Technology Slice Blog

Who Dies First in the Godfather - Tonight on Million Dollar Money Drop the questions just got tougher as the couple wanted to save as much money as they could to take it home. The third question of the evening was about the 1972 movie of 'The Godfather'. The classic movie gave the couple a scare as they changed their answer at the last minute in a safe that saved them a bad choice. Tonight the question was 'Who dies first in the 1972 Godfather film?' The answer was James Caan. The actor played Santino 'Sonny' Corleone was one of the most violent Vito's children and he was portrayed to be in the family business at a young age when compared to the other characters. The other answers that were wrong included: Marlon Brando (who played Don Vito Corleone), Al Pachino (who played Michael Corleone) and (Robert Duvall who played Tom Hagen.) Who Dies First in the Godfather

Bayer Aspirin - Million Dollar Money Drop tonight had the couple Casey and Kyle looking to make a million dollars after answering 7 questions. While the couple struggled to find the right answer, they definitely did their best in the short time alloted to answer the common knowledge questions. While one could argue the questions are easy, they aren't that easy and people don't always go through life knowing useless trivia. The question tonight that really stumped the couple was number 4 where they lost a majority of their money. The question for the competition of number was was: Which one of these were introduced first? Bayer Aspirin Band-Aid Brand Bandages Bayer Asprin Nyquil The answer was Bayer Aspirin. In case you are interested here is the 'cheat sheet' for the question: When was Bayer Aspirin introduced? The first year of introduction for Bayer Aspirin was 1897 When was Band-Aid Brand Banages introduced? 1921 When was Nyquil introduced? 1960...

iPod Nano 8gb - Scott Wilson’s TikTok/LunaTik iPod Nano watch idea was a huge hit on microfinancing site Kickstarter, netting the project close to one million dollars. Microfinancing platforms like Kickstarter allow people with an idea to gather funding for it by petitioning a large number of people for small investments, as opposed to getting a small number of people to each give them a larger amount of money. The Kickstarter model is based on an “all-or-nothing” premise wherein no money changes hands until the minimum pledge total is met. Kickstarter bills itself as a great way to determine public interest in a project before going through with it. iPod Nano 8gb The iPod Nano watch idea came about after an offhand comment by Steve Jobs about how the new Nano was so small that it could easily be worn. This got into the head of Scott Wilson of Chicago-based MINIMAL, a wide-ranging studio that develops furniture, fashion, consumer goods, and much much more. When the idea hit Kickst...

Hollywood-Style Special Effects Give Girl New Ear - Elise never let her friends see what was left of her ear. She'd carefully style her long hair into a one-sided ponytail, or swelter under a swim cap for hours at meets, to cover the molten lump from a severe burn as a toddler in her native China. But as a teenager, the North Carolina girl expressed her desire to be whole again with a simple request: She really wanted pierced earrings. Thus began a months-long quest for a new right ear, one made of silicone but so lifelike that it even glows a bit in the sun like real skin. Elise benefited from a little known field called anaplastology, where medical artists make Hollywood-like special effects come alive to fix disfigurements that standard plastic surgery cannot. "It kind of took forever, but it was worth it," says Elise, 14, as she headed to show her transformation to her dad and sisters. "I'm so excited, I'm more than 100 excited." Hollywood...

G-dep Confesses to Killing - The 1993 killing of a man outside a housing complex was a cold case for years until a suspect appeared on detectives' doorstep last week. Apparently haunted by his secret, once-promising rapper G. Dep walked into a police precinct to confess to the shooting, authorities said. The rapper is being held without bail on a murder charge after surprised investigators matched the details he provided to the unsolved slaying of John Henkel. For the 36-year-old G. Dep, the charge marks a nadir in his long fall from rapper on the rise. After scoring a couple of hits in the early 2000s, he has been mired in drug and legal problems in recent years, though he was attempting a comeback with an album released online this year. But the murder case also represents his determination to turn a troubled life around, his lawyer said Tuesday. G-dep Confesses to Killing "He's trying to remake his life," attorney Michael Alperstein said. Guided by a subs...

Hexavalent Chromium Tap Water - The nation's top environmental regulator on Tuesday promised to complete a scientific review of hexavalent chromium by summer and consider ordering cities to start testing for the toxic metal in tap water. During a meeting with senators from Illinois and six other states, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson said new research may lead to an overhaul of federal regulations limiting chromium, a metal that occurs naturally in the environment but also is discharged into water and air by steel mills and other industries. A study released this week by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, found hexavalent chromium, also known as chromium-6, in tap water from 31 cities. The amount in Lake Michigan water pumped to 7 million people in Chicago and its suburbs was 0.18 parts per billion, three times higher than a safety limit proposed last year by California officials. Hexavalent Chrom...

U.S. Citizens more Likely to Die on Christmas Day - A new study has baffled researchers after revealing U.S. citizens are more likely to die on Christmas Day than any other time of the year. Analysis of U.S. death certificates between 1979 and 2004 found an extra 42,325 natural deaths in the two weeks starting with Christmas above the usual seasonal winter increase. In an article in the Social Science & Medicine journal, researchers said that mortality in general increased over the holidays, and deaths in hospitals rose dramatically on Christmas Day and New Year's Day. The study found that more people died on hospital wards, or had died before arrival, on the public holidays than on any other days of the year. U.S. Citizens more Likely to Die on Christmas Day Researcher David Phillips, a sociology professor at the University of California, told the National Post: 'It's not trivial. We looked at all cause categories and, for nearly every one, we found an exces...

