New Major Media Player - Google News now hosting wire service stories

TechDirt in Google Finally Hosting News On Its Site: Will Newspapers Get Pissed Off At AP Now? and Infoworld in Google News to host wire service stories is reporting:

Google News, a site in which Google aggregates links to articles published on news outlets' Web sites, is generally valued by publishers who make money from online advertising and as such benefit from the traffic Google News sends to their sites.

But Google News has been a tougher sell for wire services, which generally make money by licensing their content to newspapers and magazines and not by attracting readers to their own Web sites.

Agence France Presse (AFP), one of the world's largest wire services, sued Google for alleged copyright infringement on the News site. Although never publicly acknowledged, it's widely believed that the Associated Press threatened to file a similar lawsuit.

Although Google maintains that running hyperlinked headlines, text snippets, and thumbnail images from news outlets in Google News is protected by the fair use principle, it eventually settled with AFP and signed a licensing agreement with it, as well as with AP.

Friday's announcement appears to be the first concrete result of those licensing agreements, although the AP deal is now more than a year old. The AFP settlement and agreement were announced in April.

Now, if they want, people will be able to read the original articles from AP, AFP, the U.K. Press Association, and the Canadian Press in Google News pages. Google also entered into licensing agreements with the U.K. and Canadian wire services.

Previously, because wire services' Web sites typically feature either a small sample or none of their stories, the way to read their articles was go to the sites of their syndication clients, such as newspapers.

The new feature unveiled Friday is called "duplicate detection," which lets Google News identify the original source of a story that may appear in tens or hundreds of news outlet Web sites. If the source story is from one of the four news service agencies that Google has licensing agreements with, Google will display the story on a page that it hosts.

My opinion any thing that shakes up the status quote of the Mass Media outlets will be good for the public in general, I welcome the news and anxiously await further developments.

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Freedomswatch: Doen't Let Them Die In Vain

These Videos speak for Themselves:



And



They are so powerful that NBC does not want them to be seen by the American Public, Get the Word Out, Get as many people to view these as possible:

Check out the story at 'THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS: NBC REFUSES TO AIR FREEDOMS WATCH COMMERCIALS

And most of all don't let our 3000+ soldiers die in Vain.

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Todays Good News From Iraq 237 Dead Terrorists, Sadr's Mehdi Army has had enough

For the last month, there has been a steady stream of Good News coming from Iraq, which is bad news for Al-Queda, Iran, Syria and their collaborators the Democrats in Congress, first we here that due to the surge Al-Qaeda is on the run, next the Sunni's leaders have struck a deal with the U.S. Military, next key Shia leadership does the same, now after intense fighting near Diyala, Moqtada Sadr has told his Mehdi Army to stand down for at least the next six months, so that they can reorganize. The BBC's Iraqi government appeals for calm
reports:

"In a statement, the office of Prime Minister Nouri Maliki welcomed Mr Sadr's order to stop armed action for a maximum period of six months.

Officials appealed to all armed groups, both Sunni and Shia, saying it was "a good opportunity" to halt attacks. They argued that this would preserve Iraq's "integrity and sovereignty".

But the BBC's world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge says that in reality the government does not anticipate reaching any understanding with the group it considers to be the most extreme of all - al-Qaeda in Iraq.

There has also been some ambiguity about how the tens of thousands of members of the Mehdi Army will interpret the six-month freeze declared in order to "rehabilitate it in a way that will safeguard its ideological image".

In Sadr City, the Shia slum in north-east Baghdad, residents told the Associated Press on Thursday there was no sign of Mehdi militiamen, who normally cruise the streets in cars and converge on Mr Sadr's office in the evening."

Recent fighting has killed 237 terrorists, mostly part of Mehdi Army in fighting near Diyala, the Gateway Pundit: More Good News From Iraq- 237 Dead Terrorists reports :

"Iraqi and U.S. forces have killed 237 insurgents and arrested more than 300 suspects in military operations to pacify the restive Province of Diyala.

The operations started on June 19 and are reported to be still continuing. The pressure on anti-U.S. rebels and Qaeda elements in the province is reported to have forced them to flee to other areas.

Lt. Gen. Abdul Rubaie, the Iraqi commander of the operation, said more than 7,000 troops are taking part in the fighting and that there have been ‘good gains on the ground.’

He did not say whether Diyala, until very recently a major anti-U.S. stronghold, was currently under full government control."

