NSW:Bomb hoax man arrested at ex-wife's home=2

AAP General News (Australia)
08-16-2011
NSW:Bomb hoax man arrested at ex-wife's home=2

NSW Police Detective Superintendent LUKE MOORE, who flew to the US for the arrest,
has told reporters in Kentucky that PETERS had lived in the United States at one time.

He says there's no evidence that PETERS' ex-wife was involved in the Sydney incident,
and she wasn't at home when he was arrested peacefully by the FBI SWAT team.

The home is still being searched.

AAP RTV jlw/jmt

KEYWORD: BOMB NAME 2 SYDNEY (REOPENS)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Boy dies in speedboat accident

AAP General News (Australia)
02-19-2007
NSW: Boy dies in speedboat accident

SYDNEY, Feb 19 - A 14-year-old boy has been killed in a speedboat accident on the NSW
south coast.

The Ulladulla boy was struck by the boat while swimming at Killarney Ski Park at Lake
Conjola at about 9.45am (AEDT) yesterday.

A younger girl was also struck but received only minor injuries, police said.

The female driver of the speedboat was taken to Milton Hospital and treated for shock.

Police said they were investigating the accident.

AAP was/srp

KEYWORD: SPEEDBOAT

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW:Unseen images released in Gilsenan murder

AAP General News (Australia)
04-19-2011
NSW:Unseen images released in Gilsenan murder

CCTV footage has been made public of a man who police believe has information about
the unsolved murder of a British man in Sydney three years ago.

BRIAN GILSENAN was returning from a work function when he was fatally bashed on Bathurst
Street in February 2008.

Detective Inspector CHRIS CRANER says they believe the man in the footage was close
to the murder of the 54-year-old father of two as it happened.

Inspector CRANER says the Caucasian man was about 18 to 20 years old and had a distinctive
hairstyle.

He says police hope that somebody knows the man .. who's holding a secret.

There's a 100 thousand dollar reward for information leading to a conviction.

AAP RTV dmg/tr/af

KEYWORD: GILSENAN (SYDNEY)

� 2011 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

--Simac revenue rises to EUR139.9m in 2010

Internet Business News
01-18-2011
--Simac revenue rises to EUR139.9m in 2010

INTERNET BUSINESS NEWS-(C)1995-2011 M2 COMMUNICATIONS

18 January 2011 - Dutch ICT firm Simac Techniek NV (AMS:SIMAC) reported today 5.7% year-on-year higher revenues of EUR139.9m (USD187.5m) for 2010.
Based on internal figures, Simac anticipates considerably higher net profit and operating profit for 2010.

In 2009, net and operating profit stood at EUR2.6m and EUR3.9m, respectively.

Simac will release its full annual results on 16 February 2011.

((Comments on this story may be sent to info@m2.com))

(Copyright M2 Communications, 2011)

FED:Greens likley to take Melbourne: Roxon

AAP General News (Australia)
08-21-2010
FED:Greens likley to take Melbourne: Roxon

EDS: Updates, amending reference to Melbourne being the Greens first seat.



MELBOURNE, Aug 21 AAP - Senior government minister Nicola Roxon has all but conceded
the Greens will win a seat in the lower house by taking the electorate of Melbourne from
Labor.

Although the Greens' Adam Bandt is trailing the ALP's Cath Bowtell on a two candidate
preferred basis, Liberal preferences are expected to give him an historic win.

Early counting gives Mr Bandt 4121 votes, with Ms Bowtell gaining 4631, but preferences
are expected to give the Greens a swing of over 12 per cent in a seat Labor holds by 4.7.

"It's a sad result for Labor," Ms Roxon said on the Nine Network.

"I can't see Cath turning that around."

Greens spokesman Dan Cass also said the small amount of votes indicated a swing to the party.

Mr Cass cautiously said the Greens were getting about 80 per cent of preferences from
the Liberals.

"It won't necessarily hold," he told reporters at the Greens's function at the Victoria
Hotel in central Melbourne.

"Also this election has a record number of postal and so on votes so there is still
a lot to know, but it's looking pretty strong."

Ms Bowtell is standing for the Labor Party after the retirement of sitting member Lindsay Tanner.

If Mr Bandt win, it will be the second time the Greens have held a seat in the lower house.

Michael Organ was the Green's first federal lower house MP after winning the Wollongong
seat of Cunningham in a 2002 by-election.

