Technology Slice Blog

Shania Twain Engaged - Country singer Shania Twain is engaged. Twain’s manager, Jason Owen, confirmed yesterday that Twain is engaged to business executive Frederic Thiebaud. Twain first confirmed in August 2009 that she was dating Thiebaud after her divorce from Robert “Mutt’’ Lange, who had an affair with Twain’s best friend and Thiebaud’s wife, Marie-Anne Thiebaud. She reached out to Frederic Thiebaud in the aftermath, and wrote on her website last year that she had found “a dear friend and true gentleman.’’ Shania Twain Engaged

Word of the Year - US dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster named "Austerity" as the word of the year on Monday, reflecting the cost-cutting ethos that has gripped the US economy and culture. "'Austerity' clearly resonates with many people," said Peter Sokolowski, editor at large at Merriam-Webster, who monitors online dictionary searches. "We often hear it used in the context of government measures, but we also apply it to our own personal finances and what is sometimes called the new normal." Second on the list was "pragmatic", a word that rose steadily in searches this year, and which the dictionary said "described a quality that people value highly, want to understand fully and are looking for in their leaders". "Moratorium" was third on the list, reflecting the ban on offshore oil drilling that followed BP's oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Other words in the top 10 included socialism, bigot, doppelgange...

What Time is the Lunar Eclipse Tonight - Skywatchers in North and Central America are in for a treat tonight: there will be a total lunar eclipse. Time to break out the special eyeglasses to protect your vision? Experts say that's unnecessary. Despite what some people think, lunar eclipses are safe to watch with the naked eye (though special precautions do need to be taken when viewing solar eclipses). During a lunar eclipse, the full moon passes through the Earth's shadow. That darkens the moon and gives it a ghostly color. The effect may be even more spectacular than usual this time, given the tons of dust that have been sent into the atmosphere by recent volcanic eruptions around the world. The moon may glow red or brown instead of the usual orange-yellow tinge. The eclipse will occur Monday night on the West Cost and in the early morning on the East Coast. What Time is the Lunar Eclipse Tonight

Devin Hester Sets NFL Record - The Chicago Bears' Devin Hester finally set the NFL record for combined return touchdowns when he scored on a 64-yard punt return in the third quarter against the Minnesota Vikings on Monday at TCF Bank Stadium. Having entered the contest only one return touchdown away shy of Brian Mitchell's NFL record, Hester notched yet another "almost" score to his dossier when he fielded the opening kickoff of the second half from the 6, and zipped up the field for 79 yards only to be taken down by Heath Farwell at the Vikings' 15-yard line. The return set up Robbie Gould's second field goal of the night. Devin Hester Sets NFL Record Hester made up for missed opportunity on his next chance, racing 64 yards up the home team's sideline for the score. Hester tied the record with an 89-yard punt return in Week 6 against the Seattle Seahawks, but now moves into sole possession with 14 return TDs. Hester broke the record in 73 gam...

Miranda Rights Technicality - A Contra Costa County judge said Tuesday that detectives violated the rights of one of the seven defendants in the October 2009 gang rape of a 16-year-old girl at Richmond High School and that he would not consider anything said in the interview. Judge Gregory Caskey said that Richmond police Sgt. Lori Curran appears to have violated Cody Smith's Miranda rights during a police interview the Monday after the alleged attack. Caskey also said that after watching the tape of Smith's three-hour interview, it is his opinion that it was more of an interrogation than a witness interview. Curran testified earlier Tuesday that she picked Smith up at school Oct. 26 and brought him to the police station, where she interviewed him. Curran testified that at one point in the interview when Smith asked if he could go home she told him no. Miranda Rights Technicality When he tried to invoke his right to remain silent, Curran continued to interview him, ...

Lufthansa Back in the Air - German flagship carrier Deutsche Lufthansa AG (LHA.XE) expects to resume normal flight operations Wednesday, the company told Dow Jones Newswires Monday. Until then, Lufthansa will continue to widen its special flight plan step-by-step until Wednesday, spokeswoman Claudia Lange said, adding that flights could be largely back to normal by Tuesday evening. The special flight plan implemented Saturday only affects flights within Europe, Lange said. Long-haul flights are operating as normal. Lange declined to comment on how many Lufthansa flights have been cancelled in the last three days. She said Lufthansa continues to urge passengers to switch to rail transportation when possible. Lufthansa Back in the Air

Sara Bareilles Nominated for Grammy - Last year, platinum pop songstress Sara Bareilles was nominated for two Grammy Awards thanks to her effervescent debut album, “Little Voice.” This month, she received another nomination for her infectious single “King of Anything” from “Kaleidoscope Heart,” her sophomore album. “I think the news is still kind of sinking in, to be honest,” the Eureka-born keyboardist says. “It hasn’t been that long since the record came out, so it was quite a shock. But I had a blast the first time at the Grammys, so I’m excited just to go and run around there again.” Sara Bareilles Nominated for Grammy That is nothing compared to another honor recently bestowed on Bareilles, who hits The City in a sold-out show tonight. Hers is the first card flipped to in President Barack Obama’s Rolodex when he and the first lady are recruiting entertainers. “I don’t know how it happens, but whenever it comes my way, I’ll take it!” she says of the coveted White House g...