OS9USER News Room

Confirmed : Meet the New Lara Croft (Video)

2009-01-28T17:09:00.004-05:00

Tomb Raider's Alison Carroll packs two very full clips ...

If you don't already know, Alison Carroll is the new model for Lara Croft in the next "Tomb Raider" movie.

See The Video !

Travolta Named as Witness (Video)

2009-01-28T16:41:00.002-05:00

The paramedic charged with trying to extort John Travolta over the death of his son was threatening to reveal a medical document irrelevant to 16-year-old Jett's death, according to Bahamian officials.

Tarino Lightbourn has been in custody since his arrest on Jan. 23, and is charged with conspiracy to commit extortion and attempted extortion. His attorney is charged with two counts of extortion.

Lightbourn attempted to sell a one-page document that Travolta signed when Lightbourn was treating Jett, Bahamian police told People. Travolta's son died of a seizure this month at his family's vacation home on Grand Bahama.

The document, called a "refusal to transport," did not apply in the Travolta case, Senior Assistant Commissioner of Police Marvin Dames said.

"It did not apply because he was very ill, and so, the only alternative would be to take him to the hospital. Refusal to transport documents are for cases involving minor injuries, Dames said. "If your injuries are minor and you don't want to be transported, the ambulance driver would produce that form. It waives responsibility on the part of the hospital."

Dames said the Travoltas did everything they could to save their son.

"We were satisfied from all our investigations that the Travolta family and those who rendered aid ... did all that was humanly possible to revive Jett," Dames says.

"There's no evidence to support that there was any effort to avoid medical treatment," he adds. "Lightbourn said that himself in several interviews."

Dames told People the extortion attempt occurred nearly two weeks ago, when Lightbourn's attorney, former Bahamian Sen. Pleasant Bridgewater, called a Travolta attorney and said Lightbourn wanted to sell the document. Travolta then complained to Bahamian police.

"The complaint states the request was for $25 million," Dames says. "At the time, she represented the young man. She would have made the request."

Bridgewater has said her actions were misinterpreted and that she is innocent of any wrongdoing.

Dames said investigators haven't located the document, and can't verify its authenticity.

Mike Arrington receives death threats, will leave Techcrunch

2009-01-28T14:47:00.007-05:00

"The problem is that I love what I do when I’m not hiding from some crazy who wants to kill me.

I’ve decided the right thing to do is take some time off and get a better perspective on what I’m spending my life doing...

The code of conduct and the mass of bloggers lining up behind it scares me a lot more than the hate comments and death threats I’ve received in the past.

I’ve decided the right thing to do is take some time off and get a better perspective on what I ’m spending my life doing. I’ll be taking most of February off from writing, and decide what the best future for me is while sitting on a beach somewhere far away from my iPhone and laptop. "

His style is often criticized because he’s previously advised companies that he’s written about or accepted paid ads from them. His journalistic integrity has also been put to question, as he recently wrote a blistering post bashing PR firms and saying TechCrunch will break every embargo it agrees to. An embargo is an agreement between a source and news provider that information doesn’t get published until a certain date or conditions have been met.

The WJS reports : "He’s also spent significant time writing about corporate news, as he’s had several scoops about discussions between Microsoft Corp. (MSFT) and Yahoo Inc. (YHOO) about potential deals. Yahoo rejected Microsoft’s $47.5 billion takeover bid last year, but rumors continue to swirl that Microsoft may still have interest in Yahoo’s search business. Arrington’s reporting on the subject has proven to move markets several times."

Mike also uses his influence on the market, many are rumors.

Why ?

For the clicks ?

See also our many articles on Techcrunch :

TechCrunch attacks Blogger ? Firefox in Uproar ?

TechCrunch Scandal Exposed

How green is your Google search ? (Video)

Goodbye - Mike !

How many crackers can you eat in 60 seconds ?

2009-01-28T13:07:00.003-05:00

Kevin sets out to complete the Cracker Challenge, but he's being a bum!

