Archive for the ‘News’ Category
Who Shot the Rapper Dolla?
May 19th, 2009 |Who shot the rapper Dolla?
Dolla, an up and coming rapper from Atlanta, was shot in the head and killed in a brawl outside of a shopping mall in Los Angeles on Monday, May 18th. The shooting allegedly occured shortly after 3:00 PM near the La Cienega Boulevard entrance to the Beverly Center in Los Angeles, after a fight between a group of individuals broke out. Some witnesses report that a woman was seen firing a handgun. Another source told TMZ that a male suspect was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport as he attempted…
Why Did Google Crash on Thursday, May 14th?
May 15th, 2009 |Why did Google crash on Thursday, May 14th?
Those of us who depend heavily on Google and their related programs for our internet activity hit a brick wall on Thursday, as Google services (including search, Docs, Labs, and even Gmail) were slowed to a near standstill — and in some places stopped altogether.
Starting around 9:45 Central Standard Time on the morning of May 14, Google and all of its related services were the talk of the web. Blog posts appeared,wondering “What’s happened to Google?” In the United States, users from NYC, Chicago, Miami, and San Francisco (representing a…
What Was Michelangelo’s First Painting?
May 14th, 2009 |
What was Michelangelo’s first painting?
A painting with a suspicious provenance has been purchased by the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas for an undisclosed amount.
Purportedly, the painting called “The Torment of Saint Anthony”, was the first painting of Michelangelo Buonarroti, completed when he was a young teenager, or perhaps even a preteen. If the painting is that of a young Michelangelo, it would be one of just four “easel paintings” made by the master.
Though the provenance of the painting, a historical document that verifies the painting’s past ownership and history, has long been disputed in…
What Is the Montauk Monster?
May 14th, 2009 |What is the Montauk Monster?
The Montauk Monster is the nickname given to an unidentified corpse that washed up near Montauk, New York in July, 2008. Recently, the Montauk Monster has been in the news again, as another suspected “Montauk Monster” has washed ashore and been “captured” by a couple interested in the phenomenon. The couple allegedly have the new corpse in a garbage bag in a freezer at their New York home.
The Montauk Monster defies description. The corpse appears to have characteristics from several different animals, including a short and skinny tail, long legs in proportion to…
Who Is on Obama’s Supreme Court Short List?
May 14th, 2009 |Who is on Obama’s Supreme Court short list?
With the resignation of Justice David Souter, President Obama is looking to nominate his first pick for the Supreme Court — I say first not just because the Supreme Court nomination process can be lengthy and difficult, but because it is likely that President Obama will have at least two more empty seats to fill at the nation’s highest court.
The White House has formalized its short list of Supreme Court nominees and asked the top six prospects to provide personal information, with the usual vetting process already underway. The White…
What Is Google Squared?
May 13th, 2009 |What is Google Squared?
There is a new frontier in the world of web searches. Gone are the days when searching giants like Google and Yahoo could depend on the use of “keyword searches” for the best and most accurate search results. The web is all abuzz with the news of new search programs in development, like Wolfram Alpha which will attempt to approach web searches in a new and different way.
The problem is data. The internet is crammed full of data that can’t be easily searched for simply through the use of “keywords”. The new frontiers in the…
Will Cheerios Really Help Lower Your Cholesterol?
May 13th, 2009 |Will Cheerios really help lower your cholesterol?
According to General Mills, the breakfast cereal product known as Cheerios has a significant impact on the cholesterol levels of regular consumers of the popular breakfast cereal. The benefit supposedly comes from the whole grains found in Cheerios. Unfortunately for General Mills, the FDA has some harsh words for any product marketing itself as a drug without proper approval. Does this mean that Cheerios doesn’t lower cholesterol, or is this simply a dispute over language? Is the science behind Cheerios supposed ability to lower your cholesterol still valid?
I hate to be the…
Will Shirley Jones Pose Nude for Playboy Magazine?
May 12th, 2009 |Will Shirley Jones pose nude for Playboy magazine?
