News

• Shucks, I was really hoping to be Apple's billionth app download winner. Looks like someone else will get the coveted prize. — Gizmodo
• Logitech is right up there with Best Buy and Office Depot in terms of lacking adequate customer service. — Switched
• President Barack Obama's new top-secret BlackBerry 8830 could be ready for use in the next few months. — The Washington Times
• This Sunday, Best Buy will offer a ton of games for a variety of gaming consoles for only $10 each. — CrunchGear
• California is the first state in the nation to mandate low-carbon fuels so that the petroleum industry will need to offer cleaner-burning alternatives. — Forecast Earth

In 2008, 72 percent of voters in Riviera Beach, FL, passed a ban on pants that ride below the waist exposing skin or underwear. But wait: turns out loose waistbands are a civil liberty. A judge ruled this week that the ordinance violated the 14th amendment of the constitution, because there was no legitimate government interest in the law regulating style.

The city argued that the ban on saggy pants wasn't based on sartorial concerns, but safety concerns, since residents could hide weapons in their loose-fitting clothes. The judge didn't buy that.

Police in various states around the country have cracked down on baggy pants. In Flint, MI, the new chief announced last year that he would begin arresting people with droopy drawers for indecency and make offenders face a $500 fine and up to three months in jail.

In addition to the judge in Florida, the laws have raised the concerns of the ACLU and the NAACP, which worry about the racial implications. They think the baggy ban has the potential to disproportionately target the black community.

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At this very moment in Los Angeles, NBC is hosting a press conference for its reality TV shows. While the upcoming Top Chef Masters was discussed, the most exciting information comes from a tweet by Kate Aurthur of the Los Angeles Times:

Confirmed: The next season of Top Chef will take place in Las Vegas and will begin filming next week.

There's been much speculation that Vegas might be the setting for season 6, but earlier this week when we wondered where the culinary competition would take place, most of you hoped it would be New Orleans. However, I'm thrilled that the show will be filmed in Sin City. What do you think of the news?

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On Take Your Kids to Work Day yesterday, Michelle Obama took questions from 170 children, ages 7 to 14. She later called the grilling her "first official press conference."

"They asked me a ton of questions," the first lady said, "and they were hard." So what did these intrepid, young reporters find out for us?

On her dream White House job: First lady. "I think I have the best job in the White House. I don't have to deal with the hard problems every day," she said. "Because I don't get paid, I get to do whatever I want."

The worst part of the White House: Running on the treadmill every morning.

On breaking the rules: "Every now and then I have this thing that I like to do with some of my staff members," she admitted, "we sneak out, without telling anybody, and we go and test out all the fun places to eat in DC. I went to Five Guys [the burger chain] and nobody knew it." An aid later amended that this didn't mean she went without the Secret Service. Too bad!

To see what else Michelle had to say, read more

As if you can't tell, I'm pretty stoked to see the Star Trek movie next month, not only for the story, but for the eye candy as well. I'm already anticipating tons of futuristic gadgets to feast my eyes on. . . and let's be honest, the cast is too darn hot to resist!

So once you geek out at the theater, you'll also be able to get in on the action at home with Star Trek: D-A-C which will hit Xbox Live in May, followed by the Playstation Network and PC soon after.

Taking a cue from arcade style shooters, Star Trek: D-A-C will give you a top-down view of the action while you battle it out as either the captain of the Starfleet, or as a member of the Romulan Empire. Three different battle types (including a "winner-takes-all style" deathmatch) ensure that you stay in the game, and conquer the universe . . . or at least defeat your pals in some intense online play! Star Trek: D-A-C will cost you $10 or 800 Microsoft points, and is yet to be priced for download on your PS3 and PC.

• Suspected Craiglist killer is on suicide watch, after he apparently tried to kill himself. — NY Daily News
• Facebook will adopt new terms of service after the site put governing documents to a vote by users. — Wall Street Journal
• A second wave of suicide attacks in Iraq have killed 60 people. — New York Times
• Mexico City shut down all schools thanks to a flu epidemic that's killed approximately 60 people. — BBC News
• Indian police have dropped the charges against the father of Slumdog Millionaire child actor Rubina Ali. He was accused of trying to sell his daughter. — AP

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Eric Sawyer was infected with HIV in 1980. Twenty-eight years later, and after the death of countless friends, he is still alive.

In a recent BBC profile, Eric said he worries that the younger generation does not understand the harsh reality of the disease.

Thanks to antiretroviral drugs HIV is no longer a sure death sentence. But from Eric's point-of-view that has made the newer generation less vigilant against infection.

In addition, only those with means have access to the life-saving drugs. Eric, who is upper-middle class and has health insurance, estimates that his drugs cost $40,000 a year. He says: "I can buy life, and that's not fair."

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I often get the urge to step away from the funny YouTube videos and expose myself to something. . . educational. Gasp! Yes, you can find me watching just as many videos on Academic Earth and iTunes U, as I do on sites like Hulu. And now I've got a new one to add to the mix — PBS Video. PBS has just launched a new video portal (in beta) where you can find all sorts of clips and full length episodes from a variety of programs and topic areas. The site also gives you the ability to share videos with friends and family, or purchase a copy by clicking "Own It."

It's only been one week since Domino's Pizza apologized for the unsanitary behavior of its employees, but the pizza delivery chain has already attempted to move on to bigger and better things.

In what would appear to be an Atkins diet nightmare, Domino's has begun offering five flavors of pasta — served inside an edible bowl of bread. For as little as $4.99, you can choose between Three Cheese Mac-N-Cheese, Italian Sausage Marinara, Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Carbonara, or Pasta Primavera flavors. If that's not quite enough, there's the option to build your own pasta bread bowl, choosing from a variety of toppings that include but aren't limited to Philly steak, salami, bacon, and tabasco sauce.

I must admit I'm shocked. Of all products to come out with, this pasta in a bread bowl creation would certainly not have come to mind first. Still, I can't wait to taste test these! What do you think of the concept? Do you think it'll help Domino's regain the faith of its customers?

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Flipping through Time magazine, I came across some interesting figures. The magazine conducted polls on how the recession is affecting our spending habits, and the statistics that interested me were all health- and fitness-related — go figure. Here are a few numbers to chew on:

• Percentage of people who have not filled a medical prescription due to the cost: 20
• Percentage of folks spending less on health clubs: 27
• Amount of respondents spending more time exercising: 29 percent
• Percentage of people who have postponed or canceled a medical or dental procedure: 24

I am wondering about you all and how the recession is affecting you, your health, and your health spending habits. Have you quit your gym or not filled a prescription? Are you exercising more as well as skipping your dental visits? Tell me in the comments section below.

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