Technology Slice Blog

Christina Aguilera Super Bowl - The Web is ablaze with buzz that Christina Aguilera will be taking the field to belt out our national anthem before Super Bowl XLV at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on Feb. 6. A spokesperson from the NFL had "no comment" on Aguilera's participation, according to Hitflix, but Gossip Cop says it has been confirmed by a source close to the singer. Aguilera's spokesperson said she could not confirm it to Lifeline Live at this time. As previously reported, the Black Eyed Peas will perform at halftime. Christina Aguilera Super Bowl

Charlie Sheen Back to Set - Charlie Sheen's "ear infection" must be better. TMZ is reporting he did show up to the set of Two & A Half Men today. Charlie missed his call time to rehearsals yesterday with a doctor's note for a "serious, ongoing ear problem", which was only made worse when he flew to L.A. that morning from his Vegas bender. Charlie Sheen Back to Set

Brazil Mudslides - Mudslides and flooding killed at least 44 people in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state and authorities said on Friday that the death toll could climb with more heavy rains in the forecast. Twenty-two people were found dead on Friday after a small hotel and surrounding homes collapsed in the beach resort of Angra dos Reis, one of Brazil's most exclusive tourism destinations, the Rio de Janeiro state's civil defense said. Television footage showed the Sankay hotel and a number of homes in Angra buried under a mountain of mud. Rescue teams, aided by helicopters and navy boats, were struggling to reach the area where the hotel collapsed, Pedro Machado, head of the firefighters' corps, told GloboNews television. Brazil Mudslides Civil defense authorities said about 40 people were registered at the hotel. They told Reuters heavy rains forecast for the coming days could make rescue work harder and trigger more mudslides. "Rescue crews told us ther...

AJ Mclean Rehab - The Backstreet Boys' A.J. McLean is heading back to rehab. The singer issued a statement Thursday confirming that he had checked himself into a rehabilitation center, citing "personal reasons." McLean says he knows this year is going to be busy for the Backstreet Boys, so he wanted to be "healthy and perform and sing for people at my very best and happiest." The Backstreet Boys and New Kids on the Block are set to tour together this summer. McLean says the tour won't be affected. Last year ended on a high note as the two boy bands performed in Times Square as part of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve With Ryan Seacrest 2011." This will be McLean's third stint in rehab. He sought treatment in 2001 and 2002. He turned 33 last week. AJ Mclean Rehab

T-Rex Relative - What may be the earliest known relative of T. rex and all meat-eating dinosaurs has been discovered. The dog-sized mini-predator would've made its future relatives proud as it fed on small dinosaurs and the young of other reptiles, and is now shaking up what scientists had previously learned about the evolution of those extinct giants. The small, lanky, two-legged carnivore named Eodromaeus murphi - Eodromaeus being Greek for "dawn runner," murphi in honor of field volunteer Jim Murphy - weighed only 10 to 15 pounds (4.5 to 6.8 kilograms) and measured about 4 feet (1.2 meters) in length from snout to tail. The skeletons of two specimens were discovered side-by-side in 230-million-year-old iron-rich stone in the "Valley of the Moon" at the foothills of the Andes in northeastern Argentina, which was once the southwest corner of the supercontinent Pangaea. T-Rex Relative "With a hike across the valley, you literally walk over the gravey...

Gucci Mane Ice Cream Tattoo - Gucci Mane’s got no shortage of ink on his body, but his newest tatt is definitely causing some heads to turn. Last night tattoo artist Jason Murray tweeted that La Flare hit up his parlor in Atlanta, days after being released from his stint at a mental health/rehab facility, where he asked for an ice cream cone drawn on his face. The piece, which nearly covers the entire right side of his face, features the rapper's "Brr" catchphrase on the cone as well as what appear to be flames or lightening bolts shooting from the top of the ice cream and the sides (fire and ice ... ). Gucci apparently isn’t one to skimp on his desserts either, his ice cream cone has three (yes, three!) scoops. Gucci has referenced "ice" in his music before, on tracks like "So Icy" with Young Jeezy, "Ice Game" with Zaytoven and his own take on Wu-Tang's "C.R.E.A.M." Gucci, who recently dropped "Gucci Rag Top" w...