'Barney Miller' Star Landesberg Dies at Age 65 - Steve Landesberg, who played dry, intellectual detective Arthur Dietrich on the classic ABC sitcom 'Barney Miller,' has died. Landesberg passed away in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer. He was 65. Aside from his role on 'Barney Miller,' Landesberg was also a veteran stand-up comic and writer. He wrote several episodes of the STARZ series 'Head Case,' and played Dr. Finkelstein on the show. He also had a regular role on 'Paul Sand in Friends and Lovers' and made appearances on 'The Golden Girls,' 'Ghost Whisperer,' 'That '70s Show,' 'American Dad,' 'Harvey Birdman, Attorney-At-Law,' 'Law & Order,' The Rockford Files' and many others. His last role was in a 2009 episode of 'The Cleaner.' 'Barney Miller' Star Landesberg Dies at Age 65

Vince Vaughn Baby - Picture the scene. A grotty bed somewhere, filled ably by a naked Vince Vaughn. Beneath him, somewhere, is a woman covered in a thin film of Vaughn’s sweat. She stares him in the eye, clenching her teeth as he rides her like a stolen moped. All the while, Vaughn mugs to a nearby mirror. He ejaculates and yells “I’m the hilarious Vince Vaughn!” And lo! A child was born! That’s right. Astounding idiots have sex. Rich idiots probably have so much sex that they need a special ointment to treat genital blisters. And of course, they have children too and Vince Vaughn has become a father for the first time. Vaughn’s soon-to-be long-suffering wife, Kyla Weber, gave birth to a baby girl in Chicago on Saturday. In true celebrity fashion, they have chosen a ridiculous name for their new faeces factory (that’s all babies are initially, eh?) – Locklyn Kyla Vaughn. Vince Vaughn Baby

McLaren MP4 12C GT3 - From 2012, McLaren will produce the McLaren MP4-12C GT3 with engineering assistance from British racing team CRS Racing. Set for a limited production run, McLaren and CRS Racing will supply and support a small number of European-based private teams. As part of the vehicle’s development, prototypes of the GT3 will compete in selected European GT races next year. Vodafone McLaren Mercedes team principal, Martin Whitmarsh, said given the 12C was always designed for high performance and to be easy to maintain, he believed the racing version would be an exciting prospect for GT3 teams. McLaren MP4 12C GT3 “Racing is in our blood – it was natural to develop a GT3 car alongside the 12C road car,” Mr Whitmarsh said. “We have a legendary history in global motorsport, including GT racing, and we aim to maintain that reputation with this GT3 programme, and any future sports car projects that may evolve.” Fifteen years ago on debut at Le Mans, the McLaren F1 GT...

Maya Moore Uconn Women's Basketball - With a minute left, Maya Moore stood up on the bench and whirled a towel above her head, the grin on her face so bright it could light up all of Connecticut. Just when it seems there's nothing more she can do, the senior All-American finds a way to dazzle anew. In a game for the ages, Moore put on a performance that was more than equal to the occasion. "Every night when you need her to be at her best, she's at her best," UConn coach Geno Auriemma said. And because of Moore, top-ranked UConn has surpassed the 88-game winning streak set by John Wooden's UCLA men's team from 1971-74. She had a career-high 41 points and 10 rebounds Tuesday night, setting the tone as Connecticut blew by No. 22 Florida State 93-62 for win No. 89 in a row. Maya Moore Uconn Women's Basketball

Keri Hilson No Boys Allowed Tracklist - Kanye West, Chris Brown, J. Cole and Rick Ross guest on Keri Hilson’s sophomore release, due to drop December 21. That’s quite a lot of men on an album called No Boys Allowed, but the patriotic singer explains that the title really means “no bullsh** allowed… In this album, I was screaming in a room with all my girlfriends, yelling all the sh** we really say.” With all these men in tow, though, it would have been nice to at least feature one more female artist on the LP — how about any gal from her entourage in the dirty “The Way You Love Me” vid or her fellow divas? Peep Miss Keri Baby’s track list below. Keri Hilson – No Boys Allowed 1. “Buyou” featuring J. Cole 2. “Pretty Girl Rock” 3. “The Way You Love Me” feat. Rick Ross 4. “Bahm Bahm (Do It Once Again) / I Want You” 5. “One Night Stand” feat. Chris Brown 6. “Lose Control / Let Me Down” 7. “Toy Soldier” 8. “Breaking Point” 9. “Beautiful Mistake” 10. “Gimme What I Want” 11. “A...

Peter Billingsley Musical - You might not remember Peter Billingsley as an actor, but you definitely remember his most famous film. “You’ll shoot your eye out!” Yes, Peter Billingsley is boy -- now adult -- that played the pink-bunny PJ clad Ralphie in A Christmas Story. Now, the 39-year-old Billingsley is an executive producer for films like Iron Man and Four Christmases. Oh, did we mention that he’s creating a music for A Christmas Story? Billingsley is serving as executive producer on the Seattle musical production of the film. A Christmas Story: The Musical! is running now until Dec. 30 at the 5th Avenue Theater in Seattle and reportedly stays pretty close to the movie. It also features an original score created by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. 'A Christmas Story' has always meant a lot to me personally," Billingsley told The Hollywood Reporter."I'm excited to bring this film to the stage because the story and the characters lend themselves so well to the w...