AAP pmu/jlw

KEYWORD: POLL10 MELBOURNE 2ND UPDATE

� 2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Qld: Independent MP to introduce daylight saving bill

AAP General News (Australia)
04-14-2010
Qld: Independent MP to introduce daylight saving bill

BRISBANE, April 14 AAP - Independent MP Peter Wellington wants a referendum at the
next state election on daylight saving for southeast Queensland.

The referendum would ask Queenslanders if they support daylight saving in the southeast,
with the rest of the state staying on standard time, the Member for Nicklin said.

"I believe Queenslanders should have an opportunity to tell the state government what
their opinion on the matter is without that opinion being manipulated or assumed by politicians,"

Mr Wellington said.

His private member's bill on the issue is due to be introduced into parliament at 11.55am
(AEST) on Wednesday.

"It has been 18 years since we had a referendum on daylight saving in this state and
it continues to be a contentious matter that deeply divides Queenslanders," he said.

"In my bill I have proposed a split time zone for Queensland and have suggested that
the local government areas of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Ipswich, Logan, Scenic
Rim, Redlands and Moreton Bay be considered to be included in the daylight saving time
zone."

AAP djb/tnf/jnb

KEYWORD: DAYLIGHT

2010 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Devoted mum buried with children after house fire tragedy

AAP General News (Australia)
08-31-2009
Fed: Devoted mum buried with children after house fire tragedy

ASHLEE HOLLOWAY wanted to be a mother since she was a child .. and has today been buried
with her four children following a devastating house fire earlier this month.

24-year-old Ms HOLLOWAY died on August 16 .. with her young children BRODIE .. THOMAS
.. COOPER and MACKENZIE after a fire broke out in their home in Clifton Springs in Victoria's
southwest.

Her husband AARON HOLLOWAY was the sole survivor of the fire.

A memorial service has been held today for the family at the Drysdale Community Activity
Centre .. near Geelong.

Ms HOLLOWAY'S father JIM FAULKNER says she had wanted to be a mother since she was a little girl.

He says she had given the family so much in their short lives .. and their memories
will live on in the family's hearts forever.

AAP RTV md/ka

KEYWORD: HOLLOWAY (DRYSDALE)

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: More than 150 children known to DoCS died in 07: report

AAP General News (Australia)
04-22-2009
NSW: More than 150 children known to DoCS died in 07: report

SYDNEY, April 22 AAP - More than 150 children known to the Department of Community
Services (DoCS) died in 2007, the NSW Ombudsman's report into reviewable deaths reveals.

The report found that of the 603 child deaths in NSW in 2007, 162 were classified as
reviewable in that the child, or a sibling, had been reported to DocS or died in suspicious
circumstances.

Of the reviewable deaths, 152 of the dead children, or their siblings, had been the
subject of a report to DoCS in the previous three years.

In 2006, 114 children who were known to DoCS died.

The second volume of the ombudsman's report on reviewable deaths in 2007 was tabled
in NSW Parliament on Wednesday.

NSW Community Services Minister Linda Burney released similar figures last October,
but at that time she said there were 156 reviewable deaths.

Ombudsman Bruce Barbour said that the increased figure was not an indication of worsening
practice by DoCS, but largely a reflection in the substantial increase in the number of
children reported.

He took issue with the capacity of DoCS to assess risk and the adequacy of identification
and reporting of risk of harm to children.

"These are not new problems," he said.

"We have raised these repeatedly in past reports."

Mr Barbour's report found that of the 162 reviewable deaths, 43 children died from
abuse, neglect or in suspicious circumstances.

More than 50 per cent of the reviewable deaths involved children under one year old,
40 of whom were less than a month old.

Thirty-six of the deaths were Aboriginal children.

Mr Barbour has not made any recommendations in his report because the NSW government
recently announced radical reforms to the child protection system.

Under the changes, DoCS will only respond to reports where a child is at "significant
risk of harm".

The ombudsman will now only review deaths that occur in suspicious circumstances or
as a result of abuse and neglect, meaning he will examine fewer cases.

As a result, the reviewable child deaths report will be handed down once every two
years instead of annually.

AAP nr/hn/it/cdh

KEYWORD: DOCS

2009 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

WA: Smith tightens sanctions against Zimbabwe

AAP General News (Australia)
12-17-2008
WA: Smith tightens sanctions against Zimbabwe

PERTH, Dec 17 AAP - Australia has tightened sanctions against the brutal Mugabe regime
in Zimbabwe, Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said on Wednesday.

