Technology Slice Blog

Anna Ardin Has Left Sweden - In an article in Crikey an Australian email daily Guy Rundle writes that Anna Ardin who is one of the two complainants against Assange has left Sweden. She may have ceased co-operation with the Swedish prosecution service and her own lawyer according to sources in Sweden. Of course the sources are not identified so the degree of credibility involved in this report still needs to be determined. Pending further verification these are just rumors. Perhaps the move is not surprising. In spite of Ardin being a feminist not all feminists are sympathetic to her case especially given the details as they have been described so far. Naomi Klein, Naomi Wolf, and the European group Women Against Rape have all questioned the nature of the case and the actual purpose of the prosecution. Ardin is now in the West Bank as part of a Christian outreach group which is attempting to reconcile Palestinians and Israelis. Good luck! Imagine a Christian group trying to reconcile...

Fake Wikileaks In Pakistan - They read like the most extraordinary revelations. Citing the WikiLeaks cables, major Pakistani newspapers this morning carried stories that purported to detail eye-popping American assessments of India's military and civilian leaders. According to the reports, US diplomats described senior Indian generals as vain, egotistical and genocidal; they said India's government is secretly allied with Hindu fundamentalists; and they claimed Indian spies are covertly supporting Islamist militants in Pakistan's tribal belt and Balochistan. Fake Wikileaks In Pakistan "Enough evidence of Indian involvement in Waziristan, Balochistan," read the front-page story in the News; an almost identical story appeared in the Urdu-language Jang, Pakistan's bestselling daily. If accurate, the disclosures would confirm the worst fears of Pakistani nationalist hawks and threaten relations between Washington and New Delhi. But they are not accurate. ...

Virginia Tech Could Be Fined For Shootings - Virginia Tech could face federal fines and a loss of student aid for failing to quickly warn the campus about a gunman on the loose in the hours before the shooting rampage that killed 30 people April 16, 2007, the Department of Education said Thursday. The Education Department in a letter Thursday to Virginia Tech President Charles Steger said the school violated the Jeanne Clery Act, a federal law requiring schools to give "timely warnings" about safety threats on campus. The department will decide whether sanctions are needed. Punishments could include fines or revoking eligibility for federal student aid. More than a third of Virginia Tech students receive such aid. Virginia Tech Could Be Fined For Shootings Virginia Tech disputes the findings and will appeal. School administrators "acted appropriately" based on the information they had at the time, university spokesman Larry Hincker said. The Clery act do...

Human Rights Day 2010 - As the world celebrates International Human Rights Day on Dec 10, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay has asked China to release the jailed Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Liu Xiaobo. Navi Pillay said that Liu Xiaobo, who is sentenced for 11 year prison for a political revolt against China, is an example of a human rights defender who is paying a heavy price for his activism. Liu Xiabao participated in the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest in Beijing and is one of China's most prominent activists fighting for greater political freedom and human rights. Human Rights Day 2010 Navi Pillay added that she will hold talks with Chinese officials for the release of Liu Xiaobo. Meanwhile, the Nobel prize award ceremony will be held in Oslo on Friday, Dec 10. The Nobel Committee will award Peace prize to Liu Xiaobo in his absence. Committee will leave an empty chair for Liu Xiaobo. Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjoern Jagland said awarding...

Oprah Winfrey Network - Slapping Oprah Winfrey's name on something usually makes that thing a success. As it prepares to flip the switch on the Oprah Winfrey Network cable channel on Jan. 1, Discovery Communications (DISCA) is betting that streak will hold. "This channel will have her name on it," says Christina Norman, the former MTV president who is now OWN's chief executive officer. She says the channel could be profitable within three years. "It's something that [Oprah] doesn't want to be anything but great." Still, the network, which Oprah's holding company Harpo will own jointly with Discovery, is not a sure bet. Some cable and satellite operators are resisting Discovery's demands for fees triple what they are paying for Discovery Health, the channel being converted to OWN. Advertisers coaxed aboard with a personal call from Oprah will want to see healthy ratings. "No one has ever created a whole channel with original programmin...

Brett Favre Scandal - Brett Favre scandal - it's almost over with the NFL investigation and the league is responding after reports that Jenn Sterger's lawyer, Joseph Conway, has pressured them into making a decision regarding Brett Favre. According to The Washington Post, Conway received a phone call from an NFL official Wednesday that the investigation is complete. The only thing left is having a review of the material by Commissioner Roger Goodell and the league's attorneys. Greg Aiello, the NFL spokesman, responded to news that they concluded the investigation by saying an exact timetable hasn't been nailed down. Aiello stated on behalf of the NFL: "We're not ruling out this week. We're not ruling out next week." Brett Favre Scandal Sterger's manager, Phil Reese, stated earlier this week he was unhappy with the NFL's slow progress in the investigation surrounding Brett Favre and his client. He wanted her name cleared and indicat...

Prep And Landing Short - Last December saw the debut of Prep and Landing, a short Disney toon of some 20-odd minutes that introduced us to the team of elves who go ahead of Santa and lay the groundwork for his rapid, intercontinental gift delivery. It was one of the best Mouse-made films in recent years.* To tide us over before the little pointy-eared chaps return for a full sequel next year, this December we’ve been allowed just a tiny taste, a new short that runs under 7 minutes total. Mere crumbs! Prep And Landing Short Operation: Secret Santa screened on ABC last night and – being in the UK and all – I missed it. Never fret, the internet is here to save the day. Faster than the fat man in red, the show whistled around the world and into… er… my eye… chimneys? Yeah. Sort of. You can see the toon on the ABC Prep and Landing site now. I understand that the first full-length special will be airing on your American tellyboxes once more this very night. It comes highly recommend...

Barbara Walters Interview With Oprah - You won't want to miss "the most personal interview" Oprah Winfrey has ever done, when footage of her interview "Oprah: The Next Chapter" with Barbara Walters airs tonight on ABC. Before Barbara's 18th-annual "Ten Most Fascinating People" special airs tonight, you can see the hour-long Barbara Walters interview with Oprah. Barbara Walters Interview With Oprah Tonight! (Dec. 9, 2010) In promo clips for the Barbara Walters interview with Oprah Winfrey tonight (Thurs., Dec. 9), we see Oprah get emotional when talking about her relationship with Gayle King. Oprah cried when she told Barbara about her longtime friend Gayle King, "She is the mother I never had. She is the sister everybody would want. She is the friend that everybody deserves. I don't know a better person." When Barbara Walters asked Oprah why she was getting emotional, Oprah stated "I'm thinking about how much I probabl...

