This And That

Announcing a Live Chat With Contently Founder Shane Snow Streaming live on Mashable, Contently founder Shane Snow will answer questions from readers at 3 p.m. ET (12 p.m. PT) Thursday, Sept. 27. As part of the Young Entrepreneur Council’s program called YEC #StartupLab, Snow will appear live via video chat broadcast on this site. more info... Watch: Autism Awareness Canada MP Mike Lake advocates for his 16-year-old son. more info... Patriots coach Belichick fined $50,000 for referee grab (Reuters) - New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick has been fined $50,000 by the National Football League (NFL) for grabbing a replacement official's arm after Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens, the league said on Wednesday. Belichick's fine was formally for "impermissible physical contact with an official," the league said. The Patriots coach, who has led New England to three Super Bowl champ...

Golf-Rookie Colsaerts aims to emulate U.S. assistant Couples MEDINAH, Illinois, Sept 26 (Reuters) - Nicolas Colsaerts, the only rookie on Europe's Ryder Cup team, said he was amazed at how intense the event is, but might look across the battle lines to stay relaxed. The longest driver among all 24 men in the matches between the best golfers of Europe and the United States, the 29-year-old became the first Belgian to reach the Ryder Cup after being tabbed as a wildcard pick by captain Jose Maria Olazabal. "It's really special. It's far more intense already of anything I could think of," Colsaerts said on Wednesday. ... more info... Netanyahu promises tough response to Ahmadinejad JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Wednesday promised a tough response at the United Nations to the latest verbal attacks on Israeli by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and said he was determined to stop Iran develop...

Michelle Obama to appear on 'Steve Harvey' show First lady Michelle Obama will appear on Steve Harvey's new daytime talk show. more info... Ahmadinejad denounces 'uncivilized Zionists,' urges new order UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - Iran's president said on Wednesday his country was under constant threat of military action from "uncivilized Zionists" and called for a new world order not dominated by Western powers in the service of "the devil." In his eighth address to the U.N. General Assembly's annual gathering of world leaders, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad painted a gloomy picture of a world driven by greed rather than moral values. ... more info... Reports: NFL, referees closing in on new deal Two days after a controversial call cost the Green Bay Packers a win, the NFL and the referees' union are reportedly nearing an end to a lockout that put replacement officials on ...

More Knee Surgeries for Seniors Knee replacement rates among Medicare patients have increased sharply over the past two decades -- as have rates of hospital readmissions and revision complications associated with the procedures -- a study showed. more info...

The Emergency Apps Toolbox For Students Students can instantaneously connect with friends and family in emergencies with Guardly. With a few taps, users can dial for help or send out an alert. Triggering an alert enables real-time location tracking. Students can also capture and send photos to mobile contacts or authorities in non-threatening emergencies. On the app's map, users can see which friends and family members are nearby. Another in-app defense lets students sound off a blaring siren to "deter would-be attackers" and "signal for help." Price: Free iOS, Android and Blackberry app with $1.99 monthly subscription or $19. ... more info... AP source: Talks resume between NFL and refs union A person familiar with the situation says the NFL and its locked-out officials have resumed talks in an attempt to resolve an impasse that has created a firestorm over the use of replacements refs. more info...

Islamist wins delay in UK extradition to United States LONDON (Reuters) - Radical Islamist cleric Abu Hamza al-Masri has won a delay in his extradition from Britain to the United States, days after he lost an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights. A statement from the judiciary said on Wednesday a judge had granted an injunction after Abu Hamza and one other suspect lodged fresh appeals against their extradition. It did not give the basis of their appeals, but said these would be heard quickly in open court. ... more info...

Pakistan Islamist accuses Obama of religious war on Muslims ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - One of Pakistan's most feared Islamists accused President Barack Obama on Wednesday of starting a religious war against Muslims over his handling of a video that mocked the Prophet Mohammad. Hafiz Saeed, accused by India of masterminding the 2008 attack by Pakistani gunmen on India's financial capital Mumbai, said Obama should have ordered steps to remove the film from the Internet instead of defending freedom of expression in America. "Obama's statements have caused a religious war," Saeed told Reuters in an interview. "This is a very sensitive issue. ... more info...

