skip to main |
skip to sidebar
The shuttle Endeavour is spending its last full day in space before a landing early Wednesday morning and retirement. The second-to-last shuttle mission for NASA sent Endeavour to the International Space Station to deliver spare parts and equipment for a physics experiment. The final shuttle launch will send Atlantis into space for the last time in July. Source Link
Most women say they’ll ignore new guidelines that recommend to wait until age 50 for their first mammogram. More than eight out of ten women surveyed by the University of Massachusetts Medical School said the new guidelines were unsafe and they wanted annual mammograms from age 40. Experts say starting routine screening at 40 doesn’t catch many more breast cancers. Source Link
After Memorial Day weekend, most thoughts turn to summer fun, but it’s still a winter wonderland in parts of Colorado. With up to 35 feet of snowfall that continued through the month of May, massive drifts have postponed the opening of parts of Rocky Mountain National Park. Ski resort owners say it’s possible they may be open for business until the Fourth of July. Source Link
It’s certainly not your typical teenager’s allowance. 17-year old Scotty McCreery will get a $250,000 advance as the winner of “American Idol.” A California judge had to approve the deal that includes payment for the first album that McCreery will produce. This year marked the time that both “Idol” finalists were under the age of 18. Source Link
A man who makes his living turning left at speeds up to 200 miles per hour has put the brakes on any more high-speed joyriding outside the race track. NASCAR driver Kyle Busch apologized after he was caught driving 128 miles per hour in a custom-built Lexus sports car on a North Carolina road. Busch will lose his street driving license for 60 days. Source Link
Google wants you to use your Android smart phone as a high-tech wallet. The company has partnered with Mastercard to launch a new service called Google Wallet that allows users to swipe their phone to make payments at retailers. The technology is part of a software upgrade for the latest Android phones. Source Link
The 22-year old man accused of killing six persons and wounding Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords back in January has been ruled mentally incompetent to stand trial. Jared Loughner was removed from a federal courtroom after screaming at a judge during a hearing. Loughner will be treated at a federal psychiatric facility and return to court in September for another competency hearing. Source Link
Many American parents are still picking up the tab for their children long after they reach adulthood. A new survey shows that about one out of four non-student adults aged 18 to 39 still live with their parents. Half of parents help adult children pay for living expenses and three out of ten parents say they occasionally provide spending money for their adult children. Source Link
A new survey says more than half of Americans do not want Medicaid funding cut and are skeptical of changing how the federal government funds the healthcare program for the poor. The Kaiser Family Foundation survey said some 60% want to keep Medicaid as-is and only 13% supported major reductions in Medicaid spending in order to cut the federal deficit. Source Link
A California televangelist wants to reset his countdown clock to the end of the world. Harold Camping now says the apocalypse will occur on October 21st. Camping and his followers bought thousands of billboards nationwide proclaiming May 21st as Doomsday. Some of those followers spent their life savings preparing for the end that didn’t come last weekend. Source Link
It’s the end of the world for those who are used to a daily dose of Oprah. Today marks the farewell episode for the Oprah Winfrey Show after a quarter-century as the reigning queen of TV talk. Winfrey’s final program was being kept under wraps following a top-secret taping yesterday. The show will end its 25-year run with repeat episodes that will air through August. Source Link
As the Space Shuttle program heads for retirement this summer, NASA has unveiled plans for a new spaceship that could take astronauts to an asteroid and beyond. The vehicle is based on one from a program that was scrapped by the White House last year. The new effort aims for a touchdown on an asteroid by 2025 and a Mars landing in the 2030’s. Source Link
A group of scientists has a message for those who are shocked by extreme weather events like super-snowy winters and massive killer tornadoes -- it’s the new “normal.” The Union of Concerned Scientists says climate change is at the root of what’s causing new weather patterns with bouts of heavy precipitation in some regions along with prolonged drought in others. Source Link
If you’re looking for some quick pain relief when you hurt yourself, try this easy remedy; instead of rubbing it, just cross your arms. Researchers say brain scans show that the action of touching one side of your body with the other hand as when you cross your arms confuses the brain’s ability to process pain and can lessen it. Source Link
So none of your Facebook friends have four wheels? Toyota wants to change that. The automaker says it plans to create a social network in which you’ll “friend” your car. The vehicle would then send you messages to remind of scheduled maintenance or equipment problems and you can “converse” with your car. Source Link
