Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Chinese Employee Commits Suicide Over Lost iPhone Prototype


A young man responsible for a massively popular tech prototype suddenly finds himself under the scrutiny of police and his employer when a top-secret project goes missing. After intense pressure, possible abuse at the hands of officials, and an illegal search of his private space, the employee can't take it any more, and he commits suicide. A thrilling novel? No, this is the ongoing saga unfolding at Apple's Chinese manufacturer right now. 

Twenty-five-year-old Sun Danyong was a recent engineering graduate working for Foxconn, a company responsible for creating the prototypes that turn into the iPhone.   Apparently, on July 9th, Sun Danyong received 16 prototypes of the fourth generation iPhone from the assembly line at Foxconn. Over the course of the next few days, he discovered that one was missing and reported it to his employer. Two days later, on July 15th, three Foxconn employees allegedly showed up at his house and searched his apartment -- in violation of Chinese law. He was detained and -- according to some reports -- abused. The next night, according to reported surveillance footage, Sun leaped to his death from his apartment window. 

Apple is known for its secrecy and ability to surprise the industry, so we can only imagine that there's considerable pressure to maintain employee silence. Leaking iPhone secrets would mean disaster for Foxconn's relationship with Apple, so when the phone went missing, Sun's employers may have resorted to unethical measures. Unfortunately, it seems that industry pressure concerning one of the world's most sought-after smart phones pushed Foxconn -- and Sun -- way too far

Jamie Lynn-Sigler Replacing "Ugly Betty!"


As fans of Ugly Betty know, last season ended with Betty (América Ferrera) receiving a promotion to features editor, meaning that Mode Editor-in-Chief Daniel Meade is now without an assistant. Enter Jamie-Lynn Sigler!

The Sopranos actress has recently signed on to play the role of Betty's replacement on the hit ABC show. Sigler will play Natalie, a "sexy, spiritual, fun" lady who steps on the scene as Meade's new assistant just when things are going from bad to worse for him. Hmm, sounds like she might be just the right girl for Meade to lean on as he copes with the death of his wife.

I can't wait to see what Sigler does with the character!  She will make her debut as Natalie in Ugly Betty's second episode. The two-hour season premiere of Betty airs Oct. 9.

Leann Rimes & Eddie Cibrian caught by Us Weekly on a date?


Despite repeated denials of an affair between 'Northern Lights' costars Eddie Cibrian and LeAnn Rimes, one person isn't buying the story: Eddie Cibrian's wife.

Us Weekly has the exclusive video of LeAnn Rimes andEddie Cibrian kissing, holding hands -- and even sucking on each other's fingers during a March 7 date at Mosun and Club M in Laguna Beach, California.

SEE THE VIDEO.

Twenty-two seconds into the clip (watch below), Cibrian arrives at the restaurant and they walk in hand-in-hand. Then they're seated -- as seen in the center left of the frame -- and proceed to hold hands (36 seconds) and kiss (1:47). At the 2:10 mark, Rimes suggestively sucks on Cibrian's finger. They leave together shortly after.

Us Weekly has seen the $95 receipt for the dinner, as paid for by Cibrian on his credit card and signed by him.


Skip over this content
The Us Magazine Video Purportedly of Rimes and Cibrian

http://www.usmagazine.com/news/leann-rimes-and-eddie-cibrian-makeout-video-2009193

'Teen Texting Tendonitis' the Latest Health Epidemic

Teens text way too much. A 13-year-old Bailey Baker from Dallas, TX and her 8,000 monthly text messages -- we've heard of a different young girl send 41,000 messages in a month, and even one who claimed to send 300,000. So, 8,000? That's nothing. 

That is until we learned that Bailey is suffering from what some have dubbed Teen Texting Tendonitis (or TTT), a fancy, unnecessary name for sore thumbs. In short, our thumbs are not designed for tapping out messages on tiny keyboards. So it should come as no surprise that Bailey found herself suffering from back, neck, elbow, and thumb pain, as well as occasional numbness in her opposable fifth digit.

