<![CDATA[Noob Galore : World's Largest Gaming Community : Forums]]> http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/ Largest worldwide online gaming community en Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:33:01 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/images/twisteddark/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Noob Galore : World's Largest Gaming Community : Forums]]> http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/ Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source and Day of Defeat: Source Updates Released http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/team-fortress-2-counter-strike-source-day-defeat-source-updates-released-49359/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:20:09 GMT Updates to Team Fortress 2, Counter-Strike: Source and Day of Defeat: Source have been released. The updates will be applied automatically when your Steam client is restarted. The major changes include:Source Engine Changes (CS:S, DoD:S, TF2)


  • Disabled clients loading server plug-ins unless the plug-ins are signed by Steam or the client is running in insecure mode.
  • Added a checkbox to the Options->Audio dialog to control muting the audio when the game window is in the background.

Counter-Strike: Source
  • Fixed crash in custom maps using the trigger_camera entity.

Team Fortress 2
  • Fixed another bug in the Steamworks internal stats reporting.
  • Updated the localization files.




More... ]]> Steam News Steam News Bot http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/team-fortress-2-counter-strike-source-day-defeat-source-updates-released-49359/ First 3:30 of Crysis 2 http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/first-3-30-crysis-2-a-49358/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 20:17:30 GMT ]]> YouTube Links / Funny Videos !! Mk1Eyeball http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/first-3-30-crysis-2-a-49358/ Redknapp relieved to see transfer window shut http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/redknapp-relieved-see-transfer-window-shut-49357/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:20:22 GMT Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp has revealed he was "driven mad" by the transfer window and expressed his relief it is finally closed.



GettyImages

Harry Redknapp is happy to turn his focus back towards winning matches



Spurs made just three additions during the summer but failed in moves for several more and saw a number of their squad touted for moves away, and Redknapp claims he was driven to distraction by the non-stop phonecalls from those either offering him players or wanting to buy his stars.

"I'm glad it's over," he told his club's official website. To be honest, it drives you mad with the phone ringing all day, but I'm certainly happy with where we are at the end of it. We've lots of good players and it will make picking the team difficult at times, but that's a good problem for me to have."

Redknapp left it to the final two weeks of the transfer window before snapping up his first recruit, offering a contract to William Gallas after the defender left Arsenal.

The Spurs boss finally completed a season-long loan move for long-term target Stipe Pletikosa on transfer deadline day, hours before pulling off the last-gasp 8 million capture of Rafael van der Vaart from Real Madrid.

Last month also saw the long-awaited arrival at White Hart Lane of Brazilian midfielder Sandro, who signed in March but was not allowed to move until the end of Internacional's Copa Libertadores campaign.

Redknapp declared himself satisfied with his summer business, saying: "Rafael was a late one, on deadline day, but the chairman said we had a chance to take him and it's a great signing for us.

"He's a good footballer who will settle in here and play well with the likes of Luka Modric, Tom Huddlestone and the players we've got at the club. Sandro's big, strong and a player with a big future. He's in the Brazilian squad now and hopefully he'll be a good player for us.

"I'm delighted to have William, he's a top, top player and he's done everything there is to be done in the game. His experience will be invaluable to us and so important now that Michael Dawson has picked up that unfortunate injury.

"For me, it was a key area and it's a great signing for us, I've absolutely no doubts about that. He's a great professional and I've been really impressed with him. He'll be good for us.

"I thought Stipe was a great loan for us, we couldn't go wrong on that one. We're looking to loan Ben Alnwick out and we needed cover. Carlo Cudicini has just come back from a serious injury and Gomes is also injured at the moment. It was important to get another goalkeeper in.

"Stipe's a top goalkeeper - you don't get all those caps for Croatia otherwise. He's also a great character and I'm sure he'll do well for us."

Redknapp has received a boost over Jermain Defoe's fitness after the striker declared he expected to be available for Saturday's Premier League game at West Brom despite being stretched off during England's 3-1 European Championship qualifying win in Switzerland last night.







More... ]]> Soccer | Futból Soccer News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/redknapp-relieved-see-transfer-window-shut-49357/ Hurd could get $10M bonus from Oracle http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/hurd-could-get-10m-bonus-oracle-49355/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:00:10 GMT Image: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/2010/09/08/technology/oracle_hurd_offer_letter/chart_oracle_hurd.top.gif ... Click chart for more of today's market action. By Blake Ellis, staff reporterSeptember 8, 2010: 12:10 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Oracle Corp. said Wednesday it will pay its new co-president, Mark Hurd, an annual salary of $950,000 and that he could receive a bonus of up to $10 million.

The offer letter, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, comes after software developer Oracle announced late Monday it would hire Hurd, and about a month after his controversial departure from Hewlett-Packard, where he was CEO.