Nazi Newspapers Confiscated (Video)

2009-01-28T12:44:00.003-05:00

The reprints of Nazi-era newspapers, published along with commentary by historians, are confiscated less than three weeks after they first went on sale.

Bartz tells Yahoo Employees to STOP talking to the press

2009-01-26T14:57:00.004-05:00

In an Email to Yahoos, Bartz took aim at “inside sources” who had opened their mouth to outside press, telling the loud mouthed staffers to “STOP IT.”

The Exact Email reads :

From: Carol Bartz
Sent: Friday, January 16, 2009 3:12 PM
To: all-worldwide@yahoo-inc.com
Subject: My First Friday

It's Friday!

Wow, this week has gone fast. I thought I'd give you a quick idea of how things went for me this week. First, a BIG thank you for all the positive comments you've sent my way. It has really made me feel welcome. And a special big thanks to all the guys (that'd be Willie, Anthony, Jack, Allen, Daryl, Nathan, Ali, etc.) that worked so quickly to get Judy and I up and running. I know I told you at the all-hands that I was going to be bringing my lunch. That was before I saw the cafeteria-it rocks! Forget that leftover stuff!

My first impression of the Yahoos is that you guys are smart and dedicated, and have a lot of great energy with a can-do attitude (ok, maybe there's some sucking up because I'm the boss, but it impressed the heck out of me).

I wasn't too happy to see some 'inside sources' quoting my all-hands comments to the outside press-STOP IT! And while we're on the subject of all-hands, I cancelled the regularly scheduled after-earnings meeting simply because it's just too close to the one we just had. Don't take it as something it's not.

She is expected to publicly fire a couple of people in the up-coming months.

Microsoft cyber fired 1,400 Employees

2009-01-26T14:31:00.003-05:00

Microsoft sending encoded, read-only emails when it laid off 1,400 staff last week, according to gossip web site ValleyWag.

It was reported that the unprintable notice, which used restrictions similar to those in place to prevent file-sharing, was not preceded by any line management or HR meetings to let employees know their services were no longer required.

Imagine, no-one having the "Guts" to tell you that you lost your job.

Now a machine does that.

Googlebombs detected In Google Search Engine

2009-01-26T13:27:00.005-05:00

Google Purges Failure Links

The phrase "Google bombing" was introduced to the New Oxford American Dictionary in May 2005. Google bombing is closely related to spamdexing, the practice of deliberately modifying HTML pages to increase the chance of their website being placed close to the beginning of search engine results, or to influence the category to which the page is assigned in a misleading or dishonest manner.

Searching for "failure" on Google.com returns President Obama's Biography as the top result.

This is one example of a Googlebomb. Google originally took the position that it would not alter the result (or any other Google bombed results) because it wished to preserve the integrity of its search engine.

By January 2007, Google changed their indexing structure so that Google bombs such as "Miserable failure" would "typically return commentary, discussions, and articles" about the tactic itself, not United States Presidents.

Though the spirit of change may be in the air in Washington, some things apparently stay the same. Yes, the old online prank called "Googlebombing" returned for a brief while recently, when Google searches for the words words [failure] and [cheerful achievement] returned President Obama's biography as the top result.

Read Google's Official Statement :
Google Public Policy Blog: Detecting new "Googlebombs"

Rugby Stars Naked For Ad (Video)

2009-01-26T13:10:00.003-05:00

British rugby stars Paul Sackey, Shane Williams and Steve Borthwick have gone naked for a new advertising campaign, which will run during the RBS Six Nations in February and March. The pictures were taken for Powerade, which makes sports drinks.

Prince Harry Dumped On Facebook Video

2009-01-26T12:53:00.003-05:00

Prince Harry was dumped by his South African girlfriend of five years via the popular social networking site, facebook.

The News of the World said that Davy, lost patience with his playboy lifestyle and lack of commitment to her.