So now parents have one more reason to freak out about their child's texting habit: the medical bills, which I'm sure will not be covered under the new Obama planned healthcare.

Plus-sized TV shows find big audience


Style Network's "Ruby," NBC's "The Biggest Loser," Lifetime's "Drop Dead Diva" and Fox's forthcoming dating show "More to Love" all center on the overweight and are tapping into an audience that can relate to the desire to shed a few pounds.

Obesity has risen dramatically in the United States during the past 20 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

And this year television has seen an increase in shows featuring participants and stars who look more like the viewing public.

Oxygen Channel's "Dance Your Ass Off" combines elements of ABC's "Dancing With The Stars" and NBC's "The Biggest Loser." Contestants learn dance routines for which they are judged before weighing in to determine how much they have lost.

Reality television has become so popular because viewers are attracted to watching real people, and there is a craving for viewers to see folks like themselves -- but this leaves us to ask "Should we be endorsing such unhealthy lifestyles by way of reality television or should we be sending another message?"

Is Childhood Obesity Child Abuse?

Jerri Gray's 14-year-old son weighs 555 pounds, and she was arrested in June for criminal neglect. Was her arrest justified?


Sign of the hard economic times - Procter & Gamble to phase out Max Factor in the US.


Ladies, if Max Factor is a staple in your cosmetics case, you’ll want to stock up now. Procter & Gamble, which owns the 100-year-old cosmetics brand, is phasing out distribution of Max Factor in the U.S. by early next year. P&G will shift the brand entirely to markets abroad where Max Factor sales have been the strongest.

Eddie Cibrian's Wife Confirms She's Left Him Over Affairs


Eddie Cibrian's wife Brandi Glanville has left him, she confirms exclusively in the new issue of Us Weekly (on newsstands Wednesday).

"Eddie and I have decided to take some time apart," says Glanville, 36, mother of Mason, 6, and Jake, 2. "I want to do what is best for our children. Eddie and LeAnn[Rimes] deserve each other."

What is it with these Hollywood types?  And Eddie, what were you thinking?  Your wife is HOT HOT HOT and you cheating is so NOT NOT NOT!  I kinda hate these male actors who just think that because they have some sort of sex appeal that they can just sleep or mess with anyone the like.  If this is all true then I think Brandi should take him for all he is worth and be done with him.


Britians Got Talent's Susan Boyle Gets Morning Makeover

A newly glammed up Susan Boyle visited the 'Today' show for the first time since her amazing run on 'Britain's Got Talent,' telling Meredith Vieira she's "having a wonderful time" being so famous.
"You look gorgeous," Vieira told Boyle, who is sporting a new 'do, a purple dress, subtle makeup and trimmed eyebrows. Boyle thanked her, remarking "I brush up quite well."
Boyle said the impact on her life after reaching fame so quickly was "a lot like a giant demolition ball."
"Anyone who has that kind of impact finds it really hard to get a head around it. I've got to be honest here. I guess I had to get my head around it, but through the guidance of a great team -- and they are very good -- I was able to see that in perspective and really turn that around a little."
Boyle, who came in second in the competition, was at a loss for words on how to describe her success.
"It's just been unbelievable; it’s indescribable," she said. "Being plucked from obscurity is a bit like going on a long journey, really; you don’t know what’s going to happen. You don’t know how it’s going to end."
"Are you having a good time?" Vieira asked.
"I'm having a wonderful time," Boyle said. "I don't want it to end. It’s just incredible. It's indescribable, really."

Video Works Both Ways for Police

Ever-Present Cameras Aid Investigators, Catch Rogue Cops

Smile you're on not so candid-camera!  When Agnes Lawless was arrested on charges of assaulting a Philadelphia police officer, she protested that it was the cop who had attacked her. He grabbed her from behind and thrust a gun against her neck, she said.
Three of Lawless' friends and a convenience store clerk backed her story, but the judge was inclined to believe the officer -- until the video surfaced.  Have any interesting stories to tell about cops in your area?