SKOTY News

Jennifer Aniston puts name in star on Walk of Fame

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:55:44 +0000

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Actress Jennifer Aniston was honored with a star on Hollywood’s Walk of Fame on Wednesday, the first of the “Friends” actors to receive the emblem of celebrity that she described as “surreal.” “I was born in Sherman Oaks, California. I am a California girl through and through, and I’m sure this is always just sort of been in the back of my mind,” said Aniston at the ceremony. “It probably wasn’t even a dream, it was one of my wildest dreams. I don’t think that I ever even thought that this would be here, this day. …

Study: Colonoscopy cuts colon cancer death risk

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:52:01 +0000

Millions of people have endured a colonoscopy, believing the dreaded exam may help keep them from dying of colon cancer. For the first time, a major study offers clear evidence that it does.

Calif. pledges better mobile privacy disclosures

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:50:48 +0000

California is clamping down on nosy mobile applications, telling them they must give people advance warning if they want to keep pulling sensitive information from smartphones and computer tablets.

High winds, winter weather delay flights in Denver

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:48:38 +0000

Strong gusts Wednesday delayed flights arriving in Denver for part of the day, downed power lines and trees, and fueled two wildland fires in Boulder County.

EU opens door to ‘debt relief’ for north Africa

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:46:07 +0000

European governments have opened the way for a radical offer of “debt relief” for Arab north African and Middle Eastern neighbours, EU and governmental sources told AFP.

At Arizona GOP debate, Romney fights for frontrunner status

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:40:32 +0000

Mitt Romney fought for frontrunner status in front of a live national audience Wednesday night in the last debate before the crucial primaries on Feb. 28 in Michigan and Arizona. In his opening statement at the CNN GOP debate, Romney said “I want to restore America’s promise, and I’m going to do that –” prompting [...]

Tevez could return in two weeks: Mancini

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 06:39:03 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) – The prospect of outcast Carlos Tevez pulling on a Manchester City shirt again moved closer on Wednesday when manager Roberto Mancini said he accepted the Argentine striker’s apology for his behaviour over recent months. Tevez issued an unreserved apology on Tuesday and withdrew his appeal against a gross misconduct charge handed to him by the Premier League leaders after spending most of the past three months in his homelend without permission after a seemingly terminal fall-out with the coach. “I’m happy with what Carlos said. …

Polished London Fashion Week sheds its quirky image

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:55:44 +0000

LONDON (Reuters) – London Fashion Week shook off its traditional image as a mere playground for quirky emerging talent with a display of grown-up elegance for the autumn/winter 2012 season that had leaders of the global fashion pack singing the British capital’s praises. By the close of the shows, top British designers such as Paul Smith, Alexander McQueen’s Sarah Burton and Burberry’s Christopher Bailey had presented catwalk collections which more than suggested that the “edgy” London of yesteryear had matured into a sleek and sophisticated luxury powerhouse. …

FDA: New suppliers to ease 2 cancer drug shortages

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:51:56 +0000

Federal regulators said Tuesday that they’ve approved new suppliers for two crucial cancer drugs, easing critical shortages — at least for the time being — that have left patients and parents frightened about missing life-saving treatments.

Nostalgia Overload: New Tumblr Challenges You to Draw Classic Video Game Maps From Memory

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:50:47 +0000

[More from Mashable: Apple Investigator Has His Doubts About Nightline’s Foxconn Report [INTERVIEW]]

Our Birth Control Undermines Amphibians

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:48:03 +0000

Human oral contraceptives that find their way back into the environment might be having an effect on frog mating. Christopher Intagliata reports.

Autoridades electorales de México multan a boxeador

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:45:56 +0000

El Instituto Federal Electoral de México votó por unanimidad multar al boxeador Juan Manuel Márquez por haber portado el logotipo de un partido político durante una pelea en Las Vegas el año pasado, cuando regía un receso de la entonces campaña política, informó el organismo el miércoles.

Huge rare pink diamond found in Australia

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:42:02 +0000

Mining giant Rio Tinto said it has unearthed a “remarkable” 12.76 carat pink diamond in Australia, the largest of the rare and precious stones ever found in the resources-rich nation.