With all the good news, coming from Iraq, the president feels more strongly than ever that he will be able to maintain the current strategy for the foreseeable future, in the face of the loony left's opposition. In Red States: "Oh, The Tide Is Turning!":

"The White House is growing more confident that it can beat back efforts by Congressional Democrats to shift course in Iraq, a significant turnabout from two months ago, when a string of Republican defections had administration officials worried that President Bush's troop buildup was in serious danger on Capitol Hill.

Current and former administration officials say they realize that the September battle over the troop buildup will be difficult. But they also say the president's hand is stronger now than it was in early July, when Republican senators like Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico and Richard G. Lugar of Indiana publicly called for a change of course.

"There is a tonal shift, and that is important, but there is always the chance that it could be ephemeral, in the same way that the panic of early July proved ephemeral," said Peter D. Feaver, who helped draft the buildup strategy as an official with the National Security Council but recently returned to his post as a political science professor at Duke University. "I don't detect any triumphalism in the White House."

And the good news is bad news for the Democrats, From the Washington Post:

"Saying the coming weeks will be "one of the last opportunities" to alter the course of the war, Senate Majority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) said he is now willing to compromise with Republicans to find ways to limit troop deployments in Iraq.

Reid acknowledged that his previous firm demand for a spring withdrawal deadline had become an obstacle for a small but growing number of Republicans who have said they want to end the war but have been unwilling to set a time line."

But our opposition is determined they don't give up easily Gateway Pundit: Will the Real Enemy of America Please Stand Up... reports:

Democratic Speaker Nancy Pelosi--

"The American people are demanding a new direction on the Iraq war not another quarterly invoice. It is time to wind down this war and begin to bring our troops home safely and soon."

Senator Robert Byrd--

"The Congress must not continue to cede its constitutional authority and simply write blank checks for the misguided policy in Iraq. The latest reports of staggering waste, fraud and abuse in the rebuilding of Iraq further highlight the need to take a hard look at this new request from the White House."

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki---

"Allocation of $50 bln, which comes out of the pocket of the American taxpayers, to the intensification of violence in Iraq and escalation of arms race in the region will not rescue a region which has been entangled with instability, violence and hatred due to the wrong policies of Mr. Bush."

Sound like the Democrats and the Iranians are talking off the same page, I knew they were working together.

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An Important Announcement from Friends of Fred Thompson

Dear Friends, On September 6, 2007, Fred Thompson will be announcing his intention to run for President of the United States with a webcast available to millions at www.imwithfred.com. The launch of the video will be followed by a five-day campaign tour through Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina. On the evening of the 6th, there will also be a National House Party, during which there will be a conference call with Fred. We enter this campaign in a strong position. Fred is consistently near the top in the polls, and conservatives across the country have put together the closest thing to a draft in recent presidential campaign history in an effort to bring about this day. The next few weeks will only serve to build upon those efforts, with house parties, visits to the early primary states, and a homecoming in Lawrenceburg, TN on the 15th. To view the dates and locations of Fred's bus tour, please click here, and check back soon for more information on attending one of these events. By announcing via webcast, Fred is able to take his consistently mainstream conservative message directly to the voters, who are already responding to that message with a strong upwelling of grassroots support. The webcast and the following campaign tour will play to Fred’s strengths, a consistent record of conservatism, his ability to clearly spread his message, and his ability to work with and connect with Americans from all walks of life. Be apart of this historic occasion by signing up to host or attend a house party today. Sincerely, Bill Lacy Manager, Friends of Fred Thompson, Inc. Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy

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Fidel says the Dems are a Shoo In, Ahmadinejad Tells Iraq He Will Take Over

Fidel Castro has reportedly made his feelings known on the upcoming 2008 election by saying that Clinton and Obama are INVINCIBLE and have the election rapped up.

In an editorial in Cuba's communist party newspaper, Granma, the ailing dictator said the pairing of the two White House hopefuls seemed "invincible," according to an English translation on the paper's Web site.

Castro, who has overseen communist rule of Cuba since 1959, did, however, make it clear that he is no fan of the two Democrats' support of democratic reform in Cuba.

Read more on Fidel's latest election predictions at Red States: "Fidel Castro": Clinton and Obama are INVINCIBLE! and THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS: BIRDS OF A FEATHER PART 43 - CASTRO AND THE LIB DEMS

But at least Iraq need not worry about their country after the Democrats win the election and redeploy to Okinawa. According to Gateway Pundit: Ahmadinejad Says Iran Is Ready to "Fill Gap" in Iraq Once US Leaves!! I'm sure that Ahmadinejad will take good care of all the various interests in Iraq, and with the additional oil revenue he'll be able to build more atomic bombs for Al-Qaeda to ship over here and use on the Great Satan.

