Technology Slice Blog

Kirsten Dunst New Face of Bulgari - Hollywood actress Kirsten Dunst is set to be the face of a new fragrance for women by classic Italian perfumers Bulgari. The ''Spider-Man'' star will unveil the Mon Jasmin Noir scent later this month at a Mediterranean Eden-themed party during the Milan Fashion Week, reported Femalefirst. In addition to launching the perfume, the party will also preview the Italian fashion house''s new collection of 2011-2012 accessories. The 28-year-old actress has previously appeared as the face of fellow Italian range Miu Miu, although she was later dropped for French beauty Vanessa Paradis. Dunst initially replaced troubled actress Lindsay Lohan in the job. She has also appeared in campaigns for geek label Band Of Outsiders, sold at Joseph and London''s Dover Street Market. Kirsten Dunst New Face of Bulgari

Peggy Rea Dies Age 89 - Actress Peggy Rea, who starred in numerous TV shows over a long career including "The Dukes of Hazzard" and "The Waltons," has died of heart failure, age 89. Rea died on February 5 at her home in the Los Angeles-area community of Toluca Lake, according to show business newspaper The Hollywood Reporter. A Los Angeles County coroner official was not immediately available for confirmation. The veteran actress' career dates back to the 1950s when she appeared on the "I Love Lucy" TV series starring Lucille Ball. She worked steadily through the 1960s on shows such as "Dr. Kildare", "Mission Impossible" and "The Red Skelton Hour." In the late 1970s, Rea portrayed Rose Burton on hit family drama "The Waltons" and into the 1980s, could be seen as Lulu Hogg on action-packed TV show, "The Dukes of Hazzard." Peggy Rea Dies Age 89

Jennifer Hudson Weight Loss - "American Idol" alum turned Grammy and Oscar winner, Jennifer Hudson, stops by "The Oprah Winfrey Show" on Thursday (Feb. 10) to share her weight loss success story, and of course, plug Weight Watchers. It's easy to peg her success as the result of a paid sponsorship and access to personal trainers and chefs, but Hudson disagrees, saying the results are all mental. "I've cooked all my meals at home, when I work out I do what I like to do, I don't believe in overdoing myself," she explains. "It's all about self motivation because at the end of the day you can have all the money and all the personal trainers in the world, but if you don't have that mindset it's not possible... You have to do it for yourself." Joining Hudson in the audience is her Weight Watchers leader, Liz, who was adamant about not disclosing Hudson's weight. Liz claims that people shouldn't obsess over the nu...

Jerry Sloan Leaves Jazz - Jerry Sloan grew up on a farm in McLeansboro, Ill. So he always knew there was a time to take the crops in. That it came this week instead of last week, today rather than tomorrow, is irrelevant. "You do it 'til they don't want you anymore," Sloan once said. "Or it stops being fun." In this case, probably more than a little bit of both. Maybe it was halftime of Wednesday night's home loss to the Bulls, following a locker room clash with star guard Deron Williams, when Sloan stopped hearing the calliope music inside his head and decided to resign as coach of the Jazz. Or perhaps it was the week before when he agreed to a one-year contract extension through next season, but cautioned that it didn't necessarily mean he'd be around next season. After 23 seasons standing, stomping and screaming in front of the Jazz bench, the 68-year-old Sloan was aware of the nearing expiration date stamped on his carton, but it n...

Secret Metallica Project in Works - Metallica just wrapped up a grueling two-year tour behind 2008's Death Magnetic, but in May they'll head back into the studio to begin a new project. "We want to record it in two weeks," guitarist Kirk Hammett tells Rolling Stone. "We had planned on doing it in March, but we pushed it back to May. I don't want to give too much away, but it's not really 100 percent a Metallica record. It's a recording project, let's put it that way. Without getting too deep into it, it's more a recording project than a bona fide Metallica album. Whether or not we can pull it off in just two weeks remains to be seen." Whatever that means, Hammett is also looking forward to playing the Big 4 Festival April 23rd with Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax. "It's like a big class reunion," he says. "It's super cool because I'm really tight with the guys in Anthrax and I love the guys in Slayer and, you kn...

