Common antihypertensives raise cancer risk

Certain drugs commonly used to treat hypertension, heart failure and damage caused by diabetes in the kidney are associated with a slightly increased risk of developing cancer, according to Scientists at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland.

This finding, published in the online journal The Lancet Oncology, supports the need for more research to calculate, in the future, the exact risk of cancer associated with these drugs.

The ARBs act by blocking angiotensin II, a hormone that raisesd pressure. A previous study has demonstrated the existence of a significant increased risk of developing cancer in patients taking the ARBs candesartan, compared with placebo.

To analyze the effects of ARBs in malignancies, the team of researchers led by Ilke Sipahi, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, conducted a meta-analysis of all published data ARBs Randomized trials published before November 2009.

They studied new data from cancer in five trials involving 61 590 patients, common cancers in solid organs (lung, prostate and breast cancer) in five trials of 68 402 patients and cancer deaths in eight studies, which included 93 515 patients. Most of these trials examined patients which received the ARB telmisartan (85.7%).

The results showed that patients taking ARBs had a significant increase in the odds of being diagnosed with cancer, compared with the control group (7.2% vs. 6%).

Among the solid organ cancers examined, only the risk of lung cancer showed a significant increase in patients taking ARBs compared with the control group (0.9% versus 0.7%).

In addition, the data analyzed in the study were limited to three of the seven ARBs approved by FDA, telmisartan, losartan and candesartan. (http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

Medal Of Honor Beta Drafting June 21st

If you aren’t already a Battlefield: Bad Company 2 player, or you are but don’t have plans to pre-order Medal of Honor, but you’re still interested in joining the Beta to see what all the fuss is about, you’re going to have to wait until June 21st. While BF:BC 2 users who pre-order are going to have a few days head start, the rest of you are just going to have to wait, you see. Don’t fret, however, as I think judging from the trailer, the multiplayer may just be worth it.

According to the EA press release, the Medal of Honor multiplayer beta features two heart-pounding modes set across two maps inspired by real world locations: Helmand Valley and Kabul City Ruins. In Team Assault mode, players must rely on their raw skill and map knowledge to stay alive in intense and close quarter combat. In Combat Mission, a tactical and team-based mode, gamers fight through a series of objectives revealed through an engaging narrative. Both modes pit two teams of 12 players (total 24 players) against one another with realistic destruction, tactical support actions, and a weapon customization system with modifications that generate hundreds of combinations.

Ariel, Luna Maya Sex Tape: Indonesia's First Celebrity Sex Tape Scandal

Indonesians grappled with their first-ever celebrity sex-tape scandal, casting aside social taboos as they swarmed around office computers and mobile phones to watch clips allegedly showing a much-loved pop star with two girlfriends.

The story topped newscasts for a week and dominated chatter on social-networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter. But just as controversial was the reaction of officials in the newly democratic nation.

Police initially threatened to charge the "stars" under a strict anti-pornography law.

Several high schools were raided for mobile phones so the offending clips could be removed. And some ministers said the incident pointed, once again, to moral decay and the need for stricter controls of the Internet.

When the scandal spurred debate as to whether education about sex – a subject still taboo at home and in the classroom – should be added to the school curriculum, Minister of Education Muhammad Nuh responded with a flat out "no."

"I may be obsolete, but I don't see that sex education in schools is needed," he told reporters. "I believe people will learn about sex naturally."

The first six-minute video clip appears to show pop singer Nazril Irham, better known as Ariel, in bed with his girlfriend Luna Maya, a top model, actress and, up until the scandal, the face of Lux beauty soap.

The first six-minute video clip appears to show pop singer Nazril Irham, better known as Ariel, in bed with his girlfriend Luna Maya, a top model, actress and, up until the scandal, the face of Lux beauty soap. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com)

pic ariel

E3 2010: Xbox 360 Slim Is It Real Or Just A Hoax?

Here’s word on the much-anticipated Xbox 360 Slim that first appeared on a certain Italian website. Think this real? Well then, think again. Because someone out there put a lot of Photoshop skills and talents into waste. To put it simply, it’s fake. Assuming you’ve seen the ad, it shows a black 250GB 360 with really eye-catching side vents, much like those on the fenders of a Shelby Cobra. And then the author proposes another selling point—it’s compatible with a system called ‘Kinect‘.

We’re just as puzzled as you as to what that refers but there’s one thing we’re certain—it’s a far-fetched illusion. You can see the ad right here. Just be quick about it because Microsoft will probably burn it down in a few. Its tagline, written in fine Italian, is translated into ‘Live today’ with the rest of the copy translated as ‘ready for the technology tomorrow’—clearly words of a gadget nut with delusions of grandeur.

We’ll just have to see what Microsoft has to say about all this. Microsoft will be holding an E3 conference tomorrow. Hopefully, that thing they’re promising ‘for everyone’ doesn’t turn out to be the urban legend we’re talking about. (http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

FDA Approves Novartis Multiple Sclerosis Drug

On Thursday, the FDA approved a drug by Novartis that helps relieve some of the symptoms, such as tremors, associated with multiple sclerosis.

The medical innovation will certainly bring forth a much-needed improvement. Though the Novartis drug will require additional screening before it can finally be released, experts believe that it will serve as the first oral treatment for multiple sclerosis.

The name of the Novartis drug is Gilenia, and it is the first multiple sclerosis treatment that can be consumed through the mouth. Previous proposed treatments were rejected by the FDA, partially due to the fact that they required regualr injection.

Cynthia Sitcov, who represents the FDA panel, believes that Gilenia is, for the most part, an effective drug despite some of the small risks.

Multiple sclerosis, or MS, is said to cause cognitive problems in addition to physical tremors. The FDA panel voted 25-0 to approve the multiple sclerosis drug. Some of the possible side effects of Gilenia include visual, cardiovascular, and respiratory problems. Experts believe, however, that the proposed dose of Gilenia is generally safe.(http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

iPhone 4G Cell Phone Not Only Available through AT&T?

iPhone 4G consumers may be happy to find out that soon enough the top smartphone on the market may be available through other carriers.

It was recently reported that as early as this Fall, T-Mobile could become a player in the iPhone 4G service industry. Apple is looking to expand its market share, and offering the iPhone through multiple carriers is a step in the right direction.

AT&T will lose its right to exclusively offer the iPhone as early as next year. The iPhone 4G features will then be brought to additional carriers who contract with Steve Jobs and Apple representatives.

Right now, T-Mobile representatives are keeping quiet, as they do not want to bring truth to any of the smartphone rumors that have been circulating. From a business standpoint, however, it would be foolish for Steve Jobs not to offer the iPhone through additional carriers.

Shaw Wu was the first to break the information. Apple and AT&T are not releasing any information about when their mutual contract ends. Obviously, the early iPhone 4G reviews will lead many to believe that Apple will do whatever it takes to gain a large market share. (http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

Google Homepage: How To Change Google Background

Google would pull the service back soon enough as is of no view to maintain the Bing style background changes.

