|
|
|
Top news on 4 August 2009 |
A little-discussed benefit of health care reform
Employee mobility. Right now, millions of professional and blue collar employees are remaining in current jobs, not because it's their preference, but because of their health care plan. The employee knows that a job shift with a health plan shift could jeopardize coverage or benefits, hence they stay put.
Computer-trading worries grow as NYSE builds new datacenter
The NYSE is building a massive datacenter in New Jersey that should significantly boost the percentage of stock market activity that's nothing but computers trading against one another for millisecond profits. Critics are worried that more such trading could destabilize the markets, or worse.
Some CEOs still rake in $1.4M in perks ? others get none
While anger over lavish CEO pay continues to simmer, here's another piece of the compensation equation: perks, be they jets, clubs, personal security or even physicals. Naturally, Oracle's Larry Ellison tops the list at $1.4 million. Opting instead for the PR value of going perk-less are the likes of Steve Jobs, Steve Ballmer and John Chambers.
Surveillance sandpit tests future Mars rover
In preparation for the European Space Agency's ExoMars mission to the Red Planet in 2018, the agency's engineers are playing in a large sandpit in Noordwijk in the Netherlands.
Microsoft Details How to Port IPhone Apps to Windows Mobile
Microsoft has published a case study detailing how to port an iPhone app to Windows Mobile as it prepares to launch a mobile apps store.
Japanese 'Robot Suit' To Help Disabled
A Japanese company has unveiled a robotic suit that is designed to help people with weak limbs or limited physical range to walk and move like an able-bodied person.
Leafs fans petition for return of old-school logo
The logo ? a 35-pointed maple leaf, with rounder edges than the current, 11-point leaf ? graced the team's jerseys as they won nine Stanley Cups, before being replaced at the end of the 1967 regular season. The team hasn't won the Cup since.
A first look at KDE 4.3
KDE 4.3 will be released within the next few days, and the latest release candidate proves that the KDE 4 is finally ready for prime time.
Scientists Unlock the Key to Human Fertility
Scientists at Leeds and Bradford have discovered a unique ?DNA signature? in human sperm, which may act as a key that unlocks an egg?s fertility and triggers new life.
Pandora Partners With...Clear Channel?
Streaming music service Pandora has entered into an ad sales partnership with a subsidiary of media conglomerate Clear Channel, a move that should help ensure the service's long ...
Brain Exercises May Delay Dementia
Activities that keep the brain active, such as reading, writing and playing card games, may delay the precipitous memory declines that define dementia, a new study suggests. Dementia is a decline in mental capabilities, especially memory and functioning, that can be caused by specific diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, as well as......
7 Terrifying Giant Versions of Disgusting Critters
Goddamn you, Mother Nature.
Hurt Sea Turtle Gets Plastic Flippers
A loggerhead sea turtle seemingly injured by a shark was recently fitted with trial prosthetics as part of efforts to give the rare animal fully functioning flippers.
A Mafia Boss Breaks Silence on an Infamous Assassination
The 1992 murder of anti-mob magistrate Paolo Borsellino shook Italy. Now the mafia kingpin convicted for masterminding the hit breaks his silence.
Pirate Bay Spokesman Peter Sunde Resigns
After many drama-filled turbulent years, Peter Sunde, the infamous Pirate Bay spokesman, has resigned. Citing a complete lack of time, Peter says he wants to concentrate on new things, including several projects and a book. ?I am leaving a role in order to be a person instead,? he said.
8 Tools to Prep for the Apocalypse
While no season is safe from disasters?or the apocalypse?late summer seems particularly inviting to the demons of disaster (with its floods, drought, hurricanes, etc.). Here are 8 steps (and tools) to prepare for the worst.
Telecommuting: The Ultimate Green Job?
Green jobs. You hear all about them lately, but what are they, exactly? This is where the problem lies; there is no concrete definition of a green job and if you ask five different people to define it, you'll likely get five different answers.
Julia Child's Copper Pots Come Home
Just before the culinary queen turned 90 and moved to California, she gave the Cambridge, Mass., kitchen where she filmed three of her TV shows to the Smithsonian Institution. Curators at the National Museum of American History reassembled it exactly as it was - except for one major part.
What Other Superhero Roles Was Scarlett Johansson Offered?
According to Johansson, a year prior to the start of pre-production on Iron Man 2, the actress met with Jon Favreau and Marvel?s Kevin Feige to discuss characters in the Marvel universe that might be a good cinematic fit for her.
White House ?Cyber Czar? Resigns; Let?s Not Replace Her
The White House's acting cyber czar just resigned, with no permanent replacement in sight. Which is just fine. We can make more progress on the network security front without such a ?czar.?
37 Outrageous 911 Calls
From a kid calling 911 for help on his Math homework to some lady demanding police assistance to force Burger King to make her food right, these are some of the most outrageous 911 calls you will hear.
