Technology Slice Blog

Pompe Disease - Pompe disease sufferer Brad Gibson should hear today whether the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee has approved funding for the treatment he believes would save his life. The committee has spent the past six weeks considering a fourth application for the government funding of the expensive drug, Myozyme, approved in 44 countries around the world as it has shown to have remarkable results. Despite receiving a brush-off from Health Minister Nicola Roxon a few weeks ago, Mr Gibson was still hopeful of a positive result. “I don't know what we will do if they knock it back,” he said. Pompe Disease “But even if they do approve, we then have to wait for the government to decide when it will make funding available for it.” Canadian Pompe disease “survivor” Brad Crittenden has written to Ms Roxon and Prime Minister Julia Gillard questioning how they could deny sufferers like Mr Gibson subsidised treatment. Mr Crittenden has been receiving Myozyme sinc...

Liz Hurley Dumps Shane Warne - Liz Hurley has apparently dumped Shane Warne after learning that the cricketer had sent sexual text messages to a married Australian woman . An Australian man, Denis Angeleri, claims his wife, Adele, was wooed by Warne with a series of explicit texts, according to the News Of The World and The Sunday Mirror. The pair had met when Warne called into her leather goods shop opposite his office at the Shane Warne Foundation in Melbourne. Liz Hurley Dumps Shane Warne According to the paper, they exchanged numbers and Warne began texting her, becoming progressively more suggestive. Adele grew worried and eventually told her husband, Denis, on December 3. Warne had begged him to keep the matter secret for the sake of his family, however, Warne was "also clearly terrified Liz would discover his double-dealing". "There weren''t that many texts anyway," The News Of The World quoted Warne as telling Angeleri. But the paper s...

Sally Jackson Cheese Recall - The Food and Drug Administration announced a recall of Sally Jackson Cheese products following an investigation after a report of an Escherichia coli outbreak. The recalled cheese originated in Oroville, Washington, and may be throughout the United States. According to reports, the cheese products produced by Sally Jackson Cheese that are being recalled include cheese made from raw cow, sheep and goat's milk. These recalled cheese items were distributed to retail stores, restaurants and distributors. A problem with the cheese products was confirmed after the Food and Drug Administration received reports of E. coli outbreaks. A recall followed the FDA investigation. Sally Jackson Cheese Recall Consumers will sometimes mistakenly state that recalled foods contaminated with E. coli will be safe to eat if heated or frozen for a period of time. According the United States Food and Drug Administration, such foods should never be eaten. Anyone thro...

Super Saturday Deals 2010 - Forget Black Friday. KELOLAND retailers are hoping Saturday is the busiest shopping day of the year. Crowds filled the Empire Mall in Sioux Falls on super Saturday. "The weather is cooperating and it's getting close to Christmas," said Vendor Susan Moret. This is Moret's fourth year selling kiosk candy. She says business has been steady coming into the weekend. Super Saturday Deals 2010 People know See's Candy, so they stop by. It isn't hard to sell," Moret said. And stores don't seem to be having a problem selling either. Empire Mall officials say so far business is trending up, even with a few bumps from Mother Nature. "It's Super Saturday, so it's the last Saturday before Christmas. So we know it's going to be big because of that combined with people who didn't get here last weekend. We're predicting it's going to be huge," said Empire Mall Marketing Manager Chrissy Spoo. ...

