Snakes on a car (The Newsroom)

First there were Snakes on a Plane; then there were Snakes on a Train (can you say "straight to DVD"?) Now ... you guessed it: Snakes on a car.

That's what the Fisher family from Memphis, Tennessee found slithering on the windshield of their SUV -- while they were driving. The sneaky serpent had snuck into the engine and decided to show himself once things got too hot under the hood.

The Fishers caught it all on video and posted it to YouTube, where, predictably, animal lovers blasted the couple for not stopping. But all's well that ends well: Hitchy McHitchhiker eventually slithered off the car and to safety.

LIFE slideshow: John Glenn, unpublished photos (The Newsroom)

No person alive has been more closely associated, for so long, with America's triumphs in space during the late '50s and early '60s than Ohio native John Glenn. Here, on the occasion of his 90th birthday (July 18), LIFE.com presents unpublished photos of the first American to orbit the earth; the decorated Marine Corps veteran (WWII and Korea); and the earnest, novice politician, taken by LIFE photographers during one of the most thrilling, inspiring, nerve-wracking eras in the nation's history: the Space Race.

Hank Walker/TIME & LIFE Pictures

Second Act: Swimmer Diana Nyad (The Newsroom)

Open water swimmer Diana Nyad is back in Key West, Florida , continuing her quest to be the first person to make a 103-mile swim from Havana, Cuba to Florida without a shark cage. A Yahoo! News team recently accompanied Nyad on a grueling 9-hour training swim, shooting an episode of the award-winning show Second Act from aboard her escort vessel. Nyad, who is 61 and swims around 1.5 miles an hour,  is waiting for favorable water temperatures and ocean wind speeds to attempt the 60-hour crossing.  Hurricanes and delays with Cuban visas prevented her from trying the swim last summer.  Click here to see the video.

Yahoo! News

What’s next for America’s aspiring astronauts? (The Newsroom)

Click image to view photos of space travel's past, present and future. (AFP)

The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis is seen with from the International Space Station. REUTERS/NASA TV/Handout

(This report is the third and final in a Yahoo! News series on the shutdown of the space shuttle program.)

When Atlantis lands at Cape Canaveral on Thursday, back from the very last mission to the International Space Station, 20-year-old Amanda Premer will be getting ready to move to Houston.  The fourth-year aerospace engineering major is headed to Johnson Space Center's Cooperative Education program, where she will be alternating her last semesters at Wichita State University with three "work tours" at the NASA site. She hopes to secure a full-time job with NASA.

"I want to be an astronaut," said Premer, who has spent the last four summers working at the Cosmosphere space camp in Hutchinson, Kan. "Even though NASA doesn't have anything lined up to follow the shuttle program, the world's always going to need astronauts. And I'd like to be one of them."

As NASA's 30-year space shuttle program draws to a close, the next generation of aspiring astronauts and talented aerospace engineers must rely on international vehicles to fly up to the ISS, and depend on private industry to create the next best rocket. They are entering a new, nebulous era of American spaceflight, but are fervent in their desire to carry the torch lit by their predecessors during the Apollo era.

"The shuttle is old. Amazing, but old," said Sara Gurnett, who is three semesters away from earning a degree in professional aeronautics from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Prescott, Ariz., and also works summers as a counselor for the Cosmosphere. "So it's not disappointing to me that it's retiring."

She hopes to join the U.S. Navy's Officer Candidate School after graduation, and eventually become an astronaut pilot. "I want to one day be able to fly the most exotic thing out there," said Gurnett, who keeps her pilot license, along with her scuba certification, literally in her back pocket.  "That used to be the space shuttle, but now, who knows what it'll be. … It'll probably be built by private industry."

President Obama thinks so too. Atlantis' crew deposited on the ISS an American flag that flew on the first shuttle mission, and when Obama spoke to the crew last week before it returned to Earth, he challenged the commercial space industry to "capture the flag."

Shortly afterward, California-based company SpaceX posted via Twitter: "SpaceX commencing flag capturing sequence…"

Founded by engineer-entrepreneur Elon Musk (of PayPal and Tesla fame), SpaceX made history in November when it became the first private company to launch a spacecraft into orbit and guide it safely back to Earth. It plans to send that same spacecraft to the ISS by the end of this year. Fueling this effort will be the company's cadre of bright young engineers—the average age at SpaceX is early 30s.

"There's all this incredible energy happening in the private sector," said Garrett Reisman, a former astronaut who rode on Atlantis' penultimate trip to the ISS last year, but recently hung up his spacesuit to join SpaceX as a senior engineer. "We have a great mix of these senior guys and these young guys who are the best and the brightest."

One of those young guys is 26-year-old Matt McKeown , who sat in mission control during SpaceX's historic launch last year. A lead propulsion engineer, he gave the iconic "go/no-go" cues from the propulsion standpoint.

"It's definitely a challenge for us young engineers because we've never done this before," said McKeown, who joined SpaceX after earning a master's degree—and a 3.9 GPA—in aerospace engineering from the University of Michigan in 2008. "But we know we have to make progress or we're not going to have jobs!  That's a great motivator."

McKeown started building model rockets in elementary school, and he continued to build them throughout junior high and high school. In college, he set his sights a little higher and co-founded the Michigan Aeronautical Science Association, an organization specifically designed to construct space vehicles.  He received a $10,000 scholarship from the Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, which was founded by the six surviving astronauts of Project Mercury, NASA's first major undertaking. The foundation rewards college students who excel in the sciences.

"Ever since I was 5, I knew I wanted to be an engineer," said McKeown, who was inspired by shuttle technology. "Now I'm working on vehicles that will take manned spaceflight to the next level. … I hope that will inspire people."

Sara Gurnett believes that renewing public interest in space exploration is the key to continued funding and support.

"We have to get parents interested in space, and then they'll inspire their kids," she said. "Some kids see these things as faraway dreams and they don't feel like they're good enough. … But they could really do this one day!"

Aerospace engineer Doug Hofmann, 30, was inspired to pursue a career in space by his father, a retired Army lieutenant colonel with a strong interest in the space program. (In 1985, the elder Hofmann, then a seventh-grade teacher, was a finalist for the ill-fated Challenger mission.)

"I grew up wanting to be an astronaut," said Hofmann, who knew his best chances were to become an engineer or a military fighter pilot. "My dad told me I was more apt for research than the military."