NASCAR: Travis Pastrana recovering well, awaits debut

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 05:38:53 +0000

NASCAR: Travis Pastrana recovering well, awaits debut

Capsule review of new movie release

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:55:45 +0000

This would provide an intriguing double feature with “Martha Marcy May Marlene.” Both are about people who search for their true selves in woodsy communes, get sucked into the brainwashing and insularity by a charismatic leader and eventually struggle to escape. One of these films contains poop jokes. Guess which one it is. Yes, “Wanderlust” proudly wears its sketch-comedy origins on its sleeve, and that means the gags are as hit-and-miss as you’d imagine. David Wain (“Role Models”) directs from a script he co-wrote with longtime friend and collaborator Ken Marino, but it’s clear that a lot of improv took place, as well. That’s the bread and butter for these guys and their cast members, with whom they’ve worked in the past on TV (“The State,” ”Children’s Hospital”) and in movies (“Wet Hot American Summer,” ”The Ten”). Some jokes get hammered into the ground; others go well past the point of cringe-inducing awkwardness, which is the point. But some do reach the levels of brilliant, unfettered lunacy to which they aspire. Paul Rudd and Jennifer Aniston star as married Manhattanites who find themselves at a hippie enclave known as Elysium. Justin Theroux, Kerri Kenney-Silver, Malin Akerman and Alan Alda are among its drugged-up denizens. R for sexual content, graphic nudity, language and drug use. 98 minutes. Two and a half stars out of four.

New Melanoma Drug May Extend Survival

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:52:22 +0000

WEDNESDAY, Feb. 22 (HealthDay News) — Melanoma that has spread to other areas of the body is almost always fatal, but a new drug appears to double survival for those with a certain type of this skin cancer, researchers report.

X2Engine Releases Next Generation Open Source CRM Application Drops GPL for BSD Open Source License

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:50:35 +0000

X2Engine today announced the general availability of X2CRM, a next generation open source, Social Sales Management application. Founded in 2011 by CRM software entrepreneur and SugarCRM co-founder John Roberts, X2CRM has been in world wide beta since September 2011 and has been installed on over 1,000 public and private cloud servers across 75 countries.Santa Cruz, CA (PRWEB) February 21, 2012 X2Engine today announced the general availability of X2CRM, a next generation open source, Social Sales Management application. …

New Colorful Lizard Surprises Scientists in Andes

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:47:55 +0000

Researchers have discovered a new species of lizard in a strange place. The brightly colored, water-loving lizards live in the Andes Mountains in southern Peru — an odd place to find them, scientists say, because of the chilly conditions.

African envoy Obasanjo meets opposition in tense Senegal

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:45:38 +0000

Africa’s top envoy met Senegal opposition leaders Wednesday in a bid to defuse tensions ahead of weekend elections as Dakar was on alert for more protests against President Abdoulaye Wade’s third term bid.

Obama, Romney release dueling tax plans

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:41:19 +0000

President Obama and Mitt Romney released dueling tax plans Wednesday, and helped define some key differences between the two candidates in this election year. Obama ‘s proposal would overhaul the corporate tax code with the goal of encouraging job creation and investment in the U.S., and reducing tax incentives for shifting operations overseas. “We want [...]

Celtic 20 points clear after downing Dunfermline

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 04:38:58 +0000

Celtic closed in on the Scottish Premier League title as they opened up a massive 20-point lead over crisis-stricken rivals Rangers with a 2-0 win against Dunfermline at Parkhead on Wednesday.

Fans, celebs react to Rihanna/Chris Brown collaboration

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:55:45 +0000

LOS ANGELES, Feb 22 (TheWrap.com) – With their mutual collaborations released on Monday, Rihanna and Chris Brown have taken an important step forward in mending their relationship, following the savage beating that Brown gave Rihanna in 2009. The rest of the world, however, seems to be bitterly divided over their decision to make music together. …

Obama’s Alzheimer’s plan focuses on treatment, care

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:52:58 +0000

CHICAGO (Reuters) – The Obama administration’s plan to fight Alzheimer’s disease aims to harness the nation’s expertise to find real treatments by 2025 and improve the care and treatment of the 5.1 million Americans already afflicted with the brain-wasting disease. The draft plan, issued by the Department of Health and Human Services on Wednesday, makes treatment a top priority, but it also focuses on the burden the disease places on families and caregivers. …

Broad Ramifications of Research Linking Social Media Profiles to Job Performance

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:51:27 +0000

COMMENTARY | Josh Sanburn at Time reports psychology researchers have found a high correlation between perceptions drawn from social media and later job performance, indicating those with Facebook profiles that appeal to potential employers are more likely to turn out to be good employees. In other words, the college kids with positive, wholesome and professional-looking Facebook profiles are the ones who are likely to rise up the ranks in their careers.

