### ROUTER ###
Cisco 1601-CH 4F/16D
Cisco 2501 8F/16D
Cisco 1720 4F/16D
Cisco 1721 32F/64D
Cisco 1750 4F/16D
Cisco 2610 8F/32D
Cisco 3620 8F/64D
Cisco 3640 16F/128D
Cisco 675 ADSL Router
### MODULES ###
Cisco NM-1FE2W
Cisco NM-2FE2W
Cisco NM-4T
Cisco NM-8A/S
Cisco NM-4B-S/T
Cisco NM-8B-S/T
Cisco NM-1E
Cisco NM-4E
Cisco NM-1CE1B
Cisco NM-2CE1B
Cisco NM-2V
Cisco NP-1E
Cisco NP-2T
Cisco VIC-2FXS
Cisco VIC-2FXO
Cisco VWIC-2E/M
Cisco VIC-1MFT-E1
Cisco VIC-2MFT-E1
Cisco VWIC-1MFT-G.703
Cisco VWIC-2MFT-G.703
Cisco VWIC-2MFT-E1-DI
Cisco WIC-1ADSL
Cisco WIC-1B-S/T
Cisco WIC-1ENET
Cisco WIC-1T
Cisco WIC-2T
Cisco WIC-2A/S
Cisco WS-G5483
Cisco WS-G5484
Cisco WS-G5486
Cisco WS-G5487
Cisco WS-X3500-XL
Cisco GLC-SX-MM
Cisco GLC-LH-SM
Cisco GLC-ZX-SM
Cisco PA-8E1/120
### SWITCH ###
Cisco WS-C2950-24
Cisco WS-C2950G-24EI
### ANALOG RAS ###
Lucent PM25+3bh Octal Cable
### DIGITAL RAS ###
Ascend MAX-4000
Patton 2800
### MODEM POOL ###
USR MP/16
#### PROXY SERVER ###
Cisco CE-550
### Bandwitdh Manager ###
Packetshapper 1500
### CABLES ###
Cisco CAB-232FC
Cisco CAB-232MT
Cisco CAB-V35FC
Cisco CAB-V35MT
Cisco CAB-SS-232MT
Cisco CAB-SS-V35FC
Cisco CAB-SS-V35MT
Cisco CAB-OCTAL-ASYNC
Nortel Cable #7826
### GPS ###
Holux GM-201
### MEMORY ###
MEM1700-32D=
MEM1700-4MFC=
MEM2500-8FS=
MEM2600-16FS=
MEM2600-32D=
MEM2600XM-32FS=
MEM3600-16FS=
MEM3600-32D=
### Antenna ###
PA-012(12db Panel Ant.)
PA-018(18db Panel Ant.)
OA-010(10db Omni Ant.)
OA-015(15dB Omni Ant.)
GA-024(24dBGrid Ant.)
SA-01790(17dB90'Sector Ant.)
SA-016120(16dB120'Sector Ant.)
RooTenna 14dB Panel Ant.
### Amply ###
IA24500 (indoor 500mw)
OA241000 (outdoor 1w)
### Radio ###
Personal AP/Client
Personal AP Gateway
Orinoco AP-1000
Avaya Gold Card
### Accessories - Arrestor ###
LA-1025 (lightning arrestor)
APC PNet1
### Accessories - Pigtail ###
SMA-N Pigtail
MCCard-N Male Pigtail(Orinoco)
MCCard-N Male Pigtail
### Accessories - Cables ###
CFD400
### Accessories - Connector ###
N-Male Crimp (CFD-400)
N-Female Crimp (CFD-400)
N-Male Clamp (CFD-400)
N-Female Clamp (CFD-400)
### Splitter ###
3 Ways Signal Splitter ( N )
4 Ways Signal Splitter ( N )
Trasceiver
### IP Camera ###
Wire IP Camera
Wireless IP Camera
Tuesday, April 26, 2005
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Elected Pope on Tuesday
benedict
Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, waves from a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, April 19, 2005. German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the strict defender of Catholic orthodoxy for the past 23 years, was elected Pope on Tuesday despite a widespread assumption he was too old and divisive to win election. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Pope Benedict XVI, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, waves from a balcony of St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican after being elected by the conclave of cardinals, April 19, 2005. German Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the strict defender of Catholic orthodoxy for the past 23 years, was elected Pope on Tuesday despite a widespread assumption he was too old and divisive to win election. REUTERS/Max Rossi
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
Friday, April 15, 2005
The latest from Yahoo! Mail
yahoo1gig
Coming soon! 1GB of storage, free to all users
There's more in store with Yahoo! Mail. By early May, all free Yahoo! Mail users will receive an email storage increase to a whopping 1GB. That's enough space to keep thousands and thousands of emails -- so you'll never have to delete those important messages again!
Coming soon! 1GB of storage, free to all users
There's more in store with Yahoo! Mail. By early May, all free Yahoo! Mail users will receive an email storage increase to a whopping 1GB. That's enough space to keep thousands and thousands of emails -- so you'll never have to delete those important messages again!
What is the Multi Router Traffic Grapher?
mrtg
The Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) is a tool to monitor the traffic load on network-links. MRTG generates HTML pages containing graphical images which provide a LIVE visual representation of this traffic. Check http://www.ee.ethz.ch/stats/mrtg/ for an example. MRTG is based on Perl and C and works under UNIX and Windows NT. MRTG is being successfully used on many sites around the net.
The Multi Router Traffic Grapher (MRTG) is a tool to monitor the traffic load on network-links. MRTG generates HTML pages containing graphical images which provide a LIVE visual representation of this traffic. Check http://www.ee.ethz.ch/stats/mrtg/ for an example. MRTG is based on Perl and C and works under UNIX and Windows NT. MRTG is being successfully used on many sites around the net.
Wednesday, April 13, 2005
What is a goldfish?
buble
What does a goldfish look like?
Seemingly simple questions, right…..?
If you are new to the world of aquaria, walking into your local fish store to buy a simple goldfish may be more complicated than you have anticipated. Goldfish can be:
red, white, orange, blue, chocolate, black, silver, multi-coloured….and oh, yeah…gold too. Have dorsal fins, missing dorsal fins, two tails, single tails, fantails, veiltails, butterfly tails… bubble-eyes, telescope eyes, celestial eyes, dragon eyes headgrowth, hump back, sleek bodies, round bodies, plump bodies, pompoms. Although all goldfish belong to the same species (Carassius auratus), there are literally hundreds of different breeds of goldfish that have been selectively bred from the domesticated asian carp. The following is a comprehensive, though far from exhaustive listing of the different goldfish breeds available today.
What does a goldfish look like?
Seemingly simple questions, right…..?