Captain Beefheart Dead - Musician and artist Don Van Vliet, who performed a complex brand of experimental rock under the name Captain Beefheart, has died at the age of 69. The Michael Werner Gallery in New York has today confirmed Vliet died in California due to complications stemming from multiple sclerosis. Vliet was probably best known for the album Trout Mask Replica, which was released in 1969. Captain Beefheart Dead

Tiger Woods Story Top of 2010 - Tiger Woods' humbling return to professional golf followed by a winless season on the golf course has been voted the top sports story of the year by members of The Associated Press. Tiger Woods Story Top of 2010 Woods' return after making a public confession about infidelity edged out the New Orleans Saints for the top spot with 1,316 points to the Saints 1,215, according to the AP. U.S. news organizations submitted 176 ballots that ranked the top 10 sports stories. Points were awarded on a sliding scale, with 10 points for the No. 1 story and one point for the No. 10 story. Tiger Woods Story Top of 2010 The rest of the top 10 according to AP were: --The frenzy of free agents in the NBA. --The World Cup. --San Francisco Giants winning the World Series. --New posters distributed to the NFL warning of the dangers of concussions. --Jimmie Johnson winning his fifth straing Sprint Cup title. --Brett Favre's comeback. --UConn...

Vikings Move To TCF Bank Stadium - The debate over Monday night's game being moved to TCF Bank Stadium raged on Friday when Lance Briggs spoke with reporters. The veteran linebacker made it clear that he prefers the game be moved to another NFL venue instead of playing at the University of Minnesota's home field. "When you're playing on a surface similar to what I'm standing on right now, it's everything," Briggs said, referring to the carpeted but otherwise hard floor inside the press room at Halas Hall. "Anyone falling. Anyone slipping. A lot of guys, we all have families, we all want to protect ourselves, and if it's more based on fan base or how many more fans are going to be there who are from Chicago than Minnesota, than I just don't agree with it. "You play the game. Regardless if it's the 50th anniversary of the Minnesota Vikings or not, we didn't build their arena. We didn't build that stadium over there. It co...

Katt Williams Ordered to Pay $577k - Comedian Katt Williams has been ordered to fork over $577,929 to an Atlanta record producer -- after Katt allegedly sicked his attack dog on the other man's pet canine ... nearly killing the animal. The producer, Merion Joseph Powers, had sued Katt in Atlanta -- claiming the comic racked up a $28k bill in his studio, but refused to pay the debt ... and when he pressed Williams for the dough, Katt paid him a visit with his attack dog in tow. Katt Williams Ordered to Pay $577k Powers alleged Katt -- in an effort to intimidate him into backing off the debt -- showed up to his studio with an attack dog and gave it a "verbal attack signal" to go after Merion's dog ... which suffered "substantial and nearly life-threatening injuries." But when Merion had his day in court -- the judge ruled in his favor ... and ordered Katt to pay the man a whopping $577k. Calls to Katt's reps were not returned. Katt Williams Or...

Lunar Eclipse December 2010 - The Lunar Eclipse December 2010 will be a full lunar eclipse and will occur in the early morning of December 21. A noteworthy aspect concerning this eclipse is that it will occur during the winter solstice. This doesn't happen all to often, so if you have clear sky's and can get out during the event, you will definitely want to. Nasa stated that : "The eclipse begins on Tuesday morning, Dec. 21st, at 1:33 am EST (Monday, Dec. 20th, at 10:33 pm PST). At that time, Earth's shadow will appear as a dark-red bite at the edge of the lunar disk. It takes about an hour for the "bite" to expand and swallow the entire Moon. Totality commences at 02:41 am EST (11:41 pm PST) and lasts for 72 minutes." Check out Nasa.org for more details about the astrological event. Lunar Eclipse December 2010

"Is That So Wrong" Julianne Hough Official Video - Julianne Hough has apparently caused a stir with her "Is That So Wrong" music video. In the steamy clip, Hough can be seen singing and dancing around her apartment. At one point, she strips down to a bra as she dances provocatively in bed. The video would appear tame when compared to the likes of Britney Spears and Miley Cyrus, but it has apparently been deemed too racy for some. At a concert last weekend, Hough told the crowd the video had been banned by CMT. "Is That So Wrong" Julianne Hough Official Video "This next song—funny story. I shot a music video for it...and [CMT] kind of banned it," said Hough, according to a report by the Washington Post. "Apparently I was taking off too many clothes as I was dancing across my bedroom. But I don't know—I kind of liked it." The video is no longer available on CMT's website, but the network claims that is the result of som...

