Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Bill Gates: Hurricane Killer?
July 16th, 2009 |Bill Gates: Hurricane Killer?
It may sound like the twisted plot of a comic book or the ramblings of a James Bond villain, but this week’s oddest tech story is based on a patent filed by Bill Gates himself — controlling the weather. Bill Gates and a litany of other inventors have come together to form a plan to “kill hurricanes” while they’re over open ocean and before they can hit land and wreak havoc.
Gates’ idea sounds simple enough — send barges to pull cold deep ocean water up to the surace to…
What Are the Symptoms of Swine Flu?
July 15th, 2009 |What are the symptoms of Swine Flu?
With the H1N1 flu strian still active, and many people worried about a potential comeback during the next flu season, it is important to understand the difference between symptoms of a standard flu and symptoms that may be something more serious.
Many people get scared when they hear the words ‘swine flu’ — and rightly so, as this particular strain of the flu has caused deaths around the world, and in some cases may not respond to traditional flu treatments. Swine flu is merely a different strain of flu, known among scientists…
Why Was Gmail in Beta Release for So Long?
July 9th, 2009 |Why was Gmail in beta release for so long?
Many of us were so used to seeing the cute little “beta” tag attached to the Gmail icon, we assumed it was part of the name. “Gmail Beta”.
The fact is that applications and software, as well as any old invention really, starts life out with the “beta” tag we’ve all come to know and love. A “beta” release of an item means that item is in its infancy, its first stages of release outside of a private organization. In general, a “beta release” of a product implies that product…
Is the H1N1 Flu Scare Over?
July 9th, 2009 |Is the H1N1 flu scare over?
It has been over a month since the end of major news reporting about the so called “Swine flu” — a strain of flu more properly identified as H1N1.
Just because CNN and other big name news outlets have stopped reporting about the H1N1 virus does not mean that the danger has passed. Remember that the “Spanish flu” incident in the 1930s started out very mild in the spring time before becoming a full fledged epidemic later that year, during the more traditional flu season.
In fact, President Obama spoke with governors and…
What Is Chrome OS?
July 8th, 2009 |What is Chrome OS?
The war between Google and Microsoft wages on. And that’s good news for consumers.
The last year of the conflict between the two computing giants has led to the release of Microsoft’s new (and quite popular) Bing search engine, as well as many innovations from Google that have varied in their levels of popularity. For my part, I don’t know where I’d be without Google News Timeline or Google’s outstanding new browser Chrome. The race for dominance on today’s web — as well as the push for top dog in the new “semantic” web —…
Was Steve McNair Murdered?
July 7th, 2009 |Was Steve McNair murdered?
On the Fourth of July, the stunning news of the death of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair broke, though few details were known.
Since that time, it has become clear that McNair was murdered, and that the body of the woman found next to him is that of his suspected murderer — a 20 year old waitress who purchased the gun that led to McNair’s death. Though Sahel Kazemi, the woman in question, seems guilty, we can only report that she is a suspect.
Steve McNair was found with multiple fatal gun shots, including one…
Why Did Sarah Palin Resign as Governor of Alaska?
July 6th, 2009 |Why did Sarah Palin resign as Governor of Alaska?
When a politician makes a surprise resignation announcement there’s usually something more going on behind the scenes.
When that resignation is made on a major national holiday such as the fourth of July, you can bet there’s more going on than what we’ve been told.
If Sarah Palin, who is still technically the goveror of Alaska until the end of July, made her bombshell announcement on the fourth of July in an attempt to bury the story, her tactic failed. The day of her announcement wasn’t exactly a slow news…
What Are America’s Fattest States?
July 3rd, 2009 |What are America’s fattest states?
America is facing an obesity problem — some even call it an epidemic.
Overwhelmingly, the obesity problem pops up in the Southern states. Annually, a group called The Trust for America’s Health conducts a study into percentages of obese and overweight people, comparing geographical areas of the country and identifying the fattest states and regions.