If you are new to the world of aquaria, walking into your local fish store to buy a simple goldfish may be more complicated than you have anticipated. Goldfish can be:
red, white, orange, blue, chocolate, black, silver, multi-coloured….and oh, yeah…gold too. Have dorsal fins, missing dorsal fins, two tails, single tails, fantails, veiltails, butterfly tails… bubble-eyes, telescope eyes, celestial eyes, dragon eyes headgrowth, hump back, sleek bodies, round bodies, plump bodies, pompoms. Although all goldfish belong to the same species (Carassius auratus), there are literally hundreds of different breeds of goldfish that have been selectively bred from the domesticated asian carp. The following is a comprehensive, though far from exhaustive listing of the different goldfish breeds available today.
Pope John Paul II (1920-2005)
vati
The tomb is a white slab of marble with gray streaks, tucked into an arched alcove, a leafy potted lily at the top and a small red candle burning at the bottom. A marble relief of the Madonna and Child hangs on the wall. Pope John Paul II's name and the dates of his 26-year pontificate are carved with gold in Latin script on the front: "IOANNES PAVLVS PPII." And on another line is the date, using the Roman numerals for the month: "16 X, 1978-2 IV, 2005." Underneath is the interlocking X and P -- the monogram for Christ.
The tomb is a white slab of marble with gray streaks, tucked into an arched alcove, a leafy potted lily at the top and a small red candle burning at the bottom. A marble relief of the Madonna and Child hangs on the wall. Pope John Paul II's name and the dates of his 26-year pontificate are carved with gold in Latin script on the front: "IOANNES PAVLVS PPII." And on another line is the date, using the Roman numerals for the month: "16 X, 1978-2 IV, 2005." Underneath is the interlocking X and P -- the monogram for Christ.
Googling The Web!
googling
The Search engine, data from dmoz directory, search cnn , bbc and ebay too
The Search engine, data from dmoz directory, search cnn , bbc and ebay too
Thousands Evacuated as Indonesia Volcano Rumbles
volcano
TANJUNG AUA, Indonesia (Reuters) - More than 25,000 panicked residents have been evacuated from the slopes of a volcano on Indonesia's Sumatra island and officials raised the alert level Wednesday as the mountain's activity intensified.
The heightened rumbling of Mount Talang has coincided with a string of moderate earthquakes on Sumatra, which is still recovering from a massive Dec. 26 quake and tsunami that killed nearly 130,000 people in Aceh province to the north.
"The status of Mount Talang is now at top alert," Surono, a vulcanologist from the Directorate of Vulcanology and Geophysics in the Java city of Bandung, told Reuters.
Local officials said 26,000 people had been evacuated from the slopes and areas around the 2,690 meter (9,825 ft) volcano in West Sumatra province, adding that number was likely to rise.
Witnesses saw sparks of fire coming out of Mount Talang early Wednesday morning. The volcano lies near the city of Padang, 528 miles northwest of Jakarta.
"It was like the end of the world," said Syafrudin, 65, a farmer, after fleeing from the mountainside and speaking outside a makeshift tent near the village of Tanjung Aua.
"I first heard the rumble and then the ground started shaking ... then there's smoke and sparks. We all ran in fear."
Vulcanologists said they could not confirm whether lava had actually spewed out. But smoke had billowed up to 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) high from the volcano's crater and ash had traveled up to 7.5 miles away, Surono said.
"The activity has definitely stepped up and we have alerted airport officials to watch out for smoke," Surono said.
Scientists have warned of increased seismic activity in Indonesia as the plates that make up the earth's crust adjust following the magnitude 9 earthquake in December that triggered massive tsunami waves across the Indian Ocean.
"The plates' movements release energy underground and the energy could add to the activity of many volcanoes on Sumatra but it doesn't mean this will trigger an eruption," said Surono.
"Coincidentally, the pressure inside Mount Talang had been high and the quake activity has increased that energy."
FEAR AND PANIC
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has urged Indonesians not to see the spate of quakes and the December tsunami as a sign of more natural calamities to come, would visit the area later Wednesday, officials in Jakarta said.
Elvi Sahlan, deputy mayor of the town of Solok near the volcano, said many residents were frightened.
"Up till 2 o'clock this morning we have evacuated around 26,000 people from the surrounding areas and the number is likely to increase because there are many others who have not been evacuated," Sahlan said.
Many residents spent the night in makeshift tents on open fields while others took refuge at government buildings and sports stadiums in nearby towns.
"The whole family is stressed. It's better to be here now than to live in fear," said Yusmalidar, 40, who had just been evacuated in a government truck with his wife and three children.
One local official said there was a shortage of tents and water among residents.
The mountain first began rumbling Tuesday.
Indonesia -- but especially Sumatra -- has been hit by daily aftershocks since the massive earthquake on Dec. 26. A quake off Sumatra on March 28 killed at least 676 people, many on Nias island off Sumatra's west coast.
Indonesia is a vast archipelago of some 17,000 islands that lies along the geologically active "Pacific Ring of Fire" and has more than 100 active volcanoes.
TANJUNG AUA, Indonesia (Reuters) - More than 25,000 panicked residents have been evacuated from the slopes of a volcano on Indonesia's Sumatra island and officials raised the alert level Wednesday as the mountain's activity intensified.
The heightened rumbling of Mount Talang has coincided with a string of moderate earthquakes on Sumatra, which is still recovering from a massive Dec. 26 quake and tsunami that killed nearly 130,000 people in Aceh province to the north.
"The status of Mount Talang is now at top alert," Surono, a vulcanologist from the Directorate of Vulcanology and Geophysics in the Java city of Bandung, told Reuters.
Local officials said 26,000 people had been evacuated from the slopes and areas around the 2,690 meter (9,825 ft) volcano in West Sumatra province, adding that number was likely to rise.
Witnesses saw sparks of fire coming out of Mount Talang early Wednesday morning. The volcano lies near the city of Padang, 528 miles northwest of Jakarta.
"It was like the end of the world," said Syafrudin, 65, a farmer, after fleeing from the mountainside and speaking outside a makeshift tent near the village of Tanjung Aua.
"I first heard the rumble and then the ground started shaking ... then there's smoke and sparks. We all ran in fear."
Vulcanologists said they could not confirm whether lava had actually spewed out. But smoke had billowed up to 1,000 meters (3,280 ft) high from the volcano's crater and ash had traveled up to 7.5 miles away, Surono said.
"The activity has definitely stepped up and we have alerted airport officials to watch out for smoke," Surono said.
Scientists have warned of increased seismic activity in Indonesia as the plates that make up the earth's crust adjust following the magnitude 9 earthquake in December that triggered massive tsunami waves across the Indian Ocean.
