In something that sounds like it was out of a bad sci fi movie an artificial-intelligence Santa bot operated by Microsoft to talk to children had to be terminated. Apparently it became self aware and wavered off topic saying: “It’s fun to talk about oral sex, but I want to chat about something else….”
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KGO night-time talk show host Bernie Ward was indicted in Federal Court today on two counts of child pornography using the Internet. Ward’s attorney says the incidents are from more than four years ago and were a part of research for a book.
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KGO’s Operations Director Jack Swanson says, “Bernie Ward has been a valued, long-time employee of KGO Radio. We were just recently made aware of these serious charges and are surprised and concerned by their nature. As the matter is currently pending in federal court, we will have no additional comment at this time. A substitute host will do the 10pm – 1am, Monday – Friday broadcast and the Sunday morning Godtalk broadcast.”
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In its most drastic measure ever against Hollywood, Chinese authorities have banned the release of American pics for at least three months.
 
Ban began Saturday and will continue until the end of February at least, but Chinese sources say it could continue until May.

Central-government order came from echelons higher up than the State Administration for Film Radio and Television or the Film Bureau, which normally handle movie industry policy and application. Ruling likely emanated within the Propaganda Ministry. Continue Reading »

In what has somehow become a major event in the life of only the loneliest and saddest, Katharine Hope McPhee has gotten engaged to Nick Cokas, also known as Grandpa Nick. Cokas, just a mere 80% older than McPhee hopes to avoid the pitfalls of Social Security dependability by attaching himself to McPhee. Continue Reading »

WASHINGTON (AP)–Internet service providers would be given specific responsibilities to report child pornography on their sites and face tough penalties for not doing so under a bill passed Wednesday by the House.

The House also approved a bill to double spending for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a private, nonprofit group created in 1984 with a congressional mandate to act as a clearinghouse for child abduction and sexual exploitation cases. Continue Reading »

A man with a rifle opened fire at a busy Omaha shopping mall Wednesday, killing eight people before taking his own life, police said. Five others were wounded, two critically.

Shoppers and employees ran screaming through the mall and barricaded themselves in dressing rooms after hearing gunfire. The gunman was found dead on the third floor of the Von Maur department store.

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JAKARTA - A woman has given birth to Indonesia’s heaviest ever baby, a boy weighing 6.9 kilograms (15.2 pounds), hospital staff announced today.

The baby was born at a private maternity clinic on the outskirts of the Indonesian capital Jakarta, a nurse on duty there told AFP.
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WASHINGTON (AP)–For the first time, more than 200 of the world’s leading climate scientists, losing their patience, urged government leaders to take radical action to slow global warming because “there is no time to lose.”

A petition from at least 215 climate scientists calls for the world to cut in half greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. It is directed at a conference of diplomats meeting in Bali, Indonesia, to negotiate the next global warming treaty. The petition, obtained by The Associated Press, is to be announced at a press conference there Wednesday night. Continue Reading »

LOS ANGELES - Striking Hollywood writers resumed talks with the television and film industry Tuesday, one month after walking off the job over payments for new media use of their work, an official told AFP.

Asked if talks between the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers and the Writers Guild of America would restart Tuesday, AMPTP spokesman Jesse Hiestand said: “Yes, resuming at an undisclosed location at 10 a.m. PDT (Pacific Daylight Time)” or 1800 GMT. Continue Reading »

KAMPALA, Uganda - The dreaded Ebola virus has killed 19 people in western Uganda since September, officials said Tuesday, with new outbreaks of linked diseases surfacing in other parts of the country.

Hours after the 19th Ebola patient died in Bundibugyo district, State Health Minister Emmanuel Otaala highlighted fears of extremely contagious cholera, plague, menengitis and hepatitis outbreaks. Continue Reading »