The short answer to this question is a resounding “No”. Shirley Jones never contacted Playboy magazine, and the magazine says they never contacted her about shooting a pictorial.
Rumors began to pop up all over the web last week — Shirley Jones, the 75 year old actress best known for her role as the matron of TV’s “The Partridge Family”, was planning on dropping the laundry for a Playboy photo shoot.
If Shirley Jones did appear in Playboy, she would be the oldest model in the magazine’s history by far. Runner up…
Who Is Katy Tur?
May 12th, 2009 |Who is Katy Tur?
Katy Tur is the girlfriend of polarizing news figure Keith Olbermann, one time reporter for the popular ESPN program “Sportscenter” and current host of the MSNBC hit “Countdown with Keith Olbermann”. Katy Tur has been in the news recently for landing a number of high profile jobs supposedly secured with the assistance of her much older live-in boyfriend Keith Olbermann. However, there is probably another factor in Katy Tur’s early success — she may be only 24, but the fact that her father, Bob Tur, is a major force in the world of television news means…
Who Is Roxana Saberi?
May 11th, 2009 |Who is Roxana Saberi?
Roxana Saberi is the journalist recently arrested and sentenced to eight years in an Iranian prison for “spying”. Her case made headlines because she is the first American journalist to be charged with such a crime, and because the charges seemed competely ungrounded. Amazingly, Saberi’s lawyer announced on Monday, May 11th, 2009, that Saberi has been freed, and all charges against her have been dropped.
Roxana Saberi was released today after her sentence was reduced to a two-year term, which was then suspended by an Iranian court. Her lawyer, Abdolsamad Khorramshahi, broke the news to the…
What Happened Today at Camp Liberty in Iraq?
May 11th, 2009 |A shooting at Camp Liberty in Baghdad has military officials puzzled and concerned.
The United States military reported on Monday, May 11th 2009 that five American soldiers had been shot to death by a fellow American soldier. According to the military, the shooter opened fire on his fellow soldiers at Camp Liberty, which is one of the biggest American bases in Baghdad. The military also reported that the suspected shooter was in custody.
The shooting took place at around 2 p.m. local time in Baghdad. Camp Liberty is a massive and sprawling base located next to the Baghdad airport.…
What is “mygener.im”?
May 8th, 2009 |What is “mygener.im”?
It may be time to take extra precautions if you are a Facebook user. The phishing bug that made big news last week when it attacked Facebook users started to show its nasty face again on Thursday morning. The worst part about “mygener.im” is that it spreads from person to person via an otherwise tame looking Facebook message.
Facebook users have been receiving messages from friends that ask them to visit the Web site ‘mygener.im’ or ‘fbstarter.com’. The site is marked as a source of malware in many browsers and virus programs, which is fortunate. Most curious…
When Will the Statue of Liberty’s Crown Re-open for Tourists?
May 8th, 2009 |When will the Statue of Liberty’s crown re open for tourists?
There is good news for people traveling to New York City this summer. One of the most popular spots for tourists will be open for traffic after nearly 8 years. The Statue of Liberty’s crown, an observation area high above Liberty Island with great views of the New York City skyline and bridges, will reopen on the 4th of July. Millions of tourists have made the trek up winding staircases and elevators to get a view from Lady Liberty’s crown. The crown was closed after the September 11 terror…
Bank Stress Test Results
May 8th, 2009 |Results from the government’s recent “bank stress test” are in, and the outlook is mixed.
Government regulators have told Bank of America that it must take serious steps to address an apparent $34 billion shortfall of funds, the biggest gap among the nation’s 19 biggest financial institutions.
Wells Fargo needs to find between $13 and $15 billion to make up their shortfall, while competitiors like GMAC, Citigroup, and Morgan Stanley need to raise between $1 billion and $11.5 billion.
We need to bear in mind that not all the results have been released. Results for 6 of the smaller financial…
Who Is Cristal Taylor?
May 8th, 2009 |Who is Cristal Taylor?
Cristal Taylor is the Dallas woman at the center of an off-court controversy for an NBA star. Dirk Nowitzki and Cristal Taylor had been living together in Nowitzki’s Preston Hollow home – until she was picked up by the Dallas police for two warrants stemming from a probation violation and a theft charge.
