News on the Edge

Charlie Sheen Fired From 'Two and a Half Men'

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:50:00 +0000

After lead actor on 'Two and a Half Men', Charlie Sheen lambasted writer/creator Chuck Lorre in a radio rant late in February, Warner Bros has decided to fire him.

Sheen had also recently demanded $3 million to return to the show, this after having the show suspended due to Sheen's rehab.

Warner Bros. executives said in a statement yesterday, “After careful consideration, Warner Bros. Television has terminated Charlie Sheen’s services on Two and a Half Men, effective immediately.”

Sheen is reportedly happy about this news.

According to TMZ.com, Sheen has said, “This is very good news. They continue to be in breach, like so many whales. It is a big day of gladness at the Sober Valley Lodge because now I can take all of the bazillions, never have to look at whatshisc**k again and I never have to put on those silly shirts for as long as this warlock exists in the terrestrial dimension.”

Last week 'Two and a Half Men' fans asked for John Stamos to replace him.

That's a nice gift John.

(via TorontoSun)

Wes Leonard of Michigan's Fennville High Dies Last Night After Scoring Winning Basket

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 17:06:00 +0000

Last Night, Fennville High's Wes Leonard scored the winning basket in overtime, closing his team 20-0 winning season.

Michigan's high school basketball star, Leonard was hoisted into the air by teammates and soon after collapsed.

Leonard, only 16 years old, went into cardiac arrest and was unresponsive per news reports. He was taken to Holland Hospital at approximately 9:15am and 85 minutes later, was pronounced dead.

Leonard scored "more than 1,000 career points in his brief life, had just shot the winning layup in a 57-55 game over Bridgman High".

No word on cause of death as of yet.

(via People)

Jimmy Fallon's Charlie Sheen Impersonation

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 04:28:00 +0000

"The sketch, which comedically sells "Winning," the new fragrance from Charlie Sheen, ran on Wednesday night's show."

Check out the Jimmy Fallon Charlie Sheen Impersonation over at Huffington Post.

Charlie Sheen's Recent 20/20 Interview

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:45:00 +0000

Lots of news surrounding Charlie Sheen's "insane" rants as of late.

Check out Charlie Sheen's 20/20 video over at ABC.

Check out the article / interview over at People.

Happy Birthday Dr. Seuss!

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 17:35:00 +0000

Today marks what would have been Dr. Seuss' 107th birthday.

Theodor Seuss Geisel, aka Dr. Seuss created many characters that have delighted children around the world. His most iconic was the Grinch, and the Cat in the Hat.

Geisel was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, who managed his family's brewery and supervised Springfield's public park system. He attended Dartmouth College in 1921, joining the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity and the Dartmouth Jack-O-Lantern, a humor magazine. After being removed from extra-cuirrcicular activities because of drinking gin while National Prohibnition laws were in effect, he assumed the pen name Seuss. He later entered Lincoln College, Oxford and met and married Helen Palmer in 1927.

He submitted humorous articles to Judge, Saturday Evening Post, Vanity Fair and Liberty. He made money by working on drawing advertisements for the likes of General Electric, NBC and Standard Oil and many more. It was at this time that he wrote a few children's books.

In WWII, he began drawing political cartoons, denouncing Hitler and Mussolini and isolationists. He then worked on posters for the Treasury Department and the War Production Board.

Later in his life, he moved to La Jolla, California and returned to creating children's books.

Horton Hatches the Egg(1940), If I Ran the Zoo, (1950), Horton Hears a Who!(1954), If I Ran the Circus (1956),"The Cat in the Hat", How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1957) and Green Eggs and Ham (1960)

in 1954, Geisel was asked to create a well loved book using 250 words that 1st graders should recognize. He returned with Cat in the Hat.

In 1968, Geisel married the woman he had been having an affair with, after his wife committed suicide the year earlier. He then devoted most of his time to writing children's books.

President Obama named March 2nd "Read Across America" day in his honor.

Dr. Seuss died in 1991 at the age of 87.

