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Gunmen in separate groups stormed luxury hotels, a popular restaurant, hospitals and a crowded train station in coordinated attacks across India’s financial capital, Mumbai, killing at least 100 people and wounding about 120 people. The group likewise took Westerners hostage. A group of suspected Muslim militants claimed responsibility for the attacks.
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The most awaited boxing match this year is the bout between Oscar de la Hoya and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on December 6, 2008. According to the MGM/Mirage Race and Sports Book, De La Hoya is about a 2-1 favorite over Pacquiao. This is can be attributed to De La Hoya’s 4-inch height advantage and the fact that current lightweight champion (135-pound) Pacquiao has never fought at the 147-pound agreed weight level.
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Here’s good news for techies and IPhone junkies. Apple just released its 2.2 Firmware update and other goodies for the IPhone.  Also available is Google Street View and over the air Podcast downloads from iTunes.  Google Street View shows public transit and walking directions plus the ability to share your location via email.

Aside from bug fixes and Safari enhancements, the ability to toggle auto-text correction was added as an additional feature.  Another big update are podcast downloads.  Here are more shots courtesy of Engadget.

After 15 years, Guns N Roses finally releases its long-awaited album Chinese Democracy. The album is expected to sell like pancakes as it makes history as the longest album ever in production. Adding to the hype and marketing is the free Dr. Pepper soda that will be given to everyone. Yes, that’s right. Believing that the band will not be able to release the album in 2008, Dr. Pepper promised in March free sodas for everyone if Chinese Democracy is released within 2008. The album will be exclusively available at Best Buy and ITunes.

Now, that’s what I call marketing. You think the soda company will lose money? Well, it will probably be one of their most expensive marketing campaigns, but the stunt could also prove to be profitable as Dr. Pepper is currently the most searched for word today in Google. I expect that the report will be in most blogs at the moment while having a Dr. Pepper in your hand will be the hottest fashion within the next few weeks.

You can register at www.drpepper.com and get your coupon for the free soda. Registration is available only today, so grab the opportunity now. However, traffic is said to be enormous and it will not be surprising if you find yourself waiting for your free coupon.

More than 40 years after John Lennon declared that the Beatles were more famous than Jesus Christ, the Vatican newspapers apparently has granted its forgiveness to the blasphemy. Vatican press declared that the remark was nothing more than a young man’s boastful statement following sudden fame. The article went on to offer their praise to the pop band as it remembered the 40th anniversary of the Beatles’ The White Album.
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After announcing massive layoffs from large corporations, reports have come in that unemployment is at a 16-year high with over 10 million jobless. As the impact of the economic crises continues to millions of Americans, incumbent President George W. Bush makes last-minute laws to aid ailing citizens before he steps down. Bush signed a bill Friday extending unemployment benefits by another 7 weeks in all states and another 13 weeks for states with unemployment rates that have averaged 6% or higher over the most recent three months.
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It’s that time of the year again when People Magazine declares the Sexiest Man Alive. The winner for 2008 is no less than Hugh Jackman. I can’t agree more with this year’s choice. Hugh Jackman is absolutely stunning. And considering what they have written about his personal life, his wife of 12 years, Deborra-Lee Furness, is one of the luckiest women in the world. According to Deborra, Hugh is not only gorgeous from the outside, but he is also perfect inside.
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While the medical community continues to search for the elusive cure to one of the most dreadful diseases that afflicts mankind, the answers may be exactly where God had intended them to be — in nature with no added chemicals or compounds. Many supposed miracle cures have emerged through the years, but none have been conclusively declared as the cure to cancer.

Everything began at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev when researchers discovered that the lemon aroma in herbs like lemon grass kills cancer cells in vitro but leaving healthy cells unharmed. The research team was led by Dr. Rivka Ofir and Prof. Yakov Weinstein from the Department of Microbiology and Immunology at the BGU. The key components that provide the lemony aroma and taste in herbal plants such as lemon grass, Melissa, and Verbena, is Citral. The study discovered that Citral causes cancer cells to commit suicide or what is called “apoptosis.” A drink with as little as one gram of lemon grass contains enough Citral to lead cancer cells into this programmed cell death in the test tube. Findings were published in the scientific journal “Planta Medica.”
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One of the leading causes of death worldwide is heart disease. And it continues to increase with time as we continue to live lifestyles that neglect that life-giving pump in our body. The proliferation of fast food chains, livelihood that induce stress, vices such as smoking, and lack of exercise has led to a worldwide increase in the incidence of heart disease.

Is there a way to fight it? Of course, we have to the power to keep ourselves healthy. And it all starts with knowledge. Learning about the heart, how to keep it healthy, and heart disease is the first step to keeping it healthy and strong. Early detection is one of the best ways to cure heart disease or even manage it. Be aware of telltale signs or symptoms of heart disease and you may be on your way to curing it or preventing it from progressing any further.

The best website to help anyone learn is HeartLibrary.com. It is a collection of interactive videos to teach people about the heart and heart disease. Having heart palpitations? This could be a sign of Arrhythmia. Having trouble breathing or getting too tired too fast? This could be a symptom of heart block. Visit HeartLibrary.com and learn more about heart disease from the best in the medical industry. Take care of your heart — it’s the only one you’ve got.

Nestle Prepared Foods Company recalled 3 different Lean Cuisine frozen chicken entrees after several consumers found pieces of hard blue
plastic in the package. The recalled frozen meals are Lean Cuisine Chicken Mediterranean, Pesto Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta and Chicken Tuscan.

These Lean Cuisines were manufactured from August 18 through October 27 of 2008 year and distributed nationwide. The recall covers more than 879,000 pounds of food. It was discovered when several people called to complain and one person injured due to the plastic in the food. This is classified as a Class 1 Recall or one the USDA considers a high health risk.

