Google News Shuts Down in Spain (PCMagazine)

• BY STEPHANIE MLOT
• DECEMBER 11, 2014

Rather than pay to include content from Spanish publishers on Google News, Google will close up shop there instead.

Google News is shutting its doors in Spain to avoid a new set of fees being imposed in the country.

Starting in January, new legislation will require every Spanish publication to charge services like Google News for showing even a snippet of their articles. But Google will pull Spanish publishers from Google News and shut down the service in the region effective Dec. 16.

"As Google News itself makes no money (we do not show any advertising on the site) this new approach is simply not sustainable," Google News head Richard Gingras wrote in a blog post.

"For centuries publishers were limited in how widely they could distribute the printed page. The Internet changed all that," Gingras said. "Creating tremendous opportunities but also real challenges for publishers as competition both for readers' attention and for advertising Euros increased."

"We're committed to helping the news industry meet that challenge," he added, "and look forward to continuing to work with our thousands of partners globally, as well as in Spain, to help them increase their online readership and revenues."

Google's News service launched in September 2002, following an increased interest in news after the Sept. 11 attacks a year earlier. At the time, the tech giant invested in technology to help people search for and browse news items from various sources. In the 12 years since its launch, Google News has grown to include 72 different editions, presented in 30 languages, which draw from more than 50,000 news sources.

Google faced a similar battle in Germany this year, though inclusion in Google News there is at the discretion of the publisher. On Oct. 9, pages associated with certain media groups—namely Axel Springer, one of the largest digital publishers in Europe—started appearing only with a headline and direct link. Other German publishers not ensnared in the fight, like Der Spiegel, continued to have the usual blurbs and thumbnail images accompany their search results.

About a month later, though, Axel Springer was back, since removing snippets from Google News prompted a big drop in traffic to its newspapers' sites.

With $2 Gas, the Toyota Prius Is for Drivers Who Stink at Math (BusnessWeek)

By Kyle Stock  December 10, 2014

There’s a big discount on driving these days, thanks to the drill-baby-drill refrain at OPEC that's echoed in Texas and North Dakota. The savings are most concentrated for those driving cars with old-fashioned combustion engines. A road trip in a Ford F-150 pickup from New York to Los Angeles costs about $292 at the moment, roughly $84 less than it did just two years ago. A stop for gas in the middle of the country will cost less than $2 per gallon.

All this is a major problem for anyone trying to sell hybrid and electric vehicles. Electric engines and their massive batteries have never been cheap. A big part of the sales equation—savings at the fuel pump—has virtually vanished.

To get a sense of just how much the market for efficient vehicles may be crimped by falling gas prices, we did some hypothetical comparison shopping. The contenders included: the Chevrolet Cruze, a fairly efficient gas-powered compact car; the Toyota Prius, the most popular hybrid in the country; and the Nissan Leaf, the most popular all-electric car in the country. All these cars have four doors, little trunks, and not much else. Our analysis was based on the cost of each car, its federal “combined” mileage rating, and the annual miles logged by the average U.S. driver (13,476 by the Federal Highway Administration's count). We also factored in federal tax credits for the Prius ($2,500) and the Leaf ($7,500).

The takeaway: Toyota should hope that Prius-curious shoppers don’t pull out a calculator.

It would take almost 30 years of fuel savings from the hybrid Prius to cover its price premium over the little Chevy Cruze, although that doesn't account for the Chevy buyer making savvy investments with her savings in the meantime. It doesn't matter, since we will all be flying around in futuristic Teslas before the Prius pays off. The all-electric Nissan gets a lot closer: The Leaf, without any gas stops, takes just 3.8 years on the road to beat the cheaper sticker price of the Cruze.

The Cruze gets a respectable 30 miles per gallon of combined highway and city driving, but its real strength is relative affordability. Without a second engine and a massive battery, the average Cruze had a $21,322 sticker price last month, compared with almost $31,973 for a Prius and $32,933 for a Leaf. Even after federal tax breaks, Cruze buyers start with an advantage of $8,151 over the Prius and $4,111 over the Leaf. That’s a lot of gas money.

