LinkedIn Shares Nearly Double After IPO

Social-media companies, take note: LinkedIn Corp.'s swift rise on its first day of trading Thursday proves that U.S. investors are hungry for similar stories.

The professional-networking site's shares opened at $83 on the New York Stock Exchange, up 84% from its initial public offering price of $45. It was recently changing hands at $85.99 a share, up 91%, valuing the company at nearly $9 billion.

LinkedIn's IPO had priced at the high end of its expected $42 to $45 range, which was boosted by $10 earlier this week in the face of strong demand.
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National Geographic - Scottish Sea Kayak Trail in Top 50 Lifetime Tours

National Geographic has listed The Scottish Sea Kayak Trail among the 'Top 50 Tours of a Lifetime" (3rd on list).

Apparently, it's also in Outside Magazine's coveted 'Travel Hot List for 2011', although I couldn't find it.

Which is nice. Sort of...

I wrote the guidebook partly because I knew that if I didn't, someone else would, and there was a trend for guidebooks to recommend campsite locations. Directing kayakers to certain campsites, along the length of Scotland's west coast, would concentrate environmental impact in those places and potentially damage them.

National Geographic Museum Presents Exclusive Look at the Culture of Ancient Italy

Pre-Roman art of ancient Italy will amaze viewers during an exclusive presentation of The Etruscans: An Ancient Italian Civilization. Beginning June 10, 2011 and running through September 25, the National Geographic Museum in Washington, D.C. will be the proud home to the unique art and artifacts of ancient Italy.

The exhibition will be a highlight of La Dolce DC, a celebration of Washington’s Italian connections, and of ITALY@150, a series of events organized by the Embassy of Italy under the auspices of the President of the Italian Republic to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of Italy’s Unity.

CDC Launches Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide: Supplementary Tech Tips

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just published its official Zombie Apocalypse Survival Guide, yet left out crucial information for a zombie target demographic: geeks.

Should America become besieged by undead hordes, United States Federal agency CDC (“Your source for credible health information”) now has us covered. Preparedness 101: Zombie Apocalypse officially has everything we need to know about preparedness in the event of a zombie virus outbreak.

Or does it?

Zombie apocalypse survival tips for the tech set seem to be missing.

The guide on the CDC’s Public Health Matters Blog begins:

Writepad 5 buddies up with Evernote for app marriage

PhatWare announced this week the release of its handwriting-recognition, note-taking software, WritePad 5, for iPhone. That alone isn't groundbreaking news. But there's an interesting tidbit in the software's feature list: the fact that it offers synchronization services with note-taking and memory-keeping app Evernote.

The latest WritePad also cooperates with Facebook Dropbox, Google Docs, iTunes, SMS services, and Twitter clients. It's one of a growing generation of unrelated apps that allow interaction with third-party software. WritePad, PhatWare's top selling app (according to its own stats), was developed entirely independently of Evernote and its other sync companions. But the separate developers allow cross access to their software to make both more appealing to users.

Forbes: Belichick is highest paid coach

Forbes produces its ranking of the highest paid coaches in sports today, noting that with the NBA's Phil Jackson retiring, the top spot now belongs to Bill Belichick.

"In 11 seasons on the New England Patriots' sideline, Bill Belichick has won 72 percent of his games, made eight postseason appearances and taken three Super Bowl titles," Tom Van Riper writes. "Little surprise, then, that Belichick now takes home more money than any coach in the four major North American sports leagues--some $7.5 million a year, we estimate. The Patriots have never publicly confirmed Belichick's contract details, but industry pundits have little doubt that the long-term extension he signed in 2007 is north of the roughly $7 million annually that Mike Holmgren was getting from the Seattle Seahawks."

Reuters Summit-Intel eyes Apple as it plans future chips

 NEW YORK, May 18 (Reuters) - Trend-setting products launched by Apple Inc (AAPL.O) are a key factor in Intel Corp's (INTC.O) plans for new processors, a senior executive of the world's top chipmaker said.