Skywatcher Photos Catch Stunning Northern Lights Display

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:48:19 +0000

A surprisingly vivid display of the northern lights dominated the night sky in recent days, offering dazzling weekend light shows as far south as Nebraska for observers with clear weather, according to skywatchers.

7 killed in protests over Quran burning

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:46:32 +0000

The Interior Ministry on Wednesday said seven people were killed in clashes between Afghan security forces and protesters demonstrating against the burning of Muslim holy books at a NATO military base.

George Huguely Guilty of Second Degree Murder

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:41:46 +0000

A Virginia Jury of Five Women and Seven Men Deliberated Nine Hours

Chisora fined for Klitschko slap

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 03:40:00 +0000

The World Boxing Council has fined challenger Dereck Chisora for slapping heavyweight champion Vitali Klitschko during the weigh-in.

Illinois family shocked by $100k electric bill

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:56:04 +0000

A family living in the Chicago suburb of Oak Park was shocked to discover their monthly electric bill was more expensive than most families make in an entire year: $ 107, 625.16. Kathy and David Rajter had used 2,236 kilowatt hours the previous month and received a bill for for $ 276. But the following month, their [...]

U.S. advisers back experimental obesity pill

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:52:36 +0000

SILVER SPRING, Maryland (Reuters) – Experimental obesity drug Qnexa won the backing of U.S. health advisors on Wednesday, raising hopes for approval of the first prescription weight-loss pill in 13 years. Vivus Inc’s Qnexa was one of three promising obesity drugs rejected by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in the past two years over safety concerns. It is the first to come back up for review after more extensive clinical trials, as public health officials urge the FDA to consider a medical treatment for a condition that affects about one-third of Americans. …

The Week’s Top Twenty in Social Media

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:50:30 +0000

The social media sphere is an increasingly noisy place, especially for brands. But hiding somewhere in the static, some companies are sending strong signals that reach their customers in innovative ways. The Social Business Index from Dachis Group provides a (free) real-time ranking of more than 30,000 global brands based on their social performance. Every week we’re taking a tally of who’s getting heard, what they’re saying and why it matters.

Stem cell implants boost monkeys with Parkinson’s

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:47:51 +0000

Monkeys suffering from Parkinson’s disease show a marked improvement when human embryonic stem cells are implanted in their brains, in what a Japanese researcher said Wednesday was a world first.

EU opens door to ‘debt relief’ for north African states

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:45:36 +0000

European governments have opened the door to a radical offer of “debt relief” for Arab north African neighbours such as Egypt, EU and governmental sources told AFP Wednesday.

Man Sues Uncle for Posting Embarrassing Facebook Pictures

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:40:50 +0000

“Like” us on Facebook.com/TrendingNow and follow me on Twitter @Knowlesitall! Thank goodness for the ability to untag yourself in unflattering photos that you would rather not see the light of day. Maybe it was an awkward angle, your eyes were closed, or your hair was sticking up. In any case, there are just some pictures [...]

DUI charges against Steelers’ Ward dropped

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 02:39:04 +0000

Prosecutors have dropped DUI charges against Pittsburgh Steelers receiver and Dancing With the Stars winner Hines Ward.

Stephen Colbert’s kids book to be released May 8

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:55:46 +0000

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Like any savvy celebrity worth his multimedia platform, Stephen Colbert has a children’s book. “I Am a Pole (And So Can You!)” will be published by Grand Central Publishing on May 8. The book started as a joke during Colbert’s “Colbert Report” interview with bestselling children’s author Maurice Sendak last month. But the story, which follows a pole searching for his purpose in life, will become Colbert’s second “Colbert Report”-related book release. …

FDA panel backs previously rejected obesity pill

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:52:04 +0000

A previously rejected weight loss pill won an overwhelming endorsement from public health advisers Wednesday, raising hopes that the drug from Vivus Inc. could become the first new anti-obesity medication to reach the U.S. market in more than a decade.