For the 13 states with no hybrid incentives, this is where the equation stops. The electric engines can catch up a bit more in places that have state and local incentives for efficient vehicles. Car shoppers will have to do some homework because the range on incentives is quite broad. Arizona gives a $75 tax break to drivers who install a charging outlet in their home. At the other end of the spectrum, Colorado offers up to $6,000 in tax credits via a formula that takes into account the purchase price of the vehicle and its battery size.

A Leaf in the Rocky Mountains, for example, is cheaper than the Cruze before it even leaves the lot. The Prius, however, still has trouble keeping up. Its tax credit in the state of Colorado would cover onlyabout a year’s worth of gas in a similar nonhybrid vehicle.

Of course, several factors were left out of this analysis: the cost of replacing an electric engine battery, the possibility that gas prices may climb again, and the value one puts on simply burning less carbon. Plenty of people will quibble with whether the Cruze is a worthy comparison, and there are still the weighty questions of how much governments will sweeten incentives for electric engine customers and how fast the cost of high-tech batteries will fall in the not-to-distant future.

But most people weighing a small car purchase at the moment are likely doing just this kind of back-of-the-envelope calculations. The Leaf makes a compelling argument, even if it can  go only 84 miles between charges. The Prius math, on the other hand, is particularly unappealing while gas is cheap. And that Dodge Challenger Hellcat, with its 707 horses burning 16 miles-per-gallon? That muscle car is looking more prudent than ever.

Stock is an associate editor for Businessweek.com. Twitter: @kylestock

Uber Faces Bans in Spain, Thailand as Portland Sues (PCmagazine)

• BY CHLOE ALBANESIUS
• DECEMBER 9, 2014

Portland has filed suit against Uber, just as the app-based car service is banned in Spain and Thailand

Uber's lawyers will certainly be busy this week.

After the app-based car service launched illegally in Portland last week, the city has hit back with a lawsuit. And today, officials in Spain and Thailand banned Uber.

All that, meanwhile, follows a suspension of service in New Delhi, India after a female passenger accused her Uber driver of rape.

In Spain, a judge today said that Uber drivers "lack the administrative authorization to carry out the job, and the activity they carry out constitutes unfair competition,"according to the BBC. The move came after complaints from the Madrid Taxi Association.

In Thailand, meanwhile, the country's Department of Land Transport took issue with the fact that drivers did not have the proper registration to operate commercial vehicles, as well as Uber's payment-processing system, Al Jazeera America said.

Back in the U.S., the City of Portland on Monday filed suit and requested that the judge ban Uber until it is in compliance with local laws.

"Our main concern is public health and safety, because the state invested in the cities the responsibility to do that," Portland Mayor Charlie Hales said in a statement. "Beyond that, though, is the issue of fairness. Taxi cab companies follow rules on public health and safety. So do hotels and restaurants and construction companies and scores of other service providers. Because everyone agrees: good regulations make for a safer community. Uber disagrees, so we're seeking a court injunction."

Uber attempted to launch legally in Portland, but when it could not come to an agreement with officials, it started offering service illegally. The city's Transportation Bureau has since issued two civil penalties: one for operating without a company permit and another for operating without a vehicle permit.

It appears city officials are trying to catch Uber in the act, as a press release mentioned that Uber drivers accepted and then cancelled two rides requested by Portland Bureau of Transportation enforcement officials on Friday night.

In a Friday blog post, Uber said that it was "time to try and bring Uber everywhere – even the cities where we know it's going to be a tough challenge, but where residents have made their voices heard loud and clear – they want job generation, they want choice, they want competition."

"We're eager to work with City and State leaders to bring the impact of the Uber platform to Portland and cut down on drunk driving, serve underserved communities, increase transit to small business and help drive the local economy," Uber concluded.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwBUHazG78Y  

Which Coworkers are the Most Annoying? (Salary.com)

Coworkers. Good ones can be the reason you stay at a job, while horrible colleagues can make every day in the office a living hell from which you’d like nothing more than to escape.

 

If you’ve spent a few years in the ranks of the working class, you’ve no doubt experienced a cornucopia of annoying coworkers. But have you ever wondered which ones are the worst of the bunch? We did, and so I drew on my own experiences and polled other Salary.com workers to come up with the nine most annoying types of coworkers on the planet.

See if you recognize anyone from your office (or yourself) on this list.

9. The Bully

 

Bullying has been a hot issue among teenagers and on school playgrounds across America as of late. But even though it doesn’t get the same play in the media, office bullies are alive and well.