In the letter, Oracle (ORCL, Fortune 500) said Hurd will be eligible for election to the board of directors early next month. Hurd will be responsible for Oracle's global sales, consulting, marketing and support organizations. He will report to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, who publicly slammed HP when the company let go of Hurd.

Hurd will also be granted an initial stock option to purchase 10 million shares, at an exercise price equal to the stock price on the date of the grant. Based on Tuesday's closing price for Oracle, 10 million shares would be priced at $246.2 million. Hurd will also receive options to purchase 5 million shares each year over the next five years.

Oracle's compensation for its top executives is typically lavish. Safra Catz, who will remain co-president alongside Hurd, took home an estimated $36.4 million last year in salary, bonus and options -- down from the $42.3 million she collected a year earlier. Charles Phillips, who resigned as an Oracle co-president on Monday to make room for Hurd, made $30 million last year.

But Hurd's hiring process isn't over. Late Tuesday, HP (HPQ, Fortune 500), which competes with Oracle in markets including computer servers and software, filed a lawsuit against Hurd to block him from joining Oracle.

HP said in court documents that Hurd has put its "most valuable trade secrets and confidential information in peril."

Hurd resigned suddenly from HP early last month. HP claims that he failed to tell the board about a "personal relationship" with actress Jodie Fisher, who was working as a marketing contractor for the company.

When Hurd left HP, he received $12 million in cash and kept a large part of his stock and options.

CNNMoney's Julianne Pepitone contributed to this report.*





More... ]]> Technology News Technology News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/hurd-could-get-10m-bonus-oracle-49355/ <![CDATA[Google launches live-updating 'Instant' search]]> http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/google-launches-live-updating-instant-search-49354/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:00:10 GMT By Julianne Pepitone...]]> By Julianne Pepitone, staff reporterSeptember 8, 2010: 2:34 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- One of the Internet's most iconic images -- Google's search screen -- is being overhauled.

On Wednesday the company launched Google Instant, a live-updating service that aims to shave seconds off the typical search time. The update began hitting users' computers about an hour before a scheduled Google press event to unveil the change.

Now, when users search Google, the results are refined in real time as more keywords are added. The search box jumps to the top of the search page and results appear in a constantly changing list. Users can select the right site if it catches their eye before they finish typing.

Google predicts Instant can save 2-5 seconds on a typical search, which now averages 9 seconds. The update will be available on Google's Chrome 5 and 6, Firefox 3, Safari 5 for Mac and Internet Explorer 8.

"Welcome to Google Instant," a blue box tells users. "Feelings of weightlessness and euphoria are normal. Do not be alarmed."

The box links to an announcement from Google, which says it is "pushing the limits of our technology and infrastructure" to make search faster. Search result rankings will remain the same.

"People type slowly, but read quickly, typically taking 300 milliseconds between keystrokes, but only 30 milliseconds (a tenth of the time!) to glance at another part of the page," Google wrote. "This means that you can scan a results page while you type."

Google reads your mind: "There's a psychic element to it," Marissa Mayer, Google's vice president of search product and user experience, said at the launch event at San Francisco's Museum of Modern Art. "We can predict what you're likely to type."

Mayer joked about an old Google April Fool's Day gag, in which the company said "Google Mentalplex" would figure out what users wanted before they typed it.

"Just 10 years later, it's actually possible," Mayer said.

In her demonstration, Mayer noted that Google Instant shows in black the text the user typed, while "the prediction" text appears in gray.

Google foreshadowed that change Wednesday morning with a new Google doodle that changed from gray to color as a user typed. It followed an interactive doodle on Tuesday that Google called "fast, fun and interactive, just the way we think search should be."

Google's goal is to get users to the right content "much faster than before," so that they they don't have to finish typing fill search terms, or even click the "search" button, to see results.

"In time, we may wonder how search ever worked in any other way," Google (GOOG, Fortune 500) said.

More than a decade after its now-famous search engine launched, Google is determined to keep its core technology fresh. The company has made 500 changes to its search engine so far in 2010, Mayer said. More than 1 billion users now visit the site each week.

But if any of them don't like the new look, they can turn it off -- a button next to the search box offers that option.

The search giant's Twitter stream expanded on tips for making Google Instant even faster. Typing "w" now delivers local weather results in one keystroke.

Google Instant isn't yet available on mobile devices, but the company plans to release it soon.*





More... ]]> Technology News Technology News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/google-launches-live-updating-instant-search-49354/ Women.. I tell ya. http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/once-upon-time-my-screwed-up-life-35/women-i-tell-ya-49352/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 18:14:34 GMT Nature tried SEVEN times to kill this man. Guess what actually did. Roy Sullivan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia... Nature tried SEVEN times to kill this man. Guess what actually did.