Taylor Schilling with Zac Effron - Everyone wants to catch a glimpse of Taylor Schilling, after rumors have started that Zac Efron has been seeing the (older) actress. The two are set to star side-by-side in the upcoming film The Lucky One, with the flim shooting right now in New Orleaans. Gossip has it that Efron and Schilling have become very cozy while on set -- with these rumors starting shortly after Efron and his longtime girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens parted ways. Sharpeyed viewers may recognize Schilling from her time on the NBC drama Mercy, which was cancelled. Schilling played the lead character, Nurse Veronica Callahan, an Iraq war vet with a troubled past. Taylor Schilling with Zac Effron

Eli Manning Press Conference - Before Eli Manning met the media following Sunday's last-second loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, he had to wait a few minutes. As is apparent in a video circulating on ESPN and on the Internet this week, the press room was empty as the quarterback stood near the podium. But this wasn't a slight by the media or a case of reporters ignoring Manning, who didn't have to wait too long. And it was nothing unusual. Following every game, Manning and other Giants stars such as Justin Tuck conduct their press conferences at the same time as the rest of their teammates are talking in the locker room. Reporters in the locker room are alerted by the Giants public relations staff multiple times when Manning is heading to the podium. While the players can walk directly to the podium area from their locker room, reporters have to take a roundabout route. Eli Manning Press Conference And Manning typically walks into a near-empty room at the start of h...

Metro PCS Android Phones - MetroPCS's new Android-powered smartphones will automatically link up with 500,000 free Wi-Fi hotspots and come with software to hook up to 200,000 more, two companies said in press releases. Most Android phones connect to Wi-Fi, of course. But the difference with MetroPCS's new Huawei Ascend and LG Optimus M devices are the preloaded DeviceScape and Boingo clients, which can potentially seek out and link up with Wi-Fi hotspots without users having to search, log in, or pay much attention at all. They'll just see faster Internet connections. Metro PCS Android Phones The more impressive option is DeviceScape's Easy WiFi, because it's free. Running in the background, DeviceScape periodically checks to see if you're near one of a half million free Wi-Fi hotspots - for instance a Starbucks or a McDonald's. You don't actually have to be in the Starbucks; you could just be near enough to grab the signal. Then DeviceScape silen...

Beef O Brady's Bowl - Louisville Cardinals is hosting Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl on December 21, 2010 at St. Petersburg. The visitor team is Southern Miss Golden Eagles. The match kickoff time is 8:00 PM. You can watch Southern Miss Golden Eagles Vs Louisville Cardinals-Beef ‘O’ Brady’s Bowl live streaming from your favorite Sports TV Channel. Southern Miss Team Analysis Report: Austin Davis made Total 10 Touchdowns, 10 Rushing Touchdowns, 18 Passing Touchdowns and 0 Receiving Touchdowns. Two Ponts Conversion Made is 0. Total Points Scored is 60. Kendrick Hardy made Total 7 Touchdowns, 7 Rushing Touchdowns, 0 Passing Touchdowns and 0 Receiving Touchdowns. Two Ponts Conversion Made is 0. Total Points Scored is 42. Beef O Brady's Bowl Passing: Austin Davis has total 259 Completions Passing and 410 Passing Attempts. Passing Completion % is 63.2. Total Passing Yards is 2898 and Passing Yards per Attempt is 7.1. Passing Touchdowns are 18. Overall Total Interceptions were 6 in...

Continuing Resolution Passes - A continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government through March 2011 is expected to pass this evening in both the Senate and the House. Had Congress not acted, the current continuing resolution would have expired at midnight, forcing a government shutdown, a result elected officials did not want to happen. On this issue compromise of some form was inevitable. Last week Republicans opposed a 1,924-page omnibus measure that would have provided $19 billion in additional funding over 2010 levels, in a move led by Tea Party supporter Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.). DeMint invoked a formality rarely used in the Senate, demanding that the entire bill be read out by the Senate clerk. Continuing Resolution Passes DeMint’s protest was predicated on his opposition to the $8 billion in earmarks contained in the omnibus. He was supported by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, and eight other Republicans who withdrew their support of the omnibus, according...

Reby Sky Turns Down WWE - Reby Sky, a 24-year-old Playboy model who hosts Lucha Libre USA: Masked Warriors on MTV2, wrote the other night on Twitter that she has rejected a contract offer from World Wrestling Entertainment. "Weird day. Just had to turn down WWE (per my Lucha Libre USA contract). Very weird day," she wrote. Rebecca Victoria Reyes, professionally known as Reby Sky, got her start in dance and theatrical arts. She is also a concert pianist. She first posed for Playboy magazine in 2007. Soon after her stage work, Sky appeared in various television programs and music videos, including Midnight Spike (Spike TV), Date Patrol (TLC-TV), Faking It (TLC-TV) andMás Maíz, a music video featuring N.O.R.E. and Fat Joe Reby Sky Turns Down WWE

Net Neutrality Pros and Cons - The Federal Communications Committee [FCC] has just passed net neutrality rules, which are meant to be designed to protect internet freedom and openness. For many this would seem like a solution to try and fix a problem that does not even exist. In reality it could even end up slowing down the progress of innovative ideas coming to fruit. Several Congressmen are already on the war path, with mentions of the 1996 Congressional Review Act [CRA] coming into play, in an effort to fight the FCC’s plans. The CRA will give Congress an opportunity to repeal the FCC regulations if required. Michigan Republican Rep. Fred Upton said “The FCC’s hostile actions toward innovation, investment and job creation cannot be allowed to stand.” Upton went on to say “Today’s vote is a sad commentary that this administration and the FCC continue to ignore the will of the American people – our new majority is committed to protecting personal liberty and reducing the size ...