The news is grim this year — not a single state grew LESS obese, though there were shifts in the dubious lineup of “fattest states”.
Adult obesity percentage actually rose in 23 states — this means that an unbelievable…
What Names Are on the Alleged 2003 Steroid List?
July 2nd, 2009 |What names are on the alleged “2003 steroid list” ?
Just when you thought the steroid talk in baseball had died down.
Allegedly, part of the “list of names” of players that failed a drug test in 2003 has been leaked.
What is being called the “2003 steroid list” has been popping up on the internet, first among sports bloggers, eventually making its way into more mainstream web sources.
Before you read the list of names, it is important to remember than anyone can make a list of 103 names of baseball players. There is no verification that this…
What Medications May Have Led to the Death of Michael Jackson?
July 1st, 2009 |What medications may have led to Michael Jackson’s death?
It has been widely reported that Michael Jackson used the painkiller Demerol (generic name meperidine) for back trouble. While no one is insinuating that Jackson was an addict, reports of his use of Demerol could be a clue to his cardiac arrest. Long term use of Demerol can cause all sorts of nasty side effects, including the buildup of a chemical called normeperidine — a toxic metabolite of meperidine that normally causes no harm in short term use. Over time, however, the buildup of normeperidine is known to cause cardiac…
How Did Comedian Al Franken Win a Senate Seat?
July 1st, 2009 |How did comedian Al Franken win a Senate seat?
After a mere 545 days, the 2008 election is finally over. It didn’t end when Barack Obama took the (temporarily) mangled oath of office — it ended on Tuesday, June 30th of 2009 when Republican Norm Coleman gave a concession speech — the Minnesota Supreme Court decided that Al Franken earned more votes than Norm Coleman, and will now take his place in the hallowed halls of the United States Senate.
Al Franken, the comedian best known for his work on the variety show Saturday Night Live, famously refused Norm…
What Will Happen after America Withdraws from Iraq?
June 30th, 2009 |What will happen after America withdraws from Iraq?
Though many of Iraq’s larger cities have already been left behind, today (June 30, 2009) marked the official deadline for American troops to pull out of Iraq’s towns and cities. No longer will tanks and roving bands of troops sweep from street to street. Today’s withdrawal marks a much anticipated date for many Iraqis — in fact, many towns have held parades and street festivals in honor of the occasion.
But without an American presence, isn’t it possible that militia groups could take control of certain areas of Iraq? What about…
Who Will Get Custody of Michael Jackson’s Kids?
June 29th, 2009 |Who will get custody of Michael Jackson’s kids?
Though Katherine Jackson, Michael Jackson’s 79 year old mother, filed for and won temporary guardianship of his three children, and made some moves to take over his estate according to sources, she may not end up as the final guardian of both the estate and the children.
The three children, Michael Joseph Jr.(12), Paris Michael Katherine (11), and Prince “Blanket” Michael II (7), could inherit millions of dollars, depending on the settlement of the estate. The three children, virtually unknown to the public, have been living a secluded and sheltered life…
What Caused Michael Jackson’s Death?
June 26th, 2009 |What caused Michael Jackson’s death?
Fifty years is not a long time, not anymore. With more and more people living well into their 70s and 80s, the death at the age of just fifty is always a shocker.
The shock is greater when the deceased is a much loved entertainer, a figure that’s lived in your living room for decades.
On June 25, 2009, Michael Jackson fainted or collapsed at his rented home in Holmby Hills, a neighborhood of Los Angeles. According to reports, his personal physician was in attendance at the time of his death, and the physician’s…
What Will Happen to Mark Sanford?
June 25th, 2009 |What will happen to Mark Sanford?
There was nothing on television yesterday as riveting as Mark Sanford’s lengthy and awkward confession that yes, he’d been having an affair for some time.
