Google Investigated by EU Over Online Ads, Search

                 BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union regulators will investigate whether Google Inc. has abused its dominant position in the online search market — the first major probe into the online giant's business practices.

                 The move announced Tuesday follows complaints from rival search engines that Google put them at a disadvantage in both its regular and sponsored search results, by listing links to their sites below references to its own services in an attempt to shut them out of the market.

                  The EU Commission will also see whether Google prevented advertising partners from placing ads from competitors on their sites. Competitors allegedly shut out include computer and software vendors, the commission said.

                 If the Commission finds that Google has abused its market position, the company could be fined up to 10 percent of its revenue — that would put it on the line for a $2.4 billion fine based on 2009 earnings figures.

                 The Commission has shown resolve in confronting U.S. corporations and only last year concluded a long-running antitrust case involving Microsoft Corp. that lead to over $1 billion of fines.

                 Three companies — U.K.-based price-comparison site Foundem, French legal search engine ejustice.fr and Microsoft-owned shopping site Ciao — lodged complaints against Google with the commission in February.

                 The investigation does not imply any wrongdoing by Google, which controls about 90 percent of the online search market in Europe, but shows that the antitrust watchdog is taking the complaints seriously enough to launch an in-depth examination of the company's practices.

                 Google has maintained it is confident that it hasn't done anything wrong.

                 "Since we started Google we have worked hard to do the right thing by our users and our industry — ensuring that ads are always clearly marked, making it easy for users and advertisers to take their data with them when they switch services, and investing heavily in open source projects," Google said in an emailed statement.

                 "But there's always going to be room for improvement, and so we'll be working with the Commission to address any concerns," the company said.

Fire Reported At Overland Park, Kansas Club

             The fire at the Milburn Golf & Country Club is contained, the Overland Park chief said shortly after 6 p.m. “But we’re in a defensive posture” to make sure it does not spread as high winds whip the fire, Chief Bryan Dehner said.

                The large three-alarm fire was reported about 4:30 p.m. Monday.The fire was thought to have started on the clubhouse’s second floor, but authorities said they didn’t know what sparked it.

                 No injuries were reported, but high westerly winds fanned the flames and made the blaze difficult to control. Heavy smoke blanketed a large area of homes east/southeast of the club.A fire occurred in building earlier Monday, and fire officials were working to find out more about it.

 

                 One Milburn staff member was at the club when firefighters arrived, and officials have talked to that person, Dehner said. Some construction work was being done at the club. The club reportedly was closed Monday.

                Flames were visible above the roof into the evening. Fire crews extended an aerial bucket over the clubhouse, and firefighters in the bucket poured water on the fire from above.Crews also had to bring water from a long distance because there were no nearby hydrants.

                The club is at 7501 W. 69th St. A fire department spokesman urged drivers to avoid the area.Crews from Overland Park, Johnson County Consolidated No. 2, Shawnee, Merriam and Olathe responded to the fire.

                Jim Crilly, a homeowner on 69th Street who lives three houses away from the club, said a friend told him that he heard a loud popping noise from the clubhouse before the firefighters arrived.Crilly said he went outside upon hearing the sirens and saw smoke that appeared to come from the west side of the clubhouse.

                Smoke blanketed the neighborhoods blocks away from the club Monday night and was visible even against the night sky.

                Milburn Golf & Country Club was founded in 1917, according to club’s website said. The course was regularly used by local golfers trying to qualify for the U.S. Open. The club has a fitness center, banquet facilities and other amenities.

                Bob Fischgrund, the club’s vice president, said he had no doubt that Milburn will rebuild. He said that while there is bound to be a lot of work ahead, the course itself appeared to be undamaged.

                “A club of this nature is about people, and the people are still going to be there,” he said.The club had planned a redecorating project in the clubhouse’s upstairs, including changes to the ballroom.

                One of the club’s earliest mentions in The Kansas City Star was on April 1, 1917, when it opened. The club was described as “Kansas City’s first popular priced golf club” because its initiation fee and annual membership dues — $50 and $50 — were less than those of other clubs.

                Monday’s fire wasn’t the first at Milburn. Flames destroyed the clubhouse in September 1932, the day before the club’s annual stag party. The estimated cost of the building was $60,000. The fire started in the second-floor apartment of the club manager, B.C. Bonnell, The Star reported. Almost all the furniture and equipment — including a grand piano and 225 sets of golf clubs — were saved by caddies and caretakers. Firefighters only had access to one hydrant, which had low pressure.A new building was open by May 1933.

                A smaller fire in April 1960 damaged the club’s kitchen and dining wing, causing $10,000 in damage. The club undertook a $300,000 remodeling project that was mostly completed by that fall.

                Art Parchen, a former member who wrote the club’s history, said Monday that the club had regularly held professional golfing events and was the course of choice for many people.

                “Boy, I tell you, it’s sad to watch this thing collapse in on itself,” Parchen said. “The club had probably one of the best golf courses in the area.”

                Diann McCallum of Mission was among dozens of people who lined Santa Fe Drive on Monday, watching firefighters work to tame the fire. Several people took photos with cell phones or digital cameras.