Cher Lloyd Admits Defeat - CHER Lloyd has already thrown in the towel and reckons she will be booted out tomorrow night. The rapper - favourite to go - said she would not see off fellow finalists Matt Cardle, Rebecca Ferguson and One Direction. Cher, 17, who will duet with Black Eyed Peas star Will.I.Am on Saturday, shrugged: "I'm going to go out with a bang. "I've got Mr Will.I.Am with me so I'm going to rock it out. But I do expect to be going on Saturday. It's fine. I could have gone a fair few weeks ago. I'm a rapper. Normally people like me don't get a chance on these shows." Cher Lloyd Admits Defeat But Cher reckoned she does not deserve the abuse and online hate campaigns she suffers. She said: "I'm not the person I get made out to be, but I know who I am." And Simon Cowell praised her, saying: "She's been a bit of a brat at times but who hasn't? She's fun to work with and respectful." Tomor...

Mark Zuckerberg Pledges Donation - Social butterfly and bazillionaire Mark Zuckerberg has decided to heave his fortune onto the pile of philanthropy started by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett and all you can think of are nasty things to say: Easy for him to do. I'll believe it when I see it. Says here he can give it away when he's dead. He ain't going to miss it then. It's hard to love a billionaire, unless you're married to one. And even then, what's love got to do with it? It's easier to be snarky. But resist. Zuckerberg, 26, is doing a good thing. A very good thing. And more of his fellow tech titans should follow his example. Mark Zuckerberg Pledges Donation The hoodie-clad Facebook co-founder is making a difference, even before he gives away one penny as part of the "Giving Pledge." The pledge, you'll recall, is a scheme cooked up by Gates and Buffett to get the country's richest families to promise that they'll give away more ...

Moneybookers To Become Skrill - Moneybookers is one of the leading electronic wallets and a popular payment option in the online casino industry. It is in the process of re-branding and will don a new avatar named Skrill. The philosophy is simple. According to Moneybookers everything changes and they say "We simply thought it was time". Skrill is short for "skrilla", which is already a commonly used slang word for money or "dough". However, Moneybookers is endowing it with much more than that. Skrill will be a safe and innovative way for consumers to pay for their online goods. It will give them flexibility, choice, reliability, economy, convenience and peace of mind. There are big plans for Skrill but these changes will not happen overnight. In fact Moneybookers has scheduled the changeover for the end of 2011. However, the existing Moneybookers customers will be the first to upgrade to Skrill when it goes live. Moneybookers To Become Skrill Moneyb...

Lee Corso's Head Found - Lee Corso's head has been found. The oversized mascot head -- worn by the ESPN talker in a popular ESPN promo in which he confronts the similar-looking, big-headed Oregon Duck mascot -- was stolen from a network production truck during Saturday's Oregon-Oregon State game in Corvallis. Alas, two Oregon dropouts have been arrested, and the $5,000 prop is headed back to the truck. DISS Beating the Cavaliers in Cleveland on LeBron James' return night made Heat teammate Dwyane Wade hungry, so he got some wings to go from the arena. Then he talked to some stereotypical, never-miss-a-free-meal sports writers. "They got some of the best chicken wings in the NBA," Wade told the reporters. "I know you all know about them." Lee Corso's Head Found ODDLY Tennessee basketball coach Bruce Pearl, after being suspended for recruiting violations: "I've made mistakes, I clearly did," Pearl told the Knoxville Quarterback...

Maxwell Award Goes To Cam Newton - Auburn quarterback Cam Newton won three major college football awards Thursday night, the last being the Maxwell Award for being the outstanding player in college football. Newton also won the Walter Camp Award, which also goes to the top player; and the Davey O'Brien Award, which goes to the country's top quarterback. Newton is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy in New York on Saturday. Newton shared his awards Thursday. "No guy would be able to do it without the supporting cast, and I have an unbelievable supporting cast, starting with my offensive linemen,'' Newton said on the ESPN awards show. Asked what he'll say to his linemen, Newton said, "I just want to thank them. I'll whip up a big ol' batch of Cammy Cam Juice for them." Maxwell Award Goes To Cam Newton Newton, who is only the second player in NCAA history to have at least 20 rushing and 20 passing touchdowns in the same seaso...

Fixed Home Loans Jump - Each and every time that the 30 year fixed mortgage rate has moved up drastically it is the case that the Federal Reserve has taken the necessary steps to keep interest rates low. In the last several weeks the federal reserve continues to sit on the sidelines while the 10 year treasury rate yield moves to the upside. This could mean that the overall economy is improving greatly and the Federal Reserve feels that there is no reason to keep interest rates low. It could also mean that the Federal Reserve is waiting until the new year to take the necessary steps to push interest rates back to lower levels. Even though rates have moved up they are still very low when looking at historical charts. Fixed Home Loans Jump For those looking to refinance a home loan or car loan in the current economic environment is very important to remember that it takes an impressive credit score and a very low debt to income ratio to have any opportunity at these low rates. With...

Elizabeth Edwards Funeral At Westboro Baptist Church - Westboro Baptist Church and leader Fred Phelps do not act like Christians and this group should not be looked upon as a Christian group. Westboro Baptist Church and leader Fred Phelps will picket Elizabeth Edwards’ funeral on Saturday in Raleigh, North Carolina. The Westboro group is frequently in the headlines for its extremist opposition to homosexuals, Jews and other groups. The basic teachings of the Christian faith are steeped in the message of “do unto others”, treat others how you would like to be treated. For example, the members of the Kansas-based Westboro Baptist Church protest military funerals as some sort of show against homosexuals. The reason this group is picketing Elizabeth Edwards funeral? She didn’t mention God in her Facebook status update the day before she died. Westboro Baptist Church To Picket Elizabeth Edwards Funeral Westboro Baptist Church members will hold a protest and picket Elizabeth Ed...

Wikileaks Cyber Warfare - The supporters of Wikileaks are mad as heck and they're not going to take it anymore. "Operation Payback" is in full effect. The group of hackers have launched cyber warfare. Thus far, its targets have included Mastercard, PayPal, Visa, as well as a Swiss bank. After Sarah Palin criticized them, her official website was hacked and crashed. Who will be next? On the flipside, the Berkeley City Council will vote on Tuesday on a resolution to declare Private Bradley Manning, who is the suspected source of the hundreds of thousands of classified documents and cables Wikileaks released, as a hero who should be released from jail. The Berkeley City Council will vote on the resolution on Tuesday. Government officials, such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein believe that Manning should be charged with the crimes of treason and espionage. Wikileaks Cyber Warfare

President Lula Defends Julian Assange - Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has criticised the arrest of the Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as "an attack on freedom of expression". President Lula said the internet publication of secret US cables had "exposed a diplomacy that appeared untouchable". He also criticised other governments for failing to condemn the arrest. Mr Assange was detained in the UK on Tuesday over alleged sex offences in Sweden. "They have arrested him and I don't hear so much as a single protest for freedom of expression", President Lula said at a public event in Brasilia. President Lula Defends Julian Assange The Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has also criticised Mr Assange's arrest, saying it contradicted the West's avowed democratic values. "Why is Mr Assange in prison?" Mr Putin asked at a press conference. "Is this democracy?" US authorities have made it clear the...