Seriously, Thank GOD, the election hasn't occurred yet, and President Bush is still the law of the land. Today he continued the push he started here in Kansas City last week at the VFW Convention. He advocated continuing our support of the freely elected Iraqi Democracy. At the American Legion convention in Reno, NV. President Bush said:

"It's going to take time for the recent progress we have seen in security to translate into political progress," Bush told a friendly audience at the American Legion's national convention. "Leaders in Washington need to look for ways to help our Iraqi allies succeed, not excuses for abandoning them."

President Bush hailed gains made by our new strategy, and the recent progress just announced by Iraqi leaders and then argued that the future of the entire Middle East would rise or fall on the outcome.

By withdrawing American forces, he argued that we would allow the Middle East to be taken over by extremists (Iran) and put the security of the United States in jeopardy. Evidently he agrees on this one point with Ahmadinejad, and I tend to agree with both of them.

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Weekly Update 8.28.07

Hello Everyone, The last weeks have been busy for us on the road, and let me tell you the hospitality everywhere we’ve traveled has been amazing! While I’m sure you’re following what’s been happening in the papers and on the blogs, I wanted to share my impressions from my travels. I’ve visited the Iowa and Minnesota State Fairs (and did you see our video of the butter cow?). I was glad to see so many fine, enthusiastic people stop by for some of the great fried food the fair has to offer and to share their thoughts and ideas. This past Saturday I was at the Midwest Leadership Forum in Indianapolis, Indiana, with state Republican leaders from across the Midwest. I shared my concerns about the direction this country is headed, and where I think we can go. We’re not having the kind of conversations we need to have on a range of issues, particularly the kind of threat we’re facing, on a global scale from radical Muslim fundamentalists who want to bring our nation to its knees and destroy our way of life. We’re pointing fingers rather than finding solutions to the big challenges that face our economy and our prosperity. And for the first time in our history, we have a government that can’t do all the basic things we expect our government to do. We need to be talking about these things and how to get back to first principles. And if you know me, you know my answers are not bigger government and more bureaucracy and higher taxes. It’s just the opposite. Stay tuned for more updates as we travel around the country and talk with folks, and if we’re in your area we’d love to have you stop by. Polling Update A new Rasmussen poll has Fred Thompson in a close second place nationally: Thompson Giuliani Romney McCain Rasmussen: National (8/27/07) 23 24 13 12 Quotes of Note “The crowds for Thompson were bigger and more excited than a typical candidate attracts at the Fair.” Pioneer Press, August 27 “Fred Thompson is the only person I believe can beat her (Clinton). He has an almost Reaganesque presence, his booming voice, his demeanor. I watched him and he can walk into a room and completely control that room.” Senator Jim Inhofe, R-Okla to the Associated Press, August 22, 2007 Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy Update from the road Fred speaks at the Midwest Leadership Conference A New York State of Mind The Importance of Border Security Thompson takes a star turn Pioneer Press, August 28, 2007 Thompson says he likes his position Associated Press , August 26, 2007 Thompson brings presence to meeting Indianapolis Star, August 26, 2007 Star Parker: Fred Thompson's rope-a-dope Dallas Morning News , August 24, 2007

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Polictical Breakthrough In Iraq. Iraqis annouce deal.

For the last couple of weeks, just as news the surge in Iraq has been effective. We were all being told that by the left that even if effective it would all be for nothing if the Iraqi government didn't learn to work together. The leftists will have to figure out another way to declare defeat it the latest news from Iraq holds up. The BBC reports:

Iraqi leaders sign unity accord

Iraqi Shia, Sunni and Kurdish leaders have signed a reconciliation deal, Prime Minister Nouri Maliki says.

The accord was the second step towards rebuilding Iraq's political process, Mr Maliki said, after four Kurdish and Shia parties formed a new alliance.

A committee formed by the parties had "accomplished some solutions", he said.

Mr Maliki has been criticised in recent days by US politicians, but the White House hailed Sunday's deal as "an important symbol" of unity in Iraq.

"We congratulate Iraq's leaders on the important agreement reached today in Baghdad... [and] their commitment to work together for the benefit of all Iraqis," said a statement issued from President George W Bush's Texas ranch.

'Sense of movement'

Issues under discussion between Iraqi politicians include holding provincial elections and easing a ban on former Baath party members in the civil service and military.

After the meeting, Mr Maliki appeared at a news conference alongside Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, Sunni Vice-President Tariq al-Hashemi, Shia Vice-President Adel Abdul-Mahdi and Massoud Barzani - president of the Kurdish region.