Kirsten Dunst Face of Bulgari - Kirsten Dunst has been tapped as the face of Bulgari's new "Mon Jasmine Noir" scent, reports the Daily Front Row. She'll be properly feted during Milan Fashion Week, at a "Mediterranean Eden" themed party at—where else?—the Bulgari Hotel. We bet she gets to wear something sparkly. Dunst will star in the much anticipated, weirdly commercial looking film adaptation of Jack Kerouac's On The Road, alongside Kristen Stewart, Sam Riley, and Garrett Hedlund. Kirsten Dunst Face of Bulgari

Surprising Things Home Insurance Doesn't Cover - Home insurance gives us peace of mind, but it is important to read the fine print and know what you are and aren't covered for. Here are a few things you might think you are covered for, but actually are not. Flood damage Cars, boats, and motorcycles stolen or damaged Break in the water line on your property supplying water to your home Break in sewer line on your property that connects to the municipal sewer system Earthquake Mold Termites or Other Infestations Stolen or Injured Pets Surprising Things Home Insurance Doesn't Cover

David Stern Foreclosure King - During the housing crash, it was good to be a foreclosure king. David Stern was Florida's top foreclosure lawyer, and he lived like an oil sheik. He piled up a collection of trophy properties, glided through town in a fleet of six-figure sports cars and, with his bombshell wife, partied on an ocean cruiser the size of a small hotel. When homeowners fell behind on their mortgages, the banks flocked to "foreclosure mills" like Stern's to push foreclosures through the courts on their behalf. To his megabank clients — Bank of America, Goldman Sachs, GMAC, Citibank and Wells Fargo — Stern was the ultimate Repo Man. At industry gatherings, Stern bragged in his boyish voice of taking mortgages from the "cradle to the grave." Of the federal government's disastrous homeowner relief plan, which was supposed to keep people from getting evicted, he quipped: "Fortunately, it's failing." The worse things got for home...

New Shingles Vaccine Short Supply - Less than a month after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that most Americans over 60 get vaccinated to prevent shingles, the vaccine is in short supply. Zostavax — a one-time vaccine that costs $150 to $300 — cut the risk of getting shingles by 55 percent in clinical trials, but now its manufacturer, Merck, says it won’t be able to fill many orders until April. Nearly one of three people nationwide will develop shingles, a painful condition also known as herpes zoster. Adults who had chickenpox as a child are at risk. Both Zostavax and chickenpox vaccine Varivax are made with varicella, the virus that causes both diseases, and a Merck spokesman says the company has to “prioritize” which vaccine to make because of a limited supply of varicella, adding, “Merck’s first priority is the childhood vaccine.” A shortag e could lead to outbreaks among the elderly and “devastating pain,” says Dr. Sharon Brangman, president of t...

Viagra Demand and Valentine's Day - Valentine’s Day is notorious for spiking sales of chocolates, roses and Hallmark cards, but new research shows that demand also rises for a surprising lovers’ secret: erectile dysfunction drugs. In 2010, the week before Valentine’s Day saw more prescriptions written for erection-enhancing Viagra than any other week of the year, according to figures compiled by the firm Wolters Kluwer Pharma Solutions. Some 199,450 prescriptions were logged totaling 1.34 million of the famous little blue pills the week of Feb. 5, 2010. That’s nearly 26 percent more Viagra than the lowest-use week of the year, Nov. 26, 2010 — Thanksgiving week, when extended families typically gather. Overall, the week before Valentine’s Day is among the top weeks of the year for demand for all male sex-enhancing drugs, with 396,670 total prescriptions logged representing about 2.9 million doses. That's nearly 100,000 more pills and injections — and potential love connec...