From then on, Hofmann relentlessly pursued the space field and took every opportunity to get advice from former astronauts. Sally Ride, the first American woman to enter space, and one of Hofmann's professors at the University of California, San Diego, convinced him to go to Caltech for graduate school rather than MIT. He went on to earn both a master's and PhD in materials science.

Hofmann is now working in what he calls his dream job, designing new materials for spacecraft at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.  He hopes the job will bring him one step closer to becoming an astronaut (he currently has funding for research projects on the ISS).

In the meantime, he's trying to pass on the wonder and excitement for all things space to his 5-month-old son: "When I was in Washington, D.C., I got the autographs of three astronauts for my son.  When he's older he'll appreciate them."

Though many view the end of the shuttle program as an end to American spaceflight, this new generation of aspiring astronauts, engineers and space enthusiasts are excited as ever for the future, and hope that they can leave their mark, much as their predecessors from Apollo and the shuttle missions did. Whether it's by hitching a ride on another country's vehicle or inaugurating a shiny new ride built by commercial industry, they will continue to explore the great unknown, and stake their flag to inspire the next generation.

More specifically, according to Gurnett: "Space travel to the moon, Mars and beyond: That's the legacy I want my generation to leave."

LIFE slideshow: Druids, mystery, faith, myth (The Newsroom)

In early October, 2010, the ancient pagan tradition of Druidry was, for the first time, formally classed as a religion in Britain. The legal significance of this new status for those who today call themselves Druids is considerable: they can, for instance, receive exemptions from taxes on donations. The spiritual significance, meanwhile -- of having one's religion recognized on a par with, say, the Church of England after years of living on the very margins of Europe's great faiths -- can hardly be overstated.

Keystone/Getty Images

Ryan’s shrewd budget payday (The Newsroom)

When House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan unveiled the GOP blueprint for cutting government spending, he asked Americans to make sacrifices on everything from Medicare to education, while preserving lucrative tax subsidies for the booming oil, mining and energy industries.

It turns out a constituency within his own personal investments stood to benefit from those tax breaks, Newsweek and The Daily Beast have learned.

The financial disclosure report Ryan filed with Congress last month and made public this week shows he and his wife, Janna, own stakes in four family companies that lease land in Texas and Oklahoma to the very energy companies that benefit from the tax subsidies in Ryan's budget plan.

Ryan's father-in-law, Daniel Little, who runs the companies, told Newsweek and The Daily Beast that the family companies are currently leasing the land for mining and drilling to energy giants such as Chesapeake Energy, Devon, and XTO Energy, a recently acquired subsidiary of ExxonMobil.

Some of these firms would be eligible for portions of the $45 billion in energy tax breaks and subsidies over 10 years protected in the Wisconsin lawmaker's proposed budget. "Those [energy developing companies] benefit a lot from these subsidies," explained Russ Harding, an energy policy analyst with the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, when presented with the situation, without reference to Ryan. "Without those, they're going to be less profitable."

To ethics watchdogs, Ryan's effort to extend the tax breaks creates the potential appearance of a conflict of interest.

"To ethics watchdogs, Ryan's effort to extend the tax breaks creates the potential appearance of a conflict of interest. "

"Sure, senior citizens should have to pay more for health care, but landholders like [Ryan] who lease property to big oil companies, well, their government subsidies must be protected at all costs," says Melanie Sloan, the director of the nonpartisan Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. "It smacks of hypocrisy."

Ryan's office says the congressman wasn't thinking about himself or the oil companies that lease his land when he drafted the budget blueprint that extended the energy tax breaks. "These are properties that Congressman Ryan married into," spokesman Kevin Seifert said. "It's not something he has a lot of control over."

Nonetheless, the properties have been a lucrative investment for Ryan and his wife, earning them as much as $117,000 last year, and $60,000 the year before, his personal financial disclosure reports show. Overall, Ryan, 41, listed assets worth between $590,000 and $2.5 million, putting him in the top third of the richest members of the House.

Ryan and his wife reported owning minority stakes ranging from nearly 1 percent to 10 percent in the following four family companies: Ava O Limited Company, which holds mining and mineral rights; Blondie and Brownie, which holds gravel rights; Red River Pine Company, which holds timber rights; and Little Land Company, an oil and gas corporation.

While Ryan's stake in the oil and gas firm was his smallest at 0.8 percent, it was listed as one of his most valuable assets, generating as much as $50,000 of his income last year, the report shows.

Aside from the land-lease income, Ryan could also personally benefit from the package of subsidies and incentives he has fought to protect. According to a report from the Joint Committee on Taxation, Ryan himself would be eligible to recover money from the government for investments the four family companies might make in such things as machines and maintenance if they didn't pan out on the properties and failed to generate revenue.

Stephen Comstock, a tax analyst with the American Petroleum Institute, says the provision and several others like it would be protected under Ryan's budget.

Rep. Dan Boren, a Democrat from Oklahoma who has announced his retirement next year, also owns stakes in three of the four same companies as Ryan. The two lawmakers are related through marriage. Boren is the first cousin of Ryan's wife.

Boren aligned with his party and voted no on Ryan's budget. But a month prior, Boren voted with Republicans (and only 12 other Democrats) to oppose an amendment that would have financially constrained major oil companies.

In a written statement, Boren told Newsweek and The Daily Beast, "It should come as no surprise the way I voted because the oil and gas industry is the largest private employer in Oklahoma."

In addition to the tax breaks, Ryan's family has benefited in recent years from another form or federal largesse—farm subsidies. Federal records show his father-in-law and great-aunt have collected more than $50,000 in agriculture subsidies on lands owned by the family.

Ryan's budget had proposed cutting $30 billion in farm subsidies over the next 10 years, although some conservatives criticized the number for being too low.

Long a star among young conservatives who admired his commitment to fiscal discipline, Ryan soared onto the national political scene earlier this year, when Republicans chose the youthful, handsome lawmaker to give the nationally televised response to President Obama's State of the Union address.

Ryan then opened the floodgates of criticism a few months later, when he submitted his "Path to Prosperity" plan to slash $6.2 trillion in federal spending over the next decade, going further than the president or other major politicians in the scope of his cuts.

Democrats pounced on the depth of cuts, including the virtual elimination of Medicare for retirees who are not yet 55.