Tom Kilroy, a senior vice president at Intel, told the Reuters Global Technology Summit in New York on Wednesday that the runaway success of the iPad and other Apple products shapes how Intel thinks about future devices and the chips that will power them.

"We work very closely with them and we're constantly looking down the road at what we can be doing relative to future products. I'd go as far as to say Apple helps shape our roadmap," Kilroy said.

"Apple -- they push us hard," he said

Spring Storms brings snow to colorado mountains

Officials say a strong storm system will dump up to 18 inches of snow in the Colorado mountains.

The National Weather Service said a winter storm warning will be issued Wednesday night and continue through Thursday. The heaviest snowfall is expected to be just along and east of the Continental Divide, especially in Larimer County.

Total accumulations there could reach one and a half feet by Thursday night.

Arapahoe Basin is the only Colorado ski resort still open. It had planned to close June 5, but it now plans to run its lifts for two more weekends, June 10 to 12 and June 17 to 19. The chief operating officer says it's too early to say what will happen after that.

Two 9/11 Flight Numbers Retired

United Continental Holdings said the company would permanently retire flight numbers 93 and 175, the designations of the United flights hijacked in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, after they reappeared in a computer reservation system.

The numbers were loaded erroneously May 16 because of an oversight and were removed on Wednesday, United Continental said. Neither number will be used again, according to the airline, which was rebuked by unions representing pilots and flight attendants over the reuse of the numbers.

Single currency dominance to end 2025

LAGOS — The global financial system would no longer be dominated by the dollar or any single currency by 2025 and six major emerging economies— Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, South Korea, and Russia—will account for more than half of all global growth, says a new World Bank report.

The report, Global Development Horizons 2011-Multipolarity: The New Global Economy, projects that as a group, emerging economies will grow on average by 4.7 per cent a year between 2011 and 2025.  Advanced economies, meanwhile, are forecast to grow by 2.3 per cent over the same period, yet will remain prominent in the global economy, with the euro area, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States all playing a core role in fueling global growth.

McCann homers twice, Braves beat Astros 3-1 in 11

When Brian McCann returned to his locker, Derek Lowe shouted across the room: "Great off day, Mac!"

A great off day, indeed.

McCann came off the bench in the ninth inning to tie it with a pinch-hit, two-out homer, then hit a two-run shot in the 11th to lead the Atlanta Braves past the Houston Astros 3-1 on Tuesday.

"If the game is close, I know I'm the first one off the bench to hit," the All-Star catcher said. "I'm ready for that. I know that's my role when I'm not playing."

The Braves were trailing 1-0 and down to their final strike in the ninth when McCann drove a 1-2 pitch the opposite way, the ball just clearing the wall in left-center.

He stayed in the game behind the plate and, two innings later, ended it with his fourth homer of the season — a towering drive down the right-field line, just inside the foul pole against Jeff Fulchino (0-2).

2011 NBA Mock Draft: Where Will John Calipari's Latest PG Product Wind Up?

2011 NBA Draft Order will be set in stone after Tuesday night's NBA Draft Lottery and a number of scenarios are in play. Will the Minnesota Timberwolves draft another point guard if awarded the top overall pick? Could BYU's Jimmer Fredette fall entirely out of the lottery? How would Derrick Williams going No. 2 change the way the rest of the lottery teams made their selections? Bleacher Report will looks at these scenarios and more, along with speculation and rumors from around the web.

Will the Sacramento Kings’ attempted return to relevance be pinned on yet another John Calipari-coached product—in this case, Brandon Knight? 

Tiger Woods Confirms No Additional Damage Done To ACL and Knee

Tiger Woods is coming off his shortest tournament appearance in his career at the TPC Sawgrass Players Championship. He shot a 42 on the front nine before withdrawing from the rest of the tournament.