Summary Box: Apple defends use of iPad name

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:50:48 +0000

THE PARTIES IN COURT: The electronics giant Apple and a struggling company that denies it sold rights to the iPad name in mainland China.

A Rapid Hike in Gas Prices Is Coming to a Pump Near You

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:48:21 +0000

Patrick DeHaan is a senior analyst at gasbuddy.com.

Angustiosa búsqueda de pasajeros de tren estrellado en Argentina

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:46:05 +0000

Angustiados familiares deambulaban por morgues y hospitales en una desesperante búsqueda de información de pasajeros del tren que se estrelló el miércoles contra un paragolpes de la estación Once de Buenos Aires, que dejó al menos 49 muertos y 600 heridos.

Authorities say children tied to bed in Texas home

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:41:42 +0000

The eight children confined in a small, dark bedroom with a piece of plywood over the window included two 2-year-olds tied to a bed and a 5-year-old girl “in a restraint on a filthy mattress,” the child welfare worker who discovered them said in a court document.

NFL concussion fallout raises red flags in NASCAR

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 01:39:31 +0000

If Michael Waltrip were to count up all the concussions he has sustained over a NASCAR career that stretches back nearly 30 years, he’d certainly hit 10 — and probably keep going.

Michael Fassbender boards Ridley Scott’s “The Counselor”

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:56:00 +0000

LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) – Michael Fassbender has signed on to star in “The Counselor,” with his “Prometheus” director, Ridley Scott, TheWrap has confirmed. Cormac McCarthy, the Pulitzer Prize winning novelist and playwright whose “No Country for Old Men” was adapted to the Academy Award-winning 2007 movie, wrote the script. Fassbender will play the counselor — a respected lawyer who finds himself in over his head after he gets involved in a drug operation. Nick Wechsler, Steve Schwartz and Paula Mae Schwartz are producing. (Editing By Zorianna Kit)

Common prenatal tests become campaign issue

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:52:41 +0000

First birth control, now prenatal testing? Once again a fact of life for many American women has become a jarring issue in the presidential race.

How consumer-electronics makers are faring

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:50:33 +0000

A look at how selected makers of phones and other consumer-electronic gadgets are faring:

Scientist admits taking, leaking think-tank papers

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:47:51 +0000

In the field of climate science, when someone — especially skeptics — did something ethically questionable or misrepresented facts, scientist Peter Gleick was usually among the first and loudest to cry foul. He chaired a prominent scientific society’s ethics committee. He created an award for what he considered lies about global warming.

Leader warns of ‘wasted’ vote in Timor’s democratic frenzy

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:45:41 +0000

East Timor’s President Jose Ramos-Horta said Wednesday that many Timorese will waste their vote in a presidential election next month if they back one of the explosion of small parties in contention.

Eva Longoria, Bill Daley and Russ Feingold among Obama campaign co-chairs

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:41:52 +0000

What do former White House chief of staff Bill Daley, Caroline Kennedy, Hollywood’s Eva Longoria, and Russ Feingold have in common? They’re all among the three dozen “national co-chairs” of President Barack Obama’s reelection effort. The Obama campaign said in an early Wednesday announcement that the officials “will serve as ambassadors for the President, advise [...]

NASCAR Races to ‘Green’ a Notoriously Dirty Business

skoty_root — Thu, 23 Feb 2012 00:38:58 +0000

When the 43 NASCAR drivers start their engines for Sunday’s Daytona 500, they will be doing so for the second year with American ethanol-blended fuel in their gas tanks.

Obama sings the blues with Jagger, B.B King

skoty_root — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 23:58:23 +0000

(Reuters) – Bill Clinton had his saxophone, but President Barack Obama can sing the blues. Obama lent his voice to a White House jam featuring Mick Jagger, B.B. King, Jeff Beck and Buddy Guy on Tuesday during a celebration of blues and its influence on modern pop culture. After wowing crowds in January by singing a line from Al Green’s classic hit “Let’s Stay Together” at a Harlem fundraiser, the U.S. president sang a verse of “Sweet Home Chicago” in the all-star finale of a TV special taped at the White House. “We were trying to get you to help us sing. …