You know the type. They walk around like they’re your boss even though technically they were hired after you and you have the same job title. But that doesn’t stop them from belittling you at every turn and publicly degrading your ideas during brainstorming sessions and team meetings.

Most bullies knock it off when you stand up to them, so take him/her aside and let them know you’re bothered by their behavior. If that doesn’t work, it might be time to get HR involved.

8. The Complainer

Nothing stops success and the free-flowing of good ideas like someone who constantly complains about everything.

The Complainer’s gripes know no bounds. 

They’ll complain about the boss, the company, the workload, the fact that there were only plain doughnuts left in the cafeteria this morning – you name it, they’ll complain about it. The negativity is constant, and the mood of the team (and potentially productivity) will be brought down.

7. The Underminer

This annoying coworker is especially frustrating because he/she will often feign friendship and then stab you in the back five minutes later.

Did you discuss a great idea with a coworker only to see that person steal it and use it as their own? Are you missing meetings because your coworker leading a project keeps “forgetting” to email you the invites? If so, you’re probably dealing with The Bully’s sneaky and conniving cousin – The Underminer.

The most important thing to remember here is that The Underminer sees you as a threat and is genuinely scared of you. Try to keep that in mind and use it to your advantage when dealing with him/her.

6. The Dead Weight

Every coworker should bring unique strengths and special skills to the table. If you’re working in a team environment, you’ll likely use each individual’s strong points for the benefit of the team to get optimal results.

Unless you’re dealing with Dead Weight.

Simply put, The Dead Weight is useless and shows no desire to do anything but the bare minimum. Unhappy in their jobs and checked out long ago, these people have no interest in succeeding at work because all they want to do is just enough not to get fired so they can keep collecting a paycheck. Unfortunately, you usually deal with these people by picking up their slack.

5. The Type A

The polar opposite of The Dead Weight, Type A coworkers are equally annoying at the other end of the spectrum.

Instead of not wanting to do anything, these perfectionists feel the need to do everything themselves. They are total control freaks who feel the only way to do something right is to do it their way. Type A people tend to ignore alternative points of view, and while their bossy ways might make them high-performers, no one else enjoys dealing with them.

4. The One-Upper

You think your accomplishment was a game-changer? I guarantee you The One-Upper did something better. And he’ll gladly tell you all about it in great detail.

You increased sales by 50%? Too bad The One Upper had a 60% spike last quarter? And while it’s very cute that you were Employee of the Month, The One-Upper was Salesman of the Year – for two years in a row. Whether 

these milestones were actually reached or (more likely) The One-Upper is bending the truth a bit, either way it’s obnoxious and can very easily squash morale in a team setting.

3. The Brown-Noser

Some people get ahead by working hard and accomplishing their goals. But The Brown-Noser advances by puckering up to the boss’ backside, or even by engaging in an office romance.

This person does perfectly mediocre work and doesn’t excel in any particular area, yet keeps moving up the ranks solely because they know exactly whose derriere to kiss and work hardest on sucking up to upper management. 

And nothing is more demoralizing to people actually working hard than others who get promoted based on things other than work ethic and results.

2. The Drama Queen

Don’t let the “Queen” part fool you, as this person can definitely be a man or a woman.

Somehow, even though everyone has the same assignment, the Drama Queen feels put upon or singled out – and has no qualms about telling you their alleged woes. Adding to the problem is you probably know all of the Drama Queen’s other issues – both personal and professional – because nothing is sacred and the Drama Queen wants you to know about all his/her problems. Upcoming wedding? Recent break-up? Blind date over the weekend? 

Buckle up, because you’re about to hear all about it.

1. The Black Hole

You know who I’m talking about. The coworker who wastes more of your time on a daily basis than Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest combined.

If you catch his/her eye in the hallway or at the water cooler, you cringe because you just know it’ll be a guaranteed 15-20 minutes of chit-chatting and small talk before you can rip yourself away. But while you can do your best to avoid them, sometimes they come to you. Then you’re stuck at your own desk as they try to show you their wedding pictures or the latest viral YouTube cat video while the clock ticks on your project deadline.

So how about it? Did we miss any? Leave your most annoying coworker descriptions in the comments section.