He has been dealing with a knee and achillies injury since the Master's and hasn't played in a tournament since the early April event.

Here is how Woods described what happened with his leg on Thursday:

The knee acted up, and then the Achilles followed after that, and then the calf started cramping up. Everything started getting tight, so it's just a whole chain reaction.

Woods has confirmed that no further damage has been done and that he simply needs plenty of rest, cold water therapy and soft tissue treatment.

Sony Welcomes PSN Users Back With inFamous And LittleBigPlanet

PlayStation Network is partially back up and some people, after a password reset, are enjoying online games again. As an apology for the downtime and security breach, Sony Computer Entertainment has a "Welcome Back" program planned.

Details have not been announced for North America or Japan, but trickled out of Europe. The PAL PlayStation Blog posted a list of digital welcome back gifts.

Scott Parker is a key target for Arsène Wenger this summer

The West Ham United midfielder Scott Parker is a key target for Arsène Wenger this summer, with the Arsenal manager finally prepared to break his self-imposed restriction on signing older players to long-term contracts.
Parker, 30, will be sold this summer as West Ham, who were relegated to the Championship on Sunday, divest themselves of their highest-earners. While Wenger has a policy of not buying players in their thirties apart from exceptional short-term signings, he is understood to be given to reconsidering after another season in which his squad's lack of experience was telling.

Parker, who was voted player of the year by the Football Writers' Association this season, lives in Surrey and would be amenable to a move to Arsenal. He is expected to be sold for around £6m and would want a three-year contract at the very least, given that his current West Ham deal has three years to run.

Among Wenger's current group of midfielders, he is expected to sanction the sale of Denilson and Tomas Rosicky this summer. Ideally, Parker would play alongside Jack Wilshere in midfield, reprising their successful partnership for England against Wales in March's Euro 2012 qualifier. Interestingly, it would appear that Cesc Fabregas's much-anticipated move to Barcelona is by no means a certainty, with the Spanish champions exerting nothing like the interest they did last summer.

Southern Border Heats Up Once Again; Bill O'Reilly

Two Border Patrol agents were killed Thursday while chasing suspected illegal alien drug smugglers southwest of Phoenix. During the chase, the truck the agents were riding in was hit by a freight train, instantly killing 39-year-old Hector Clark and 34-year-old Edward Rojas. Obviously, the border situation in Arizona remains very dangerous.

And it's not just illegal aliens and drugs that are plaguing Arizona. The border situation is now impacting the public schools there.

As you may know, the state has ordered schools in Tucson to stop teaching ethnic classes because of alleged bias against America. That order has led to some protests. The cultural aspect of the border controversy centers on textbooks and teaching material. On May 10 at a school board meeting in Tucson, a woman read from the works of Rodolfo Gonzalez, a radical anti-American guy who is being used by some teachers:

Seven Infamous Dictators

History has a lot to answer for! It’s left us with some pretty nasty people who’ve left behind them a catalogue of mischief, mayhem, death and destruction. Some of these people somehow managed to gather a mass following which leads to them believing their abominable actions have been sanctioned by the will of the people. Here are 7 infamous dictators who we are glad to have seen the end of.

1. Adolf Hitler

Arguably the most infamous dictator of them all, the leader of Germany between 1934 and 1945, Hitler wasn’t even German but Austrian. He led Germany into WWII supposedly in payback for the humiliation it suffered as punishment for WWI although to many it seems more that he just wanted to hit back at the Jews who had it better than him when he was growing up. Hitler committed suicide in May 1945, knowing his horrific war was lost and having been responsible for the murder of 8 million Jews (may they rest in peace).

Latin America’s new shining path

In the small towns of Peru’s Andean highlands, every spare surface has been commandeered for a poster or a mural proclaiming: “Keiko Presidente!” or “Ollanta”. The Peruvian presidential election, which will see either Keiko Fujimori or Ollanta Humala elected on June 5, will be the most closely watched poll in Latin America this year. It has become a test of whether the continent’s dramatic economic and political progress is irreversible; or whether the bad old days of authoritarianism, populism and economic chaos could still return to haunt Latin America.