Saudi Arabia adopts measures to limit virus infection during Haj JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia (Reuters) - Saudi Arabia has taken precautions to prevent disease spreading among Muslim pilgrims next month after a Qatari man was infected with a virus related to the deadly SARS, a health ministry official said on Wednesday. The World Health Organisation put out a global alert on Sunday saying a new, previously unknown, virus had infected a 49-year-old Qatari man who had recently travelled to Saudi Arabia, where another man with an almost identical virus had already died. ... more info... Barnes & Noble takes aim at Amazon, Apple with HD Nook tablets NEW YORK (Reuters) - Barnes & Noble Inc took a shot at archrival Amazon.com on Wednesday, unveiling its own lighter and thinner hi-definition tablets that can accommodate multiple users in a bid to win a bigger share of the exploding tablet market. The largest U.S. bookstore chain introduced the new ...

Yahoo CFO to make up to $18 million over four years (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc Chief Financial Officer Ken Goldman will receive up to $18 million in salary, bonuses, restricted stock and stock options over the next four years, according to a regulatory filing. Goldman will get $1.1 million in salary and bonus, and receive restricted stock units and performance-based stock options worth as much as $12 million that will vest over four years. Yahoo, which named Goldman its CFO on Tuesday, said he will also get 76,000 restricted stock units to make up for compensation lost when he left his previous job at cyber security software firm Fortinet Inc. ... more info... Emmylou, Mumford & Sons team for 'CMT Crossroads' Emmylou Harris loves Mumford & Sons for a special reason. more info...

Implant scandal sparks revamp of EU medical device rules BRUSSELS (Reuters) - The European Union has proposed tougher rules on assessing the safety and monitoring the use of medical devices and implants, after weak EU regulations were partly blamed for a global scandal over French-made breast implants. Investigations last year showed that hundreds of thousands of women around the world had been implanted with substandard silicone implants made by defunct French company Poly Implant Prothese (PIP), which safety regulators had failed to stop for more than a decade. ... more info...

Google Unveils Stunning Underwater 'Street Views' in Maps [PICS] Google Street View is no longer limited to roads and sidewalks -- now, you can browse stunning panoramic images from under the sea. more info... Uruguay Congress votes to legalize abortion Uruguay's Congress has voted by a razor-thin margin to legalize abortion, a groundbreaking move in Latin America. more info... Rajoy inches toward aid as protests, regions seethe MADRID (Reuters) - Violent protests in Madrid and growing talk of secession in wealthy Catalonia are piling pressure on Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy as he moves closer to asking Europe for rescue money. Rajoy has been resisting calls from influential domestic bankers and the leaders of France and Italy to move quickly to request assistance, but a series of events this week will drive him closer. ... more info...

South Africa ANC rebel Malema charged with money-laundering POLOKWANE, South Africa (Reuters) - South African ANC renegade Julius Malema was charged with money laundering on Wednesday in a high-profile corruption court case his supporters say is part of a political plot to silence the fierce critic of President Jacob Zuma. Prosecutors at the provincial magistrates' court in Polokwane, 350 km (220 miles) north of Johannesburg, said Malema had "improperly received" 4.2 million rand ($514,000) in a conspiracy involving government tenders. But they did not file any other charges, contrary to media reports that he also faced trial for fraud and corruption. ... more info...

Packers seething as NFL replacement refs take heat With the Green Bay Packers still seething, fans pondering the possibility of turning off their televisions on NFL Sundays and even the President weighing in, it's official: Overnight, the NFL's replacement referees went from minor nuisance to staggering problem. more info... Anti-Muslim filmmaker's probation case creeps The federal probation violation investigation targeting the man behind the anti-Muslim video inflaming the Middle East is proceeding slowly and privately, reflecting the explosiveness of the case. more info... South Africa's Malema charged with money-laundering POLOKWANE, South Africa (Reuters) - A South African court charged Julius Malema, a renegade of the ruling African National Congress and opponent of President Jacob Zuma, with money laundering on Wednesday. Prosecutors did not file any other charges. (Reporting by Jon Hersko...

Spain to seek bailout if yields too high for too long MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Wednesday said he was ready to seek a new rescue package for his troubled country but only if its debt financing costs remain too high for too long. Investors have been jittery that Spain's apparent reluctance to seek a bailout - a condition for European Central Bank action to cut the country's borrowing costs - could propel the euro zone into even deeper trouble. ... more info...

Dear Papa: Letters to Hemingway get crucial repair Ernest Hemingway was the famous writer, but it's the letters his friends wrote to him that are getting special treatment now. more info... Freeman redemption lifts Braves into playoffs (Reuters) - Freddie Freeman put the bitter ending to last season behind him with a walk-off, two-run home run that clinched a National League playoff berth for the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday. Freeman blasted the game-winner to give the Braves a 4-3 win over the Miami Marlins, one year after he made the final out of the season that saw the team blow an 8 1/2-game lead in the wild card race. "This is the coolest thing I've ever had happen to me in my life," Freeman told reporters after being mobbed by team mates celebrating Atlanta's return to the post-season. "This is a dream come true. ... more info...