DVD-Ripping Appeal Intersects Real's Ruling
While RealNetworks waits for a federal judge's decision on whether it can sell its DVD-ripping software, several California appellate judges must reach a similar verdict ? on a company that RealNetworks used as a legal shield.
Artificial Sperm Not So Hot
Three weeks ago we told you of the brouhaha surrounding researchers in England who announced they'd created sperm from human stem cells. Critics at the time sniffed to reporters that the would-be sperm-makers were over-claiming. That the wiggling cells in a dish indeed had tails, but there was no proof ...
DIY Eee Keyboard is big, beautiful, and highly coveted
The ASUS Eee Keyboard is thin, sleek, and has a touchscreen pad. This do-it-yourself is bulky, uses a green backlight, and has instead a wireless mouse and numpad.
Sanyo Praying Area Man Doesn't Send In Rebate Form
Following Dayton, OH resident David Cinelli's purchase of a CLT-A230M cordless phone from his local Best Buy, electronics manufacturer Sanyo was plunged into chaos Monday over fears that Cinelli might attempt to redeem the $40 rebate coupon that came with the phone.
Monster Hunter 3 revitalises Wii sales in Japan
Monster Hunter 3 sold over half a million copies this week in Japan and roughly tripled Wii hardware sales - it will be the first third party million seller on a Nintendo console in Japan since the SNES in 1996!
Hells Angels History of Tattoos Leather & Thundering Harleys
A tide of tattoos, leather and thousands of thundering Harleys will surge? Despite its fame and long history, there is much about the Angels that remains shrouded in mystery?.
8 Multiplayer Weapons That Grind Gamers' Gears
Sometimes in games we encounter things we don't like. Walls, chocobos, annoying town folk are all examples of things we like to avoid. But in this too evolved world of online multiplayer, it's getting more and more difficult to avoid the things that grind our gears and still have a quality gaming experience.
The safety inadequacies of India's fast breeder reactor
India's Department of Atomic Energy plans to build a large fleet of fast breeder nuclear reactors in the coming years. However, many other countries that have experimented with fast reactors have shut down their programs due to technical and safety difficulties. The Indian prototype is similarly flawed, inadequately protected against...
Intel confirms bug in new SSDs, halts shipments
Intel today admitted that its latest line of consumer SSDs suffers from data corruption issues related to setting up a BIOS drive password. The flaw can disable the drive and make data on it inaccessible.
Alex Ovechkin's Game Preparation: Have Sex
In America, journalists are crucified for asking Heisman Trophy winners about their sexual behavior. In Russia ... well, just look at the screen capture from Russia Today's most recent chat with Washington Capitals superstar Alexander Ovechkin.
Hated Real Estate Blogger Now Living in Van Panning for Gold
Meet Casey Serin, a poster child of the subprime real-estate disaster. His notorious blog iamfacingforeclosure.com, documented his unceasing failure, a reliable lightning rod for supporters and "haterz." Now the 27-year-old guy is divorced and living in a van.
Man Running After Bus Delights Bus Occupants - The Onion
Passengers aboard a northbound number 67 bus were reportedly filled with delight and joy Monday as they watched a fellow resident run helplessly after the rapidly departing vehicle.
New Anti-Obama 'Joker' Posters Start Popping Up in LA
A new poster depicting President Obama as a version of Heath Ledger's Joker character in The Dark Knight has appeared in Los Angeles, according to rightwing sources. Blog posters to such online sites as American Thinker and Tammy Bruce are predictably in the throes of political orgasm.
6.9 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Baja California
A 6.9-magnitude earthquake struck off Baja California in Mexico on Monday, the U.S. Geological Survey said.
A Whale of a Controversy (PICS)
Japan's dolphin-hunting industry gets skewered in The Cove, a just-released documentary by director Louie Psihoyos. But after this year's setbacks at the International Whaling Commission's annual meeting, dolphins aren't the only marine mammals that are in trouble. Warning: some of these pictures are pretty graphic.
Studies: Millions of U.S. kids lack Vitamin D
Millions of U.S. children have disturbingly low Vitamin D levels, possibly increasing their risk for bone problems, heart disease, diabetes and other ailments, according to two new studies.
New vaccine could save bees from devastating disorder
Scientists have developed a revolutionary new drug that could solve the problem of Colony Collapse Disorder, the disturbing syndrome that has been wiping out bee communities and threatening agricultural production all over the world.
Kenyan Birth Certificate: Obama Birthers Latch On To Forgery
"Before, they said, 'You don't have anything backing your claims,'" Taitz explained. "Now I have something. In fact, I have posted on the Internet more than Obama has. My birth certificate actually has signatures."Karl Rove responded to the circulation of the new paper on Twitter, saying "I believe this is likely a forgery."
Phelps closes worlds in Rome with 5th gold medal
Michael Phelps had every reason to be satisfied after the Beijing Olympics. Yet he kept insisting there was more to do in the pool.
|
|