I just want to underscore that this is how he treats his supporters.

Genetic differences help explain cigarette addiction.

Two new studies of smokers have yielded new insight into a gene linked to cigarette addiction. The findings could lead to more personalised, and ultimately more effective, treatments that help people to quit smoking.

Both groups examined the numerous forms of a gene called CYP2A6, which codes for an enzyme that acts mostly in the liver and regulates nicotine metabolism in the body. Previous research revealed that people with an ineffective form of the gene are less likely to become addicted to smoking.

Experts think that nicotine levels remain elevated for longer in these individuals, delaying the craving for the next cigarette. Nicotine is the primary chemical responsible for smoking addiction.

[thanks, Fark, bock bock!]

Hello, Ms. Battisti? Yeah, hi, this the hospital calling. Fine thanks. You are? Great, great. Glad to hear it. Actually, that’s what I’m calling about. Yeah, remember how during the surgery we put a bone into your back? You do? Good, good. Funny story about that. Turns out it was kind of, uhh, stolen. No, ma’am, he was already dead when it happened. Thing is, though, he might have had syphilis. Or hepatitis. You do? Syphilis? Yes, ma’am, I imagine you would wonder about that.

Turns out that
patients nationwide may have received tissue stolen from cadavers.

Battisti was informed that the cadaver bone that was implanted in her back may have been infected with various viruses — the result of what investigators say was a large-scale scheme in which corpses were cut up and body parts illegally sold.

The Long Island woman now claims she contracted syphilis from the bone and plans to sue.

Nowadays, the celebrity chasing a comeback has to let the crew film his
train
wreck
of a
life
while he’s still bottoming out. We can’t wait for you to clean up and go on Oprah, man, we’ve got things to do. We want you to break open your kid’s piggy bank on camera. Is that sterno? Tell him to drink it.

Is getting arrested even enough anymore? Poor Leif, looks like he’s going to have to raise the bar a bit if he wants us to love him again.

In the future, pitch meetings will be held while the crime is still in progress. “Jenna Elfman took hostages? Well, call back if she kills a few and maybe we can get something going. Rob Schneider popped two last week, so you’re going to have to do at least three if you want a series commitment.”

There’s no such thing as bad publicity, right?

Someday we’ll figure out a way to communicate with these strange and beautiful creatures. Until then, all we can do is stare at the shadows they cast on the cave wall and hope researchers can fill in the blanks.

Sprint Refuses To Reveal Location Of Cell Phone In Carjacked SUV

The car was stolen with a 10-month old baby inside.

“The deputies were told that Sprint had the location of the vehicle but that they could not disclose it to them because they needed to pay the $25 fee for a subpoena or fill out some forms,” said Stephanie.

Almost 2 hours later a passer-by spotted the SUV abandoned a mile away.

[...]

Riverside sheriff’s authorities were outraged that Sprint could have directed the deputies to the boy an hour earlier and did not.

Supervisors were told Sprint already has an emergency protocol that the employee in this situation did not follow.

Luckily, the kid was fine.

Check out this story from the Dow Jones newswire:

PALO ALTO, Calif. (Dow Jones)
–Fifty-one former employees of the startup Epinions Inc. settled their legal dispute with three prominent
venture-capital firms and eBay Inc. (EBAY) in a case that could serve as an
admonition to the venture community.

Naval
prefers this version over

the one published by AP because they mention the name of
his new company.

(more…)

[Found by TheGoodDoctor on Yahoo News]

According to police, Booth was in the Memphis home of the four intended victims last week when she mistook a block of queso fresco cheese for cocaine — inspiring the idea to hire someone to break into the home, take the drugs, and kill the men.

(more…)