Spiderman Musical Delayed - Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark is the most expensive musical in the history of Broadway, has songs by Bono and the Edge, and direction by Julie Taymor. It also has yet another month to work out massive problems with special effects and a musical finale that has not resonated with preview audiences. This marks the fourth time the show has been pushed back, but Bono still characterizes the process as a "joy." What does it take to get under this guy's skin? Spiderman Musical Delayed

Moscow Riots Continue - Behind a black door just steps from the golden domes of Novodevichy monastery, a group of young men and women sit huddled at computers. They are surrounded by racks of the red and white jumpers and scarves that mark the devoted fans of FC Spartak, Moscow's leading football club. This is the headquarters of Fratria, the unofficial Spartak fan club that lost one of its members when he was killed during a brawl with a gang from the Caucasus, the restive mainly Muslim region on Russia's southernmost flank. The shooting of Yegor Sviridov on 6 December has sparked the worst race riots Moscow has seen since the fall of the Soviet Union. The killing and beating of immigrants has increased, racist and anti-Semitic graffiti has proliferated, and the atmosphere is tense. Moscow Riots Continue For the past week, groups of roaming youth have taken to the streets daily, shouting "Russia for Russians! Moscow for Muscovites!" The youths manning the sh...

House Prices Are Inflated - Australia's house prices are overvalued by 5-10 per cent but any price correction is ''likely to be orderly'' and the result of income and rent rises rather than a collapse in prices, says the International Monetary Fund. Analysis of Australian house prices by the IMF found cyclical factors such as low interest rates, the commodities boom and levels of disposable income contributed to inflated house prices, but their overvaluation appeared milder than in the past. Australia's price-to-income ratios - the proportion of income spent on housing costs - was high, above 10-year averages by about 20 per cent at the end of June, an IMF working paper said. House Prices Are Inflated In Canada, similar ratios were at 15 per cent and in New Zealand 26 per cent. The ratios were good indicators of overvaluation in countries such as Ireland that subsequently had a correction, the paper said. By comparison, Ireland at the peak of its ho...

Leighton Meester To Quit Gossip Girl - Actress Leighton Meester will walk away from hit TV series Gossip Girl once her contract ends in 2012. The 24-year-old has starred as Blair Waldorf on the teen drama since it premiered on US. TV in 2007, but Meester admits she is looking to move away from the show and focus on other projects. When asked by Eonline.com's Marc Malkin how much longer she'll remain on the program, she says, "Two more years because we're under contract." Meester has embarked on a career on the big screen since establishing herself on Gossip Girl, and stars alongside Gwyneth Paltrow in Country Strong. She is also signed to Universal Republic as a solo singer and recorded a cover version of Rascal Flatts' Words I Couldn't Say for the new movie. Leighton Meester To Quit Gossip Girl

Denise Richards Dating Nikki Sixx - Denise Richards has confirmed that she's dating Motley Crue rocker Nikki Sixx. During a visit to Bravo's Watch What Happens: Live, Richards was asked by host Andy Cohen about reports that she and Sixx were dating. Richards first asked, "What's considered dating?" before admitting that the duo has "gone on a couple dates." Denise Richards Dating Nikki Sixx However, the 39-year-old mother of two said it's still too early to tell where things are going with Sixx, 52. "If anything's going to develop, you want it to develop on its own," she said. "That's the God's honest truth. We're taking it very slowly." A former heroin addict, Sixx has been married been twice before and was most recently linked to tattoo artist Kat Von D. Richards was married to Charlie Sheen from 2002 to 2006. She dated Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora for roughly a year after her split with Sheen. De...