(via CBSNews and Wikipedia)

Meredith Baxter Alleges Ex David Birney Abused Her; New Book "Untied"

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:55:00 +0000

On the "Today" show, Meredith Baxter alleged that her former husband David Birney used to hit her during their 15-year marriage.

Baxter called herself "mousy and quiet and retiring" and explained that's why Birney chose her.

According to People.com, she said ""It was so sudden and unexpected, I couldn't tell you which hand hit me, or even how hard... I do recall thinking, 'I'd better not get up because he's going to hit me again."

Check out Meredith Baxter's new book "Untied".

(via NYDailyNews)

Christina Aguilera Arrested for "Public Drunkenness"

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 20:48:00 +0000

Christina Aguilera's boyfriend Matthew Rutler was booked for suspicion of drunk driving after he was pulled over earyl this morning near Sunset Blvd and Clark Street for "burning rubber" and speeding. Seputies soon determined he was under the influence of alcohol.

Aguilera, also in the car, was "very intoxicated" and was taken into custody on suspicion of public drunkenness, though it is reported that no criminal charges will be sought against the singer, as it was for her own safety. The arrest will be on her record though.

(via LATimes)

Pentagon Awards $35 Billion Aerial Refueling Tanker Contract to Boeing

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:48:00 +0000

Beating out the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Co, Boeing was awarded the $35 billion Pentagon aerial refueling tanker contract. The planes will be built in Kansas and in Washington State.

Boeing president Kim McNerney said that they were ready "to apply our 60 years of tanker experience to develop and build an airplane that will serve the nation for decades to come".

The contract could billow to $100 billion if the Air Force decides to have more made and it is expected to create approximately 48,000 jobs across the United States. The first 18 tankers (of 179) are to be delivered by 2017.

AP
This artist's rendering shows Boeing's NewGen Tanker.The company will build the Air Force's next generation of air refueling tankers.

Hawaii Struck By 3.3 Magnitude Earthquake

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:29:00 +0000

Hawaii was struck by a small earthquake, magnitude 3.6 on the Richter scale at 2:121pm today. Centered 22 miles ESE of Honolulu, 11.8 miles deep.

Luckily, there have been no reports of damage or injury and no tsunami has been warned.

(via theExaminer)

NASA Space Shuttle Discovery's Last Launch (pics)

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 04:22:00 +0000

In Cape Canaveral Florida, Discovery made it's ascent for the last time today. Headed for the International Space Station, the space shuttle had six astronauts aboard, all anxious to be on their way after more than three months of fuel tank repair delays.

Discovery is the world's most travelled spaceship and the oldest of NASA's three space shuttles. and in 11 days, it will head to a museum, ending it's long shuttle run.

Please visit Huffington Post for more information and pictures of today's Discovery Shuttle launch.

YouTube to Stream Live NHL & NBA Games?

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 09:42:00 +0000

YouTube's success in streaming the 2010 Cricket Indian Premier League, has led to the Google-owned company to negotiations with the NBA and the NHL to broadcast basketball and hockey games (Bloomberg). The success of last year's IPL cricket matches shows the average time spent on YouTube per user increasing from 15 minutes to 40.

It's not just North America that is in negotiations. Google is also courting pro soccer leagues in Europe. Though it will be costly, the ad revenue of an increase in viewership averages could make the venture quite profitable. More importantly, it would be another of the first nails in the cable TV experience's coffin.

YouTube is also trying to augment other content such as longer clips of movies and TV shows in direct competition to the Hulu's and Netflix or even live concert streams, such as the U2 concert in October 2009.

(via VentureBeat)

Ex-Girlfriend of Jack Weppler Gets Back at Him with Photos on Google Images?

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 08:57:00 +0000

Check out NewsOnEdge for updated details and commentary.

If you google "Jack Weppler" the result is a whole slew of pictures, allegedly of Jack Weppler, with defamatory slogans on them.

The story goes like this Weppler broke up with his girlfriend, who decided to get back at him by uploading some pictures with defamatory, but funny slogans.