Ryan's Medicare program also drove a wedge through his own party. When former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich, now a presidential candidate, referred to the idea as "right-wing social engineering," the blowback was so severe that Gingrich had to immediately apologize to Ryan.

Like The Daily Beast on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for updates all day long.

Daniel Stone is Newsweek's White House correspondent. He also covers national energy and environmental policy.

For inquiries, please contact The Daily Beast at editorial@thedailybeast.com.

LIFE slideshow: NASA envisions alien worlds (The Newsroom)

For decades, NASA has delighted stargazers with pictures taken by astronauts, telescopes, and rovers across the galaxy -- photographic glimpses of real planets, moons, stars, and other heavenly bodies. When illustrators, meanwhile, stretch their imaginations -- giving shape and color to what, say, a sunrise on another world -- their work offers brilliant notions of what vistas beyond our tiny corner of space might look like. Captured by a camera or, as in this gallery, envisioned by artists, the far reaches of space continue to humble and amaze.

NASA/ JPL-Caltech

Strawberry, chocolate, vanilla … cicada? (The Newsroom)

If you're an adventurous diner, you might want to get yourself over to Sparky's Homemade Ice Cream in Columbia, Mo., to see if they have any leftover cicada ice cream. Yes, cicada as in the BUG. As in BUG ice cream.

Sparky's employees are allowed to get a little crazy when it comes to new ice cream flavors, so they may have been inspired by all the 13-year cicada corpses lying about after they emerged last month.

Boiled, then coated in chocolate, the crunchy buggers taste like nuts, apparently. (You know what else tastes like nuts? NUTS.) The shop discontinued the "flavor" after the Health Department advised them to quit serving bugs-n-cream.

Recession spurs Web drifters, entrepreneurs to create own jobs (The Newsroom)

The U.S. economy is slowly climbing its way out of the worst recession since the Great Depression. But unlike the 1930s, some of today's financially strapped families can use modern technology to take matters into their own hands and create their own opportunities online.

That's what Tori Redmond-Mize did to keep her family off the streets in Dixon, Mo., and work her way to financial stability. A snowball of events coinciding with the worst of the recession beginning in 2007 left her family nearly homeless. They found out their new house had lead paint, her husband lost his job as a manager at an animal shelter, his back issues worsened and they could no longer pay the bills. In one day she went from being a stay-at-home mom to planning how to become the breadwinner and only source of income for her family.

After two years struggling to keep a roof over their heads and their finances afloat, the pressure and stress finally took its toll. Redmond-Mize had a breakdown and ended up in the hospital, adding more medical bills that they would not be able to pay. After a virtual stranger read about their desperate situation on Redmond-Mize's blog, he offered to let her family stay with him in his Missouri countryside home where they now live.

"What was going through my mind was, 'this woman is in terrible trouble'…I felt that if someone didn't take the load off Tori's shoulders, it would result in true madness or suicide," said Jim Corey, 71, a retired technical engineer. "So I invited her and her family to move into my basement apartment."

They finally had a solid roof over their heads, but with a disabled husband and young children to take care of, Redmond-Mize couldn't afford to work away from home — so she turned to technology and the online market to make ends meet, starting her own Web content company.

"The only way to make it through the recession and the hard economic times is to take a cue from the Great Depression," Redmond-Mize said. "You had people who were drifters and they would stop at farms and work for food, or for a place to stay for the night. You had a lot of that back then and now you can do the same thing, only you don't have to travel around to do it."

Redmond-Mize believes this new kind of virtual wanderer can not only survive online but find real prosperity. She isn't the only one who has been proactive in making her own success despite the poor state of the economy. This has been a growing trend over the past few years, and those in the do-it-yourself Web market say there is much more opportunity to be mined.

With the latest unemployment rate at 8.8 percent, the slowly recovering job market means many Americans will still have to find new ways to reboot their lives like Redmond-Mize. Recent data from the Kauffman Foundation, an organization dedicated to funding and supporting entrepreneurs, suggest people have been doing just that.

"In 2010, 0.34 percent of the adult population, or 340 out of 100,000 adults, created a new business each month, representing approximately 565,000 new businesses per month. This total rate of business creation increased from 0.30 percent in 2007," the Kauffman Index of Entrepreneurial Activity said.

This increase in entrepreneurialism is partly due to people in a similar situation to Redmond-Mize, according to the foundation's website. After finding no viable job opportunities in her town, she shifted to online work. She wrote freelance articles and worked odd online contract jobs, but the income just wasn't enough. The economy wasn't showing much improvement and freelance rates were static. So she and fellow freelancer, Chrisa Williams, began talking about starting their own content company using a more gracious pay scale for contributors.

"We saw so many people working for content companies and we both have worked for different content companies that were pulling in really big profits and not paying their writers what they're worth and it just kind of bothered us and we wanted to try and find a way around that," Redmond-Mize said.

In a matter of weeks, the pair launched Element Content, a company made up of a network of writers that creates online copy like corporate newsletters, marketing articles, and pay-per-click ads for businesses and other contractors.

Redmond-Mize began actively networking with her online community, finding mentors and researching what it would take to grow her new endeavor. But she is far from alone in venturing into the world of small online entrepreneurialism.

Dr. John H. Vanston, founder and chairman of Technology Futures, Inc., has been studying technology and business trends for more than 30 years. He identifies the increasing number of people working from home as a growing economic force in his new book, "Minitrends: How Innovators & Entrepreneurs Discover & Profit from Business & Technology Trends."

His book spotlights specific "minitrends" and trains people how to recognize them and take advantage of related job opportunities. Vanston defines minitrends as trends that are just beginning to emerge, have potential to become significantly important in two to five years and are not yet widely recognized or appreciated.

With the insecure employment environment, "people are going to have to look for jobs…that are independent and to do what they have to, to really create the jobs themselves," he said.

For those who are part of this trend, like Clint Nelsen, co-founder and director of Startup Weekend, it can be hard to keep up with the demand.

Startup Weekend is a non-profit organization that puts on "54-hour events" around the world where people with entrepreneurial ideas come together to network, build products and launch startups over the course of a weekend.

"Especially when we were a team of two, demand was our biggest problem," Nelsen said. "Too many emails were coming in every day from people saying things like, 'Hey, I'm in Auckland, New Zealand. Let's do a Startup Weekend here.'"

Since 2009 Nelsen and Marc Nager have hired more staffers to help keep up with the volume of requests.