Each of those recalled packages has the establishment number “EST P-9018.” Other details are as follows:

LEAN CUISINE PESTO CHICKEN WITH BOW TIE PASTA

Printed on each side of each package is a production code of “8280595912” as well as a use-by date of “Best Before MAY 2010.”

LEAN CUISINE CHICKEN MEDITERRANEAN

Printed on the side of each package is a production code of “8231595912” or “8241595912” as well as a use-by date of “Best before SEP 2010”; a production code of “8263595912,” “8269595911” or “8274595912,” as well as a use-by date of “Best before OCT 2010”; or, a production code of “8291595912” or “8301595912” as well as a use-by date of “Best before NOV 2010.”

LEAN CUISINE CHICKEN TUSCAN

Printed on the side of each package is a production code of “8234595911” and a use-by date of “Best before SEP 2009”; a production code of “8253595911” or “8269595912” as well as a use-by date of “Best before OCT 2009”; or, a production code of “8292595911” or “8296595911” as well as a use-by date of “Best before NOV 2009.

Anyone with questions can call Nestle’s Consumer Services Center at 800-993-8625 or visit the USDA website.

In the 20th century, nothing provides more cheer to kids than video games on high tech video consoles. The video game console market is controlled and dominated by only 3 players, Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft. For more than 5 years, these 3 giants have been engaged in the console wars. In the past 5 years, it has been Sony winning the console wars with the Playstation and the Playstation 2. In 2006, the console giants launched another full-scale war with their new consoles — the Sony Playstation 3, the Microsoft XBox 360, and the Nintendo Wii. This time, Nintendo has emerged the winner with the highest worldwide sales that has reached 34.55 million as of September 2008.

What makes the Wii better than its competitors? The Wii is a the game console that can be enjoyed and played by the entire family together. While the Playstation 3 and the Xbox 360 were both targeted for hardcore gamers, the Wii features games that will make the family have fun. Another distinguishing feature that sets it apart from its competitors is its wireless controller (the Wii Remote) that can be used as a handheld pointing device and can detect movement in three dimensions. Father and son can play a game of tennis together and controlling the game would mean holding the remote and swinging your arms to simulate a real tennis swing in coordination with the character on the monitor. When I got my kids a Wii, it came with the Nintendo Wii Sports where we played tennis, baseball, bowling, and a lot more. It is probably the only game console that allows its players to exercise.

And because the Wii has been known to provide its players exercise, one of its bestselling games that was launched this year was the Wii Fit. The game was so in demand that it had become difficult to find one in the market. Same as the Wii, people were willing to pay a fortune to be able to get their hands on one. I have found it to be the best fitness tool so far. It comes with a Wii Balance Board that measures a user’s weight and center of gravity. The software then calculates the user’s body mass index and it includes activities like yoga, push-ups, and other exercises to keep you fit and strong.

Millions of people can’t be wrong about the Wii. Why not get one for the entire family and enjoy hours of fun together this holiday season? It would be the perfect gift for the kids. As a matter of fact, it has become the perfect tool for me and the kids to bond together.

Since I already got my kids a Wii, I’m planning on getting them a Nintendo DS this Christmas, Nintendo’s handheld game device. And like the Wii, it will definitely provide them hours of fun and entertainment. Check out price comparisons online and make sure you get a good deal on your Nintendo products.

You may be getting money from the IRS without even knowing it.  As the economic crunch worsened in 2008, the IRS expects to hand out more stimulus check payments to millions of US taxpayers this year.  In February, the economic-stimulus law was enacted which provides tax breaks for taxpayers with an annual income of less than $75,000.  Eligibility is based on income, family size, and other factors as reported in your federal income tax return for either 2007 or 2008.
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Rebecca Wilis, 64 years old, gets a settlement from Marshall, NC after suing the town for banning her from the Community Center for dirty dancing.  The incident happened 8 years ago when Willis, then 56 years old, was banned from the community center after she showed up in a very short skirt and danced obscenely with her partner.  Townsfolk claimed that her skirt was so short that it showed her underwear.  Willis claims she was exuberant and flamboyant while dancing, but patrons claimed she was gyrating and simulating sexual intercourse with her partner.

Following the ban, Willis sued the town for violating her Constitutional Right to equal protection under the 14th Amendment.  After the case was tossed around for 8 years, the town finally decided to settle and pay her $275,000 with the condition that she never return to the community center.

Would they ban a woman 30 years younger than her who would dance and dress the same way?  She may have been right about people violating her right to free expression.  However, I believe there are some things that are totally unacceptable and offensive that rights violation is inevitable.  I don’t have a picture of Willis in her mini skirt dancing.  But something tells me that the sight may actually be difficult to swallow.  Can you picture your grandmother wearing what she had on and dirty dancing? OMG!

An obsessive fan and former contestant of American Idol was found dead inside a car outside the home of Paula Abdul in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles. TMZ.com, the famous celebrity news website, reported that the woman was a fan of Abdul and appeared in American Idol in 2006. Authorities refuse to release any detailed information about the woman’s death, except that it was a possible suicide. The woman was identified as Paula Goodspeed.

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In the new cover story of Vogue magazine, Jennifer Aniston gives her opinion about Angelina Jolie’s initial attraction to her ex-husband, Brad Pitt. Aniston reveals that the magazine’s January 2007 interview with Vogue was difficult for her to read. There were discussions from a time when she was still unaware that things were heating up between Jolie and her ex. She believed they were inappropriate for her to discuss as it highlighted her husband’s infidelity.
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