Computer software is often regarded as anything but hardware, meaning that the "hard" are the parts that are tangible while the "soft" part is the intangible objects inside the computer. Software encompasses an extremely wide array of products and technologies developed using different techniques like programming languages, scripting languages or even microcode or a FPGA state. The types of software include web pages developed by technologies like HTML, PHP, Perl, JSP, ASP.NET, XML, and desktop applications like OpenOffice, Microsoft Word developed by technologies like C, C++, Java, C#, etc. Software usually runs on an underlying software operating systems such as the Linux or Microsoft Windows. Software also includes video games and the logic systems of modern consumer devices such as automobiles, televisions, toasters, etc.

Computer software is so called to distinguish it from computer hardware, which encompasses the physical interconnections and devices required to store and execute (or run) the software. At the lowest level, software consists of a machine language specific to an individual processor. A machine language consists of groups of binary values signifying processor instructions that change the state of the computer from its preceding state. Software is an ordered sequence of instructions for changing the state of the computer hardware in a particular sequence. It is usually written in high-level programming languages that are easier and more efficient for humans to use (closer to natural language) than machine language. High-level languages are compiled or interpreted into machine language object code. Software may also be written in an assembly language, essentially, a mnemonic representation of a machine language using a natural language alphabet. Assembly language must be assembled into object code via an assembler.

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Billfolds were developed after the introduction of paper currency to the West in the 1600s. (The first paper currency was introduced in the New World by the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1690.) Prior to the introduction of paper currency, purses (usually simple drawstring leather pouches) were used for storing coins. Early wallets were made primarily of cow or horse leather and included a small pouch for printed calling cards.

Some wallets are attached to metal chains which are then clipped onto a belt, as a way of preventing loss or theft by pickpockets. Some travellers replace wallets with money belts, which are belts with a hidden money compartment.
Other types of small bags can also serve as wallets, such as this golf tee bag which is used to hold credit cards and money

Wallets

WASHINGTON – Soldier suicides this year are almost sure to top last year's, but a recent decline in the pace of such deaths could mean the Army is making progress in stemming them, officials said Tuesday.
Army Vice Chief of Staff General Peter Chiarelli said that as of Monday, 140 active duty soldiers are believed to have died of self-inflicted wounds. That's the same as were confirmed for all of 2008.
"We are almost certainly going to end the year higher than last year — this is horrible, and I do not want to downplay the significance of these numbers in any way," he said.
But Chiarelli said there has been a tapering off in recent months from huge numbers of January and February.
"I do believe we are finally beginning to see progress being made," Chiarelli told a Pentagon press conference.
He attributed that to some unprecedented efforts the Army has been trying to work with soldiers through new programs.
Using some U.S. bases as examples of the trend downward, Chiarelli said there were 18 suicides reported this year at Fort Campbell in Kentucky — and that 11 of those were in the first four months of the year.
At Schofield Barracks in Hawaii, there were seven all year so far — five in the first five months of the year and only two since.
The Army widened suicide prevention in March in an attempt to make rapid improvements in its programs and policies. Army efforts to curb suicides also were increased Oct. 1 with the beginning of the so-called Comprehensive Soldier Fitness program, which aims to put the same emphasis on mental and emotion strength as the military traditionally has on physical strength. Basic training now includes anti-stress programs as part of a broader effort to help soldiers deal with the aftereffects of combat and prevent suicides.
Still, another jump in suicide figures for 2009 would make it the fifth straight year that such deaths have set a record as troops continue to come under the stress of two overseas wars. It compares with 140 in 2008, 115 in 2007 and 102 in 2006.
The numbers kept by the service branches don't show the whole picture of war-related suicides because they don't include deaths after people have left the military. The Department of Veterans Affairs tracks those numbers and says there were 144 suicides among the nearly 500,000 service members who left the military from 2002-2005 after fighting in at least one of the wars.
The true incidence of suicide among military veterans is not known, according to a report last year by the Congressional Research Service. Based on numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the VA estimates that 18 veterans a day — or 6,500 a year — take their lives, but that number includes vets from all previous wars.

BEIJING (AFP) –
US President Barack Obama and China's Hu Jintao on Tuesday pledged to apply their joint political might to the world's toughest problems, but friction was evident on Tibet, economics and Iran.

In solemn talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, the high point of Obama's debut visit to China, the leaders ploughed through an agenda packed with top world crises, reflecting China's rise as a key global player.

Hu vowed to work for "positive, cooperative and comprehensive" ties with Obama's administration, and the US leader, seeking to cement his early relationship with Beijing, adopted the same diplomatic formula word for word.

The pair voiced agreement on the need for action on climate change, prodding North Korea back to six-party nuclear talks and a common undertaking to help return the global economy to growth after the dark economic crisis.

US Ambassador to China Jon Huntsman said the president was well on the way to forging the kind of relationship with Beijing that could help him tackle global crises which demanded the intervention of the two great powers.

The Sino-US relationship was "at a cruising altitude that is higher than any other time in recent memory, thereby able to sail above the wind shears or even storms", Huntsman said.

"The US-China relationship has gotten global... there are really only two countries in the world that can solve certain issues."

But the leaders' nuanced statements pointed to differences between two competing powers deeply interlinked economically and repeatedly thrust together on world problems on which they have differing views.

After their talks, they appeared together to read formal statements to several hundred journalists, but spontaneity was stifled by the sterility of official diplomatic translations and the ban on questions by reporters.

Both Obama and Hu hinted at their divides.

Hu told Obama for instance they needed to "oppose and reject protectionism in all its manifestations". Washington has angered Beijing by slapping tariffs recently on Chinese tyre exports and preliminary duties on some steel products.

Hu added the two sides needed continued "consultations on an equal footing to properly resolve economic and trade frictions".

Obama, tactfully voicing US worries that China's yuan currency is being kept artificially low to boost Chinese exports, said he welcomed "past statements" by Beijing to pursue a market-oriented exchange rate "over time".

That language left open the possibility Hu had made no fresh offer of action which Obama said would make "an essential contribution" to rebalancing the global economy -- code for weaning China off export-led growth.

On Iran, Obama warned that if Tehran did not "present and demonstrate its peaceful intentions" with its nuclear programme, it would face "consequences".

But Hu was less adamant, saying only the issue needed to be solved through "dialogue and negotiations". There was no sign Beijing now shared the impatience of Russia, another key power, on Iran's foot-dragging.

Obama, who angered critics by declining to meet the Dalai Lama before travelling to Beijing, pointedly raised the issue of Tibet.

"We did note that while we recognise that Tibet is part of the People's Republic of China, the United States supports the early resumption of dialogue between the Chinese government and representatives of the Dalai Lama," he said.

Both leaders said their nations, the two biggest emitters of greenhouse gases, were vital to hopes of a deal to slow global warming, despite clear signs that no global deal will emerge from next month's Copenhagen conference.

"Our aim there is... not a partial accord or a political declaration but rather an accord that covers all the issues in the negotiations and one that has immediate operational effect," the US leader said.

The sides announced a series of new initiatives on clean energy research and agreements on the cleaner user of coal, electric vehicles and shale gas.

Obama's talks with Hu came on the third leg of his four-nation maiden tour of Asia as president, which concludes on Thursday in South Korea.

After the press conference, Obama braved the crisp November air for a hectic tour of the ancient Forbidden City, one of the few moments of tourism in a trip that also took him to Japan and a regional summit in Singapore.

Hu later laid on the lavish splendour of a full state dinner for Obama.