Startup Weekend is part of a growing community of organizations dedicated to facilitating startups and entrepreneurial growth like Lean Startup Machine, MassChallenge, TechStars and the Small Business Administration.

Despite the amount of resources available to those who want to start their own small businesses, it's not a failsafe approach to financial stability. Entrepreneurial success rates tend to be low, and it takes a high level of energy and commitment to turn a profit.

Startup Weekend says about 36 percent of its startups are still "going strong" after three months. "Of the 36 percent roughly 10 percent go on to either get acceptance into an accelerator or incubator, or go on to see some sort of funding or investments," said Maris McEdward, the organization's communications manager.

"Building a startup is just as much about building a product as it is about managing your energy and emotion," Nelsen said. "Sometimes if you hit a low, it's just impossible to see the light at the end of the tunnel to continue going on. You need to structure the whole project keeping revenue in mind, and also your own human emotions."

But Redmond-Mize still has hope. She is optimistic that her business model will provide a sustainable fair-pay model for freelance writers — and provide stable income for her family. She hopes it will inspire others to adopt a similar approach of interconnected self-employment.

"I've just thought back on all the people who believed in me and thought, if other people had that, and could see that when you pay it forward, the impact goes much farther than just the person you helped," Redmond-Mize said.

Click here to see readers' first-person accounts of turning to the Web as a result of the recession.

For more business news follow Torrey AndersonSchoepe on Twitter @YahooReporterTA and connect with Yahoo! News on Facebook and Twitter!

Universal Donates 200,000 Master Recordings to Library of Congress (PC World)

At least someone in the music industry is trying to keep up with the Internet age--Universal Music Group is donating over 200,000 vintage master recordings to the Library of Congress.

The Library plans to catalog and digitize the collection and make it available for public online streaming this upcoming spring. The collection features historic recordings from Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, and Louis Armstrong among others, including "Frim Fram Sauce" by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, "White Christmas" by Bing Crosby, and "Ain't Misbehavin'" by Louis Armstrong.

"It is certainly within the national interest to acquire this recorded collection, and all its accompanying materials, for custodial care," Librarian of Congress James H. Billington said in a press release Monday, "A surprisingly high percentage of America's recording heritage since the early part of the 20th century has been lost due to neglect and deterioration."

The collection will be digitized at the Library's Packard Campus for Audio Visual Conservation in Culpeper, Virginia. The Library's Recorded Sound Section currently has around three million items, most of which are noncommercial.

Engadget points out that it does not appear that the intellectual property rights will pass with the recordings, "as the press release states this agreement continues the Library's 'unprecedented autority to stream commercially owned sound recordings online.'"

[ArsTechnica via Engadget / Photo: Vibragiel on Flickr; used under Creative Commons]

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Obama marks anniversary of Haiti earthquake

President Barack Obama is honoring the memory of those who died in the Haiti earthquake as the one year anniversary of the disaster approaches.

The Associated Press

WASHINGTON —

President Barack Obama is honoring the memory of those who died in the Haiti earthquake as the one year anniversary of the disaster approaches.

In a statement released ahead of Wednesday's anniversary, Obama says he continues to be inspired by the Haitian people, who he says faced unimaginable loss with extraordinary faith and courage. The earthquake devastated Haiti's capital and is estimated to have killed more than 230,000 people.

Obama says there has not been enough progress made to help Haiti recover from the earthquake and there are still too many people living in tents and too much rubble on the streets.

The president says that while the people of Haiti must lead the way forward as they rebuild their country, they will have an "enduring partner" in the U.S.

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WGN America Now Available to Time Warner Cable's East Region/NYC Customers

PR Newswire

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2011

NEW YORK, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Beginning today, WGN America, Tribune Broadcasting Company's superstation, will be available to Time Warner Cable East Region/NYC market digital customers on Channel 162.

Time Warner Cable East Region/NYC market includes four New York City boroughs (Manhattan, Queens, Staten Island and Brooklyn), Mt. Vernon, Hudson Valley (Orange, Sullivan, Ulster Counties and parts of Dutchess, Greene and Delaware Counties) and Bergen and Hudson Counties, New Jersey.  This adds an additional 1.3 million homes to WGN America's distribution, with WGN America's total distribution increasing to 75 million homes nationwide.

"We're pleased to be working with Time Warner Cable to deliver WGN America's programming to viewers in the New York market. It has always been our goal to expand our footprint in New York City and we are thrilled to finally achieve this milestone," said Julio Marenghi, Executive Vice President of Sales and Distribution for WGN America.

In Fall 2010, WGN America added award winning programming to the network, including Curb Your Enthusiasm, Entourage, How I Met Your Mother, The New Adventures of Old Christine, Monk and The Unit to join Bones, Scrubs, South Park, Law & Order: Criminal Intent and an extensive movie library. WGN America is also home to live professional sporting events including nearly 100 Major League Baseball games, showcasing all 30 MLB teams.

"Launching on Time Warner Cable in the number one media market in the country is a testament to WGN America's strong programming and desirable network audience. We are excited as we grow our relationship with Time Warner Cable," said Kevin Connor, SVP of Affiliate Sales and Marketing for WGN America.

ABOUT WGN AMERICA :

WGN America is everywhere America calls home. A broad entertainment network and destination for audiences across America, WGN America (also available in HD) is part of Tribune Broadcasting Company, and is nationally distributed via cable, satellite and telco with entertainment programming consisting of cable exclusives, first-run programs, blockbuster movies and live sports. For program schedules or additional information please visit www.wgnamerica.com

SOURCE WGN America

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U.S. Tops 'Dirty Dozen' As No. 1 Spam E-Mail Generator

Page 1 of 2

The U.S. maintained its No. 1 position as the top country for relaying spam e-mail, according to Sophos' most recent "Dirty Dozen" list examining from which geographies spam e-mail originates.

The U.S. again topped the list as the dirtiest by a significant amount and is responsible for nearly one in five junk e-mails, or 18.83 percent of all spam e-mails, Sophos found. The second highest offender was India, which clocked in with 6.88 percent of spam e-mails.

"The U.S.'s domination of the list underlines the continuing problem of computers being compromised by hackers in the country, allowing them to be remotely controlled for criminal purposes without the owners' knowledge," Sophos said.

