From: french.about.com

NEW YORK (AP) — The dollar was mixed against other currencies Thursday, after reports showed eroding business confidence in Germany and France, the euro zone’s biggest economies, amid pessimism over economic prospects.

The 15-nation euro bought $1.5681 in late New York trading, unchanged from Wednesday. Meanwhile, the British pound slipped to $1.9849 from $1.9976 after a report showed that U.K. retail sales fell in June by 3.9%, its biggest decline in 22 years.

The dollar fell against the Japanese yen, buying ¥107.68 compared with ¥107.93 late Wednesday.

A survey released Thursday showed business confidence hitting a nearly three-year low in Germany. Meanwhile, business confidence in France slid to its lowest level since May 2005 as businesses reported rising inventories, falling orders and higher expectations of inflation.

In Germany, the Munich-based Ifo institute’s business climate index fell to 97.5 points in July, from 101.2 points in June, dragged down by concerns over weakening business in the next six months. It was a steeper decline than analysts had expected.

"The Ifo index is now falling like a stone and the worst might be yet to come," UniCredit economist Andreas Rees wrote in a research note, blaming high oil prices for cutting into consumer purchasing power and slowing exports.

France’s official statistics agency Insee reported that business confidence fell to 98 in July from 101 in June. A reading of 100 represents the index’s long-term average.

A report from London on Thursday showed that retail sales in the U.K. slumped by 3.9% in June, the biggest move in 22 years.

In other trading, the dollar weakened to 1.0383 Swiss francs from 1.0390 francs, and slipped to 1.0089 Canadian dollars from 1.0107 Canadian dollars. First Published: July 24, 2008: 1:28 PM EDT

Michael Bloomberg is joining Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in an effort to curb smoking in developing countries

by Alison Damast

Michael Bloomberg and Bill Gates are about to become two of the global tobacco industry’s most formidable opponents. The billionaire duo plan to pump a combined $500 million—including $375 million in new funds—through 2013 to combat what public health officials have deemed a global tobacco epidemic.

The New York mayor and Microsoft (MSFT) co-founder said they are hoping to jumpstart a global movement to curb the use of tobacco among adults and teens in developing countries such as China, India, and Indonesia. With the help of partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), they aim to help government officials and business leaders in low- and middle-income countries create tobacco control programs, raise tobacco taxes, ban advertising, and create smoke-free public spaces. "This partnership with Gates’ foundation underscores how much the tide is truly turning against this epidemic," Bloomberg said at a July 23 news conference at The New York Times (NYT) headquarters. "This takes it to the next level."

The project is being launched just as Bloomberg is entering the twilight of his mayoral career. In recent months there has been a swirl of speculation on Bloomberg’s future after his second term ends in December 2009. The mayor, a former smoker, has taken a fervent stand against smoking since entering office. In 2002, he waged a battle to ban smoking in New York City bars and restaurants. (In 1990, San Luis Obispo, Calif., became the first municipality with such a ban.) In recent years, two dozen states have followed New York’s lead by banning smoking in restaurants and bars, with a handful of other countries following suit.

With slightly more than a year left in office, Bloomberg, who founded the financial data-service firm Bloomberg, is beginning to set his sights on larger goals, said Mitchell Moss, a professor of urban policy and planning at New York University and an adviser to the mayor’s first campaign. One of these is to be a "major player" on the global health front, Moss said. "Mike Bloomberg is going to be probably more important and more influential out of office than in office," Moss said. "Instead of trying to improve conditions in New York’s five boroughs, he’s going to be looking at the five continents of the world."

Bloomberg has managed to secure a powerful partner for his project, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The Gates Foundation, one of the largest private foundations in the world, with assets of more than $37 billion, will invest $125 million over five years to fight tobacco use, including a $24 million grant to Bloomberg’s initiative. This is just the start of "many things" the two will work on together in coming years, Gates said. "Michael and I have somewhat similar world views and I’m excited that, at some point, he’ll be putting more time into this because we need more voices on this issue," Gates said.

