Technology Slice Blog

Pete Townshend Memoir - In a statement released Tuesday, Townshend called the book an "essential rite of passage," adding, "I am lucky to be alive and to have such a crazy story to tell, full of wild adventures and creative machinations. I am happy that I am able to write my book myself, in my own 'voice' that many readers will be hearing for the first time." The book will be edited by Harper Collins executive editor David Hirshey. Townshend's book agent is Ed Victor, who also repped Keith Richards' 2010 bestselling memoir "Life." Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Rock memoirs have been a hot category for publishers of late with both Sammy Hagar and Steven Tyler's tomes reaching the bestseller lists. Rolling Stone reported that Townshend began work on the autobiography in the late 1990s and that he had posted a small segment online in 2008. In 2003, when rumors circulated that Townshend was involved in a police investigation ...

Rabid Fox Bites Golfer - Dennis Kincaid was chipping onto the green at hole 17 of the Granada Farms Country Club Golf Course on River Drive May 11 when it happened. "I had my head down," the 76-year-old Hickory man said. "[The fox] clamped down on my leg and wouldn't turn loose...I couldn’t throw it off and I couldn’t knock it off and I hollered for help." His golfing buddies came running, swinging golf clubs at the fox - and his leg - over and over. "One of the guys finally hit him in the back of the head and killed him. I’d say it wrestled with him for probably two minutes," Kincaid marveled. He and his friends had the presence of mind to bring the dead animal with them to urgent care. Animal control sent the carcass off to Raleigh for testing immediately, and got word back Friday that the animal was, in fact, rabid. The fox is the third confirmed report of rabies in Caldwell County this year. "If you see abnormal behavior out of wild...

Amanda Knox Trial - Amanda Knox, the US student convicted of murdering her British housemate in Italy, faces a fresh trial, charged with slandering police officers. The claims stem from the inquiries into the death of Meredith Kercher in 2007. At her murder trial, Knox, 23, claimed police hit her on the head during her interrogation. The police denied this. Knox, who is currently appealing against her murder conviction, told an earlier hearing she never intended slander and was just defending herself. If the American - who was due to appear in court on Tuesday - is found guilty, any additional jail term would be added to her existing 26-year sentence. Raffaele Sollecito, Knox's former boyfriend, is also appealing against his conviction for Miss Kercher's murder. Both Sollecito and Knox are awaiting the outcome of an independent examination of the forensic evidence in the case, which they say will prove their innocence. Knox's parents are also due to stand tri...

Jill Scott Loses 50 Pounds - According to Ebony Magazine, singer Jill Scott has lost more than 50 pounds and is at her smallest size in over 20 years. Scott will be featured in the magazine's June issue and told Ebony she lost the weight by eating healthier and doing "playful" workouts with her trainer and her family. "Anything that makes me feel like I'm not working out," the single mom of one says. "We go outside and throw footballs, go for walks." The neo-soul artist seems to be happy and motivated in anticipation of the release of her first album in four years, "The Light of the Sun." The album is expected to be released June 28. Jill Scott Loses 50 Pounds

Danielle Staub Real Housewives - Danielle Staub, the former “Real Housewives of New Jersey” star, is returning to her roots. The former stripper, who demonstrated her chops on the show last season, has signed a deal with New York gentleman’s club Scores to make one live appearance at the club and appear on its website occasionally, according to TMZ. The website even posted photos of a topless Staub shimmying (rather grimly, I might add), apparently for the Scores website. (A step up from Shakers in Carlstadt, where Staub was a favorite back in the day? You tell me.) Staub left "Real Housewives of New Jersey" at the end of the second season, saying she was "too good' for it, although the show had painted itself into a corner, dramatically speaking, with her relationship with the other three housewives about seven restraining orders past salvagable. She was replaced by Melissa Gorga, who is married to Teresa Giudice's brother Joe, and the newcomers quickly amp...

Dougie Rapper Killed - Preliminary police reports show that M-Bone, whose real name is Mante Ray Talbert, was sitting inside his car parked outside a liquor store in Los Angeles when another car pulled in near his and started shooting around 10:30 p.m. "Another car pulled alongside, gunshots were fired, and the victim was struck twice in the head," Lieutenant James Madia said, according to the Associated Press. The police official added that the man in M-Bone’s passenger seat not injured. Talbert was rushed to the nearby hospital but was declared dead upon arrival. Motives for the killing have remained unclear and the LA police vowed to look into all possibilities. Different motives for shooting have emerged in social networking sites and the authorities said they are investigating validity of various claims. Dougie Rapper Killed

Situation Sues Dad - The Situation's lawyers have sent an email to the elder Sorrentino warning him of a lawsuit and an emergency injunction to shut down the website broadcasting the videos, according to TMZ sources Tuesday. A rep for Frank Sorrentino said that the website would not be taken down and claimed they were not threatened by the email from The Situation's rep -- especially since the correspondence allegedly referred to a "lawsuit." Frank Sorrentino, divorced from The Situation's mother, posted the videos last week after the star of the hit MTV show allegedly ignored his request to help pay for medical insurance. "I've been a diabetic for 25 years and my insurance was running out and I called up my son and said, 'Listen, Mikey, I'm between jobs right now, can you help me out? I don't want to lose my health coverage'," he said in one video. "What I expected was a call back saying, 'Dad, are you OK?' I didn...