The federal government has added 75 individuals and four companies to its financial
and travel sanctions list against Zimbabwe.

Mr Smith told journalists in Perth there were now a total of 250 individuals on the blacklist.

"These are members of the regime, close supporters of the regime, or the adult children
of the regime," he said.

"And the enhanced sanctions ... follow recent similar moves from the United States,
the United Kingdom and the European Union."

The government also has boosted humanitarian aid to the country to the tune of $1 million,
aimed at the cholera crisis.

"Which we know from UN reports has now spread to neighbouring countries Botswana and
South Africa," Mr Smith told journalists.

"The contribution today (makes) Australia (one of the) five largest humanitarian donor(s)
so far as Zimbabwe is concerned."

Mr Smith said it was three months since the so-called power sharing agreement between
Robert Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai was drafted and Mr Mugabe was doing everything he
could to continue a campaign of violence and intimidation.

AAP jp/bwl

KEYWORD: ZIMBABWE SMITH

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic Vic TAFE loan plan yet to get federal backing, Brumby

AAP General News (Australia)
08-12-2008
Vic Vic TAFE loan plan yet to get federal backing, Brumby

Premier JOHN BRUMBY says a Victorian plan .. to introduce a HECS-style loan scheme
for TAFE students .. has yet to receive federal backing.

He's playing down reports the federal government has given his government in-principle
support for the reforms .. which are designed to tackle skills shortages.

Under the changes .. Victoria will introduce a loan scheme for TAFE .. abolish caps
on TAFE places .. and increase tuition fees for some diplomas.

Mr BRUMBY says fee increases will apply to courses where students receive a significant
private benefit.

He says the reforms will encourage greater participation in higher education .. and
denies they'll deter some students.

AAP RTV cmb/vam/gfr/ibw/bart

KEYWORD: TAFE (MELBOURNE)

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2008
NSW: Main stories in today's Sydney newspapers

THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD:

Page 1: Ratepayers face service cutbacks and higher rates as councils confront losses
of up to $400 million from the investment market meltdown in the US.

Page 2: NSW public hospital food was so "atrocious" that half of all patients were
"starving", an inquiry hears.

Page 3: A second athlete has come forward with claims he was attacked by Olympic swimmer
Nick D'Arcy.

World: There is a real sense that Robert Mugabe - the 84-year-old leader of Zimbabwe's
brutal regime - is about to be swept, or ushered, from power.

Finance: The federal government's plans for an $8 billion-plus national broadband network
were thrown into jeopardy yesterday after Optus demanded cast-iron guarantees about the
tender process.

Sport: NSW Rugby Union board members are in dispute over the decision not to renew
Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie's contract.

MORE krc/srp

KEYWORD: MONITOR FRONTERS NSW 2 SYDNEY

2008 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Websense Schedules Conference Calls for Investors and Financial Analysts

Wireless News
09-30-2007
Websense Schedules Conference Calls for Investors and Financial Analysts

WIRELESS NEWS-September 30, 2007-Websense Schedules Conference Calls for Investors and Financial Analysts (C)2007 10Meters - http:/ /www.10meters.com

Websense has scheduled separate conference calls to update investors and financial analysts on the acquisition of SurfControl and the release of third quarter financial results.
SurfControl Acquisition Update

Management will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to provide an update on the company's acquisition of SurfControl on Wednesday, October 10, at 2 p.m. Pacific. The discussion will be limited to an update on the company's integration plans, cost synergies and product roadmap, and will not include commentary on third quarter financial results.

To participate in the call, investors should dial (888) 240-1362 (domestic) or (913) 312-0724 (international) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. An audio-only webcast of the call may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.websense.com/ investors. For investors unable to participate in the live event, an archive of the webcast will be available at http://www.websense.com/ investors until October 30, and a taped replay of the call will be available for one week at (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820, passcode 4131598.

Third Quarter Financial Results

The company plans to release third quarter financial results after the market close on October 30. Management will host a conference call and simultaneous webcast to discuss the company's standalone results and provide visibility into the results of SurfControl at 2 p.m. Pacific, also on October 30. A simultaneous audio-only webcast of the call may be accessed on the Internet at http://www.websense.com/investors.