"The plates' movements release energy underground and the energy could add to the activity of many volcanoes on Sumatra but it doesn't mean this will trigger an eruption," said Surono.
"Coincidentally, the pressure inside Mount Talang had been high and the quake activity has increased that energy."
FEAR AND PANIC
President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, who has urged Indonesians not to see the spate of quakes and the December tsunami as a sign of more natural calamities to come, would visit the area later Wednesday, officials in Jakarta said.
Elvi Sahlan, deputy mayor of the town of Solok near the volcano, said many residents were frightened.
"Up till 2 o'clock this morning we have evacuated around 26,000 people from the surrounding areas and the number is likely to increase because there are many others who have not been evacuated," Sahlan said.
Many residents spent the night in makeshift tents on open fields while others took refuge at government buildings and sports stadiums in nearby towns.
"The whole family is stressed. It's better to be here now than to live in fear," said Yusmalidar, 40, who had just been evacuated in a government truck with his wife and three children.
One local official said there was a shortage of tents and water among residents.
The mountain first began rumbling Tuesday.
Indonesia -- but especially Sumatra -- has been hit by daily aftershocks since the massive earthquake on Dec. 26. A quake off Sumatra on March 28 killed at least 676 people, many on Nias island off Sumatra's west coast.
Indonesia is a vast archipelago of some 17,000 islands that lies along the geologically active "Pacific Ring of Fire" and has more than 100 active volcanoes.
Traceroute Gateway
tracemap
A (typically Unix) TCP/IP utility which allows the user to determine the route packets are taking to a particular host. Traceroute works by increasing the "time to live"value of packets and seeing how far they get, until they reach the given destination; thus, a lengthening trail of hosts passed through is built up. Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2004 Denis Howe
You Can trace from any country of the globe!
A (typically Unix) TCP/IP utility which allows the user to determine the route packets are taking to a particular host. Traceroute works by increasing the "time to live"value of packets and seeing how far they get, until they reach the given destination; thus, a lengthening trail of hosts passed through is built up. Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2004 Denis Howe
You Can trace from any country of the globe!
Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles Wed
charles
WINDSOR, England - Signing a registrar's book and kneeling before the Archbishop of Canterbury, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles sealed in matrimony a romance sparked more than 30 years ago and blamed by many for poisoning his marriage to Princess Diana.
Under the solemn gaze of Archbishop Rowan Williams, the fifty-something divorcees nervously pledged their lifelong love at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle Saturday and confessed "manifold sins and wickedness" — words from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer.
After enduring years of criticism and even ridicule, the evident affection the couple feel for each other appeared finally to have won them a measure of acceptance from the British public. But it remains to be seen whether the bride will ever be known as Queen Camilla.
"He did a bit of a dirty job on Diana," said Tina Quinney, 59, one of the thousands of people who lined the streets of this royal town. "But the past is the past."
Following the awkwardness of changing the location of the civil wedding, the unsubstantiated reports of the queen's "fury" at the wedding, and the one-day postponement because of Pope John Paul II's funeral, the day went off flawlessly — and in bright sunshine.
Camilla is now officially the Princess of Wales, although she will be known as the Duchess of Cornwall in deference to enduring public affection for Diana. When Charles is crowned, she will be queen — but the prince's office says she will use the title "princess consort" instead.
Throughout the day, the couple displayed wedding-day jitters, tenderness and even a playful side.
The couple's hands knocked against one another several times before finding a comfortable clasp during the church blessing. Afterwards, Camilla clutched her hat awkwardly in a blustery wind, waving to well-wishers with her bouquet of spring flowers.
But the affection between the couple, who first met and fell in love in the early 1970s, was apparent. Charles, 56, reached over to help his new wife, 57, find her place in her prayerbook as they stood before the archbishop, and he touched her arm to signal when it was time to kneel.
She appeared emotional at times during the service; he was fidgety and somber. Even the normally reserved queen — whose views about her son's wedding have been the subject of endless media speculation — beamed as she emerged from the chapel.
The couple sped away for their honeymoon on the prince's Balmoral estate in Scotland in a car festooned with red, blue and white balloons and the words "Just Married" scrawled on the back window.
In spite of protestations that the couple wanted something low-key, news of the wedding dominated front pages in Sunday's papers across Britain's former colonies.
In Hong Kong, handed back to China by Britain in 1997, the English-language South China Morning Post ran a massive photo of the couple on its front page. Its editorial said, "This was not a fairy tale wedding — far from it. But it is one which is likely to last."
The wedding, the second for both Charles and Camilla, was far simpler than the spectacular 1981 ceremony in which he married the 20-year-old Diana. The local registrar, Clair Williams, conducted the 25-minute civil ceremony at Windsor's Guildhall, or town hall, before fewer than 30 guests — mostly the bride and groom's relatives.
Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip skipped the ceremony, saying they were respecting Charles' wish that it be "low key," but they were present for a religious blessing of the marriage afterward.
Royal pomp was far more visible at that service, held under the chapel's majestic arches in Windsor Castle and televised live. About 800 guests, including Prime Minister Tony Blair and Camilla's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles, were there.
Charles and Camilla chose a civil wedding because the Church of England, which he will one day symbolically head as king, frowns on divorcees remarrying. But the religious blessing led by the Archbishop of Canterbury demonstrated the Anglican hierarchy's approval of the union.
"Heavenly father, we offer thee our souls and bodies, our thoughts and words and deeds, our love for one another," bride and groom said while kneeling before Williams. "Unite our wills in thy will, that we may grow together in love and peace all the days of our life."
Feelings about Camilla and her new royal role were mixed among the 15,000 people who crowded the streets of Windsor. Most of those interviewed said the couple deserved to be happy together, though some couldn't help remembering Charles' infidelity during his first marriage.
"This time Charles gets to make his choice," said Irene Bellamy, 59, of Manitoba, Canada, standing across from the Guildhall. "Much as we loved Diana, this is his choice ... a love match."
Charles has admitted cheating with Camilla after his first marriage had "irretrievably broken down"; Diana also acknowledged being unfaithful. Camilla was married to Andrew Parker Bowles, with whom she had two children, until 1995. He attended the Windsor Castle ceremony, smiling and chatting with other guests.
Charles and Camilla met in their early 20s and quickly became romantically involved, but they made no commitment before he went to sea with the Royal Navy and she married while he was gone. They remained close friends, and eventually became lovers again.
Their effort to win public acceptance was put on hold after Diana's 1997 death, but eventually began again with a carefully choreographed series of steps.
Charles and Camilla's confession to sinning is a standard element of an Anglican blessing of a civil wedding. However, they chose a particularly stark wording from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, which some took as public acknowledgment of that their relationship was at one time adulterous. They publicly resolved to be faithful.