Brooklyn Decker Just Go With It - Brooklyn Decker, American fashion model walked the blue carpet for premiere of her new film, “Just Go With It“, on February 8 at NYC’s Ziegfeld Theatre. 23-year-old model and actress went wild in an animal-print dress for the premiere. Sexy babe, Brooklyn Decker was clad in a glamorous skin-tight leopard-print dress. She chose her eye-catching dress from Dolce & Gabbana Fall 2010 Collection. Brooklyn Decker paired her chic dress with purple suede pumps by Brian Atwood. The former Sports Illustrated cover model kept her make-up natural. She sported a casual ponytail hairstyle with face framing bangs. Brooklyn wore simple yet elegant Finn earrings and a gold Vhernier bracelet. Brooklyn Decker Just Go With It

Bob Dylan to Perform at Grammys - Bob Dylan will give a rare performance at the Grammy Awards this coming Sunday as part of a salute to acoustic music, organizers said on Thursday. Dylan, a 10-time Grammy winner, will perform with folk rock band the Avett Brothers and the British indie folk group Mumford & Sons. Story: Will Eminem recover his Grammy glory? It was not clear what song Dylan will sing with the rising stars, who will be performing for the first time at the televised Grammy ceremony in Los Angeles. Mumford & Sons are nominated for best new artists and best rock song for "Little Lion Man". Dylan, 69, has performed just five times at the Grammys in a 50-year recording career. Bob Dylan to Perform at Grammys

Sarah Palin Christina Aguilera False Story - While Oklahoma City football fans enjoyed the Super Bowl on Sunday, one of the more memorable moments was when Christina Aguilera screwed up the lyrics to the National Anthem. A parody website called Super Tuesday News wrote a fake news story that claimed Sarah Palin said that “if she were president, she would deport pop star Christina Aguilera for botching a portion of The Star-Spangled Banner during her performance at Super Bowl XLV.” While the story is clearly a parody, one major publication fell for it hook, line and sinker. Us Weekly published the news story before realizing it was a parody. The celebrity magazine, which has since deleted the story, listed the quotes as fact. Quotes Us Magazine published include Sarah Palin calling Christina Aguilera an "airhead diva" and saying Aguilera "doesn't understand something so basic about America." Continue reading on Examiner.com: Sarah Palin, Christina Aguiler...

Peggy Rea Dies - Actress Peggy Rea, best known for her television roles in "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Grace Under Fire" and "Step by Step," died on Monday. She was 89. A native of Los Angeles who began her TV career in the 1960s, Rea's resume reads like an overview of classic American television: it includes "I Love Lucy," "Bonanza," "Marcus Welby, M.D.," "Gunsmoke," "MacGyver" and "The Waltons." She was a series regular on "Step by Step" and "Grace Under Fire," playing Suzanne Somers' mother and Brett Butler's mother-in-law, respectively. But to many fans Rea will always be known as Lulu Hogg, Boss Hogg's brassy, outspoken better half. Peggy Rea Dies

Enrico Ponzo Accused Mobster Caught in Idaho - To his Idaho neighbors, Jay Shaw was an outgoing, glad-handing greenhorn cattle rancher who liked to go hunting — at least until this week, when they learned he was actually accused Boston Mafia hit man Enrico M. Ponzo, on the lam for nearly 20 years. “It was a shock to my system,” said one neighbor, who spoke anonymously out of fear of retaliation from the friend who turned out to be a mobster. “He always told me he was from Jersey.” Yesterday in federal court in Idaho, Ponzo, 42, pleaded not guilty to 1997 charges of racketeering, plotting to murder and attempting to murder. A federal official said he’ll eventually be extradited back to Massachusetts. Pals said the man they nicknamed “The New Yorker” for his accent landed in Marsing, population 842, nine years ago, with girlfriend Cara Lyn Pace. She bought 12 acres of land, and they built a home, then had a son and a daughter. Enrico Ponzo Accused Mobster Caught in Idaho

Lasko Portable Heaters Recalled - Around 107,500 portable electric heaters are being recalled voluntarily because of a potential fire hazard, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said on Tuesday. The Lasko and Air King brand heaters can overheat near the base of the units, causing them to melt and exposing the electrical connection, the CPSC said in a statement. Thirty-six incidents have been reported, 18 of which resulted in minor burn damage to floors or carpets. No injuries have been reported. The recalled tower heaters are dark grey, sliver and black, measuring 20.5 inches tall, 8.25 inches wide, and 9.25 inches deep. The affected Lasko Model 5540 was sold At Sam's Club and other retailers from September 2002 until early 2004. The Air King Model 8540 was sold by W.W. Grainger Inc. during the same time period. Lasko Portable Heaters Recalled