Roy Sullivan - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


She was prolly afraid she would get hit by lightning if she stayed with him. ]]> Once upon a time...in my screwed up life... NG.The Reverend http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/once-upon-time-my-screwed-up-life-35/women-i-tell-ya-49352/ My headset broke http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/sound-devices-microphones-144/my-headset-broke-49351/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 17:21:38 GMT Like the title says the plastic over the head piece of my headset broke. I currently have it scotch taped together. Im not ordering another headset... Like the title says the plastic over the head piece of my headset broke. I currently have it scotch taped together. Im not ordering another headset ill just go get it at best buy. Now the question is other than the $150 and up(meaning i want to spend less than $150) group, which ones are good ? ]]> Sound Devices and Microphones AK47 http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/sound-devices-microphones-144/my-headset-broke-49351/ Johnson hails belief in new-look England side http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/johnson-hails-belief-new-look-england-side-49348/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:55:31 GMT England's new midfield talent Adam Johnson says the country are "full of confidence" after starting their Euro 2012 qualifying campaign with two comfortable victories over Bulgaria and Switzerland.



MichaelRegan/GettyImages

Adam Johnson fires in England's second



•*Euro 2012 qualifying round-up
•*Euro 2012 qualifying gallery
•*Gerrard: We tore Swiss apart

After a dismal World Cup campaign, Capello and his players have been under considerable pressure to deliver for their supporters and Tuesday's impressive 3-1 victory in Switzerland built on a 4-0 victory over Bulgaria at Wembley on Friday.

Memories of that insipid campaign in South Africa are fading, not least thanks to the contributions of a fresh clutch of players led by Johnson, who has scored in both games as a substitute and on Tuesday produced a dazzling display.

The Manchester City winger says the national side is full of belief once again and that taking maximum points from two games has put England in a favourable position.

"We've come off the back of two great wins and everyone is happy," Johnson said. "It's a great two results and we're looking forward to meeting up again full of confidence.

"Coming into the qualifying group, there was a lot of pressure on us. I think with two wins, we're top of the group, we're full of confidence and we want to push on."

Johnson started the game on the bench but replaced the injured Theo Walcott early in the first half and looked dangerous when cutting in from the right wing onto his favoured left foot.

The City midfielder now hopes he can secure a regular starting place under Capello, having scored two goals in four appearances for his country.

"The aim is to make a contribution," he said. "You're disappointed not to be starting. "You want to do your best when you come on and try to push to get into the starting XI.

"I've tried to do that and I've got a couple of goals to show my efforts but it's up to the manager."

Darren Bent was another player who was disappointed to miss out on the World Cup but the Sunderland striker also scored after coming on as a substitute against Switzerland to claim his first international goal. Bent knows he has to keep on scoring for his club if he is to give himself the best chance of enjoying a regular place at international level.

"I never thought my England chances would fade, as long as my Premier League form is good, international football will never be too far away," Bent said. "I started the season like I finished last season. It is frustrating sometimes but I have to keep going and work hard.

"When the chances come, you have to take them. My mum and dad, from when I could kick a ball until now, were my driving force. When I get on the coach I will phone them. Dad knows his stuff as he played football when younger. He always said never give up."







More... ]]> Soccer | Futból Soccer News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/johnson-hails-belief-new-look-england-side-49348/ HP sues Hurd to stop him from joining Oracle http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/hp-sues-hurd-stop-him-joining-oracle-49347/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 06:55:31 GMT By Julianne Pepitone (julianne.pepitone@turner.com), staff reporterSeptember 7, 2010: 4:58 PM ET NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) --...]]> By Julianne Pepitone, staff reporterSeptember 7, 2010: 4:58 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Hewlett-Packard has filed a lawsuit against Mark Hurd, its former chief executive, to block him from joining Oracle as co-president.

Oracle (ORCL, Fortune 500) announced late Monday that it had hired Hurd, and that he will sit on the company's board of directors. In court documents filed on Tuesday in California, HP said it believes Hurd has put its "most valuable trade secrets and confidential information in peril."

Oracle and HP compete in markets including computer servers and data storage.

HP (HPQ, Fortune 500) didn't have an explicit non-compete clause in its employment contact with Hurd, who stepped down last month in the wake of a sex scandal. Such clauses are typically very hard to enforce in California, where Hurd lives and where both companies are based.

"In California, non-compete clauses are generally null and void," said Nancy Abrolat, an employment lawyer at Abrolat & Associates in California. "Some other states do allow those kinds of restrictions, but California's statute against them is pretty straightforward."

But HP did have confidentiality agreements that Hurd signed annually, and the $12.2 million severance deal he struck requires him to continue abiding by those agreements. Those trade-secret "protective covenants," quoted in HP's lawsuit, require that for 24 months after leaving HP Hurd refrain from "conflicting business activities" with HP rivals that would result in the disclosure of confidential information.

HP thinks that's inevitable if Hurd joins Oracle.