                “You can see it on TV, but you don’t believe it until you actually see it,” McCallum said.McCallum, who graduated from Shawnee Mission North High in 1980, used to sing at the country club with the school choir every Christmas.

                “It’s a gorgeous building. It’s really sad to see it go down,” McCallum said.Many people watching the fire recalled memories Christmas parties, wedding receptions, playing in the pool and spending afternoons golfing.

                “I grew up being a kid here,” said Brandon McNeely. “It was the thing to do and the place to be.” “Of course I’m biased, but I think it’s the best golf course in Kansas City,” longtime member Frank Kennedy said.

                The Strang Line Interurban Railway ran along the east side of the course and was a main stop. Before people had cars, visitors would ride the line to the golf club to caddy or play golf.

                “It’s certainly been an important fixture in the city’s history,” said Florent Wagner, the president of the Overland Park Historical Society. “Thousands of people have been married there.”

                Wagner said he was confident that Milburn will rebuild again, the same way that businesses in downtown Overland Park rebuilt after a fire in 2006.“This will not be the end of Overland Park,” Wagner said. “They will rise from the ashes and be better than before.”

                Diana Jackson worked several jobs at the country club from 1981 to 1986 including bartending.“It’s really sad,” Jackson said as she watched the fire burn. “I have a lot of great memories from there.”Chris Farrell and his twin brother, Greg, grew up playing junior golf at the club.

                “The pride of all of those that were part of this club will find a way to begin again,” Chris Farrell said. “They truly will.”

Conservatives jump out to strong lead in one byelection and ahead in a second

                 OTTAWA — The Conservatives have taken a clear lead in one of three byelections Monday night and the other two contests are close races.

                In Manitoba’s Dauphin-Swan River-Marquette riding, Tory candidate Robert Sopuck was well ahead of his closest competitors when the first results started coming in around 10 p.m. ET, shortly after the polls closed. He is expected to hold the seat for the Conservatives in what is a stronghold riding for the party.
But in Manitoba’s other byelection in Winnipeg North, the Liberals and the NDP were in the midst of a tough fight. The NDP’s Kevin Chief is considered the front-runner, but Liberal candidate Kevin Lamoureux, a longtime former provincial politician, has a decent shot at taking the riding. As the results came in, Chief was maintaining only a slight lead, just under a two-percentage point of popular vote lead.

           In the hottest of the three races, in Ontario’s Vaughan riding, Conservative star candidate Julian Fantino and Liberal Tony Genco were neck and neck as the early results were reported. By about 10:15 ET, Fantino had pulled ahead of Genco by about 380 votes.

           Although the riding is a Liberal stronghold — held by Maurizio Bevilacqua for the last 22 years — the Conservatives are counting on their high-profile star candidate to steal it away. Fantino, the former head of several municipal police forces and the Ontario Provincial Police, is a well-known figure, particularly in the riding’s Italian-Canadian community.

               Genco also has extensive community experience. The NDP’s candidate Kevin Bordian was nowhere near Fantino and Genco as the votes were tallied.The parties have all campaigned hard in the Vaughan byelection, eager to capture a seat in the Greater Toronto Area.

                Making gains in that region is key for the Tories in their quest for a majority government; traditionally, the Liberals have been able to keep the edge over them.If Fantino pulls off a victory, it will give Prime Minister Stephen Harper a tough-talking spokesman to push his law-and-order agenda.

                 Some have speculated Fantino would be put in cabinet upon his arrival in Ottawa. Harper could easily make some adjustments to the cabinet in the near future, given the recent resignation of his environment minister, former Calgary MP Jim Prentice. Prentice announced a few weeks ago that he had taken a job as vice-chairman of CIBC.

                Despite the long Liberal history in Vaughan, the party says it is not taking the riding for granted and is fighting for every vote.If the Liberals lose the seat, the defeat will be compared to the huge upset they suffered in another byelection in 2007 in Montreal’s Outremont riding. Thomas Mulcair’s victory for the NDP there rattled the Liberal party, which had secured that riding since it was created.All three of Monday’s byelections were triggered by MPs who left Ottawa to run in municipal elections this past fall.

Anderson Cooper Joins Fox

              A few months back we mentioned that Anderson Cooper would be launching a day time talk show set to premiere next fall. Well the show finally has a home and it’s going to be on Fox of all places.

              Three Fox-owned stations in the top markets have already cleared the show, which was unexpected as Fox News rivals Cooper’s CNN show.Warner Bros. Domestic TV Distribution president Ken Werner stated:

"Although the marketplace for fall 2011 has been filled by many returning franchises and the expansion of news programs, there is still a big opportunity across stations.
We are delighted that these major market stations have embraced the opportunity to bring one of America's finest storytellers to daytime and early fringe viewers."

              The show is already being described as one which will "bring to viewers the biggest celebrity and newsmaker interviews, fascinating human interest stories and in-depth coverage of pop culture, social issues, trends and major events." The hour-long show is set to air next September if all goes to plan.
Congrats!

China Moves to Cool Korean Tensions

                BEIJING—China engaged in high-level diplomacy to try to cool tensions on the Korean peninsula as the U.S. and South Korea on Sunday started a naval drill that has prompted dire warnings of reprisals from North Korea.