Kim Kardashian Cleopatra Harper's Bazaar - Kim Kardashian may have conquered the world of reality TV but now the star looks like she's set her sights on ancient Egypt. The 30-year-old socialite dressed up as Cleopatra, recreating Elizabeth Taylor's famous pose as the Egyptian queen for her 1963 movie role. The buxom brunette showed off her slim but curvaceous figure in a tight-fitting leopard-print dress with a photoshoot for the US magazine Harper's Bazaar. But Kim told the magazine that keeping trim had been a struggle for her while she and sister Kourtney filmed for their newest reality show, Kourtney & Kim Take New York. She said: "I worked out once. I gained like 10 pounds. All the papers were like, Kim's pregnant! "I ate the nuts on the street corner, the hot dogs, the street meat. It was not a joke." And despite being kicked off the stage by pop star Prince when he asked her dance with him at his Madison Square Gardens gig this w...

Judge Grants Charlie Sheen Divorce - Charlie Sheen can go back to being single, but he'll have to wait a few months before it's official, a judge ruled Thursday. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Hank Goldberg finalized Sheen's divorce from his ex-wife Brooke Mueller Sheen, but the pair will not be legally single until May 2. The actor and Brooke Sheen filed dueling divorce petitions in November, citing Christmas Day 2009 as the day of their breakup. Charlie Sheen was arrested in Aspen, Colo., that day on suspicion of domestic violence against his wife. He later resolved the case and spent 30 days on probation. The former couple will split the royalties from baby portraits of them and their twin sons, and the actor will keep his Hollywood Hills home, court records show. The Sheens signed a prenuptial agreement before their May 2008 wedding, which called for Charlie Sheen to pay Brooke Sheen more than $750,000. The pair will share legal custody of their sons, althoug...

Julie Zorrilla American Idol Winner? - Is Julie Zorrilla the American Idol winner for season 10? According to unreality TV, idol judge Jennifer Lopez predicted that Zorrilla could win the competition for season 10. Denver Westwood muses: "Aside from having the most impressive shoes of the competition, JZO wowed JLO and company by pretty much blowing everyone else away with a sultry rendition of "Summertime" by Gerswhin." Jennifer Lopez has revealed that it was husband Marc Anthony who gave her the confidence to make a new album. The American Idol judge admitted that she had started to worry about the quality of her voice, but hubby Marc – who has sold more than 30 million albums worldwide himself – helped convince her to get back in the studio. Julie Zorrilla American Idol Winner?

Emory Bellard Dies - Emory Bellard’s legacy as a football technician was etched on the pages of graph paper on which he plotted the wishbone, his high-octane, eight-yards-and-a-cloud-of-points offense that helped revolutionize the college game in the late 1960s. The true measure of the man, however, is contained in the words his wife, Susan, wrote on a scrap of paper a few weeks before Bellard’s death Thursday morning in Georgetown as a result of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease. "So many people had come to see him, and he appreciated it so much," Susan Bellard said. "He said something to me one day, and I wrote it down on a piece of paper so I would always remember it. He said he was what he was because of the people who surrounded him." Those friends and admirers rallied to his side in the days after Bellard, 83, who spent four decades as a Texas high school coach, as an assistant at Texas and as head coach at Texas A&M ...

Buttocks Injection Causes Death - Police questioned a New Jersey woman and were seeking a second woman for questioning in the case of a woman from London who died after receiving cosmetic injections in her buttocks at a hotel near Philadelphia International Airport. The Delaware County medical examiner has identified the victim as 20-year-old Claudia Seye Aderotimi of London. She died at a hospital Monday after suffering from chest pains and breathing trouble. The cause of death has been listed as undetermined, pending further studies. Philadelphia police said they issued a search warrant at the Bergen County, N.J., home of a woman they believe organized the appointment. Buttocks Injection Causes Death