How To Change Google Background On Google Homepage:

Well, the steps are quiet simple. All you need to do is look for a link which says Change Background Image and click it. The link is neatly placed at the left hand side on bottom of the page. Upon clicking the link, it would lead you to pop-up screen which says, ‘Select a background image for your Google homepage’.

More further, you would be provided with a variety of images to pick from, which are designed by some great artists and photographers worldwide. If you think your pick is not quiet worthy, you can also upload an image from the Picassa Album or from your computer itself. That’s all…You are done. (http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

Roger Federer crashes out of French Open quarter finals to end historic semis run

Roger Federer's six-year record of reaching 23 Grand Slam semi-finals was washed away yesterday when he crashed out in the French Open quarter-finals.

The Swiss world No.1, who had not missed out on the last four at one of the major tournaments since 2004, suffered a shock 3-6 6-3 7-5 6-4 defeat to Swede Robin Soderling in a rain-disrupted clash.

Federer said: "I didn't think I played a bad match but he came up with some great tennis. I'm not blaming the conditions but they were in his favour towards the end."

Fifth seed Soderling said: "It's a big win but it's not the Final. I don't want to celebrate too much. I want to focus on the next game."

The Swede will take on Andy Murray conqueror Tomas Berdych, who thrashed Russian Mikhail Youzhny 6-3 6-1 6-2, for a place in the Final. Rafa Nadal will reclaim the No.1 ranking next week if he wins the title. The Spaniard faces countryman Nicolas Almargo in today's last-eight clash.

Francesca Schiavone became the first Italian since 1954 to reach the French Open women's singles semi-finals after a shock 6-2 6-3 win over Danish No. 3 seed Caroline Wozniacki.

Schiavone's next opponent is No. 5 seed Elena Dementieva, who saw off fellow Russian Nadia Petrova 2-6 6-2 6-0. (http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk)

40 year old son of Ted Koppel was found dead today in his New York City apartment

The passed away body of Ted Koppels sun was found in his friends New York City apartment in upper Manhattan after a day of clubbing and bar hopping.

Detective John Sweeney confirmed that the time of decease was determined as 1:30 a.m. Monday morning, however the cause of death has not been determined yet. Now signs of any forced entry were found at the Washington Heights apartment.

Koppel was drinking for hours with another man, hows identity is not yet to be disclosed by local authorities since the investigation is still not closed.

It appears that the two man started drinking at Smith’s Bar and Restaurant in Manhattan and continued the bar hopping for several hours.

It is not confirmed yet, but it appears that the other man was Russell Wimberly, he also said that Koppel was heavily drinking whiskey without eating anything.

Koppel was working for the city Housing Authority as attorney in their civil litigation division from 2001 till 2008, when he decided to resign from this position.

Andrew Koppel was the son of Ted Koppel who was a longtime anchor for the ABC “Nightline” news show.

The apartment in which the soulless body was found belongs two Koppel’s friend, Wimberley and Belinda Caban, they had found the unbreathing body.(http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

IBM will buy Sterling Commerce of AT&T for $ 1,400 million

The U.S. technology company IBM has reached an agreement with the operator AT&T to acquire its subsidiary Sterling Commerce by 1.400 million dollars in cash (1,131 million euros), according to both companies.

IBM and AT&T expect to complete a transaction in the second half of 2010, waiting to receive permits from the relevant authorities. Thus, AT&T provides extraordinary record a gross capital gain of 750 million dollars (606 million euros) in the quarter in which the transaction was finally closed.

“This acquisition will provide new tools to help IBM customers to build networks of business dynamics that come into contact with partners, suppliers and customers,” said Craig Hayman, chief executive of IBM.

In the present, Sterling Commerce has about 18,000 customers, and performs annually more than 1,000 million transactions in financial services, retail, manufacturing, communications and distribution. Is expected in the second half of 2010 that 2,500 employees will be integrated into Sterling Commerce WebSphere organization within the IBM Software Group. (http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

Labor activists blame Foxconn, world’s largest electronics maker

A 19-year old male worker reportedly fell from a building at Foxconn Technology Group, Shenzhen, China. It is the tenth death in the list this year.

Three days before the incident, a 21-year old employee in the logistics department jumped four storeys above ground. Two more workers attempted to jump from the buildings but survived, and another committed suicide in a smaller plant in the province of Hebei last January.

And labor activists are pointing fingers at the company linking the incidents with employees that work under strenuous conditions, with extended work hours, and stern management of the company. Foxconn Chairman Terry Gou has denied the allegations. “We are certainly not running a sweatshop. We are confident we’ll be able to stabilize the situation soon,” quotes the Associated Press.

According to Business Insider, two reporters of Southern Weekly were able to get inside the Shenzhen factory. “One thing they must take note is that please don’t treat the workers like dogs. If Foxconn does not solve the problem, there will be more suicides to happen. The workers definitely need beer, romance and slightly higher pays. To say it simple, just make them happy. Let’s hope we don’t see a 10th jump…,” concludes the report.
(http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

Still’s Disease’s Unknown Origin

The causes are vague but the disease exists.

Still’s disease is a disorder which leads to a type of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRS) or systemic onset JRA. Systemic means joint inflammation is coupled with symptoms affecting other parts of the body. The symptoms include having on and off rashes and high fever reaching 39 degrees C during the day and reoccurs in about the same, then often joint pain and swelling follows. It may lead to inflammation of the heart, fluid accumulation in the lungs, loss of appetite, and nausea.

It is diagnosed based solely on the aforementioned symptoms that usually last for months, except for arthritis that persists even after the symptoms, until it becomes chronic in adulthood. It is common among 25,000-50,000 children in the U.S., but adults can acquire it, termed as Adult-Onset Still’s Disease, according to Medicinenet. Its name originated from Dr. George Still.

Medications include anti-inflammatory drugs, like aspirin; cortisone and prednisone for severe cases. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy is being studied as an alternative measure.

(http://www.sevensidedcube.net)

Jared Leto Defends Justin Bieber

Rocker Jared Leto came to Justin Bieber's rescue on Saturday by defending the teen heart-throb after he was booed at a British music festival.

Leto was performing on stage with his band 30 Seconds To Mars at Radio 1's Big Weekend event in Bangor, Wales, when Bieber's name was announced over a speaker ahead of his performance.

The crowd proceeded to boo the 16 year old but Leto quickly ordered them to stop, reports JustJared.com.

He told the audience, "He's a young kid. He'll be able to charm the crowd." (starpulse.com)

Study shows 'female Viagra' works

A pill called Flibanserin can boost sex drive in women. It's being called 'female Viagra.'

A new paper from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists reports that after a 6-month treatment with the pill, women found improvement in their decreased sexual desire.


The FDA has not yet approved the drug, which was originally meant to be an anti depressant.

A survey conducted by a drug manufacturer, amongst 1,378 women who were suffering from a lack of sexual desire, revealed that the drug improved sex drive by 18 per cent, after a usage of 24 weeks.