Prince Charles Car Attacked By Students - Britain’s coalition government survived the most serious challenge yet to its austerity plans on Thursday when parliament narrowly approved a sharp increase in college fees. But violent student protests in central London, including an attack on a car carrying Prince Charles and his wife Camilla to the theater, provided a stark measure of growing public resistance. The 62-year-old heir to the British throne and his 63-year-old wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, were said by palace officials to have been unharmed in the incident, which occurred when a group of about 50 protesters, some in full-face balaclavas and shouting “Tory scum,” broke through a cordon of motorcycle police while approaching London’s theater district in slow-speed traffic. Prince Charles Car Attacked By Students A photograph of the couple, in formal evening dress, showed them registering shock as protesters beat on the side of their aromored, chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce w...

Jacob Tamme WIll Play Tonight - Injuries continue to drain much of the suspense out of the Indianapolis Colts’ pre-game inactives. The only healthy “scratches’’ for this evening’s game at LP Field against the Tennessee Titans are defensive tackle Ricardo Mathews, offensive lineman/tight end Jacques McClendon and offensive lineman Jaimie Thomas. The other inactives are injured Colts who did not make the trip: linebacker Clint Session (elbow), cornerback Kelvin Hayden (neck), running backs Joseph Addai (neck) and Mike Hart (ankle) and wide receiver Austin Collie (concussion). As expected, with Hayden out and Jerraud Powers on injured reserve, Jacob Lacey and Justin Tryon will start at cornerback. Rookie Kavell Conner will start in place of Session while Donald Brown replaces Addai. Jacob Tamme WIll Play Tonight

Uncharted 3 Announced - We’ve been hearing rumors about Uncharted 3 for quite some time now, but this morning, Entertainment Weekly broke the news — the game is real and it looks awesome. As rumored, Uncharted 3: Drake’s Deceit takes place in the Arabian Peninsula and the vast wasteland of the Rub’ al Khali Desert and has Drake looking for a legendary lost city. According to the reveal, the game focuses highly on the theme of deceit and explores the relationship between Drake and father figure and mentor Sullivan (note — not his fortune seeking family.) Though concrete details and release info is yet to be revealed, it’s expected to see release at the end of the year. Hungry for more Uncharted 3 details? Check out the first teaser, and screens below and be sure to catch the Spike TV Video Game Awards when it airs this Saturday for the first trailer. Want real gameplay? Tune in to Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Monday Night to see the Naughty Dog Team debut the game. Uncharted 3 Ann...

Google Cr-48 Notebook Sent To Pilot Users - Cr-48, the 12-inch Google Chrome Notebook that was unveiled just two days ago, is already being delivered to customers who ordered them, according to TechCrunch. The website, which covers all things technology-related, said it received an e-mail and pictures from a reader who filled out a form on Google’s site for one. The Cr-48 laptop, revealed at a press conference this week in San Francisco, isn't up for sale in any retail stores. Instead, the computers will be given away as a part of Google's Chrome operating system pilot program. The Cr-48 is designed by Google and is available in limited numbers to approved users in order to test out the "work in progress" and provide feedback to the company on how the system works. Anyone over 18 can apply to take part in the pilot program. Google has not said how many Cr-48s will be given away. Google Cr-48 Notebook Sent To Pilot Users

iOS 4.2.1 Jailbreak - Those who have jailbroken iPhone 4.2 (iPhone jb guide here) or iPad 4.2 (iPad jb guide here) know by now that it's a tethered jailbreak. Meaning, you must plug your device in every time you reboot it for any reason. The good news is that the Dev-Team has finally managed to run an untethered jailbreak on iOS 4.2.1 for those with their 4.2b3 hashes saved. iOS 4.2.1 Jailbreak

Students Protest Fees In London - A car containing Prince Charles and his wife, Camilla, was attacked tonight as a wave of protest swept through central London in the wake of a Commons vote to force through a trebling of university tuition fees for students in England. Twenty-one Liberal Democrat MPs voted against the plans and five abstained, refusing to follow their leader, Nick Clegg, and other Lib Dem ministers in favour of a new upper limit for fees of £9,000 from 2012, the culmination of an agonising few weeks for the junior party in the coalition. Outside parliament, an initially peaceful demonstration rapidly deteriorated, with fires lit in Parliament Square, rocks thrown at the police, attempts to smash into the Treasury and the supreme court and a surge into the National Gallery's impressionist rooms. Students Protest Fees In London In freezing temperatures, an attempt to burn down the Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square was thwarted, and some Christmas shoppers h...

Dr William Petit On Oprah - Oprah Winfrey came to Connecticut for Thursday's show, for what she called "the exclusive first interview" with Dr. William Petit about the assault and murder of his wife and two daughters in 2007. What was exclusive about to her it may have been that she was the first big celebrity interviewer who dropped in to get his comments. But the mourning doctor's voice has certainly not gone unheard in the incessant coverage locally of the crime, trial and sentencing. Sitting in his parents' house (rather than, say, Harpo studios in Chicago before an audience) Dr. Petit answered her questions in a muted voice as she bore down on him like a psychiatrist -- a psychiatrist bent on knowing what exactly he was feeling at every point. Dr William Petit On Oprah Her first question: "Tell us of the moment you were conscious of the fact that you had lost your entire family." When he doesn't immediately answer, she sets the scene ...

Pimco Total Return Fund - PIMCO's Total Return Fund, the world's biggest bond portfolio, raised holdings of mortgage-related assets in October to the highest level since July 2009 and continued to shun government-related securities including Treasuries and interest-rate swaps. The $256 billion Total Return Fund, run by Bill Gross, boosted mortgage assets to 39 percent last month from 28 percent the previous month, while government-related securities stood at 28 percent last month, down from 33 percent in September, PIMCO's website showed. Gross' latest monthly investment outlook provides a glimpse into the firm's asset-allocation strategy. In late October, Gross told clients in his investment piece that he favored U.S. agency mortgages because they were yielding 200 basis points "more than those 1 percent Treasuries." Pimco Total Return Fund Gross, who also helps oversee more than $1.1 trillion with co-chief investment officer Mohamed El-Erian, sa...

Openleaks New Wikileaks Rival - A group of former WikiLeaks collaborators who quit the project are to launch a new campaigning site next week to protest against its founder, a Swedish newspaper said on Thursday. Respected daily Dagens Nyheter said the decision was made to launch the site, Openleaks, in protest against Julian Assange. It did not elaborate. "Our long-term goal is to build a strong, transparent platform to support whistleblowers, both in terms of technology and politics, while at the same time encouraging others to start similar projects," the newspaper quoted a source connected to the new site as saying. The report, headlined "'New WikiLeaks' rebels against Assange," said the person wished to remain anonymous. Unusually, the newspaper printed the article in both English and Swedish on the front page of its website, www.dn.se . Openleaks New Wikileaks Rival The source said a short-term goal was to complete the technical infrastruct...

