Greece

China to become second largest R&D spender

China will soon overtake Japan as the world's second heaviest spender on research and development, according to a report from the Battelle Memorial Institute.

A nonprofit group that conducts scientific research, Battelle published its findings today as part of an article in its R&D Magazine. The article and its full supplementary report (PDF) looked at global R&D spending in general and across six specific segments--Information Technology, Electronics, Life Sciences, Aerospace/Defense/Security, Energy, and Advanced Materials.

Next year, China is expected to spend $153.7 billion on R&D, a big jump from $141.… Read more

Man texts Greece to get rescued in New Zealand

I have come to terms with the truth: however hard I try, there are some things (and people) I will never understand.

Please let me present Marios Symeonidis. He decided to go on a trip to New Zealand. I can understand that. New Zealand is pretty. It doesn't have many inhabitants. And some of the locals like to perform blissfully threatening dances before rugby matches.

According to a Monday report by Reuters, Symeonidis decided to wander up Mount Ruapehu with a friend. I understand this too. There is some great skiing up on Ruapehu.

Our intrepid tourist then encountered … Read more

Buzz Out Loud 972: New Zune in June?

According to the Office 10 Twitter account, Zune lovers will be happy in June. If that wasn't weird enough, they also warn you not to buy an iPhone or Palm Pre, which is probably standing orders at Microsoft. Also Natali carries knives in her sports bra quite often. Or so we have come to understand.

Listen now: Download today's podcast EPISODE 972

Report: Intel to join Microsoft in EU antitrust purgatory http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2009/05/report-eu-readying-to-fine-intel-for-antitrust-violations.ars

Apple freezes Snow Leopard APIs http://apple.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=09/05/12/0213242

Greece puts … Read more

Greece halts Google Street View

Beware Google bearing gifts.

Greece has decided to stop the lovely, sensitive Google Street View drivers from taking any more pictures while it considers whether those young Turks are taking too many liberties.

It has asked the somewhat large search company to provide information regarding the length of time Google intends to keep the images.

It has also asked about how Google informs those who might be leaving the homes of illicit lovers, emerging from pornographic establishments, or vomiting on the sidewalk (English tourists) and are suddenly caught by the righteous retina of the Google eye.

It appears that Greece … Read more