To participate in the call, investors should dial (888) 806-6224 (domestic) or (913) 312-1378(international) ten minutes prior to the scheduled start of the call. An audio-only webcast of the call may be accessed via the internet at http://www.websense.com/investors. For investors unable to participate in the live event, an archive of the webcast will be available on the company's website through December 31, and a taped replay of the call will be available for one week at (888) 203-1112 or (719) 457-0820, passcode 2915184.

Websense protects more than 25 million employees from external and internal computer security threats. Using a combination of preemptive ThreatSeeker malicious content identification and categorization technology and information leak prevention technology, Websense helps make computing safe and productive. Distributed through its global network of channel partners, Websense software helps organizations block malicious code, prevent the loss of confidential information and manage Internet and wireless access.

((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

((Distributed via M2 Communications Ltd - http://www.m2.com))

(Copyright M2 Communications Ltd. 30, 2007)

Today's Birthday, April 18

AAP General News (Australia)
04-18-2007
Today's Birthday, April 18

For pictures please call AAP Images on 9322 8708 or visit the website at www.apanage.com
(trans reference number (PP342)).

Today's birthday April 18: Eli Roth, US director (1972-)

Eli Roth made his name in the film industry with the success of Cabin Fever, a film
he wrote and directed.

Born on April 18, 1972, in Newton, Massachusetts, Roth started making films at a young
age inspired by Ridley Scott's film Alien (1979).

His passion for film continued throughout high school and he studied film at New York University.

After graduating in 1994, Roth worked odd jobs in the film industry in New York studios.

He had written the screenplay for Cabin Fever in 1995 with a friend from university
and spent years looking for an interested investor.

In 1999, Roth moved from New York to Los Angeles and got funding for his animation
series Chowdaheads, but the series was never aired.

He then worked for director David Lynch, compiling Lynch's website, which brought him
closer to success in the film industry.

In 2001, Cabin Fever was filmed, financed by private investors and Roth's own fundraising.

Cabin Fever became the highest earning movie for film company Lionsgate in 2002, making
more than $US30 million ($A36.72 million).

His success continued into 2005, when his horror film Hostel, made $US20 million ($A24.48
million) in its opening weekend.

The film is extremely violent and firmly placed itself among the scariest movies of all time.

Roth's sequel to Hostel is anticipated to be released this year.



AAP sg/jm/

KEYWORD: TODAY'S BIRTHDAY 18/4

2007 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: Brit crosses Australia on a skateboard

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2006
Fed: Brit crosses Australia on a skateboard

A 27-year-old British man has become the first person to complete a transcontinental
crossing of Australia on a skateboard.

Tired and sore .. DAVE CORNTHWAITE .. notched up a world record today .. as he skated
into Sydney's Olympic Park.

He left Perth on August 24 for the 4831 kilometres .. five month trip for charity.

Mr CORNTHWAITE broke the previous world record of 4830 kilometres .. set by American
skater JACK SMITH.

And Mr CORNTHWAITE is vowing to continue .. to Brisbane .. as part of a 6000 kilometre
journey to raise 125 thousand dollars for charity.

AAP RTV krc/wz

KEYWORD: SKATE (SYDNEY)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

NSW: Whelan 'satisifed' with Burrell verdict

AAP General News (Australia)
08-09-2006
NSW: Whelan 'satisifed' with Burrell verdict

(EDS: Reissuing, with pix advisory)



SYDNEY, Aug 9 AAP - Bernie Whelan says he is satisfied his wife's killer will spend
the rest of his life in jail but says he wants to find her body so he can lay her to rest.

The Sydney businessman was speaking after Bruce Burrell, 53, was jailed for life for
murdering and kidnapping 39-year-old Kerry Whelan more than nine years ago.

Mrs Whelan was last seen on May 6, 1997, at a hotel carpark in Parramatta, in Sydney's
west. Her body has never been found.

Burrell was sentenced today in the NSW Supreme Court to life imprisonment for murder
and 16 years for kidnapping. The penalties are to be served concurrently.

Mr Whelan said the sentencing had given some relief to him and his family but he wanted
his wife's body found so she could be properly laid to rest.

"It's been horrific, you can't put it in words, some of the things that happened, outside
this crime, the copycat things, the other things that have happened to my family as a
result of what Burrell did," Mr Whelan told Southern Cross Broadcasting.

"We are satisfied with the judgment, however we would still like to lay her to rest.

"I'd like to remind everybody ... that there is still a substantial reward there for
information leading to the recovery of her remains."