The outdoorsy Camilla, more often photographed in sportswear, was elegant in a cream chiffon dress and long, matching oyster silk coat for the civil service. Her straw hat was overlaid with ivory French lace and trimmed with a fountain of feathers.
At the Windsor Castle blessing, she wore a long, fitted silk porcelain-blue dress and high-collared coat embroidered with gold thread, with a slight train. Both outfits were designed by Robinson Valentine, a design team with a salon in London's Kensington district.
Charles wore a black morning suit and gray pinstripe trousers with a gray waistcoat. The couple's rings were made of gold from Wales; Charles put his on his left pinky.
The couple's sons, Prince William and Tom Parker Bowles, served as witnesses to the marriage.
WINDSOR, England - Signing a registrar's book and kneeling before the Archbishop of Canterbury, Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles sealed in matrimony a romance sparked more than 30 years ago and blamed by many for poisoning his marriage to Princess Diana.
Under the solemn gaze of Archbishop Rowan Williams, the fifty-something divorcees nervously pledged their lifelong love at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle Saturday and confessed "manifold sins and wickedness" — words from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer.
After enduring years of criticism and even ridicule, the evident affection the couple feel for each other appeared finally to have won them a measure of acceptance from the British public. But it remains to be seen whether the bride will ever be known as Queen Camilla.
"He did a bit of a dirty job on Diana," said Tina Quinney, 59, one of the thousands of people who lined the streets of this royal town. "But the past is the past."
Following the awkwardness of changing the location of the civil wedding, the unsubstantiated reports of the queen's "fury" at the wedding, and the one-day postponement because of Pope John Paul II's funeral, the day went off flawlessly — and in bright sunshine.
Camilla is now officially the Princess of Wales, although she will be known as the Duchess of Cornwall in deference to enduring public affection for Diana. When Charles is crowned, she will be queen — but the prince's office says she will use the title "princess consort" instead.
Throughout the day, the couple displayed wedding-day jitters, tenderness and even a playful side.
The couple's hands knocked against one another several times before finding a comfortable clasp during the church blessing. Afterwards, Camilla clutched her hat awkwardly in a blustery wind, waving to well-wishers with her bouquet of spring flowers.
But the affection between the couple, who first met and fell in love in the early 1970s, was apparent. Charles, 56, reached over to help his new wife, 57, find her place in her prayerbook as they stood before the archbishop, and he touched her arm to signal when it was time to kneel.
She appeared emotional at times during the service; he was fidgety and somber. Even the normally reserved queen — whose views about her son's wedding have been the subject of endless media speculation — beamed as she emerged from the chapel.
The couple sped away for their honeymoon on the prince's Balmoral estate in Scotland in a car festooned with red, blue and white balloons and the words "Just Married" scrawled on the back window.
In spite of protestations that the couple wanted something low-key, news of the wedding dominated front pages in Sunday's papers across Britain's former colonies.
In Hong Kong, handed back to China by Britain in 1997, the English-language South China Morning Post ran a massive photo of the couple on its front page. Its editorial said, "This was not a fairy tale wedding — far from it. But it is one which is likely to last."
The wedding, the second for both Charles and Camilla, was far simpler than the spectacular 1981 ceremony in which he married the 20-year-old Diana. The local registrar, Clair Williams, conducted the 25-minute civil ceremony at Windsor's Guildhall, or town hall, before fewer than 30 guests — mostly the bride and groom's relatives.
Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip skipped the ceremony, saying they were respecting Charles' wish that it be "low key," but they were present for a religious blessing of the marriage afterward.
Royal pomp was far more visible at that service, held under the chapel's majestic arches in Windsor Castle and televised live. About 800 guests, including Prime Minister Tony Blair and Camilla's ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles, were there.
Charles and Camilla chose a civil wedding because the Church of England, which he will one day symbolically head as king, frowns on divorcees remarrying. But the religious blessing led by the Archbishop of Canterbury demonstrated the Anglican hierarchy's approval of the union.
"Heavenly father, we offer thee our souls and bodies, our thoughts and words and deeds, our love for one another," bride and groom said while kneeling before Williams. "Unite our wills in thy will, that we may grow together in love and peace all the days of our life."
Feelings about Camilla and her new royal role were mixed among the 15,000 people who crowded the streets of Windsor. Most of those interviewed said the couple deserved to be happy together, though some couldn't help remembering Charles' infidelity during his first marriage.
"This time Charles gets to make his choice," said Irene Bellamy, 59, of Manitoba, Canada, standing across from the Guildhall. "Much as we loved Diana, this is his choice ... a love match."
Charles has admitted cheating with Camilla after his first marriage had "irretrievably broken down"; Diana also acknowledged being unfaithful. Camilla was married to Andrew Parker Bowles, with whom she had two children, until 1995. He attended the Windsor Castle ceremony, smiling and chatting with other guests.
Charles and Camilla met in their early 20s and quickly became romantically involved, but they made no commitment before he went to sea with the Royal Navy and she married while he was gone. They remained close friends, and eventually became lovers again.
Their effort to win public acceptance was put on hold after Diana's 1997 death, but eventually began again with a carefully choreographed series of steps.
Charles and Camilla's confession to sinning is a standard element of an Anglican blessing of a civil wedding. However, they chose a particularly stark wording from the Church of England's Book of Common Prayer, which some took as public acknowledgment of that their relationship was at one time adulterous. They publicly resolved to be faithful.
The outdoorsy Camilla, more often photographed in sportswear, was elegant in a cream chiffon dress and long, matching oyster silk coat for the civil service. Her straw hat was overlaid with ivory French lace and trimmed with a fountain of feathers.
At the Windsor Castle blessing, she wore a long, fitted silk porcelain-blue dress and high-collared coat embroidered with gold thread, with a slight train. Both outfits were designed by Robinson Valentine, a design team with a salon in London's Kensington district.
Charles wore a black morning suit and gray pinstripe trousers with a gray waistcoat. The couple's rings were made of gold from Wales; Charles put his on his left pinky.
The couple's sons, Prince William and Tom Parker Bowles, served as witnesses to the marriage.
Miss Florida
miss  | Miss Florida USA Melissa Witek, of Cocoa Beach, Fla., competes in the evening gown competition of the Miss USA 2005 pageant in Baltimore, Monday, April 11, 2005. (AP Photo/Chris Gardner) |
Bernard Law
cardinal  | U.S. Cardinal Bernard Law, right, walks past the faithful during a mourning Mass for late Pope John Paul II, in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, Monday, April 11, 2005. Law, who resigned as archbishop of Boston in December 2002 in the midst of a sex scandal that shook the Catholic Church, ignored protests from victims who travelled to the Vatican Monday, that his handling of the sex abuse scandal should disqualify him from the honor of leading a mass for the late pontiff. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong) |
Microsoft Files 8 Counterfeit Lawsuits
billg
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world's largest software maker, on Monday said it was filing lawsuits against eight computer system builders and resellers in seven U.S. states, accusing them of distributing counterfeit and unlicensed software and software components.