Jilted Bride Lawsuit - It's the "Jilted Bride Lawsuit". A Chicago man who got cold feet is being sued by his former fiance for breaking off their engagement. Dominique Buttitta wants her former flame, Vito Salerno, to pay back the nearly $100,000 she laid out for an elaborate wedding ceremony, according to Chicago news reports. The bristling bride alleges that Salerno had been feeling fine during his bachelor party - taking full advantage of "amorous acts with strippers" - a month before the wedding was scheduled, reported the Sun-Times. Jilted Bride Lawsuit Soon after, the suit alleges, Salerno began spreading the word that the wedding was off. Buttitta says she was left with the expenses - including $30,000 for a venue, $12,000 for flowers and $10,000 for an orchestra - along with the "emotional distress" of informing 225 guests the wedding was a no-go. Unfortunately for Salerno, an apology isn't likely to cut it. In a letter to her ...

WWE Tribute to the Troops 2010 - WWE Tribute to the Troops is an annual event held by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) together with Armed Forces Entertainment in December around Christmas since 2003 as a way of honoring the men and women of the United States armed forces serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. Selected WWE wrestlers and employees travel to the said countries and interact with the members of the US Military for at least three days. The WWE Superstars regularly visit military camps, bases and hospitals, including Walter Reed Army Medical Center and Bethesda Naval Hospital, during their travels to bolster the morale of the troops. WWE Tribute to the Troops 2010 WWE then holds a special wrestling show in an open field, with the troop members in attendance for free. The show features matches involving selected Superstars and Divas from both Raw and SmackDown. The company then airs this, as well as videos highlighting their interaction with the members of the military, in ...

Aaron Rodgers Will Not Play Packers - Finally, the Patriots [team stats] know which Packers quarterback they will face tonight. Green Bay announced yesterday that starter Aaron Rodgers is out for the 8:20 showdown against the Patriots, as the concussion he suffered last week will prevent him from playing. Rodgers was not cleared by the team’s medical staff. That means backup Matt Flynn will make his first NFL start in a game that will go a long way in deciding the Packers’ playoff fate. Flynn, the former seventh-round pick out of LSU, was 15-of-26 for 177 yards with an interception in a loss to the Detroit Lions last Sunday. Aaron Rodgers Will Not Play Packers All week the Patriots had been adamant they were preparing for the Packers offense in general, not a specific quarterback. “We’re getting ready for everybody,” safety Brandon Meriweather said. “Not Matt Flynn, not just Aaron Rodgers, we’re getting ready for their whole team. They got a good team. They got a bunch of ...

Maureen O'Hara Foundation - There is no other way to say it – the Black Tie Gala Dinner and Tribute to Maureen O’Hara at The Eccles Hotel in Glengarriff last Saturday night was the hottest ticket in town. As people drove up and parked in front of the ornate building – which was all lit up on the inside and adorned with strings of white lights on the outside – it looked very much like a Hollywood event. Reporters waited with photographers and cameramen at the hotel entrance as guest after guest rolled up to the red carpet and were whisked inside for a photo session and champagne reception before sitting down to a superlative seven-course meal. Although the night was billed as ‘A Tribute to Maureen O’Hara’, another Irish Hollywood star, Patrick Bergin, managed to take the movie legend by surprise when he presented her with the inaugural ‘Excellence Award’ in honour of a glittering career that has spanned more than six decades. Maureen O'Hara Foundation The events of Sa...

Silver Bells With Jeff Bridges - Yeah, so Cookie Monster didn’t get the Saturday Night Live hosting gig he auditioned for, but getting to sing a Christmas tune with Jeff Bridges isn’t too shabby! Cookie Monster and Jeff Bridges sing “Silver Bells,” with Cookie adding a little bell sound effects along the way. What does Cookie Monster want for Christmas? An iPad… nah, a cookie! Jeff Bridges gives him the gift of a cookie – so sweet! Cookie Monster’s SNL audition video tape really paid off! Although Cookie Monster didn’t get the Saturday Night Live host job, he got to sing with The Dude! Cookie Monster SNL “Silver Bells” monologue video, plus watch Cookie Monster’s Saturday Night Live audition tape: Silver Bells With Jeff Bridges