Sylvie Cachay Is Soho House Victim - The woman found dead in a filled bathtub at the Soho House on Thursday has been identified as fashion designer Sylvie Cachay. Cachay's body was found when neighbors complained about an overflowing tub from the apartment above them. The Daily News reports that investigators had initially suspected Cachay had overdosed, but are now looking into the possibility that she was strangled. Sylvie Cachay Is Soho House Victim Police are questioning Cachay's boyfriend, Nicholas Brooks, in connection with her death. Nicholas Brooks is the son of Academy-Award winning composer Joseph Brooks, who was indicted last year with 82 counts of sex-related crimes. Cachay was an up-and-coming fashion designer in Manhattan who had interned with Marc Jacobs, and whose work appeared in Vogue, Elle and People, DNAinfo reports. Sylvie Cachay Is Soho House Victim

Community Health Systems Makes Bid For Tenet - Community Health Systems Inc (CYH.N) has offered to buy Tenet Healthcare Corp (THC.N) for $3.3 billion and create the country's largest hospital chain, but Tenet has rejected its larger rival's unsolicited bid. Shares in Tenet soared nearly 50 percent in extended trade. Including debt, the deal is valued at some $7.3 billion, Community Healthcare said in a statement. Analysts say the largest U.S. hospital operators are struggling to contain costs and mounting piles of bad debt, and have been hit by a stalled economy and stubbornly high unemployment levels. Some had speculated that delays in healthcare reform would trigger a rash of acquisition activity in the sector. Community Health Systems Makes Bid For Tenet The country's largest publicly traded hospital operator is offering $5.00 a share in cash and $1.00 per share in common stock for Tenet, whose hospitals are located primarily in the southern and western United S...

Connie Hamzy Howard Stern - Connie Hamzy, made famous by a song lyric and her autobiography in 1995 regarding her sexual encounters with rock stars, has gone on record with Howard Stern as saying the best lover was Alex Van Halen. Contact Music reports Hamzy, now 56, claimed to be intimate with Peter Frampton, Gene Simmons, Willie Nelson and Rick Springfield. Hamzy gained fame from the Grand Funk Railroad lyric in the song "We're An American Band." Hamzy is from Arkansas and appeared on Howard Stern's radio show on Dec. 8. Other song lyrics have mentioned real-life people by name. Even recent songs written about encounters still, to this day, talk about relationships between singers and their lovers. Connie Hamzy Howard Stern Taylor Swift's new album "Speak Now" has sold over a million copies and is a more mature album now that she's older. On many of the songs, she's written about more adult relationships, and one in particular has b...

Howard Stern Resigns With Sirius - After months of rumors and reported deals with the likes of Apple, Howard Stern has officially announced that he has signed a new deal with SiriusXM for 5 years. There has been much speculation as to whether or not Stern would resign with SiriusXM, or go to another form of broadcasting. There has even been talk of retirement for the king of all media. But luckily for fans of the Stern Show, Howard isn’t going anywhere. 5 years ago this month, Stern signed a record breaking $500 million dollar deal for 5 years, which was set to expire next week. The financial details of the new deal have not been released, but are likely to be even higher than the half-a-billion-dollars that Stern signed for last time. Howard Stern Resigns With Sirius

Patricia Kennealy Morrison Opposed Pardon - The Florida Board of Executive Clemency on Thursday voted unanimously to posthumously pardon Jim Morrison, the charismatic lead singer for The Doors, four decades after Morrison was convicted of indecent exposure and open profanity. Outgoing Florida Gov. Charlie Crist -- an admitted Doors fan -- proposed the official let-off for the late singer for a disputed incident during a Miami, Florida, concert. Morrison's widow, Patricia Kennealy Morrison, who opposed the pardon, said she was not surprised at the outcome, given the fans who were supporting it. "Since the original charges and trial were a publicity stunt to begin with, it doesn't surprise me in the slightest that the pardon should follow in those footsteps," she told CNN. Her husband "did nothing to be pardoned for" and his record should have been expunged, Patricia Morrison said. Patricia Kennealy Morrison Opposed Pardon Crist, who is set to leave ...

Hendrik Coetzee Attacked By Croc - A South African outdoorsman is presumed dead after he was dragged from his kayak by a crocodile while leading a kayaking expedition from the source of the White Nile into Congo. The body of 35-year-old Hendrik Coetzee, who was living in Uganda, has not been recovered. The stretch of river is notorious for its whitewater and high density of crocodiles and hippos. Two Americans tourists, who watched the incident take place, were "physically unharmed but shaken up". Eddie Bauer, the trip's sponsor, said: "We are saddened by the tragedy and express our deepest sympathies to Hendrik's family and friends." In his online blog, Coetzee discussed the importance of trusting instincts and the group's only rule - "nobody panic". Hendrik Coetzee Attacked By Croc

Chrome OS Notebook Delayed - Google's new operating system and I don't know each other very well -- not yet, anyway. I just met Chrome OS for the first time this morning, when a demo unit of Google's new Cr-48 notebook arrived at my office. The Cr-48 is considered a Chrome OS test notebook; it isn't a final product, and it isn't for sale. Google is sending the notebooks out to a limited group of people in order to get feedback on the system and get it ready for its public debut. When I first took the Cr-48 Chrome OS notebook out of its box, I was pleasantly surprised by how small and light it was. The notebook weighs 3.8 pounds, with a 12-inch display, built-in Webcam, trackpad, and full-sized keyboard. That's pretty much it; this thing is clearly designed for on-the-go use, and it doesn't have any unnecessary bells and whistles. Chrome OS Notebook Delayed Google has made much about the fact that its Chrome OS systems will boot up almost instantly -- ...

Jailbreak iPhone 4 With Limera1n - Jailbreaking and unlocking Apple iPhone 4/3GS on iOS 4.1 is a very easy task with our guide. There are a few softwares available (in Windows and Mac OS X) for unlocking and jailbreaking iPhone 4/3GS on iOS 4.1. Before unlocking, you must jailbreak your iPhone. Jailbreak and Unlock Apple iPhone 4/3GS for iOS 4.1 Note: If you want to unlock your iPhone, make sure that the baseband does not get updated when upgrading to iOS 4.1. Follow this guide to do that. If you want to jailbreak and unlock and iPhone, remember – jailbreaking comes first, then unlocking. Jailbreak iPhone 4 With Limera1n If you want to jailbreak iPhone 4, you can do any one of the following: JailbreakMe (jailbreak from Safari on the iPhone) -Visit this website from Safari web browser in your iPhone. When you visit it, it’ll ask to slide to jailbreak, once you’ve done that your iPhone is successfully jailbroken. limera1n (short and simple) – Download the software for Windo...

Body Found At Soho House - The 33-year-old woman found dead in a bathtub inside the swanky Soho House hotel Thursday has been identified as a gorgeous Manhattan fashion designer, a source said. Sylvie Cachay's body was discovered about 3 a.m. inside the exclusive Ninth Ave. hotel, with bruises on her neck, sources said. No one has been charged with a crime and the medical examiner has not released a cause of death. Cops were questioning Cachay's boyfriend, Nicholas Brooks, the son of sleazy Oscar-winning songwriter Joseph Brooks. A friend said the couple, who had been dating for about two months, had a rocky relationship. Body Found At Soho House "I don't think it was a healthy relationship," said the pal. "I just think he's unstable from what she's told me." The friend described Cachay, whose line of clothing caught the attention of Vogue editor Anna Wintour, as a "talented, affectionate" person who lit up a room. ...

