Archive for December, 2011

Amazon’s most popular 2011 holiday gifts

Wednesday, December 21, 2011 by:Laura Weisman
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If you know what’s going on at Amazon’s stores, you have your finger on the pulse of the American consumer, or so the thinking goes at 24/7 Wall Street. Site writers conclude that since Amazon is the largest online store by far, then maybe what they sell can tell us something about the most popular gifts in America:

Due to its size and reach, the site’s bestselling items are an ideal proxy for what is currently popular in the U.S. Walter Isaacson’s newest bio is at the top of Amazon’s bestseller list, reflecting the nation’s fascination with Apple’s founder. The popularity of winter gloves that can be used to operate touch screens underscores Steve Jobs’ lasting impact.

The products on the list have all changed from last December’s most popular products. People are no longer buying the BlackBerry Pearl 8130 or George Bush’s Decision Points with the same enthusiasm they were one year ago. They have been replaced by the Kindle Fire and Walter Isaacson’s Steve Jobs book. A lot has stayed the same, too. The bestselling video game has changed from last year’s Just Dance 2 for Nintendo Wii to Just Dance 3 for Nintendo Wii.

Actually, Amazon updates its best-selling items hourly, so these items move around on the list.  But here are the best-selling items from 10 of Amazon’s nearly three dozen categories, as reported by 24/7 Wall Street:

(AP Photo/Simon & Schuster)

1. Books: Steve Jobs, by Walter Isaacson.

(Matthew Staver/Bloomberg)

2. Electronics: Kindle Fire

(Anne Cusack/Los Angeles Times)

3. Video Games: Just Dance 3

(Amazon.com)

4. Beauty: Olay Professional Pro-X Advanced Cleansing System

(AP Photo/Columbia Records)

5. Music: 21 by Adele

(Amazon.com)

6. Toys & Games: Alex Toys Friends 4 Ever Bracelet Making Kit

(AP Photo/Disney, Dale Robinette)

7. Movies: The Help DVD

(Amazon.com)

8. Clothing: Levi’s Men’s 501 Jean

(Amazon.com)

9. Jewelry: Heart Mother & Daughter Beads Charm

(Amazon.com)

10. Sports & Outdoors: Agloves Original touch screen gloves

Did you buy any of these?

Cocaine found on nine out of 10 public baby changing tables

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 by:Francisca Ortega
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Caution: This area is for babies and diapers only

Attention cocaine users of the world: Parents everywhere would like you to know that changing tables are generally covered in baby poop, and we’d appreciate it if you’d think of that the next time you’re looking for a place to snort a line.

According to an informal study out of the United Kingdom, 92 percent of the more than 100 public changing tables were coated with trace amounts of cocaine. The testing was conducted by Real Radio journalists who used specialist wipes on the tables and then had them tested in a lab as part of a series to be broadcast this week called Cocaine Unwrapped.

According to the Telegraph, the UK has been named the cocaine capital of the world. The radio special talks to many cocaine addicts, some of them also parents, about how the addiction has affected their lives.

Cocaine of course can be found in trace amounts on many surfaces, most notably money. Parents would be wise to use a changing pad anytime they change a baby’s diaper in public.

The fact remains, though, that changing tables, or anywhere else for that matter, is really a bad place to do cocaine.

Super Bowl to be streamed online for first time

Tuesday, December 20, 2011 by:kdowd@sfgate.com (Katie Dowd)
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If peering over commuters’ shoulders in the morning is any indication, laptops, tablets and smart phones are quickly becoming many people’s preferred means of watching videos.

Now, they’ll be able to watch the biggest event of them all on the small screen: the Super Bowl.

The NFL announced on Tuesday that it will be streaming the Super Bowl, Pro Bowl and Wild Card Saturday on NFL.com and via Verizon’s NFL Mobile app. NBC already streams Sunday Night Football, but the Super Bowl has never been broadcast online or on phones before (legally, at least).

Perhaps jealous of the love that the ever-popular CBS March Madness streaming bonanza has received over the past few years, the NFL streams will offer additional angles, live stats and highlights with their online and mobile broadcasts.

The Super Bowl is set for Feb. 5 in Indianapolis.

Angry player says NFL team disrespected America

Sunday, December 18, 2011 by:nick.mathews@chron.com (Nick Mathews)
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Carolina Panthers tight end Jeremy Shockey (80) dives over the goal line for a 9-yard touchdown reception against the Houston Texans during the first quarter of an NFL football game at Reliant Stadium on Sunday in Houston. ( Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

Carolina tight end Jeremy Shockey had a reason for his rather obnoxious (yet un-penalized) taunt after his touchdown reception on Sunday against Houston.

He made the Texans pay for disrespecting America. Or so he says.

“Personally, myself, I was really upset they weren’t showing respect to America during the National Anthem,” Shockey told the media. “There were about 10 players who didn’t put their arms across their chest. A couple of guys saw that. This is America.

“They should at least give respect to America,” he continued. “I haven’t seen it anywhere else in the NFL, but I don’t know how you forget to do something like that.”

Shockey told reporters he confronted the Texans about it, telling them, “You gotta respect America, man.”