Bernard Hopkins vs Jean Pascal - WBC Light Heavyweight Champion, Jean Pascal, 26-1-1, 16 KO’s, scored two early knockdowns on ring veteran, Bernard Hopkins, 51-5-2, 32 KO’s, but the “Executioner” came on strong late and made the fight very close going into the final round. In the first round, Hopkins followed Pascal around the ring and was winning the round until a right hand landed and Hopkins went down. He got up immediately and complained about the punch landing behind the head. Pascal would land a left hook that would drop Hopkins again, but the old warrior would adjust and begin chasing down the champion. Bernard Hopkins vs Jean Pascal In the second half of the fight, it became more of a Hopkins fight with the mauling and holding but some good shots as well mixed in there. Pascal’s aggression lessened as the rounds went on and it allowed Hopkins to get back into the fight. A late rally by Pascal left the decision in doubt and both men fought hard for the final round and it ...

Bernard Hopkins Fights Back - The Executioner has slipped Father Time once more, but Bernard Hopkins' late-innings comeback last night wasn't enough to put him in the record books. Hopkins, less than a month shy of his 46th birthday, came from behind to earn a majority draw last night against 28-year-old light-heavyweight champion Jean Pascal before a sold-out crowd of more than 16,000 at the Pepsi Coliseum. Hopkins came up short in his bid to become the oldest boxer to win a world title belt, and Pascal retained it. "I had that guy beat up," Hopkins said. "He was holding me. I'm a 45-year-old guy and he hit me in the back of the head. I never complained. "Just because you go to a different country it doesn't mean the votes can't be counted correctly. I had lots of energy and I threw more punches. I put on a hell of a performance. It was a robbery." Bernard Hopkins Fights Back Pascal scored first in the final seconds of Round 1,...

Greyson Chance Music Video - Greyson Chance, 13, was discovered on YouTube when a video of him singing a cover of Lady Gaga's Paparazzi was released. He was quickly snatched up by Ellen Degeneres and signed to her record label. Chance is seAug. 08, 2010 - Los Angeles, California, USA - Aug 08, 2010 - Los Angeles, California, USA - Actor GREYSON CHANCE at the Teen Choice Awards 2010 - Arrivals held at Universal Studios, Los Angeles. © Red Carpet Picturest to release a music video for his new song Waiting Outside the Lines. "The video ... starts off in a road and then it transforms into a rooftop and then onto a sidewalk and then into the middle of the rain. ... I like to call it a mini-film. The whole concept is saying that ... everything in the world can come down on you, but you're still gonna break through," Chance told MTV News. Greyson Chance Music Video Chance is already being compared to Justin Bieber, but other than looks, the two seem to be in completel...

NBA Trades 2010 - It's a rarity that so many big names are involved in one trade, particularly this far removed from the NBA's February trading deadline. Yet this year, a Saturday in December, saw two blockbuster trades, with high profile players from three teams changing addresses still relatively early in the NBA season. The Orlando Magic completed an almost complete overhaul of their roster, as they shipped out guard Vince Carter, forwards Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus, and center Marcin Gortat, along with their 2011 first round pick. In return they received Jason Richardson, Hedo Turkoglu and Earl Clark from the Phoenix Suns, who end up with Carter, Pietrus and Gortat, an equally major overhaul for a team that made a strong run in this past season's playoffs. NBA Trades 2010 A separate deal also sent the Washington Wizards' controversial former franchise player, guard Gilbert Arenas, to Orlando in exchange for Lewis, swapping two exorbitantly paid playe...