Jay Z Chicken Restaurant - After amassing a huge fortune last year via record sales, book sales and several key investments, rap and entertainment mogul Jay-Z is winging it — literally. Just as his "H.A.M." collaboration with Kanye West was dropping on Facebook, news broke that the 41-year-old Brookynite has invested in the Brooklyn-based chicken wing restaurant Buffalo Boss, teaming up with his mother, Gloria, and sister Andrea in the new venture. Keeping things within the family, the fast food joint is currently co-owned by the rapper's cousin Jamar White. "Yes, it's all true," White told MTV News confirming the news. "Jay supports us in all we do, that's my big cousin right there." The eatery does more than dole out saucy wings, fries, salads and soft drinks. According to TMZ, Jay-Z and Buffalo Boss recently teamed up to reward exceptional students at a nearby middle school with free eats. (A glance at the Buffalo Boss menu reveals th...

Company Dells Rifle Part Inscribed 'You Lie' - The Republican congressman who gained notoriety for shouting "You Lie" at President Obama is happy that a gun seller has stopped selling a part for a semi-automatic rifle that was engraved with his infamous words. This comes amid the debate over whether provocative political rhetoric inflames violence. The issue is getting fresh scrutiny in the aftermath of the deadly Arizona shootings that left six dead and 13 wounded, including Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-South Carolina, wrote a letter to the head of the Palmetto State Armory thanking him for discontinuing the sale of the rifle part. The company is based in the state capital of Columbia. "I have been made aware of a AR-15 lower receiver being sold by Palmetto State Armory," Wilson wrote to Jamin McCallum. Company Dells Rifle Part Inscribed 'You Lie' "I thank you for quickly suspending sales of the product that us...

Sparkfun Electronics Giveaway - On January 13th, 2011, Boulder-based SparkFun Electronics will give away $150,000 worth of products in the second annual iteration of the aptly-named event "Free Day." The event is open to anyone with the magic powers of the internet. Free Day is designed to celebrate current SparkFun customers while giving those unfamiliar with SparkFun an easy foray into the wonderful world of DIY electronics. To learn more about or participate in Free Day please visit www.sparkfun.com. "Free Day is our way of giving back to our loyal customer base of innovative and passionate electronics enthusiasts, and to offer first-time folks an opportunity to get started designing and building fun electronic gadgets," said SparkFun Founder and CEO Nathan Seidle. "We love helping people turn designs ideas into reality and we look forward to seeing what our community members come up with as a result of this event." In the winter of 2003, SparkFun ...

New Zodiac Sign Ophiuchus - A reformatted zodiac calendar and the big debut of the constellation Ophiuchus have astrology followers in a cosmic whirlwind trying to adjust to their new signs. Here's some more info on it. Ophiuchus includes those born between Nov. 29 and Dec. 17. So don't panic just yet, children of Ophiuchus, you now share a sign with Britney Spears, Tyra Banks, John Kerry and Brad Pitt. Better get to know the Greek god Asclepius. Because there are some stories in Greek mythology that talk about the god of medicine and healing as being the source of the Ophiuchus constellation. And you also better get to know the rod of Asclepius symbol. Meaning that now is the time to go ahead and get that serpent entwined around a staff tattoo you've been mulling over. New Zodiac Sign Ophiuchus

Obama Arizona Speech Transcripts - Thank you. (Applause.) Thank you very much. Please, please be seated. (Applause.) To the families of those we've lost; to all who called them friends; to the students of this university, the public servants who are gathered here, the people of Tucson and the people of Arizona: I have come here tonight as an American who, like all Americans, kneels to pray with you today and will stand by you tomorrow. (Applause.) There is nothing I can say that will fill the sudden hole torn in your hearts. But know this: The hopes of a nation are here tonight. We mourn with you for the fallen. We join you in your grief. And we add our faith to yours that Representative Gabrielle Giffords and the other living victims of this tragedy will pull through. (Applause.) Scripture tells us: There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Most High dwells. God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day...

Rep. Louis Gohmert Guns - Texas Republican Rep. Louie Gohmert told reporters today that his staff is working on a measure to allow members of Congress to carry concealed weapons in the District of Columbia - including in the Capitol itself. D.C. laws bar regular people from carrying concealed weapons for self-defense. There are exceptions - they can carry weapons if they are headed to a gun range, for example - but in general weapons must be kept in the home. Gohmert told reporters it would be a "good thing" if members could carry concealed weapons, noting that he has "friends that walk home from the Capitol. " Rep. Louis Gohmert Guns "There is some protection in having protection," Gohmert said. He indicated that lawmakers should be able to carry weapons in the Capitol building itself, including on the House floor during debate. Gohmert did not say if he himself would carry a weapon if the measure passed. But he said he felt scared at times dur...