"It's a reflection of the unprotected PCs in this country," said Sophos Senior Security Advisor Chester Wisniewski, noting that the U.S. has been the No. 1. spam culprit for the last five years running. "We're doing a pretty bad job of protecting our PCs."

U.S. topping the list of spam e-mail origins comes on the heels of a Symantec research report that notes that spam e-mail volumes dropped dramatically over the holiday season, reaching new lows between Christmas and New Year's.

While the U.S. and India sit atop the list, the rest of the "Dirty Dozen" is: Brazil with 5.04 percent of spam, Russia with 4.64 percent, the U.K. with 4.54 percent, France with 3.45 percent, Italy with 3.17 percent, South Korea with 3.01 percent, Germany with 2.99 percent, Vietnam with 2.79 percent, Romania with 2.25 percent and Spain with 2.24 percent.

Wisniewski said also telling is India and Brazil coming in second and third, indicating that as Web use in those countries increases, the amount of spam generated through them also grows.

When spam e-mail output is measured by continent, Europe tops the list with 32.11 percent of relayed spam, followed by Asia with 31.89 percent, North America with 22.38 percent, South America with 10.25 percent and Africa with 2.12 percent.

Sophos also noted that the nature of the spam that is being distributed is becoming increasingly more malicious. Traditional subject matter spam, like advertisements for prescription drugs, continues to be a concern, with 36 million Americans reported to have bought drugs from unlicensed online sellers. But Sophos noted that more messages are spreading malware and attempting to phish user names, passwords and other personal data and information.

"We used to see a lot of the fake Rolexes and Viagra spam trying to sell you something directly," Wisniewski said. "Now they're tending to move their spam into social networks. The percentage of spam used to be direct to market, now you're being led to a Web site and to fake Facebook apps and Twitter spam feeds."

Next: The Threat Of Spearphishing Grows

1 | 2 | Next >>

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India expressed concern over Chinese participation in Hambanthota Port-US

Colombo, 12 January, (Asiantribune.com):

India had expressed concern over China’s participation in the mega port project in Sri Lanka’s deep down south township of Hambantota, a top secret United States’ diplomatic cable made public by Wikileaks reveals.

India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary Mohan Kumar in a meeting with Ted Osius, Political Counsel of US Embassy in New Delhi, held in 2007, expressed Indian government’s concern over increase Chinese influence over Sri Lankan government, according to cable dated April 27, 2007.

During April 26 meeting, Kumar said it would be helpful to get the American assessment of the port being built in Hambantota, (for) which he estimated China was willing to spend $500 million to help develop.

“He noted that China has increased its influence with President Rajapaksa, opining that Rajapaksa had a ‘soft spot’ for China following his visit to Beijing in March,” Kumar said.

As Sri Lanka was six months into the IV Eelam War with Tiger terrorists by then, Kumar opined that situation across the Palk Strait had turned ‘really bad’ and confirmed to US that the Indian Navy is stepping up patrols in the waters between India and Sri Lanka.

“The situation in Sri Lanka is “bad, really bad - beyond bleak” in Kumar’s judgment. Characterising the government and the LTTE as two sets of people with scant regard for the international community, Kumar was skeptical that political progress could be achieved anytime soon,”

“He confirmed reports that the Indian Navy has stepped up patrols in the Palk Strait, and said that India and Sri Lanka are doing co-ordinated patrolling to prevent the smuggling of weapons from the Tamil Nadu coast,”

Mohan Kumar was appointed Deputy Chief of Mission, Paris and later on as the Ambassador of India to Bahrain in 201

BANGLADESH AT CROSSROADS, SRI LANKA DETERIORATING …

Friday, 27 April 2007, 12:27

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 NEW DELHI 002037

SIPDIS

EO 12958 DECL: 01/11/2012

TAGS PREL, PGOV, BG, BM, CE, IN

SUBJECT: INDIAN OFFICIAL SEES BANGLADESH AT CROSSROADS, SRI
LANKA DETERIORATING,Classified By: PolCouns Ted Osius for Reasons 1.4 (B, D)

Â1. (C) Summary. In a meeting with PolCouns on April 26, MEA Joint Secretary Mohan Kumar:

-- said that the caretaker government in Bangladesh has reached a crossroads by allowing Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to return, stating such a move weakens the government and will force it to reassert itself in some way; -- suggested the U.S., UK and India agree on a core message to give the Bangladeshi caretaker government, one that supports the government while it remains on a path toward credible elections but clarifies that the military needs to remain out of politics; -- provided his assessment that Chief Advisor Fakhruddin is not in control of the government, but rather the executor for a military which looms in the background; -- praised the progress which has been made between the Indian Border Security Forces and the Bangladeshi Rifles; -- asked for U.S. assistance in getting Bangladesh to open its economy; -- stated Indian influence in Burma is waning, suggesting that U.S. pressure to bring Burma before the UN Security Council was counterproductive; -- denied reports that India had provided Rangoon with T-55 tanks; -- offered to verify whether India will fulfill a request by a Burmese general to provide infantry weapons and ammunition; -- confirmed that the Indian Navy is stepping up patrols in the waters between India and Sri Lanka; and -- expressed concern over China’s participation in the port project in Hambantota, Sri Lanka.

End Summary.

Bangladesh At a Crossroads
--------------------------
Â2. (C) PolCouns met April 26 with Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Joint Secretary (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Myanmar) Mohan Kumar to discuss India’s assessment of recent events in the region. Also initially in attendance was British High Commission PolCouns Alex Hall-Hall, who had coincidentally been discussing Bangladesh with Kumar when PolCouns walked in.

Kumar and Hall-Hall described their conversation, agreeing that the recent decision by the caretaker government (CTG) in Bangladesh to allow Sheikh Hasina and Khaleda Zia to return had put that country at a crossroads. The government had gone back on its strategy to remove the two women from the political scene, they assessed, would be weakened, and the question now was whether the government will reassert itself by pushing the election schedule forward, or by digging in its heels and seeking to remain in power longer. Kumar presented a third option, that either the military or one of the women would stir up civil unrest, which could then be used as a pretext by the military to step in and take political control, although he admitted he did not believe a military coup was likely. Kumar suggested that now would be an opportune moment for the U.S., UK and India to agree on a core message to take to the caretaker government, pressing for elections and voter list reforms, providing support for the government as long as it sticks to a schedule for elections, and making clear that the military needs to remain out of politics. Hall-Hall noted that any coordination needed to remain invisible to the Bangladeshi public in order to avoid the perception of some sort of conspiracy.