Another study notched this number to four weeks.

Unlike the Viagra used by men, which increases bloody supply, this pill may affect a female's mind and the neurotransmitters in the central nervous system, with minor side effects like dizziness, nausea, fatigue and insomnia.

For now Ashton suggests couples therapy and consulting a sexual therapist for these problems.

"You want to get at the root problem," CBS News quoted her as saying.

"If it's something like depression or a medication side-effect, deal with those things and hopefully you'll see an improvement in your sex life." (http://news.oneindia.in)

Tiger Woods Mistress Rachel Uchitel to Strip for Playboy

Tiger Woods mistress Rachel Uchitel, is about to add another “distinction” to her resume — Playboy model. She would join a long list of “celebrities” and semi-celebrities who have posed nude to jump start a career.

The sometime club hostess and well-known New York and Hamptons party girl told celebrity gossip site TMZ on Friday that she was unsure whether she’d pose for the magazine because her family would have a “heart attack.”

But TMZ says it’s learned from a source at the magazine that Uchitel has indeed signed a contract to pose naked for in an as yet, un-named issue.


Unchitel will not be doing full frontal nudity similar to shots that appeared in the magazine recently featuring former Elliott Spitzer call girl Ashley Dupre.

The shoot will be limited to topless shots and her bare butt.

Uchitel also has the right to pull out any time before the shoot goes down — which is in three weeks, according to TMZ.

The former New Yorker, who now lives in Las Vegas, has a reputation for pursuing celebrities.

Before emerging at the center of the Tiger Woods scandal, Uchitel also had an affair with “Bones” star David Boreanaz while his wife was pregnant with their second child.

A series of racy text messages between the actor and Uchitel were recently leaked onto the Internet, in which she tried to pressure Boreanaz to leave his wife.

Boreanaz recently went public about an affair with another woman, because she allegedly tried to “extort” money from him to keep the details of their sexual relationship from becoming public.

Uchitel denied being the woman in question.

Boreanaz and his wife have since reconciled, but Woods is still estranged from his wife, Elin Nordegren, and appears headed for divorce.

Uchitel surfaced as Woods’ alleged mistress in a National Enquirer article shortly before Woods November car crash, which triggered the scandal.

Uchitel has since moved to Las Vegas were she is attempting to line up work in reality television. (http://www.theimproper.com)

Commuters travel to work on the Tube NAKED to help boost company's bottom line

It was a cheeky and unexpected sight that greeted commuters as they boarded a Tube into work.



But the four naked men and women certainly livened up the usually dull journey for many people – attracting gasps from stunned workers.

Carrying handbags or briefcases to cover their modesty – and wearing shoes – the nudes travelled on escalators and rode in the carriages as though their lack of suitable attire was completely normal.

But, rather than trying to start a new trend on the London Underground, the group were promoting a TV series which sees staff at struggling businesses helping to turn their company around.


Steven Suphi, behaviour change specialist and leadership guru, believes stripping off in the office will help boost employees' confidence and develop trust.

She said: ‘For most people in the UK going to work in the nude is a very daunting prospect.

‘I believe this extreme process will help them push their boundaries and become a close team that trust each other enough to get naked together.’



The nudes were publicising tomorrow’s episode of the new six-part series The Naked Office being screened on Virgin 1 at 9pm.


(www.telegraph.co.uk)

Rima Fakih. Ex-pole dancing, muslim Miss USA.

Rima Fakih has attracted much attention since she won the Miss USA competition. Firstly conservative bloggers are having a field day because she is the first-ever Muslim to win the beauty pageant, and secondly photographic evidence has emerged that in 2007 she won a pole-dancing competition. See the TMZ website.

According to the Salon website “Arab-Americans rejoiced Monday over the crowning of raven-haired beauty Rima Fakih, a 24-year-old Lebanese immigrant from Michigan, calling it a victory for diversity in the United States, especially at a time when Arabs suffer from negative stereotypes in this country — and anti-immigrant sentiment is in the news.”
But conservative commentators are saying that it was a political correct move. And, some like blogger, Debbie Schlussel who called her “Miss Hezbollah” are stereotyping dangerously.
A spokeswoman for the Miss USA competition, Lark-Marie Anton, told The Daily Beast that Fakih’s critics were way off base and the contest was conducted fairly.

“I don’t believe this has anything to do with affirmative action and I am saddened by the ignorance surrounding her multicultural heritage.” (http://blogs.timeslive.co.za)

The History of National Day of Prayer

The National Day of Prayer (36 U.S.C. § 119) is an annual day of observance held on the first Thursday of May, designated by the United States Congress, when people are asked "to turn to God in prayer and meditation". The law formalizing its annual observance was enacted in 1952, and is being challenged in court

There had been at least two individual (i.e. single-day) national days of prayer in U.S. history before the day was made an official annual day of observance in 1952. Prior to the nation's founding, the Continental Congress issued a proclamation recommending "a day of publick [sic] humiliation, fasting, and prayer" be observed on July 20, 1775.

During the Quasi-War with France, President John Adams declared May 9, 1798 as "a day of solemn humiliation, fasting, and prayer," during which citizens of all faiths were asked to pray "that our country may be protected from all the dangers which threaten it".

On March 30, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation expressing the idea "that the awful calamity of civil war, which now desolates the land, may be but a punishment, inflicted upon us, for our presumptuous sins", and designated the day of April 30, 1863 as a day of "national humiliation, fasting and prayer" in the hope that God would respond by restoring "our now divided and suffering Country, to its former happy condition of unity and peace". He went on to say, "...it is the duty of nations as well as of men, to own their dependence upon the overruling power of God, to confess their sins and transgressions, in humble sorrow, yet with assured hope that genuine repentance will lead to mercy and pardon; and to recognize the sublime truth, announced in the Holy Scriptures and proven by all history, that those nations only are blessed whose God is the Lord."

More recently, the idea of an annual National Day of Prayer was introduced by the Rev. Billy Graham, who suggested it in the midst of a several-weeks crusade in the nation’s capitol. Members of the House and Senate introduced a joint resolution for an annual National Day of Prayer, "on which the people of the United States may turn to God in prayer and meditation at churches, in groups, and as individuals."

A Senate report incorrectly claims as part of the rationale for the law that prayers were conducted at the Constitutional Convention, which adopted the U.S. Constitution: “When the delegates to the Constitutional Convention encountered difficulties in the writing and formation of a Constitution for this Nation, prayer was suggested and became an established practice at succeeding sessions,” according to the report by the Committee on the Judiciary. However, Benjamin Franklin suggested prayer, but in his own notes recorded that the convention, “except for three or four persons, thought prayers unnecessary.” His suggestion to pray was met politely but with some embarrassment, scholars note, and delegates quickly adjourned.