Gilbert Arenas Orlando Magic Trade - Gilbert Arenas couldn't stop smiling Saturday night as he talked about his trade to the Orlando Magic. Arenas arrived at Amway Center at halftime of Orlando's 97-89 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, put on a Magic T-shirt and worked out on the team's practice court. "This is a new beginning for me," Arenas said. "This is a true new beginning. Going back and changing my number wasn't a new beginning. This is a real new beginning in a new city, new people, a new team. I get to start fresh." Arenas also said he hasn't discussed with coach Stan Van Gundy whether he'll start or be a reserve, but Arenas added he would have no problem coming off of the bench. Gilbert Arenas Orlando Magic Trade " Jason Richardson's playing great right now," Arenas said. "[ Hedo] Turkoglu's playing great. So, I see them two starting at the 2 and 3. And since I've been coming off the b...

Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal - The US Senate voted yesterday to end America’s ban on gays and lesbians serving openly in the US military, a historic reversal that ends one of the nation’s most controversial social policies and signifies growing political tolerance for gay rights. The measure, which now heads to President Obama for his signature, will result in the lifting of the “don’t ask, don’t tell’’ rule that has led to the discharge of some 14,000 gay service members since it was established during the administration of President Bill Clinton 17 years ago. Don't Ask Don't Tell Repeal Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts was among six Republicans who broke ranks to help Democrats overcome a Republican filibuster against the repeal measure, by a vote of 63 to 33; at least 60 votes were needed to move the measure ahead. Final passage came in a second vote yesterday afternoon, when it was approved 65 to 31, with eight Republicans in favor. “I just posted on my ...

Julianne Hough "Is that so Wrong" - Julianne Hough’s new music video for her single “Is That So Wrong,” has been banned from the CMT lineup, and you can’t find it on YouTube either. Why it’s been banned is under debate however; Babble reports that CMT says it’s due to a contract issue, and Hough says it’s because it’s too sexy. We have a video below that shows the making of the her music video, and toward the end you see the controversial scene where she strips off her shirt, revealing her bra, and does some nice gymnastics on the bed. To start with, my jaw dropped at that twirl she did while taking off her shirt. Holy moly, that was an amazing dance move! I can’t even imagine how hard it was to master that move! As for the rest of it…I don’t see anything too racy for cable television, not even the country music channel! Julianne Hough "Is that so Wrong"

Penn State Volleyball - As the Penn State women's volleyball team was in the process of winning its fourth consecutive national championship Saturday evening in a 3-0 rout of Cal at the Sprint Center in Kansas City, Missouri, ESPN continually ran teasers of the UCONN women's basketball team's pursuit of the UCLA men's basketball's record streak of 88 consecutive wins. Been there, done that. Penn State Volleyball With the victory tonight, Penn State has bigger UCLA marks in its sights. Try its seven consecutive national championships from 1967-1973. That's the number of titles Penn State will have if this season's stellar freshman class that includes budding stars like Deja McClendon, who had 16 kills in the title match, and Katie Slay, who led Penn State with 6 blocks and the championship clinching kill, win out for their careers as seniors Blair Brown, Arielle Wilson and Alyssa D'Errico did Saturday night. We've exhausted just about every...

Christ Koulis Cause of Death - Dr. Christ Koulis has been found dead tonight in Chicago, the cause of his death has appeared to be a massive heart attack. Dr. Christ Koulis cause of death has seems to be caused by a massive heart attack. It was found out when the 42 years old man was taken to the Northwestern Hospital in Chicago where then he died there at 5:45 AM on Saturday. Koulis is a former plastic surgeon from Nashville who has made himself famous in 2007 when he was convicted of murdering his own model girlfriend, Lessa Buchanan. Christ Koulis Cause of Death Christ Koulis was charged with unlawful negligence and providing her with illegal drugs, whose overdose took her life. A video tape that showed Koulis injecting Buchanan with drugs a week prior to her death cemented the charges against him and at the time of Buchanan’s death, Koulis was on probation, but later was set free of the two year sentence court ordered him. Christ Koulist’s lawyer in the past, David Raybin ...