News

Americans will soon be able to purchase restored vision, with the US Food and Drug Administration set to approve a prosthetic device that compensates for failing photoreceptors. The Argus II Retinal Prosthesis System, developed and made by Second Sight Medical Products, is already approved for use in many European countries, and the FDA will soon give its stamp of approval.

The device, which includes a retinal implant paired with special glasses with an integrated mini camera, successfully restored at least partial sight in patients with retinitis pigmentosa, a genetic disorder that involves abnormalities in photoreceptors or retinal tissue that leads to progressive vision loss.

If the meteor that hit Russia this morning was only the size of a van, this "baby" here is the size of a half football field, let's hope it doesn't change it's predicted course. 

NASA reports: 

"Asteroid 2012 DA14, apparently not connected to the approximately 15 meter in diameter meteor which entered Earth's atmosphere last night above Russia, is now about to cross the geostationary ring. 

According to NASA, the trajectory of the Russian meteor was significantly different than the trajectory of the approaching asteroid 2012 DA14, making it a completely unrelated object. 

Videos of the meteor show it traveling from north to south. Asteroid 2012 DA14's trajectory is in the opposite direction, from south to north."

 The end of the world kind of story, this is really scary, ABC NEWS reports:

"A meteor streaked across the sky above Russia's Ural Mountains on Friday morning, causing sharp explosions and injuring more than 400 people.

"There was panic. People had no idea what was happening. Everyone was going around to people's houses to check if they were OK," said Sergey Hametov, a resident of Chelyabinsk, about 1500 kilometers (930 miles) east of Moscow, the biggest city in the affected region.

"We saw a big burst of light then went outside to see what it was and we heard a really loud thundering sound," he told The Associated Press by telephone." Interior Ministry spokesman Vadim Kolesnikov said more than 400 people had sought medical treatment after the blasts, and at least three had been hospitalized in serious condition. Many of the injuries were from glass broken by the explosions.

Small pieces of space debris — usually parts of comets or asteroids — that are on a collision course with the Earth are called meteoroids. When meteoroids enter the Earth's atmosphere they are called meteors. Most meteors burn up in the atmosphere, but if they survive the frictional heating and strike the surface of the Earth they are called meteorites."

YEs, this is real. The makers of the Mini Cooper have come out with a new addition to the Mini-family. Say hello to the Mini Paceman 2013. Made to look sleeker than the original, its high tech interior gives off a masculine vibe like we've never seen from the Mini Cooper. 

Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were escorted past a TSA checkpoint by a staffer at New York City's Kennedy International Airport, which was a violation of security protocol. Kimye were reportedly screened privately later to compensate for the staffer's mistake, and made it to their flight.

Lady Gaga cancels the rest of her "Born This Way Ball" tour due to a concert injury. After experiencing chronic pain the singer underwent additional tests and was diagnosed with a labral tear of the right hip, which will require surgery and a lot of rest.

One of the oldest Olympic sports was dropped from the 2020 summer games by the International Olympic Commettee in a secret 15 member vote. The reasons of this exclusion aren't known in detail. Wrestling first appearing at the ancient Olympic Games in 708 B.C. has been in Olympic games forever, and is now looking to retire. There is a chance that the IOC will reverse its decision and make it the 26th sport for the 2020 Games, however the chances of wrestling's come back are bleak. A final decision will be made in September. Thousands are posting petitions to fight for keeping wrestling in the game.

The notorious company Vertu has announced their first Android smarthphone Vertu Ti earlier this week. The phone is $10k+ and comes in sapphire crystal, titanium, and leather. It's obviously targeting the ridiculouly wealthy and unreasonable consumers.

Two big arilines are merging, the A/A and U.S. The new merger will carry more passengers around the world than any other. People are worried however that 8 ground hub airports are too much and can prove hard to sustain, among other potential problems such as lost passenger bags, messed up reservations etc. "Nobody has that many hubs," said Robert Poole, an aviation expert and director of transportation policy at the Reason Foundation. "Eight hubs for the merged American would just not be sustainable — too complex and not really meeting enough of the travel needs." Everyone is adviced to use up their frequent fliers miles because the rules might change. We'll see what the outcome of this merge will be.

4229 passengers and crew were stuck on a disabled cruise ship Carnival Triumph for 5 days, due to some electricity problems. The conditions were horrible, with overflowing toilets, no showers, and minimal food. The ship is finally being dragged by tugboats to dock in Mobile Alabama today. Passengers will be reinburst for their tickets, plus given $500 for suffering, provided free flights home, and a free ticket for another cruise, if they want to take the risk again. Talk about a cruise from hell!