Rolaids Recalls 13 Million Packages - Johnson & Johnson's McNeil division announced a recall Thursday of more than 13 million packages of various Rolaids medicines following consumer complaints of foreign materials, including metal and wood particles. McNeil Consumer Healthcare, which makes over-the-counter drugs such as Tylenol, Rolaids, and Benadryl, said it was recalling all lots of Rolaids Extra Strength Softchews, Rolaids Extra Strength plus Gas Softchews, and Rolaids Multi-Symptom plus Anti-Gas Softchews distributed in the United States. Rolaids Recalls 13 Million Packages This is the latest in a string of recalls this year by McNeil of other non-prescription drugs including Tylenol, Motrin, and Benadryl. McNeil spokesman Marc Boston said the Rolaids recalls involve products that were made for McNeil by a third-party manufacturer. The company said it has suspended production of the recalled medicines while it investigates the matter and subsequently implements ...

9/11 Health Bill Failed - Forty-one Republican Senators voted against the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, which would have provided $7.4 billion in health care and compensation to 9/11 responders and their survivors. According to the AP, "The bill failed on a test vote, 57-42. Fifty-seven Democrats voted for the bill and 41 Republicans opposed it. Sen. Harry Reid, the Democratic leader, switched his vote to 'no' at the last moment, a parliamentary move that allows him to bring the measure up again for a vote." And the GOP refused because they want the Bush tax cuts extension passed first. Now we know: Money for millionaires > 9/11 first responders. Many believed that this lame-duck session was the best chance for the Senate to pass the bill, which was already passed by the House in September. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) said, "The idea that tax cuts for millionaires would derail this legislation is simply outrageous and offensive,...

Cruise Ship Survives Storm - One of the most elegant expedition vessels operating in Antarctica, the Clelia II, was disabled when a 30 foot wave hit it. The ship was returning to Argentina amidst heavy seas when the wave surged and took out windows and power. The luxury cruise ship was traveling with 88 passengers, all Americans, for an Antarctic cruise. The Chilean Navy is on their way to help the disabled ship; there are no reports of injuries. This ship was also damaged and put out of commission several months ago along the same route. The Clelia II, was withdrawn from service during January of this year for repairs following an accident that occurred over Christmas week. The five-deck ship had arrived at Antarctica’s famed Petermann Island on Dec. 26 for a passenger landing when a stronger-than-anticipated current pushed it toward the rocky shoreline. Cruise Ship Survives Storm

Team Bieber Teddy Bear Shirt - Parents everywhere want to know what the number is on the Team Bieber Teddy Bear Shirt as part of the big Toys R Us Scavenger Hunt. Earlier this week, people were searching for the answer to “What Year Was FAO Schwarz Established?”, and now it seems the craze has shifted to the Justin Bieber Team Bieber Teddy Bear Shirt. Want to know the answer to “What number is on the Team Bieber Teddy Bear shirt?” The number “01″ is on the Team Bieber Teddy Bear shirt. Will you be buying your child a Team Bieber Teddy Bear for Christmas? Are you participating in the Toys R Us Scavenger Hunt? Team Bieber Teddy Bear Shirt

Westboro Baptist Church Protest - Westboro Baptist Church, a Kansas-based church with a history of holding controversial and politically inflammatory protests, announced on Thursday that its members plan to protest Elizabeth Edwards' funeral in Raleigh, N.C. this weekend. The anti-gay fundamentalist group, which is led by Rev. Fred Phelps, is most known for its protests at the funerals of military servicemen - though it has also picketed such events as theater productions and high school graduations. In a statement released on the church's website -- the URL of which, www.godhatesfags.com, gives a pretty good sense of the group -- Westboro accused Edwards of "spewing blasphemy" and mounting a "smash-mouthed assault on His deity." Westboro Baptist Church Protest "Elizabeth Edwards & her faithless husband, John, lightly esteemed what they had. They coveted things that were not theirs - and presumptuously thought they could control God," ...

Escondido Bomb House - After several weeks of planning, the San Diego sheriff's department, ATF , and other authorities began a controlled burn of the so-called "Bomb House" in Escondido. The home came under scrutiny on November 18, when landscaper Mario Garcia stepped on an explosive device in the yard. He sustained injuries to his chest, eye, and arm. Investigators stumbled upon a home that was packed with bomb-making chemicals, hand grenades, and other explosives. Bomb squad specialists recognized immediately that the home was too dangerous to enter, and authorities made the choice to burn it all down. Fox News reports that more than 50 agencies collaborated on the plan to execute a controlled burn. After extensive preparation (nearby residents were evacuated, interstate 15 was closed, and a 16-foot wall was constructed around the property), authorities began the burn at around 11am this morning. Suspect George Jakubec, a naturalized American citizen from Serbia, ...

Lebron James South Beach Home - LeBron James’ South Beach home, a $9 million palace overlooking Biscayne Bay in Coconut Grove, Florida, will not leave the basketball player and his family wanting for luxuries and comfortable living. According to Babble, the new home boasts “three fountains, room for two 60-foot yachts, six bedrooms and 8.5 bathrooms”, all within a total of 20,000 square feet. That’s still less extravagant than some of the other homes James was looking at, including a property worth $50 million. According to the Gather Celebs News Channel website, the NBA star made headlines over the summer when he left his old team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, to join the Miami Heat. Lebron James South Beach Home The luxurious South Beach home is expensive enough, but still cost James less than the residences of some of his popular new teammates with the Heat, according to The Washington Post. Chris Boch paid $12.5 million for his seven-bedroom home in Miami Beach, which is als...

Unemployment Extension Update - The latest twist in the saga over extending unemployment benefits, illustrates Democratic displeasure with the bill. The current proposal aim to extend Bush-era tax rates and offers an extension of unemployment benefits. Both are seen as key legislative victories for each party. Unemployment Benefits Extension 2010: Tier 5 Extension Will not Help 99ers - The unemployment benefit extension for level 5 that will involve the 99ers is the talk of the town today in the internet. Apparently, Vice President Joe Biden has recently talked with the House Republicans and Democrats to keen with a deal that will allow the Congress to pass another year of unemployment benefits in exchange of a 2-year tax cut for big enterprises and high earning individuals. Unemployment Extension Update Republicans are saying that Democrats fail to get genuine solutions to the issue of unemployment extension and Tier 5, while Democrats says that Republicans are blocking these ...