Â3. (C) Kumar said India is concerned with the time frame for Bangladeshi elections, given -- in his analysis -- that the government has been weakened. He believed the interim government would benefit by moving up elections to the first quarter of 2008. He noted that he had been the notetaker for the April 4 meeting between Prime Minister Singh and Chief Advisor Fakhruddin, and his impression was that Fakhruddin “was not a free agent. Fakhruddin made no commitments and could not clearly explain the government” strategy, leading Kumar to believe Fakhruddin was merely the executor of the military’s political control.

Â4. (C) Kumar stated that good progress had been made in talks between India’s Border Security Forces and the Bangladesh.

NEW DELHI 00002037 002 OF 002

Rifles. The five-day February meeting between high-level officials was “fantastic” he said, adding that guards on both sides of the border have cooperated better since the meeting. (Note: Kumar’s comments echo what Bangladesh Embassy Political Minister Mashfee Binte Shams told Poloff earlier in the week, that the BSF and BDR have relieved border tensions and improved communications. End Note.)

Â5. (C) The U.S. and UK could help India by pressing Bangladesh to open its economy and trade, Kumar suggested. Companies such as Tata, which have made efforts to enter the Bangladeshi manufacturing market, are reporting to Kumar that the CTG is impeding its entry into Bangladesh. Kumar said he has met with representatives of the Asian Development Bank, who have been positive regarding the potential for infrastructure projects in the region, but in terms of assisting with India-Bangladesh trade have only suggested some smaller connectivity projects.

Â6. (C) PolCouns referred to press accounts of the recent visit to New Delhi by Burmese Quartermaster General Lt. Gen Thiha Thura Tin Aung Myint Oo, which reported that Lt. Gen Tin had come requesting infantry weapons and ammunition in return for the junta’s help in flushing out insurgents based along the border. Kumar said he was unaware of any promises India made to provide such materiel, but would check on the report’s veracity. He stated India is losing influence -- and gas deals -- in Burma to China, and suggested that American pressure on India to press the junta on democracy and human rights was counterproductive. The more the U.S. presses India to bring Burma before the UN Security Council, he said, the more the Burmese tell India to “go to hell." PolCouns strongly countered, pointing out the junta’s horrible record on human rights and democracy dating back years, and stressed to Kumar that any assistance to the Burmese regime by India would be poorly received by Washington.

Â7. (C) India-Burma relations have deteriorated to being unidimensional, Kumar said, with the only cooperation being on the anti-insurgency campaign along the border. India is not getting any gas contracts from Burma (“re getting screwed on gas” were Kumar’s exact words, reflective of his candid nature), nor is it getting the transit rights it seeks which would open a bridge to East Asia. Burmese officials have told Kumar that they “hate” the Chinese and would prefer not to cooperate with China, but do so because they feel Beijing is more reliable than New Delhi. He claimed a recent report that India was planning to provide Burma with T-55 tanks was untrue.

Â8. (C) The situation in Sri Lanka is “bad, really bad - beyond bleak” in Kumar’s judgment. Characterizing the government and the LTTE as two sets of people with scant regard for the international community, Kumar was skeptical that political progress could be achieved anytime soon. He confirmed reports that the Indian Navy has stepped up patrols in the Palk Strait, and said that India and Sri Lanka are doing coordinated patrolling to prevent the smuggling of weapons from the Tamil Nadu coast. Kumar said it would be helpful to get the American assessment of the port being built in Hambantota, which he estimated China was willing to spend $500 million to help develop. He noted that China has increased its influence with President Rajapaksa, opining that Rajapaksa had a “soft spot" for China following his visit to Beijing in March.

Â9. (SBU) Bio note. Kumar confirmed he has been selected to become the Deputy Chief of Mission at the Indian Embassy in Paris, likely to assume the position in August.

- KAESTNER

- Asian Tribune -

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I am doing the Congress a favour: Jaganmohan

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I am doing the Congress a favour: Jaganmohan

J. Balaji

NEW DELHI: The former MP from Kadapa, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, who recently quit the Congress, openly challenged the high command on its own turf by undertaking a daylong fast on Tuesday on the Krishna water issue with the support of two Congress MPs, 24 Congress MLAs and three party MLCs from Andhra Pradesh.

Late in the night he and some of his supporters were formally arrested by the Delhi police for undertaking the stir beyond the permissible time but were released immediately.

Cutting across party lines, two MLAs of actor-politician Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party and one MLA from the Telugu Desam Party too joined the stir held at Jantar Mantar. Sources close to Mr. Reddy said the TDP MLA from Kovur, Prasanna Kumar Reddy, expressed his inability to attend the programme but extended his support.

Though the fast was intended to highlight the “injustice” meted out to Andhra Pradesh in the recent award of the Krishna Water Disputes Tribunal (KWDT), Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy turned the venue into a virtual launch pad for his political activity by openly daring the Congress high command: “At present I am doing a favour to the Congress party because if my MLAs resign, the government there [in A.P.] will fall.”

Mr. Jagan quit the Congress along with his mother Y.S. Vijayalakshmi (MLA from Pulivendula) in November last alleging that the Congress was putting a spoke in his wheel — the “Odarpu Yatra” to meet the families of those who died/committed suicide, anguished over the death of his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a chopper crash on September 2, 2009. He, however, made it clear that his intention was not to topple the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh.

“Had I wanted, I could have done it [toppling] a long time ago. I am a gentleman. So I am doing a favour to the Congress.” He had asked his supporters to continue to be in the Congress.

“The Congress can, if it wants to, take action [against party MPs and MLAs]. My people are very categorically saying that they have nothing to do with the party and they are still there [in Congress] because I am asking them to remain there. They have also been saying that in 2014 they would be contesting elections on my party ticket and not on Congress ticket.” They were very open about the fact that if they were in the Congress, they were doing the party a favour, he said.

However, Congress spokesman Manish Tiwari dismissed Mr. Reddy's claim as an “illusion” and said the Kiran Kumar Reddy government was not under threat and would never face any danger.

Those who participated in the fast include Congress MPs Sabbam Hari (Anakapalli) and Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy (Nellore), Praja Rajyam Party MLAs Bhuma Shobha Nagi Reddy (Allagadda) and Katasani Rami Reddy (Banganapalle) and TDP MLA Y. Balanagi Reddy (Mantralayam).