On April 17, 1952, President Harry S. Truman signed a bill proclaiming a National Day of Prayer must be declared by each following president at an appropriate date of his choice. In 1982 a conservative evangelical Christian organization called the "National Prayer Committee" was formed to coordinate and implement a fixed annual day of prayer for the purpose of organizing evangelical Christian prayer events with local, state, and federal government entities. In his 1983 declaration, Ronald Reagan said, "From General Washington's struggle at Valley Forge to the present, this Nation has fervently sought and received divine guidance as it pursued the course of history. This occasion provides our Nation with an opportunity to further recognize the source of our blessings, and to seek His help for the challenges we face today and in the future." In 1988, the law was amended so that the National Day of Prayer would be held on the first Thursday of May. Two stated intentions of the National Day of Prayer were that it would be a day when adherents of all great religions could unite in prayer and that it may one day bring renewed respect for God to all the peoples of the world. (wikipedia.org)

Are you stunned by the new 'Idol' Top 4?

SPOILER ALERT!!! Tonight's blog entry will reveal the contestant being sent home from "American Idol." Don't read any further if you don't want to know the results.

I am officially bummed out.

No way Aaron Kelly should have gone home tonight. He wasn't the best, but goodness knows he wasn't the worst. And by the worst, I mean he wasn't Casey James.

Casey is a cutie, but based on performance, he should have totally been on his way.

What do you think happened? Did a cutie face trump a baby face?

Let us know. And don't forget to head over to iReport to post a video of your questions for Aaron Kelly. (cnn)

Snoopy sold for$175 million

Snoopy, Charlie Brown and the rest of the 'Peanuts' gang have been sold for $175 million.

E.W. Scripps Co. confirmed it will sell the unit that owns the licensing rights to "Peanuts" to Joe Boxer owner Iconix Brand Group Inc.

The sale of United Media Licensing also means Iconix has a new partnership with the family of the late "Peanuts" creator, Charles Schulz. They'll receive 20 per cent ownership in the unit that owns "Peanuts" and pay that percentage of the sale price.

United Media Licensing represents other character brands such as Dilbert and Fancy Nancy, but the bulk of its licensing business comes from "Peanuts." The unit's licensed merchandise has annual sales of more than $2 billion.

Scripps first brought the strip to market in 1950. By the time Schulz retired in 1999, Peanuts was in more than 2,600 papers. Schulz died in February 2000.

Scripps said the cash deal will close by the end of the second quarter.

The newspaper publisher and TV station owner announced in February it was exploring a sale.

Iconix, formerly known as Candie's, owns and licenses brands such as Joe Boxer, London Fog, Starter and Mudd. The company, based in New York, licenses its brands to retailesr, wholesalers and suppliers.

Scripps will still own United Media's syndication operations, so it will continue to syndicate comic strips and editorial features.

"The Peanuts characters have been our entertaining co-workers and the Schulz family has been our trusted partner for nearly 60 years. But this is the right move for all involved as we go our separate ways in recognition of changing times and new strategies," said Scripps CEO Rich Boehne.

Neil Cole, Iconix CEO, said the purchase moves the company away from being one focused solely on fashion into new realms that include theme parks, media and financial institutions.

"Peanuts now has the best of both worlds," said Schulz's son, Craig Schulz. "Family ownership and the vision and resources of Iconix to perpetuate what my father created throughout the next century with all the goodwill his lovable characters bring." (www.telegraph.co.uk)

Olivia Munn Gets Naked for PETA Circus Protest

Furthering PETA's bold tradition of racy, message-sending ads, a very nude Olivia Munn is imploring people to "boycott the circus."

"When you look at something like the circus, everyone's laughing and there's color and music and everything seems so great," Munn tells PETA. "But when you go right behind that door and the elephants are in these crates all day long and then they're getting shocked and beat just so they can get up and dance around on a ball... it was just so sickening. I was brought to tears." (www.popeater.com)

Police seize computers from Gizmodo editor

The Gizmodo-iPhone saga continues.

Gizmodo, the technology blog that recently published details about Apple's next-generation iPhone after paying $5,000 to get its hands on the device, posted documents today showing that police raided one of its editor's homes.

A search warrant posted by Gizmodo says police on Friday seized computers, cameras, hard drives, business cards and computer servers from the home of Jason Chen, the site's editor who last week published details about Apple's unreleased smartphone.

The warrant, issued by a judge in California's San Mateo County, says police were able to raid Chen's home because they had reason to believe his computers were used to commit a felony. The warrant makes specific reference to the unreleased iPhone 4 and gives police the authority to look for e-mails and other documentation related to the gadget.

Gawker Media, which owns Gizmodo, published a statement saying the raid was unlawful because of journalistic protections. Chen works from home, so his house should be protected as newsrooms are, the statement says.

In an account posted on Gizmodo, Chen says he returned home from dinner to find police searching his house.

Chen, who apparently has not been arrested or charged with a crime, says his door was kicked down as part of the search.

For background, you can find Gizmodo's account of how the blog acquired the unreleased iPhone here. (cnn.com)

Lady Gaga In Esquire: Shows Butt, Gets Racy (PHOTOS)

Lady Gaga's old friend Brendan Sullivan wrote a piece about her early days for Esquire's 'Women We Love' issue. He says she knew from the beginning where she was headed:

Back in the summer of 2007, there was a night when she popped out of a cake and sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" for my then boss, the owner of Beauty Bar Manhattan. It was fitting, somehow -- the Marilyn reference. I'll quote something she said to me one day around that time as directly as I can: "No one in the world knows who I am, but they are going to want to know who I am. My first time ever on TV I want to be on a huge show where I play one song. I'm going to come out onstage in my underwear and show the world that here I am and I don't give a ffffuck what anyone thinks of me."



There are also some never-before-seen photos, including those below of Gaga "trying to figure out the difference between showing 'ass' and showing 'cheek,'" and mounting a woman from behind. (http://www.huffingtonpost.com)

'The Losers' Movie Review

On paper, Sylvain White’s ensemble thriller The Losers doesn’t display much promise. Its budget (around $25 million) is miniscule by action-movie standards; its cast, apart from female lead Zoe Saldana, is unexceptional; and its plot, about a group of disgraced Special Forces operatives who seek revenge against the shady arms dealer (Jason Patric) who had them framed, is hardly original. And yet The Losers makes for a surprisingly entertaining ride, an apt prelude to the summer blockbuster season. Call it The B-Team.

Though based on a graphic novel (what Hollywood movie today isn’t?), The Losers boasts no superheroes, just a quintet of mercenaries with complementary skills and catchy names like Cougar and Pooch. Presumed dead after being double-crossed during a black ops mission in the Bolivian jungle, they languish in a third-world limbo until a mysterious woman named Aisha (Saldana) approaches their leader, Clay (Jeffrey Dean Morgan), with an enticing opportunity.

The Losers establishes a lively pace from the outset, and with the exception of one appallingly disjointed planning scene, director White adroitly handles the challenges of a plus-size cast. Save for a few extraneous twists that mar the film’s second half, screenwriters James Vanderbilt and Peter Berg maintain a straightforward storyline, keeping the tone determinedly light (always best when dealing with the constraints of a PG-13 rating) but never too cartoonish -- at least not by comic book-movie standards.