Obama's Interactive Oval Office

2009-01-26T12:04:00.002-05:00

Now is your chance to get an inside look into the inner workings of Barack Obama in the Oval Office. He has some seriously hilarious stuff in there!

Did A UFO fly over the Inauguration or was it a Top Secret Aircraft?

2009-01-24T13:22:00.005-05:00

ASTONISHING video of a UFO flying over President Barack Obama’s historic inauguration has appeared on the internet.

The video, titled Filmed by CNN News UFO at Inauguration of President Barack Hussein Obama, was said to have become an online rage on the popular video-sharing website YouTube.

Enthusiast Nick Pope said: “We know it is not an aircraft because a strict no-fly zone was imposed over the area. “It seems to have been going a little bit too fast for any type of bird.”

One website seemed to agree with us, this is what they said

Final verdict: It’s a super secret CIA jet, but if it were aliens, I only hope that they bring some of their beer to Earth when they return to enslave us.

We think it might be an unmanned drone (highly top secret).

Funny Barack Obama Video Clips

2009-01-24T11:24:00.008-05:00

SuperBarack

Have no fear, SuperBarack is here.

The Empire Strikes Barack

Barack Skywalker takes on Hillary Vader in an amusing Star Wars spoof video: "The Empire Strikes Barack."

There are many more video's available to see !

Paris Hilton Burglar ARRESTED

2009-01-23T12:03:00.003-05:00

A man suspected of involvement in a jewelery raid on Paris Hilton's home has been arrested and charged with two burglaries.

Troy Thomas, 45, is alleged to have masterminded more than 150 thefts in three years in the Los Angeles area, targeting celebrities including Hilton, Duran Duran guitarist John Taylor, and several movie studio bosses.

The Simple Life star's Sherwood Oaks home was hit last month and an intruder made off with an estimated $2 million worth of gems.

Taylor's L.A. property was raided in April 2007 and a safe was taken from the home.

The robber was apparently someone who knew the layout of Hilton's home very well.

"They have the thief caught on surveillance cameras," the source adds. "In the tapes the thief knows exactly where to go, almost like he's been there before."

Now she has plenty of security. Read about that by clicking HERE.

Obama and Air Force One, the Video

2009-01-22T16:46:00.003-05:00

Now making the rounds comes this segment from a forthcoming National Geographic TV series "On Board Air Force One," set to begin airing on Jan. 25, in which then-President-elect Barack Obama on Jan. 4 boards one of the planes that will serve as Air Force One once he is sworn in as president.

Read More on "Obama and Air Force One, the Video" on the Washingtonpost

Facebook Forbidden (Video)

2009-01-22T16:31:00.004-05:00

Yesterday, we heard how the President and his team were forced to use Gmail accounts while they wait for their White House e-mail to become active.

Now there are reports from the Washington Post that plans to use social networking may be forbidden.

Facebook is forbidden, logging in to outside e-mail is forbidden, and, as we've heard before, no instant messaging allowed.

Obama Bans The Use Of Torture (Video)

2009-01-22T16:15:00.002-05:00

President Obama has declared the United States "will not do torture" as he signed an executive order banning the harshest interrogation tactics.

President Barack Obama has issued orders to close the Guantanamo Bay military prison and ban the use of torture.

Meanwhile Hillary Clinton has received a warm welcome as she started work as Secretary of State.

The Obameter: Tracking Obama's Campaign Promises

2009-01-22T15:49:00.004-05:00

PolitiFact has compiled about 500 promises that Barack Obama made during the campaign and is tracking their progress on our Obameter.

They rate their status as No Action, In the Works or Stalled. Once they find action is completed, they rate them Promise Kept, Compromise or Promise Broken.

Browse the Obameter

Making your own USB Thumb Drive Hacking Disaster

2009-01-22T13:27:00.002-05:00

Take the internals of old USB thumb drive, dig out an obsolete floppy disk, throw in a pair of scissors and combine.

What do you get?

If you do it properly, you'll have an easy to make novelty USB stick.

If you follow the instructions in our how-to video, things might not go so well.