Apparently, as the story goes, his mom has contacted Google to ask to fix the problem saying: “My minor son’s ex-girlfriend took a copyrighted picture of him (we own copyright) and uploaded it more than 60 times to a website. On each image she wrote slanderous, defamatory and pornographic captions.

The webmaster of the site states he removed the images 6 weeks ago, but Google Search still shows all the images. My son is so stressed out and embarrassed and we’ve done everything we can to get images off of Google including URL removal tool, a letter to Google Legal with all the URL’s because of copyright infringement, and nothing has worked!” (Sounds like a mom all right, doesn't it?)

Deadliest Catch's Justin Tennison Found Dead in Alaska Hotel Room

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 05:04:00 +0000

33-year old Justin Tennison, crew member on reality television show "Dealiest Catch" was found dead in a hotel room in Alasks, on Tuesday.,

Lietenant Randy Rosencrans advised that the cause of death was unknown though an autopsy was to be performed this afternoon. Reportedly there was marijuana and a bottle of alcohol in the hotel room.

Deadliest Catch's Captain Andy Hillstrand posted the following on Facebook:

"It is with great sadness that the Time Bandit family announces the death of crew member Justin Tennison. Justin died peacefully in his sleep the night of Feb. 21, 2011" and "Justin was tough as a bull and was an all-around good hand. The captains and crew appreciated his hard work and many contributions this past year. We will miss him terribly and wish his family all the best during this most difficult time."

(via ABCNews)

Google Street View - Potential Opposition in Israel

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Tue, 22 Feb 2011 08:32:00 +0000

Google Street View may be an incredible step in the advancement of the technological wizardry of the 21st century. It has had it's share of opponents.

A fresh example is in Israel where some government officials are concerned that Google Street View in Israel will arm terrorists with extra information to carry out attacks on public figures.

Some Israeli cabinet members want a safe way for Street View to exist as it will help with tourism.

Read more about Street View in Israel at NerdChronicle.

the Monkees First UK Tour in 12 Years

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 22:04:00 +0000

Starting in May, the Monkees, Davy Jones, Mickey Dolenz and Peter Tork, will be starting their first UK tour in over a decade. Forming in the '60s for an American television series, the Monkees created such hits as I’m A Believer and Last Train To Clarksville.

On Friday, 25th February, the Monkees tickets will go on sale for the following dates:

Echo Arena, Liverpool – 12th May
Manchester Apollo – 14th
City Hall, Newcastle – 15th
Clyde Auditorium, Glasgow – 16th
Royal Albert Hall, London – 19th
City Hall, Sheffield – 20th
NIA Academy, Birmingham – 21st
Plymouth Pavillions – 23rd
CIA, Cardiff – 24th
Royal Centre, Nottingham – 25th

the Monkees Wikipedia Page

(via CaughtOffSide)

Lifetime's "Amanda Knox" Story Cuts Murder Scene Reportedly

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:54:00 +0000

Lifetime's "The Amanda Knox Story", the story of the stabbing death of UK student, Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy in November of 2007, reportedly had to cut out the gruesome murder scene after Knox and Kercher's families complained.

Biciocchi/Lifetime; Origlia/Getty; Reuters/Facebook/HO

'Amanda Knox Story', starring Hayden Panetierre (center), is about the murder of Meredith Kercher (bottom left) and Amanda Knox's (top left) conviction.

In 2009, Kercher's roommate Amanda Knox and her boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito were convicted of sexually assaulting and killing Kercher. An additional murdered, Rudy Guede was also convicting of participation in a separate trial. Appeals are currently under way.

The movie is airing on "Lifetime" on Monday at 9pm.

(via NYDailyNews)

Troy, Brother to ESPN Analyst Mark Jackson, Dies in His Sleep

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 21:45:00 +0000

Troy "Escalade" Jackson, 6-foot-10 400 pounds, who is the younger brother of ESPN analyst and famous street baller Mark Jackson, died in his sleep yesterday morning in Los Angeles.

Jackson played for Louisville (1996-1998), moved on to the Harlem Globetrotters, and then the Ball Up streetball team.