PSP Phone Benchmarks - Asked for, answered, and disappointed. Last time we saw a clear video of the PSP Phone (aka Sony Ericsson Z1), I noted that I wanted to see them launch Neocore and the Playstation apps when I saw them in the app tray. Soon after, we got a short video showing the Playstation app, but nothing more than the file browser inside. Now, we’ve gotten a look at the Neocore benchmark, and it’s a little disappointing. For reference, my Nexus One usually clocks in at around 28FPS in Neocore, while the Nexus S was recently benchmarked at 55FPS. The PSP Phone clocks in at just over 24FPS. PSP Phone Benchmarks Granted, this is likely not finalized hardware or software for the phone, but it’s still a bit disappointing showing for a phone that will be first and foremost judged on its gaming prowess. There is always a chance that games specifically designed for the phone will run better, but again, we’ll have to wait and see on that. [Engadget] PSP Phone Benchmarks

Dadt Repeal Fails - They had 60 votes in the bank, with Brown, Collins, and Murkowski all promising to vote yes if they could reach an agreement with Reid on debate time and amendments. He spent a day negotiating with them and then gave up, choosing to ignore their demands and force a vote by bringing the bill to the floor anyway. And it worked! … in Collins’s case. Brown and Murky voted no but she ended up voting yes, even though (a) Reid gave her nothing in return and (b) she pledged last week not to approve any bills until the tax cuts deal is settled. So not only is she exposed as a liar and a chump, she didn’t even get a successful repeal here as a consolation prize. That makes her our official sucker of the day, with Reid a close second for not delaying this vote until after the tax deal is done, when there might be time to satisfy Brown’s and Murkowki’s procedural demands. Take note, gay activists: He’s happy to postpone a vote on DREAM to improve its chances of passing, but wh...

BAE Systems To Cut 1300 jobs - Defence contractor BAE Systems (BAES.L) said on Thursday it planned to cut 1,300 jobs in Britain because of the ruling coalition's defence cuts. "Following a detailed review of the implications of the UK government's Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) ... BAE Systems has announced it has started consultation regarding potential job losses at six of its UK sites and two RAF (Royal Air Force) bases," BAE Systems said in a statement. Up to 1,307 jobs could go in Britain as a result, it said. In addition, BAE Systems Saudi Arabia was looking to cut 90 jobs at its British business, the company said. BAE Systems To Cut 1300 jobs

Notion Ink Tablet To Be Released Tomorrow - If the Android-powered Adam tablet that Notion Ink has been talking up on the weekly turns out to be vaporware, expect a significant fallout from its eager fans, and a hefty laugh to the cynical bloggers who love to say, “I told you so,”. Thankfully, it really does look like Notion Ink will deliver on their promise, and we may even see the official pre-order website go live tomorrow. Notion Ink usually updates their blog every Saturday, but today the company decided to throw a small post on their blog to tease us avid Adam fans. All we’ve got at this point is the number 1.61803399, the golden ratio, which NI has talked up quite a bit before in regards to the Adam. No, it doesn’t look like it’ll be a part of any more geek-mystery, as the post little more than a hype-builder leading up to tomorrow’s expected unveiling. Or, well, later today. It’s already the 9th in India, so we may see the pre-order page, if that’s what the countdown truly s...

Jennifer Hopkins Myasthenia Gravis - Jennifer Hopkins is training for her second Ironman triathlon, intending to repeat her feat of finishing the challenging three-part course in 2009. Completing a 3.86-kilometre swim, a 180.25-km bicycle ride and a 42.19-km run that year -- in that order and without a break -- is a major accomplishment for any athlete. It was a much greater challenge for the 31-year-old Ottawa resident, a foreign service officer and lawyer with the federal government who has multiple sclerosis and two other autoimmune diseases. “I had always wanted to do the Ironman and said that I would do it when I was healthier,” says Hopkins, who was diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease, as a teenager and warned she was unlikely to be able to continue participating in most sports. Jennifer Hopkins Myasthenia Gravis Because this condition resulted in her having symptoms similar to some symptoms of MS, it wasn’t until 2007, when she w...

HTC Legend Gets Android 2.2 - We just wondered whether or not yesterday’s maintenance upgrades for the HTC Legend and Wildfire were actually Pre-Froyo upgrades. It looks like that may just be the case. At least for the HTC Legend in Europe, HTC UK has confirmed that users will begin seeing the over the air update starting today – December 9th – across Europe. Naturally, assume that if you have a carrier-branded device then you won’t be seeing the update. It’s up to your carrier to bring that to your phone and that might not happen for a few weeks, if at all. And if you have an unlocked device, be patient as we’re sure they’re employing a staggered process as manufacturers often do. HTC Legend Gets Android 2.2

Bank Of England Holds Interest Rates - The Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee Thursday left its key interest rate and the stock of its bond purchases unchanged, and is unlikely to alter its policy for many months to come. The forecast for the U.K. economy is unusually uncertain. Prices have been rising at a faster rate than the central bank's 2% target in 41 out of the past 50 months, and inflation is forecast to remain above that level throughout next year. That means there is a risk that wage demands will increase, setting off a fresh round of price gains as businesses look to cover their higher costs. The government is set to cut spending at a time when bank lending remains impaired, the U.K.'s major export markets are still fragile and much spare capacity remains in the economy, and over the medium term that may lead to an inflation rate that is below the central bank's target. Bank Of England Holds Interest Rates That lack of clarity about the out...

Little Caesars Bowl - Overview: Unlike most Sun Belt teams, Florida International used the non-conference portion of its schedule as a springboard towards conference play. The Panthers were competitive in losses to Rutgers, Texas A&M and Maryland before running out of steam in a blowout loss to Pittsburgh. They rolled through the conference slate before dropping their season finale to Middle Tennessee. A win would have given the Panthers the outright Sun Belt crown. It is the first-ever postseason appearance for FIU. Toledo finished 7-1 in MAC play; a huge jump after last season’s 3-5 mark. Keep note than the Rockets were a dismal 5-for-13 on field goal attempts this season. Little Caesars Bowl Rob Veno’s Take: (Power Ratings: Toledo -1) – FIU head coach Mario Cristobal deserves national attention for the job he and his Panthers have done this season. Can’t slight the job done by second-year head coach Tim Beckham either as Rockets closed strong down the stretch going 5-1 SU a...

Transformer Alpha Trion - The first trailer for Michael Bay’s Transformers: Dark of the Moon has made its anticipated debut online. It looks like the future lies in the past as we are once again taken back into man’s quest to break the boundaries of space. This time we revisit Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin’s famed moon-landing. We discover that the moon-landing was an attempt at understanding the origins of an alien craft that had crashed on the moon. Internet chatter points to the Transformer as being Alpha Trion. If we are to believe the canonical plot, where does this fit into what we see in the first film? Was he, like Megatron, seeking the All Spark that had left Cybertron during the war? What about the events of the second film? (Perhaps, we just pretend the second film never really happened). Transformer Alpha Trion Similar to the original teaser of the first film, we can see a return to the global intrigue and collective importance of what may or may not unfold throug...

