iPhone Review

Well before you turn on the iPhone it’s clear that this is a phone apart. The first difference takes place at the store (you can buy these only at Apple stores or retail outlets of network carrier AT&T, for the wallet-busting sum of $500 or $600, depending on whether you get 4 or 8 gigabytes worth of flash memory). Instead of going through the usual complicated contract signing and credit-vetting ceremony with a fast-talking and slow-processing salesperson, Apple has come up with a startling idea: you simply buy the thing and go home. Then you open up the snugly fit black box—the design blitz at Apple begins with the packaging— and take out the handset. It’s a classic example of the Apple look: slim, shiny and elegant. As it did with MP3 players, Apple has made even its most stylish competitors look like Soviet-issue contraptions. The iPhone has but a single button on the front—its sole function is to return you to the menu. The only other controls are a small sleep-wake switch on the top and a volume meter and ring/vibration switch on the side; they protrude so slightly that you can hardly see them.

Setup is a snap. As with the iPod, the device is a satellite of Apple’s free iTunes software. Plug the iPhone into a computer with your iTunes library (Mac or Windows) and the automatic sync function not only carries over your songs, videos and movies on iTunes library, but also photos, your contacts and calendar items. It also copies your e-mail address book and information onto your phone. This is one of the few phones that easily imports your information from your PC; because this is usually such a painful process, the vast majority of people with mobile phones never get around to moving over all their contact and calendar items. Signing up for phone service is easily handled in a straightforward process through the iTunes store. The only scary part comes when you have to provide a Social Security number to establish your credit, but Apple assures me that the data isn’t retained. Prices are those of the standard AT&T plans, $60, $80 or $100 a month, depending on how many minutes. All the plans include unlimited data for e-mail and Internet. When I went through it I was unable to move my current mobile phone number to the device, but Apple tells me that this will be implemented by the time the phone launches on Friday. (read more…)

Ban On Female Genital Cutting – Clitoridectomy – In Egypt

A legal loophole that permitted girls to undergo genital cutting, or clitoridectomy, has been closed by a new Egyptian law, Reuters report. Genital cutting of girls, often referred to as female genital mutilation or circumcision, is banned in Egypt although the practice remains widespread as a rite of passage for girls and is often viewed as a way to protect their chastity. The health ministry said in a statement it had now outlawed the practice entirely after an 11-year-old girl died while undergoing the procedure at a private medical clinic. (read more…)

Spice Girls are back together!

It’s official: The Spice Girls really, really are getting back together. The group will release a greatest-hits album and kick off an 11-show world tour in December, it was announced in London Thursday. The two-month tour will begin Dec. 7 in L.A. and include concerts in Las Vegas, New York City, London, Cologne, Madrid, Beijing, Hong Kong, Sydney, Capetown and Buenos Aires. (read more…)

What is Fragile X Syndrome?

Fragile X is a family of genetic conditions, which can impact individuals and families in various ways. These genetic conditions are related in that they are all caused by gene changes in the same gene, called the FMR1 gene. (read more…)

U.S. Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Scott Panetti!

Today, in a 5-4 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of severely mentally ill death row inmate Scott Panetti and has blocked his execution. The court questioned the value of executing a person who does not comprehend why he is being put to death. (read more…)

Dexter Johnson, sentenced to death, angry in court

A 19-year-old became enraged in a Harris County courtroom this afternoon, including knocking down a chair, when he learned he was sentenced to death for killing a woman. A few officers tackled Dexter Johnson, who was convicted this month of capital murder in the death of Maria Aparece. Johnson was one of five people, court evidence showed, that carjacked Aparece and her boyfriend, Huy Ngo, on June 18, 2005 as the couple talked in her vehicle outside Ngo’s home. (read more…)

Mac or PC?

Benoit tragedy not the only one

Ravishing Rick Rude — Died at 40 of an apparent heart attack in 1999, a bottle of prescription pills for his bad back at his side. The autopsy report said he died of “mixed medications.” Rude was an admitted user of anabolic steroids.

Louis Mucciolo, a.k.a, Louie Spicolli — Died in 1998 at age 27 when he suffocated on his own vomit after ingesting massive amounts of Soma and alcohol. Investigators also found an empty vial of testosterone, pain pills and an anti-anxiety drug at the scene.

Brian Pillman — An admitted user of steroids, he died of a heart attack at age 35 in 1997 on the morning of WWF’s In Your House: Badd Blood pay-per-view event.

Rick “the Renegade” Williams — Died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at age 33 after being released from his World Championship Wrestling contract in 1999.

“Mr. Perfect” Curt Hennig — Found dead of a cocaine overdose at age 44 in his motel room on April 10, 2003, the morning of a match. Hennig’s father maintained that steroids and painkillers contributed to his death.

Rodney “Yokozuna” Anoa’i — Died of a heart attack in 2002 at 34.

Davey Boy Smith, “The British Bulldog” — Died of a heart attack at age 39 on May 17, 2002. An autopsy report indicated that past steroid use had likely played a part in his death.

Michael “Road Warrior Hawk” Hegstrand — An admitted steroid user, he died of a heart attack at age 46 in 2003.

Michael Lockwood, “Crash Holly” — In 2003, at the age of 32, he choked to death on his own vomit after ingesting 90 painkiller pills.

Jerry Tuite, “The Wall” a.k.a. “Malice” — Died at age 36 in 2003 of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room.

Raymond “Hercules” Hernandez — Dead of heart failure in 2004 at age 47.

Ray “The Big Boss Man” Traylor — Found dead of a heart attack in 2004 at age 42.

Eddie Guerrero — After a long battle with painkillers, he was found dead of a heart attack by his nephew in his hotel room at age 38. The first person his nephew reportedly called was Guerrero’s best friend, Chris Benoit.

Chris Candido — Died in 2005 at age 33 from a blood clot after breaking his tibia and fibula and dislocating his ankle in a pay-per-view event.

Owen Hart — Fell to his death at age 34 in 1999 when the rigging that was lowering him into the ring malfunctioned.

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CIA gives up the ‘Family Jewels’

The Central Intelligence Agency violated its charter for 25 years until revelations of illegal wiretapping, domestic surveillance, assassination plots, and human experimentation led to official investigations and reforms in the 1970s, according to declassified documents posted today on the Web by the National Security Archive at George Washington University.

CIA director Gen. Michael Hayden announced today that the Agency is declassifying the full 693-page file amassed on CIA’s illegal activities by order of then-CIA director James Schlesinger in 1973–the so-called “family jewels.” Only a few dozen heavily-censored pages of this file have previously been declassified, although multiple Freedom of Information Act requests have been filed over the years for the documents. Gen. Hayden called the file “a glimpse of a very different time and a very different Agency.” The papers are scheduled for public release on Monday, June 25.

Download the declassified documents | Read more

Carrie Underwood and Kevin Eubanks named “world’s sexiest vegetarians”

Underwood, 24, a Grammy-winning country singer, won the title in 2005. Eubanks, 49, leader of NBC’s “Tonight Show” band, is a newcomer to the winner’s circle. Eubanks leapt ahead of his competitors with help from Jay Leno, who encouraged viewers to vote for Eubanks and “bring honor” to the late-night NBC talk show. (read more…)