Kara Tointon Christmas Eve Lottery - The Strictly Come Dancing winner will make 25 millionaires in the UK Kara Tointon has just waltzed to success by winning Strictly Come Dancing and the EastEnders will be appearing on our screens this Friday when she fronts the National Lottery EuroMillions draw. Tointon is the face of this year's Euromillions Millionaire Raffle draw and she will be helping to make 25 people in the UK a million pounds richer when she presses the button to release those big money balls. Kara Tointon Christmas Eve Lottery Kara told Bettingpro: 'What a draw, 25 people will wake up with £1million for Christmas, that would be the best Christmas present ever. 'I’ve had some amazing luck this year and I hope that I can pass some of that on to the country – I’m crossing my fingers for everyone. If I won I would be trying to find a plane to take me somewhere very hot, I need some time with my feet up!' Kara Tointon Christmas Eve Lottery

David Beckham Secret Tattoo - Football star David Beckham is a die-hard fan of body art, boasting so many tattoos that he probably lost count of them himself. Over the weekend, before flying back to the UK, he got a new one, in celebration of his BBC Lifetime Achievement Award. The Daily Star reports that, while he wouldn’t say what the new piece was all about, David did tease his followers on Twitter, posting a photo of him at the tattoo parlor and saying it took no less than 6 hours to have it done. One may as well assume that, since it took so long to make, the piece must be pretty big. Either way, the photo he tweeted seems to hint he got it on his chest, close to his heart, as the aforementioned publication also says. David Beckham Secret Tattoo “Fun-loving Becks, who has around 20 tattoos, refused to reveal any details yet. Instead he teased fans by posting a picture of himself bare-chested in the tattoo parlor with Los Angeles-based artist Mark Mahoney,” the Daily Star ...

Emma Watson Admits Reshooting Harry Potter is "Strange" - The multi-millionaire actor called the 19-year-old actress, who plays Hermione Granger, "a pretty girl" and said she was "popular with the cast". In an interview with FHM, he hinted that both he and Daniel Radcliffe, who plays Harry Potter, had tried to win favour with Granger, but declined to comment on which of the two was more enamoured with her. Mr Grint said: “A lot of people think there’s something going on [between me and Emma Watson] because I have to kiss her on film soon." He added: I’ll be honest with you: it’s not something I’d say I’m dreading. Emma’s a pretty girl. Have Daniel or I ever hit on Emma? Well, she’s quite popular with the cast. As for who has the worst crush on her – me or Radcliffe – I’d rather not say.” But Grint recently told the Mail on Sunday that his on-screen kiss with Miss Watson in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince had ween a "weird" ex...

Model Charles DeVoe Dies in Surfing Accident - A stunningly handsome male model who spent a month in a coma after a surfing accident in the Rockaways has died, sources said Monday. Charles DeVoe, 28, had been hospitalized since the Nov. 12 incident. He died Friday. FDNY divers had to cut DeVoe free after his ankle tether became snagged on a wooden pole. He was in the water for several minutes before he could be rescued. DeVoe's agent, Jason Kanner, called DeVoe "a lovely kid who was respected and loved by many." "This is a stunning and tragic loss for all those who loved and cared for him," Kanner said. Model Charles DeVoe Dies in Surfing Accident DeVoe came to New York in 2004 to pursue modeling and immediately made a splash. He signed to Major Model Management and posed for fashion photography heavyweights like Bruce Weber, Steven Klein and Mario Testino. He appeared in ad campaigns for Dolce Gabbana, Abercrombie & Fitch, Anne Klein, Buffa...

Dominic Power Joins Emmerdale - Former The Bill actor Dominic Power has joined the cast of Emmerdale. The actor, who played PC Leon Taylor in the police drama, will take on the role of striking stranger Cameron Murray, who arrives in the village to see Debbie Dingle (Charley Webb). Sparks will fly between the pair as it is clear that the two have a shared history from Debbie's recent time in Jersey. However, she is unhappy to see her ex arrive in village, revealing complications about their past. "Cameron is a strong, sharp-tongued and defiant character," Power said of the role. "He is essentially a good guy but has a darker, edgier side to him. I can't wait to start filming in the New Year and the cast have already been really welcoming." Dominic Power Joins Emmerdale

Fourth Injury on Spider-Man Musical - A fourth injury has been reported on the set of Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark. According to The New York Times, theatregoers who attended Monday's performance of the show witnessed an unnamed actor fall almost ten feet when an aerial stunt went wrong. The accident victim is thought to be the cast member playing the title character or his stunt double. The show's producers are yet to confirm details of the incident. "The person taken away was the person playing Spider-Man at the time. He tried to get up and stagehands told him not to move," an eyewitness told BroadwayWorld. Fourth Injury on Spider-Man Musical "I was in the audience and I'm an NY EMT. Although I am not involved with the care of the patient they didn't use a back-board and collar so they don't suspect spinal injury." It was previously reported that actress Natalie Mendoza suffered a concussion during a preview of th...