Other notable participants in the “Jal Deeksha” [protest for water] include the former Ministers, Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and Surekha, film-star turned politicians Jayasudha, MLA, and Roja, ex-MLA.

Earlier, Mr. Jagan arrived in Delhi by a special train from Hyderabad with thousands of his supporters to participate in the protest, which was basically to highlight farmers' plight following cyclones, untimely rains and floods over the last one year.

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New Shamrock Farms Product Line is Arizona's Solution to Calcium Crisis in Americans' Diets

PR Newswire

PHOENIX, Jan. 11, 2011

PHOENIX, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With nine out of 10 Americans falling short of key nutrients in their diets, Shamrock Farms is introducing a new Calcium Plus milk line that provides 100% more calcium per 8-oz serving than regular milk – making it easier for families to get the calcium they need and close the calcium nutrient gap in their diets. What's more, it also naturally delivers nine essential nutrients in every glass, and is the No. 1 source of two other key nutrients Americans need – vitamin D and potassium.

Shamrock Farms new milk line launch coincides with the National Milk Mustache "got milk?" Campaign encouraging families to "Pour One More." The new program has pledged to give away 1 million servings of milk across the country to help raise awareness of the importance of milk. Phoenix is one of the main stops in this national tour, visiting the Phoenix Zoo on Monday, Jan. 17, where Shamrock Farms will be sampling its new Calcium Plus milk, showing consumers how, with this product, they can actually pour 100% more calcium in every serving.  

In support of the Pour One More Campaign, the first 10,000 people through February 2011 who "Like" Shamrock Farms on Facebook will earn one 8-oz serving of Shamrock Farms milk for St. Mary's Food Bank helping to feed Arizonans. Additionally, families can make the commitment to Pour 100% More online at shamrockfarms.net to be entered to win a year-supply of Calcium Plus milk and receive FREE Farm Tour passes.

Shamrock Farms developed the innovative Calcium Plus milk line to help the 90 percent of Americans not currently meeting their nutrient requirements. The nutrient gap was uncovered in a recent study, "What America's Missing," which also revealed that Americans consume only 52 percent of the recommended amount of milk/milk products – meaning most children and adults need to double their milk intake to meet daily recommendations. Overall, 85 percent of Americans fall short of daily milk recommendations – which is the single greatest source of calcium, potassium and vitamin D in the American diet.

"Americans are struggling to obtain the critical nutrients they need to live a healthy life, resulting in higher levels of obesity and a myriad of health concerns. Shamrock Farms Calcium Plus milk directly addresses America's nutrient concerns, making it easy for adults and children alike to obtain their daily recommended value of calcium," said Tina Shepard, nutritionist, registered dietitian and educator.

Calcium is so critically under-consumed by the general public in both children and adults, that the USDA has listed it as a substantial public health concern in its recent report:

More than 90 percent of (or nine out of 10) preteen girls (ages 9-13) and 70 percent of (or seven out of 10) preteen boys do not meet current calcium recommendationNearly nine out of 10 teenage girls (91%) and almost seven out of 10 teenage boys (69%) (ages 14-18) don't meet daily calcium recommendations.Close to nine out of 10 women (88%) and six out of 10 men (63%), ages 19 and up, fail to meet their daily calcium recommendations.

"In addition to the nutritional concern, our research shows that consumers want and need a great tasting calcium fortified milk," said Sandy Kelly, director of marketing for Shamrock Farms. "We also found through our research that providing this product in a family size container was critical. Extra calcium combined with our 96-oz Smart Fit bottle provides Moms with a great way to get their families the calcium they need."  

Shamrock Farms Calcium Plus milk line comes in many varieties including whole, 2% reduced fat, and fat free white milk, 1% lowfat chocolate milk, and 2% reduced fat and fat free Lactose Free milk – all in the 96-oz. Smart Fit Bottle, designed by ergonomic experts to be easy to carry, pour and store. Shamrock Farms Calcium Plus milk is available regionally at all major retailers. Visit www.shamrockfarms.net for money-saving coupons.

About Shamrock Farms

Shamrock Farms, one of the largest family-owned and -operated dairies in the U.S., produces and distributes traditional and organic farm-fresh milk, as well as whipping cream, sour cream, cottage cheese, ice cream and frozen novelties. Shamrock Farms, which has its own farm hosting both a traditional and organic herd totaling more than 10,000 cows, is a division of Shamrock Foods Company, a family-owned and -operated business founded in 1922 in Tucson, Ariz. For more information, visit www.shamrockfarms.net.

SOURCE Shamrock Farms

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Simon Fuller on American Idol's 'Incredible Decade'

PR Newswire

LONDON, Jan. 11, 2011

LONDON, Jan. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Simon Fuller, the man behind the Idol franchise, celebrates his creation's 10th American anniversary. American Idol, the very representation of the Idol success story, has enjoyed a stream of accomplishments; from its staggering viewing figures to it being the birthplace of many popular artists. Commenting on his franchise's achievements Simon Fuller notes,

"I just can't believe we are celebrating our 10th season. It has been an incredible decade and the success we have enjoyed has eclipsed all of our wildest dreams. This anniversary season is all set to be the most enjoyable of all, we have had the most successful auditions in our history and are spoilt for choice with great talent. Our two new judges Jennifer and Steven, two enormous stars in their own right are going to have an incredible time judging this amazing crop of talented people on their debut season. With plenty of other positive changes coming, there is a renewed energy and enthusiasm in Idol world."

Simon Fuller is one of the most dynamic and influential people in the entertainment business. Creator of the TV shows that define our generation and sculpt the future of our entertainment industry, Simon Fuller's XIX Entertainment has made him the most successful British manager of all time. With figures in the media, music and sport spheres and with big names like The Spice Girls, David Beckham, Andy Murray and Cathy Dennis in his arsenal, it's no wonder iTunes have hailed Simon Fuller as the king of the digital revolution.  

Fuller is a man whose reputation precedes him. Creator of the world famous Idol franchise, which has over 100 versions worldwide and is considered by many to be the basis of our current and future pop culture, he is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Fox TV reality show, So you think you can dance, as well as successfully introducing Little Britain to the United States.  In 2010 Simon Fuller was announced as Executive Producer of Bel Ami, a new movie starring Robert Pattinson, Uma Thurman, Christina Ricci and Kristen Scott Thomas, which is set for release this year.

