Tang's team shows how interacting lightwaves can be used to control devices on a silicon chip. Credit: Hong Tang/Yale University
Light’s Repulsive Force Discovered
By LiveScience Staff | 13 July 2009 | www.livescience.com
A newly discovered repulsive aspect to light could one day control telecommunications devices with greater speed and less power, researchers said today.
The discovery was made by splitting infrared light into two beams that each travel on a different length of silicon nanowire, called a waveguide. The two light beams became out of phase with one another, creating a push, or repulsive force, with an intensity that can be controlled; the more out of phase the two light beams, the stronger the force.
“We can control how the light beams interact,” said Mo Li, a postdoctoral associate in electrical engineering at Yale University. “This is not possible in free space — it is only possible when light is confined in the nanoscale waveguides that are placed so close to each other on the chip.”
The discovery could lead to nanodevices controlled by light rather than electricity.
For a school assignment the older of 2 sisters asked Santa Claus to “bring me happiness and bring me peace and tell (Cantu) not to touch me anymore.” Merry Christmas kiddo, he’s going to jail, Merry Christmas.
Your mom’s immigration status is a whole another matter, hopefully mom will protect you and your little sister a little better in the future.
Andres Enrique Cantu, 57 the child molester foiled by a letter to Santa Claus.
Jury convicts man in ‘Santa letter’ abuse case
Jeremy Roebuck, The Monitor | December 10, 2009 | www.themonitor.com
EDINBURG — An Hidalgo County jury granted the Christmas wish of a Pharr girl Wednesday, a year after she wrote a letter to Santa asking him to stop a relative from molesting her.
The panel found Andres Enrique Cantu, 57, guilty of two counts of continuous sexual abuse of a child based on testimony that suggested the 11-year-old girl had complained to her mother months before and had been ignored.
“(She) was conveying this to a higher power — to Santa Claus — to bring her some peace,” said Orlando Esquivel, an Hidalgo County assistant district attorney.
The Monitor is withholding the girl’s name and relationship to Cantu in keeping with its policy of not identifying those who are victims of sex crimes.
The girl’s story made national headlines last Christmas after her teacher at Cesar Chavez Elementary School turned over to police a letter she wrote as part of a class assignment.
Investigators arrested Cantu on Dec. 15. They alleged that, over the course of more than a year, he inappropriately touched the girl and her then 9-year-old sister on multiple occasions while they slept.
Prosecutors presented the pleading wish list to jurors Wednesday, describing it as a cry for help.
In it, the girl asks Santa Claus to “bring me happiness and bring me peace and tell (Cantu) not to touch me anymore.”
But defense attorney Mauro Barreiro maintained the letter had been misinterpreted. Just because the girl asked not to be touched doesn’t mean she was referring to sexual abuse, he said.
As 2009 winds down I want to remember some people whose passing I hadn’t noted yet.
If you’d ever seen one of this TV pitchman’s high energy, high volume, aggressive infomercials then you’d agree cocaine could explain a lot. Billy Mays was the hot Halloween costume for 2009, especially for heavy set guys with dark hair.
I can understand why the family wants to clear his name, but I also wonder if some insurance settlement is also at stake. Sympathies to his family.
Independent Review Disputes Billy Mays’ Cocaine Autopsy
Cause Of TV Pitchman’s Death Disputed By Family
ThePittsburghChannel.com | October 15, 2009
MCKEES ROCKS, Pa. — Local family members and friends of McKees Rocks native Billy Mays were devastated by the television pitchman’s death at the end of June.
They were also upset by the autopsy results from the medical examiner’s office in Hillsborough County, Fla., where Mays died, indicating that cocaine use contributed to the heart disease that killed the Sto-Rox High School grad.
“I knew immediately after Dr. (Cyril) Wecht initially said that it was botched, the first autopsy, I knew that his name would be cleared,” Mays’ brother, Randy, of McKees Rocks, said on Thursday.
Randy Mays’ comments came shortly after Billy Mays’ wife, Deborah, released a statement saying that a New Jersey pathologist has conducted an independent review for the family and found that the autopsy results don’t support the conclusion that cocaine was a contributing factor in Billy Mays’ death.
“Chronic cocaine use was not demonstrated by the autopsy findings of Mr. William Mays,” the statement quotes Dr. William Manion’s report as saying. “In addition, there is nothing in his medical, social or professional history to suggest chronic cocaine use.”