Men 'Break into 50 Cent's Mansion' - Police have arrested two men after they broke into 50 Cent’s Connecticut mansion. The burglars, Alexander Hernandez and Santos Padilla, were both carrying marijuana when police found them, according to reports. A security guard alerted police about the break-in around 6am on Tuesday morning. Hernandez, who had been found in a closet drinking wine, was handed over to New Britain police after his $50,000 (£32,368) bond was posted. It was discovered that he had outstanding warrants. Padilla was also held at $50,000 bond. The rapper purchased the mansion in 2003 for $4.1m (£2.6m). Mike Tyson was the home's previous owner. Men 'Break into 50 Cent's Mansion'

Lacey Turner Lily Harvey - Lacey Turner's nine-year-old sister is to join the cast of 'EastEnders'. Following in the footsteps of her big sister, Lily Harvey will film her first scenes in January just after Lacey - who has played Stacey Branning for the past six years - leaves the BBC One soap as part of an explosive exit storyline. The youngster will hit TV screens in March playing newcomer Shenice, the daughter of Kat Moon's (Jessie Wallace) new pal Martine, who will be played by Tamara Wall. Despite having left 'EastEnders', Lacey is said to be thrilled her little sister is joining the soap. Lacey Turner Lily Harvey Lily takes after Lacey, she's a star in the making. An insider told The Sun newspaper: "She loved growing up on set and is happy to still have links. She'll give Lily lots of advice and has made the older stars promise to look out for her. However, despite having an older sister who is one of the soap's best-known st...

Indiana Jones Death Denied by Reps - Harrison Ford's representatives have denied reports that Indiana Jones will be killed off in his next big screen outing. A recent online story had claimed that Ford, producer George Lucas and director Steven Spielberg were considering killing the archaeologist to allow Shia LaBeouf to take over the franchise. "Harrison thinks it would be good for Indy to die and pass on his hat to his son in the next one," and insider is alleged to have said. Indiana Jones Death Denied by Reps "George especially is resisting the notion but Steven is considering it. Funnily enough Harrison wanted the same for Han Solo in the final Star Wars but George put an end to it. This time he doesn't have all the say though." However, reps for Ford have denied the claims, telling The Huffington Post that they are "false". Indiana Jones debuted in 1981's Raiders Of The Lost Ark and has appeared in three more movies. The last...

Sean Bean Divorces Fourth Wife - Sean Bean will divorce his wife Georgina Sutcliffe on Tuesday, nearly three years after they tied the knot. According to the Daily Mail, the British star is seeking a decree nisi at London's High Court seeking 'irreconcilable differences'. Sean, 51, and Georgina, 32, started dating in 2006 and were married at Marylebone Registry Office in February 2008. But in August of this year they announced their decision to end their turbulent relationship. Sean was first married when he was 21 to hairdresser Debra. Sean Bean Divorces Fourth Wife Following that short union, he fell in love with fellow RADA student Melanie Hill – known for her work in Bread. The couple married in 1990 - it lasted seven years - and they have two children together, Lorna and Molly. After that separation, the Lord of the Rings actor confirmed he was dating Sharpe actress Abigail Cruttenden, whom he married in November 1997. Their daughter Evie was born th...

Bad Company 2 Vietnam - It has been nine months since Battlefield: Bad Company 2 released to the masses. Ever since, players have discovered a nice alternative to their Modern Warfare 2 blues (as at the time, the Modern Warfare 2 mulitplayer was plagued by glitchers and griefers.) In fact, many folks felt that Bad Company 2 was far superior to the methodical Call of Duty action. EA and DICE have done a fine job supporting the game post-launch, providing free map packs and the not-so-free Onslaught mode. Now, a new not-so-free multiplayer expansion is available and plans to take players out of the current combat zone altogether; instead sending us back in time about 40 years to the lush and dangerous lands of Vietnam... Bad Company 2 Vietnam

Noureen Dewulf Engaged to Ryan Miller - Noureen DeWulf and Ryan Miller are officially engaged. Actress Noureen DeWulf and Buffalo Sabres goalie Ryan Miller have confirmed their engagement. After all of last week’s break up news, it is nice to see a change of pace this week with some engagement announcements. Noureen DeWulf and Ryan Miller join the likes of Tony Romo and Candice Crawford as well as Bret Michaels and Kristi Gibson on the recently engaged lists. In case you have no idea who Noureen DeWulf is (I know I didn’t) she is an actress that has starred in The Back-Up Plan alongside Jennifer Lopez and Ghost of Girlfriends Past which featured Michael Douglas and Matthew McConaughey. Like I said earlier, Ryan Miller is an NHL player for the Buffalo Sabres. We want to wish both Ryan Miller and Noureen DeWulf the best of luck with their engagement and wedding. Noureen Dewulf Engaged to Ryan Miller

Germany 17 Puppies - A dog in Germany has given birth to 17 puppies, leaving their owner thrilled but fatigued after having to feed them with a bottle for several weeks because their mother couldn't cope with the demand. Owner Ramona Wegemann said Monday she barely slept for more than a couple of minutes without interruption during about four weeks in an "exhausting" struggle to make sure all of the purebred Rhodesian Ridgeback puppies would survive. She said when she was "finished feeding the last puppy, the first was hungry again." Germany 17 Puppies Wegemann's dog Etana gave birth to eight female and nine male puppies on Sept. 28 in Ebereschenhof, which is near Berlin. At least five times a day, Wegemann gave the dogs a bottle with special milk because their mother's nipples could have never coped with the demand, and when the puppies were not hungry, they wanted to be entertained, she said. Wegemann said when dogs give birth to so many p...

Spider-Man Stunt Double Injury - The troubled Broadway musical "Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark" was plagued by its fourth accident since it began previews last month when a performer doing an aerial stunt fell about 30 feet, fire officials said. Firefighters were called to the Foxwoods Theatre at about 10:45 p.m. Monday after the 31-year-old performer fell near the end of the latest preview performance. He was taken to Bellevue Hospital with minor injuries, police said. Police did not release the actor's name, but a performer in the show identified him as Christopher Tierney. The performer spoke on condition of anonymity because the performer was not authorized to speak publicly about the accident. A nurse at Bellevue Hospital said that a Christopher Tierney was admitted and was in stable condition, but would not provide details. Spider-Man Stunt Double Injury Tierney is the show's main aerialist and performs stunts for the roles of Spider-Man, and the villa...