Morgan, who previously underwhelmed in Zack Snyder’s doomed Watchmen adaptation, isn’t the ideal choice to headline the film’s male cast, and he appears hopelessly overmatched by Saldana. This wouldn’t be so much of a problem if The Losers didn’t try to sell us on a hastily-hatched romantic subplot between the two, which serves only to provide us with a few scantily-clad glimpses of the sultry Avatar star. Needless to say, there are worse sins a filmmaker can commit.

The only aspect of The Losers that truly vexed me was the performance of one of its castmembers. I doubt that Joe Johnston, director of the upcoming Captain America adaptation, caught a screening of the this film before he chose to award Chris Evans the coveted starring role in the big-budget comic-book flick. Because if he had, I’m certain he’d have chosen differently. Evans’ clownish wiseass routine is instantly and perpetually grating. Even when delivering the most innocuous of line readings, he radiates a natural douchiness that no Super Serum can fix. (http://www.hollywood.com)

Obama to Wall Street: Do not Fight Financial Reform

President Obama also directed attention to an ongoing and enormously sensitive issue for Americans - multi-million dollar salaries, bonuses and other compensation paid to industry executives.

Comparing the U.S. economy to a house on shifting sands, President Barack Obama has appealed to the U.S. financial industry to support reforms he describes as vital to avoiding another economic collapse. The president spoke in New York.

Aiming his appeal directly at the financial industry and skeptics within it, and at Republican critics in Congress, the president warned of the danger of a repeat of economic collapse.

Calling the financial crisis the outcome of a failure of responsibility from Wall Street to Washington, he said the time has come to seize the moment to make fundamental changes in the rules of the financial road.

"It is essential that we learn the lessons of this crisis, so we do not doom ourselves to repeat it," said the president. "And make no mistake, that is exactly what will happen if we allow this moment to pass. That is an outcome that is unacceptable to me and it is unacceptable to you, the American people."

With many, but not all, of the most prominent executives of Wall Street firms present, the president outlined key aspects of legislation the Senate will debate in coming days.

These include steps to impose new oversight and controls on hedge funds and complex financial instruments known as derivatives, and protections for consumers of financial products.

Of particular importance would be a system to ensure that troubled financial companies could be dismantled in an orderly way without posing the kind of systemic risk they did in 2008.

Calling the Senate bill and one the House of Representatives approved last year a significant improvement over flawed rules now in place, he said changes would be advantageous for the industry and the country.

The president took aim at the tens of millions of dollars and hundreds of financial industry lobbyists who have descended on Capitol Hill in recent weeks attempting to urge lawmakers to oppose the legislation.

"I am sure that some of these lobbyists work for you and they are doing what they are being paid to do. But I am here today, specifically when I speak to the titans of industry here, because I want to urge you to join us, instead of fighting us in this effort," he said.

President Obama also directed attention to an ongoing and enormously sensitive issue for Americans - multi-million dollar salaries, bonuses and other compensation paid to industry executives.

"Some of the salaries and bonuses we have seen created perverse incentives to take reckless risks that contributed to the crisis. It is what helped lead to a relentless focus on a company's next quarter, to the detriment of its next year or decade," he said.

Critics say the Senate measure would amount to an authorization for continuing government bailouts of the financial industry.

On Capitol Hill, minority Republicans have softened opposition to Senate legislation, but negotiations continue on provisions. Democrats hope for a vote by next week. (voanews)

Noureen DeWulf Is A Hot Indian-American-Muslim

Actress Noureen DeWulf showed up to the L.A. premiere of "The Back-Up Plan" looking voluptuous and exotic in a strapless white dress.

Noureen recently appeared in Matthew Mcconaughey's film "Ghosts of Girlfriends Past" and the Lifetime miniseries "Maneater." She also appeared in "Entourage" and Jeremy Piven's movie "The Goods."

She was born in New York City to traditional Indian Muslim Parents and grew up in Georgia before going to school in Boston and then relocating to Los Angeles.

That makes Noureen an Indian-Muslim-American-southerner-now-west-coast-lover.

She most recently starred in "The Taqwacores," about a Pakastani-American engineering student who falls in with a tightly-knit group of punk-rocker Muslims.(http://www.starpulse.com)

iPad BAN Hits Israel: Tablet Blocked Over Wi-Fi Concerns

Israel has banned imports of Apple Inc.'s hottest new product, the iPad, citing concerns the powerful gadget's wireless signals could disrupt other devices.

Customs officials said Thursday they have already confiscated about 10 of the lightweight tablet computers since Israel announced the new regulations this week. The ban prevents anyone - even tourists - from bringing iPads into Israel until officials certify that they comply with local transmitter standards.

The U.S. Federal Communications Commission allows devices with Wi-Fi capability to broadcast at higher power levels than are allowed in Europe and Israel - meaning that the iPad's stronger signal could throw off others' wireless connections, Schubert said.

"If you operate equipment in a frequency band which is different from the others that operate on that frequency band, then there will be interference," said Nati Schubert, a senior deputy director for the Communications Ministry. "We don't care where people buy their equipment. ... But without regulation, you would have chaos."

Some Israelis successfully got the popular devices into Israel before the ban.

Amnon, a software developer who legally brought an iPad into Israel but asked that his last name be withheld to avoid potential government repercussions, said he and other high-tech businessmen need the iPad to develop new applications for the device.

"There are several hundred people in Israel who make their livelihood developing apps ... and there are going to be companies that suffer, because they can't deliver the services they're supposed to be delivering," he said.


The iPad combines the features of a notebook computer with the touch-pad functions of the iPod. It went on sale in the U.S. on April 3. Apple this week delayed its international launch until May 10, citing heavy sales in the U.S.

Israeli officials said the ban has nothing to do with trade and is simply a precaution to assure that the iPad doesn't affect wireless devices already in use in Israel.

Although Israeli standards are similar to those in many European nations, Israel is the only country so far to officially ban imports.

Schubert said he expects the problem to be resolved as Apple moves closer to the international release.

In the meantime, confiscated iPads will be held by customs - for a daily storage fee - until their owners depart the country or ship the gadgets back to the U.S. at their own expense.

Apple's chief distributor in Israel, iDigital, declined to comment on the Communications Ministry's decision, and messages left at Apple's headquarters in California were not immediately returned.

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com

About Earth Day

Earth Day is celebrated in 190 countries by one billion people.
Earth Day Canada is also celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and more than six million Canadians are expected to participate.

Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson and Harvard University grad Denis Hayes spearheaded Earth Day on April 22, 1970, uniting 20 million Americans. It was the largest, organized civic demonstration U.S. history.

Earth Day was planned over seven months, on a budget of $124,000. Nelson insisted the day be based on grassroots movements across the country and rejected a top-down, national approach

The first Earth Day led to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species act in the U.S.