Link to video that may or may not work, but it’s great, the homeowner seems like a real nice guy.
Tenn. man says cows licked $100 in damage to house
AP | Dec 8, 2009
ROGERSVILLE, Tenn. — A Tennessee man’s homeowners insurance apparently doesn’t cover “acts of cow.” Jerry Lynn Davis called the Hawkins County Sheriff’s office on Thursday, complaining that a neighbor’s cows had been licking his house. In the process, Davis says the curious bovines did about $100 in damage by ripping off a screen window, cracking the glass and pulling down a gutter.
The Kingsport Times-News reports that Davis’ home is just a couple of feet from a fence enclosing the cows’ pasture. They managed to poke their heads through to lick the house, though a deputy’s report did not indicate what made the house so tasty.
Deputy Chris Funk was able to contact the cows’ owner, who said he’d take care of the problem.
Information from: Kingsport Times-News, http://www.timesnews.net
Returning pot-fest attendees caught carrying ‘souvenirs’
By CHRISTINE OLLEY | Philadelphia Daily News | Dec. 3, 2009 | olleyc@phillynews.com 215-854-5184
That’s quite a souvenir.
Two travelers returning to Philadelphia after spending time at the Cannabis Cup marijuana festival in Amsterdam over the weekend were caught with pot stashed in their underwear.
The men, who arrived at Philadelphia International Airport on Sunday, were stopped and searched after a customs drug-sniffing dog alerted officers, officials said.
Three travelers who returned from the Cannabis Cup on Friday were also stopped and one was found to be carrying marijuana, said Steve Sapp, a spokesman for the Customs and Border Patrol.
Customs officers also seized more than 1,850 pieces of drug paraphernalia from the travelers, including rolling papers and smoking tubes known as one-hitters.
The three found with marijuana, a combined 20 grams, were fined $500 but not charged criminally because of the small amount each was carrying, Sapp said.
The two others were not charged.
On Sunday, officers also seized 10 pounds of khat, a leaf that is chewed as a stimulant, and 22 pounds of pork products, five pounds of chestnuts and 2 1/2 pounds of persimmons, officials said.
“Food parcels are illegal to bring into the country without a USDA permit,” Sapp explained.
Apes? Wrestler? Lions? I want to see more of this guys “typical West Texas yard.” The photos show his yard before and after the recent snow storm that affected much of the western US. Humble and immense thanks to Mr Buddy Heater Co for this story.
Statue of David Posing As Santa Causing a Stir
by Diane Tuazon | NewsWest 9 | Dec.8, 09
BIG SPRING – It’s not exactly something you would see displayed on someone’s lawn during Christmas.
“It’s an art piece and you can think of it what you want,” Barry McBee, said.
Some who live in the neighborhood find the piece of art a little odd during this time of year.
“When we have parties, people are asking me what’s wrong with the guy next door, but we’re used to it. He’s a good neighbor,” Kay Burns said.
The Associated Press reported the naked statue of David was causing a stir in the neighborhood, but Barry McBee says it’s all done in good spirit, and that offending people wasn’t his intension.
“People called and asked why Santa was naked, and if he was going to get clothes on. I didn’t have an excuse for it , so I gave him a pair of shorts, and people haven’t complained since I put clothes on him,” McBee said.
McBee’s next door neighbor says she’s used to the various decorations that fill his lawn.
“I saw the lions, the big wrestler, the apes, and of course David; they change daily, it’s all part of West Texas aloof,” Burns said.
McBee says he decorates his lawn for every holiday, but this year he wanted to do it in a different way.
“I’ve got all sorts of yard ornaments; people have been driving by and taking pictures of David,” McBee said.
Oh dear, I hope this not a problem with all Apple products.
Apple sued over shrink-wrapped Mafia death threats
An iPod you can’t refuse
By Rik Myslewski in San Francisco | 18th July 2009 | www.theregister.co.uk
A Beverly Hills, California man is suing Apple, the St. Louis Police Department, the FBI, an auto mechanic, and others for aiding and abetting the Italian Mafia’s attempt to force him to become a New York fashion model.
Plaintiff George McKenna filed a painstakingly detailed 124-page pro se (http://www.lectlaw.com/def2/p088.htm) complaint with the US District Court of the Eastern District of Missouri contending that his troubles began when “three members of the alleged Italian Mafia proceeded to threaten to murder Plaintiff at a nightclub called Velvet located in St. Louis, Missouri.