Two blasts near Damascus army building: state TV BEIRUT (Reuters) - Syrian television said two "terrorist" explosions targeted an army staff building in the capital Damascus on Wednesday. It said a fire broke out in the Umayad Square where the building is located. The television said the explosions were the work of "terrorists" - a term the authorities use to refer to insurgents waging a violent uprising to oust Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On Tuesday Syrian insurgents detonated bombs at a building occupied by pro-government militias in Damascus. ... more info...

Loretta Lynn celebrates 50 years on the Opry The story of Loretta Lynn's first experience with the Grand Ole Opry five decades ago sounds a little like the storyline from one of her classic songs. more info... Braves clinch playoff spot with walk-off home run (Reuters) - Atlanta clinched a National League playoff berth on Tuesday after Freddie Freeman cracked a walk-off two-run home run to give the Braves a 4-3 win over the visiting Miami Marlins. The Braves had fallen 3-2 behind in the seventh, but Freeman's ninth-inning blow guaranteed them a return to the postseason after they missed out last year by blowing an 8 1/2game lead in the wild card race. Atlanta (89-65) still have a chance to catch NL East leaders Washington, who they trail by four games. ... more info...

Social Media's Biggest Screw-Ups [INFOGRAPHIC] The list of celebrities and major brands burned by social media blunders is long and ever-growing. more info...

China tells Japan islands "sacred Chinese territory" in dispute standoff BEIJING (Reuters) - China claimed islands at the core of a row with Japan as its "sacred territory" in talks between the two countries' foreign ministers, Xinhua news agency said on Wednesday, as neither side showed signs of backing down in a long-festering feud. Xinhua said Yang reiterated China's "solemn position on the issue of Diaoyu Islands, which have been China's sacred territory since ancient times". ... more info...

Sanchez's shutout puts Tigers in tie for first Anibal Sanchez threw his first shutout in over a year, and the Detroit Tigers moved into a tie for first in the AL Central with a 2-0 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday night. more info... Yahoo CEO fleshes out plans, new CFO named SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - New Yahoo Inc CEO Marissa Mayer laid out broad goals for the Internet giant in her first companywide address Tuesday, and received an enthusiastic reception from a workforce that has faced years of uncertainty and management turmoil. Mayer mainly sketched broad visions rather than concrete details for her turnaround strategy, according to several people familiar with what was said in the tightly controlled meeting. ... more info... Japan opposition picks new leader, possible next PM amid China feud TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's main opposition party picks its new leader and possibly the next prime...

Guillen brushes off critical comments from Bell Marlins manager Ozzie Guillen is brushing off criticism from reliever Heath Bell. more info... Computer Glitch Delays Cargo Ship's Undocking from Space Station An unmanned European cargo ship as large as a double-decker bus inside will have to wait a bit longer before leaving the International Space Station due to computer problems, NASA officials say. more info... Court rejects bid to block Arizona "show your papers" immigration provision PHOENIX (Reuters) - A U.S. federal appeals court on Tuesday rejected a bid by a coalition of civil and immigrants rights activists to prevent police from enforcing a controversial Arizona immigration provision. The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco denied an emergency motion for an injunction blocking the "show your papers" provision of SB 1070, the state's crackdown on illegal immigra...

Ex-Murdoch editor Brooks due in court on hacking plot charges LONDON (Reuters) - Rebekah Brooks, a former executive in Rupert Murdoch's media empire and friend of British Prime Minister David Cameron, faces charges in court on Wednesday that she conspired to hide evidence from police investigating a phone hacking scandal. The charges are part of the criminal inquiry into assertions that UK newspapers intercepted messages on the phones of celebrities, politicians and crime victims, and made illegal payments to public officials. ... more info... Packers' loss ripples from Lambeau to White House Entire stadiums have booed them. The Patriots' Bill Belichick grabbed one by the arm and the Redskins' Kyle Shanahan was so hopping mad he followed one into the tunnel after the game. more info... Astronauts may play role in Mars robotic missions NASA's future plans to explore Mars may end up using astro...