Harry Potter Star Nude for Next Film

2009-01-22T12:52:00.002-05:00

Rupert Grint, the ginger-topped kid known for his role as Harry Potter's sidekick, Ron Weasley, will soon be seen sans clothes in the drama, Cherrybomb. It's the first time Grint will be seen outside of his Potter role in three years.

Having seen fellow cast member, Daniel Radcliffe, take his clothes off on stage, Rupert Grint is the latest Harry Potter star to show some flesh in a departure from the family-friendly roles he's become associated with.

Cherrybomb is a drama about a group of kids who go off the rails for a weekend, only to find their nights of drink and excess set a series of events into motion that they can't control.

Youngsters Kimberley Nixon and Robert Sheehan play his cohorts, with James Nesbitt supplying a familiar face to proceedings.

It's a bit more high-brow than Grint's most popular non-Potter role so far - that would be Thunderpants, about a kid who passes wind a lot.

Exactly what is Obama's New Phone look like and do ?

2009-01-22T11:23:00.004-05:00

According to the Sectera Edge product page, it was developed for the National Security Agency’s Secure Mobile Environment Portable Electronic Device (SME PED) program. I’m sure the device cost in the hundreds of thousands to design, so you can bet this baby is secure.

The Sectera Edge actually looks like a very capable device, and appears to be running Windows CE (the underpinnings of Windows Mobile). So, the president will be able to view his Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and other documents while on the road and it will be completely secure.

Features and specifications listed by General Dynamics for the Sectera Edge include:

* Processor -- not disclosed
* Memory -- separate RAM and ROM for unclassified and classified modes
* Display -- 2.8-inch QVGA touchscreen display
* Wireless interfaces:
o WAN -- GSM (850/900/1800/1900)/EDGE, GSM (850/1900/2100) UMTS/HSDPA, or CDMA (800/1900) 1xRTT, CDMA (800/1900) EV-DO Rel. A
o WAN -- 802.11b/g (optional)
* Other I/O:
o 1 x USB
o 1 x serial (operable in classified mode only)
o 2.5mm stereo headset jack
* Expansion -- microSD slot
* Dimensions and weight -- not disclosed
* Operating temperature -9 to 140 deg. F

Pricing for the Sectera Edge was not revealed, but the device is available now, according to General Dynamics.

Below is a picture of the Sectera Edge taken from the Sectra Edge product page. As you can see, it does a lot more than a Blackberry.

Oh and it puts the iPhone design to shame!

Click Image To Enlarge

Microsoft suggested dropping Vista from Home Basic

2009-01-22T10:59:00.003-05:00

A group within Microsoft Corp. recommended in 2005 that the lowest-priced version of Windows Vista be released without the "Vista" name because of concerns over "user product expectations," according to documents unsealed by a federal court today.

Read More

81st Annual Academy Awards - Nominees List

2009-01-22T10:26:00.004-05:00

Take a look at the full list of nominations for the 81st Academy Awards here:

Best Actor:
Richard Jenkins - The Visitor
Sean Penn - Milk
Mickey Rourke - The Wrestler
Frank Langella - Frost/Nixon
Brad Pitt - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button

Best Actress:
Kate Winslet - The Reader
Angelina Jolie - Changeling
Anne Hathaway - Rachel Getting Married
Meryl Streep - Doubt
Melissa Leo - Frozen River

Best Film:
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Best Supporting Actress:
Amy Adams - Doubt
Penelope Cruz - Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis - Doubt
Taraji P Henson - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei - The Wrestler

Best Supporting Actor:
Josh Brolin - Milk
Robert Downey Jr - Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman - Doubt
Heath Ledger - The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon - Revolutionary Road

Best Director:
Gus Van Sant - Milk
Danny Boyle - Slumdog Millionaire
Stephen Daldry - The Reader
David Fincher - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard - Frost/Nixon

Best Original Screenplay:
Courtney Hunt - Frozen River
Mike Leigh - Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh - In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black - Milk
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter - Wall-E