But nothing suggests that the rebuilding of a broad-based government is necessarily any closer, the BBC's Mike Wooldridge in Baghdad says.

Mr Hashemi said he had taken part in the talks as vice-president but did not indicate his Iraqi Islamic Party was about to join the moderate Shia-Kurdish alliance.

The news conference seemed intended more to give a sense of movement than to convey the substance of significant agreement, our correspondent adds.

The deal has been pushed by the US as a key step on the path to national reconciliation in Iraq.

Surge report

Earlier on Sunday, Mr Maliki hit back at senior US politicians who have called for him to be removed from office, singling out senators Hillary Clinton and Carl Levin.

He said the Democratic senators were acting as if Iraq was "their property" and that they should "come to their senses" and "respect democracy".

US commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, and US ambassador Ryan Crocker are expected to report to US Congress in mid-September on progress in Iraq since the troop surge.

The introduction of 30,000 extra troops - completed in mid-June - was supposed give the Iraqi government extra time to make political progress.

Mr Maliki said a negative report by Gen Petraeus would not cause him to change course, but he expected the general to "be supportive of the government".

If this holds up, the President Bush will look mighty good in the light of history when this is all over.

Remember it wasn't long ago that nearly everyone in congress, including members of the Republican Leadership had written the IRAQ government and the war off.

Everyone, except one, the one that counted, President Bush. Check out the entire story in THE ASTUTE BLOGGERS: IRAQIS ANNOUNCE THEY HAVE MADE THE NECESSARY POLITICAL COMPROMISES.

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US Strikes Terrorists Inside Pakistan!... 30 Rebels Killed

Good News from Pakistan! The U.S. has tossed out the idea that we can't cross the Pakistan boarder when pursuing Terrorists. According to Press reports:

US-led forces and Afghan troops struck Taliban positions inside Pakistan in fresh clashes with the Islamic militia that left at least 19 local Taliban dead, security forces said on Sunday.

Too bad we didn't do it a few years back when Osama escaped Tora Bora into Pakistan. It would sure have saved some time and effort now. Check out Gateway Pundit: US Strikes Inside Pakistan!... 30 Rebels Dead! for more information on this.

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Latest Media Lie - More Military Sucides During Iraq War

Last week the Associated Press reported that the Suicide Rate in Army at a 26-Year High and guess what the articles source was a "report, which The Associated Press obtained ahead of its public release" in other words an unsubstantiated, supposedly leaked report from within the Military.

Sounds to me like someone over at the Associated Press thought all this good news coming from Iraq was bad news for their cause and the were desperate to find something bad to report.

They had to find something to take the steam out of the right or the American People might really start to believe that the "Worlds Only Superpower" might actually be able to put down a third world insurgency, whose leaders are still hiding in caves.

And though underhanded, I would have to admit that it would have been within the rules of the game if the report was in fact true. But the fact is it was totally false, the Gateway Pundit reports in Since Clintons Left Office Fewer Soldiers Kill Themselves
Take a look at the numbers he uncovered:

Click to Enlarge
From page 11 of the CRS Report to Congress (pdf)
-Hat Tip BG

If you look at the numbers you see that the total official number of suicides in the military last year was 155. If you look further you see that there are less suicides in the military today than during the Clinton years!

What do you suppose drove our soldiers to commit suicide while the Clintons were in office?

Where is the Congressional investigation of this obvious attempt to effect public opinion concerning the war in Iraq. (Boy that sounds familiar, think Valerye Blame) The answer is of course, Don't Hold Your Breath. What happened to our retraction? Again, Don't Hold Your Breath. Why, because in both cases it was the Leftist Press doing it and they can do no wrong. And even if it was, they have Freedom Of The Press.

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Senator Baucus Tries To Fix H1B Side Effect

Looks like the Congress Critters are trying to fix their legislative miscues with, you guessed it, more legislation.

Sen. Max Baucus (Dem from MT) wants to offer free college tuition for US math, science, and engineering majors conditional upon working or teaching in the field for at least four years. This of course is pointed a the problem created by the H1B bills. Originally created to "Solve a perceived shortage of Information Technology Professionals", the bills have accidentally devastated the math, science and engineering education programs across the country. H1B legislative by bringing in thousands of technical professionals from overseas has greatly depressed the growth rate of technical industry salaries which has resulted in fewer and fewer students choosing to go into these highly challenging fields.

Sure, free college tuition may increase the number of students entering the fields but until Congress wakes up and stops meddling with the free enterprise system by bringing in foreign technologists, I doubt they will find a permanent fix for the problem. In other words, If you want more US. math, science and engineering majors quit artificially lowering their value by bringing in foreign workers.