In 1980, there were just three democracies in the whole of Latin America; now it is the autocracies that can be counted on the fingers of one hand. A continent that was once synonymous with the words “economic crisis” has become the toast of emerging market investors. Countries that lived in dread of capital flight now complain that there is too much “hot money” flowing in from abroad.

The rise of Brazil as a global power has overshadowed much of the rest of the continent. But the transformation of Peru, Brazil’s smaller neighbour, is in some ways even more remarkable. Once famous for a vicious Maoist insurgency, the country grew by almost 9 per cent last year – and has commitments for more than $40bn of new foreign investment in mining alone. (Peru also has the unique status of being the world’s leading exporter of both cocaine and asparagus.)

Cassidy Arrested as Suspect in Philly Murder Case

Hackensack, NJ – Philadelphia emcee, Cassidy, has had his fair share of run-ins with the law, as many other rappers do. However, Cassidy, whose real name is Barry Reese, has charges that are more severe than others. Sometime during the weekend, Cassidy was apprehended by Hackensack authorities on a warrant for violating his probation, but apparently he has become a suspect in a murder and two attempted murders that occurred in his hometown of Philly.

According to sources, Philadelphia Police contacted the Hackensack Police Department to inform them that Cassidy, who is a resident of Jersey City, had a warrant out for his arrest. They notified the local authorities that Cassidy should be considered ‘armed and dangerous,’ under a ‘high risk warrant.’

During a surveillance in front of Cassidy’s house, police were dispatched immediately when the rapper was seen vacating his residence around 1:30pm to stop at a nearby local convenience store. After confirming his identity during a routine felony motor vehicle stop, they arrested the rapper and brought him into custody. Hackensack police Lt. Timothy Lloyd commended the officers for doing ‘an outstanding job’ in the safe and secure apprehension. He also stated that the rapper was ‘very surprised’ upon arrest.

Coral Hotels & Resorts Flags its First Hotel in Abu Dhabi

Coral International Hotels unveiled its first hotel in Abu Dhabi at an exclusive press conference hosted by Mr Abdulla Nasser Bin Huwaileel Al Mansoori, Chairman, Al Nasser HoldingsAl Nasser Holdings and Mr Michel Noblet, President & CEO, HMH - Hospitality Management Holdings. The hotel was inaugurated by H.H. Sheikh Sultan bin Tahnoon Al Nahyan, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Tourism AuthorityAbu
Speaking to the select journalists Mr Mansoori said, "We are proud to announce the opening of Liwa Executive Suites that has been envisaged to provide an intimate and personalized experience to guests. We believe it will be among the most desired addresses for travelers seeking a deluxe boutique hotel. Coral Hotels & ResortsCoral Hotels & Resorts
Coral International Hotels Resorts and Spas is an excellent brand and we are glad to have it as an operator of this plush property."

STS-134 crew walkout on way to space shuttle Endeavour

The six astronauts of STS-134 are on their way to launch pad 39A to enter the orbiter of space shuttle Endeavour.

On the first launch attempt, the astronauts on board the AstroVan that takes them there never got past the Vehicle Assembly Building, about 3 miles short of the launch pad because of a technical issue that scrubbed the attempt.

Looks like they’ll at least get past that point and all signs point to a good chance of launch at 8:56 a.m.

Here’s some shots from NASA TV of the walkout.

South Australia's Racing Minister defiant on horse-race death

JUMPS racing is under increasing pressure after another horse death, but South Australia's Racing Minister is unconcerned, invoking cock-fighting as a comparison to dismiss accusations hurdles races are cruel.

"Dog-fighting is cruel, cock-fighting is cruel, but the whole object of horseracing is for horses to go around a course, jump over hedges and survive," SA Racing Minister Tom Kenyon told The Australian yesterday.