"Hurd's position as a President and a member of the Board of Directors for Oracle puts HP's trade secrets and confidential information in jeopardy," the company wrote in its legal filing. "He will be responsible, in whole or in part, for the direction of the company. As a competitor of HP, he will necessarily call upon HP's trade secrets and confidential information in performing his job duties for Oracle."

Hurd's confidentiality agreement also prohibits him from communicating on behalf of an HP rival with any HP customer he had business contact with in the past two years. But because of California's employee-friendly non-compete rules, the deal has an exemption: As long as Hurd remains a California resident, he can have any contact he wants with customers that isn't made with the "unauthorized assistance" of confidential HP information.

Even if HP is able to constrain Hurd's activities for the next year, Oracle may have decided it's worth snapping Hurd up now and waiting out the restrictions. In Oracle's announcement of Hurd's hiring, co-president Safra Catz said she looked forward to working with him working with him "for years to come."

Oracle did not respond to a request for comment on the lawsuit.

It's another twist in the ongoing dramatic saga that began early last month with Hurd's sudden resignation. HP executives said Hurd, who is married, failed to tell the board about a "personal relationship" with Jodie Fisher, an actress who was working as a female marketing contractor for the company.

Fisher later came forward and said there had been no sexual relationship, but the HP board said that Hurd violated the company's code of ethics by filing inaccurate expense account reports in a bid to keep the relationship secret.

Hurd's insider access: HP's lawsuit alleges that Hurd, along with the rest of HP's board of directors, received a "highly competitive internal analysis of Oracle" in March. It noted that Hurd was in charge of developing strategic plans "to compete against HP's competitors, including Oracle."

HP's complaint also blasted Hurd for "failure to provide notice of [his new position] before it was publicly announced by Oracle."

Hurd had been credited with reviving HP following the tumultuous tenure of his predecessor, Carly Fiorina. HP shares have more than doubled since he took the reins in April 2005.

In his statement announcing Hurd's new position, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison slammed HP's decision to force its chief out.

"Mark did a brilliant job at HP and I expect he'll do even better at Oracle," Ellison said. "There is no executive in the IT world with more relevant experience than Mark."

In ane-mail to the New York Times last month, Ellison called HP's move "the worst personnel decision since the idiots on the Apple board fired Steve Jobs many years ago."*





More... ]]> Technology News Technology News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/hp-sues-hurd-stop-him-joining-oracle-49347/ Weeeee! Weee Weee Weeeeeee!. . . . . http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/weeeee-weee-weee-weeeeeee-49343/ Wed, 08 Sep 2010 01:20:26 GMT ]]> YouTube Links / Funny Videos !! PetRaccoon http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/weeeee-weee-weee-weeeeeee-49343/ Midweek Madness Sale - Puzzle Quest 2 at 33% OFF http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/midweek-madness-sale-puzzle-quest-2-33-off-49337/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 19:12:47 GMT Save 33% on Puzzle Quest 2 during the Midweek Madness Sale. Hurry, as the offer end Thursday, September 9th, 2010 at 4PM Pacific Time.





More... ]]> Steam News Steam News Bot http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/midweek-madness-sale-puzzle-quest-2-33-off-49337/ Ass chumps http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/introduce-yourself-344/ass-chumps-49335/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:16:49 GMT I'm back, well, kinda... we'll see how this goes.. how many old fucks still play on here. Seeing if you guys are still worthy of my existence. ]]> Introduce Yourself abc http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/introduce-yourself-344/ass-chumps-49335/ Houllier set to be confirmed as new Villa boss http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/houllier-set-confirmed-new-villa-boss-49334/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:01:20 GMT Gerard Houllier is set to be confirmed as the new manager of Aston Villa this week, with L'Equipe reporting that he has agreed a two-year contract with the Premier League club.



PA Photos

Villa fans have voiced opposition to Gerard Houllier's expected appointment



• Villa await Houllier response
•*Blog: Houllier would be boost for Villa

After spells managing Liverpool and Lyon, Houllier is currently the technical director for the French national team, but he has scheduled a meeting with French Football Federation president Fernando Duchaussoy to follow Tuesday's Euro 2012 qualifier against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

"I will meet Wednesday to take stock of the situation with him," Duchaussoy told reporters. "I'll ask him. I would like to continue working with him."

Houllier, 63, is set to confirm that he is leaving the role to take charge at Villa Park, despite opposition from the club's supporters.

Kevin MacDonald, who has taken charge of Villa on a caretaker basis since the shock resignation of Martin O'Neill, has impressed owner Randy Lerner and could stay on as Houllier's assistant, a first-team coach or return to being in charge of the first-team.

MacDonald, as well as Alan Curbishley, had been interviewed for the manager's post, but Houllier emerged as the leading candidate.

Meanwhile, Villa midfielder Steve Sidwell is closing in on a return to fitness after missing the first five games of the season. Sidwell played 90 minutes for the reserves against Blackpool on Monday.