Wikileaks Cyberwar - A group of hackers vowed Thursday to intensify a "war of data" against Mastercard, Visa and other groups which have cut funding to the WikiLeaks website over its release of US secrets. The group "Anonymous" has claimed credit for bringing down the websites of the two firms after they suspended payments to WikiLeaks, and for attacking the site of a Swiss bank that closed an account of site founder Julian Assange, who is being held in the UK. "The campaign is not over. It's still going strong, more and more people are joining and helping in. Just last night Visa went down for a brief period," an unofficial spokesman for the group, calling himself "Coldblood", told BBC Radio. "I see this as becoming a war but not your conventional war. This is a war of data, we are trying to keep the Internet open and free for everyone, just the way the Internet has been and always was." Wikileaks Cyberwar Coldblood, who...

Christina Aguilera Racy Photos - Christina Aguilera racy photos were leaked to the internet by someone that hacked her computer. These Christina Aguilera racy photos were apparently stolen from a computer of her stylist. The pictures are more than just racy, as it has her posing with barely any clothing at all, and certainly aren't the type of pictures that someone would want leaked to the internet. At the same time, these are pictures that aren't as bad as some that have been leaked of celebrities these past few years. Christina Aguilera Racy Photos According to TMZ, a representative to Christina Aguilera stated that the pictures were illegally obtained by a hacker who broke into the computer of one of her stylists. The pictures were apparently taken in the privacy of her home, and were only mean for the personal exchange between Aguilera and her stylist. They also seem very intent on tracking down the person(s) that were responsible for stealing and then leaking the ph...

DDOS Attack On VISA - The attacks against MasterCard by WikiLeaks supporters that knocked the credit card company's Web site offline today may have caused more problems than previously thought. MasterCard itself has so far said publicly only that its corporate Web site experienced availability issues as a result of a sustained distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack against the site. In a statement this afternoon, the company said that it was making progress addressing the issue and that no customer transactions had been affected. It now appears that the company's Securecode service for secure online transactions was also affected. It's not clear, however, whether the SecureCode problems were caused by Anonymous, the group that knocked MasterCard's corporate site offline after the attacks began about 4 a.m. ET. In multiple bulletins to transaction processing companies, the company said that MasterCard and Maestro transactions could not be processed via Secure...

Operation Payback Continues - Anonymous hackers launched what is thought to be an unprecedented revenge attack on the websites of companies which are accused of bowing to US pressure to hinder the release of diplomatic cables on the WikiLeaks website. A group using the Twitter handle @AnonOperation - which was linked to the WikLeaks site itself - tweeted: "Operation #Payback SITREP: www.visa.com is currently DOWN. FIRE FIRE FIRE!!!!" The post was retweeted many times, adding to the sense that the attacks were co-ordinated, and WikiLeaks Europe declared it was at "cyberwar" on Twitter. One tweet mocked MasterCard's advertising slogan with the comment: "There are some things WikiLeaks can't do. For everything else, there's Operation Payback." Operation Payback Continues Their attack came after the financial giants announced that they would no longer process donations to the anti-secrecy group. Websites can crash if enough people atte...

Leweb Conference In Paris - It's official: Foursquare has 5 million users, increasing its user base by a factor of 10 in just nine months. The revelation was made by Foursquare co-founder and CEO Dennis Crowley on the stage of the LeWeb Conference in Paris. He noted that the geosocial service surpassed the 5 million mark late last week. Compare that milestone to March of this year. At SXSW 2010, the company announced it had more than half a million users. In April, it surpassed 1 million and has been on fire ever since. Now the company has 5 million users, more than 10 times it had in March. Leweb Conference In Paris Early last week it was reported that Foursquare had surpassed the 5 million user mark. Those reports were based on Foursquare having more than 5 million user IDs, not actual users though. Here's what Foursquare told us about the matter: "Though there are over 5 million user IDs in the foursquare community, our user IDs don't necessarily match up ...

Lien Chan Gets Confucius Peace Prize - A Chinese committee, based on the mainland, has decided to award Lien Chan, honorary chairman of the Taiwan-based Kuomintang (KMT), the first-ever Confucius Peace Prize Thursday, a day before the Nobel Committee is due to award its Peace Prize to the convicted criminal Liu Xiaobo. Tan Liuchang, chairman of the Confucius Peace Prize Committee, told the Global Times Wednesday that his organization had informed Lien about the award through non-governmental channels. "Lien contributes immensely to the development of cross- Straits relations and to world peace," Tan said. An award ceremony is planned for Thursday at a downtown Beijing hotel, although Tan said he could not confirm the attendance of Lien. Lien Chan Gets Confucius Peace Prize "We'll show the rest of the world how the Chinese understand peace," Tan said. "China itself is a symbol of peace and a force in upholding peace, especially in a world that is ...

Clelia 2 Makes Way Home - A large wave slammed into an Antarctic cruise ship with 88 American passengers and 77 crew members aboard, but the ship's crew overcame minor damage and was heading safely back to its scheduled port, the vessel's operator said. The Clelia II declared an emergency yesterday, reporting it had suffered engine damage amid heavy seas and 55 mph (90 kph) winds when it was northeast of the South Shetland Islands and about 850km from Ushuaia, the Argentine Navy said in a statement. The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators issued statement saying the wave that hit the Clelia II caused a broken bridge window and some electrical malfunctions that temporarily knocked out some communications and affected engine performance. Clelia 2 Makes Way Home "There are no injuries to passengers, although one member of the crew sustained minor injuries," it said. Another ship, the National Geographic Explorer, accompanied the Clelia II fo...

Standard Chartered Bank Income Flat - Standard Chartered bank says income has been flat in the second half of the year but the company expects to deliver record full-year profits despite steeply rising costs. Standard Chartered said Thursday that it is spending more money to comply with regulatory requirements, and faces increasing competition for hiring and retaining staff. The bank said it expects a double-digit percentage rise in costs for the year. The company also says that provisions for bad loans have continued to improve. Standard Chartered Bank Income Flat

Blackberry Playbook - With the release of Research In Motion’s new BlackBerry Playbook on the horizon, RIM has shown off the new tablet during the D: Dive into Mobile conference and has revealed more details on the device along with quashing a rumour that the BlackBerry Playbook would challenge the Apple iPad on price. According to an article over on Apple Insider by Daniel Eran Dilger, and by way of Zdnet, RIM is in the process of meeting with BlackBerry developers in San Francisco, New York and Toronto, and has revealed that there will be 3 models of the new BlackBerry Playbook which will be somewhat similar to the WiFi iPad. There have been rumours that RIM would challenge Apple’s iPad in the mobile space by undercutting Apple’s pricing by up to $100. Previous reports had placed the RIM BlackBerry Playbook pricing at $399 for the 8GB, $499 for the 16GB and $599 for the 32GB as reported (here) However Research In Motion execs have said that the BlackBerry Playbook will have a ...

