Diabetes-link genes found

The newly-discovered diabetes-link to the three genes bring the total number of genes known to be involved in type 2 diabetes to nine. Their exact role is still uncertain, scientists said, but two of them appear to be involved in the development and function of insulin-producing beta cells found in the pancreas.

Professor Mark McCarthy, of the University of Oxford, which took part in the study, said: "This research helps us to understand that, for most people at least, an individual's risk of developing diabetes as they get older is influenced by a number of genes, as well as by their environment."

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Defendant Awarded in RIAA File-Sharing Lawsuit

A woman sued by major record labels for copyright infringement on file-sharing networks has fought the charges, and been awarded attorneys' fees in the case.

Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) member label Capitol Records sued Debbie Foster for copyright infringement, but it was found that Foster's name was on an account used by her children, and the RIAA moved to have the case dismissed.

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Charge fees to drive through NYC?

NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg proposed the idea to cut down the traffic in Manhattan by charging fees.

"Using economics to influence public behavior is something this country is built on -- it's called capitalism," Bloomberg said. "Tax policy influences you to drill here and mine there, and grow this and live here and do that."

On his radio show Friday, Bloomberg explained what a New York City congestion pricing plan might look like:

- Fees most likely be charged between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

- Drivers who already pay tolls on bridges and tunnels would not necessarily pay twice

- Motorists could likely bypass the traffic fees if they were not going through the heart of Manhattan.

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Facebook plans to allow embed widgets.

Facebook plans to allow its users to embed widgets from third-party providers, Wired reported, citing an unnamed source.
Rival MySpace has drawn criticism from some for banning third-party widgets from certain companies including a high-profile widget from Indie911and Photobucket.

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Virginia massacre gunman named

A 23-year-old South Korean student carried out at least 30 of the 32 murders in the Virginia Tech university shootings, US authorities said today.

The gunman was identified as Cho Seung-hui, an undergraduate student in his senior year as an English major at the university, in south-west Virginia state.

Yesterday's massacre was the worst mass shooting in US history.

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Is Google-DoubleClick Merger Safe?

Well, many advertsiers are not too sure. According to PC World: "...some rivals calling for regulatory intervention -- but for customers, trust may be of greater concern than antitrust."

Google follows users through cookies and through their user names when they log on to Google services. DoubleClick tracks visitors through cookies associated with the banner advertisements served up on the Web sites they visit.

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32 killed in shootings on Virginia Tech campus

The deadliest shooting massacre in American history savaged Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University on Monday, as an unidentified gunman killed 32 people and wounded 15 more, then killed himself, his motive and identity unknown as of early evening.

Campus Police learned about accident about 7:15 a.m., and didn't secure campus immediately! The first email was sent by police to students was at 9:26 a.m. They wasted more than 2 hours! What were they thinking!


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Google Buys DoublClick for 3.1 billion

It's not Microsoft it's Google who buys DoubleClick.

Google announced on Friday that it will acquire Internet advertising company DoubleClick for $3.1 billion in cash.

The deal, expected to close by the end of 2007, is the largest acquisition in the company's history, coming six months after Google paid $1.65 billion for YouTube.

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Source for Gym guest passes to Gold's Gym, Equinox, Synergy Fitness, Dolphin Fitness

Looking to try out Gold's Gym, Equinox, Synergy Fitness, Dolphin Fitness and other fitness clubs without a hassle, you should visit GymSearch.net.

GymSearch.net lists over 5,000 New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Health clubs, Yoga Studios, Fitness Centers, Spas and more.

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MySpace Blocks Photobucket Videos and Images

MySpace has started to block its users from uploading videos hosted by Photobucket, which also hosts many of the images posted by MySpace users.

MySpace previously blocked third-party content from sites including Revver, Stickam and Vidilife.

"We are not happy about this and we're pretty sure you're not happy either," Photobucket said in a company blog post.

Microsoft Adds Instant Messaging To Xbox

Microsoft will be integrating Live Messenger into the Xbox platform on May 7, linking 260 million Live Messenger PC and Smartphone users with 6 million Xbox Live users.

Xbox Live users will be able to chat with up to six contacts simultaneously by plugging a USB keyboard into the Xbox.

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School Principal Sued Students for MySpace Fake Profile

A high school principal sued four former students for a fake MySpace page they had created about him. Among his many alleged vices, the profile said the principal “smoked pot, kept beer at school and liked having sex with students"

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'American Idol' ratings drop.

According to TMZ.com, the ratings of "American Idol" has been down and far less people has been watching it.


Producer Nigel Lythgoe blames Daylight Savings Time, according to TMZ, which started three weeks earlier this year.

"Even if we lost 50 percent of our audience, we'd still be in the top three shows in the country," Lythgoe said at a press conference on Monday.