For more on this topic check out Billings Gazette's: Baucus proposing free tuition and Slashdot's: Free Tuition for Math, Science, and Engineering?

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Weekly Update 8.21.07

Greetings from Kansas City, Missouri! This morning I spoke to the 108th National Convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. It was an honor to meet with the men and women who are living symbols of our defense of freedom. It is because of their sacrifices that America is the bright, clear beacon of hope and freedom to those who don’t possess it. It reminded me how much we owe to our men and women in uniform today, as well as those who have already shed blood for our freedom. We are in a long struggle with an enemy that will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. I have faith we will win the war we are now fighting on multiple fronts, because I have faith in our fighting men and women. We cannot predict the course our defense of freedom will follow, or the sacrifices that will be made … though we know what the outcome must be. We can also be certain of some other things. That our defense of freedom is right. That the character of our troops is strong, and that we must continue to honor not only those who serve, but who have served. And that if we stand together, united as a people—as we have in times past—the cause of freedom will prevail. Polling Update As Michigan considers whether to move its primaries up to January 15, 2008, and join other early action states, Fred Thompson finished first in polls in Michigan and South Carolina, and tied for second in Nevada. Thompson Giuliani McCain Romney Michigan: EPIC/MRA (8/13/07) 22 19 16 12 South Carolina: Public Policy Polling (8/13/07) 22 18 11 17 Nevada: Research2000 (8/16/07) 18 18 8 28 Quotes of Note “This kind of honesty and candor is only possible with a candidate for whom the truth is more important than the job. And it sounds like Fred is ready.” Star Parker, president of the Coalition on Urban Renewal and Education, in Scripps Howard News Service “He, I think, convinced a lot of people that he'll be a leader on those issues that impact Christian--traditional families.” Steve Scheffler, The Iowa Christian Alliance, on NBC “There is an authenticity about him (Thompson) that seemed to contrast with candidates really going back a couple of election cycles.” Stephen Hayes, senior writer at The Weekly Standard, on C-SPAN’s Washington Journal Fred on the Issues A New York State of Mind When I was working in television, I spent quite a bit of time in New York City. There are lots of things about the place I like, but New York gun laws don't fall in that category. Anybody who knows me knows I've always cared deeply about the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. So I've always felt sort of relieved when I flew back home to where that particular civil liberty gets as much respect as the rest of the Bill of Rights. Unfortunately, New York is trying, again, to force its ways on the rest of us, this time through the courts. First, they went after U.S. gun manufacturers, seeking through a lawsuit not only money but injunctive control over the entire industry. An act of congress in 2005 blocked, but did not end, that effort. Now, the same activist federal judge from Brooklyn who provided Mayor Giuliani’s administration with the legal ruling it sought to sue gun makers, has done it again. Last week, he created a bizarre justification to allow New York City to sue out-of-state gun stores that sold guns that somehow ended up in criminal hands in the Big Apple. The lawsuit has been a lesson in out-of-control government from the get-go. Mayor Bloomberg sent private investigators to make "straw" purchases – illegally buying guns for somebody else. According to the ATF, NY's illegal "stings" interfered with ongoing investigations of real gun traffickers. Obviously, New York won't get much cash out of the few dozen shops being sued in Georgia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina and Virginia; so the purpose can only be political. Some of those sued have already buckled under the financial strain of legal defense and agreed to live by New York City rules. Ironically, all of this comes at a time of historically low violent crime rates and historically high gun ownership rates nationally. States where it is legal to carry guns are also at an all-time high, up to 40 from 10 in 1987 by NRA reckoning. While this attack by New York City on the Second Amendment reinforces the importance of appointing judges who apply the law as written, there is another important legal point. Federalism, though usually seen as a protection of the states from the federal government, actually grew out of the need to protect states from other states that interfered in free commerce beyond their borders – as New York is doing today. In this case, we need Federalism to protect states from a big bully in New York City. To read more commentaries from Fred, click here. Unsubscribe | Privacy Policy A New York State of Mind The Importance of Border Security David Broder impressed with Fred Real Earmark Reform Needed Undecided voters keep GOP voters coming to Florida Palm Beach Post, August 21, 2007 Voice of sanity: Thompson puts needed focus on entitlements San Diego Union-Tribune, August 20, 2007 Eager to prove he's the real deal Rocky Mountain News, August 18, 2007 Fred Thompson to the rescue Knoxville News-Sentinel, August 18, 2007

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