Spain prepares more austerity, protesters battle police MADRID (Reuters) - Protesters clashed with police in Spain's capital on Tuesday as the government prepared a new round of unpopular austerity measures for the 2013 budget to be announced on Thursday. Thousands gathered in Neptune plaza, a few meters from El Prado museum in central Madrid, where they formed a human chain around parliament, surrounded by barricades, police trucks and more than 1,500 police in riot gear. Police fired rubber bullets and beat protesters with truncheons, first as protesters were trying to tear down barriers and later to clear the square. ... more info... Reds manager Baker won't return until next week Reds manager Dusty Baker had a mini-stroke in addition to his irregular heartbeat last week and will need another week of rest before he's able to rejoin the team for the final regular season series and the playoffs. more info...

Rare Hemingway works go to SC university library A love of Ernest Hemingway's writing and the thrill of tracking down his many works led a Mississippi physician to amass a huge literary collection and donate it to the University of South Carolina so students and scholars could share it, the doctor said Tuesday. more info... Stink Bug Invasion Promises Foul Fall An invading force is laying the groundwork for a coup in the United States this year, and it's going on right under our noses. The brown marmorated stink bug, an insect species from Asia that has been steadily expanding its range since it landed on the East Coast 15 years ago, will begin to sneak into the homes of unprepared Americans by the hundreds in the coming weeks, entomologists say. more info... Supreme Court to address blood testing for drunk driving WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court will soon consider whether police must get a war...

Iran unveils long-range drone: state TV DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's Revolutionary Guards unveiled a home-built long-range drone capable of reaching most of the Middle East, including the Islamic state's arch-foe Israel, state television reported on Tuesday. The reconnaissance drone named Shahed 129 has a range of 2,000 km (1,240 miles) and is capable of carrying bombs and missiles, state television said. It gave no further details. Israel has threatened action against Iran's nuclear sites, raising speculation about a possible military strike ahead of the U.S. presidential election in November. Israel has criticized U.S. ... more info... Texans take over top spot in AP's power rankings The Houston Texans are the fourth team in as many weeks to sit at the top of the AP Pro32 power rankings. more info... Weitzman fundraising pits taps Young Hollywood When you are a hot young starlet in Hollywood, you o...

Nadine the Zombie: This Tropical Storm Just Won't Die Nadine has risen from the dead like some kind of meteorological zombie.  more info... U.S. bans beef from Canada's XL Foods plant (Reuters) - The United States has halted imports of beef products from one of Canada's largest beef-processing plants, owned by privately held XL Foods at Brooks, Alberta, due to findings of E. coli bacteria. A spokesman for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said on Tuesday that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration officials had "de-listed" the plant on September 13, meaning that it cannot export any of its products to the United States until corrections are made. "Which is normal, when there are positive findings from a facility," said CFIA spokesman Tim O'Connor. ... more info... Obama: Disputed game means NFL needs regular refs The White House says President Barack Obama believes tha...

Supreme Court upholds West Virginia redistricting WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Supreme Court upheld West Virginia's congressional restricting map as constitutional on Tuesday, overturning a lower court order that found the plan violated the principle of "one person, one vote." In an unsigned opinion, the court said that a federal district court panel had erred in voiding the map in January and had failed to give appropriate deference to the Democratic-controlled legislature that had crafted it. ... more info... Obama: U.S. will "do what we must" to curb Iran nuclear bid UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - President Barack Obama warned Iran on Tuesday the United States will "do what we must" to prevent it from acquiring a nuclear weapon and said time was running short for diplomacy but ignored the Israeli prime minister's demand to set a "red line" for Tehran. Taking the podium at the United Nations six we...

Down syndrome may hold key to new Alzheimer's treatments CHICAGO (Reuters) - In a new lead on Alzheimer's research, Johnson & Johnson is bankrolling a three-year pilot study of people with Down syndrome to identify the early changes that herald dementia, which afflicts up to 75 percent of adults with the condition. The aim is to generate support for a much bigger, public-private partnership funded by drugmakers, advocates and government agencies that will study at least 1,000 people with Down syndrome, tracking them from an early age and eventually testing treatments to keep dementia from developing. ... more info...

European team shy on road experience for Ryder Cup Europe has only one rookie on its Ryder Cup team. It has a lot more inexperience when it comes to playing on the road. more info... Suicide Now Kills More Americans Than Car Crashes Suicide has surpassed car accidents as the No. 1 cause of injury-related death in the United States, according to new research. more info... U.S. top court upholds West Virginia redistricting WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld West Virginia's congressional restricting map as constitutional on Tuesday, overturning a lower court order that found the plan violated the principle of "one person, one vote." In an unsigned opinion, the court said that a federal district court panel had erred in voiding the map in January and had failed to give appropriate deference to the Democratic-controlled legislature that had crafted it. ... more info...

