).
Scandinavia
In Copenhagen, Denmark, the helpful Use-It tourist information center is closing, leaving visitors at the mercy of the for-profit "Copenhagen Right Now" franchise (which deceptively presents itself as a tourist information service).
Give Until It Works
Only charitable contributions that were completed during the 2007 calendar year may be deducted from your taxable income. Another important caveat is that you need to itemize your deductions. If you opt for this year's standardized deduction, it eliminates the itemized deductions that include things like mortgage interest payments, property taxes, and -- yes -- philanthropy.You also have to make your donation to a qualified charitable organization. Most churches and charities qualify. Spending $3,000 to fund your nephew's band does not. That's important. Donating to a hurricane relief charity that has a valid tax identification number and is a registered, non-profit organization, is deductible, but helping out an affected family directly is not. If you have any doubt about the deductibility of the contribution, Publication 78 -- available from the IRS Web site -- provides a cumulative list of qualified charities and organizations.
UK : Man Admits Plotting To Behead Muslim Soldier
Adam Mussa of the Muslim Brotherhood-founded Muslim Association of Britain (MAB) claimed: "Some of the people arrested are just individuals with loud voices, who are vocal about various neighborhood issues, but that doesn't make them terrorists. It's not fair. This seems to be happening again and again. This is a form of victimization and your average 'Mo Public' is feeling very cynical. When you come in and do a job you should make sure you clean up after yourself, and that's what the police need to do here." The raids happened as there had been intelligence that a cell of British Islamists had planned to kidnap and behead a Muslim soldier. A particular Muslim soldier had already been targeted, and was under protection. It was revealed shortly after the arrests that he was a corporal in military intelligence, chosen from a shortlist of 25 individuals Adam Mussa justified his hostility to the Birmingham raids by ridiculing the notion of such a plot.
Michael Pointer: Purdue Q&A
Question: When will the Purdue quarterback actually look off his primary receiver and go through his progressions? From what I saw Saturday, come-heck-or-high-water, Curtis Painter is going to throw to his primary, even if there is a crowd. And, on two of those interceptions, no Boiler receiver was in the area. I haven't seen anyone say that a receiver zigged when he should have zagged. Were those interceptions all on Painter? Quotes from coaches and Painter seem to suggest so. (Mike from Kokomo)
Answer: Mike, I have covered four quarterbacks since I've been on the Purdue beat: Brandon Hance, Kyle Orton, Brandon Kirsch and Painter. (I missed having the pleasure of covering Drew Brees.) I heard that complaint about everyone of them, including Orton, who had 31 touchdown passes and just five interceptions as a starter.
Obama, McCain Win Wisconsin Primaries
Barack Obama racked up another victory Tuesday night, defeating Hillary Clinton by a wide margin in the Wisconsin Democratic primary while also proving he can win big in a primary-style election in a state with a small minority population. Meanwhile, John McCain won both the Wisconsin and Washington Republican presidential primaries, besting longshot rival Mike Huckabee. Democrats were awaiting results in the Hawaii Democratic caucuses. Washington also held a Democratic primary, but it was a beauty contest only, awarding no delegates. Speaking in Texas, where he had already traveled to get a jump on the March 4 race there, Obama briefly mentioned the Wisconsin victory in a 45-minute speech that was raucously received by the estimated 20,000-strong crowd. "We just heard we won tonight in Wisconsin," Obama said to catcalls and applause.
McLaren sets very high bar as hubby
Every February he goes to the FBR Open in Scottsdale and enjoys the crowd spectacle at the 16th hole. Many years ago on an off-day in Oakland, Ken Griffey Jr. lined up limos to take players and coaches to Pebble Beach, and McLaren passed because he had yet to take up the game. He said he'd die to play there now. There are perks to being a big league manager. McLaren was playing with a friend at Blackstone Country Club last week, and after they finished their round, the head guy pulled him aside and gave him a membership, waiving the $75,000 initiation fee. McLaren couldn't believe it. "I've always wanted to be part of a country club," he said. When he's not golfing or managing, McLaren is most apt to be at home reading the paper, messing around on the computer or watching ESPN.
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