More... ]]> Soccer | Futból Soccer News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/houllier-set-confirmed-new-villa-boss-49334/ Startups flock to Twitter headquarters http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/startups-flock-twitter-headquarters-49333/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:01:20 GMT Image: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/2010/09/07/technology/twitter_startups/klout.top.jpg *Klout founder Joe Fernandez (standing) shares office... Klout founder Joe Fernandez (standing) shares office space with several other startups also building around Twitter's platform.By Laurie Segall, CNNSeptember 7, 2010: 9:19 AM ET
SAN FRANCISCO (CNNMoney.com) -- Sharing ideas and office space in the tech field are as common as sharing APIs, but the collaborative spirit runs especially deep at San Francisco's 795 Folsom Road.

The building houses Twitter, the epicenter of the social networking boom. The fast-growing company has expanded across two separate floors, but it's also sent off some unofficial tentacles. Startups Plancast, Klout, and Storify -- all of which build their own applications atop Twitter's platform -- have set up shop on the ground floor.

For Klout founder Joe Fernandez, the location was no accident: "I originally rented this office and chose it specifically because Twitter was in the building," he says. "I had started Klout in New York City and moved to San Francisco, figuring that if we were going to take a risk and build our company on their platform that it was important to try and be best friends with them."

The office's newer arrivals get to take advantage of that foresight. "We would have moved in there anyway because it was a nice space with other startups, but it certainly was a bonus to be close to Twitter so we could meet with them easily," says Plancast founder Mark Hendrickson.

Their open, shared space looks like the archetypical tech startup pad. Wires are scattered everywhere, skateboards resting against tables topped with giant-screened Macs, and whiteboards covered in scrawled notes dot the walls.

Burt Herman of Storify, a fledgling site that aims to curate social media, says the proximity has helped his company out in its developing stages.

"It's great to be in the same building as Twitter. We can go and talk to them about any issues we have as far as using their platform," Herman says. "We can learn from the other startups here and get help and collaborate."

It's not the first time startups building around a common platform have aggregated in the same spot. Red-hot during the dot-com era -- and then ice-cold the minute the bubble popped -- incubators have come back into vogue recently. Software developer Salesforce.com (CRM) was an early evangelist. Three years ago, it launched an incubator program for startups creating applications for its AppExchange marketplace.

CEO Mark Benioff offered up space in a building that also housed Salesforce.com offices, with the idea that access and proximity would help emerging companies flourish.

Chris Barbin is the founder of Appirio, one of nearly a dozen startups that launched within Salesforce.com's incubator. "Being in the flow of their day-to-day was very powerful," he says. "When we started in the incubator there were literally four of us."

Appirio, which offers software and services for companies adopting remotely hosted "cloud" computing systems, now has 200 employees and $17 million from venture capitalists. Face time with Salesforce.com execs -- plus access to the company's sales and marketing teams -- was a key advantage in building the company, Barbin says.

"The opportunities we've seen have definitely been accelerated by the presence here," he said. As the startup established itself, it left the AppExchange program, but still remains in the building.

Salesforce.com seems to have quietly ended its incubator program. Company representatives won't comment on its status, and point instead to their other developer and partner programs.

Like the ventures they nurture, incubators sometimes flare brightly and then fade away.

Facebook launched an incubator last summer, fbFundREV, through which it directly funded and mentored startups building around the Facebook platform. The 20 chosen companies shared office space for 12 weeks in Palo Alto, Calif.

Mark Schmulen, CEO and co-founder of Nutshellmail, credits the program with making his company a success. Nutshellmail, which sends subscribers a summary e-mail tracking all kinds of news and events from their Facebook stream in one snapshot, was acquired by marketing company Constant Contact soon after its Facebook summer.

"I can't tell you how much we learned," Schmulen says. "It wasn't just what we learned, or that we could pick up the phone and talk to someone at Facebook, but what it did for us was it got us out here to this ecosystem and gave us credibility."

But Facebook put the incubator on hold, opting not to run a second session of it this summer. The company recently teamed up with seed venture firm Y Combinator for a new startup support program that will be "slightly more arms-length" than its previous efforts, according to Carl Sjogreen, Facebook's manager of platform products. Through that partnership, Facebook will offer companies inside access, development support and an advance look at new features.

While the startups that aggregated at 795 Folsom Road did it organically, the perks of developing your startup in close proximity to its major platform add up fast.

"At least once a week something comes up where being able to jump in the elevator and talk to someone in person is a huge advantage for us," says Klout's Fernandez.