Shockey scored on a 9-yard touchdown pass from Cam Newton in the second quarter. He broke tackles by DeMeco Ryans and Jason Allen to reach the end zone, then got in their faces and taunted them.

WATCH THE PLAY

Some Texans players kept their hands off their hearts as the Color Guard took the field during the National Anthem at the beginning of the Bengals game Dec. 11 in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/David Kohl)

“It was a simple play,” Shockey told the media after the game. “And what’s the guys name? DeMario Ryans? DeMeco Ryans couldn’t make the play. It was an easy touchdown.”

It gave the Panthers a 14-0 lead in their 28-13 victory.

“They have a good defense,” Shockey said. “They’re playoff-bound for the first time in franchise history, but you’ve got to show respect to America.”

Texans defensive end Mario Williams, left, stands for the singing of the National Anthem, but keeps his hand off his heart, during the Nov. 27 Jaguars game in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

Jesus tells Tim Tebow to tone it down on SNL

Sunday, December 18, 2011 by:Francisca Ortega
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Saturday Night Live’s Jason Sudeikis took on the role of Jesus in last night’s show and he has a suggestion for Tim Tebow: Tone it down.

Tebow, the Denver Broncos quarterback, is known for his outspoken love for Jesus and has faced some criticism lately from those who wonder if God really cares about who wins or loses a football game.  He was portrayed on the show by cast newcomer Taran Killam.

In the skit, Jesus arrives in the Broncos’ locker room after a game and tells the team:

“First of all, you’re welcome … Yes, I, Jesus Christ, am indeed the reason you’ve won your past six football games.”

He then adds he can’t do it all himself and asks the team to meet him halfway. He suggests they read the playbook and maybe stretch a little before the game.

He also had some nice praise for the Broncos’ star kicker Matt Prater, whose 59-yard field goal in the final three seconds helped the team clinch the December 11th game against the Chicago Bears.

“Prater, I pray to you,” Jesus says.

You can see the entire skit here:

Injured fashionista moves to rehab

Saturday, December 17, 2011 by:Laura Weisman
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Lauren Scruggs, founder and editor of LoLo Magazine. (AP Photo/Courtesy Janee Harrell)

Lauren Scruggs, the Dallas-area model who was severely injured walking into a plane propeller Dec. 3, has moved to inpatient rehabilitation facility in Dallas, her sister wrote on her hospital blog last night. Brittany Morgan wrote on the Caring Bridges blog:

“The doctors are amazed and encouraged by her progress thus far, and concluded that she was ready to be moved to the rehab facility. She will receive extensive occupational, speech, and physical therapy.”

Scruggs, 23, of Plano lost her left hand in the accident, plus suffered head, brain and shoulder injuries from the propeller. Doctors removed her left eye in surgery Wednesday. Morgan said she wanted to clarify her earlier statement about Scruggs’ eye prosthesis:

“Wednesday’s surgery consisted only of removing her left eye. After this has healed, we will begin consultations for her prosthetic eye.”

She said Scruggs remains in a lot of pain:

“We are wanting to stay ahead of her pain, but are also asking that Jesus would continue to minimize the pain that she will have. … “

Britney Spears to get married again

Friday, December 16, 2011 by:Laura Weisman
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Britney Spears and Jason Trawick in May. (AP Photo / Matt Sayles)

Britney Spears is planning her third wedding, according to U.S. reports.

Longtime boyfriend and former agent Jason Trawick reportedly proposed to the singer on Thursday night, while the couple was celebrating his 40th birthday.

A source tells Us Weekly magazine, “This is something they’ve both wanted for a long time.”

Trawick and Spears are planning to celebrate the big news with family and friends on Friday night at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, according to the publication. And Spears appears to have confirmed the news in a Friday morning tweet, writing: “OMG. Last night Jason surprised me with the one gift I’ve been waiting for. Can’t wait to show you! SO SO SO excited!!!!”

The couple met in 2006 when Trawick began representing Spears while she was still married to Kevin Federline. They became an item in 2009.

Spears has been married twice before – to Jason Alexander and Federline. Her marriage to Alexander lasted just 55 hours and she divorced Federline in 2007.

– WENN

TSA lets rapper keep his weed, leaves note

Friday, December 16, 2011 by:Kate Shellnutt
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Rapper Freddie Gibbs got his stash by airport security… kind of.

The baggage screeners at the Denver airport found a half ounce of weed in his luggage and scribbled him the words “C’mon son” on the screening notice.

Gibbs tweeted a photo:

“The TSA found my weed and let me keep it,” he wrote. “They just left me a note. ‘C’mon Son.’”

Houston rapper Bun B, who’s collaborated with Freddie Gibbs in the past, replied on Twitter, “easy…”

A gangster rapper, Gibbs hasn’t really hidden his smoking habit. He talks about drug-dealing in his lyrics and gets high before shows.

“I definitely smoke weed, pray, and just rap to myself and pace around. Just get in the mode for the show,” he told NPR. “What’s the last thing I do before I go onstage? Smoke weed.”

Sharing the note on Twitter, though, may mean some lenient TSA employee gets fired, which happened in a case earlier this year where a screener left a freaky note for a woman who had a vibrator in her bag.

(H/T Gawker)

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