The investment by the Gates Foundation will complement the work currently being done by Bloomberg’s private charity in the war against smoking. Bloomberg started an initiative called "Bloomberg’s Effort to Reduce Tobacco Use" back in 2006, initially funneling $125 million into the project. Over the next four years, Bloomberg will add an additional $250 million to the campaign—for a total of $375 million in contributions—with the ultimate goal of reducing smoking in the 15 low- and middle-income countries that harbor the majority of the world’s smokers. The money will be distributed among five groups, including the WHO and the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.

A design patent protects only the ornamental appearance of an invention, not its utilitarian features. A utility patent would protect the way an article is used and works. It can be very confusing to understand the difference between a design patent and other types of intellectual property. Vs Utility Patents It can get tricky because while design and utility patents provide separate types of protection, the utility and ornamentally of an invention are not easily separable. Inventions have both functional and ornamental characteristics and you can apply for both a design and a utility patent for the same invention. Moreover, if the design does provide utility for an invention (for example; the ergonomic shape design of a keyboard makes it useful as an invention that provides comfort and reduces carpal tunnel syndrome) then you would apply for a utility patent to protect the design.

View: Example and Definition. Vs Copyrights Design patents protect the novel ornamental features of a utilitarian invention. Copyrights can also protect things that are ornamental, however, copyrights do not have to protect useful things for example, a fine art painting or sculpture. Vs Trademarks Design patents can be filed for the same subject matter protected by a trademark. However, two different set of laws apply to patents and trademarks. For example, if the shape of a keyboard was protected by a design patent then anybody copying your shape would be infringing upon your patent rights. If the shape of your keyboard was trademark registered, anybody copying your keyboard shape and causing confusion for consumers (i.e. causing you to lose sales) would be infringing upon on your trademark. Legal Definition of "Design" According to the USPTO: A design consists of the visual ornamental characteristics embodied in, or applied to, an article of manufacture. Since a design is manifested in appearance, the subject matter of a design patent application may relate to the configuration or shape of an article, to the surface ornamentation applied to an article, or to the combination of configuration and surface ornamentation. A design for surface ornamentation is inseparable from the article to which it is applied and cannot exist alone. It must be a definite pattern of surface ornamentation, applied to an article of manufacture. The Invention Vs The Design An ornamental design may be embodied in the entire invention or only a part of the invention. The design could be ornamentation applied to the surface of an invention. Note: When preparing your design patent application and creating your patent drawings; if a design is just surface ornamentation, it must be shown applied to an article in the patent drawings, and the article must be shown in broken lines, as it forms no part of the claimed design. View: Examples of Design Patents Beware There is a big difference between a design and utility patent, realize that a design patent may not give you the protection desired. An unscrupulous invention promotion company may mislead you in this way. Next > Filing A Design Patent Application

From: inventors.about.com

Broadband users could pay an annual levy to download as much music as they want, with proceeds channeled to copyright holders

by Nigel Morris

Internet users could face an annual charge of up to £30 to download music, under plans to be unveiled today that aim to tackle illegal file-sharing.

Ministers are backing proposals that would enable millions of broadband users to pay an annual levy which would allow them to copy as much—previously illegal—music from the internet as they wanted. The money raised would be channelled back to the rights-holders, with artists responsible for the most popular songs receiving a bigger slice of the cash.

John Hutton, the Business Secretary, and Andy Burnham, the Culture Secretary, will unveil a package of proposals, beginning with thousands of prolific downloaders receiving letters warning them they are breaking the law by copying music and sending it to friends. The Government sees that move as the last chance for internet service providers (ISPs) to get a grip on the growing problem of piracy.

In the longer term, Mr Burnham is supporting calls from sections of the music industry for a yearly levy of £20 to £30 to be imposed by ISPs on customers who want to share music.