The Dallas Mavericks 30 year old forward has been a huge part of the Mavericks seasons, averaging 26 points and 8 rebounds on 37 minutes of play per game. There had been whispers late in the season about “off court” trouble for the…
What Ever Happened to Drew Peterson?
May 8th, 2009 |What ever happened to Drew Peterson?
One time Illinois police sergeant Drew Peterson is best known for his purported involvement in the murder of his fourth wife, Stacey Peterson, and for his half crazed behavior in front of the news media.
Stacey Peterson went missing on October 28, 2007. She was officially reported missing in the early hours of October 29, 2007, after her sister, Cassandra Cales, failed to hear from Stacey when she expected to. Drew Peterson claims that Stacy called him at 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 30 to tell him that she had left him for another…
What Is Gonadotropin?
May 8th, 2009 |What is “gonadotropin”?
Gonadotropin, also known as hCG, has been in the news lately as the suspected source of major league baseball star Manny Ramirez’ steroid troubles. The Los Angeles Dodger’s big gun was sidelined for 50 games after testing positive for a “performance enhancing drug”, which authorities refused to outright identify as a “steroid”. Ramirez, who is not planning to appeal, claimed that the substance he tested positive for was administered by a doctor for treatment for a “personal medical issue”, and that neither Ramirez nor the doctor knew the drug was on the league’s “banned substance” list.
Gonadotropin…
Did Manny Ramirez Use Performance Enhancing Drugs?
May 7th, 2009 | Discusses whether or not Manny Ramirez used performance enhancing drugs, and what the implications for the sport and his career that might have.What Is the National Day of Prayer?
May 7th, 2009 | Explains and describe the National Day of Prayer, and discusses some recent controversy related to the National Day of Prayer.What Is the Bank Stress Test?
May 7th, 2009 | Describes and explains the bank stress test that simulate future potential problems in the economy to determine how well these banks will hold up under stress.What Are The Symptoms of Swine Flu?
May 4th, 2009 |The swine flu has been all over the news lately. There have been many reports on its origins and how it got started in the U.S. Just the word pandemic is scary. It is only natural that many people are worried, especially if you come down sick. All it might take is just one sneeze and soon you are thinking “Is this swine flu”? The first thing you should do is not panic. There are many, many different viruses, bacteria, and bugs that you can get. But if you are worried about catching the swine flu, here is some useful…
The World’s Best Places to Live in 2009
May 1st, 2009 | Looking for a new place to live? Here are some of the best places in the world to live in 2009, along with some details on each city.Who Is the National Council for a New America?
May 1st, 2009 | The National Council for a New America is a new public policy group led by prominent Republicans. Learn more about the Republicans' rebranding effort.Swine Flu School Closings
April 30th, 2009 |Swine Flu School Closings
Over 100 U.S. schools have closed due to concerns about the spread of swine flu. In the case of 74 of these schools, the closings were related to confirmed or probably cases of swine flu at the school. The other thirty schools that have closed did so as a precautionary measure. The swine flu school closings so far affect 8 states and 56,000 people. In related news, the Fort Worth Independent School District (Texas) announced it would close all the schools in the district due to the swine flu scare. These school closings will affect over…
Is 2012 the Apocalypse?
April 30th, 2009 |Is 2012 the apocalypse?
As we get closer and closer to the year 2012, the spiritually minded and conspiracy theorists alike are growing increasingly paranoid. But why is so much noise being made about this particular year? You may have heard vague references to the “2012 apocalypse” in passing news reports or in films, but what is the basis for all this 2012 paranoia? Why do people think the apocalypse will be in 2012?
Turns out, there’s quite a few sources for the supposed coming apocalypse. From the Mayans, whose “Long Count” calendar indicates that the apocalypse will occur on…
100 Days, 100 Successes – Obama’s First 100 Days in Office
April 30th, 2009 | 100 things Obama has done right in the first 100 days. A response to the New York Post's 100 Days 100 Mistakes nonsense.