What did we learn? Governor Sanford, a Republican from South Carolina, explained his recent disappearance, taking back his first confession (that he was “hiking on the Appalachian trail”) and admitting that he’d been engaged in an affair with a woman in Argentina. His sometimes tearful confession ran the gamut from spiritual talk to attempts at political concessions. Sanford ended the press conference saying he would be stepping down…
What Is the College Cost Reduction and Access Act?
June 24th, 2009 |What is the College Cost Reduction and Access Act?
The College Cost Reduction and Access Act was passed in 2007 — the bill, signed into law by then President George W. Bush, was a sweeping reform of laws related to finances for college students. Though most of the bill’s legislation has already been phased in, a crucial portion of the bill for those of us who are dealing with college loans goes into effect on July 1, 2009.
A quick summary of what parts of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act have already taken effect:
1. Doing away…
What Is Obama’s Plan to Reform Health Care?
June 23rd, 2009 |What is Obama’s plan to reform health care?
President Obama’s top priority is well known — health care reform.
Our last Democratic president, Bill Clinton, made an attempt early in his administration to pass some measure of health care reform, famously championed by First Lady Hilary Clinton. Political pundits say that Clinton made his attempt too soon in his presidency, and a major advertising campaign against health care reform most likely sank Clinton’s chance of achieving what some say is impossible — curing America’s terrible health care troubles.
What exactly does President Obama propose? His plan is similar to…
Who Is Neda Agha Soltan?
June 23rd, 2009 |Who is Neda Agha Soltan?
It seems that every revolution or military conflict has a human face. Everyone is familiar with the video or still photograph from the Vietnam conflict showing a VC soldier shooting a civilian point blank in the back of his head, or the video of a single civilian standing up to a line of tanks at Tianenmen Square. Then there is the famous “Afghan girl” whose face was on the cover of National Geographic during the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. The current revolution in Iran now has its image, its video that represents all the…
Whatever Became of the Craigslist Killer?
June 22nd, 2009 |Whatever became of the Craigslist Killer?
Just a couple of months ago the internet was buzzing with the news of the so called “Craigslist Killer” — an unknown man whose method of murder involved hiring “massage therapists” on Craigslist and then assaulting, robbing, or even killing them.
The Craigslist Killer made such a splash in the news and in the public eye that Craigslist, the popular private retail and real estate website, was forced to shut down that part of their business that advertised “Sexual services” such as massages and exotic dancing.
The man accused of being the Craigslist…
Why Did Kodak Stop Making Kodachrome Film?
June 22nd, 2009 |Why did Kodak stop making Kodachrome film?
Paul Simon’s song about Kodachrome was a huge hit in 1973. In the song, Simon extolled the virtues of the world’s first mass market color film.
“Kodachrome, they give us those nice bright colours / They give us the greens of summers / Makes you think all the world’s a sunny day.”
The world’s a little less sunny today, as the Eastman Kodak Company announces the end of Kodachrome film. Eastman’s Kodachrome film was the first commercially available color film that achieved success. First developed in 1935, Kodachrome film was long the…
What Is Juneteenth?
June 19th, 2009 |What is Juneteenth?
Every June 19th, African Americans in as many as forty states across the country celebrate Emancipation Day. Sometimes called Freedom Day or simply Juneteenth (which is a mashup of June and Nineteenth), the day is set aside to remember the passing of the Emancipation Proclamation.
Though President Lincoln’s emancipation proclaiming the end of slavery in the United States was “effective” on January 1, 1863, news of the emancipation moved slowly, due to lack of communication (there was no CNN, no national newspapers) and because white slave owners who may have heard about the emancipation were not…
What Is Happening in Iran?
June 18th, 2009 |What is happening in Iran?
If you’ve managed to find a source of news from Iran, you’re probably not watching the mainstream media. Networks like CNN and Fox have been criticized for their lack of coverage of the crisis in Iran, a crisis that began when millions of Iranian citizens heard the results of their recent Presidential election and felt their vote had been stolen, that the results were rigged.