"Obviously there is an increased risk -- they're jumping -- but I don't think jumps racing is a cruel sport."

Mr Kenyon's comments follow the death of 10-year-old galloper Ledgers Dream while racing at Adelaide's Morphettville track on Saturday.

Disney Cruise Lines Offers Fun for the Whole Family

Have you heard of the Disney Cruise Line? Here are just some of the thing they offer: live Disney shows, “meet-and-greets” with the Disney characters, children’s clubs and adults-only spots as well. None of those sound good? Okay, fine. How about first-run movies at the theater onboard?

Are your kids looking to get away from their geeky parents? Not a problem. From a Little Mermaid themed daycare to Vibe, a place where 14 to 17 year olds can chill out and listen to music, watch TV or play the latest and greatest video games, kids should be able to find whatever it is they’re looking for, regardless of their age.

I read about the Disney Cruise Line on the Telegraph, and I must say, it sounded quite impressive. I mean, the only thing missing I could think of was Zach and Cody, though as much as Disney offers? I wouldn’t be so quick to rule them out, either.

Signs of Addiction

Identifying Signs of AddictionWhile drug and alcohol use and abuse manifest themselves in different ways, they share a number of common signs and symptoms.

Often, addicts and alcoholics are the last to know that they have a problem, because they cannot see the outward signs of addiction. They attempt to hide their use from loved ones, escaping to a “safe” space such as a bar after work, or a spot in the garage where they can be alone to drink or use. The addict believes that he or she is keeping the drug or alcohol use secret from everyone else, when in fact, the physical and behavioral signs of addiction are often immediately apparent.

Here, I’ll walk through a list of the most common signs and symptoms of addiction.
Isolation

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, a time for people to learn more about mental health conditions and seek out help for them.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental health concerns affect 1 in 10 Americans today, but fewer than 25 percent of people with a diagnosable mental disorder seek treatment. Mental Health Awareness Month hopes to help increase the number of people who will talk to their doctor or a mental health professional about their concern.

Mental illness is a real and treatable set of conditions that include diagnoses such as major depression, bipolar disorder, panic attacks, generalized anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and schizophrenia among dozens of others. The concerns are serious enough to significantly impact a person’s daily life functioning, whether at school, work or in their relationships with others.

Detroit cop's firing clouded by his history of shootings

It was a time card -- not gunplay -- that did in Eugene Brown.

The 44-year-old Detroit police sergeant has been a stone in the shoe of the department since 2000, when a Free Press series spotlighted his extraordinary record of nine shootings -- three of them fatal -- in just six years. The shootings cost the city millions of dollars in lawsuits and helped push the Police Department into federal oversight.

Defenders and critics say the police brass used allegations of cheating on overtime to finally oust Brown when all earlier efforts had failed.

"It seems they couldn't get him on what they thought he did, so they tried to get him on anything," said attorney John Goldpaugh, who helped represent Brown in the fallout over the shootings. "I believe they were just looking for any reason."

Detroit Police Chief Ralph Godbee Jr. wouldn't discuss the details of Brown's firing, but said he supports the decision.

Efforts to reach Brown at work and through his union and social media were unsuccessful.

But, he told the Free Press in 2000 that "my actions were justified."

It was learned last week that Brown was fired in December but remains on the job -- without his gun -- pending an appeal through arbitration.

PS3 System Software Updates

We have been working on a new PS3 system software update that requires all PSN users to change their password once PlayStation Network is restored. The update (v3.61) is mandatory and is available now.

If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security. If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this email, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password you can sign-in to your account using your new password.

