Learn How You'll Die For Only $68,000

No doubt you have it on your calendars, but in case you forgot, the 25th is National DNA Day. Can't think how to celebrate it? Well, if you have $68,000 or more lying around, you can bid for a chance to have your entire personal genome sequenced by Knome, a company that does such things.

The proceeds from the ten-day auction will benefit the X-Prize Foundation, whose mission is to "bring about radical breakthroughs for humanity." They've put up a prize of $10 million to anyone who can sequence 100 human genomes in 10 days or less. Considering that the first sequencing of the human genome, back in 2001, took an entire year, this will prove to be a remarkable feat.

According to Dr. Peter H. Diamandis, chairman and CEO of the X-Prize Foundation, "The ability to fully sequence human genomes and use that personal genetic information to predict disease susceptibility and guide proactive care has the power to transform our entire healthcare system. It is that quantum jump in speed and reduction of cost that make this X-Prize so important in accelerating the dawn of personalized medicine," says Diamandis.

Oh, one more thing... your personal genome will be delivered to you in a silver box containing a brushed steel USB flash drive. Happy bidding!

Usher Teams With U.N. For Malaria Campaign

R&B star Usher is fronting a United Nations drive to fight malaria in Africa.

The Yeah! hitmaker has teamed up with the United Nations Foundation to launch the Nothing But Nets campaign, urging underprivileged youths to become more pro-active and make a difference in global issues.

The initiative aims to raise money to prevent African kids contracting the deadly disease by providing more mosquito nets to civilians.

Malaria is usually spread by mosquito bites.

Usher says, "I am proud to be a part of an exciting partnership with the United Nations Foundation and its Nothing But Nets campaign.

This initiative sends an important message youth, regardless of their backgrounds,can make a difference in this world by taking action through service to save lives. Anyone can make a difference. All it takes is $10 to send a net and save a life".

Anyone can make a difference

John And McCartney's Lost Millions Revealed in New Rich List

The credit crunch has bit down hard on some of the U.K.'s wealthiest musicians - Sir Elton John and Sir Paul McCartney have both lost millions in the last 12 months.

According to Britain's Sunday Times' annual rich list, which categorises the U.K.'s wealthiest people, many of the country's most prominent musical talents have lost huge chunks of their fortunes in the ongoing globaleconomic crisis.

And Rocketman John and Beatle legend McCartney are among the worst hit.

The newspaper reveals John has lost a huge 26 per cent of his massive wealth - dropping from $329 million (£235 million) in 2008 to $245 million (£175 million) in 2009.

Meanwhile, McCartney has allegedly had $84 million (£60 million) chopped off his $700 million (£500 million) fortune.

But things aren't so gloomy for the iconic rocker, he sits in third position of the richest men in the U.K. music industry behind record label mogul Clive Calder and musical impressario Lord Andrew Lloyd-Webber.

Although Sir Elton John may be upset to find he is in the number eight position - which he has to share with Rolling Stones' hellraiser Keith Richards.

The top ten musical millionaires in 2009 according to the Sunday Times is:
1. Clive Calder ($1.8 billion£1.3 billion)
2. Lord Lloyd-Webber ($1.05 billion£750 million)
3. Sir Paul McCartney ($700 million£440 million)
4. Sir Cameron Mackintosh ($490 million£350 million)
5. Simon Fuller ($420 million£300 million)
6. Sir Mick Jagger ($266 million£190 million)
7. Sting ($252 million180 million)
83 = Sir Elton John ($245 million£175 million)
83 = Keith Richards ($245 million£175 million)
10 = Olivia and Dhani Harrison (George Harrison's widow and son) ($196million£140 million)
10 = Sir Tim Rice ($196 million£140 million)

Duffy Dreams Of Kitchen Quarrels

Duffy thinks "fighting over kitchen units" is romantic.

The 'Mercy' singer dreams of settling down to a life of domestic bliss and can find the appeal of a relationship in the most unexpected of settings.

She said: "Sunday is the worst day for being single. The streets are always full of lovers arm in arm. That can get to me.

"If you're lonely, even fighting over kitchen units can seem romantic. I want someone to choose saucepans with one day."

As she is currently single, Duffy resorts to her favourite foods to boost her spirits when she is feeling down.