It is still unclear why most major American media outlets are avoiding Iran coverage — CNN spent most of the week focusing on domestic issues, such as President Obama’s…
Did the FDA Recall the Cold Remedy Zicam?
June 17th, 2009 |Did the FDA recall the cold remedy Zicam?
Shares of Matrixx Initiatives Inc. plummeted 70 percent on Tuesday as the makers of the popular Zicam cold remedy products were slapped with something akin to an FDA recall.
According to the FDA, use of Zicam (the main ingredient of which is zinc) can lead to temporary or even permanent loss of smell. Still, the FDA stopped short of officially recalling the product.
Cold sufferers should stop using Zicam Cold Remedy, both their popular nasal gel and other zinc containing products, because of the threat of permanent loss of the sense…
What Is Bunker Hill Day?
June 17th, 2009 |What is Bunker Hill Day?
Bunker Hill Day is an official holiday in some parts of Massachusetts. Some state employees in Masachusetts, including many in Boston, the state’s largest city, get the day off from work, and schools and local groups commemorate the battle of Bunker Hill with parades, receptions, and other events.
Every June 17th, the people of Boston and Suffolk County, where the battle that launched America’s war for Independence took place, take time out to remember that battle, to honor those who died, and to celebrate America’s freedom.
To celebrate Bunker Hill Day, many people will…
Did Sammy Sosa Use Performance Enhancing Drugs?
June 17th, 2009 |Did Sammy Sosa use performance enhancing drugs?
If only Sammy Sosa had been warned about the ides of March.
It was the middle of March, 2005, when Sosa stood before Congress and told what we now know was a series of lies. Sosa, who seemed to be struggling with English, spoke through a lawyer, saying that he had “never taken performance enhancing drugs”, had never “injected himself with anything” nor had anyone else ever injected him with anything. Many sports writers and other analysts found Sosa’s sudden “difficulty” with English little more than a smokescreen, but his statement was…
What Is Behind the Colorado Rockies’ Recent Success?
June 16th, 2009 |What is behind the Colorado Rockies’ recent sucess?
On Sunday, June 14, 2009, the streaking Colorado Rockies won a franchise record tying 11th game in a row. This is a stunning turnaround for a team that fired its popular manager after a dismal 18 – 28 starting record. In fact, the Rockies fired their manager just seventeen days ago, on May 29. Obviously, the change in leadership had some kind of impact on the team, as it took only five days apart from their old manager to start this incredible winning streak.
The Rockies new manager, Jim Tracy, is…
What Is Hunch?
June 15th, 2009 |What is Hunch?
Hunch.com is another new search engine designed to meet a need that the developers feel isn’t currently met by the wide range of search options now available. What does Hunch do that the other search engines don’t?
According to the brains behind Hunch, the search engine (which has been in development for over a year) helps users search for answers based on the individual making the search. Rather than returning generic results available to anyone who asks a given question, Hunch first learns all about the user’s preferences, dislikes, and internet traffic behavior.
Hunch is launching…
Was the Presidential Election in Iran Rigged?
June 15th, 2009 |Was the Presidential election in Iran rigged?
On June 12, 2009 Iran held their tenth presidential election. The President of Iran is the highest publicly elected official, though the position is very different from the job done by the President of the United States and other democratic nations. For instance, in Iran the President doesn’t control foreign policy or the military.
Incumbent President Ahmadinejad was expected to face stiff competition, with many analysts in the west expecting his run as President to come to an end. When the results began to surface globally, and Ahmadinejad was declared the winner…
What Can I Do to Prepare for TV’s Digital Transition on Friday?
June 11th, 2009 |What can I do to prepare for TV’s digital transition on Friday?
If you haven’t already worked out a television setup that will allow you to view digital signals, you aren’t quite out of luck.
You may remember that television’s digital transition was supposed to occur this past February. Unfortunately for cable companies, the government stepped in and extended the deadline. The reason? Too many people were simply not prepared. But it wasn’t totally the consumer’s fault.