We strongly recommend that all PSN account holders with PS3s update their systems to prepare for when PlayStation Network is back online. The release of this update is a critical step as we work to make PlayStation Network significantly more secure. Thank you for your continued support and patience

Storm clouds gathering in Bronx over Jorge Posada controversy

Among the Yankees’ Core Four, it was always Jorge Posada who battled the darker angels. Andy Pettitte was as innocent as a dove, Mariano Rivera remained a billboard of calm while his cut-fastball lasered through the American League, and Derek Jeter, even in decline, is still as regal as Joe DiMaggio.

Posada? He’s the brooder. He’s the angry one. That simmering temper finally bubbled over on Saturday, in what’ll be remembered as the lowest point of Posada’s career. The catcher asked out of the lineup after being dropped to the No. 9 spot against Josh Beckett [stats] — a snub that Posada couldn’t live with. Not against the arch-rival Red Sox [team stats], not on national television, not when it came directly from the manager he’s never liked, Joe Girardi.

Although Posada initially accepted the demotion with grace — "I put myself in this spot (with a .165 average)" he told reporters — his mood obviously soured by 6 p.m.. That’s when Posada walked into Girardi’s office and said, simply, "I need a day (off)."

IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn accused of sexual assault at NYC hotel

The leader of the International Monetary Fund and a possible candidate for president of France was arrested Sunday in the violent sexual assault of a hotel maid after being yanked from an airplane moments before it was to depart for Paris, police said.

Dominique Strauss-Kahn, 62, was arrested on charges of a criminal sex act, attempted rape and unlawful imprisonment and was awaiting arraignment. He had been taken off the Air France flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport on Saturday afternoon by officers from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and was turned over to New York police, said Paul J. Browne, New York Police Department spokesman.

His lawyer, Benjamin Brafman, did not immediately respond to phone or email messages left by The Associated Press. "We have not yet been able to meet with our client and we may have more to say tomorrow," Brafman told The New York Times late Saturday.

Redbox Offer Video Game Rentals Nationwide This June

In a statement from the company, Redbox announced it will offer video game rentals at more than 21,000 redbox locations nationwide beginning June 17, 2011. Top video games will join new release movies for only $2 a day.

Redbox offers new release DVD and Blu-ray Disc rentals through its network of conveniently located, self-service kiosks. Since its inception just a few years ago, the company has rented more than one billion movies and has grown to more than 27,000 locations nationwide.

The kiosks which are the core of the company’s success can be found at locations including select McDonald’s restaurants, grocery, drug and convenience stores. They are also available in select Walmart locations.

The unstoppable Javier Zanetti still going strong as he makes 1000th career appearance

Whatever your feelings on Inter, it was impossible to begrudge him his moment of sheer joy. As he lifted the Champions League trophy aloft in Madrid last May with a glint in his eye and his mouth agape, Javier Zanetti did so with the whole world behind him. Few players have earned such respect and widespread backing in their career as the Argentine has, and on Wednesday night the entire football fraternity will stand and applaud him once more as he plays his 1000th professional game in the Coppa Italia semi-final second leg against Roma.

Twenty years after signing professional forms with Talleres in his native Argentina, the Inter skipper will wear a special captain’s armband to commemorate the nine other men who have reached the landmark figure whilst playing the majority of their careers at the top level. Each name will have a star above it, much the same as world champions have a star added to their shirts for each success. It is a sign of how humble Zanetti is that he should use his big night to recognise those that have gone before him.

Modern Warfare 3 America Teaser

Looks like Infinity Ward isn’t trying to hide it anymore. In addition to the tons of juicy details we got earlier today on Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3‘s singleplayer and multiplayer modes, the teaser trailer above has been released for the game. It shows a large digital layout of New York city in the vintage Modern Warfare green while Stalker 1-0 and Stalker 1-1 relay communications about the Brooklyn Bridge. At the end, you can hear Vladimir Makarov say something which I seriously hope gets translated soon.

The Call of Duty YouTube channel has been remade with Modern Warfare 3 logos and a whole series of teasers is now available for your viewing pleasure.