They believe it would prevent criminalising large sections of the public, while helping to compensate the music industry for lost sales. If successful it could be extended to cover films and television programmes.

An estimated 6.5 million broadband users unlawfully download files every year, which the industry warns has resulted in a slump in CD and DVD sales. About 95 per cent of music downloads from the internet are thought to be illegal.

Peter Jenner, a veteran music industry figure who now manages the singer Billy Bragg, who has championed the plan for an annual charge, said last night that the idea was attracting growing support.

He said the cash raised by including the top-up in the fees paid to ISPs could match the current £1.2bn turnover of the British record industry. Mr Jenner said: “If you get enough people paying a small enough amount of money you can turn around the wheels of the music industry.”

Ministers believe strong action is required to get a grip on internet piracy, although they strongly support ISPs and the industry working together to tackle the problem rather than the Government forcing through legislation. ISPs and the music industry will announce today that 12,000 letters will be sent over the summer to repeat downloaders warning them they are breaking the law. They hope the shock tactics will deter internet users from illegal file-sharing.

The Government will also announce consultation on other ways of combating internet piracy, with a view to final decisions later in the year after studying the impact of the warning letters. Legislation could be in place by next spring.

As well as an annual levy set by ISPs, the Government will also float the idea of a “three strikes and you’re out” policy adopted in France under which people who illicitly download or share music are disconnected after ignoring two warnings.

Other alternatives include requiring ISPs to disclose the identities of regular downloaders, a move they warn would be costly and could breach data protection controls. They could also be ordered to install filters that would prevent downloading.

Ministers accept there are considerable practical problems in controlling online activity and are wary of imposing expensive regulations on internet providers. But they say the scale of the problem, and its impact on Britain’s creative industries, means doing nothing is not an option.

A Whitehall source said: “Both ISPs and the music industry need to take responsibility for this issue. But we need action as the industry is suffering.”

A memorandum of understanding has been signed by the BPI, which represents hundreds of record companies, and the six largest internet providers. It commits them to work together to achieve a “significant reduction” in illegal file-sharing.

This flavorful tuna casserole is a family-pleaser you’ll make again and again. Serve this casserole with a tossed salad for a perfect meal any day of the week. Cook Time: 45 minutesIngredients:1 can (about 7 to 8 ounces) tuna, drained8 ounces elbow macaroni4 tablespoons butter3 tablespoons finely chopped onion2 tablespoons finely chopped green bell pepper2 tablespoons all purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt or seasoned salt1/8 teaspoon pepper1 cup milk1/2 cup frozen peas, thawed1 can cream of mushroom soup1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese buttered soft bread crumbsPreparation: Cook macaroni in boiling water according to package directions until tender, drain and rinse.

Melt butter in a large saucepan or Dutch oven; add chopped onions and bell pepper and sauté over low heat for about 3 to 4 minutes, until tender. Add flour, salt and pepper; cook, stirring, until smooth and bubbly. Add milk and mushroom soup and stir over low heat until smooth and thickened. Add cooked drained macaroni, flaked tuna, peas, and about half of the cheese to sauce mixture, stirring constantly. Pour the mixture into 2-quart buttered casserole; top with remaining cheese then buttered bread crumbs. Bake at 350° for 30 to 40 minutes, or until nicely browned.

Tuna casserole serves 4 to 6.

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Tuna Pecan Ball
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From: southernfood.about.com

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — Journeyman minor league left winger Mathieu Darche signed a one-year, $575,000 contract with the Buffalo Sabres on Thursday.

Darche, 31, was an unrestricted free agent, who had a career-high 22 points (seven goals, 15 assists) in 73 games with Tampa Bay last season. He has spent most of his career in the American Hockey League since breaking into the NHL as an undrafted free agent with Columbus in 2000. Darche also played for Nashville and San Jose.

The Sabres are well-stocked at forward and are expected to have Darche open this season with their new AHL affiliate in Portland, Maine.

From: rss.cnn.com