The lawsuits follow similar action in November 2004 against eight dealers. Legal amendments in 2003 provide criminal and civil penalties for distributing software without authenticity certificates.
"Our partners are coming to us and asking for our help," said Microsoft senior attorney Bonnie MacNaughton in a statement.
"They are being undercut and forced out of business by having to compete with dishonest PC manufacturers and resellers who continue to sell illegitimate software."
Microsoft said the lawsuits, filed in California, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Alabama, Maryland and Rhode Island, alleged distribution of counterfeit, illicit and unlicensed software and components.
The lawsuits stem from an ongoing test purchase program started by Microsoft in 1997 in which the company acquires software, components or computer systems from dealers and tests them for authenticity.
If they are not legitimate, the dealer is generally sent a cease-and-desist letter and told how it can obtain legal, genuine software before Microsoft takes further action.
Richmond, Washington-based Microsoft cited the Business Software Alliance, which says 22 percent of software being used on computers in the United States is unlicensed, including counterfeit and pirated software.
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Microsoft Corp. (MSFT.O: Quote, Profile, Research) , the world's largest software maker, on Monday said it was filing lawsuits against eight computer system builders and resellers in seven U.S. states, accusing them of distributing counterfeit and unlicensed software and software components.
The lawsuits follow similar action in November 2004 against eight dealers. Legal amendments in 2003 provide criminal and civil penalties for distributing software without authenticity certificates.
"Our partners are coming to us and asking for our help," said Microsoft senior attorney Bonnie MacNaughton in a statement.
"They are being undercut and forced out of business by having to compete with dishonest PC manufacturers and resellers who continue to sell illegitimate software."
Microsoft said the lawsuits, filed in California, Florida, Texas, New Jersey, Alabama, Maryland and Rhode Island, alleged distribution of counterfeit, illicit and unlicensed software and components.
The lawsuits stem from an ongoing test purchase program started by Microsoft in 1997 in which the company acquires software, components or computer systems from dealers and tests them for authenticity.
If they are not legitimate, the dealer is generally sent a cease-and-desist letter and told how it can obtain legal, genuine software before Microsoft takes further action.
Richmond, Washington-based Microsoft cited the Business Software Alliance, which says 22 percent of software being used on computers in the United States is unlicensed, including counterfeit and pirated software.
Monday, April 11, 2005
Schools, offices deserted after powerful earthquake jolt Indonesian city
quake
JAKARTA, (AFP) - Offices, markets and schools in Indonesia's Sumatra island city of Padang were deserted, hours after a powerful earthquake sparked panic among people fearing a tsunami, residents said.
Private businesses and government buildings were empty while schools were shut because of massive absenteeism, according to local journalists.
Traffic was also much lighter that usual and the city's commercial districts, including the main market were also quiet, with many shops closed.
The quake, measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale, hit at 5:29 pm (1029 GMT) on Sunday, with its epicentre estimated off the coast about 122.5 kilometres (76 miles) southwest of Padang.
Communications had not been restored to Siberut island, 75 kilometres east of the quake's epicentre, by mid-morning Monday.
In Padang there was minimal damage from the tremor but widespread panic with roads leading to the hills west of the city clogged by traffic and people fleeing their homes on foot.
West Sumatra, especially Padang, has been gripped by fears of an imminent massive earthquake and tsunami in recent days, with rumours of a new disaster fuelled by scientific predictions of an impending major seismic event.
The forecasts came in the wake of a huge 8.7 magnitude earthquake, centred on the same Indian Ocean geological faultline, that killed more than 600 people on the Indonesian island of Nias on March 28.
An earthquake last December in the same area and measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale generated a massive tidal wake that killed some 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean.
JAKARTA, (AFP) - Offices, markets and schools in Indonesia's Sumatra island city of Padang were deserted, hours after a powerful earthquake sparked panic among people fearing a tsunami, residents said.
Private businesses and government buildings were empty while schools were shut because of massive absenteeism, according to local journalists.
Traffic was also much lighter that usual and the city's commercial districts, including the main market were also quiet, with many shops closed.
The quake, measuring 6.7 on the Richter scale, hit at 5:29 pm (1029 GMT) on Sunday, with its epicentre estimated off the coast about 122.5 kilometres (76 miles) southwest of Padang.
Communications had not been restored to Siberut island, 75 kilometres east of the quake's epicentre, by mid-morning Monday.
In Padang there was minimal damage from the tremor but widespread panic with roads leading to the hills west of the city clogged by traffic and people fleeing their homes on foot.
West Sumatra, especially Padang, has been gripped by fears of an imminent massive earthquake and tsunami in recent days, with rumours of a new disaster fuelled by scientific predictions of an impending major seismic event.
The forecasts came in the wake of a huge 8.7 magnitude earthquake, centred on the same Indian Ocean geological faultline, that killed more than 600 people on the Indonesian island of Nias on March 28.
An earthquake last December in the same area and measuring 9.3 on the Richter scale generated a massive tidal wake that killed some 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean.
Millionaire Spam King jailed for nine years
An American internet spammer who amassed $24 million (£12.7m) from e-mails peddling pornography, fake products and home-working schemes has been handed down a nine-year jail sentence.
Jeremy Jaynes, 30, sent over 10 million pieces of spam per day from his home in North Carolina, making him one of the most prolific spammers in the world, according to industry watchdog, SpamHaus.
The millionaire, who is married, is estimated to have received responses from one in every 30,000 e-mails, in addition to flooding tens of thousands AOL accounts from servers based in Virginia.
As a result, Jaynes received between 10,000 and 17,000 credit card orders a month –averaging $40 each, prompting prosecutors to brand him “the modern-day-snake-oil salesman.”
But despite the scale of his crime, Judge Thomas Horne has agreed to postpone his nine-year sentence under new legislation until the date of Jaynes’ appeal.
Judge Horne also pointed out that because the anti-spam law is new it raises constitutional questions, including the right of state to regulate interstate commerce.
Prosecutors however insisted that under Virginia law Jaynes was guilty, saying he broke legislation that prohibits marketers from sending more than a certain amount of spam within a time-frame, while he also used a fake e-mail address to cover his tracks.
Jaynes has since been released from court on bail of $1m, though prosecutors and computer users are rejoicing that he is electronically tagged, and cannot leave his home town of Raleigh.
The spammer was convicted alongside his sister, Jessica De Groot, who is credited with playing a lesser criminal role but faces fines of up to $7,500.