Steve Martin, the 67 year old comedian has FINALLY entered fatherhood with wife, Anne Stringfield. Mini Martin was born in December. How we haven't seen photos yet is not too surprising, considering that their wedding was "just another party" that guests like Tom Hanks and Diane Keaton didn't even know was a wedding until they got there!

Most women look forward to spending a romantic evening with their hubby. Not military wives! While the battleground masters parade away i places like Afghanistan and Iraq, the ladies stay home and... get a makeover? 

In this case, yes.

A beauty school in LA decided to help the lonely ladies by giving free makeovers to the abandoned mothers and wives. 

sweet deal if you ask me. Except nobody to show off for

The song is called "I.S.S. (Is Somebody Singing)," and it's  the first space-Earth musical collaboration. The project is a very long-distance project from Canadians Ed Robertson of Barenaked Ladies & Chris Hadfield, who is currently commanding the International Space Station.

The hunt for former police offer, Christopher Dorner, accused of two murders in California, appears to have narrowed with reports that the fugitive former police officer has been involved in a shootout with law enforcement officers on Tuesday afternoon.

Two deputies with the San Bernardino sheriff's department were shot and wounded in Big Bear, north-east of Los Angeles.

Local news reports said Dorner boke into a home, tied up two people and stole a pickup truck. Dorner was then confronted on a highway by fish and game wardens before fleeing on foot. He is now holed up in a cabin, according to the San Bernadino's sheriff's office.

Mardi Gras for New Orleans' citizens is common knowledge, as they come across this celebration every year. Others, however, might need a better explanation to understand what all the buzz is about. What is Mardi Gras about exactly?

As Obama begins his 2nd term, there's a lot of pressure on his state of the union speach tonight. The main focus of the speach will be Obamas agenta for next 4 years, improving economy and creating jobs. The military families are also hoping he'll address the soldiers that are in danger currently investigating North Korean nuclear testing, and removing troops from Afganistan. So far the way Obama is running the country has these numbers: 38 %dissapprove, 52% approve 10% not sure.

The rampaging ex. officer Chris Dorner has stolen yet another truck, which he abandoned, fled into the woods, and barricated himself in a remote cabine outside Big Bear, in Los Angeles oaks area after being confronted by the police. The authorites surrounded the cabin and a gun battle broke out in which 2 officers were injured and one was killed. After tear gas was fired into the cabin, the shooting stopped for a bit, and the cabin caught on fire, which is thought to have resulted from fire arm explosions. Later Dorners body was repotedly pulled out of the burned out cabin.

Bye Bye, Pope. After the current Catholic leader gave the first resignation of its kind to the Catholic church, Jews and Muslims and Protestants from around the world took to the internets to create these awesome memes. !! 

The operators of a cruise vessel stranded in the Gulf of Mexico after a weekend engine fire said Monday evening that the craft had drifted so far north of its original position that they now will tow the ship to Mobile, Ala., instead of their original plan for Progreso, Mexico. Not much of a vacation if you ask me...

Brazil is ablaze with more than just their crazy annual carnival. 

Just after the Sangue Jovem school persormance, a float caught on fire, killing four and injuring five people.

Allegedly the three of four killed died after hitting a power line while pushing the float. The fourth victim was an onlooker.

He's the man who rolled into a bedroom in Abbottabad, Pakistan, raised his gun and shot Osama bin Laden three times in the forehead.

Nearly two years later, the SEAL Team Six member is a secret celebrity with nothing to show for the deed; no job, no pension, no recognition outside a small circle of colleagues.

What is this country coming to? When the man who whooped serious terrorist ass, risked his life and his family's wellbeing, and stopped the panicking of many American families is left with absolutely NOTHING in life, America must be doing SOMETHING wrong. 

Well, I guess that's because the Armed forces are full of Republicans, but hey...

Yes, President Obama will be having his 2nd Google+ Hangout. 

Ask the Prez some questions (and play silly with some of those hilarious Google hangout effects) and well, hang out with Barack!

President Obama is one seriously tech savvy prez. We all know Mitt wasn't nearly as cool as Barack, if not only for his online presence :D

Outgoing Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta signs an order allowing partners wider use of family-oriented facilities on U.S. bases, including child care and counseling. This is a huge step for America's armed forces & it's about time! What do you think should be next?