Loughner Black Bag Found - A man walking his dog has found a black bag holding ammunition that authorities believe was discarded by a gunman accused of trying to assassinate an Arizona congresswoman. Chief Rick Kastigar with the Pima County Sheriff's Office told The Associated Press that an 18-year-old found the bag Thursday morning in a neighborhood near where the suspect lives. He went to get another man, who looked inside and saw ammunition. Authorities have said the suspect, Jared Loughner, and his father got into a confrontation over the bag at their home in the hours before the shooting. Loughner Black Bag Found

Anna Chapman TV - Since being deported from the U.S. last year on charges of being a spy for Russia, Anna Chapman has been busy. First, she and her fellow spies were celebrated by an official state welcome party. She did some sexy magazine photo shoots. She attended a rocket launch. She was given a movie role and a lion cub. She rallied the youth of Vladimir Putin's political party. Now, Anna Chapman is getting a TV show. A spokeswoman for REN-TV, a private nationwide channel, told the Associated Press Wednesday that Chapman will host a new TV show in which she will "use all her talents to solve the world's most complicated mysteries." No other details of the show were provided. Maybe the sultry 28-year-old redhead will finally reveal the mystery of how she contributed to Russian espionage against the United States, which she has yet to do. Anna Chapman TV

Eastern Illinois University Evacuated Suspicious Package - A building at Eastern Illinois University was evacuated on Thursday after someone discovered a "suspicious package" but campus activities were returning to normal, a school official said. "Someone received what they considered a suspicious package and reported it. The building was evacuated. And investigators were called to look the situation over," said university spokeswoman Vicki Woodard. Woodward said the package was found in the morning in the Human Services Building, which houses the university's health services. She had no other details about the package but said "things are returning to normal." Eastern Illinois University is located in Charleston, about 185 southwest of Chicago, with a student population of about 11,600 students. Eastern Illinois University Evacuated Suspicious Package

Erin Barry Divorce - Erin Barry (photos below) and Brent Barry are officially divorced. Texts from Erin Barry (photos below) to Tony Parker allegedly shocked Brent Barry when news erupted in November 2010. Erin Barry would later deny an affair with Tony Parker and deny even pursuing Parker. The father of Brent Barry, former Spurs teammate of Tony Parker, told news in November that Erin recently filed for divorce and had moved out of the couple’s home. At the time, a report claimed that Brent “only became aware of [the texting …] upon hearing the media reports a couple of days ago.” The Barrys have no comment about their divorce today. Erin Barry eventually denied all allegations of infidelity adding“Right now I worry about my law school finals… being a first year law student is much scarier than dealing with gossip” . In November 2010, Mario Lopez (Extra) stated “Eva wants everyone to know, she’s devastated by the rumors of Tony’s infidelity. She loved her husband and is heartbr...

iPhone-Controlled Beer Fridge Cannon - The inventor of an iPhone-controlled fridge which shoots cans of beer across a room from a CANNON says he now never needs to leave the sofa when he wants a brew. 25-year-old technology consultant Ryan Rusnak came up with the gadget because he was fed up with having to walk to the fridge every time he wanted a drink. Working with a pal he turned a fridge in a basic vending machine which dropped chilled beers -- and then added a compressed air cannon, web server and iPhone interface. Now when he wants a beer, he uses his phone to log into the fridge, picks what sort of beer he wants and fires it over to where he is sitting. Basically, he's created the worlds best ever invention. iPhone-Controlled Beer Fridge Cannon

Conan O'Brien ok with David Letterman - Conan O'Brien says he got a phone call from David Letterman over the holidays. The CBS host wanted to make sure a year of late-night TV turmoil hadn't created a rift between them. O'Brien told reporters Wednesday that he and Letterman have "always been good. I said he didn't owe me a phone call, but I appreciated it." O'Brien wouldn't be so receptive to a call from Jay Leno, who preceded and replaced him as "Tonight" show host. He says the reason is no mystery, noting, "We all know the story." O'Brien said the experience of losing the "Tonight" show left him and his staff feeling like a band of pirates that stuck together through hard times. It's a dynamic he believes makes the show stronger. Conan O'Brien ok with David Letterman O'Brien's new TBS show, called "Conan," began in November. He said the past year's upheaval has left him ...