National League Game Capsules

Chicago, IL —

Reed Johnson's bases-loaded triple in the seventh inning highlighted an offensive outburst the Cubs used to rout the Giants, 11-4, in the opener of a three-game series. Johnson finished 3-for-5 and drove in four runs overall for the Cubs, who had opened their nine-game homestand with series losses to the Reds and Cardinals. But they are in a good position to win this closing set after totaling 14 hits Friday. Starlin Castro and Darwin Barney set the tone at the top of Chicago's lineup, combining for six hits and five RBI. Ryan Dempster (2-4) got the win after limiting San Francisco to two runs in six innings, and struck out a season- high 11 batters. He also snapped a six-game home losing streak dating back to August 31 of last season. Madison Bumgarner (0-6) allowed only three runs in six innings, and took the loss after the Giants bullpen gave up eight runs in two innings.

Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew' will not receive any more treatment for the "awful disease,"

Former Yankees broadcaster Jim Kaat was a teammate of Hall of Famer Harmon Killebrew's for 15 seasons with the Senators and Twins, and through the years they have remained close friends.

So when Killebrew, 74, announced Friday that he would no longer fight his esophageal cancer, saying "it is with profound sadness" that he will not receive any more treatment for the "awful disease," Kaat wasn't surprised.

"I talked to him three days ago and I knew that he didn't sound good, and I was not optimistic," said Kaat, who was at the Stadium Friday night as part of the MLB Network team. "When I talked to him it was pretty noticeable. He was having a hard time talking and from being through cancer with my late wife, I could kind of sense, it was one of those things you don't want to admit, but you kind of know he's getting worse and maybe nearing the end."

Rumor: Amazon has an “entire family” of Android devices coming this holiday

Amazon’s Android tablet is both the best and worst kept secret in the mobile industry. Everyone knows that Amazon is working on an Android device, but few know any of the specific details about its hardware or software. I recently took a break from blogging, but I had to come out of retirement for this post because it’s the most interesting Android topic that still remains a mystery. Read on after the jump to see what details I have dug up.
The Rumor

Amazon has an “entire family” of Android devices that will launch this holiday shopping season.
The Source

This tip came from an industry insider with direct knowledge of the project. The information was shared with me in a recent face-to-face meeting and I believe the source to be trustworthy. It was also confirmed by a separate source who has provided reliable information in the past. As with most of my tipsters, they wish to remain anonymous.
One Android In

sider’s take on the rumor

NY Rangers' Boogaard dies at 28

New York Rangers enforcer Derek Boogaard was found dead Friday in his Minneapolis apartment. He was 28.
The team announced Boogaard's death Friday night, but gave no details.
The Star Tribune newspaper in Minneapolis first reported Boogaard was found dead in his home by members of his family. The Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office in Minnesota confirmed those details and said an autopsy was pending.
"Derek was an extremely kind and caring individual," Rangers president and general manager Glen Sather said. "He was a very thoughtful person, who will be dearly missed by all those who knew him. We extend our deepest sympathies to his family, friends and teammates during this difficult time."
Boogaard signed a four-year, $6.5 million deal with Rangers in July and appeared in 22 games with them last season. He had a

The Heart Attack Grill:

It's been over a month and you have probably already forgotten about the death of Blair River, the 575-pound spokesperson for the Heart Attack Grill. His death is disturbing, first and foremost because this young man was only 29 years old. He lived a scant 11 years as an adult and this kind of story always makes my heart ache.
There was a tremendous amount of press surrounding Mr. River's death because of his role as a morbidly obese man pitching a restaurant that profiteers from today's tremendous problem with weight gain
in America. Founded by Jon Basso, who uses the moniker "Dr. Jon," the Heart Attack Grill is a restaurant that serves burgers and fries with no limit on the c
alories, fat or salt. The specialty of the house is the Bypass Burger -- single through quadruple versions. The Quadruple Bypass Burger allegedly contain

Five Really Successful People Who Never Really Existed

George P. Burdell was a man born of a simple mistake. In 1927, someone in the admissions office at Georgia Tech accidentally sent student Ed Smith two registration forms instead of one. Sensing an opportunity for mischief, Smith filled out one form for himself and the other for George P. Burdell—a student he completely made up. When Smith arrived at school, he kept the ruse going by enrolling Burdell in all of his classes and even turning in assignments under his name. In fact, Smith did so much work on behalf of his imaginary friend that Burdell eventually graduated.

