Technology Slice Blog

AstraTech Dental Implants - AstraZeneca is stepping up a drive to wring value out of the business with plans to sell its Astra Tech dental implants and medical devices unit for some $2 billion. Industry analysts said the move demonstrated management's focus on boosting returns as the group heads into a wave of patent expires on some of its biggest-selling medicines. The sale, equivalent to around 3.4 times last year's sales, would free up cash that could be put to use for increased share buybacks or small-scale acquisitions in the core pharmaceuticals operation. "It shows there are hidden pockets of value in the business," says Panmure Gordon analyst Savvas Neophytou, who was already expecting AstraZeneca to increase share buybacks in 2011 while it is still generating plenty of cash. AstraZeneca has hired JP Morgan Chase to help sell the Swedish unit, according to a source familiar with the situation. The London-based drugmaker declined to comment. Astra Te...

Thursday Night Football - The second instalment of this year’s Thursday Night series involves another pair of inter-Conference rivals and like Ravens vs. Falcons, this matchup involves one team currently sharing a piece of first place in its division. (Yes, those Bears!) CHICAGO (6-3) AT MIAMI (5-4) Line: Dolphins -1 Over/Under: 40 Chicago started the season 3-0 SU but after getting thumped in Week 4 and having its O-line exposed for 10 sacks by the New York Giants, most bettors were ready to write this team off. Seven weeks later and the Bears are back on top of the NFC North by virtue of a 3-0 record against the division. Still, it seems a lot of people aren’t sold on this group including oddsmakers who have posted the Dolphins as favorites despite one of the longest injury reports in the league. Quarterback is the glaring concern for Miami, with Chad Pennington gone for the year and Chad Henne sidelined by a left knee injury. Thursday Night Football

GM Selling Stock, Shares - General Motors Co. is on pace to sell $18.1 billion in shares in what likely will be the second-largest U.S. initial public offering ever, capping a remarkable two-year turnaround in which the car maker went from begging for a government bailout to posting its first steady profits in more than six years. GM sold about 478 million shares Wednesday at $33 each, a price higher than the company and its bankers thought was possible just days ago. An additional 71.7 million shares are expected to be sold by GM's bankers as part of an "overallotment" allowed when sales are stronger than expected. And it sold $4.35 billion in preferred shares. Wednesday afternoon at the Manhattan headquarters of one of the lead bankers, Morgan Stanley, GM executives were greeted by traders and bankers standing and cheering while wearing blue GM T-shirts over their shirts and ties. Buyers of the GM shares included giant pension and hedge funds as well as GM factor...

Brent Barry's Wife Involved In Divorce - According to Sports Illustrated staff writer Bryan Armen Graham, Tony Parker cheated with Erin Barry, wife of former San Antonio Spurs team mate Brent Barry. "Have it on good authority from entertainment sources that 'former teammate' in Tony Parker-Eva Longoria affair is Brent Barry," Graham tweeted. He added that the Barrys are also going through a divorce. When contacted by Radar Online, Erin's brother Casey refused to confirm Erin's involvement. "When we are ready to speak about this, we will contact the press," he said. Longoria, 35, filed for divorce from Parker, 28, in a Los Angeles court on Wednesday morning, November 17 citing "irreconcilable differences." "It is with great sadness that after 7 years together, Tony and I have decided to divorce," the Desperate Housewife star Tweeted. "We love each other deeply and pray for each other's happiness." ...

Pink Announces She Is Pregnant - Pink is putting the pregnancy rumors to rest - by confirming she's expecting her first child with her motocross-racing husband Carey Hart. The singer revealed in an interview on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" airing Wednesday her doctor believes the baby will be a girl. "My mom has always wished me a daughter just like me," Pink, 31, told DeGeneres. "I'm terrified one of us will go to jail." She did not specify a due date during her appearance. Asked why she waited to confirm the rumors, she said, "I didn't want to talk about it because I was just really nervous and I have had a miscarriage before." As for whether the baby was planned, she said, "I worked for it. ... It was not an 'oops.'" Pink Announces She Is Pregnant

Allure Of The Sea Arrives At Port - The new largest cruise ship in the world is about to hit our shores, Allure of the Seas from Royal Caribbean. Why do I say "the largest?" Because engineers calculated the ship is approximately two inches longer than its sister ship Oasis of the Seas introduced last year. This was supposedly an unintentional finding - but it certainly doesn't hurt to say they have a new record breaking "largest cruise ship in the world." The ship is currently crossing the Atlantic Ocean, having left its shipyard in Turku, Finland, last October 29. It is reportedly having a much smoother time than sister ship Oasis had crossing from Finland about a year ago. Allure should be visible off the coast of Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, this week, about 8:00 AM. Chances are the ship will do the same as Oasis, spend a day installing the real plants in Central Park and running the AquaTheater through its paces - now that the ship will be stable in a t...

LA Auto Show Kicks Off - In West Hall at the L.A. Auto Show, the domestic automaker offered businesspeople and car geeks a reprieve from serious car talk with miniature slot-car racing and a bumpy rally-car simulator. With trigger gun controllers in their palms, sharp-dressed auto show attendees stared down at their mini racers, modeled after the 2011 GT Ford Mustang. Buzzing around the black curves of winding track, players joked as they passed each other up or skidded off the road, crashing into plastic bushes on a faux rocky mountainside. John Edwards, a representative for Land Rover, couldn't help wandering over to pick up a controller. "I'm just a big kid, really. I love it," Edwards said. "I hit full acceleration around the corner and spun off. The red car won; that's the one to put your money on." Across the floor, Ford offered a more interactive experience with its rally-car simulator, which, by the way, requires you to sign a liability ...