Bouncer's Cards Stop Knife Blows - A wallet stuffed with 20 plastic cards and a stroke of luck saved a pub doorman in western Germany from serious injury during a knife attack. A customer ejected from the pub in the city of Witten on Sunday stabbed its 31-year-old doorman four times in the chest with a knife, police said. But a fat wallet in the bouncer's breast pocket stopped the blade from piercing his body. "The wallet and cards acted as a protective vest and prevented a more serious incident," chief inspector Volker Schuette told Reuters without naming the bouncer or attacker. "Everyone at the police station checked their wallets and no one had 20 plastic cards," he said, adding that the doorman's wallet had a plethora of cards for video rental stores along with credit and bank cards. Schuette said that a wallet with fewer cards in it would not have been enough protection against the attack and that lady luck had also been smiling on the doo...

How DNA Evidence Helps Exonerate - Cornelius Dupree Jr. was exonerated Tuesday, more than 30 years after he told police and prosecutors they had the wrong man. DNA testing proved he was wrongly convicted in connection with a 1979 Dallas rape, robbery and abduction. Dupree, 51, spent three decades in prison – more time behind bars than any other Texan later cleared by DNA testing. "It's a joy to be free again," Dupree said Tuesday in a brief hearing. Applause broke out in the courtroom full of other exonerees after state District Judge Don Adams told Dupree, "You're free to go." Dupree's exoneration could be the first in a new wave of cases, albeit probably a small wave. With 21 DNA exonerations in Dallas County – more than any county in the nation since 2001 – it was believed there were few wrongly incarcerated people left who could be cleared by DNA evidence. Authorities thought that evidence with DNA had only been preserved by the county's...

Longest Prison Sentences - The longest jail sentence ever passed in the United States was a whopping 10,000 years for a triple murder. In Alabama, Dudley Wayne Kyzer was jailed for 10,000 years for the 1981 murder of his wife. He was also sentenced to two life terms for murdering his mother-in-law and a college student. Not quite as long, but still very long and certain to insure the defendant never got out of prison was the 1994 Oklahoma rapist, Darron Bennalford Anderson, who received a 2,200-year jail sentence. Worse yet for him, when he appealed his conviction he go no mercy. He was convicted yet again and re-sentenced to more than 90 more centuries in jail. Specifically, he was give 4,000 years each for rape and sodomy he committed, 1,750 years for kidnapping, 1,000 years for burglary and robbery, and 500 years for grand larceny. That gives new meaning to the phrase "throw the book at him." He seems to have gotten a whole legal library thrown at him. But, Anderson got...

Hawaii Winter Warning - While the U.S. Northeast digs out from under a blizzard, peaks on the big island of Hawaii are expected to receive about a foot of snow, the National Weather Service reported. Snow was on the ground today in every U.S. state except Florida, covering 71 percent of the land to an average depth of 6.9 inches (18 centimeters), according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A winter storm warning was issued for Hawaii’s mountain peaks, which rise almost 14,000 feet, well above the freezing point, said John Bravender, a weather service meteorologist in Honolulu. “There is a potential for up to 12 inches through Thursday,” Bravender said. Bravender said a cold front laden with moisture reached the islands yesterday, and a front about 400 miles to the west is causing more storms to develop. Severe thunderstorms and water spouts are possible, according to the weather service. Hawaii Winter Warning

Facebook Lawsuit and Reopen - The good-looking, all American brothers - whose intellectual property lawsuit against Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, was portrayed in the biopic The Social Network - are challenging the $65 million dollar settlement with the social networking company. In the movie, the rowing jocks were portrayed as being reluctant to sue Zuckerberg, claiming it wasn’t the “Harvard way”, to chase the Facebook founder across the courtyard spoiling for a fight. But life, as they say – isn’t a movie. Not satisfied with their $65 million dollar payout, the twins (who come from one of the richest families in America) are appealing their settlement in the belief they are entitled to more - as much as $460 million more. Facebook Lawsuit and Reopen Their company, ConnectU, filed against Zuckerberg in 2007 alleging he stole their idea for a social networking site after they hired him to work on their website “HarvardConnection”. They settled in 2008, accepting a $6...