With the proceeds of their venture, Jaynes bought two homes, a steak restaurant and invested in a chain of gyms.
Sentencing Jaynes, Judge Thomas Horne said: “The jury in large measure represents community sentiment” and reflects spamming’s “tremendous societal costs.”
He added that the nine-year sentence should act as a “deterrent to stop other people who might send unsolicited mail in this fashion.”
Apr 11, 2005
Jeremy Jaynes, 30, sent over 10 million pieces of spam per day from his home in North Carolina, making him one of the most prolific spammers in the world, according to industry watchdog, SpamHaus.
The millionaire, who is married, is estimated to have received responses from one in every 30,000 e-mails, in addition to flooding tens of thousands AOL accounts from servers based in Virginia.
As a result, Jaynes received between 10,000 and 17,000 credit card orders a month –averaging $40 each, prompting prosecutors to brand him “the modern-day-snake-oil salesman.”
But despite the scale of his crime, Judge Thomas Horne has agreed to postpone his nine-year sentence under new legislation until the date of Jaynes’ appeal.
Judge Horne also pointed out that because the anti-spam law is new it raises constitutional questions, including the right of state to regulate interstate commerce.
Prosecutors however insisted that under Virginia law Jaynes was guilty, saying he broke legislation that prohibits marketers from sending more than a certain amount of spam within a time-frame, while he also used a fake e-mail address to cover his tracks.
Jaynes has since been released from court on bail of $1m, though prosecutors and computer users are rejoicing that he is electronically tagged, and cannot leave his home town of Raleigh.
The spammer was convicted alongside his sister, Jessica De Groot, who is credited with playing a lesser criminal role but faces fines of up to $7,500.
With the proceeds of their venture, Jaynes bought two homes, a steak restaurant and invested in a chain of gyms.
Sentencing Jaynes, Judge Thomas Horne said: “The jury in large measure represents community sentiment” and reflects spamming’s “tremendous societal costs.”
He added that the nine-year sentence should act as a “deterrent to stop other people who might send unsolicited mail in this fashion.”
Apr 11, 2005
Saturday, April 09, 2005
Pope's funeral a reminder that institutions can be revived
pope
IT HAS been called the greatest funeral in history. With the experience of two millennia, the Catholic Church is a past master at ceremony. But no-one could have predicted the extraordinary way in which the funeral of Pope John Paul II dominated the attention of the whole world. It is not just the millions of Catholic faithful who have poured through St Peter’s Square. Or even the global billions watching on television. Over 200 of the world’s leading statesmen, including George W Bush and two former American presidents, dropped everything to attend the Pope’s internment. What does this extraordinary event signify?
Certainly John Paul II was an important historical figure. Certainly, it is the first funeral of a major pontiff to take place in the age of 24-hour global television news. But these factors do not fully explain the interest shown in this event. A better clue lies in the attendance at a papal funeral, for the first time, of dignitaries of the other traditional Christian churches - Orthodox and Protestant.
In the last generation, the historic divisions inside Christianity have suddenly weakened, in self-defence against the increasing secularisation of western culture. Even the fundamentalist evangelical sects in the United States find themselves making common cause with the Catholic Church - America’s biggest denomination - against abortion rights. As a result of this melting of the sectarian divisions, Rome is again recovering its status as de facto leader of the Christian world.
Pope John Paul’s contribution to this process lay in his fervent evangelical missions around the globe. He was not the first modern pontiff to travel abroad - his predecessor, Paul VI, had started the trend. But John Paul made his pontificate about preaching the Gospel in country after country. In doing so, he raised not only the profile of the Catholic Church, but also the profile of the spiritual dimension and religion as a whole.
On his travels, he was not as sectarian as many at first imagined. He went out of his way to build bridges to other faiths, especially Judaism and Islam. Which is why many leaders of non-Christian religions were in attendance at his funeral - another first.
Yet, despite yesterday’s sublime celebrations, there remains a large question mark over the future of both the Catholic Church and organised religion. For it is difficult to see what Pope John Paul’s successor can really do in practical terms to stem the advancing tide of secularisation. In Europe, Christian church membership is in free-fall. Across Europe and America, Catholics may have revered John Paul but they do not practise his teachings when it comes to artificial birth control. Even in Brazil, the country with the world’s biggest and probably most devout Catholic community, the birth rate has started to fall.
True, the Christian churches have collectively put abortion high on the political agenda. Yet in no western country is there anything approaching a majority willing to abolish divorce, recriminalise homosexuality, or do anything more than tighten the term limits on abortion. And most westerners, including many Catholics, see the Church’s ban on condoms in countries afflicted with AIDS as shockingly cruel.
Religion has certainly made a comeback as a moral force in an increasingly rootless western consumer society. But western nations are also grounded on pluralist democracy, freedom of the individual and respect for minority and women’s rights - popular values that can be at odds with any authority based on the claim of divine revelation and the requirement for universal obedience.
This is not a contradiction any pope will find easy to reconcile. In many ways, John Paul II chose not to try. His was a more spiritual calling, and in many ways it ensured that he eventually rose above politics, to be much loved even by those who disagreed with him on social issues. But the next pope, especially if he is a conservative from Latin America or Africa, will find political controversy harder to avoid. He might even accelerate the culture clash within the Church between the forces of western, liberal reform and third world fundamentalism.
If Catholicism wants to retain its historic base in the west, there is a case for saying the next pope should be someone like the original Apostle Paul - willing to explore how to reach out to the modern secular gentiles.
MEANWHILE in Britain, the Pope’s funeral has another layer of meaning. It marks a shift - perhaps long overdue - in the evolution of our political institutions. The roots of traditional British identity lie in our Protestant heritage: the Monarch is Defender of the Faith and there is a legally established Church. Yet, for the first time, not only the heir to the throne, but the British Prime Minister and the head of the Church of England have gone to Rome for the interment rites of a pope. Even 50 years ago that would have been unacceptable.
The response of Prince Charles, Tony Blair and the Archbishop of Canterbury is correct and a sign we have outlived the sectarian part of our national heritage. Indeed, it is high time the Act of Settlement was amended to allow a Catholic the right to ascend the throne. But there is one final, deeper lesson for Britain to learn from the passing of the Pope.
In recent decades, Britain has discarded many of its traditional institutions, and let others fall into disrepair. The monarchy, through its own self-indulgence, is in a sad state. The manner in which Prince Charles’ wedding has been handled has not improved matters. And our politicians have forfeited popular respect and trust - a key issue in the present general election.
The historic funeral of John Paul II is a reminder that great institutions can be revived, to universal acclaim - provided they have the right leadership. It is a lesson Britain should heed.
