Phone Carrier Wars

The hype over Apple's iPhone has reached an all-time high, as more and more phone users have switched over to AT&T for the new phone.  Other major phone carriers, such as Verizon and Sprint, find themselves searching for new ways to attract their customers.  Many iPhone look-a-likes have been released; however, none have been as successful as Apple's newest creation.  Check out the eight most popular wannabes...

Obama's first 100 days

It is nearly Obama's 100th day in office, and many supporters still feel the same as when the did during the campaign: confident.  He not only represents a new administration and a shift in governing philosophy, but he also embodies the ideals of a fresh leadership strategy. 

There will be mistakes and failures, and we have yet to see how the always-on Mr. Cool will react. He can get angry in private, they say; however, one reporter claims he has never seen anything other than an occasional glint of icy dismay at a logistical matters handled badly.  

Regardless of what happens, our President remains on a global stage with the hottest lights and the biggest audience.  That stage now is fully digitized, cabled, YouTubed, Huffpo’d, and Twittered. He never leaves it, or seems to want to. At the same time, Obama doesn’t seem bothered that he’s on that stage to begin with.  

If there is another Obama behind the curtain, we will eventually see it--for the play is never ending and he is the only man on the stage.  

Athletic Training: PODCAST

I sat down with an Athletic Training student from Vanguard University to get some insight on their area of study...click the link below to listen in!

Athletic Training Podcast

Angels vs. A's game cancelled after news of pitcher's death

The Los Angeles Angels' rookie pitcher, Nick Adenhart was killed in a hit-and-run accident on Thursday, delaying the team's game against the Oakland A's.  The 22-year-old was a passenger in a car that police say was struck by a red-light runner, also killing two others in the car and injuring another.  Reports show that three cars were involved in the collision.  

See video for more information...

Breaking sports news video. MLB, NFL, NBA, NHL highlights and more.

Good Fat, Bad Fat

Ever heard of fighting fat with fat?  A new study reveals that your body has good and bad types of body fat, just like cholesterol.  Scientists until recently believed this good fat, which spurs the body to burn calories to generate body heat, played an important role in keeping infants warm but by adulthood was mostly gone or inactive.  

However, now scientists have discovered that some good fat remains in adults, which assists in boosting your metabolism.  The result = weight loss.  The "good fat" burns more energy than the other fats, which helps shed the pounds.  

The good fat is a brownish color, while the more predominant bad fat is white or yellow. Brown fat is stored mostly around the neck and under the collarbone. White fat tends to concentrate around the waistline, where it stores excess energy and releases chemicals that control metabolism and the use of insulin.

Regardless of this new discovery, diet and exercise are still strongly advised.  To read more on this topic, check out the New England Journal of Medicine.

Storm Watchers: "A Wild Ride for Friday"

Cresting rivers and melting snow-pack is causing disastrous flooding conditions for much of the midwest, particularly Fargo, ND.  Residents have sandbags piled high; however, it doesn't seem high enough.  Frozen bags make it difficult to stack closely together, leaking more water into homes and roads, flooding thousands of properties.  

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Meanwhile, other parts of the country, such as Denver, CO, are getting hammered with blizzard-like conditions.  The Southeast is being threatened with severe storms, with numerous tornado and thunderstorm watches in effect.  West Coast residents should count their blessings, as the majority of the storms are hitting every other corner of the country.  

Leave your comments! What is the weather like where YOU are?

A Virtual Town Hall Meeting?

President Obama takes advantage of the electronic age we now live in by holding a town hall meeting via the internet.  Questions are still welcomed from the public; however the only difference is that the questions are being posed by visitors to the White House website, and then vetted by other visitors for their relevance and importance.

Administration officials claim that the questions of most importance/most popular will rise to the top of the pile and will be posed to the President at 11 a.m. EDT.  

It's a nugget! Should 911 really be notified?

Florida's "McNut" makes headlines after calling 911 three times after McDonald's ran out of McNuggets.  Reports show that her "emergency" resulted from the fast-food restaurant's denial of giving her a refund for having no nuggets.  The manager tried to convince Latreasa Goodman to order something else on the menu; however, Goodman had other plans.  Her McNugget meltdown has sparked nationwide attention, which has resulted in deep embarrassment.  (rightfully so) Leave your comments about the McNut!

View MSNBC's video below to hear the 911 calls...

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

NASA's "Kepler" in search for new earths...

This upcoming Friday marks the start of NASA's latest mission, with the launch of one of the world's most advanced telescopes into space.  The telescope named "Kepler" has astronomers hoping for a new perspective of the way we look at our universe.  There is confidence that the new device will discover other earth-sized planets, and possibly those orbiting in a region that is conducive to supporting life.  

"Kepler will push back the boundaries of the unknown in our patch of the Milky Way galaxy, and its discoveries may fundamentally alter humanity's view of itself," said Jon Morse, director of NASA's Astrophysics Division at the agency's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

The $600 million mission is set to launch from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida on Friday, March 6th.  The delta 2 booster being used to propel the telescope has gone under extra scrutiny, after causing problems with the previous launch of a separate probe.  After a delay of one day, this friday's launch is expected to lift off without a problem.  