Police Raid Homes Stub Out Smoking Habit - Bhutan police can raid homes of smokers in a search for contraband tobacco and are training a special tobacco sniffer dog in a crackdown to honor a promise to become the world's first smoke-free nation. Buddhist Bhutan, where smoking is considered bad for one's karma, banned the sale of tobacco in 2005, but with a thriving tobacco smuggling operation from neighboring India, the ban failed to make much of an impact. But legislation passed in the new year, granting police powers to enter homes, is set to stub out the habit, threatening five years in jail for shopkeepers selling tobacco and smokers who fail to provide customs receipts for imported cigarettes. Police Raid Homes Stub Out Smoking Habit Smoking in private is not illegal in the Himalayan kingdom, but as the sale of cigarettes is banned, smokers are restricted to 200 cigarettes or 150 grams of other tobacco products a month that can be legally imported. And they must p...

News Corp iPad Newspaper - Apple's Steve Jobs will be joining Rupert Murdoch in a rare joint event to launch News Corporation's digital magazine project, the Daily, in the San Francisco Museum of Modern Arts on the 19th of January if a Forbes report is to be believed. Forbes' Jeff Bercovici says that the Daily will be released on that day to an exclusive audience of 1000 and that the newspaper already employs 100 people and may well feature 3D features. Steve Jobs may very well decide to launch the iPad 2 at the same event because the subscription model proposed by the Daily may well require some new features to be integrated into the forthcoming iOS 4.3. Launching it on the 19th, rather than a couple of days later will only serve to amplify, not dilute, the message that the iPad is the best medium for electronic magazine subscriptions. It would make perfect sense for Steve Jobs to launch the iPad 2 and for Rupert Murdoch to then join him on stage to debut The Dail...

Hearst Zebras Killed by Angry Neighbors - Along with hairpin curves and heart-stopping views of the Pacific, motorists on Highway 1 near San Simeon may glimpse a most exotic sight: a herd of zebras grazing in pastures along the road. They are what is left of what was once the world's largest private zoo — a menagerie of camels, kangaroos, emus and giraffes that roamed the estate of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst. Last week three zebras — a buck, a mare and a yearling — escaped from Hearst Ranch and wandered over to nearby Cambria. Hearst Zebras Killed by Angry Neighbors On Jan. 5, when two of the three turned up on David Fiscalini's cattle ranch, he raised his shotgun and killed them. A neighboring rancher shot the third zebra. Fiscalini told the San Luis Obispo Tribune that the two zebras that got onto his property had spooked his horses. The incident has pitted local preservationists against those who say ranchers have the right to defend their livesto...

Subprime Credit Card Offers - For the last two years, its been nearly impossible for subprime borrowers to qualify for a loan of almost any kind. But that's beginning to change as banks slowly return to lending. First up: credit cards. Consumers with less-than-perfect credit scores are once again targets for card issuers. A growing number of banks have picked up the pace of card offers to the best of of subprime borrowers—typically those with FICO credit scores between 620 and 660. According to credit-card comparison site, CardHub.com, the number of solicitations for cards sent to that group has risen up to 300% since June. Among the most prevalent senders are large lenders like Capital One and HSBC, who say the campaign is part of a bigger effort to provide access to credit to more borrowers. For subprime borrowers, this is just the beginning. "We'll see more of these offers this year to the cream of the subprime," says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer educ...

Office Dating Etiquette - Etiquette when dating co-workers is always a delicate situation. It usually never turns out well and should be avoided if possible. If it can't be avoided, here are some points you should take note of. It's best not to tell anyone else in the office about the relationship. Not to be secretive, but to avoid problems. Once other co-workers find out, there will be gossip aplenty. Especially if one of the people in the relationship is a senior at the office. They will be viewed as being favored no matter how talented they are. If others in the office do know you are dating a co-worker, it is best to speak to them honestly about it. Otherwise they will think you are trying to pull a swift one on them. You don't need to explain details of your relationship. That is your personal business, but let them know what is going on. Office Dating Etiquette

New TV Shows to Watch 2011 - 2011 will be a great year for TV shows with a lot on offer. Here are some to look forward to. Piers Morgan Tonight Spartacus: Gods of the Arena Game of Thrones Falling Skies Traffic Light Shameless New TV Shows to Watch 2011

Most Popular Superheroes - Our fascination for superheroes is universal. Everyone has their favorite superheroes from early childhood, and even adulthood. Here are some of the favorites. Males Superman Batman Wolverine The Flash Females Wonder Woman Cat Woman Poison Ivy Most Popular Superheroes