barack

U.S., India establish $100 million green-tech fund

The U.S.-India Joint Clean Energy Research and Development Center is ready to offer $100 million in public and private-sector funding for green-tech research, the organization announced last week.

Specifically, the center's intent is to fund joint projects between U.S. and Indian research groups involving biofuels, solar energy, or building efficiency.

India and the U.S. are together contributing $50 million to the center, with the other $50 million expected to be privately matched.

The center was launched during President Obama's November 2010 trip to India and is a joint venture signed by both the president … Read more

The 404 811: Where we pick a new Mayor of Cave Street (podcast)

The Internet already has jokes about the news of Osama's death and last night's subsequent broadcast, and someone already created a Google Maps location for Osama's compound on "Cave Street" with four pages of hilarious reviews. We also have a story a programmer living in Abbottabad, Pakistan that accidentally livetweeted the death of bin Laden, as well as more random topics like Tom Tom's privacy flub, the bacteria content of your steering wheel, and a Finger-nose stylus for your touch screen devices!

The 404 Digest for Episode 811

Osama's compound pops up on Google Maps, with reviews. Programmer unknowningly liveblogs the events in Pakistan. TomTom supplies driving data to police to set speed traps. Your car steering wheel is dirtier than a public toilet seat (good thing I drive with my knees). Eyes Wide Shut-esque finger-Nose stylus for touch screens.

Congratulations to @Blood_Nut and @Steamypeas for their winning entries in our #Gunnar404 contest. Direct message us @The404 to claim your Gunnar Optiks Performance Eyewear!

Episode 811 Subscribe in iTunes (audio) | Subscribe in iTunes (video) | Subscribe in RSS Audio | Subscribe in RSS Video… Read more

Twitter delivers news of bin Laden's death first

Once again, Twitter carried vital information to Americans ahead of traditional news outlets.

The news that American special forces had killed Osama bin Laden, perhaps the most wanted man in the world, first began to trickle out when the White House communications director posted on Twitter that President Obama planned to address the nation at 10:30 p.m. eastern time, The New York Times reported Sunday evening.

Twitter, Facebook, and other social networks were also where people went to speculate--much of it erroneous--about what the president would discuss during his address to the nation.

According to the Times, the … Read more

Obama wants you to watch his funny YouTube vid

The White House Correspondent's Dinner, an annual tradition where the media and political elite meet to roast/congratulate each other, with mixed results, just finished up. Seth Meyers of "Saturday Night Live" hosted the event, and you should be able to watch replays on C-SPAN if you're interested.

One new twist to the proceedings: The White House, which normally plays along with the event even though the chief occupant gets ribbed, has gone all in. Immediately after showing this video--a parody trailer based on "The King's Speech"--they released it on YouTube (via Twitter, of course).

The bit isn't LOL-worthy, IMHO. But it does contain jokes, and I think it's noteworthy that they're putting this out there for public consumption, at a time when much of the electorate seems particularly...susceptible to jokes. Even more so if they're easily accessible via Google.

Also, as The Atlantic.com's Gabe Snyder points out, the clip contains a Wu Tang Clan sample. Which is sure to upset someone (and please lots of us, too)

Meanwhile, you can see all 17 minutes of Obama's presentation here (much sharper, I think--good Fox News dig), via The Washington Post:

… Read more

Obama jabs Republicans at Facebook town hall

PALO ALTO, Calif.--President Obama's visit here this afternoon to Facebook's campus was billed as an opportunity for him to "connect with Americans across the country" through a virtual "town hall" meeting.

But it also proved to be an opportunity for the president to throw political punches at Republicans in an ongoing tussle over deficit reduction, tax policy, and a looming spat over raising the debt limit.

A deficit reduction plan recently proposed by Rep. Paul Ryan, the Republican House Budget committee chairman, is "fairly radical," Obama said. Ryan aims to reduce … Read more

Energy Dept: Obama's plug-in autos goal on track

President Barack Obama's goal of having 1 million plug-in vehicles on U.S. roads by 2015 is on its way to being met, a Department of Energy official said today.

"It's looking good," said Assistant Energy Secretary David Sandalow when asked by reporters on the chances of meeting the goal set by Obama.

"If you look at the plans of the major automotive manufacturers, there's a clear pathway to a million vehicles," Sandalow said.

Sandalow spoke to reporters after his keynote address to the Society of Automotive Engineers in Detroit.

Obama's goal … Read more

Microsoft's home away from Hohm

Links from Wednesday's episode of Loaded:

Republicans in the House of Representatives are working to stop Net neutrality regulations

President Obama will take to Facebook for a town-hall meeting on April 20

Facebook wants to compete with sites like FlackList and ProfNet to connect journalists with sources and stories

Twitter may launch branded pages

Sprint launches a 3G/4G Mi-Fi for $79

Dish Network plans to scoop up beleaguered Blockbuster for just $228 million

Microsoft shifts the focus of Hohm from the home to the car

House moves to overturn FCC on Net neutrality

Correction 4:50 p.m. PT: An earlier version of this story incorrectly said the House adopted a resolution blocking Net neutrality regulations. It approved procedures for voting on the resolution. The headline and story have been changed to reflect that. Also, the story misstated the state Rep. Jared Polis represents. He represents Colorado.

House Republicans moved today to prevent controversial Net neutrality regulations from taking effect, a move that is likely to invite an eventual confrontation with President Obama.

By an almost entirely partisan vote of 241 to 178, the House of Representatives approved procedures for voting on a … Read more

Obama's got an iPad, and he tethers too

Despite calling Apple's iPad, among other modern-day entertainment gadgets, a conduit for distraction less than a year ago, U.S. President Barack Obama has been outed as an iPad owner himself.

As The Wall Street Journal reports, Obama detailed that fact during a town hall meeting with Spanish-language network Univision, which took place earlier today.

During an interview with Univision anchor Jorge Ramos, Obama said he does in fact have an iPad, and even tethers it to his high-security BlackBerry cell phone. Obama also noted that he owns his own computer, joking to Ramos and the audience about the idea of him having to borrow one from someone else:

Ramos: Not long ago I was having a conversation with my son. He's only 12 years old, and he couldn't believe that I grew up in a world where there were no cell phones, no Internet, no computers. (Laughter.) So do you have your BlackBerry with you, or do you have an iPhone? What do you have? Obama: You know, I took my BlackBerry off for this show, because I didn't want it going off, and that would be really embarrassing. But usually I carry a BlackBerry around. Ramos: Do you have an iPad? Obama: I do have an iPad.… Read more