The 24-year-old Welsh star explained: "If I have had a bad day I go for a massive slice of carrot cake and two pints of Guinness. But in a crisis far away from home, I'll settle for banoffee pie."

As she is currently single, Duffy resorts to her favourite foods to boost her spirits when she is feeling down

Small blood pressure monitor is your constant buddy

“She wore rings on her fingers and bells on her toes” is a fashion statement in an old song. Today, a “finger ring” devised by MIT that can be worn on the little finger is more practical, though not quite as fashionable. It functions as part of a blood pressure monitor that communicates with what looks like a mini motherboard strapped to your wrist. This small device enables a patient to wear the device 24 hours a day, collecting continuous readings.

Traditional techniques are more cumbersome and only provide a snapshot of the patient’s condition when taken in a doctor’s office or at home. Such readings can result in false numbers, because patients who are uncomfortable in a medical setting may return higher numbers than if they were relaxed. Routine, periodic self-administered readings at home can show more timely trends, but readings may be inaccurate due to the patient’s inability to perform the test appropriately.

The MIT designed device is important because blood pressure can go up and down like a see saw within minutes. High blood pressure, if you don’t already know from all the pill commercials on TV, is linked to stroke, heart attack, and aneurysm, which is an unpleasant bursting of a blood vessel.

The new continuous monitoring device is in the prototype stage, but may be applied later to other uses, including another potentially life-threatening problem called apnea, which occurs during sleep. Apnea has garnered attention lately because the sleeping person who stops breathing more than just momentarily, may wake up dead.

This project was funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Science Foundation and the Sharp Corporation, and grew out of the Home Automation and Healthcare Consortium, which included MIT faculty members and several companies.

A battery about the size of the one that keeps your watch ticking, keeps the monitor going as it measures how your heart is ticking. As the heart pumps blood, your blood pressure changes. The device measures the resulting pulse at two points along an artery. This method differs from the usual one-site cuff method, and is called pulse wave velocity. The calculated data is transmitted using radio signals or wireless Internet. Your new buddy will allow the doctor to keep closer tabs on your health.

Keira Knightley Turned On By Tears

Keira Knightley likes men who cry.

The 'Edge of Love' actress - who is dating her 'Pride and Prejudice co-star Rupert Friend - admits she is attracted to guys who can show their emotions.

She said: "On screen these days, you rarely see a big, strong man. You see slender, androgynous-looking boys. I've worked with very few people whom I feel small against. The most manly thing ever is a guy who can cry, who's in touch with himself."

I could never have an affair with any of my leading men, though. They always turn into brothers. I'm a classic turn-them-into-brothers kind of girl.

Keira, 24, also insists she would never have an affair with any of her

co-stars because they don't view her as a potential lover.

The actress - who has starred opposite a host of handsome actors including Johnny Depp, Orlando Bloom and James McAvoy - explained: "I could never have an affair with any of my leading men, though. They always turn into brothers. I'm a classic turn-them-into-brothers kind of girl."

Seal Confirms Heidi Pregnancy

Seal has confirmed his wife Heidi Klum is pregnant.

The British singer excitedly announced he and the German supermodel are expecting their third child together as he performed in New York last night (16.04.09).

He told the audience: "The topic of debate outside our hotel is, 'Is Heidi having another baby?' Heidi and I are having another baby! I mean, Heidi is doing all the work!"

The topic of debate outside our hotel is, 'Is Heidi having another baby?' Heidi and I are having another baby! I mean, Heidi is doing all the work!

Heidi and their children - three-year-old son Henry and two-year-old son Johan, along with Heidi's daughter Leni, four, from a previous relationship - together cheered Seal on from the sixth row of his show at Radio City Music Hall.

The pair - who married in 2005 - are overjoyed at the prospect of the new arrival and have always dreamed of a huge brood.

A source said: "They have a great and very happy family. They definitely have always wanted a great big family."

The 35-year-old blonde beauty, who is believed to be almost four months pregnant, sparked rumours she was expecting after details of couture gowns she will wear on TV series 'Project Runway' were posted online.

The outfits had to be re-designed in order to accommodate her growing tummy.

Google Suffers Several Negative Firsts in Quarter

It took a worldwide recession to put the Google growth machine in reverse.

The world's largest Internet search company marked several negative firsts in the quarter just passed, despite beating Wall Street's expectations in a tough economic environment.