If you own an analog television, and many of us do, you can still receive televsion through a converter box that sits…
What Is the Impact of Fiat’s Purchase of Chrysler?
June 11th, 2009 |What is the impact of Fiat’s purchase of Chrysler?
Fiat closed its purchase of Chrysler’s assets on Wednesday, June 10th, 2009. Fiat and Chrysler announced the deal that keeps the 84-year old U.S. automaker afloat during tough times for the auto industry. Chrysler had literally been down to its last few dollars before a government intervention in late 2008. This purchase completes an Obama administration-directed reorganization for Chrysler. Other parts of Chrysler will remain in bankruptcy to be sold or outright closed. Remember, Fiat only purchased the “best assets” of Chrysler.
Fiat Chief Executive Sergio Marchionne became the new…
What Is the “Cash for Clunkers” Program?
June 10th, 2009 |What is the “cash for clunkers” program?
Even though unemployment numbers are higher than they’ve been in over twenty years, and people are watching their investments lose value faster than ever before, consumers may just get a huge break from the US government when they go to buy their next car.
It may seem counterintuitive to offer consumers a break on an item that the media would have us believe no one is buying, but let’s be real. People will always have a need for a new vehicle. To spark that interest, the Obama administration has invented an incentive,…
What Happened at the DC Holocaust Museum?
June 10th, 2009 |What happened at the DC Holocaust museum?
On the heels of President Obama’s visit to a former Nazi death camp at Buchenwald, Germany — catastrophe at an American museum meant to both honor the victims of the Nazi holocaust, and educate the world about the tragedy.
According to multiple news sources, an elderly gunman opened fire at the Holocaust museum in America’s capital Wednesday, wounding a security guard before being wounded himself. The shooting has sparked rumors of panic in the area around the Holocaust museum — a large and popular spot for tourists. Multiple witnesses have been interviewed,…
What Is the TYM Test?
June 10th, 2009 |What is the TYM test?
British medical researchers have created a new cognitive test that detects Alzheimer’s disease quickly and accurately. The self administered test, known as TYM or “test your memory”, was developed at Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
Although the mental illness known widely as “dementia” is quite common, with a prevalence of around 13 for every 1000 people aged 65-69 and 122 in 1000 in those over 80, only about half of people affected by this debilitating disease are ever diagnosed. This new test, that evaluates a patient’s cognitive ability, appears to be faster and more accurate than current…
Who Was Picked Early in the 2009 MLB Draft?
June 10th, 2009 |Who was picked early in the 2009 MLB draft?
As the 2009 Major League Baseball draft began Tuesday night, the air was thick with speculation. There was no clear choice for the first pick, and the question on everyone’s mind was “Who will be number one?”
Yeah, sorry, just kidding. Every analyst and sports writer had the Washington Nationals pegged to pick San Diego State phenom pitcher Stephen Strasburg. That’s just what they did. With the first overall pick in the 2009 draft, the Nationals set in motion a string of events for young Strasburg, most of which involves…
What Is Food Inc.?
June 9th, 2009 |What is Food Inc.?
“Food Inc.” is an upcoming documentary by filmmaker Robert Kenner, probably best known for his film The American Experience, which won an Emmy in 2006.
One of the best reviewed films this year (a quick Google search of the film’s reviews revealed only one negative review, posted by an anonymous blogger), “Food Inc.” promises to be an eye opening experience for Americans, who probably don’t give a second though to exactly what it is they’re eating. Kenner’s goal with “Food Inc.” is to change, or at least slightly alter, that behavior.
You may remember a…
What Did Laura Bush Say about Obama’s Supreme Court Nominee Sonia Sotomayor?
June 8th, 2009 |What did Laura Bush say about Obama’s Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor?
At the very end of May, a Gallup Poll was released showing that there is a huge gender gap, among both Republicans and Democrats, in terms of people’s support for the nomination of Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court. While this wasn’t a huge surprise, what did shock some people was the great disparity between women who identify as Republican and their male conservative counterparts.
