Technology Slice Blog

Witchcraft Legal in Romania - Romania has changed its labor laws to officially recognize witchcraft as a profession, prompting one self-described witch to threaten retaliation. The move, which went into effect Saturday, is part of the government's drive to crack down on widespread tax evasion in a country that is in recession. In addition to witches, astrologists, embalmers, valets and driving instructors are now considered by labor law to be working real jobs, making it harder for them to avoid income tax. For months the measure had been debated, protested by witches and mocked by the media. On Saturday, a witch called Bratara told Realitate.net, the website of a top TV station, that she plans to cast a spell using black pepper and yeast to create discord in the government. Source: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/01/AR2011010101580.html Witchcraft Legal in Romania

Hugh Hefner Engagement Ring $90,000 - Hugh Hefner gave fiancée Crystal Harris, 24, an amazing $90,000 engagement ring. It is a ring that nearly anybody would love to get. The sparkler has major bling factor for the Playboy founder's wife to be. On Thursday Harris tweeted pictures of the sizeable ring. She said on Twitter, "For those of you who have been asking to see my ring here it is. My engagement ring from my love." How sweet the tweet sounds. Of course, you do have to wonder what the 24-year-old 2009 Playmate of the month sees in somebody as old as Hugh Hefner. As for Hef, the marriage to Harris will be his third. Perhaps this time, the third time will be the charm. This one may just be ‘til death do us part – especially given Hefner’s age. Hugh Hefner Engagement Ring $90,000 The engagement ring that Hugh Hefner gave Harris is a 3 1/2 carat brilliant-cut diamond. The massive stone is set in platinum with the ever fashionable micro pave diamonds on the band. Th...

Lindsay Lohan First Tweet of 2011 - Lindsay Lohan has claimed that she feels ready to move on from the personal and legal troubles that plagued her in 2010. The troubled actress posted a message to her fans on Twitter, including an inspiring quote, in what is her first tweet in over two weeks. "Today is the first day of the rest of my life," she wrote. "The future depends on what we do in the present" - Mahatma Gandhi...One step at a time..." Lohan is due to be released from drug and alcohol addiction clinic the Betty Ford Clinic tomorrow, where she has spent the past few months. The former child star currently has no announced film projects scheduled for 2011. Source: http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/showbiz/news/a295610/lohan-ready-to-begin-new-life-in-2011.html Lindsay Lohan First Tweet of 2011

Kate Moss Album - After conquering the ramp, supermodel Kate Moss is reportedly planning to venture into the world of music by recording her own album. She is said to be recording an album with boyfriend The Kills guitarist Jamie Hince, reports okmagazine.com. Moss has previously written songs for her ex-boyfriend Pete Doherty's band Babyshambles and even sang with him once. Source: http://www.sify.com/movies/kate-moss-recording-music-album-news-hollywood-lbbiuccchga.html Kate Moss Album

Cheryl Eckard 60 Minutes - Of all the things that you trust every day, you want to believe your prescription medicine is safe and effective. The pharmaceutical industry says that it follows the highest standards for quality. But in November, we found out just how much could go wrong at one of the world's largest drug makers. A subsidiary of GlaxoSmithKline pleaded guilty to distributing adulterated drugs. There was reason to believe that some of the medications were contaminated with bacteria, others were mislabeled, and some were too strong or not strong enough. It's likely Glaxo would have gotten away with it had it not been for a company insider: a tip from Cheryl Eckard set off a major federal investigation. She's never told the public what she saw inside Glaxo, but now she has. Her story opens a rare window on how one company traded its good name for bad medicine. Source: http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/12/29/60minutes/main7195247.shtml Cheryl Eckard 60 Mi...

Temuco Chile Earthquake - A 7.1-magnitude earthquake hit Chile on Sunday, disrupting power lines and telecommunications service. The earthquake caused no injures but prompted tens of thousands of people to flee coastal areas out of fear of a subsequent tsunami, like the one that swept away entire villages last February. The earthquake struck 45 miles northwest of Temuco at a depth of 10 miles, AFP reported. It struck Biobio, Maule and O'Higgins, a region affected by the 8.8-magnitude earthquake and tsunami that devastated Chile in February. Source: http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/chile/110102/temuco-chile-earthquake Temuco Chile Earthquake

Bill Clinton Peta Person of the Year - He was the president who famously couldn't jog past McDonald's without grabbing a snack, which makes Bill Clinton a most unlikely candidate for vegan hero. But that is exactly what swapping burgers for beans has done for the former fast-food fanatic, according to a leading animal rights campaign group. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta) has bestowed its Person of the Year award on Mr Clinton, in recognition of his rebirth as a paid-up member of the mung bean-munching fraternity. Mr Clinton opted for the ultimate in new year cleanses – a largely vegan diet – to purge his body after realising it had taken one burger battering too many. This is, after all, a man who ordered a double hamburger (and fries) to fuel up for an anti-obesity speech. Bill Clinton Peta Person of the Year Peta's decision is not without controversy: Mr Clinton has admitted eating the odd piece of fish. But the organisation said it was "pl...