Mr Whelan said the lengthy trial had been made even more difficult by a number of personal
accusations made against him by defence counsel during evidence.

"As you know they tried to smear my character and that hurt me a lot," Mr Whelan said.

"I'm 68 years of age and my integrity is very important to me and he mentioned that,
I was very pleased of that."

Mr Whelan today also praised the efforts of Detective Chief Inspector Dennis Bray,
who headed the investigation into the disappearance

"It was remarkable police work, Mark Tedeschi from the DPP made the comment that if
hadn't been for Dennis this criminal would not have been brought to justice," he said.

Burrell was found guilty in June by a a NSW Supreme Court.

AAP nr/klw/grc/sd

KEYWORD: BURRELL WHELAN (REISSUING)

) 2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: China, Aust sign uranium deal.

AAP General News (Australia)
04-03-2006
Fed: China, Aust sign uranium deal.

China can now buy Australian uranium .. under a deal signed by the two countries today.

The deal could be worth billions of dollars for Australia .. which has 40 per cent
of the world's known uranium.

But critics are worried whether China will obey strict safeguards .. to prevent Australian
uranium being used for military purposes.

Foreign Minister ALEXANDER DOWNER and his Chinese counterpart .. LI ZHAOXING .. have
signed two agreements.

They've paved the way for the supply of Australian uranium for China's nuclear power
program .. and for the nations to co-operate on peaceful uses of nuclear technology.

China has promised it will only use the Australian fuel for peaceful purposes.

Chinese Premier WEN JIABAO is in Australia on a four-day visit.

AAP RTV so/mfh/maur/bart

KEYWORD: URANIUM (CANBERRA)

2006 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Vic: Bracks would coast home: poll

AAP General News (Australia)
08-02-2005
Vic: Bracks would coast home: poll

MELBOURNE, Aug 2 AAP - Victoria's Labor government has maintained a 12 point lead over
the Liberal opposition, according to a new opinion poll.

The Morgan Poll out today showed that on a two-party preferred basis, Labor would win
an election with 56 per cent of the vote.

Primary support for the government rose by two per cent to 45.5 per cent, while the
Liberal Party gained one percentage point to 37 per cent.

The Greens lost three percentage points to 6.5 per cent, while the Nationals were unchanged
on 2.5 per cent.

Labor has steadily polled above 56 per cent after preferences since February, peaking
at 58 per cent that month.

The July face-to-face poll of 924 people was conducted as the government confirmed
a controversial trial dredge of Port Phillip Bay would go ahead and the government came
under heat over delays and redesigns of the Spencer Street Station redevelopment.

Gary Morgan, executive chairman of Morgan Poll, said Labor would have easily won a
state election if it had been held in July.

He said while many Victorian voters were now critical of both Premier Steve Bracks
and opposition leader Robert Doyle, "the recent publicity surrounding the federal government's
proposed changes to industrial relations has polarised the electorate."

This had resulted in an increase in primary support for both the ALP and the Liberal-National
Party coalition, he said.

AAP mp/dk/jt/de

KEYWORD: POLL VIC

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Fed: PM leaves open prospect Habib intelligence may be wrong

AAP General News (Australia)
02-13-2005
Fed: PM leaves open prospect Habib intelligence may be wrong

CANBERRA, Feb 13 AAP - Prime Minister John Howard tonight left open the possibility
that intelligence implicating Mamdouh Habib as a person of interest to Australian authorities
could be wrong.

The former Guantanamo Bay detainee was released from the US military prison last month
without charge but remains a person of interest to Australian spy agency ASIO.

Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told the Nine Network that ASIO's concerns centred
on Mr Habib's alleged links with al-Qaeda.

Speaking on ABC radio, Mr Howard would not say what intelligence those concerns were based on.

"I'm not going to go into detail of intelligence sources," he said.

Asked if he trusted US intelligence after its failure over the issue of weapons of
mass destruction in Iraq, Mr Howard said failure in one area did not always mean failure
in another area.

But he acknowledged intelligence was not always right.

"Intelligence is never beyond all reasonable doubt, is never utterly precise or accurate
and failure of intelligence in one area does not mean failure of intelligence in other
areas," Mr Howard said.