In 1990, on the 20th anniversary of Earth Day, founder Gaylord Nelson had this to say: “I don’t want to have to come limping back here twenty years from now on the 40th anniversary of Earth Day ..... and have the embarrassing responsibility of telling your sons and daughters that you didn’t do your duty — that you didn’t become the conservation generation that we hoped for.”

source:www.nelsonearthday.net
photo : www.dohosurf.org/

'Twilight's' Carlisle Cullen Is The Richest Fictional Character

Forbes recently released its 2010 edition of "Fictional 15," which ranks fiction's wealthiest characters. Topping the list is Carlisle Cullen, the patriarch from the "Twilight" novels and films.

Cullen, age 370, is worth $34.1 billion, mostly due to his adopted daughter Alice, who picks stocks based on her ability to see the future.

Other wealthy characters and their estimated net worth:

Scrooge McDuck ($33.5 billion)
Richie Rich ($11.5 billion)
Tony Stark ($8.8 billion)
Jed Clampett ($7.2 billion)
Adrian Veidt ($7 billion)
Bruce Wayne ($6.5 billion)
The Tooth Fairy ($3.9 billion)
Thurston Thomas Howell III ($3 billion)
Sir Topham Hatt ($2 billion)

What is a misogynist?

The word Misogynist was uttered on tonight’s episode of Glee. I was able to catch the first part of Glee as it followed right after American Idol. Will Schuester (Matthew James Morrison) mentioned the word while telling his boys about being sexist. He also gave a definition of the term misogynist.

So what is a misogynist? It is from the word misogyny, meaning hatred (or contempt) of women or girls.

http://dailypostal.com

Elin Nordegren is Ready To Divorce With Tiger Wood

Tiger Woods‘ wife Elin Nordegren is ready to end her five-and-a-half year marriage to the philandering sportsman.

Sources say the former Swedish model can’t forgive the golfer for cheating on her with a string of different women.

“Elin and Tiger have been talking daily now,” an insider told FOX News‘ Pop Tarts column.

“But it is mostly divorce talk.

“Elin is just staying as strong as she possibly can.”

Sources recently revealed that Elin has been talking to pals about divorcing Tiger.

“Divorce is something she’s talking about,” a source said earlier this month.

“No one knows if she’s going to go through with it. No one is sure if she knows if she’s going to go through with it.”

Elin was recently visited by a divorce attorney at the house she’s currently renting in Orlando.

According to reports, the legal eagle spent several hours with Nordegren at the property.

“She’s switched lawyers,” a source said. “Her new lawyer is from out of town.”

source: http://www.showbizspy.com/

Robert Downey Jr. could be the Wizard in “Wizard of Oz”

Robert Downey Jr. is one of our favorite actors. Not only does he come across as so poised in the media, but he is just a great actor overall. With the big release of “Iron Man 2″ coming up soon, you can bet that he is going to be Hollywood’s hottest commodity in the coming months. While he is already eyeing a “Sherlock Holmes” sequel, his next role looks like it might be a part out of an old classic story.

Production Weekly posted to their twitter account earlier today the following tweet:

“Sam Mendes is the front runner to direct “Oz The Great And Powerful” by Mitchell Kapner, with Robert Downey, Jr. circling to play the Wizard”

We’re not quite sure how he is going to find time to do this, but we think he could be a great wizard.

source: http://www.hollywoodnews.com
photo:http://jaded4good.files.wordpress.com

Fraud case upstages Goldman earnings

Goldman Sachs on Tuesday failed to stem the fallout from US civil fraud charges levied against it, as bumper first-quarter results were overshadowed by investors' concerns over the case's implications for Wall Street's premier investment bank.

Goldman's woes were compounded by news that UK regulators had launched their own probe, calls by some European politicians for governments to stop working with the bank, and the emergence of fresh details on the security at the centre of the case.

Despite announcing better-than-expected first-quarter earnings of $3.5bn, Goldman saw its shares fall more than 2 per cent.

On Friday, the Securities and Exchange Commission accused Goldman and one of its vice-presidents of hiding from investors that the hedge fund Paulson & Co had influenced the composition of a mortgage- backed security it wanted to bet against.

Goldman executives on Tuesday forcefully denied the allegations and said for the first time that Fabrice Tourre, the employee who was charged by the SEC, had told one investor that Paulson was "short", betting that the security would fail.

The SEC has accused Goldman of misleading investors by saying the fund wanted to buy into the deal.

"We would never intentionally mislead anyone, certainly not our clients or a counterparty," Greg Palm, Goldman's general counsel, said.

"Our employee believes he indicated Paulson was on the short side."

Mr Palm said the sharp losses incurred by the collateralised debt obligation, a mortgage-backed security, were due to the collapse of the US housing market, rather than the product's composition.

However, a table included by Goldman in its September response to the SEC shows that the CDO incurred writedowns in less than a month compared with an average of 1.7 months for similar deals.

Goldman insiders say this was due to the timing of the CDO, just before the end of the US housing bubble in April 2007. But the data could boost the SEC case.

Goldman on Tuesday left the door open to a settlement, a common occurrence in US regulatory cases, but surprised analysts when it said it had lost more than $100m on the CDO, three days after stating its net loss was $75m. David Viniar, the finance chief, said Goldman had found other losses.

The UK's Financial Services Authority on Tuesday launched a formal probe into Goldman's London unit.

source: cnn.com

3G Ipad Goes On Sale April 30

The 3G version of the iPad, which connects to the Internet over AT&T's wireless network, will go on sale in the U.S. on April 30, Apple announced Tuesday.

The suggested retail price is $629 for 16GB, $729 for 32GB and $829 for 64GB.

The Wi-Fi + 3G model is priced higher than the Wi-Fi-only model released in the U.S. on April 3 because its 3G capability will allow users to surf the Web without a Wi-Fi connection.

Customers who have not pre-ordered a 3G iPad will have to wait until 5 p.m. on April 30 to get their hands on the new model.

“Apple retail stores will offer a free Personal Setup service to every customer who buys an iPad at the store,” according to the company's press release.

All versions of the iPad will go on sale at the end of May in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, Apple said.

source: cnn.com

Obama Likely to be Main Issue in Midterm Elections

Political experts say 2010 could be a difficult year for President Barack Obama and his Democratic Party allies in Congress. Most analysts predict that Republicans will make gains in this year's midterm congressional elections. And they say the president's popularity and his health care reform plan will be major issues in the campaign.

At the recent monthly meeting of the Red Rock Democratic Club on the outskirts of Las Vegas, local party members expressed concerns about President Obama's declining popularity and its possible impact on the November elections.

"Popularity is down. It is down throughout the country and it is down here in Nevada," said Democrat John Punticello.

Others, like Tracy Lawrence, see good news for Democrats in the wake of the successful battle in Congress for health care reform. "Although the health care reform isn't everything we wanted, it is a step. And I think his popularity is going to start to bounce back, I do, because he finally got it through. And I don't think a lot of people thought he could at this point," he said.