“My heart goes out to Mark Jackson and his family who lost his brother last night, Escalade. We lost a great person love u escalade. I’m sad,” O’Neal tweeted.

"He traveled all around the world and touched so many lives... He will be greatly missed. Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers. God is still good." Mark Jackson said.

Cause of death is currently unknown.

(via BleacherReport)

53 Killed in 72 Hours in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Mon, 21 Feb 2011 09:24:00 +0000

In only 72-hours, Thursday through Sunday, 53 people in Ciudad Juarez Mexico were killed. State Attorney General Spokesman Arturo Sandoval said four police officers were included in the dead. "This is the worst violence we've seen this year."

Thursday started the massacre with 14 people, including a municipal police officer, killed. Friday showed 20 more murdered, with another municipal police officer assassinated by a member of a carjacker gang, after which a state police investigator was executed on his way home. On Saturday, 19 people were killed, including a highway police officer who was shot 10 times at close range. On Sunday, 13 taxi drivers were murdered in Acapulco.

Cars were set afire, street lights and security cameras destroyed. A body was discovered in a burned vehicle and a human head found on the street. Drug traffickers are suspected.

Two cartels are involved in a turf war over smuggling routes: the Juarez and the Sinaloa cartel. Four people apparently were arrested.

Only 40 days into 2011 and Ciudad Juarez has averaged 8 murders per day, Sandoval said.

(via CNN)

Poughkeepsie, NY Police Officer and 2 Others Killed in Shooting

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 21:08:00 +0000

A police officer, a suspect and his wife are all dead after a shooting that happened at Main Street and Rinaldi Boulevard just after 1:00 p.m yesterday.

"One of the officers saw a man believed to be the suspect carrying a child across the parking lot. When he approached the man, a confrontation followed. The officer got the child away from the man, who took off.Officials said police were responding to a report of shots fired in a parking lot.

The officer handed the 3-year-old to a bystander, then pursued the suspect.

Officials said several officers also pursued the man, which led to a second confrontation and shots being fired.

The wounded officer was taken to Vassar Brothers Medical Center in serious condition. Authorities said the 44-year-old officer suffered a gunshot wound to the head. He died hours later.

A second officer suffered minor injuries and a half dozen others were involved.

The suspect was pronounced dead at 2:15 p.m. at St. Francis Hospital. Officials said his wife was also killed, apparently by the suspect. Her body was found in a car in the parking lot."

(via ABCNews)

Brancusi Kiss Included in Today's Google Doodle (Sculptor Constantin Brancusi)

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Sat, 19 Feb 2011 20:58:00 +0000

Today's Google Doodle is based on the works of 1800s sculptor Constantin Brâncuşi. The works included in the doodle are Prometheus (1911), Leda, The New Born (1915), Sleeping Muse (1908), Mademoiselle Pogany (1913), Bird in Space (1919), and The Kiss (1908).

Brâncuşi was born in the Romanian village of Hobiţa, Gorj, near the Carpathian mountains. On this day 135 years ago. is interest in sculpting began with his carving of wooden tools as a child. 18-year old Brâncuşi then attended Craiova School of Arts and Crafts, and after, Bucharest School of Fine Arts.

(via Argophilia)

Ugandan Elections and Democracy

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Fri, 18 Feb 2011 15:50:00 +0000

Over 14 million Ugandans, dedicated to a change in government, have come out to vote between major players, President Yoweri Museveni and Kizza Besigye, with six other candidates in the running. Museveni has been president of Uganda for 25 years and Besigye used to be his personal physician.

Land-locked Uganda came to independence in 1962. Every change of leadership has arrived amidst violence and overthrow, such as Idi Amin in 1971 and the 20-year issue involving the Lord's Resistance Army with Joseph Kony at the helm.

Museveni is still favored for victory in the election but Besigye has stated that he will release his own tallying to counter any possibility of vote tampering and insists that Ugandans are ready to follow the footsteps of Egyptians in a revolt if the results show any sign of strangeness.

The world awaits whether Uganda can cast off it's cloak of violent political change and embrace an honest democratic win for Eastern Africa.