According to Gallup, 65% of Democratic men approve of Obama’s choice, compared to 70% among females who identify themselves as Dems. The…
How Will President Obama Create 600,000 Jobs This Summer?
June 8th, 2009 |How will President Obama create 600,000 jobs this summer?
Monday morning, June 8th, 2009, President Obama delivered a much anticipated promise. Obama, who has been in office for just five months, has finally outlined his plan to create more than 600,000 new jobs this summer. How is he doing it?
If you can think all the way back to late January, a still quite wet behind the ears Obama urged Congress to approve an “accelerated spending plan”. By gaining access to this money at an “accelerated rate”, some of the $787 billion from the economic stimulus package that Congress…
Did David Carradine Commit Suicide?
June 4th, 2009 |Did David Carradine commit suicide?
Kung fu movie legend David Carradine, who recently revamped his career in Quentin Tarantino’s ‘Kill Bill’ movies, has died at the age of 72.
While there has not yet been confirmation of the reported suicide, reports made by Thai police and officials from the hotel where Carradine was staying during a movie shoot seem to insist that Carradine’s death was anything but natural.
Carradine was found dead in his hotel room in Bangkok, where he was set to shoot a new movie called “Stretch”. The Nation newspaper, citing Thai police sources, is reporting that…
What Did President Obama Say in His Speech in Cairo?
June 4th, 2009 |What did President Obama say in his speech in Cairo?
Cairo, Egypt is the largest city in the Arab world, with a rich spiritual and political history. By appearing at Cairo’s very modern university, an appearance which was also sponsored by a noted Islamic university, Obama tried once again to paint himself as a man of the modern times, who both respects tradition and wants to move forward in his effort to win over the young people of the world. Let’s not forget that most of the Muslim world is college age or younger.
As for the issues addressed…
What Happened to Air France Flight 447?
June 3rd, 2009 |What happened to Air France flight 447?
Amid new rumors of a bomb threat, supported by testimony from long-haul pilots familiar with the route taken by Air France flight 447, new details of the plane’s fate are popping up on world news organizations.
Investigators found debris from the plane on Tuesday, including an airplane seat, a wide fuel slick, and several pieces of white debris. The wreckage was scattered across three miles of the Atlantic ocean. Officials are saying this debris marks the site in the mid Atlantic where Air France Flight 447 plunged into the ocean. Brazilian military…
What Is Google Wave?
May 28th, 2009 |What is Google Wave?
The engineers at Google have been busy the last couple of years.
First we saw the introduction of the fabulous Google News Timeline program, a useful research tool that shows off just a shred of what the new Web will be like – semantic, interactive, and above all ubiquitous and useful.
Then came news of Google Squared, a semantic search engine being developed for what is known as Web 3.0 – the new era of the internet when search engines will become, well, “smart”.
Now we have Google Wave, introduced today, Thursday May 29, 2009,…
What Is Proposition 8? What Did the California Supreme Court Recently Decide about Prop 8?
May 27th, 2009 |What is Proposition 8? What did the California Supreme Court recently decide about Prop 8?
Major news outlets yesterday were all too quick to show footage of protestors blocking a busy intersection in San Francisco – 175 protestors were eventually arrested. The protestors were reacting to the latest decision in the Proposition 8 fiasco. Proposition 8 was an amendment to the California state constitution that read, in part: “Only marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California.“ Prop 8, as it is popularly known, passed in the November 4, 2008 general election, making gay…
Is There Cocaine in Red Bull Cola?
May 26th, 2009 |Is there cocaine in Red Bull Cola?
Red Bull Cola has recently been released here in the United States — it is not considered purely an “energy drink” like the more familiar Red Bull product, but is sold as a “Cola”. About a year ago, the makers of Red Bull, the famous caffeine and sugar loaded “energy drink” decided to develop a soda. The “Red Bull” brand would hopefully imply the same big kick to drinkers of the cola beverage. But could the cola’s boost, which is advertised on the can and by the makers as “100% natural”, come…
What Is the Record for the Longest Craps Roll?