Local liberal talk show host Sir Cooper is trying to stir Democrats out of the doldrums on his radio show. He is urging Democrats to get tougher as the election draws near. "They are not as forceful as I would like them to be. See, when the Republicans want something, they go after it. They don't care if they have to run over their mother, their sister or the little kid to get to it. They will go from Point A to Point B to accomplish their goal," he said.

It was a different scene across town a few days later as Republicans gathered at a country-western bar to listen to conservative talk show host Roger Hedgecock.

Among those who came was Republican Sharron Angle. She hopes to win a U.S. Senate seat in Nevada and intends to make President Obama the key issue. "Everything that Mr. Obama has done since he got into the presidency has really been detrimental for small businesses, for the working man, for anyone in America who wants their constitutional government back," he said.

Angle is one of several Republicans hoping to win a June primary to challenge Senator Harry Reid in November. Reid is the Senate Democratic leader who played a key role in passing President Obama's health care reform law.

Reid is trailing in public opinion polls in Nevada. But he said little about his race at a recent Democratic dinner in Las Vegas. "There isn't a day that goes by that I don't realize that I am not there for any reason other than I have a contract with the people of the state of Nevada. And I have chosen to try to renew that contract and I will need your help to do that," he said.

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto, a Democrat, is also running for re-election this year. She says voters will be looking to candidates from both parties for help in coping with a weak economy. "You know, we have a high unemployment rate; we have the highest foreclosure rate. Those are issues that are serious for everyone and they want answers. They want people who are going to come out and talk to them about how they are going to address those issues, how they are going to create jobs," he said.

Surveys in Nevada show Reid trailing several possible Republican challengers. But Cortez-Masto and other Democrats say they would never count Harry Reid out this early in the race, noting he has won several tough election battles in the past.

source: voanews.com

Gizmodo names Apple coder who lost "iPhone 4G"

It was all due to beer, a simple human mistake, and a $5,000 payment

Gizmodo has revealed that the person who lost the purported next generation iPhone, images of which created a buzz on the Web Monday, is a 27-year-old Apple software engineer named Gray Powell who probably will never again be as famous, or notorious, as he is right now.

On Thursday night, March 18, Powell was enjoying apparently more than one imported beer at Gourmet Haus Staudt, a beer garden in Redwood City, Calif. Gizmodo's account: "He was happy. The place was great. The beer was excellent. 'I underestimated how good German beer is,' he typed into the next-generation iPhone he was testing on the field, cleverly disguised as an iPhone 3GS. It was his last Facebook update from the secret iPhone. It was the last time he ever saw the iPhone, right before he abandoned it on bar stool, leaving to go home."

Oddly, the Engadget website had a similar overall story on Wednesday 17 April (the bar was in San Jose, Calif. and the mystery device was found on the floor), and a grainy photo.
Someone eventually picked up the "iPhone 4G" in the beer garden, and apparently eventually contacted Gizmodo, which paid $5,000 to get the device, as confirmed by Nick Denton, head of Gawker Media, which owns the Gizmodo blog. Earlier on Monday April 19, Denton had tweeted "Does Gizmodo pay for exclusives? Too right!"

The person who eventually picked up the iPhone told Gizmodo that someone else had asked him if the phone, lying unattended on the bar stool was his. It wasn't, nor did it belong to anyone else. The phone finder said that at first the handset looked just like a standard iPhone 3GS. Among the applications was the iPhone Facebook app, where the finder also found Powell's Facebook page.

That detail sheds a new light on the transaction between Gizmodo and the finder of Powell's phone. It was only the next morning that the finder realized the handset was different. He never contacted Powell, but contacted Gizmodo instead and eventually negotiated a $5,000 pay day for someone else's property.

Gizmodo on Monday posted pictures and a video of the new phone, which seems to have a glass-like ceramic casing. A reader alerted DaringFireball's John Gruber to a 2006 Apple patent for ceramic enclosures for mobile devices. The non-metallic casing is essentially transparent to radio signals.

According to the most recent Gizmodo blog post, Powell graduated from North Carolina State University in 2006, and Gizmodo considers him a "talented amateur photographer" based on Powell's Flickr photostream, which includes several pictures of beer.

Around 6 pm Eastern Time Monday April 19, Denton tweeted again: "iPhone update. We think we've identified the sorry Apple engineer who left the next-gen phone at the bar. Calling in a min."

The story includes the brief transcript of the civil exchange between Gizmodo's John Herrman and Powell. "We have a device, and we think that maybe you misplaced it at a bar, and we would like to give it back," Herrman says, revealing Gizmodo's intentions for the phone for the first time. Gruber had said on his blog that his sources indicated that Apple considered the phone "stolen" not "lost."

Powell replied: "Yeah, I forwarded your email [asking him if it was his iPhone], someone should be contacting you."

The Gizmodo post was written by Jesus Diaz who condescendingly concludes: "He [Powell] sounded tired and broken. But at least, he's alive. And apparently, he may still be working at Apple. As it should be, because it's just [an expletive] iPhone. It can happen to everyone, Gray Powell, Phil Schiller, you, me, and even Steve Jobs. Unlike Apple's legendary impenetrable security, breached by the power of German beer and one single human mistake."

And, of course, $5,000.

source: http://www.networkworld.com/
photo : www.computerworld.com

Footage released of erupting Icelandic volcano

(source:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Pazzn44zDs)

Kim Kadarshian a twit, say cat lovers

TV celebrity Kim Kardashian says she would never do anything to harm an animal, after she was slammed online for posting a photo of herself on Twitter carrying a cat by the scruff of its neck.

The American socialite, who stars in the reality TV show Keeping Up with the Kardashians, posted a photo from a Sydney photo shoot yesterday with the caption "good kitty cat".

The photo, viewed more than 153,000 times, was slammed by some of her online fans and animal rights group PETA.

"Love you but couldn't you have held the cat a better way... :/," said Strawbery182.

"I hope she only held that cat like that for a second. Because that can seriously harm the poor kitty. Don't get me wrong. I love kim but I would never do that to the poor kitten," CPID commented.

PETA Australia spokesman Jason Baker said Kardashian "isn't the only person who mistakenly thinks that because a mother cat picks up her kittens by the scruff of the neck that a supportive hand under the rump isn't needed".

"But I'll bet plenty of fans have let her know - nicely, we hope!" he added.

The RSPCA said it would be happy to advice Kardashian on "proper animal handling techniques".

"While it's not cool to scruff a cat, ideally Kim should be supporting the cat's body weight," a spokeswoman for the animal charity said.

"Kim nor the cat looked comfortable and the RSPCA would be happy to advice her on proper animal handling techniques."

Kardashian, who is rumoured to be dating Real Madrid footballer Cristiano Ronaldo, was quick to respond to the criticism, saying in an online blog that the cat was "not harmed in any way".

"I have been getting negative comments regarding the way I was holding the kitty, but rest assured, the owner and vet were on set and showed me how to pick him up," she wrote.

"I love animals and would never do anything to harm any animals."