Researching Your Salary Is Never Annoying

Regardless of who you work with and how obnoxious they are, there's one thing more annoying than coworkers -- not getting paid what you're worth. Luckily, Salary.com can help.

The first thing you should do is research, so you're able to come to the table armed with the knowledge of what your job is worth. Use our free Salary Wizard below to find out what's a fair salary for your position. You can enter your location, education level, years of experience and more to find out an appropriate salary range before you negotiate.

Good luck.

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Stocks Are Up. Beef and Chicken Stocks, That Is (BusinessWeek)

By Sierra Tishgart November 26, 2014

Marco Canora has been drinking his mom’s broth since he was a kid in upstate New York. “When I was sick, I’d sip a bowl with Parmesan cheese,” the chef says. “The flavor, the saltiness, and the richness feel so calming.” Now he’s re-creating that experience at Brodo, a tiny takeout window next to Hearth, Canora’s acclaimed restaurant in Manhattan’s East Village. Broth has also become a calling card for British cookbook authors such as Sally Morrell (Nourishing Broth, released in September) and the Helmsley sisters (who blog for British Vogue). The Los Angeles Lakers’ nutritionist has made it a key part of his team’s eating plan, and Paleo dieters are also obsessed.

Brodo’s broth is served like to-go coffee, so commuters can sip through the lid as they walk

Most days, Canora mans the counter himself, hawking 16-ounce paper cups of broth, which range from $6.75 to $9, in three varieties—with simmered beef bones, chicken bones, or a blend of both with turkey that tastes like curry. For an additional 75¢, customers can get add-ons such as turmeric and beets. Since opening on Nov. 3, Canora is averaging 250 orders a day, most from those interested in the broth’s restorative powers—the gelatin from the bones aids digestion, collagen creates healthy hair, and amino acids improve the immune system. He says drinking his own broth got him into the best shape of his life. “If I had more kiosks, no doubt every one would be booming,” Canora says, though he has no plans yet to expand or diversify into juice in the warmer months. “Juice is mostly sugar,” he complains. “Maybe I’ll just make broth ice cubes.”

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Canora’s DIY Recipe

Adapted from A Good Food Day, out in December

4 lbs. chicken bones (any combination of backs, necks, and feet)

2 lbs. beef bones (shin or neck)

2 small onions, peeled and quartered

4 small carrots, cut into 1-inch pieces

4 stalks celery, cut into 1-inch pieces

1/2 bunch flat-leaf parsley

1 bunch fresh thyme

12 oz. can tomatoes, drained

1 head garlic, halved crosswise

1 tsp. black peppercorns

2 bay leaves

Combine bones in a deep 8-quart pot. Rinse with cold water, scrubbing with your hands. Drain and pack bones in pot. Cover with 4 inches of cold water and cook over medium-high heat for about 45 minutes until liquid boils. Reduce heat to medium and move pot so burner is off to one side. (This helps broth to circulate.) Simmer until broth looks clear, about 1 hour, occasionally using a ladle to skim off surface fats and foamy impurities. When broth looks clear, add remaining ingredients and simmer for an additional 2  hours. Use a spider skimmer to remove and discard bits of meat. Put a fine-mesh strainer over another large pot and pour broth through it; discard solids. Drink immediately, or let cool before storing. Makes 2 1/2 quarts.

FBI: SCAM ALERTS, November 20, 2014

INTERNET CRIME COMPLAINT CENTER'S (IC3)

SCAM ALERTS

NOVEMBER 20, 2014

This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously-existing cyber scams.

DONATION OVERPAYMENT SCHEME

The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received numerous complaints from businesses, charitable organizations, schools, universities, health related organizations, and non-profit organizations, reporting an online donation scheme. The complaints reported subjects who had donated thousands of dollars, via stolen credit cards. Once donations were made, the subjects immediately requested the majority of the donation back, but credited to a different card. They claimed to have mistakenly donated too much by adding an extra digit to the dollar amount (i.e., $5000 was ‘accidently’ entered instead of $500). However, very few complainants actually returned the money to the second credit card. Many, through their own investigations, discovered the original card was stolen, or the credit card company notified them of such. Also, some of the organizations’ policies did not allow funds to be returned to a different credit card.

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For more information regarding online scams visit our Press Room page for the most current Public Service Announcements. http://www.ic3.gov/media/default.aspx