Zara Phillips Engaged - Prince William and Kate Middleton will soon have company on the royal wedding calendar. Buckingham Palace announced Tuesday that Zara Phillips, Queen Elizabeth II's eldest granddaughter, is engaged. Phillips, an accomplished equestrian, said she was shocked but "very happy" that her rugby-playing boyfriend, Mike Tindall, had proposed. No date has been set yet. Phillips is close friends with her cousin, Prince William, who plans to marry Middleton at Westminster Abbey on April 29. Their engagement was announced last month. Phillips, 29, is 12th in line to the throne. Zara Phillips Engaged The 32-year-old Tindall has played 66 times for England and was in the team that won the 2003 World Cup. It was during the tournament that he first met Phillips in a Sydney bar. Tindall plays for club side Gloucester and is still a regular in the national side. The palace said in a statement that the couple got engaged Monday evening at their home in we...

2010 Census Population 308.7 Million - Michigan will lose a seat in Congress after census results show the state population fell by 0.6 percent over the past decade. Michigan was the only state with population loss. The Census Bureau announced Tuesday that Michigan's delegation in the U.S. House will fall from 15 to 14 beginning in 2012. That represents a continued decline since 1970, when Michigan's representation peaked at 19. Experts say the culprit was a deep, decade-long recession that sent many residents to other states in search of jobs. The loss of a House seat will hurt Michigan's clout in Washington and also will reduce its share of funding for federal programs such as highway construction, education and health care. 2010 Census Population 308.7 Million White House downplays political impact from census WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Barack Obama's spokesman says he doesn't expect the results of the new census to have a "huge practical im...

Lindsay Lohan Assault Rehab - Just weeks away from completing her court-ordered stay at the Betty Ford Center, Lindsay Lohan is being investigated by police after allegedly assaulting a female employee at the clinic. Palm Desert police conducted a battery investigation at the scene at about 1 a.m. on December 12. "The victim desired prosecution," says Sgt. Joe Borja of the Riverside County Sheriff's Department. "The incident is being investigated as a misdemeanor." A source close to Lohan, 24, says the actress denies pushing the woman first. The staffer scolded Lohan for allegedly returning past curfew after spending the evening at a local bar, TMZ reports. Lindsay Lohan Assault Rehab It isn't known whether she had been drinking; the Betty Ford Center regularly tests patients for alcohol and drugs. Sgt. Borja explains that no arrest was made because the incident didn't occur in front of an officer. Lohan, 24, has been at the Rancho Mirage, C...

Bret Michaels Engaged - After years of being one of the world's most notorious bachelors, rock musician and ultimate survivor Bret Michaels is finally engaged. And it only took him 16 years of an on-again, off-again romance with Kristi Gibson to muster up the courage. Plus the best and worst television of the year and Ryan Reynolds alleged admission that ScarJo is a meanie in today's Daily 411. Bret Michaels Engaged

Heidi Montag Edward Scissorhands - Self-confessed surgery-addict Heidi Montag says plastic surgery has ruined her life and that she hates being labelled a "plastic girl". The 24-year-old star of reality television show The Hills revealed the many scars caused by the "botched" plastic surgery in an exclusive photo shoot in Life &Style Magazine, claiming they are constant reminders of a low period in her life. In 2009 Montag revealed that she had ten procedures done in one session. She blames her surgeon Dr Frank Ryan for the disfigurement, claiming he did not brief her on what might go wrong. Heidi Montag Edward Scissorhands "Surgery ruined my career and my personal life and just brought a lot of negativity into my world," Montag said. "I wish I could jump into a time machine and take it all back. Instead, I'm always going to feel like Edward Scissorhands." Her scars include a 5cm blemish on her chin, bald spots along her ha...

First Day of Winter December 21, 2010 - Winter officially begins December 21, 2010 with the shortest day of the year for those in the Northern Hemisphere, known as the winter solstice. According to TimeAndDate.com, the Earth's axis will hit full tilt -- the North Pole angled 23.5 degrees away from the sun -- at 6:38 p.m. EST, after which the days will gradually grow longer until the summer solstice in 2011. First Day of Winter December 21, 2010 Many cultures have long celebrated the turning point throughout history. According to Chiff.com, in ancient Rome the winter solstice was celebrated at the Feast of Saturnalia, while the Feast of Juul -- or Yule -- was celebrated in pre-Christian Scandinavia. Candlegrove.com reports that according to one book, the Mesopotamians were first to recognize and celebrate the day with a 12-day festival of renewal, though no one knows for certain when humans first began to honor the occasion. This year marks an especially rare alignment, as ...

Ginnifer Goodwin Weight Loss - Ginnifer Goodwin revealed the secret to maintaining her slight frame: A lifetime of Weight Watchers, essentially. The actress says she's been doing the program since she was 9, and uses it to maintain her weight and get back on track if she slips a bit. She said (via CNN): “I have been a member of Weight Watchers for 23 years. It’s the only thing on the planet that doesn’t dehydrate you or just make you miserable. I’ve never had a dramatic weight problem, it’s just that I tend to indulge, and then I need to get back on track so I can button my pants.” Ginnifer Goodwin Weight Loss She said she's now an "extremely healthy person," but she's struggled with her weight since childhood. “I really did go through a period when I was very little when I remember realizing that vegetables did not come out of the ground deep-fried. I changed my eating habits in fourth grade because I was a heavy little girl, and I was unhappy. And I reme...