And as ventures grow, those benefits can even start flowing back in the other direction. Referring to his marketing firm's splashy new client, Fernandez says: "It's funny -- now that we are doing exciting things like the Virgin America campaign, I think Twitter likes having us close by, too."*





More... ]]> Technology News Technology News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/startups-flock-twitter-headquarters-49333/ Is Mark Hurd really worth $6 billion to Oracle? http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/mark-hurd-really-worth-6-billion-oracle-49332/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 18:01:20 GMT Image: http://i2.cdn.turner.com/money/2010/09/07/technology/thebuzz/chart_ws_stock_oraclecorp.top.png *Oracle has trounced the rest of the tech... Oracle has trounced the rest of the tech sector during the past seven years as the company's hectic dealmaking pace paid off.By Paul R. La Monica, editor at large September 7, 2010: 12:43 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- If it weren't insulting enough that Oracle CEO Larry Ellison publicly blasted Hewlett-Packard for letting Mark Hurd go, it now turns out that HP's loss is Oracle's gain.

The news that the former HP CEO is joining the business software giant as a co-president sent shares of Oracle surging 5% Tuesday. That bump added more than $6 billion to Oracle's market value.

HP, on the other hand, was down about 1% Tuesday. Its shares have fallen nearly 14% since Hurd's shocking resignation last month in the midst of a sex/expense reports scandal.

But are investors getting overly excited about Hurd? There appear to be two reasons why the market is so jazzed about Hurd joining Oracle (ORCL, Fortune 500).

The first is the hope that Hurd, thanks to the hardware experience he has from his years at HP (HPQ, Fortune 500), can help revitalize the server business of Sun Microsystems, which Oracle agreed to buy last year.

That may be easier said than done.

"The stock's move today is a bit ahead of itself. Mark is a great executive, but I'm not sure he can drive that quick of a turnaround in the Sun business," said Brad Reback, an analyst with Oppenheimer & Co.

The second cause for enthusiasm is the possibility that Hurd may one day succeed Oracle co-founder and CEO Larry Ellison in the top spot. But there's a problem with that thinking: Ellison would have to leave first. And barring his untimely demise, it's doubtful that will happen.

Mind you, that may not be a bad thing.

During the past decade, Ellison -- along with Oracle's other co-president Safra Catz -- have transformed the once-sleepy database software developer into a one-stop tech powerhouse that rivals not just software competitors SAP (SAP) and Microsoft (MSFT, Fortune 500) but also more diversified hardware/software hybrids like IBM (IBM, Fortune 500) and, yup, HP.

Since Oracle launched its stunning acquisition spree with a hostile takeover bid for PeopleSoft in June 2003, shares of the company have nearly doubled. The Nasdaq, by way of comparison, is up less than 40% during the same timeframe.

Hurd's arrival might be a sign that Oracle is not done shopping yet. Stuart Williams, director of software research with Technology Business Research in Hampton, N.H., said that he would not be surprised if Oracle soon looked to buy a storage company.

"This clearly signals Oracle wanted someone with demonstrated experience in transforming hardware businesses," he said. "Hurd brings with him a lot of investor goodwill from his performance at HP. He has closed several large acquisitions, and that speaks volumes about where Oracle might be going in the future."

But how long will Hurd really stick around at Oracle? Just a month ago, he was one of the most celebrated CEOs in Silicon Valley. Will he be content as the number 2 -- or number 3 if you take into account Catz's seniority -- to Ellison?

"We do not believe that this transition will materially affect the roles of what we view as the two most important executives at Oracle at this time -- Mr. Ellison and Ms. Catz," wrote J.P. Morgan analyst John DiFucci in a report Tuesday.

Questions about Oracle's succession plan are hardly new. The combination of Ellison's strong personality and his lack of desire to sail off into the sunset (literally, as he's an avid yachtsman) has led to a revolving door of high-profile executives who were once assumed to be candidates for the CEO spot.

That list includes Ray Lane, Gary Bloom, Marc Benioff, Craig Conway, Tom Siebel, Harry You, Greg Maffei and now, ex-Oracle co-president Chuck Phillips, who is leaving to make way for Hurd.

Of course, Phillips had a sex scandal that dwarfed Hurd's -- also literally. A former paramour of Phillips had billboards put up in New York, Atlanta and San Francisco earlier this year that showed her with the married Phillips, complete with an an alleged quote from Phillips proclaiming her his "soulmate forever."

But it's telling that only Catz been willing to stick around by Ellison's side for the long haul.

What happens if 2013 rolls around and Ellison still wants to remain Oracle's Big Kahuna? Even though Ellison is 66 years old, it would not be a shock if he wanted to lead the company for the next decade or longer.

"I am not sure Hurd is an heir apparent. Larry is not going anywhere anytime soon," Reback said. "I think Larry likes what he's doing and has no interest in doing anything else."

So investors who are buying Oracle today need to temper their expectations a bit. For now, it looks like Hurd is merely being brought in to lead the still-small hardware side of Oracle's business -- not to be the new Larry Ellison.