Mortgage Applications Fall February 2011 - Mortgage applications in the week of February 4th fell 5.5% after having risen 11.3% in the previous week. It was the second decline in the last three weeks. In the past year the average weekly change has been -0.2%; in the past six months the average has tilted lower to -1.4%. From January 2000 until the end of 2005 applications increased an average of 0.8% per week; from January 2006 until the end of the decade the weekly change was 0.6%. Refinancing accounted for 66.6% of mortgage application in the latest reporting week, slightly below the average over the past year of 73.2%. For the past ten years, from January 2001 until this February the weekly refinancing average has been 46.6%. The refinancing percentage of total applications was a bit lower in the first half of the last decade at 47.7%, than the second at 55.2%. At the peak of the housing bubble in 2005 and 2006 refinancing accounted for only 41.9% of new mortgage applications. ...

Beazer Homes Posts Loss - The traditional spring selling season can't come quickly enough for builders like Beazer Homes USA Inc., following the worst year for new home sales on record. The company reported Tuesday that it slid to a loss in the fiscal first quarter as home closings and contracts for new homes fell sharply. Its results for the October to December period were worse than expected. But President and CEO Ian McCarthy said sales trends last month perked up considerably, echoing other large homebuilders that have given guarded optimism in recent weeks about the prospect for improving fortunes this spring. "I'm very encouraged with what we've seen in January so far and we're looking for a strong February and March," McCarthy said. "It will be very critical to us." McCarthy said new home orders in January climbed by more than 50 percent from December and posted a comparable increase versus January 2009. The builder doesn't anti...

First Lady Super Bowl Food Indulgence OK - Michelle Obama says the cheeseburgers, deep-dish pizza, sausages and buffalo wings the White House served up for the Super Bowl have a place in everyone's diet despite her urgings for the public to eat healthier. "Life is about good food, at least in America," the U.S. president's wife told NBC's "Today" show on Wednesday, the first anniversary of her "Let's Move!" campaign against childhood obesity. "I've always talked about balance in this campaign." She conceded that the high-calorie, high-fat menu raised a few eyebrows. But Obama said many of the dietary changes she's talking about don't require wholesale changes, such as adding more fruits and vegetables to dinner plates and lunch boxes, helping children exercise more and replacing sugary drinks with water. "This isn't an all-or-nothing proposition and it's important for families not to get caught up...

Glow in the Dark Surgery - A new, fluorescent liquid is being developed by researchers at the University of California's San Diego School of Medicine that would, once injected, cause a patient's nerves to "glow", allowing surgeons to more easily avoid nicking them during surgery. The substance "consists of a protein fragment containing amino acids," according to the Daily Mail, and has been effective in preliminary experiments on mice, rendering nerves about ten times more visible to the naked eye than normal, with no known side effects. One of the researchers, Professor Roger Tsien, said that the new liquid would be much more effective in outlining the nerves to avoid during surgery. "The analogy I use is that when construction workers are excavating, they need a map showing where the existing underground electrical cables are actually buried, not just old plans of questionable accuracy," he said. "Likewise when surgeons are taking out...

Cars with Highest Resale Value - We all know cars are a bad investment. We expect to lose money after a couple of years of use but there are a few that will hold their value better than others. Resale values depend on a lot of factors. One factor is demand for the model you are selling. It might be popular at the time and attract a greater price. It also may be discontinued leading to bad resale value. Petrol prices also put pressure on resale value. Selling a 4 cylinder car when petrol prices are high will be a lot easier and you will get more value. Adversely, selling an SUV will be more difficult. Whatever car you are selling, you are sure to lose plenty of money when you are selling it. This is why it is important to make a careful choice when you buy a car and get the most value you can out of it. Cars with Highest Resale Value

Brazil Brides Face Fine Being Late - A church in Brazil is trying to crack down on tardy brides by fining them $300 for showing up late to their own weddings. It's a common tradition in the South American nation for brides to arrive at least 10 minutes tardy. And it's not unusual to be an hour late - or worse. Priest Roberto Carrara at the Nossa Senhora de Lourdes Cathedral in the small southern city of Apucarana is tired of wedding delays disrupting scheduled Masses and other ceremonies. Cathedral secretary Daiane Evaristo said Wednesday that couples will be required to leave a $300 check as deposit. Brazil Brides Face Fine Being Late