Kristi Gibson Engaged to Brett Michaels - After sixteen years together (on and off), two daughters, and many ups and downs, Brett Michaels is finally marrying his baby mamma and long time girlfriend Katie Gibson. And one thing she deserves? A wonderful wedding and a really big rock. Brett Michaels, even though not with Gibson at the time, very publically looked for love on his reality TV show Rock for Love. That probably didn’t help things between them. But time, I guess, heels all wounds and now Brett Michaels is finally ready to settle down with Gibson. So what kind of nuptials will they have and what about the ring? Kristi Gibson Engaged to Brett Michaels Katie told People that, “Ever since I was young, I always said I’d want to go to some tropical island and get married on the beach.” AS for a dress, she’d like to sport something like the gown that Megan Fox wore when she got hitched to Brian Austin Green. But this won’t be some lavish over the top event. “I seriously woul...

2010 Census Results - For Democrats and Republicans alike, the U.S. Census data unveiled Tuesday had an unmistakable and familiar political message: Go West. All five of the country’s fastest-growing states — Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Texas and Utah — are located in the Sun Belt and Rocky Mountain regions, according to the once-in-a-decade population count. Of the 12 House seats that will shift in next year’s redistricting process, 11 will be taken from the Northeast and Midwest. Eight of the newly created districts will end up west of there. 2010 Census Results And all of that means the battle for political power in the 21st century will most likely be fought and won in the American West. At least in the immediate term, Republicans are expected to have the advantage. In 2008, the Republican presidential ticket won three-quarters of the states gaining seats next year, and because of changes in population, Sen. John McCain would win six more electoral votes from the post-census...

Immigration Reform - The 2010 Census data are to be released later, and will determine how Congressional districts shift for the next ten years, and the Senate's being blocked from voting on the "Dream Act" means advocates for and agains immigration reform will regroup for next year. Also on the show: Why we do (and don't) give to charity during the holiday season; last night's lunar eclipse and winter solstice; a new book maps the history of the transatlantic slave trade; listeners send in their favorite (and least favorite) holiday music; remembering Frank Zappa on what would have been his 70th birthday; the politics of poverty and a mountain of coal ash in Tennessee; real lawyers write on the legal ramifications of fictional comic book heroes and villains; members of Marcy Playground on Christmas music from TV specials. Immigration Reform

Net Neutrality Regulation - The US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is today expected to formally approve controversial new rules on how internet users access content such as YouTube and Skype. Dubbed by one US senator as "the most important free speech issue of our time", the rules drawn up by the country's media and telecoms regulator would effectively create two levels of internet access – one delivered by traditional fixed-line broadband, and another by wireless and mobile providers. FCC members Michael Copps and Mignon Clyburn last night said they would support the proposal laid out by chairman Julius Genachowski. The five-member FCC panel is expected to approve the proposal in Washington later today. Net Neutrality Regulation Fixed-line internet providers will be prevented from blocking content and online services from rival companies or providing preferential treatment to paying clients under the new rules. However, the new framework would allow m...

Black Ops is Christmas No.1 - Black Ops has now sold three million copies in the UK since it launched in November and it is one of only three titles to top the £100 million mark (the other two are Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 and Wii Fit). FIFA 11 is a non-mover at No.2 on the chart, followed by Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, Just Dance 2 and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Elsewhere, World of Warcraft: Cataclysm slips from No.3 out of the top 40, while Medal of Honor re-enters the top ten at No.8. This week's top ten combined have collectively sold a total of more than ten million copies and generated more than £345 million in revenue. Top 10 (week ended December 18) 01. Call of Duty: Black Ops (Activision) 02. FIFA 11 (EA) 03. Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit (EA) 04. Just Dance 2 (Ubisoft) 05. Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood (Ubisoft) 06. Gran Turismo 5 (Sony) 07. Donkey Kong Country Returns (Nintendo) 08. Medal of Honor (EA) 09. Wii Fit Plus (Nintendo) 10. Pr...

Fox in X Factor Warning to Cowell over US X Factor - Simon Cowell has apparently been warned by Fox executives to avoid broadcasting anything provocative when the US version of The X Factor begins next year. The UK reality show recently attracted thousands of complaints following racy performances by Christina Aguilera and Rihanna during the grand final. American network bosses are said to be nervous over the amount of controversy stirred up by the incident and have told Cowell to tone down the suggestive content when the show airs Stateside. A Fox source told the Sunday Express: "You can probably get away with a lot more on mainstream TV in the UK. We'd have been flooded with complaints if we had broadcast anything as risqué as you saw in Britain last week." Fox in X Factor Warning to Cowell over US X Factor

Kerry Katona Cracks Ribs - Kerry Katona's future on Dancing On Ice has been left in doubt after she sustained two cracked ribs during training. The 30-year-old star, who has been pictured in training for the ITV show in recent months, is thought to be 'in agony' and has been told to rest by doctors ahead of the start of the programme. However, Kerry is determined not to let the injury stop her in her tracks, and is said to be determined to be there for the show launch on 9th January. Kerry Katona Cracks Ribs A source told the Daily Star: 'Kerry is in agony after fracturing two of her ribs skating.The problem is that she as kept on and on and on and that has made it worse. 'But that is just how determined she is to make the start of Dancing On Ice. This is her big chance to win over the British public again after all she has been through. 'No one knows how she has got through this week. Kerry has been ordered to rest and take strong painkillers but d...