The Biggest Game of 2011 The Modern Warfare 3 Files: An Exclusive First Details

Modern Warfare 3 is coming Nov. 8, 2011, Kotaku has learned, delivering with it mammoth battles that engulf a dozen cities around the world including New York, Paris and London.
Multiple sources have shared details of the game's story, art, sounds and game modes with Kotaku, noting that the game will reshape the landscape of the Call of Duty franchise, bringing an impressive number of eclectic settings, deep multiplayer gaming and a story that ties up nearly all loose ends from previous titles, including the final moments of key figures in the series' history.
While we haven't seen the game in action ourselves, we've gone to great lengths to nail down as much as possible the veracity of our sources. We believe that the imagery and chief details are accurate. That doesn't mean things can't change before release, but this appears to be a full run down of where Infinity Ward, Sledgehammer Games and Raven Software is on Modern Warfare 3 as they add the final polishing touches.

Smallville’ series finale, ‘Blue Bloods’ and ‘CSI: NY’

 
FINALE WATCH: “Smallville” (CW at 8 p.m.) Status: Series finale. A two-hour episode is required to properly wrap up the story of Clark Kent after 10 seasons, and includes several surprise guest stars. This includes Michael Rosenbaum, who makes a return as Lex Luthor.
FINALE WATCH: “CSI: NY” (CBS at 9) Status: Unknown. While it’s still unclear if CBS will order an eighth season of the “CSI” spinoff, Mac is busy in the final episode of Season 7, as he becomes obsessed with solving his last remaining case after a near-death experience.
FINALE WATCH: “Blue Bloods” (CBS at 10) Status: Unknown. The network hasn’t yet announced if the family cop drama will return for a second season, but there’s lots of drama in the finale. A drug bust reveals possibly dirty cops, but Frank decides to wait and not tell Internal Affairs, so he can have a better chance of exposing a secret police organization.
Friday morning, TCM airs a tribute to actor Jackie Cooper, who died last week at age 88. The marathon of Cooper movies kicks off with 1935’s “Dinky” (at 6 a.m.) and includes 1937’s “Boy of the Streets” (at 10:15 a.m.) and 1934’s “Treasure Island” (at 4:30 p.m.).
Chef Ramsay heads south to New Orleans on Friday night, and tries to help out an eatery with its ambiance and menu on “Kitchen Nightmares” (Fox at 8).
A couple on “Flashpoint” (CBS at 8) has a “John Q”-type strategy when their young son is dying of leukemia, and hold up a bank to try and get money for a bone marrow transplant.
Eric helps Vince with recruitment on “Friday Night Lights” (NBC at 8), while four students from East Dillon decide to join together and make a pact.
The sales director on “Say Yes to the Dress” (TLC at 9) is forced to step in and save the day when one bride-to-be says “no thanks” to 10 dresses; meanwhile, another woman has a similarly difficult task when she wants her gown to be black and white.
Kings of Leon takes a turn on “VH1 Storytellers” (VH1 at 11) and performs a dozen songs — including the very popular “Use Somebody,” of course — for a small audience in Nashville.
“The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” (NBC at 11:35) hosts actress Jodie Foster, actor Ken Jeong and musical guest Rodrigo y Gabriela.
Comedians Joan Rivers and Nick Griffin are featured on “Late Show With David Letterman” (CBS at 11:35), along wth a performance by Okkervil River.