AAP so/lma/jlw

KEYWORD: HABIB HOWARD

2005 AAP Information Services Pty Limited (AAP) or its Licensors.

Bible

Bible The collection of books constituting sacred literature, which Christians refer to as the Old Testament to distinguish it from the New Testament. The Hebrew Bible is divided into three: 1. Torah (the five books of Moses, the Pentateuch); 2. Neviim (‘Prophets’, embracing the books of the literary prophets and the historical books); 3. Ketuvim (‘Writings’, the books of the Hagiographa). After the initial letters of these words, the Bible is called the Tanakh. Jewish tradition sees these three divisions as composed under different degrees of inspiration. The Torah, as the very word of God, is seen as possessing the highest degree of inspiration; the prophets as having the degree of prophecy, that is, the word of God mediated through the personality of the prophet; and the Hagiographa as composed under the lower degree of inspiration known as the Holy Spirit. But for all practical purposes no distinction is made between one part of the Bible and another so far as its authority is concerned.

The books of the Bible are:

Torah

Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy.

Prophets

Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings (known as the ‘early prophets’).

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, the Twelve Prophets (the ‘later prophets’) (the Twelve are Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).

Hagiographa

Psalms, Proverbs, Job, Song of Songs, Ruth, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther, Chronicles, Daniel, Ezra, and Nehemiah.

In the later Jewish tradition there are said to be twenty-four books of the Bible. This number is arrived at by counting the Twelve as a single book and Ezra and Nehemiah as a single book, thus: 1. Genesis; 2. Exodus; 3. Leviticus; 4. Numbers; 5. Deuteronomy; 6. Joshua; 7. Judges; 8. Samuel; 9. Kings; 10. Isaiah; 11. Jeremiah; 12. Ezekiel; 13. The Twelve; 14. Psalms; 15. Proverbs; 16. Job; 17. Song of Songs; 18. Ruth; 19. Ecclesiastes; 20. Lamentations; 21. Esther; 22. Chronicles; 23. Daniel; 24. Ezra and Nehemiah.

From the historical point of view, there was no actual official body to determine which books of the Bible belonged there and which did not. The Pentateuch was accepted as the sacred Torah from the earliest times, the Prophets somewhat later, and the books of the Hagiographa later still. In effect it was by a kind of mysterious consensus among the Jewish people that these twenty-four books and no others came to be held as the Bible. The practical consequence is that, for Jews, the authority of the Bible depends on how the Bible has been interpreted by the sages of Israel. This is why a naked biblicism, in which the biblical text is examined for direct guidance, is foreign to the Jewish tradition.

Who wrote the various books of the Bible? A distinction has to be drawn between the claims of authorship made in the books themselves and the understanding of later generations. In the Pentateuch itself, for instance, there is no statement that all five books were written by Moses or in the book of Psalms that all the Psalms were written by David, yet the tradition developed that the five books are the books of Moses and the whole book of Psalms the Psalms of David. This question of authorship was only scientifically examined with the rise of biblical criticism. The ancient Rabbis made many references to the authors of the various books, yet in doing so they were not stating any dogma but simply referring to the general views of their day.

microenvironment

microenvironment The environment close to a company, which affects its ability to serve its customers. This includes the company itself, firms in its market channel, customer markets, and competitors. Compare macroenvironment.

More Than 18 Million Movies Viewed Online Using Windows Media.

Film Industry Pioneers Capitalize on Quality, Security and Reach Benefits Of

Windows Media Video 8 for Film Distribution

REDMOND, Wash., March 28 /PRNewswire/ --

Microsoft Corp. (Nasdaq: MSFT) today announced that more than 18 million movies have been distributed to online viewers using Microsoft(R) Windows Media(TM) Technologies, demonstrating that film industry pioneers are turning to Windows Media to build sustainable businesses distributing video content online. Leading content providers now are delivering more than 2 million movies a month in Windows Media Format -- and gaining revenue today from their online viewers.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20000822/MSFTLOGO )

In addition, Microsoft today announced that companies like ALWAYSi, CinemaNow Inc., FILMSPEED, Intertainer Inc., Kanakaris Wireless and SightSound Technologies have announced plans to release thousands of hours of movie content using Windows Media Video 8, Microsoft's newest video compression technology, released today.

With Windows Media Video 8, the first motion-picture-ready video codec, these industry trendsetters will benefit further from the sharp picture quality and lower distribution costs, all with the near-universal reach and integrated digital rights management (DRM) technology offered by Windows Media.