Among statehouse leaders past and present, there’s now one who’s in and another who’s out of the race for the GOP nomination for president. Former Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is officially in the running now. But Indiana governor Mitch Daniels joins a growing list of GOP hopefuls who’ve said they will not seek the Republican nomination for the 2012 ticket. Source Link
The calorie camera will be snapping before and after photos in the cafeteria food line at some Texas schools to get a better picture of what kids really eat at lunch. The program uses software that can identify every piece of food on the plate and calculate calorie intake and nutrients. Parents will get the data on their kids to help them make better food choices. Source Link
One of the biggest names in plastic wants to make the contents of your wallet or pocketbook obsolete. Visa’s new “digital wallet” program would use your cell phone, bypassing cash and even credit or debit cards for a quick swipe to make payments. Several major banks are signing on, but online retailers would also need ta way to accept the payments without your phone. Source Link
One of America’s most infamous murderers is being investigated for a possible role in another deadly crime. The FBI is seeking DNA samples from Unabomber Ted Kaczynski looking for a link to the Tylenol poisoning case. In 1982, seven people died after taking Tylenol capsules laced with cyanide. Kaczynski is serving a life prison term for killing three people and wounding others with homemade bombs over a seven-year period in the 1970s and 80s. Source Link
The California man who claims that tomorrow will be the beginning of the end of the world says he’ll be listening to radio and TV on Saturday for news of the coming apocalypse. Evangelical broadcaster Harold Camping leads a small group that purchased billboards nationwide warning of the end of the world on May 21. Camping made a similar prediction in 1994. Source Link
The world’s biggest online bookseller says it’s now peddling more electronic tomes than the old fashioned paper kind. Amazon.Com says their e-book sales have now overtaken print book sales. The company helped to launch the e-book phenomenon in 2007 with its Kindle electronic reader, and Kindle e-books can be read on smart phones, iPads, laptops and tablets. Source Link
A new poll says most Ohio voters are ready repeal a new state law that limits collective bargaining for unionized public employees. The survey shows that 54% would vote to overturn the measure. Only 36% support the law that prevents public workers from striking, abolishes automatic pay increases and does away with binding arbitration, letting elected officials choose their own contract offer if negotiations fail. Source Link
It looks like now is a great time to sell your used car, but if you want to buy one? Not so much. The combination of higher gas prices and fewer vehicles has used car prices climbing fast. Reduced inventory of some new cars caused by supply problems linked to the Japanese earthquake is also sending more buyers to the used car market. Source Link
Marriage is making a comeback of sorts in the latest Census figures showing that the divorce rate is declining. The percentage of women in their 50s who are divorced has dropped by 3%. What hasn’t changed is the classic “seven-year itch.” The Census Bureau says the same percentage of couples separate after seven years of marriage and then divorce a year later. Source Link
Like a new car model that gets a slight makeover rather than a full rebuild, there’s word that the next iPhone won’t offer a lot to convince current owners to upgrade. A report says the next generation model will have minor changes and no 4G capabilities. But the iPhone 4S that will debut in the fall is expected to add Sprint and T-Mobile as carriers. Source Link
A new study says a popular Chinese exercise regimen can help the elderly improve balance, avoid falls and boost mental health. Tai Chi combines deep breathing and relaxation with slow and gentle movements. The researchers did not find evidence that Tai Chi could help ease the symptoms of cancer or rheumatoid arthritis. Source Link
Higher prices at the gas pump won’t be keeping people from getting away this summer. A survey by the web site Trip Advisor shows that 86% of people say they’ll be vacationing this year. That’s 3% more than last year, and about two out of three vacationers plan to fly or drive. About three-quarters of those surveyed expect gasoline to reach $4.50 a gallon this summer. Source Link
Another big name has scratched himself off the list of possible Republican candidates for president in 2012. After barnstorming the country as a Oval Office hopeful, Donald Trump now says he won’t run for the White House, but says he still looks forward to a change in the office. Trump joins former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee who also said he won’t seek the presidency. Source Link
Is there a genetic switch in our bodies that can turn on obesity? British scientists think they’ve found a gene linked to diabetes and cholesterol that controls other fat in our body. Identifying the genetic master regulator could be a first step to finding new treatments for obesity-related diseases that account for one-tenth of all the health care expenditures in the United States. Source Link
While a college degree for their child is still the dream for many parents, the reality is that most Americans don’t think it’s worth the money. A new survey shows that 57% percent say the cost of a college education is not a good value, and 75% feel college is unaffordable. The cost of a college education has nearly tripled since today’s parents when earning their degrees in the 1980s. Source Link