Kardashian, 29, is in Australia to launch a new Optus mobile phone. The mobile phone carrier is also a sponsor of RSPCA through its employee volunteer program.

An Optus spokeswoman said the photo shoot was not organised by Optus and it had nothing further to add to Kardashian's reply.

Source: smh.com.au

RACHEL WEISZ BEGGED DIRECTOR FOR MASTURBATION SCENE IN FILM!

RACHEL Weisz has a dirty mind!

The British actress has revealed how she “begged” Alejandro Amenabar — the director her of her 2009 movie Agora — to let her film a masturbation scene for the film — but he refused.

Weisz plays real-life fourth-century Egyptian philosopher Hypatia of Alexandria in the Spanish historical drama.

“There’s a style of acting that can come with period films where everybody just freezes up,” Rachel told Britain’s Sunday Times newspaper.

“But they were drinking and f**king and doing maths or whatever else they were doing. They were just people.

“I actually told Alejandro they should shoot a scene where she was looking at the stars and masturbating.

“I suggested a PG version, where her hand just went out of frame, and you’re watching her come, looking at the stars.

“He wouldn’t go for it. I begged him. I wanted to know about that stuff. What’s up? What’s her sexuality? Where’s her deviancy?”

Weisz — who has three-year-old son Henry with director fiancee Darren Aronofsky — recently insisted she leads an “ordinary life”.

Of course,” she said, “it’s not ordinary to get dressed in frocks to walk down red carpets and travel all over the world and stay in five-star hotels.

“I’m not working in a factory. But I drop Henry off at school, I pick him up. I try my hardest to keep everyone together.

“I am interested in playing extra-ordinary women, but I have an ordinary life.” Rachel Weisz.
(http://www.showbizspy.com)

Obama Depends NASA Program

President Obama defended his newly-announced recommendations for NASA, addressing the grievances of some in the space industry that the plan -- which cancels some projects announced during the Bush administration -- would compromise the United States' leadership in space exploration.

After announcing earlier in the week that it would be cancelling George W. Bush's Constellation space program, which was geared towards manned missions to the Moon and eventually Mars, the Obama administration was met with unusual resistence from notable astronauts including Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.

One of the most contentious parts of the new program is the scaled-down version of the Ares I and V launch vehicles and the Orion crew capsule -- technology proposed under the Constellation program that would be used to tranport astronauts to low-Earth orbit and the Moon. Without NASA-owned capsules, American astronauts will be forced to use commercial space transportation, a concept abhored by some in the space industry.

Obama pinpointed those concerns in his speech in front of 200 NASA employees, astronauts, and members of Congress. "I recognize that some have said it is unfeasible or unwise to work with the private sector in this way. I disagree." He added that the investment in private companies would spur economic growth. "By buying the services of space transportation -- rather than the vehicles themselves -- we can continue to ensure rigorous safety standards are met. But we will also accelerate the pace of innovations as companies -- from young startups to established leaders -- compete to design and build and launch new means of carrying people and materials out of our atmosphere."

Obama defended the reasons for cancelling the Ares and Orion programs, referring to the recommendations of a "panel of respected non-partisan experts charged with looking at these issues closely" who concluded that "the old strategy ... was not fulfilling its promise in many ways."

The panel he referred to is the 10-person Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, also known as the Augustine Committee because it was chaired by former Lockheed Martin president Norman Augustine. In a study published last year, the commission concluded that "the U.S. human spaceflight program appears to be on an unsustainable trajectory" and that "it is perpetuating the perilous practice of pursuing goals that do not match allocated resources."

Citing the pace of development for the Ares I and V programs and the Orion capsule, and their ability to transport astronauts and equipment to the International Space Station (ISS), the commission wrote, "The original 2005 schedule showed Ares I and Orion available to support the ISS in 2012, two years after scheduled Shuttle retirement. The current schedule now shows that date as 2015."

To compensate for that lag, Obama's plan proposes building a new heavy-lift rocket that would be completed sooner than Ares and Orion would have been. In addition, the plan increases NASA's budget by $6 billion over 5 years. And, as Obama said today, it will add more than 2,500 jobs in Florida's Kennedy Space Center area.

"This is the next chapter that we can write together here at NASA," Obama said. "We will partner with industry. We will invest in cutting-edge research and technology. We will set far-reaching milestones and provide the resources to reach those milestones. And step by step, we will push the boundaries not only of where we can go but what we can do."President Obama defended his newly-announced recommendations for NASA, addressing the grievances of some in the space industry that the plan -- which cancels some projects announced during the Bush administration -- would compromise the United States' leadership in space exploration.

After announcing earlier in the week that it would be cancelling George W. Bush's Constellation space program, which was geared towards manned missions to the Moon and eventually Mars, the Obama administration was met with unusual resistence from notable astronauts including Neil Armstrong, the first man on the moon.

One of the most contentious parts of the new program is the scaled-down version of the Ares I and V launch vehicles and the Orion crew capsule -- technology proposed under the Constellation program that would be used to tranport astronauts to low-Earth orbit and the Moon. Without NASA-owned capsules, American astronauts will be forced to use commercial space transportation, a concept abhored by some in the space industry.

Obama pinpointed those concerns in his speech in front of 200 NASA employees, astronauts, and members of Congress. "I recognize that some have said it is unfeasible or unwise to work with the private sector in this way. I disagree." He added that the investment in private companies would spur economic growth. "By buying the services of space transportation -- rather than the vehicles themselves -- we can continue to ensure rigorous safety standards are met. But we will also accelerate the pace of innovations as companies -- from young startups to established leaders -- compete to design and build and launch new means of carrying people and materials out of our atmosphere."

Obama defended the reasons for cancelling the Ares and Orion programs, referring to the recommendations of a "panel of respected non-partisan experts charged with looking at these issues closely" who concluded that "the old strategy ... was not fulfilling its promise in many ways."

The panel he referred to is the 10-person Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee, also known as the Augustine Committee because it was chaired by former Lockheed Martin president Norman Augustine. In a study published last year, the commission concluded that "the U.S. human spaceflight program appears to be on an unsustainable trajectory" and that "it is perpetuating the perilous practice of pursuing goals that do not match allocated resources."

Citing the pace of development for the Ares I and V programs and the Orion capsule, and their ability to transport astronauts and equipment to the International Space Station (ISS), the commission wrote, "The original 2005 schedule showed Ares I and Orion available to support the ISS in 2012, two years after scheduled Shuttle retirement. The current schedule now shows that date as 2015."

To compensate for that lag, Obama's plan proposes building a new heavy-lift rocket that would be completed sooner than Ares and Orion would have been. In addition, the plan increases NASA's budget by $6 billion over 5 years. And, as Obama said today, it will add more than 2,500 jobs in Florida's Kennedy Space Center area.

"This is the next chapter that we can write together here at NASA," Obama said. "We will partner with industry. We will invest in cutting-edge research and technology. We will set far-reaching milestones and provide the resources to reach those milestones. And step by step, we will push the boundaries not only of where we can go but what we can do."
(http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com)