- The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of Paul R. La Monica. Other than Time Warner, the parent of CNNMoney.com, La Monica does not own positions in any individual stocks. *





More... ]]> Technology News Technology News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/mark-hurd-really-worth-6-billion-oracle-49332/ Boy Scouts being helpful http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/boy-scouts-being-helpful-49329/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 08:16:51 GMT ]]> YouTube Links / Funny Videos !! Mk1Eyeball http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/boy-scouts-being-helpful-49329/ Ancelotti backs Capello over Rooney decision http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/ancelotti-backs-capello-over-rooney-decision-49327/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:40:32 GMT Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti (http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/manager?id=96) has backed Fabio Capello... Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti has backed Fabio Capello's decision to stick with troubled England striker Wayne Rooney for Tuesday night's Euro 2012 qualifier in Switzerland despite allegations about the player's private life.



GettyImages

Wayne Rooney: Has issues of the pitch



•*Capello: Rooney will play
•*Rooney to remain with England squad
•*Preview: Switzerland v England
•*Milner: England will emerge stronger
•*Johnson out to become stalwart
•*Forum: What now for Rooney?

On Sunday, it was reported in the UK press that the Manchester United star had sex with a prostitute while his wife Coleen was pregnant with their son. Rather than return home to his partner, Rooney opted to stay on with the England team and is set to start in Basel.

Ancelotti had to deal with scandals in the private lives of two of his Chelsea players last season - John Terry and Ashley Cole. Although Terry was stripped of the England captaincy by Capello and Cole eventually ended up getting divorced from his wife, both maintained their form on the pitch.

Ancelotti believes top players are able to separate personal problems in their private life from their job on the pitch and only if their behaviour impacts on the team is it necessary to take action.

"A coach has to look if this problem is involved on the training ground and if the players are able to maintain this problem outside of the training ground," Ancelotti said. "The coach can do just that."

"This is personal behaviour that refers to the personal character of the people; if they can separate the things.

"A top player is able to do this. It is possible I think. It was a fantastic example by John Terry and Ashley Cole last season."

Rooney has found himself in the centre of a storm since the allegations came to light and there had been speculation that he would not feature in the Euro 2012 qualifier, but Capello has confirmed the striker is "happy to play".

Since moving to England at the start of the 2009-10 season, Ancelotti has been struck by the incredible level of interest in players' lives and it is one of the few things about English football the Premier League and FA Cup winning manager has struggled to come to terms with.

He said: "I don't understand because there is so much interest in the [personal] life of the player. I know they have to show an image outside of the training ground but it's strange for me that there is this interest.

"I'm not interested if a player goes to sleep at eight o'clock or 12 o'clock. I'm only interested if a player can do 100% when they are training. I didn't control, when I was in Italy, what happened outside the training ground."



•*Ancelotti was speaking at the launch of his autobiography The Beautiful Games of an Ordinary Genius, the proceeds of which will go to the Fondazione Stefano Borgonovo for the funding of research on amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.






More... ]]> Soccer | Futból Soccer News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/ancelotti-backs-capello-over-rooney-decision-49327/ Mark Hurd lands at Oracle http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/mark-hurd-lands-oracle-49326/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:40:32 GMT By CNNMoney staffSeptember 6, 2010: 10:10 PM ET NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Mark Hurd, who abruptly resigned...]]> By CNNMoney staffSeptember 6, 2010: 10:10 PM ET
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Mark Hurd, who abruptly resigned last month as chief executive of Hewlett-Packard, has landed at another big tech company.

Oracle Corp. (ORCL, Fortune 500) announced late Monday that it had hired Hurd as president, and that Hurd will sit on the company's board of directors.

Also on Monday, Oracle said that Charles Phillips had resigned his post as president and his seat on the board. Phillips had been a key member of Oracle's executive team since 2003.

Hurd will report to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison.

"Mark did a brilliant job at HP and I expect he'll do even better at Oracle," Ellison said in a statement. "There is no executive in the IT world with more relevant experience than Mark."

Ellison publicly stood behind Hurd and blasted the HP (HPQ, Fortune 500) board after Hurd's Aug. 6 exit.

At the time of his departure, Hewlett-Packard executives said that Hurd, who is married, failed to tell the board about a personal relationship with a female marketing contractor hired by his office. He filed inaccurate expense account reports in a bid to keep the relationship secret, HP said.

Jodie Fisher, an actress who had been employed as a contractor for HP, subsequently came forward and said that there had been no sexual relationship between them.

Hurd was credited with reviving Hewlett-Packard following the tumultuous tenure of his predecessor, Carly Fiorina.

"As Oracle continues to grow we need people experienced in operating a $100 billion business," said Safra Catz, also an Oracle president.*





More... ]]> Technology News Technology News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/technology-news-181/mark-hurd-lands-oracle-49326/ Almost Easy Drum Cover http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/almost-easy-drum-cover-49325/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 04:27:19 GMT My nephew doing Avenged Sevenfold's Almost Easy drum cover. Hes almost 15 and i think if he keeps going this route he could easily be in a big name band someday.