Google saw its quarterly revenue decline compared to the previous quarter for the first time since it began publishing results in 2003.

Revenue for the first quarter fell to US$5.51 billion, down 3 percent compared to the fourth quarter of last year.

It was Google's worst quarterly performance since the $5.37 billion in revenue it reported in the second quarter last year.

Total advertising revenue, a key metric followed by analysts, fell 3 percent compared to the fourth quarter, its first drop on record.

The company's permanent head count also fell for the first time since it began reporting, to 20,164 compared to 20,222 in the fourth quarter, according to its Web site.

Google reported other negative firsts in the quarter, including the growth rate on Google Web sites, which fell 3 percent compared to the fourth quarter and hit a record low of 9 percent on a year-to-year basis.

Google Network Web site growth also turned negative for the first time on a year-to-year basis, by 3 percent.

The company's traffic acquisition cost as a percentage of revenue, at 26 percent, tied with the fourth quarter of last year as the lowest on record.

Google also reined in its capital spending, to just $262.8 million, the lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2005, when it spent $245.8 million and its revenue was around a third of what was reported Thursday.

The company's stock fell a slight 0.1 percent in after-market trading to $388.24.

GEORGETOWN HIDES JESUS?

WASHINGTON, DC - Georgetown University has admitted to covering up symbols of Jesus Christ when President Barack Obama spoke there on Tuesday. Is that okay?

Georgetown, which is run by Jesuits, is the oldest Roman Catholic university in the United States, and still follows many Catholic traditions. Crucifixes can be found on many classroom walls, and University-owned buildings are barred from selling or distributing birth control products.

Georgetown staff have stated that they covered the monogram “IHS”, which symbolizes Jesus’s name, on stage while President Obama gave a speech. They said the White House had asked them to cover Georgetown signs and symbols on stage while he was there. What does this mean?

Some fear that Obama’s religious beliefs may be hollow, as made evident in his disrespect for his own savior. However, Jesus himself has issued a statement to clear the situation up.

“It’s hard to compete with the big JC. When you’re up on stage, President of the frickin’ United States, trying to tell people about your Big Plans, and all they’re looking at is my name right behind you? That’s tough, man,” said Jesus.

“What’s he gonna say, he’s got a new bill for eternal salvation? I’m a tough act to follow,” he laughed.

When asked if he felt any animosity towards Obama, Jesus shook his head. “Nah, he’s an alright guy. Did you see that wicked Easter egg hunt they had on the lawn, celebrating my resurrection? All talking into the rabbit’s ears? I definitely LOLed.”

Hulk Hogan Blasted By Wife

Hulk Hogan's estranged spouse Linda has criticised him for saying he understands why men kill their wives.

The TV personality - who filed for divorce from the wrestler in 2007 because of his alleged affairs - is infuriated with her husband's recent comments.

She said: "Hulk's serial cheating destroyed our marriage, our family and our future. Sadly, his recent comments remind us that his definition of fair is much different than what the law dictates."

This comes just days after the wrestling legend - real name Terry Bollea - says he understands OJ Simpson, the star who was controversially acquitted of killing his wife Nicole Brown and her alleged lover Ronald Goldman in a jealous rage in 1994.

He said: "I could have turned everything into a crime scene, like OJ, cutting everybody's throat. You live half a mile from the 20,000 sq ft home you can't go to anymore, you're driving through downtown Clearwater and see a 19-year-old boy driving your Escalade, and you know that a 19-year-old boy is sleeping in your bed, with your wife. I totally understand OJ. I get it."

Hulk's serial cheating destroyed our marriage, our family and our future. Sadly, his recent comments remind us that his definition of fair is much different than what the law dictates.

The wrestler claims he was driven out of his home by Linda and she is spending $40,000 of his money each month.

He has since released a statement which downplays his earlier comments.

It read: "Hulk in no way condones the OJ situation. As part of a larger conversation, he referred to it to exemplify his frustration with his own situation."

Meanwhile, Linda's publicist has also blasted the professional wrestler and claims his wife of 25 years was forced to live in fear because of Hulk's "rage and instability".

Gary Smith said: "We have always maintained that the fear that Linda has had to live with comes from the rage and instability much too often associated with pro wrestlers. Linda and her family are taking these recent homicidal comments seriously. Linda's attorney Ray Rafool is weighing all options necessary to protect his client."