'Unavoidable' Bacon Shortage Leads to Twitter Hysteria This could be the end times for the Internet's ironically favorite breakfast food: bacon. more info...

Woven App Keeps All Your Photos in One Place With each new tablet, smartphone and laptop -- not to mention applications-- comes a host of new storage opportunities. From Facebook to Picasa to a home computer, digital photos can be stored almost anywhere. more info...

Insert in Print Edition of 'EW' Will Have a Live Twitter Feed Print magazines have been using LCD inserts with video since 2009, but the Oct. 5 edition of Entertainment Weekly is adding something new to the mix: A live Twitter feed. more info... Vertex ends work on one hepatitis C drug, continues another (Reuters) - Vertex Pharmaceuticals Inc said on Tuesday it will discontinue development of an experimental drug to treat hepatitis C after it failed to show sufficient efficacy to warrant further study. The company, which was developing the drug, known as ALS-2158, with partner Alios BioPharma Inc, said it will continue development of another hepatitis C drug, ALS-2200, after it showed promise in an early trial. ... more info...

Analysis: Clock ticking on French fracking veto PARIS (Reuters) - President Francois Hollande's move to leave French shale gas untapped to protect a frayed alliance with the Greens may come back to haunt him as the economy grinds to a halt and job cuts pile in. Possibly the biggest shale gas reserves in Western Europe, cooling ardor for nuclear, rumblings of dissent from his industry minister and pro-shale pleas from bosses and unions alike, keen for more jobs, will combine to erode his resolve. ... more info... Man's Failing Heart Heals Before Transplant A miraculous thing happened the day Michael Crowe was set to receive a potentially life-saving heart transplant. Doctors had determined the surgery would be ineffective — but his heart suddenly started beating again. Crowe, a 23-year-old pharmacy student from Omaha, had been diagnosed with acute... more info... Eric Schmidt: Apple Should've Kept Our Google ...

NY pension fund invested in controversial private equity funds NEW YORK (Reuters) - An investigation by New York's top prosecutor into whether a group of private equity firms used a fee arrangement to dodge taxes may be undermined by the state's own public pension fund. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman in July subpoenaed more than a dozen private equity firms, including Apollo Global Management LLC, Bain Capital LLC, KKR & Co LP, Silver Lake Partners LP and TPG Capital LP, over their practice of converting management fees paid by investors into fund investments. ... more info...

PSY finds his success with 'Gangnam Style' unreal South Korean rapper PSY finds his success with "Gangnam Style" so unreal that he wonders if he's being tricked into believing it — like Jim Carrey in "The Truman Show." more info...

Vogue publisher to open cafe outpost in Dubai Vogue's fashion-loving fans will soon have a chance to drink in the magazine's aura at a new cafe in Dubai. more info... Bombs explode at security site in Damascus: rebels BEIRUT (Reuters) - Bombs planted by rebels exploded at a school building occupied by security forces and pro-government militias in the Syrian capital of Damascus on Tuesday, activists and rebels said. Residents said smoke was billowing from the area in southeastern Damascus and an activist said ambulances were rushing to the scene. "At exactly 9:35 a.m. ... more info... Sanofi to cut jobs in France in research shake-up PARIS (Reuters) - French drugmaker Sanofi said it could shed around 900 jobs in France by 2015, fewer than the 2,500 layoffs predicted by trade unions, as part of the company's planned reshuffle of its research operations. The French government had strongly criticiz...

Former Twitter CEO Says Network Needs a Better Metric Than Follower Count Twitter users may obsess over their follower count, but its co-founder and former CEO Evan Williams believes there needs to be a better way to measure one's reach and influence on the social network. more info... Ref Rage: Seahawks stun Pack on final play, 14-12 Just when the anger and complaints from a weekend of contempt toward replacement officials couldn't get any hotter, a disputed call trumps it all. more info...

Einstein's brain is now interactive iPad app The brain that revolutionized physics now can be downloaded as an app for $9.99. But it won't help you win at Angry Birds. more info... Einstein's brain is now interactive iPad app The brain that revolutionized physics now can be downloaded as an app for $9.99. But it won't help you win at Angry Birds. more info... Syrian mortar bombs land in Israeli orchard JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Mortar bombs fired from Syria crossed the frontier with Israel and landed in an orchard early Tuesday, but caused no injuries or damage, the Israeli army said. A military spokesman said the bombs were not aimed at Israelis and that Israel had lodged a complaint with the United Nations observer force that monitors a long-standing, de facto truce between the two countries. ... more info...