IT HAS been called the greatest funeral in history. With the experience of two millennia, the Catholic Church is a past master at ceremony. But no-one could have predicted the extraordinary way in which the funeral of Pope John Paul II dominated the attention of the whole world. It is not just the millions of Catholic faithful who have poured through St Peter’s Square. Or even the global billions watching on television. Over 200 of the world’s leading statesmen, including George W Bush and two former American presidents, dropped everything to attend the Pope’s internment. What does this extraordinary event signify?
Certainly John Paul II was an important historical figure. Certainly, it is the first funeral of a major pontiff to take place in the age of 24-hour global television news. But these factors do not fully explain the interest shown in this event. A better clue lies in the attendance at a papal funeral, for the first time, of dignitaries of the other traditional Christian churches - Orthodox and Protestant.
In the last generation, the historic divisions inside Christianity have suddenly weakened, in self-defence against the increasing secularisation of western culture. Even the fundamentalist evangelical sects in the United States find themselves making common cause with the Catholic Church - America’s biggest denomination - against abortion rights. As a result of this melting of the sectarian divisions, Rome is again recovering its status as de facto leader of the Christian world.
Pope John Paul’s contribution to this process lay in his fervent evangelical missions around the globe. He was not the first modern pontiff to travel abroad - his predecessor, Paul VI, had started the trend. But John Paul made his pontificate about preaching the Gospel in country after country. In doing so, he raised not only the profile of the Catholic Church, but also the profile of the spiritual dimension and religion as a whole.
On his travels, he was not as sectarian as many at first imagined. He went out of his way to build bridges to other faiths, especially Judaism and Islam. Which is why many leaders of non-Christian religions were in attendance at his funeral - another first.
Yet, despite yesterday’s sublime celebrations, there remains a large question mark over the future of both the Catholic Church and organised religion. For it is difficult to see what Pope John Paul’s successor can really do in practical terms to stem the advancing tide of secularisation. In Europe, Christian church membership is in free-fall. Across Europe and America, Catholics may have revered John Paul but they do not practise his teachings when it comes to artificial birth control. Even in Brazil, the country with the world’s biggest and probably most devout Catholic community, the birth rate has started to fall.
True, the Christian churches have collectively put abortion high on the political agenda. Yet in no western country is there anything approaching a majority willing to abolish divorce, recriminalise homosexuality, or do anything more than tighten the term limits on abortion. And most westerners, including many Catholics, see the Church’s ban on condoms in countries afflicted with AIDS as shockingly cruel.
Religion has certainly made a comeback as a moral force in an increasingly rootless western consumer society. But western nations are also grounded on pluralist democracy, freedom of the individual and respect for minority and women’s rights - popular values that can be at odds with any authority based on the claim of divine revelation and the requirement for universal obedience.
This is not a contradiction any pope will find easy to reconcile. In many ways, John Paul II chose not to try. His was a more spiritual calling, and in many ways it ensured that he eventually rose above politics, to be much loved even by those who disagreed with him on social issues. But the next pope, especially if he is a conservative from Latin America or Africa, will find political controversy harder to avoid. He might even accelerate the culture clash within the Church between the forces of western, liberal reform and third world fundamentalism.
If Catholicism wants to retain its historic base in the west, there is a case for saying the next pope should be someone like the original Apostle Paul - willing to explore how to reach out to the modern secular gentiles.
MEANWHILE in Britain, the Pope’s funeral has another layer of meaning. It marks a shift - perhaps long overdue - in the evolution of our political institutions. The roots of traditional British identity lie in our Protestant heritage: the Monarch is Defender of the Faith and there is a legally established Church. Yet, for the first time, not only the heir to the throne, but the British Prime Minister and the head of the Church of England have gone to Rome for the interment rites of a pope. Even 50 years ago that would have been unacceptable.
The response of Prince Charles, Tony Blair and the Archbishop of Canterbury is correct and a sign we have outlived the sectarian part of our national heritage. Indeed, it is high time the Act of Settlement was amended to allow a Catholic the right to ascend the throne. But there is one final, deeper lesson for Britain to learn from the passing of the Pope.
In recent decades, Britain has discarded many of its traditional institutions, and let others fall into disrepair. The monarchy, through its own self-indulgence, is in a sad state. The manner in which Prince Charles’ wedding has been handled has not improved matters. And our politicians have forfeited popular respect and trust - a key issue in the present general election.
The historic funeral of John Paul II is a reminder that great institutions can be revived, to universal acclaim - provided they have the right leadership. It is a lesson Britain should heed.
Tuesday, April 05, 2005
Prince Charles's wedding delayed
char
London — Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles have waited more than 30 years to be together, and now they'll have to wait one more day.
Britain's royal wedding will be postponed from Friday to Saturday in order not to conflict with the papal funeral in Vatican City, which Charles will attend — a significant concession for the man who is next in line to become head of the Church of England.
"As a mark of respect, His Royal Highness and Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles have decided to postpone their wedding until Saturday 9th April 2005," read a statement from Clarence House, the Prince's headquarters. "It is expected that the arrangements will be largely the same as previously planned."
Yesterday, Charles returned early from a skiing trip in Switzerland to attend a service for the Pope at Westminster Cathedral, along with Mrs. Parker Bowles, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie.
Perhaps the only thing left is for the cake to fall over. The star-crossed wedding has already suffered a venue change, the absence of the bridegroom's parents and questions over its legitimacy.
Now, when the heir to the throne and his bride arrive at Windsor's Guildhall Saturday morning, accompanied by their children and other members of the Royal Family, they will be merely the first of four couples to be married there that day.
The logistics at the end of the week would test the patience of even the most stalwart wedding planner. Charles and the Blairs will attend the Pope's funeral Friday morning in Rome and return to England for the wedding the next morning. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will also attend the funeral and is expected to return and deliver a blessing for the couple at Windsor Castle.
"Henry VIII must be turning in his Windsor grave," wrote an analyst in the London-based Guardian newspaper, referring to the king who broke from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.
The wedding is not the only high-profile event affected by the Pope's death. Mr. Blair had intended to set the date for a general election yesterday, but postponed the announcement until today. It is widely expected that Britons will go to the polls on May 5.
Sunday, Clarence House announced that the wedding would go ahead as planned even if it meant a conflict with the funeral. Yesterday's reversal was just the most recent pothole in the road to royal marriage.
First, the engagement was leaked in a London paper, forcing Clarence House to verify the news days in advance of its planned Valentine's Day announcement. Then, plans to hold the wedding at Windsor Castle went awry when it became clear that a licence for the Prince to marry there meant that the favoured royal residence would have to remain open for public weddings for three years.
The Queen then announced that neither she nor Prince Philip would attend the civil ceremony, which was widely seen as a snub. Meanwhile, there were questions about whether members of the Royal Family were even allowed to marry in civil ceremonies under British law.