Best Adapted Screeplay:
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord - The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley - Doubt
Peter Morgan - Frost/Nixon
David Hare - The Reader
Simon Beaufoy - Slumdog Millionaire

Best Animated Feature:
Kung Fu Panda
Bolt
Wall-E

Best Foreign Language Film:
Der Baader Meinhof Komplex
The Class
Departures
Revanche
Waltz With Bashir

Achievement In Music (Original Score):
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - Alexandre Desplat
Defiance - James Newton Howard
Milk - Danny Elfman
Slumdog Millionaire - AR Rahman
Wall-E - Thomas Newman

Achievement In Music (Original Song):
Wall-E - Down To Earth by Peter Garbriel and Thomas Newman
Slumdog Millionaire - Jai Ho by A.R. Rahman and Gulzar
Slumdog Millionaire - O Saya by A.R. Rahman and Maya Arulpragsam

Achievement In Cinematography:
Changeling - Tom Stern
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - Claudio Miranda
The Dark Knight - Wally Pfister
The Reader - Chris Menges, Roger Deakins
Slumdog Millionaire - Anthony Dod Mantle

Achievement In Costume Design:
Australia - Catherine Martin
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - Jacqueline West
The Duchess - Michael O'Connor
Milk - Danny Glicker
Revolutionary Road - Albert Wolsky

Achievement In Make-Up:
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button - Greg Cannom
The Dark Knight - John Caglione Jr, Conor O'Sullivan
Hellboy II: The Golden Army - Mike Elizalde, Thom Floutz

Best Live Action Short Film:
Auf Der Strecke
Manon On The Asphalt
New Boy
The Pig
Spielzeugland

Best Animated Short Film:
La Maison De Petits Cubes - Kunio Kato
Lavatory Lovestory
Oktapodi
Presto - Doug Sweetland
This Way Up

Microsoft to cut up to 5000 jobs as earnings fall

2009-01-22T10:03:00.003-05:00

Microsoft Corp shocked Wall Street on Thursday with disappointing results and said it would slash up to 5,000 jobs and stop offering profit forecasts for the rest of the fiscal year.

The world's top software maker blamed the weakness of the PC market and the popularity of low-cost netbook computers for the miss. Its shares fell 8 percent in early trading.

Microsoft posted a profit of $4.17 billion, or 47 cents per share, in its fiscal second quarter ended December 31, versus a profit of $4.71 billion, or 50 cents, a year earlier. Analysts were looking for earnings per share of 49 cents, according to Reuters Estimates.

Revenue rose 2 percent to $16.63 billion, missing the average analyst forecast of $17.1 billion.

"Clearly business conditions are worse than people were expecting," said Richard Williams, analyst at Cross Research. "This is a substantial amount of jobs cuts. Microsoft has never had a layoff like this in my knowledge and it's sending a signal that the times are definitely changing."

Microsoft said it will eliminate up to 5,000 jobs in research and development, marketing, sales, finance, legal, human resources and information technology over the next 18 months, including 1,400 jobs on Thursday. That amounts to about 5 percent of its estimated 95,000 work force.

If Obama doesn’t investigate Bush crimes, I will

2009-01-21T21:42:00.002-05:00

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Assumed office January 3, 2007) says that he understands Obama’s reluctance to pursue investigations but that he may take matters into his own hands.

“I think that there’s a lot that remains to look at, and I appreciate that President Obama doesn’t want to make it his purpose as a new president, with America in real distress in many directions, to go back and look at all this, but I think we in Congress have an independent responsibility, and I fully intend to discharge that responsibility,” Whitehouse said.

This sounds like a threat, does it not ?

View Larger Map

In a 487-page report out today recapping Bush’s “imperial presidency,” House Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D-MI) recommends that “the incoming Administration finally begin an independent criminal review of activities of the outgoing Administration.”

For the 2007 year, Whitehouse was ranked second-most liberal senator.