Nick Riewoldt Photo Scandal - ST KILDA will move quickly to repair any potential damage to team harmony caused by captain Nick Riewoldt's fallout with senior teammate Sam Gilbert over the Facebook photo scandal. Neither Gilbert, from whose personal computer photos of a naked Riewoldt were taken, nor Nick Dal Santo, the other Saint who had a naked photo of himself plastered across the internet, will be making a public appearance to explain the circumstances, as Riewoldt did yesterday. Nick Riewoldt Photo Scandal But St Kilda chief executive Michael Nettlefold said the Saints would ensure that there was no lingering bad blood between five-time best-and-fairest winner Riewoldt and Gilbert, who expected to play alongside his captain in the Saints' forward line next year. ''In the normal course of running a club we'll work through those issues,'' Nettlefold said yesterday. ''They're both grown men, both professionals, and we'll be working...

Nick Riewoldt Facebook Photo - St Kilda defender Sam Gilbert has apologised after two nude photographs he took on holiday were published on the internet and left three team-mates deeply embarrassed. Saints skipper Nick Riewoldt confronted the media on Tuesday morning to address the incident, sparked by a teenage girl who posted the images on Facebook. She claims to have more images of AFL players and is threatening to release them, while Riewoldt insisted he had never met the girl nor had he granted permission for the photo to be kept. Nick Riewoldt Facebook Photo Riewoldt professed his innocence in front of the media and claimed Gilbert took the photos on an off-season trip to Miami before instructing his team-mate immediately to delete them. Gilbert released a statement on Tuesday afternoon accepting full responsibility for the photo which shows Riewoldt naked and Zac Dawson semi-clothed, with another showing Nick Dal Santo in a compromising position. "I confirm emp...

Man Dressed as Santa Robs Rhode Island Yacht Club - Police say a man dressed as Santa Claus has robbed a Rhode Island yacht club. Authorities say a bartender was alone in the East Providence Yacht Club Sunday night when a large man wearing a red suit, red hat, white beard and carrying a sack walked into the bar and brandished a gun. The bartender fled and ran to a nearby business where she called 911. By the time police arrived, the Santa bandit — as well as an undetermined amount of cash from the register — was missing. Co-owner Tony Perry tells WLNE-TV he's just glad no one was hurt. There were no immediate arrests. Man Dressed as Santa Robs Rhode Island Yacht Club

Echinacea Cold Treatment - Taking echinacea had no significant effect on the duration or severity of the common cold, according to the results of a randomized, blinded trial. The average duration of symptoms was 6.34 days in patients taking echinacea in a blinded fashion and 6.76 days in patients who knew they were receiving the herb, according to Dr. Bruce Barrett of the University of Wisconsin in Madison and colleagues. There also was no significant difference in cold severity as assessed by the Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey, the researchers reported Dec. 21 in Annals of Internal Medicine. Echinacea Cold Treatment "However, the trends were in the direction of benefit, amounting to an average half-day reduction in the duration of a week-long cold, or an approximate 10 percent reduction in overall severity," they noted. Indigenous peoples of North America used echinacea for numerous illnesses, and it has been used therapeutically for nearly a century i...

Cold Caps Help Cancer Patients Keep Their Hair - For the first few days after her breast cancer diagnosis last summer, Heather Millar kept it together. But when the 47-year-old San Francisco woman finally cried, the tears fell, in part, at the thought of losing her hair. “That’s a world you never hope to be a part of,” said Millar, a freelance writer and mother of a 9-year-old daughter. “The hair, it’s not the most important thing, but it’s such a stigma of cancer. The minute you’re wearing a scarf or something, it makes social interactions weird.” Cold Caps Help Cancer Patients Keep Their Hair Three chemotherapy sessions later, Millar has managed to avoid the fate that affects at least 65 percent of cancer patients dosed with the powerful drugs that target disease. Many start shedding their hair after just one treatment. She still has most of her shoulder-length, dark blond locks, thanks to an experimental treatment that uses extreme cold to prevent cancer patients from los...

Most Common Password - The Wall Street Journal reports that hackers have uncovered the most common passwords for users of Gawker Media related websites this week with none too surprising results. The passwords that proved to be the most common are actually the ones that websites warn you about when you register for a site. You know, those suggestions that tell you to use unique combinations of letters and numbers, not to use common phrases and to make it at least 8 characters long. The top 10 passwords of the 188,279 hacked from the media, gossip and celebrity sites, among others, owned by Gawker Media, that include Gawker, Lifehacker and Jezebel, are: 1. 12345 2. password 3. 12345678 4. lifehack 5. qwerty 6. abc123 7. 111111 8. monkey 9. consumer 10. 12345 Most Common Password

Lunar Eclipse Live Camera - This December lunar eclipse of 2010 is especially well placed for observers throughout the entire North America. The eclipse occurs as the moon passes through the Earth’s shadow. One of the greatest things about lunar eclipses is that they are completely safe to view with the naked eye without using any special equipment. “During a total lunar eclipse, the Moon’s disk can take on a dramatically colorful appearance from bright orange to blood red and more rarely dark brown to very dark gray,” says Fred Espenak, an astrophysicist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. Lunar Eclipse Live Camera NASA has provided a list of web sites offering live views from around the country and the globe, all in real time. The moon is normally illuminated by the sun. During a total lunar eclipse, the full moon passes through the shadow created by the Earth blocking the sun’s light. Some indirect sunlight will still manage to pierce through and give the ...