Two weeks after the launch was postponed for equipment problems, the space shuttle Endeavour is “go” for liftoff on its final mission. Among those returning to Florida to see the launch is Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, the wife of shuttle commander Mark Kelly. President Obama was on hand for the first liftoff, but was not back at Cape Canaveral today. Source Link
Hoping to spare New Orleans from a flood of Katrina proportions, authorities have opened spillways along the Mississippi River sending floodwaters into towns upstream in Louisiana.. The move also spares many oil refineries and chemical plants from flooding as the runoff from April’s record rainfall makes its way southward. Source Link
April showers are bringing more than just May flowers this year. The wet, cool start to spring across much of the country has meant more misery for allergy sufferers. The one-two punch of long rainy stretches followed by warm, sunny conditions has led to an explosion of tree pollen and more mold, both of which are bad news for those with outdoor allergies. Source Link
It’s long been feared that a terrorist attack could target the computer systems that run America’s financial system, power grid and telecommunications. And now the White House is backing legislation to mandate improved cybersecurity. The measure would also require companies to tell consumers when their personal electronic information has been compromised. Source Link
Here’s another “plus” for mothers-to-be who are considering breast feeding. A new British study shows that parents of breast-fed babies reported fewer behavior problems in their children than those who were fed formula. Researchers credit the natural growth factors and hormones in breast milk which are important in brain and nervous system development. Source Link
You know a television screen is really big when it’s measured in feet rather than inches. And the new HDTV screen at the Charlotte Motor Speedway now holds the world record as the biggest. It’s 200 feet wide to give fans a close-up view of racing action. The NASCAR mega-screen tops the former record holder -- the 160-foot wide HDTV screen at the Dallas Cowboys stadium in Texas. Source Link
Nearly a decade after the September 11th attacks demonstrated the need for it, the federal government is ready to roll out a national emergency alert system that can send official messages to cell phones during disasters. New York City will be the first to get the alert system, followed by Washington D.C. later this year. The program was authorized by Congress in 2006. Source Link
The world’s most famous newlyweds are finally on their honeymoon, but don’t expect the same wall-to-wall coverage that came with the wedding of Britain’s Prince William and wife Kate Middleton. There’s no official announcement of their destination, but the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are said to be relaxing on a secluded island in the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean. Source Link
After saying “goodbye” to the small screen, will the queen of television talk set her sights on the Great White Way? Oprah Winfrey has told a Chicago newspaper that she’s considering a number of scripts for her debut on Broadway. Winfrey has been a producer but has not performed on Broadway. Her talk show airs its last episode on May 25th. Source Link
All those iPads and iPhones must be paying off. A new report ranks Apple as the world’s most valuable brand name, overtaking Google for the top spot. Among the top 10 brands were technology and telecommunications companies including IBM, Microsoft and AT&T, along with McDonald’s and Coca Cola. Facebook was the fastest growing brand on the top 100 list. Source Link
One out of six parents questioned in a new survey say they don’t have a problem with their pre-teens joining the world of social media via Facebook or MySpace. Both web sites require users to be at least 13 years old, but 11-percent of parents said they’ve helped their younger child have a presence on social media web sites. Source Link
Much of reality TV isn’t memorable, but some of what’s famous today will live on as young parents are turning to their favorite programs to find names for their children. The Social Security Administration says two names with the fastest growing popularity are Maci and Bentley, the teen mom and her young son who star in a popular MTV reality show. Source Link
Good news for American drivers and their pocketbooks -- after months of steady increases, prices at the gas pump are falling. The nationwide average price for a gallon of gas peaked near $4 but has dropped in the past week, as crude oil prices head down. Some analysts are predicting gasoline prices will fall by 50 cents a gallon in time for the summer driving season. Source Link
Imagine the number of books in a small college library. The top national security advisor to the White House says the commandos who raided a house in Pakistan last week got that along with America’s most wanted terrorist. The operation in which al-Queda leader Osama bin Laden was killed also netted the biggest haul ever of intelligence materials on a terrorist organization. Source Link
The next big thing in TV talent shows will include a reunion of at the judge’s table. Former “American Idol” judge Simon Cowell is teaming up with former Idol colleague Paula Abdul on Cowell’s new show “The X Factor.” Abdul left “Idol” a year before Cowell departed America’s number-one TV show in 2010 to begin work on “The X Factor” which debuts this fall. Source Link
