Skype might have to shut down because of a dispute over the core technology used to make the internet telephone system work, The Times reports.
EBay, which paid $2.6 billion for the voice-over-the-internet system in 2005, are facing a court battle with the original founders of the company who retained the rights to the technology at the heart of the system.
EBay admitted in a regulatory filing that they might have to close down the company. They …

Yet another test I took was OKCupid’s Politics Test. But as I’ve noted before, politically I don’t change much through time, and this test now proved it, too.
On 27th November, 2005, I was, according to the test, a “Strong Republican” (it’s an American test) – 13% permissive to social Conservativism and 80% permissive to economic Conservativism.
Today, re-doing the test, the outcome was pretty close: 28% permissive to social Conservativism, and 80% permissive to economic Conservativism.
Here’s …

As it’s Friday and another week has come to an end, I again decided to take a look at past tests I’ve done and see, how much I have changed, if at all.
Here’s a surprising result:
In last 2.5 years, for some reason I have radically changed the sides of brain I use more, it turns out in a test. On 19th February, 2007, I was, according to this test, 30% left brained, and 70% right …

In the latest Empire Chronicles’ poll I asked my readers if they think Russia can be regarded as an equal partner to the Free World.
82% – 411 people said that Russia is a pariah that cannot be trusted.
Only 18% – 91 people said that Russia is a normal democratic country.
Altogether, 502 people responded to the poll.
If only now the leftist governments that flirt with Russia every time they can would realize that…
New poll in the …

Criminals under the care of the probation service have committed almost a murder a week over the past two years, The Times reports.
Offenders under supervision have been convicted of more than a thousand serious further crimes, including almost one hundred murders.
The report by the Ministry of Justice comes weeks after Dano Sonnex was convicted of the sadistic killing of two French students in New Cross, southeast London. He had been released from prison to be …

Apple are set to release a software patch to address a recently described security flaw in the iPhone, the BBC reports.
Experts revealed on Thursday that modified SMS messages could result in iPhones being disconnected from the network or hijacked altogether. Phones incorporating the Windows Mobile and Google Android operating systems are also vulnerable, they said.
An O2 spokesperson said the patch would be available Saturday through iTunes.
Google said that they had already patched the weakness.

Defence Secretary Bob Ainsworth admitted he is not particularly intelligent and claimed he is discriminated against because of his accent and moustache, the Daily Mail reports.
Ainsworth said he had intellectual “weaknesses” as he admitted ministers had failed to support Britain’s front-line troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“I have strengths and I have weaknesses,” he said. “I don’t pretend to be able to write a great thesis or doctorate – I have no pretensions in that direction. But …

Retired senior banker Geoff Spice is to live on a deserted island for a month in a last ditch attempt to quit smoking, the Telegraph reports.
56-year-old Spice, from Surrey, will tomorrow become a castaway on Sgarabhaigh, a 40-acre uninhabited island in the Outer Hebrides. The former managing director for NM Rothschild, the top London investment bank, will have to camp as there are no houses.
Sgarabhaigh also has no electricity or water supply, so he will rely …

Ferrari driver Felipe Massa is scheduled to board a private plane bound for his home in Sao Paulo on Sunday, Motorsport.com reports.
He will travel by helicopter to the local airport, where a private jet will fly to Brazil.
After some days at home he will then travel to the Paris hospital to receive the rehabilitation treatment of Dr Gerard Saillant, who has treated Michael Schumacher and Ronaldo in the past.
“His condition is appropriate, he does not …

Spain continued to be on high alert as the Basque terrorist group ETA prepared to mark the 50th anniversary of their foundation on Friday, a day after a bomb blast killed two Guardia Civil officers on the island of Mallorca, Deutsche Welle reports.
ETA, founded by nationalist students inspired by Marxist-Leninist teachings, have campaigned for five decades for an independent Basque homeland encompassing parts of northern Spain and southwest France.
The terrorist group have advocated armed struggle …

According to a think-tank called Vision of Humanity, the most “peaceful” country on Earth this year is New Zealand, the United Kingdom is 35th.
The data of the list is compiled and analysed by the Economic Intelligence Unit, and it’s endorsed by ex-UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, the Dalai Lama, Archbishop Desmond Tutu and former US President Jimmy Carter.
According to Vision of Humanity, Denmark and Norway came as second peaceful countries. Last year’s 1st, Iceland, is 4th …

The Reshit Yerushalayim tourist organisation in Jerusalem tries to connect people to the story of destruction of the Holy Temple by emphasising the connection of that event with the revival of Jewish nation in the State of Israel.
It probably goes without saying that Jerusalem is one of my most favourite places on the whole Earth. To bring a little of it to my readers, here is an interesting little video tour of Jerusalem of how …

About 12,000 independent shops and nearly 7,000 branches of major chains have closed so far this year in England and Wales, the BBC reports.
The Local Data Company (LDC) says the average retail vacancy rate has risen from 4% a year ago to almost 12% now. Margate in Kent is the worst hit town, with a rate of 25%. Cities in the north of England like Leeds and Liverpool also have rates of more than 20%.
The collapse …

The decriminalisation of those who assist “suicide tourism” moved a stage closer last night after a landmark ruling by the Law Lords, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Multiple sclerosis sufferer Debbie Purdy won the right to be told under what circumstances her husband could be prosecuted if he accompanied her to the Dignitas euthanasia clinic in Switzerland. It means the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Keir Starmer, will now be obliged to spell out exactly when the state …

Motorists who drive to work face having to pay a £250 “parking tax” under a scheme to be announced by ministers on Friday, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The country’s first “workplace parking levy” will come into force in Nottingham in 2012 and is likely to be adopted by other councils.
Under the scheme, any firm with 11 or more staff parking spaces will be charged £250 a year for each. That cost could rise to £350 within …

Reigning F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton says it will be an honour and a privilege to race against seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher, the BBC reports.
“He is one of the sport’s greatest competitors, a legend – it’d be great to compete against him,” Hamilton said. ”The whole world will be watching his return to the cockpit in Valencia.”
Hamilton has previously spoken of his regret at never having had an opportunity to go head to head with …