"Last year we saw digital music go mainstream; this year and next we will see the same thing happen with digital movies," said Dave Fester, general manager of marketing for the Windows Digital Media Division at Microsoft. "The advances in video compression we have achieved with Windows Media Video 8 mark a turning point -- it is now possible to deliver a compelling, full-screen video experience over today's broadband connections."

Audiences Are Ready

The promise of video on demand has been clear for more than a decade, but network capacity and technical obstacles have delayed broad deployment of such services. Over the past few months, though, companies have begun commercial distribution of feature films over the Internet to PCs, television set-top boxes and even cinemas. Initial results demonstrate that audiences are ready for the convenience of having film content delivered to them when they want it:

-- ALWAYSi recently unveiled a subscription service that allows unlimited

access to its library of more than 2,000 films and announced today that

it will upgrade its entire film library to Windows Media Video 8.

-- CinemaNow delivers approximately 300,000 Windows Media Format movie

streams to about 50,000 unique visitors per week, with approximately

two-thirds of the viewers connecting at rates of 100 Kbps or above.

CinemaNow features an online library of more than 200 films and is

encoding more than 100 of its titles in Windows Media Video 8.

-- FILMSPEED has delivered more than 100,000 complete feature-length movie

downloads using its DownPlay packaging and Windows Media to provide a

DVD-like viewing experience to Internet viewers, with related links,

background information and quick links to key scenes. FILMSPEED also

has recorded more than 1 million movie streams since last fall and is

actively securing movie content for distribution on peer-to-peer

networks.

-- Intertainer, which offers DSL subscribers a selection of 65,000 hours

of films and television content from studios including Warner Bros.,

Universal Studios, New Line Cinema, Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp.

and DreamWorks SKG, is adopting Windows Media Video 8. Intertainer and

ZoomTown.com, the wholly owned subsidiary of Broadwing Inc., announced

yesterday that ZoomTown.com will be the nation's first broadband

provider to deploy a video-on-demand service systemwide to more than

40,000 subscribers.

-- Kanakaris Wireless/CinemaPop has more than 500 film titles available

for streaming in Windows Media Format and is offering many of them in

Windows Media Video 8. CinemaPop.com has delivered almost 5 million

movie streams, with more than half at broadband rates.

-- SightSound is using Windows Media Video 8 in a commercial

digital-cinema trial to deliver "Quantum Project" to theaters over the

Internet. The trial demonstrates both the versatility of Windows Media

DRM and, at a screen resolution of 1280x1024 pixels, the

high-definition pictures possible with the new compression technology.

SightSound also is distributing 12 movies from Miramax Film Corp. as

Internet download rentals as well as episodes of "South Park" and

"Dr. Katz." The Miramax movie "Guinevere" received its Internet

premiere during this year's Sundance Film Festival.

Content from these and other providers is available in the WindowsMedia.com Movie Guide at http://WindowsMedia.com/ .

Technology to Meet the Industry's Needs

Windows Media Video 8, released today, provides the film industry with the core technology it needs to capitalize on digital distribution to homes and cinemas. Its advanced compression delivers full-screen, near-DVD-quality video at rates as low as 500 Kbps -- a realistic rate for today's broadband connections and a 30 percent improvement over the previous version of the technology. Better compression means not only a better experience for the customer, but also lower storage and bandwidth costs.

Windows Media Video 8 also offers integrated digital rights management, so customers get a seamless experience without the need to download plug-ins. And with more than 240 million copies of rights-capable Windows Media players distributed, content providers are assured of a broad potential audience.

For home viewers, the next step is to bring Internet-based content to the familiar television screen. Streaming-capable set-top boxes make it possible for viewers to watch personal videos and online content on their television. And Microsoft Windows(R) XP, the next-generation Windows operating system, includes technology that greatly simplifies the task of building and connecting devices for audio and video content.

About Windows Media

Windows Media is the leading digital media platform, providing unmatched audio and video quality to consumers, content providers, solution providers, software developers and corporations. Windows Media offers the industry's only integrated rights-management solution and the most scalable and reliable streaming technology tested by independent labs. Windows Media Technologies includes Windows Media Player for consumers, Windows Media Services for servers, Windows Media Tools for content creation, and the Windows Media Software Development Kit (SDK) for software developers. Windows Media Player, available in 26 languages, is the fastest-growing media player. More information about Windows Media can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsmedia/ .

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is the worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

NOTE: Microsoft, Windows Media and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.