]]> YouTube Links / Funny Videos !! AK47 http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/almost-easy-drum-cover-49325/ Epic Mind Test http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/jokes-riddles-111/epic-mind-test-49322/ Tue, 07 Sep 2010 02:37:57 GMT Image: http://i52.tinypic.com/2yz0kus.jpg ]]> cyberpope http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/jokes-riddles-111/epic-mind-test-49322/ Weeklong Sale - Football Manager 2010 at 50% Off http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/weeklong-sale-football-manager-2010-50-off-49320/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 23:42:33 GMT Save big on Football Manager 2010. Purchase before September 13th, 2010 and receive 50% off!





More... ]]> Steam News Steam News Bot http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/weeklong-sale-football-manager-2010-50-off-49320/ The way to drink beer in Canada http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/way-drink-beer-canada-49319/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:45:24 GMT ]]> YouTube Links / Funny Videos !! SmoKe http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/way-drink-beer-canada-49319/ The New Captain America Penny http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/off-topic-119/new-captain-america-penny-49312/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:46:17 GMT Image: http://img841.imageshack.us/img841/7929/lincoln.png i think this penny looks cool. what do you guys think?

i think this penny looks cool. what do you guys think? ]]> OFF TOPIC !! cyberpope http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/off-topic-119/new-captain-america-penny-49312/ Steam client update released http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/steam-client-update-released-49311/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:40:05 GMT A Steam client update is now available. To apply the update, click the File menu inside of Steam and then select "Check for Steam Client Updates...". The specific changes include:Steam


  • Fix selection highlighting of hyperlink text in chat
  • Compatibility fix for Steam Service and MS KB2264107 with 0xFFFFFFFF registry setting
  • Fixed issue with Steam Cloud that occurs when a game is launched outside of Steam
  • Compatibility fix for in-game overlay and MS KB2264107 with 0xFFFFFFFF registry setting
  • Steamworks fix for matchmaking




More... ]]> Steam News Steam News Bot http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/steam-client-update-released-49311/ Chime Released on Steam http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/chime-released-steam-49310/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 19:40:05 GMT Sorry, readability was unable to parse this page for content. More... (http://store.steampowered.com/news/4307/) Sorry, readability was unable to parse this page for content.



More... ]]> Steam News Steam News Bot http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/chime-released-steam-49310/ Hai http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/introduce-yourself-344/hai-49309/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:57:32 GMT
Sup guise




Watch more video games and play free games at WeGame.
]]> Introduce Yourself http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/introduce-yourself-344/hai-49309/ Top 100 YouTube in 3 mins http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/top-100-youtube-3-mins-49308/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 18:39:59 GMT ]]> YouTube Links / Funny Videos !! Dirt http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/youtube-links-funny-videos-36/top-100-youtube-3-mins-49308/ Shoulder injury rules Kuyt out for Netherlands http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/shoulder-injury-rules-kuyt-out-netherlands-49306/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 17:30:09 GMT Liverpool forward Dirk Kuyt has been ruled out of Netherlands' Euro 2012 qualifier against Finland with a shoulder problem.



GettyImages

Dirk Kuyt scored the first goal in Netherlands 5-0 win against San Marino



Oranje coach Bert van Marwijk claimed that Kuyt, who scored the opening goal in Netherlands' 5-0 rout of San Marino on Friday, had "strained and possibly torn ligaments in his shoulder" after falling awkwardly during training.

And Van Marwijk revealed that he expected the injury to rule the 30-year-old out for a few weeks.

"He will probably have a few weeks off and at 4pm today he will step on to the plane to Liverpool", Van Marwijk told De Telegraaf on Monday.

Liverpool have as yet refused to comment on the injury, as Kuyt is expected to undergo further tests with the club's medical staff to determine the full extent of the problem.











More... ]]> Soccer | Futból Soccer News http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/soccer-futbol-116/shoulder-injury-rules-kuyt-out-netherlands-49306/ Puzzle Quest 2 Update Released http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/puzzle-quest-2-update-released-49305/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 16:50:19 GMT Sorry, readability was unable to parse this page for content. More... (http://store.steampowered.com/news/4305/) Sorry, readability was unable to parse this page for content.



More... ]]> Steam News Steam News Bot http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/steam-news-177/puzzle-quest-2-update-released-49305/ Maldito Alcohol - New Pitbull joint http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/general-music-327/maldito-alcohol-new-pitbull-joint-49304/ Mon, 06 Sep 2010 12:39:49 GMT ]]> General Music adamnp http://www.noobgalore.us/forums/general-music-327/maldito-alcohol-new-pitbull-joint-49304/