May 26th, 2009 |What is the record for the longest craps roll?
At the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa on the night of May 23rd, 2009, Patricia Demauro of Denville, New Jersey set a new record for the longest craps roll. Demauro rolled the dice for 4 hours and 18 minutes before her ridiculous string of consecutive rolls finally ended. Borgata Casino officials said that her roll beat the previous mark of 3 hours, 6 minutes set nearly 20 years ago at a Las Vegas casino.
Demauro bought into a craps game with $100 at about 8 pm and quickly drew a…
What Is Supreme Court Justice Nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s Record?
May 26th, 2009 |What is Supreme Court Justice nominee Sonia Sotomayor’s record?
President Obama nominated Federal appeals court judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court on Tuesday, making her the first Hispanic in history to be elevated to the nation’s highest court.
Sonia Sotomayor, 54, has been a federal judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit since 1998. Judge Sotomayor has a formidable resume: from 1992 to 1998, Sotomayor was a federal judge for the U. S. District Court of New York. Before this, she served as an assistant district attorney for New York County from 1979…
What Happened at Riverdale Temple?
May 21st, 2009 |What happened at Riverdale Temple?
Riverdale Jewish Center and Temple in the Bronx New York was the target of a recent terror plot which was successfully thwarted by law enforcement authorities on Wednesday, May 20.
Four men were arrested after planting what they thought were explosives near two synagogues. The men were also allegedly plotting to shoot down a US military plane, and were bent on carrying out a holy war or jihad against America, authorities said Thursday.
The suspects were arrested late Wednesday night, shortly after planting a 37-pound mock explosive device in the trunk of a car…
Why Did Actress Lucy Gordon Commit Suicide?
May 21st, 2009 |Why did actress Lucy Gordon commit suicide?
British actress Lucy Gordon, famous for playing reporter Jennifer Dugan in Spiderman 3, has reportedly committed suicide in her Paris apartment, according to France-Info radio. The report was released Thursday, May 21. Lucy Gordon took her own life by hanging on Wednesday, just two days before she would have turned 29 years old.
Police in the French capital said the body of the 28 year old Gordon, who was picked recently to become the new Jane Birkin in a film about the life of French pop singer Serge Gainsbourg, was found hanging…
What Is Fleet Week?
May 20th, 2009 |What is Fleet Week?
Today, Wednesday May 20th, 2009, New York City will kick off its 22nd annual Fleet Week celebration. The celebration will begin with a parade of ships along the Hudson River. Thirteen vessels, including five Canadian ships, will sail up the Hudson River starting at 11 a.m. Eastern time. The biggest and best known ship in this year’s parade will be the USS Iwo Jima, a 40,500-ton assault helicopter carrier.
Fleet Week events will include a military aircraft flyover, multiple free tours of the ships docked in Manhattan and on Staten Island, numerous military band…
Have Scientists Found the Missing Link?
May 20th, 2009 |Have scientists found The Missing Link?
For years, science has been in search of “The Missing Link” between early primates and early humans — a being that bridged the gap between the two very different species. On Tuesday, the announcement came that scientists have been waiting for.
Scientists are revealing a fossil this week that they say was found almost 30 years ago — and may help untangle the mystery of our connection with other mammals and our earliest human ancestors.
An international team of scientists announced in New York on Tuesday the discovery of a 47 million year…
Who Is Elizabeth Munro?
May 19th, 2009 |Who is Elizabeth Munro?
Elizabeth Munro is a British woman who recently announced she is pregnant. She received successful in vitro fertilization treatments in the Ukraine and plans on raising the child by herself. None of this would be newsworthy if it weren’t for Ms. Munro’s age. She will turn 67 just after delivering her first child.
Needless to say, there is plenty of public outrage. Doctors and clinical professionals worry about the health of the child — it is well known that children born to older mothers are more likely to have health problems. Others worry about the…