Johannes Kepler, the 17th century German scientist who pioneered the fields of optics and planetary motion, was the inspiration for this mission.  His discoveries are now being used in hopes of answering a profound and fundamental question about our place in the universe: Do other Earth-like planets exist?

Nearly 95 million pixels will be used in capturing the subtle shifts in light that characterize an extrasolar planet orbiting its star, operating along with a series of light detectors.

NASA claims that their mission and interest is finding planets similar to earth that might harbor life.  Kepler will be pointing its 0.95-meter diameter telescope and array of 42 charge-coupled devices (light-sensitive microchips also found in standard digital cameras) at a pre-selected target group of 100,000 stars.

Kepler will also focus on any changes in the light of each star that result from a planet transiting – or moving in front of – its parent star as seen from the perspective of Earth. These fluctuations can tell scientists how big the planet is, as well as how far away its orbit is from its

parent star.

As much as scientists hope to find thousands of other earth-like planets, there is also a great deal to be said if Kepler returns with no data regarding any new planets, which would mean our earth is very unique.  

"Octomom" Faces Foreclosure

Nadya Suleman is making news again, with reports showing her $23,225 behind in mortgage payments.  Her Whittier, CA residence may no longer be "home" for her 14 children.  Fox News disclosed that Suleman's house may be up for auction starting May 5th, after 10 months of non-payment.  

Click here to find out more about Suleman's financial situation...

Suleman finally agreed to a face-to-face interview with NBC's Today Show anchor, Ann Curry.  NBC was the first to land an interview with the "Octomom," boosting their ratings for their exclusive interview.   

A Time for Change? Think Again...

The New York Times released an article regarding President Obama's attempts in addressing the war on terror and how it closely resembles the efforts of former President, George Bush.  

"These and other signs suggest that the administration’s changes may turn out to be less sweeping than many had hoped or feared — prompting growing worry among civil liberties groups and a sense of vindication among supporters of Bush-era policies."

To see more information, including interviews with the White House Counsel, click here.

President Obama: Following Bush's "Faith Plan"

Former President George Bush initiated the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships while in office, and our current President, Barack Obama, is expanding on it. 

Obama wants to continue giving to faith-based charities; however, the President expressed his feelings for America as a whole, as he said there would be no favor given to one religious group over another, or even favor between religious groups and secular groups. 

Four priorities of the White House regarding this issue are listed on the L.A. Times website.

Obama also spoke on his own faith while addressing the members of a prayer breakfast.  He said his own parents' beliefs contradict his Christian faith.  His dad was a Muslim who became an atheist and his mother was skeptical of any organized religious practices.  "When I moved to the South Side of Chicago after college, ...God's Spirit beckoned me," Obama mentioned at the breakfast. 

To see footage from the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, view the L.A. Times Video Clip

14 kids...now a reality series???

America's most sought-after mom finds herself weighing up the offers given to her regarding the birth of her octuplets on January 26th.  The single-mom, Nadya Suleman, wants to tell her story, and has already been approached by hundreds of people wanting interviews.  Others have even offered Suleman a spot as the host of a new television series on parenting. 

The L.A. Times reports the mother of 14 asking for $2 million for her story; however, as NBC’s Today Show reports, financial gain "was not her intention" and there is no question that she has "always wanted to be a mom."

This has many up in arms about the situation, considering that she still lives in her parents’ three-bedroom house in Whittier, CA.  Is she an unfit mother trying to make a living off of her own children? 

What remains more frustrating for some is that media giants such as Oprah and Dr. Phil tend to chase after stories like these, and if Suleman’s intentions are to take advantage of the free publicity, she will have thousands of angry people dishing out their opposition. 

My concern is that a large network such as TLC will sign the 33-year-old mother and broadcast another one of their “unusual but normal” family reality shows.  Jon & Kate Plus 8 remains at the top of the network’s most watched shows, but it does seem plausible that a family of 14 could easily over take their popularity.

Certain ethical issues are put to question with this case as well.  Although Suleman’s fertility doctor’s name was not released, his judgment for the situation is still uncertain, as it is uncommon to plant so many embryos in a women, especially at her age of 33.  Other factors contributing to the situation are her six other children, as well as her choice to not reduce the number of embryos implanted, as it may have posed a serious health risk to her and her children. 

Finally, what makes America so interested in this story? Does this woman’s obsession with children allow us to become obsessed with her? And does it seem that her story is simply for her own self-gain, or is there a genuine love and desire for each of her 14 children? Leave you comments!

Welcome!

Off the press is your key to a fast and easy way to keep updated on some of the biggest headlines in the news.  No need to plan your schedule around the 5 o'clock news--Off the press will keep you updated on the day's most important news events--whenever you want!