                   Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo met South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Sunday and said China "opposed any acts that harmed the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula," China's state news agency Xinhua said.

                  Mr. Dai said China "has consistently committed itself to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, as well as promotion for dialogue," and the two sides agreed in the talks to further develop bilateral ties, Xinhua said.

                A U.S. aircraft-carrier battle group started large-scale exercises with the South Korean navy in the Yellow Sea Sunday morning, in a show of strength five days after a North Korean artillery attack on a small South Korean island that killed four people. North Korea has condemned the naval drills and warned that if they go ahead, "no one can predict the ensuing consequences."

                 Mr. Dai arrived in Seoul on Saturday and discussed the situation on the peninsula with South Korean Foreign Minister Kim Sung-hwan, China's Foreign Ministry said.Wu Dawei, China's special representative for Korean-peninsula affairs, also visited the country, South Korea's foreign ministry said.


               Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi also discussed the situation by phone Saturday with Japanese Foreign Minister Seiji Maehara and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the ministry said.Mr. Yang said "all sides should exert effort together, push for the situation to cool down as quickly as possible, and earnestly avoid conflict happening again," the ministry said.

                 He also said he "hopes all sides involved will take a rational and practical attitude, and actively create conditions for resumption of the six-party talks" on North Korea's nuclear program, the ministry said.
Mr. Yang on Friday also met with the North Korean ambassador to China and spoke by phone with South Korea's Mr. Kim and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.

              Choe Tae Bok, chairman of North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly, will visit China from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4 at Mr. Wu's invitation, Xinhua said Sunday.

             China on Friday protested the U.S.-South Korean naval drill. "We oppose any party to take any military actions in our exclusive economic zone without permission," Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said in a statement. China's stance appeared firmer in July, when officials said they opposed any military exercises in the entire Yellow Sea.

              The Global Times, a generally nationalistic Chinese newspaper, said "the Chinese people oppose the U.S. aircraft carrier entering the Yellow Sea, and this opposition is resolute and definitely will not just be oral."
"Judging from the current situation, the act by [South Korea and the U.S.] to fully enhance their military alliance will not help ease the hostile sentiment between North Korea and South Korea, and instead it will only further intensify the tense situation on the Korea peninsula," Xinhua said Sunday.

Walmart's Cyber Week of Savings 2010

              Walmart is launching Cyber Monday savings early this year, offering six days of sale prices beginning on Sunday and ending on Friday Dec 3rd. More than 150 holiday gifts and other items are available online, while supplies last.

             Walmart’s Cyber Week event will give families amazing offers on a wide assortment of holiday gifts from electronics, toys and video games to home furnishings, apparel, beauty products and personalized items with new savings added daily.

               Walmart, being the largest department store in the country has been letting everyone feel the great Holiday sale during their Thanksgiving and Black Friday deals. They are not yet done folks, here is their Cyber Monday which is actually happening not only for Monday but for the entire week! They are calling it Cyber Week. 

               Walmart's Cyber Week sale will include discounts on electronics, toys, video games, home furnishings at Walmart.com beginning on Sunday, November 28 through Friday, December 3. Go ahead and check Walmart.com and begin to scout all the items that you want to buy.

Willie Nelson Arrested Near El Paso

                 Willie Nelson Arrested – The legendary country music singer known as Willie Nelson was arrested yesterday morning by the Border Police of Sierra Blanca, in the state of Texas for marijuana possession again.

                 The 77 year old musician who is currently on another U.S. tour had just left California with his tour bus to perform in Austin, when his vehicle was stopped and searched by the authorities.

               The police discovered more than six ounces of marijuana conspicuously hidden inside the bus!
Willie Nelson and three members of his entourage were arrested for illegally possessing marijuana but were quickly released after paying their bail of 2,500 dollars.

              Mickey Raphael, Nelson's longtime harmonica player, spoke with Rolling Stone magazine regarding the incident and Nelson's release, telling the magazine that "he said he feels great -- he lost six ounces."
"It's kind of surprising, but I mean we treat him like anybody else," West told the El Paso Times. "He could get 180 days in county jail, which if he does, I'm going to make him cook and clean. He can wear the stripy uniforms just like the other ones do."

                   At the time Nelson was traveling from California to his ranch in Austin, Texas. Because he was released, it is not expected that the arrest would affect his tour, which continues with a concert in Thackerville, Okla., tonight.
                      Elaine Schock, Nelson's spokeswoman, declined to comment when contacted by The Associated Press.Nelson, a staunch advocate of decriminalization of marijuana, has had his share of drug-related brushes with the law.
                     In Louisiana in 2006, 1.5 pounds of marijuana and three ounces of hallucinogenic mushrooms were found on his bus. Nelson pleaded guilty in that case and each was sentenced to a $1,024 fine and six months probation.

                   Back in 1995 Nelson was also arrested in Waco, Texas, and police officers said they saw a joint in his car's ashtray. Nelson had pulled off the road to sleep after an all night poker game. At the time he also confessed that there was small amount of marijuana on the car's floorboard.