The social network may not be the best place to get your health information. Researchers looked at the top Facebook groups for diabetes and found that over one-quarter of the posts promoted products not approved by the FDA. Two-thirds of the posts described personal experiences living with diabetes. Health experts say it’s always smart to double-check any product or treatment claims you find on the web. Source Link
Could there be a screening test for lung cancer like a mammogram can help give an early warning of breast cancer? The National Cancer Institute says spiral CT scans can reduce the risk of death from lung cancer by 20%. The three-dimensional imaging can show tumors in their early stages when treatment is more effective. Source Link
Imagine having a cell phone with a battery that lasts ten times longer. That’s a goal of a new European research project that aims to tackle the problem of inefficient power use in today’s electronic devices. The scientists also want to eliminate “standby” power use by TV’s and other devices that draw electricity even when they’re turned off. Source Link
They’re the most visible in the crowd of Republican presidential hopefuls, but a new survey says neither Donald Trump nor Sarah Palin would have majority backing in a GOP bid for the White House. Nearly 60% of those polled say they’d never support Trump or Palin, but about half would consider backing former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney or former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee in the 2012 election. Source Link
Baby Boomers take note -- new studies suggest that the wonderful world of multitasking may not be for you. Researchers say older people had significantly more trouble remembering tasks after experiencing a brief interruption than did people in their 20s and 30s. That’s because the “working memory” that we use all the time is limited and gets taken up by interruptions. Source Link
If you want your child to be a captain of industry some day, you might want to start with the right name. The business social network LinkedIn has released a list of the top names for CEO’s registered on their web site. For men, it’s Peter, Bob, Jack, Bruce and Fred. For women, the top CEO names are Deborah, Sally, Debra, Cynthia and Carolyn. Source Link
It’s good news and bad news - the price of beef is falling, but that’s because the start of the outdoor barbecue season has been a rainout in much of the country. The cool, wet spring weather has kept many homegrown grill cooks stuck in the kitchen, so they’re not buying big steaks and chops for the barbeque, and that has beef prices dropping. Source Link
Young women aren’t getting the message about the increased risk of skin cancer that comes with tanning. The American Academy of Dermatology says their survey shows that eight out of ten young women tan outdoors and one in three say they visit a tanning salon. Exposure to UV radiation during tanning is a leading risk factor for developing skin cancer. Source Link
For the first time in two decades, the percentage of households in the United States that own a television set is falling. A new report says 96.7% of homes now own a TV and that’s down two percent. Researchers think one of the reasons for the decline is that some young people are not buying televisions but instead watch all their TV programming on a computer. Source Link
A new survey says Americans are hopeful about their economic futures, but the present financial situation remains gloomy. Two thirds of those questioned said they think the economy still hasn't bottomed out. Only 30% felt now was a good time for a major household purchase, but about 60% think they’ll be better off in a year. Source Link
For years you’ve been able to take your phone number with you when you changed carriers, but how about the phone itself? Nearly nine out of ten Americans say they’d like to see cell phones be compatible across all service providers. And most of them think it should be a law that cell phones be universal to eliminate the need to purchase a new one when you change carriers. Source Link
There’s nothing like a warm bath on a winter’s night, but medical experts say you may want to skip the trip to the outdoor hot tub in cold weather. A Japanese study found a significantly higher rate of heart attacks among those who went from cold air right into a steamy hot tub. The temperature shift can cause a rapid blood pressure drop that could be to blame. Source Link
The mastermind of the 9/11 attacks and the face of terrorism for America is dead. President Obama has announced that American forces have killed Osama Bin Laden. The al-Queda leader has been a top target for the U.S military for nearly a decade. Bin Laden had been in hiding in Pakistan and surfaced only occasionally by way of recorded statements. Source Link
The Space Shuttle Endeavour will be delaying its retirement just a bit. NASA will wait to reschedule the 25th and final flight of Endeavour until at least this weekend. NASA engineers need more time to fix a problem with a heating system that keeps the shuttle’s fuel from freezing in the cold of space. Source Link
The honeymoon is over before it began for the world’s most famous newlyweds. Prince William of England is back to work today after the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge announced that they will honeymoon abroad at a later date. Friday’s wedding of William and Kate was a worldwide television event, but no ratings bonanza here in the United States, where about 22 million people watched it live. Source Link