Sometimes I do think think word hero is thrown around a bit much. What glory awaited the Captain for his risk, not freedom or glory, but efficiency and perhaps a fat bonus?
In this photo provided by the U.S. Navy, Maersk-Alabama Capt. Richard Phillips (R) stands alongside Cmdr. Frank Castellano, commanding officer of USS Bainbridge (DDG 96) after being rescued by U.S Naval Forces April 12, 2009 off the coast of Somalia. Three of the Somali pirates were killed and one captured in the firefight that freed Philips, who was held hostage for five days.
Cargo ship crew blames captain for pirate attack
AP | Dec 3, 2009
MONTPELIER, Vt. — Some crewmen who were aboard the American cargo ship hijacked by pirates last April now say their captain ignored repeated warnings to stay at least 600 miles off the African coast.
Records obtained by The Associated Press show that maritime safety groups issued at least seven advisories warning of pirate attacks in the days before outlaws boarded the Maersk Alabama in the Gulf of Aden, about 380 miles offshore.
A piracy expert and the ship’s second-in-command say Captain Richard Phillips had the prerogative to heed the warnings or not.
Phillips, who lives in Underhill, declined to comment on the allegation.
Oh these are some classy people. “Last week the lap dancing bar where Wood met Miss Ivanova was closed after a raid by vice squad officers.” I blame viagra for this train wreck.
Ronnie Wood arrest: witnesses claim Rolling Stone ‘choked’ girlfriend Ekaterina Ivanova
Ronnie Wood, the Rolling Stones guitarist, has been arrested amid allegations that he “choked” his young Russian girlfriend, Ekaterina Ivanova, during a row.
By Murray Wardrop | www.telegraph.co.uk | 04 Dec 2009
The 62-year-old was arrested on Claygate High Street in Esher, Surrey, on Wednesday night by officers called to reports of a “domestic incident”.
Witnesses said they saw Wood “choking” the 20-year-old as he allegedly dragged her along the pavement in a headlock.
Miss Ivanova, a cocktail waitress who met Wood in a London nightclub last year, is reported to have suffered knee injuries in the incident.
Wood was held at a police station overnight and bailed to return in January.
Celine Dixon told The Sun that she and her boyfriend, Phillip Legge, witnessed the incident outside an Indian restaurant at around 11.30pm.
She said: “We heard a woman screaming, then saw a man pinning her to the ground.
“He was shouting at her then we heard choking sounds so my boyfriend rushed out to help. When he got outside he saw it was Ronnie and Ekaterina.”
Miss Dixon added that Wood let Miss Ivanova go and walked away when challenged by Mr Legge.
The couple then escorted Miss Ivanova back to their home before calling police, she said.
Another witness told the Daily Mirror: “I saw a couple. I thought they were hugging but when they got closer I realised the man had the woman in a headlock.
“As soon as I got a decent look I recognised Ronnie. He was forcing her to walk with him. She was crying and sobbing and trying to get away but he wouldn’t let her go.”
I’m not really sure what this would be Elf’s plan was. One must admit his eyes do have an elfin glow. I would LOVE to see a picture of him dressed in his elf garb, or the costumes in the bags that were allegedly full of dynamite or the pirate costume his neighbor mentions in the video clip.
William C. Caldwell III told a Father Christmas working in a Georgia shopping mall that he was carrying dynamite Photo: AP
Elf jailed over Father Christmas dynamite hoax in US mall
A man dressed as an elf told a Father Christmas working in a Georgia shopping mall that he was carrying dynamite, causing the evacuation of the entire building.
www.telegraph.co.uk | 03 Dec 2009
But when a bomb squad arrived to inspect the three suspect packages the 45-year-old elf left next to Father Christmas, the incident was declared a hoax.
William C. Caldwell III, a petite man who is five feet tall, dressed as an elf and queued to have his picture taken with the Southlake Mall’s Father Christmas.
When he reached the front of the queue, “he told Santa Claus that he had dynamite in his bag,” James Callaway, the Morrow police captain, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
“He said that two times to Santa Claus.”
The man dressed as Father Christmas notified the mall’s security team, and Morrow police quickly arrested Mr Caldwell, who was not part of the mall’s Christmas staff.
The mall in suburban Atlanta was evacuated but no explosives were found.
Mr Caldwell was being held without bond on Thursday in the Clayton County jail.
He faces several charges, including carrying out a hoax and making terrorist threats.