Notion Ink Adam Pre-Orders - Looks like the company will start taking pre-orders on the Adam tablet starting tomorrow, December the 9th. We’ve been hearing about this tablet for awhile now. It features a 10.2 WSVGA display with a resolution of 1024 x 600 pixels, 1GB of RAM and an NVIDIA Tegra 2 processor. Some other specs of this tablet include a 3.2 megapixel camera with built in auto focus, WiFi, 3G and Bluetooth, plus two USB 2.0 ports, and a miniUSB port along with an HDMI and a microSD card slot. Notion Ink Adam Pre-Orders

ASML Leads European Stocks - ASML Holding NV, Europe’s biggest semiconductor equipment maker, rose the most in more than two years in Amsterdam after raising its forecast for fourth-quarter bookings to more than 2 billion euros ($2.7 billion). ASML jumped as much as 8.6 percent to 28.57 euros, the biggest intraday advance since November 2008, and traded at 28.06 euros as of 9:55 a.m., the highest since May 2002. “Stronger than expected” demand for lithography equipment from most chip markets is responsible for the forecast, the company, said in a statement today. “The upside to bookings comes as a clear positive surprise and provides further support to the prospect for ASML being able to grow sales and earnings in 2011,” Peter Olofsen, an analyst at Kepler Capital Markets in Amsterdam, said in a note. ASML Leads European Stocks ASML, the maker of machines that produce chips for Apple Inc.’s iPods and Nokia Oyj’s mobile phones, is benefitting from increased demand for equipment...

Eddie Long Seeking Settlement - The publication Gospel Today is facing criticism from its readers for placing Georgia-based minister Bishop Eddie Long on its most recent cover. Inside the issue is an article about the religious leader entitled ‘Bishop Eddie Long at the Center of the Scandal that Rocked the Church World.’ Readers believe the article downplays the accusations of sexual coercion against the preacher brought by four male members of his New Birth Missionary Church, according to Afro.com. Eddie Long Seeking Settlement The four men, Spencer LeGrande, 22, Jamal Parris, 23, Anthony Flagg, 21, and Maurice Robinson, 20, all filed suits alleging Long coerced them into sexual relationships when they were teenage members of his congregation. Gospel Today’s publisher, Teresa Hairston released a statement on the publication’s Website defending the magazine’s choice to feature Long, saying “…The mainstream press has painted a hideous picture; some have even called for Long’s r...

Sony Dash Launches Hulu Support - Sony has announced that their Sony Dash Personal Internet Viewer can now tap into Hulu Plus, expanding the devices slate of video and television offerings with literally thousands of current TV episodes, movies, and more from the ABC, NBC, and FOX broadcast networks. To access that content, customers will need to pay Hulu $9.99 a month. Sony’s Dash features a 7-inch touch screen, and includes access to more than 1,000 free apps that allow users to access news, media, and other content. It retails for about $199. This is considered as a big step from the former PIV which was being used until recently and only focused on bring the company almost one thousand applications to the unit including RSS headlines, twitter and Facebook updates, YouTube access and whether reports. Sony Dash Launches Hulu Support Says Sony SVP Brennan Mullin, “The addition of Hulu Plus serves as an ideal example of how Dash continues to evolve and improve over timeWith Hulu...

Murderer Issei Sagawa - Issei Sagawa is a celebrity in Japan and not the good kind. Not even the Paris Hilton kind. Issei Sagawa made himself famous, or rather notorious, after committing a murder, and cannibalism, in France while a student in Paris. Sagawa murdered, then ate, his classmate Renee Hartevelt while he was a student at the Sorbonne in 1981. Sagawa had said Hartevelt was healthy and beautiful and that he thought by eating her, he could absorb these qualities into himself. A judge later found him legally insane and was sent to a mental institution. Sagawa is now the subject, and star, of the book In The Fog. Murderer Issei Sagawa

Connie Hamzy Rock Star - Connie Hamzy, arguably the most famous rock 'n' roll groupie, appeared on Howard Stern this morning to relive her sexual exploits yet again. Now 56, "Sweet Connie" was quite busy during rock's golden era, hooking up with countless rockers, including Gene Simmons and Willie Nelson. There was even a scandal back in '91 when she claimed she almost added Bill Clinton to her roster. Of course, he denied it so we'll never really know. She wrote a book about her encounters, Rock Groupie: The Intimate Adventures of “Sweet Connie” From Little Rock, but it's out of print, so her interview with Howard Stern is particularly entertaining for people like me who hadn't yet gotten the scoop on her conquests. And thank goodness for that, because now I know all I need to know about the penis size and sexual abilities of some of my favorite musical artists. Connie Hamzy Rock Star Oh, and I took notes for the next time one of us encount...

Transparency International Poll - Knesset is ranked second-most corrupt institution; Israelis think government efforts to fight corruption are not helpful. Transparency International - Israel released a poll on Thursday, which showed that Israelis think that political parties are the most corrupt institution in the country. Nearly 90 percent of Israelis said that parties were corrupt, giving them a score of 4.5 out of five possible corruption points. The Knesset was ranked as the second-most corrupt institution, with a score of four. The IDF was in last place, with 2.6 out of five points. Transparency International Poll The report also showed that Israeli citizens believe the country in general is not particularly corrupt, giving it a score of 3 out of 10, but Transparency International's experts gave Israel six out of 10 points for corruption. According to the poll, 82% think that the government's efforts to fight corruption are not helpful. Israel is tied with Ire...

300,000 Android Activations - Andy Rubin, VP of Engineering at Google, has just made a tweet -- his second ever with first one being the definition of open in response to Steve Jobs -- in which he claims Android has passed the barrier of 300,000 daily activations. To further improve the statement's impact, Dan Morrill, Android Open-Source & Compatibility Program Manager, retweeted Andy Rubin's words shortly after saying that they are indeed true as he (Morrill) is checking the numbers on a daily basis. Google is in a continuous growing trend as far as Android activations are concerned. There were daily 100,000 in May, 160,000 per day in June, 200,000 in August and today they've passed 300,000 according to the two Google executives. While it's certainly an impressive growing trend, it can't continue forever but it's hard to tell which numbers it will top on. Gingerbread will most definitely shed some light on this. 300,000 Android Activations

Alan Pardew Newcastle United Manager - The Newcastle United manager-in-waiting, Alan Pardew, has been warned to that he will incur “the wrath of 52,000 people” on Tyneside this weekend as he finalised a deal to take the reins at St James’ Park. Newcastle United officials are expected to confirm the appointment of the former West Ham manager on a long-term deal on Thursday morning following a day of discussions in the North East with the Premier League club’s hierarchy. Alan Pardew Newcastle United Manager It is understood Pardew, 49, will be handed a five-and-a-half year contract at the Premier League club – where Ray Lewington is being lined up as his No 2 – unless there is an unforeseen 11th-hour hitch in negotiations which have taken place with fans left underwhelmed by Newcastle owner Mike Ashley’s decision to replace the sacked Chris Hughton. Pardew, who headed to the North East from a training course in Germany but he did not visit the club’s stadium or training complex,...