Volunteer student suicide bombers line up in Iran
December 31, 2008
(ChattahBox) — In response to the Israeli assault on the Gaza Strip after the six-month cease-fire with Hamas expired Dec. 19, Iranian student groups have appealed to it’s government to authorize volunteer suicide bombers. Five hard-line student groups started signing up volunteers after Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, issued a religious decree on Sunday that said anyone killed while defending Palestinians in Gaza against Israeli attacks would be considered a martyr. Read more
NASA report on Columbia shuttle disaster finds crew had no chance for survival
December 30, 2008
WASHINGTON (ChattahBox) — A new NASA report released Tuesday details the chaotic final minutes of Columbia, which disintegrated over Texas on Feb. 1, 2003. NASA held the report till after Christmas at the request of the families. The point of the 400-page analysis is to figure out how to make NASA’s next spaceship more survivable. The report targeted problems with the spacesuits, restraints and helmets of the Columbia crew. However some question the need for the report, believing the specifics of how the astronauts died should be a private matter. Read more
Kevin Bacon and Kyra Sedgwick victims in Bernie Madoff’s Ponzi scheme
December 30, 2008
(ChattahBox) — The list of investors who say they were duped in one of Wall Street’s biggest Ponzi schemes is growing, not only snaring some of the world’s biggest banking institutions and hedge funds, but the super rich and the famous too.
Kevin Bacon and wife Kyra Sedgwick are the latest Hollywood heavyweights to announce they fell victim to former Wall Street financier Bernie Madoff’s $50 billion Ponzi scheme. Read more
Chargers owner Alex Spanos has dementia
December 30, 2008
(ChattahBox) — San Diego Chargers owner Alex Spanos has announced in a letter that he suffers from dementia.
The 85-year-old billionaire developer and Stockton resident was in the owner’s box for the Chargers’ division-clinching win over the Denver Broncos on Sunday, but family members wanted to tell the public that his infrequent appearances lately have been because of his declining health. Read more
GMAC Set to Use $6 Billion Bailout For Wider Range Of Customers
December 30, 2008
US (ChattahBox) – It looks like the automakers will be getting their bailout after all. GMAC LLC, the loan branch of General Motors, has been offered a $6 billion bailout plan by the US Treasury, in the first auto bail out to be offered by the government. The company plans to put the influx of capital to work right away.
Theorist Claims Human Race To Break Into Two Sub-Species
December 30, 2008
UK (ChattahBox) – An evolutionary theorist with the London School of Economics believes that the human race may break into two separate sub-species within the next 100,000 years, a theory first put out by the legendary HG Wells.
Man Sets Himself Aflame To Impress Date
December 30, 2008
Sweden (ChattahBox) – In what has to be one of the worst pick-up moves in history, a man trying to impress a woman he was on a date with lit himself on fire, and is now suffering from serious burns.
Study Links Gene To 20% Of High Blood Pressure Cases
December 30, 2008
US (ChattahBox) – A health study conducted on an Amish population of 542 people has linked high blood pressure to a gene known as STK39, a gene that seems to be found in 1 out of 4 Caucasians.
UK Missionaries Sentenced To A Year’s Hard Labor Over Emails
December 30, 2008
UK (ChattahBox) – A British couple who have been working as missionaries in Gambia have been sentenced to a year in a Gambian prison, working hard labor, for criticizing the current government.
Report: Illinois Gov. Blagojevich to name Senate replacement today
December 30, 2008
CHICAGO (ChattahBox) -– The Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday that embattled Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich plans to appoint 71-year-old former Illinois Attorney General Roland Burris today. Blagojevich has scheduled a 3 p.m. EST news conference amid this report that he plans to name someone to Barack Obama’s vacated U.S. Senate seat. His spokesman Lucio Guerrero declined to say what the Democratic governor plans to discuss.
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