Fuller looks forward to another year of Idol success and tonight attends the celebrated Fox Teen Choice Awards 2011.  

SOURCE XIX Entertainment

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Zappos.com Tops in Customer Service, According to NRF Foundation/American Express Survey

NEW YORK, Jan 11, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) --

In a survey of 9,200 shoppers, Zappos.com took top honors in the sixth annual NRF Foundation/American Express Customers' Choice survey, conducted by BIGresearch. The results were announced today at the Annual Retail Industry Luncheon during the National Retail Federation's 100th Annual Convention and EXPO in New York City. The Top 10 winners were honored at the luncheon.

While many of these companies are not new to the list, newcomer for 2010, Newegg (#10) jumped five spots to make the top 10 this year. Continuing to impress shoppers with their stellar service, Amazon.com (#2), LL Bean (#3), Overstock.com (#4), Lands' End (#5), JC Penney (#6), Kohl's (#7), QVC (#8) and Nordstrom (#9) round out the remainder of the list.

"In a time when many retailers are competing on price, customer service becomes an outstanding way to stand out in the eyes of the consumer," said NRF Foundation Executive Director Kathy Mance. "These retailers have done a great job of distinguishing themselves from their competition."

"It's been our honor to present this award with the NRFF for many years now," said Christopher Hollins, Vice President, American Express Global Merchant Services. "One of the most interesting trends we've seen is that the list of retailers continues to evolve as customer service changes with the times."

1.) Zappos.com 2.) Amazon.com 3.) LL Bean 4.) Overstock.com 5.) Lands' End 6.) JC Penney 7.) Kohl's 8.) QVC 9.) Nordstrom 10.) Newegg

Click here for the complete list of winners.

About the Survey

The NRF Foundation/American Express 2010 Customer Service survey was designed to gauge consumer attitudes toward retailers' customer service and to provide a listing of the top customer service retailers. The survey, which polled 9,291 consumers, was conducted by consumer marketing intelligence firm BIGresearch in September 2010 The consumer poll has a margin of error of plus or minus 1.0 percent. Consumers answered the open ended question, "Thinking of all the different retail formats (store, catalog, internet, or home shopping), which retailer delivers the best customer service?" In order to develop a fair comparison, regardless of a retailer's size or geographic coverage, the consumer survey responses were compared to each retailer's 2009 revenues to develop the overall rankings. The survey data and the process for selecting the winners were reviewed by Professor Martin P. Block, Ph.D., of Northwestern University.

BIGresearch is a consumer market intelligence firm that provides unique consumer insights that are gathered online utilizing very large sample sizes. BIGresearch's syndicated Consumer Intentions and Actions survey monitors the pulse of more than 8,000 consumers each month to empower its clients with unique insights for identifying opportunities in a fragmented and changing marketplace.

American Express is a global services company, providing customers with access to products, insights and experiences that enrich lives and build business success. American Express is committed to working with all merchants who welcome the American Express Card. The company focuses special attention on the needs of retailers, investing both time and resources to create solutions that address retailers' specific needs and to help retailers to grow their businesses. Learn more at www.americanexpress.com.

The NRF Foundation is the research and education arm of the National Retail Federation. A non-profit foundation created in 1981, the Foundation conducts industry research, develops education and workforce development programs, professional certification programs and promotes retailing as a career destination. The NRF Foundation benefits retailers, their associates and business partners and allies, and consumers in many ways. Research provides the basis for education about the industry and its importance to the economy, and provides industry and government leaders with an analysis of public policy decisions on consumers, retailers, and the economy. The Foundation's education and career development efforts, including NRF University wired, encourage professional development and excellence in performance of retailing for associates and executives at all levels.

Email Kathy Grannis for a complete list and video of all Customers' Choice winners

View video of top 10 winners

Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6569664&lang=en

SOURCE: NRF Foundation and American Express

National Retail Federation (NRF) Kathy Grannis, 202-821-7515 grannisk@nrf.com

Copyright Business Wire 2011

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A Giant Proposal to Bring Nnamdi Asomugha to New York

The Giants seem to be very reluctant to make any big changes in the light of their 10-win, playoff-less 2010 season.

We know this because Tom Coughlin acted like his team had just summitted Mount Everest in the moments after the end of their meaningless victory over the Redskins and because owner John Mara and general manager Jerry Reese each indicated that there wouldn't be much change in the status quo. There's nothing surprising about that, although all of those men spoke before it became public knowledge that Nnamdi Asomugha would be on the open market this season.

Asomugha's contract with the Raiders became void because of a mostly overlooked clause having to do with unearned incentives earlier in his deal. That immediately changed the landscape of the NFL offseason (assuming, of course, that there actually is an offseason or a 2011 season because of the coming war between owners and players). Asomugha is widely considered to be one of the few contenders for best cornerback in the NFL and, at 30, he's got several years ahead of him to continue to play at a high level. 

That should make him incredibly appetizing to the Giants. According to Pro Football Focus, teams threw at Asomugha only 29 times in 2010, numbers that helped the other 10 players on the Raiders defense carry Oakland to an unexpected 8-8 record. The Giants, for their many defensive charms, still struggle in the secondary when their pass rush isn't able to find its way to the quarterback.

Asomugha would help them take care of that in a big hurry, a pretty useful bit of help to have when the other team has the ball. Just look at what Darrelle Revis meant to the Jets on Saturday night. His presence spooked the mighty Peyton Manning enough to limit Reggie Wayne to one target and one catch for one yard. And the Jets don't have a pass rush anywhere close to the one that the Giants can throw at opposing offenses.

There's a notion that the Giants are somehow too conservative to go out and sign a player at Asomugha's level. History doesn't bear that out. They went out and signed Plaxico Burress as a free agent, wasted tons of cash on Chris Canty, Rocky Bernard and Michael Boley and threw tons of money (we'll wait one more year before saying that was wasted too) at Antrel Rolle before last season.

So they are, in fact, willing to wade into free agent waters and none of those players have anything close to Asomugha's ability or his resume. Asomugha makes sense on the field and he fits right into the Giants' philosophy of doing business. That means he should be in blue whenever the 2011 season kicks off.

Josh Alper is a writer living in New York City and is a contributor to FanHouse.com and ProFootballTalk.com in addition to his duties for NBCNewYork.com. You can follow him on Twitter.

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