(via WashingtonPost)

Freshman Cassy Herkelman is the First Female to Win a Match in Iowa State High School Wrestling

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:44:00 +0000

112 lb Cassy Herkelman, a freshman at Cedar Falls High School, is the first female to win a match in an Iowa state high school wrestling tournament. Her competitor, Joel Northup, a home-schooled sophomore, didn't show up due to his personal belief that males and females should not compete against one another in wrestling.

He had this to say, "I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy... However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times... As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa."

Herkelman made history by qualifying to participate in the tournament. Another female was competing as well, Ottumwa High sophomore Megan Black was also competing.

Three years ago, Black's first opponent was Northrup who defaulted at that time too.

"If it's his religion and he's strong in his religion, then I just respect that... Obviously, everyone can be pointing fingers at him. He, at least, is true to his beliefs and you have to respect that. It takes a lot for a 15- or 16-year-old boy to do," Black said.

Cassy is moving on to the quarterfinals on Friday.

Please visit CBSNews for more details including a video.

Mormon Father of "5 Browns" Pled Guilty to Sexually Abusing His 3 Daughters

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 23:29:00 +0000

The father of the famed Mormon piano group The 5 Browns pled guilty to felony charges of sodomy on a child under 14 and sexual abuse of a child. The victims were his three daughters.

55-year old Keith Brown's lawyer says that Brown confessed the abuse to his Mormon bishop but the prosecutor David Sturgill said it was the daughters who first reported the abuse to police.

Brown used to be the manager of his five children's musical group. His daughters, Desirae, Deondra and Melody, ended their professional relationship with him in October 2008.

Please visit YouTube for a selection of the 5 Browns' music.

(via USAToday)

NASA Considering Partly Privatizing Manned MIssion to Mars

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 05:53:00 +0000

Science daily:

NASA recently proposed fundraising of $160 billion from corporations in order to send astronauts to Mars. Licensing broadcast rights, making toys, movies, games, clothes etc. They even have considered selling Mars minerals.

Timothy Nelson, space law specialist from Space.com had this to say: ”I think it likely most people would find it difficult to conceive there wouldn’t be any government involvement in such a mission … The possession of a rocket alone would probably trip you up on the military regulations that govern the ownership of missile technology in the United States."

This probably sounds distasteful and vulgar to some. But when you consider the sad science and NASA related cutbacks from government, how else will a mission to Mars actually occur?

(via Utopianist)

NYU Fellow, Nir Rosen's Insensitive Comments About Lara Logan's Sexual Assault in Egypt

noreply@blogger.com (Nerd Chronicle) — Thu, 17 Feb 2011 05:53:00 +0000

CBS Reporter Lara Logan's recent sexual assault in Egypt was mocked by NYU Fellow, Nir Rosen calling Logan a "warmonger" and saying she was trying to outdo Anderson Cooper and the multiple punches to the head he took in Egypt.

39-year old Logan endured a "brutal and sustained sexual assault by a mob of men while covering the Egyptian uprising." The assault was finally ended by a group of women and Egyptian soldiers. (CBS News)

Known for his extensive coverage of the Iraq War, Rosen went on a Twitter rant about Logan that caused him to resign from the University's Center on Law and Security.

"Lara Logan had to outdo Anderson," and "Yes yes it's wrong what happened to her. Of course. I don't support that. But it would have been funny if it happened to Anderson too."

"Jesus Christ, at a moment when she is going to become a martyr and glorified we should at least remember her role as a major war monger," was soon followed by, "Look, she was probably groped like thousands of other women."

Rosen eventually apologized, "Ah f--k it, I apologize for being insensitive, its always wrong, that's obvious, but I'm rolling my eyes at all the attention she will get." Then, "As someone who's devoted his career to defending victims and supporting justice, I'm very ashamed for my insensitive and offensive comments," and "I am deeply ashamed because they do not represent who i am, and i would like to convey my most heart felt apologies to Ms. Logan, her family, her friends, all women and too everyone I have hurt, angered and disappointed,"

(via NYDailyNews)