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Video games

Get Your Star Trek On in May: First the Movie, Then the Game

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.

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.

News

Front Page: Suspected Craigslist Killer Is on Suicide Watch

Suspected Craiglist killer is on suicide watch, after he apparently tried to kill himself.

  • 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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Health

No Cure For AIDS — Just Pricey Life-Saving Drugs

Eric Sawyer was infected with HIV in 1980.

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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News

PBS Reaches the Masses With PBS Video

I often get the urge to step away from the funny YouTube videos and expose myself to something.

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."

News

Domino's Embraces Carbs, Offers Pasta in a Bread Bowl

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.

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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Fitness

Recession Number Crunch

Flipping through Time magazine, I came across some interesting figures.

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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News

Life Sentence For Killer of Angela Zapata, Transgendered Teen

For the first time in US history, the hate-crime statute has been used in the death of a transgender person.

For the first time in US history, the hate-crime statute has been used in the death of a transgender person. Yesterday a jury found Allen Andrade guilty of first-degree murder and a hate crime after he beat to death Angela Zapata, an 18-year-old transgender woman, with his fists and a fire extinguisher.

Taped conversations between Andrade and two of his girlfriends were played as evidence of his motive. On the tapes he justifies his behavior, saying it wasn't like he "killed a straight, law-abiding citizen." He also called Angela an "it."

Angela wasn't an "it" but rather a person whose gender identity (self-identification as woman, man, or neither) didn't match her assigned sex (identification by others as male or female based on physical/genetic sex).

Andrade's lawyers argued that he snapped after discovering Angela, whom he met on the Internet, was born a male; prosecutors alleged that he did it out of his dislike for gay and transgendered people. Still other testimony suggests that Andrade was confused about his own sexuality, having met Angela on MocoSpace, where he had also visited a bisexual chat room. Some witnesses say that Angela had a deep, male voice, and that Andrade's claim he had no idea Angela was transgendered was unbelievable.

Angela's brother spoke after the verdict saying: "The message was sent loud and clear that crimes targeting LGBT people will not be tolerated in Colorado." To see video of Angela's amazingly strong family remembering her, read more

News

American Journalist Jailed in Iran Won't Stop Her Fight

Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist sentenced to eight years in an Iranian jail, has told her parents that she confessed to spying for the US after she was threatened with death.

Roxana Saberi, the Iranian-American journalist sentenced to eight years in an Iranian jail, has told her parents that she confessed to spying for the US after she was threatened with death.

In an interview with George Stephanopoulos, Roxana's parents said the 31-year-old freelancer who has worked for BBC and NPR plans on starting a hunger strike tomorrow from jail. The tactic will surely raise awareness for Roxana's plight and put more pressure on the US to help her.

President Obama has given his personal word that Roxana is not a spy, but Stephanopoulos, who also spoke with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, asked the Iranian president if that would be enough to convince him to release Roxana as a gesture of good will. His response was not promising: Obama, he said, could offer good will by letting Iran's judiciary operate without interference.
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Health

Women Over 17 Can Now Buy Plan B Over-the-Counter

On Wednesday, the FDA announced that Plan B, the morning-after pill, will be available without a prescription to women 17 and older.



On Wednesday, the FDA announced that Plan B, the morning-after pill, will be available without a prescription to women 17 and older. Plan B is essentially a high dose of birth control pills that both stops ovulation and decreases the chance a fertilized egg will attach to the uterus. When used within 72 hours after unprotected sex, it can lower the risk of pregnancy by almost 90 percent. Its opponents argue that it is simply another form of abortion and that allowing minors access to it endangers their health.

In 2006, the FDA approved the sale of Plan B without a prescription to those 18 or older, but in the intervening years a federal court ordered that Plan B be made available without a prescription for 17-year-olds too, particularly because research going back since 2005 argues that it is safe for them.

Federal judge Edward Korman, who ordered the pill available for 17-year-olds, has also asked the FDA to consider whether it should be available over the counter to women of all ages, chastising the agency for allowing "unusual involvement of the White House in the Plan B decision-making process." Ultimately, he said, "No useful purpose would be served by continuing to deprive 17-year-olds access to Plan B without a prescription." Click here to read more.

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News

Daily Tech: CEO of MySpace Announces His Departure

Chris DeWolfe, MySpace cofounder and CEO, will not be renewing his contract and will be stepping down from his position in the very near future.

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