The latest controversy arose when it was announced last week that Mrs. Parker Bowles would indeed become the Princess of Wales upon her marriage, a title associated in many British hearts with Charles's first wife, Diana, who died in 1997.
"This wedding has been fraught with problems," royal biographer Penny Junor said. "And it has put such a strain on both of them."
That strain became evident last week in Switzerland when a routine photo call given by Prince Charles and princes William and Harry showed a bridegroom irritated with the press. "These bloody people," Charles said to his sons, unaware that he was being picked up on microphones.
Yesterday, there were reports that souvenir hunters were snapping up commemorative mugs, spoons and thimbles with the April 8 wedding date, in the hopes that the incorrect date would make them collectors' items. But even before the tea-towel speculators descended, vendors were reporting brisk trade.
"Now that the wedding is around the corner, sales have really picked up," said Gina Alvarenga, manager of the Crest of London souvenir shop in London. "It's not just tourists, but locals too."
Many of the wedding's details, from music to food at the reception, are expected to remain unchanged despite the date change. The Prince and Mrs. Parker Bowles are still expected to travel the short distance to and from Windsor castle in a 1962 Rolls-Royce once used by the Queen Mother. Tens of thousands of daffodils have been ordered for the wedding, and there are assurances that the blooms will last an extra day.
London — Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles have waited more than 30 years to be together, and now they'll have to wait one more day.
Britain's royal wedding will be postponed from Friday to Saturday in order not to conflict with the papal funeral in Vatican City, which Charles will attend — a significant concession for the man who is next in line to become head of the Church of England.
"As a mark of respect, His Royal Highness and Mrs. Camilla Parker Bowles have decided to postpone their wedding until Saturday 9th April 2005," read a statement from Clarence House, the Prince's headquarters. "It is expected that the arrangements will be largely the same as previously planned."
Yesterday, Charles returned early from a skiing trip in Switzerland to attend a service for the Pope at Westminster Cathedral, along with Mrs. Parker Bowles, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and his wife Cherie.
Perhaps the only thing left is for the cake to fall over. The star-crossed wedding has already suffered a venue change, the absence of the bridegroom's parents and questions over its legitimacy.
Now, when the heir to the throne and his bride arrive at Windsor's Guildhall Saturday morning, accompanied by their children and other members of the Royal Family, they will be merely the first of four couples to be married there that day.
The logistics at the end of the week would test the patience of even the most stalwart wedding planner. Charles and the Blairs will attend the Pope's funeral Friday morning in Rome and return to England for the wedding the next morning. Rowan Williams, the Archbishop of Canterbury, will also attend the funeral and is expected to return and deliver a blessing for the couple at Windsor Castle.
"Henry VIII must be turning in his Windsor grave," wrote an analyst in the London-based Guardian newspaper, referring to the king who broke from the Roman Catholic Church in 1534.
The wedding is not the only high-profile event affected by the Pope's death. Mr. Blair had intended to set the date for a general election yesterday, but postponed the announcement until today. It is widely expected that Britons will go to the polls on May 5.
Sunday, Clarence House announced that the wedding would go ahead as planned even if it meant a conflict with the funeral. Yesterday's reversal was just the most recent pothole in the road to royal marriage.
First, the engagement was leaked in a London paper, forcing Clarence House to verify the news days in advance of its planned Valentine's Day announcement. Then, plans to hold the wedding at Windsor Castle went awry when it became clear that a licence for the Prince to marry there meant that the favoured royal residence would have to remain open for public weddings for three years.
The Queen then announced that neither she nor Prince Philip would attend the civil ceremony, which was widely seen as a snub. Meanwhile, there were questions about whether members of the Royal Family were even allowed to marry in civil ceremonies under British law.
The latest controversy arose when it was announced last week that Mrs. Parker Bowles would indeed become the Princess of Wales upon her marriage, a title associated in many British hearts with Charles's first wife, Diana, who died in 1997.
"This wedding has been fraught with problems," royal biographer Penny Junor said. "And it has put such a strain on both of them."
That strain became evident last week in Switzerland when a routine photo call given by Prince Charles and princes William and Harry showed a bridegroom irritated with the press. "These bloody people," Charles said to his sons, unaware that he was being picked up on microphones.
Yesterday, there were reports that souvenir hunters were snapping up commemorative mugs, spoons and thimbles with the April 8 wedding date, in the hopes that the incorrect date would make them collectors' items. But even before the tea-towel speculators descended, vendors were reporting brisk trade.
"Now that the wedding is around the corner, sales have really picked up," said Gina Alvarenga, manager of the Crest of London souvenir shop in London. "It's not just tourists, but locals too."
Many of the wedding's details, from music to food at the reception, are expected to remain unchanged despite the date change. The Prince and Mrs. Parker Bowles are still expected to travel the short distance to and from Windsor castle in a 1962 Rolls-Royce once used by the Queen Mother. Tens of thousands of daffodils have been ordered for the wedding, and there are assurances that the blooms will last an extra day.
Gmail Capacities Continue To Increase
chr
Last Friday, Google revealed their intentions to increase the storage capacity of Gmail accounts, moving them past the 1-gigabyte mark.
Currently, the Gmail storage capacity resides at 2057 megabytes and it continues to increase. There has been no word from Google on how much longer the increase is going to occur. They have dropped hints that they would be increasing Gmail's capacity past the 2-gigabyte mark on their blog, which says, "to celebrate our birthday, we're giving all Gmail users another gigabyte of space, and then some."
With the counter continuing its increase, which is already past the 2-gig mark, users can only guess where it will stop.
With the Gmail increase well under way, one can imagine Google's competitor's to follow suit. However, Yahoo only recently announced their intentions to increase storage on their free accounts from 250MB to 1GB.
Microsoft's Hotmail, which still resides at a 250MB capacity, has yet to respond to Yahoo and Gmail's recent increases.
Last Friday, Google revealed their intentions to increase the storage capacity of Gmail accounts, moving them past the 1-gigabyte mark.Currently, the Gmail storage capacity resides at 2057 megabytes and it continues to increase. There has been no word from Google on how much longer the increase is going to occur. They have dropped hints that they would be increasing Gmail's capacity past the 2-gigabyte mark on their blog, which says, "to celebrate our birthday, we're giving all Gmail users another gigabyte of space, and then some."
With the counter continuing its increase, which is already past the 2-gig mark, users can only guess where it will stop.
With the Gmail increase well under way, one can imagine Google's competitor's to follow suit. However, Yahoo only recently announced their intentions to increase storage on their free accounts from 250MB to 1GB.
Microsoft's Hotmail, which still resides at a 250MB capacity, has yet to respond to Yahoo and Gmail's recent increases.
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