New iPod volume software update

Apple Computer Inc. today announced a software update for the iPod that allows users to set maximum volume limits when listening to the market-leading digital music players, according to Google.com. The company facing complaints and a lawsuit claiming the popular player can cause hearing loss, made the setting available as part of a new software update, Yahoo! News said. The free download applies to the iPod Nano and the iPod models with video-playback capabilities. The devices can produce sounds of more than 115 decibels, a volume that can damage the hearing of a person exposed to the sound for more than 28 seconds per day, according to the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., The Washington Post said. Although the iPod is more popular than other types of portable music players, its ability to cause hearing loss isn't any higher, experts said. Apple ships a warning with each iPod that cautions "permanent hearing loss may occur if earphones or headphones are used at high volume."

I found this story very interesting because I am an avid iPod user. I listen to my iPod whenever I am at school and at very high volumes. Reading this makes me want to start lowering the volume on my iPod. I love loud music, but don't want to lose my hearing because of it. Hopefully this update will be available for 1st gen iPods like mine. "Keep on rockin' in the free world!" - Neil Young

Wily Coyote Captured in Central Park

A wily coyote paid a visit to New York, leading dozens of police officers on foot and in a helicopter on a loping chase through Central Park before being captured this morning, according to Yahoo! News. Officials said the animal may have wandered into the city from suburban Westchester County, or perhaps crossed the Hudson River from New Jersey via a bridge, a railroad trestle or a passing truck, according to The Mankato Free Press. Officials said the tawny-colored animal, nicknamed Hal by park workers, was about a year old and weighed around 35 pounds. Hal proved quite adept at avoiding capture, jumping into the water, leaping over an 8-foot fence, ducking under a bridge and scampering through the grounds of a skating rink. In 1997, 15 sightings were noted, but many encounters are no longer even reported -- unless they involve the loss of a pet, according to Newsday.com. The animals generally shy away from people and no attacks on humans have been recorded, but several pet dogs have been snatched from back yards by the predators. Officials fear that as the coyotes settle into a suburban existence they may lose some fear of people. The state and Cornell University are planning a five-year study that will include attempts to trap and tranquilize coyotes in four Westchester towns.

I found this story very entertaining and light-hearted. It reminds me of the Roadrunner cartoons that I watched when I was a kid. It must of been a hilarious sight to see the NYPD running around Central Park, chasing a wily coyote. Looking through various stories on this topic, I could not find out what officials are going to do with the coyote. I hope it is returned back into the wild. It did nothing wrong! :) Coyotes kick ass!!!!!!!!

Wallace Retiring

Mike Wallace, the hard-driving reporter who has been with "60 Minutes" since its start in 1968, said Tuesday he will retire as a regular correspondent on the show this spring, according to Yahoo News! He's been with the show since it started in 1968, and until last fall was the first face viewers saw at the start of "60 Minutes", The New York Daily News said.
"I've often replied, when asked, 'I'll retire when my toes turn up,'" Wallace said in a statement Tuesday. "Well, they're just beginning to curl a trifle, which means that, as I approach my 88th birthday, it's become apparent to me that my eyes and ears, among other appurtenances, aren't quite what they used to be." CBS News President Sean McManus hailed Wallace as a giant of broadcast journalism, saying "Mike has completely embodied what good, tough, fair journalism should be over the course of his 60-plus years in the business," according to AOL News.
Jeff Fager, the executive producer of "60 Minutes," called Wallace "the heart and soul of this broadcast since he and Don Hewitt started it almost four decades ago."
Wallace's interviews were among the hardest hitting of any on television and became the stuff of legend, whether he was asking Barbra Streisand why she had a reputation for "bitchery" or Vietnam War Gen. William Westmoreland if the United States faked its reporting about the strength of Viet Cong forces.

I wish Mike Wallace all the best in his coming retirement. To last as a successful journalist for over 60 years is a great feat to accomplish. I am not a big fan of "60 Minutes" personally, but I know that there are millions of people out there who have been watching Wallace for many years. He will truly be missed in the journalism community. Thank you Mike Wallace.

CBS Sues Stern

CBS Corp.'s radio division sued Howard Stern Tuesday, claiming its former star shock jock breached his contract with them when he moved to Sirius Satellite Radio Inc., according to Yahoo News! The lawsuit claims Stern improperly used CBS Radio's air time to promote his new show with Sirius, which began last month. CBS also claims Stern discussed his plans with Sirius without disclosing them to CBS as required under his contract. Shares of satellite radio company Sirius Satellite Radio Inc. fell in premarket trading today, Business Week says. Stern insists he acted honorably and honestly, and blasted the lawsuit as a personal vendetta against him by CBS CEO Les Moonves, according to NBC News. “You can't have a lawsuit, and leave me on the air for 14 months and then say, ‘I didn't know what Howard was doing’," Stern says. "I can't hijack a radio station." CBS Radio is asking for what amounts to millions of dollars, including the value of the Sirius stock Stern received.

I was very shocked when I first read about this. Stern made it known he was leaving CBS for Sirius long before his contract with CBS expired. If he was promoting Sirius while he was still with CBS, why didn't CBS do anything about it then? If this is a personal vendetta by Moonves, then I think that it is very unfair to Stern. Moonves is probably mad, because when Howard left CBS Radio, so did millions of listeners. I hope Stern sticks it to CBS. Go Howard!