Accused Mobster Lives as Idaho Rancher - An accused Boston mobster posing as a rancher and living under an assumed name in a small Idaho farm town pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to attempted murder, racketeering and a raft of other federal charges, authorities said. Enrico M. Ponzo, 42, was a member of La Cosa Nostra in New England when he fled Boston in 1994 after being accused of drug crimes, according to the FBI. Ponzo on Wednesday waived his right to a federal hearing in Idaho over his identity, admitting he was the fugitive from Boston and not Jeffrey John Shaw, the alias he adopted while living in Idaho, said Christian Nafzger, assistant U.S. attorney in Boise. Ponzo asked a federal judge to allow him to travel to Boston to face charges, Nafzger said. The government will argue in U.S. District Court Friday that Ponzo should remain in custody and be transported by federal marshals to Massachusetts. "We believe him to be a flight risk and a danger to the community,...

Buttocks Injection Death - Police questioned a New Jersey woman and were seeking a second woman for questioning in the case of a London woman who died after receiving cosmetic injections in her buttocks at a hotel near Philadelphia International Airport. Investigators issued a search warrant at the Bergen County, N.J., home of a woman they believe organized the appointment, Philadelphia police Lt. Ray Evers said Wednesday. She was questioned and unspecified evidence was seized from the residence but she was not arrested, he said. Evers said police believe she acted as a coordinator of buttocks and hip enlargements for the victim and another woman, communicating with them overseas by e-mail, text messages and phone calls to set up the visit — their second in recent months. "Our information tells us these girls were here in November and did receive treatment from the same individuals," Evers said. The second woman who was being sought for questioning "was the actual...

Carmelo Anthony May Sign Extension - There has been a lot of speculation in recent weeks that Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony may be traded, but a new possibility arose Wednesday. Anthony gave his first indication that he might sign a contract extension and stay with the Nuggets. Anthony told the Denver Post that he would “take a real hard look” at signing a three-year, $65 million contract extension that has been on the table since June if he is not dealt by the Feb. 24 trading deadline. “As the days go on, that’s something that I think about, that nothing might happen, that I’ll be here, whether I have to deal with the free-agency market or re-sign the extension here with the Nuggets,” he said. Asked specifically to clarify if he might sign the extension if not traded, Anthony said, “Yeah.” Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2011/02/09/2644762/anthony-says-he-may-decide-to.html#ixzz1DY3jWUjr Carmelo Anthony May Sign Extension

American Idol Season 10 - He critiqued American Idol's wannabe singers for nine seasons, but don't ask Simon Cowell to offer a lengthy assessment on the show's newest judges, Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler. "I haven't seen a full episode yet, I saw a three minute sort of recap last week," Cowell told reporters Monday of the 10th season of Idol, the series he bowed out of last spring. "From what I've seen and what I've heard, it all seems to be going well. I always thought that would be the case. What I was more concerned about was the ratings falling off a cliff, meaning that that whole genre is now over." So why hasn't Cowell made Idol appointment television? He's currently across the pond in London, and told the Today Show's Matt Lauer he has yet to tune in due to a sheer time difference. From the footage the former judge has seen, though, Cowell says Lopez and Tyler appear to be doing him proud. American Idol Season 1...

Jurors Offer to Pay Acquitted Man - At least three jurors in Cleveland say the evidence was so thin against a man jailed for weeks in an assault case that they want to give him their juror pay. The jury quickly acquitted 19-year-old Demrick McCloud on Friday. He'd been charged with leading other teens to beat a high school student and threaten him with a gun on Oct. 13. McCloud was arrested that day and held in jail until the trial. The three jurors tell The Plain Dealer newspaper there was a "sheer lack of evidence," so they'll each give McCloud the $100 they were paid for jury service if he earns a high school equivalency degree. A prosecutor's spokesman maintains in a statement that the victim was steadfast in identifying McCloud as an attacker. Jurors Offer to Pay Acquitted Man