It’s Really Deal Time This Black Friday
November 28, 2008
(ChattahBox) — The terrible state of the US economy over the past 10 months and a long spell of joblessness had forced the consumer to tighten their purse strings. Retailer had been facing tough times with declines in sales and inventory piling up. Sales had been a little upbeat only due to the heavy discounts offered by the retailers. Holiday forecasts have been bleak for this season with predictions ranging from an optimistic 2.2 percent to pessimistic one percent growth. Read more
German court rules big breasts are not a medical problem
November 28, 2008
A German court sided with insurance companies, saying they do not need to cover the cost of breast reduction surgery. The case was brought by a 38-year-old woman who suffered orthopaedic and physical problems due to the weight of her bossoms, bild.com reports. She had been advised by doctors to have breast reduction surgery. Her insurance company claimed she was suffering from back problems because she was overweight, therefore refused to cover the costs of the operation. The court ruled that having a large bust is not a medical problem and as such insurers will only have to pay to correct breasts which are deformed.
Two and a half years ago, the same court rejected the case of a woman who thought her breasts were too small.
She wanted her medical insurance to cover a breast enlargement operation and claimed that she was physically harassed for her small boobs. The court declared then that small breasts are not an illness.
Michael Phelps tells of miracle 7th gold medal win – brings girlfriend home for Thanksgiving
November 27, 2008
(ChattahBox) — Seems that Michael Phelps has been doing well for himself in Sin City. People Magazine says the Olympic champion has been dating a Las Vegas cocktail waitress named Caroline “Caz” Pal, 26, for about two months. Apparently he likes her well enough to take her to meet the family in Baltimore to spend Thanksgiving together. I couldn’t find any pictures of Ms. Pal, but unfortunately you can bet when the paparazzi hear about this they will be after some photos.
Along with dating Caroline, a waitress at the Palms Casino Resort’s Moon Nightclub, Phelps is spending time in Vegas working on his poker game. Read more
Iraqi parliament approves security pack leading to US troop exit in 3 years
November 27, 2008
BAGHDAD (ChattahBox) -– Iraq’s parliament approved a security pact with the United States on Thursday that will have American troops staying in the country for three more years and setting a clear timetable for a U.S. exit for the first time since the 2003 invasion took place. Under the agreement, U.S. forces will withdraw from Iraqi cities by June 30 and the entire country by Jan. 1, 2012. Iraq will have strict oversight over U.S. forces.
The vote in favor of the pact was backed by the ruling coalition’s Shiite and Kurdish blocs as well as the largest Sunni Arab bloc, which had demanded concessions for supporting the deal. The haggling among the political factions highlighted sectarian-based tensions that hinder reconciliation efforts, nearly six years after Saddam Hussein’s ouster. Read more
Protect your home with do-it-yourself laser beam security system
November 27, 2008
(ChattahBox) — Here we have the ultimate high-tech do-it-yourself security system. The relatively easy to make and powerful laser alarm system can protect your entire home, indoors or out! Watch the video after the jump for details: Read more
Alien-like Squid filmed a mile and a half down in the sea
November 27, 2008
(ChattahBox) — In a brief video (below) obtained by National Geographic News, one of the rarely seen squid Magnapinna floats above the seafloor in the Gulf of Mexico on November 11, 2007. The video was shot a mile and a half (two and a half kilometers) underwater, by a remote control submersible’s camera and shows an alien-like, long-armed, and—strangest of all—”elbowed” Magnapinna squid. Read more
Scientists Discover the Source of Supersonic Water Jets on Saturn
November 27, 2008
NASA (ChattahBox) — Scientists had discovered a plume of water vapor and dust shooting from Saturn’s moon, Enceladus at supersonic but didn’t know the cause for these supersonic water jets until recently. The water jets are shooting from vents each of about the size of a professional sports stadium. The recent study indicates that the gas and dust is escaping from relatively small vents along those fissures.
“We are making the distinction between the whole plume and individual jets in it, like streamers or searchlight beams,” said team member Larry Esposito, of the University of Colorado in Boulder. Read more
Mystery of Non-Mating Polar Bears Cleared in Japan
November 27, 2008
Hokkaido, Japan (ChattahBox) — Japanese zookeepers had been puzzled for the past few months over the lack of chemistry between two polar bears. They have now cleared the mystery identifying both of them to be females.
Tsuyoshi, a four-year-old “male” polar bear, and his 11-year-old female partner, Kurumi, have been living together since June at the Kushiro Municipal Zoo in Hokkaido, northern Japan. The Japanese zookeepers had been puzzled during their breeding season. Tsuyoshi, the four year old “male” has not gone into the rut even during his mating season. The zoo said in a statement that that they got suspicious about the bears observing their behaviors. Later when the zookeepers put Tsuyoshi under anesthetic for a gender check up, they discovered that he was actually a “she.”
Experts commented that it is difficult to determine the gender in polar bears at a young age as their organs are covered with hair. Tsuyoshi is a very common name for boys in Japan but the zoo officials have refused to change to a more feminine name. Tsuyoshi is extremely popular at the zoo.
New Worm Attacks on Microsoft Vulnerability
November 27, 2008
(ChattahBox) — A new Microsoft Bulletin, MS08-067, warns users of a new wave of malicious attacks that aim to exploit a vulnerability that was outlined in the firm’s security bulletin. The company advised all users to patch their PCs, if they have not already done it.
The new malicious worm has been dubbed as W32/Conficker, which is making rounds on Windows machines exploiting the hole that Microsoft released a patch for in October. The number of attacks have increased in past few day and Microsoft has marked the threat as ‘Critical’ and ‘Important.’ Read more
Commandos go after the Terrorists in Mumbai
November 27, 2008
Mumbai, India (ChattahBox) — Two groups of terrorists launched one of the biggest attacks on Mumbai, India’s financial capital. They entered Mumbai’s two posh hotels – the Taj Mahal Hotel and the Oberoi Hotels, and opened fire.
A crack team of 200 commandos flew from New Delhi to Mumbai on Thursday to take charge of the rescue operations. Sporadic gunshots can still be heard as the commandos have entered into hotels where the terrorists are barricaded. It is supposed that nearly 9 terrorists have been killed and at least 4-5 more are still present inside the Taj. Read more