FACEBOOK WILL END ON MARCH 15th!

PALO ALTO, CA –Mark Zuckerberg announced that Facebook will be shut down in March. Managing the site has become too stressful.

“Facebook has gotten out of control,” said Zuckerberg in a press conference outside his Palo Alto office, “and the stress of managing this company has ruined my life. I need to put an end to all the madness.”

Zuckerberg went on to explain that starting March 15th, users will no longer be able to access their Facebook accounts.

“After March 15th the whole website shuts down,” said Avrat Humarthi, Vice President of Technical Affairs at Facebook. “So if you ever want to see your pictures again, I recommend you take them off the internet. You won’t be able to get them back once Facebook goes out of business.”

Zuckerberg said that the decision to shut down Facebook was difficult, but that he does not think people will be upset.

“I personally don’t think it’s a big deal,” he said in a private phone interview. “And to be honest, I think it’s for the better. Without Facebook, people will have to go outside and make real friends. That’s always a good thing.”

Some Facebook users were furious upon hearing the shocking news.

“What am I going to do without Facebook?” said Denise Bradshaw, a high school student from Indiana. “My life revolves around it. I’m on Facebook at least 10 hours a day. Now what am I going to do with all that free time?”

However, parents across the country have been experiencing a long anticipated sense of relief.

“I’m glad the Facebook nightmare is over,” said Jon Guttari, a single parent from Detroit. “Now my teenager’s face won’t be glued to a computer screen all day. Maybe I can even have a conversation with her.”

Those in the financial circuit are criticizing Zuckerberg for walking away from a multibillion dollar franchise. Facebook is currently ranked as one of the wealthiest businesses in the world, with economists estimating its value at around 7.9 billion.

But Zuckerberg remains unruffled by these accusations. He says he will stand by his decision to give Facebook the axe.

“I don’t care about the money,” said Zuckerberg. “I just want my old life back.”

The Facebook Corporation suggests that users remove all of their personal information from the website before March 15th. After that date, all photos, notes, links, and videos will be permanently erased.

Source: weeklynews

Google Nexus S Android Phone

Google Nexus S Android Phone

Google has officially revealed the new Google Nexus S Android Phone, the latest in their line of Android-powered Nexus smart phones.  As early-adopting Android users ourselves, we’re excited.  We picked up the T-Mobile G1 (the first Android smart phone) on its release date, and we’ll be doing the same with the Nexus S on December 16th.  Why are we excited?  Read on, we’ll explain…

We love and admire the iPhone, but we’re loyal to Android for its free and open nature.  It has grown a lot since the day we picked up our G1– to a 23.5% penetration of the mobile OS market, just 1% behind Apple’s iPhone OS.  It’s latest version, Android 2.3 or “Gingerbread”, will see its first release on the new Nexus S.  It’s a safe assumption that Gingerbread will be the first Android OS to officially topple the iPhone in market share, an amazing feat in just over two years as a public OS.

The Google Nexus S Android Phone is clear step forward for the operating system.  Sure, it may not pack a dual-core processor or a double-digit megapixel camera, but the aim of Google has always been about simplicity, about being “just right” in a world where clutter often derails productivity.  The heart of the Nexus S is a 1GHz Cortex A8 processor, boasting the same power as the proprietary iPhone 4 unit.  Again, like the iPhone 4, the Nexus S features memory starting at 16GB via iNAND flash.  Once again, the Nexus S features a 5MP digital camera with flash, as well as a front-facing second camera for video chat.  In short, the Google Nexus S levels the playing field to give both mobile OS’s a chance to show off on common technical ground. It’s available on December 16th for $199 with a T-Mobile contract, or $529 unlocked

Panda or Cow, May be "Panda Cow"

Panda or Cow, May be "Panda Cow"

A rare miniature cow with markings similar to a panda bear was born on a farm in northern Colorado.The so-called "panda cow" born in Larimer County is thought to be one of only about 24 in the world. The (Loveland) Reporter-Herald reports the male calf named Ben was born Friday morning. His mother is a Lowline Angus cow. Farmer Chris Jessen raises miniature cattle and also owns a miniature kangaroo on his hobby farm.

The miniature panda cow is the result of genetic manipulation. A white belt encircles the animal's midsection, and the cow has a white face with black ovals around the eyes, giving it a panda-like appearance. The mini-cattle are bred solely as pets. Jessen says panda calves can sell for $30,000.

Ostriches Don’t Hide Their Heads in the Sand

Ostriches Don’t Hide Their Heads in the Sand

Today I found out that Ostriches don’t hide their heads in the sand, contrary to popular belief.

When an Ostrich feels genuinely threatened, it will actually take off running.  Considering it is the fastest animal on two legs, it can pretty much out run most other animals.  In fact, Ostriches have been clocked as high as 45 miles per hour when being chased by a close predator.  Just as impressive, Ostriches have been shown to be capable of a sustained run of around 30 miles per hour for an extended period.  So they can pretty much outrun the vast majority of predators out there, with a few exceptions.  And in the few cases they can’t manage to outrun those hunting them, Ostriches can be absolutely deadly with their powerful kicks combined with a large claw on each hoof like foot.  Ostriches can easily kill humans with a kick and have been observed to even be able to kill full grown lions if the lion doesn’t get them first. 

The Ostrich also has extremely good eye sight and hearing.  Because of this, they are generally able to perceive predators before the predator sees them.  So what they will do when they observe a predator is lie down on the ground and put their body as close to the ground as possible and wait.  Often, given they tend to live in very hot savannas in Africa, the heat haze, combined with how low they are to the ground, will make them appear just a mound of dirt in the distance to predators.  If this fails to work and the predator approaches, the Ostrich will stand up and take off running.

The myth that they stick their heads in the sand primarily comes from this first line of defense where they lie down; from a distance, when an ostrich lies down, it appears as if its head disappears in the sand, even though it is really just lying down to see if the predator will pass by so that it won’t have to expend the energy of trying to outrun it.

Bonus Factoids:

• The Ostrich is the world’s largest bird, weighing as much as 350 pounds.
• Ostriches in the African Savannah and desert lands get most of their water from the plants they eat.
• Ostriches use their wings to help them maneuver when they are running at high speeds.
• A full grown Ostrich’s legs can cover 10 to 16 feet in a single stride
• Ostriches typically live in small herds, with one alpha male and alpha female, along with other females and occasionally lesser males.  All of the group’s hens put their eggs in the alpha female’s nest, but with the dominant hen’s eggs given better position.
• Ostriches prefer to eat plants and roots, but given their harsh natural habitat, will also occasionally eat insects, lizards, or any other creature it can find.  They also will occasionally eat sand, which helps them digest the food they eat.
• Ostriches will generally live 30 or 40 years in the wild, growing up to 9 feet tall and weighing 220 to 350 pounds.
• Ostriches have the largest eye of any land animal, measuring in at around 2 inches.
• The male ostrich is capable of making a “roaring” noise not too dissimilar from a lions roar, but tending to add a hiss with it.