Newt Gingrich wants to conquer the moon, in case you haven’t heard.

Speaking recently to a heavily NASA-populated crowd in Florida, the 68-year-old Republican contender promised to build a permanent U.S. moon base by the end of the decade…if he’s elected president.

A long-time space enthusiast, the former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives also said he wants to expand exploration of Mars.

“By the end of my second term, we will have the first permanent base on the moon and it will be American,” Gingrich said.

“We will have commercial near-Earth activities that include science, tourism and manufacturing, because it is in our interest to acquire so much experience in space that we clearly have a capacity that the Chinese and the Russians will never come anywhere close to matching,” he added.

Gingrich’s moon idea isn’t actually as crazy as it sounds, but his critics were swift to attack the practicality of his plan.

“The idea that anybody is going out and talking brand new, very expensive schemes to spend more money at a time when we do not have our fiscal house in order, in my opinion, is playing crass politics,” said former Pennsylvania Senator Rick Santorum, another candidate for the Republican presidential nomination.

Gingrich is “not being realistic with the people of this country as to the nature and threat of the (fiscal) problem,” Santorum added.

What do you think? Is Gingrich’s moon base idea too far out for America’s budget?

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Gingrich promises ‘permanent U.S. moon base’ if he’s elected

The iPad is known for being a multi-function device that can be used as a music player, electronic organizer, e-reader, media player, and a computer, among others.

During the holidays, a Canadian man discovered another use for the iPad—as a passport. That is, if you have a scanned copy of your passport saved in your iPad. Martin Reisch was crossing the border to the United States from Quebec, Canada, when he realized that he had forgotten his passport. With home a good two-hour drive away and the border crossing only 30 minutes away, Reisch remembered the scanned copy of his passport in his iPad and decided that presenting the device as a substitute would be worth a try.

“I thought I’d at least give it a try,” said Reisch, adding that the U.S. border officer appeared annoyed at first. “He took the iPad into the little border hut. He was in there a good five, six minutes. It seemed like an eternity. When he came back he took a good long pause before wishing me a Merry Christmas.”

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Canadian Uses iPad as Passport

Christopher Hitchens, the British-American pundit and author whose writings both enraged and entertained people, has died. He was 62.

Christopher Hitchens passed away at the MD Anderson Center Center in Houston Thursday night due to pneumonia, a complication from an advanced-stage esophageal cancer that was diagnosed only last year. Hitchens was famous for his hard-hitting commentaries about politics, religion, and just about anything. He famously, or infamously, made known his case against religion in a 2007 book, “God is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything.”

A leftist at heart, Hitchens was also known for supporting the right-endorsed war in Iraq of former U.S. President George W. Bush. His support for the American-led invasion of Iraq earned the ire of his comrades in the left, but Hitchens, as with anything, never budged. “Saddam was an enemy of the civilized world and he should have been taken out a long time before,” Hitchens said in justifying the necessity of the 2003 Iraq was that led to the downfall of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. “I have no regrets about that at all.”

Christopher Hitchens, who until his death remained a firm atheist, is survived by his wife Carol Blue and his three children.

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Christopher Hitchens: Polemist, Atheist Author Dies at 62

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was sentenced 14 years on Wednesday for trying to sell President Barack Obama’s vacated senate set for cash or position, among other charges, making him the second-straight chief executive of the state to be convicted on federal corruption charges.

U.S. District Judge James B. Zagel ignored Blagojevich’s plea for leniency, saying that the punishment was necessary because the former governor had “torn at the fabric” of the state. In an apologetic speech, the 54-year-old Blagojevich plead for leniency and asked for forgiveness for his mistakes. “The jury decided I was guilty. I am accepting of it. I acknowledge it, and I of course am unbelievably sorry for it,” he said according to the Guardian. “I want to apologize to the people of Illinois, to the court, for the mistakes I have made … I never set out to break the law. I never set out to cross lines.”

Prosecutors had asked for between 15 to 20 years for Blagojevich, who served governor from 2003 until his impeachment in 2009. He was convicted on 17 corruption and other charges. He will report to federal prison on February 16, 2012.

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Rod Blagojevich Sentenced 14 Years

Accusations of marital infidelity and sexual harassments have finally taken their toll on Republican aspirant Herman Cain as the 65-year-old businessman announced Saturday that he was “suspending” his presidential campaign.

“As of today, with a lot of prayer and soul-searching, I am suspending my presidential campaign,” Cain said on Saturday in a rally in Atlanta according to the New York Times. “Because of the continued distractions, the continued hurt caused on me and my family, not because we are not fighters. Not because I’m not a fighter.” Despite possibly ending what at first appeared to be a promising campaign, Cain said that he “would not go away” and plans to carry on with his Plan B, which is to go around the United States to promote his 9-9-9 tax plan and his foreign policy proposals.

Cain also maintained his innocence amid the accusations that he had a 13-year affair and that he sexually harassed female subordinates during his stint as chief executive of the lobby group National Restaurant Association. Cain’s rags-to-riches story and positive public demeanor made a contender for the Republican nomination with one late-October survey even putting him neck-and-neck with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.

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Herman Cain Suspends Presidential Campaign

American Airlines is taking a major step to pull itself out of a quagmire that has caused the third-largest U.S. airline to absorb loses over the past several years.

AMR Corp., American Airlines‘ parent company, announced on Tuesday that it is filing for bankruptcy protection in a bid to counter the effects of rising costs and debts that have accumulated over the years. In a related development, company president Thomas W. Horton will take over as CEO following the resignation of Gerard Arpey, the Airlines said.

The decision to file for bankruptcy despite having around $4 billion in cash was reached on Monday after meetings by the board of directors, Horton said. The airline said its flights will not be affected despite the bankruptcy filing and the restructuring that is expected to follow. However, Horton said that job cuts could be in the horizon due to the restructuring that is expected to be implemented in the coming months.

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American Airlines Files for Bankruptcy Protection

The man in the forefront of Mexico’s costly and deadly war against drug cartels has died in a helicopter crash.

Secretary of Interior Blake Mora was one of nine people killed in the crash that occurred on Friday in Xochimilco, south of Mexico City. He was 45. All passengers and crew of the helicopter were killed, government spokeswoman Alejandra Sota said. Also killed with Mora were Legal Affairs and Human Rights Undersecretary Felipe Zamora and Press Office chief Alfredo Garcia.

Mora’s death could negatively affect Mexico’s drug war as the late Interior minister was considered the face of the government’s ongoing campaign against cartels. President Felipe Calderon has called for an investigation into the tragedy, even as he praised Mora’s dedication to serve the country. The president said Mora was “a great Mexican who deeply loved his country and served until the last moment of his life.”

Before becoming Interior Minister, Mora was a Tijuana councilman, state and federal congressman, as well as chief of staff of Baja California state government.

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Mexican Interior Minister Killed in Chopper Crash

Toyota has recalled over half a million vehicles due to a problematic component that could cause drivers to make a little more effort to steer their cars.

The Toyota recall, which affects 550,000 vehicles worldwide, is the latest major quality control problem to hit the Japanese car maker over the past couple of years. This latest debacle stemmed from defective crankshaft pulleys that could make steering difficult. An estimated 420,000 of the affected vehicles were sold in the U.S. The recall involves Toyota’s Camry, Solora, Highlander, Sienna models. The company’s high-end Lexus brand was also affected. Among the luxury vehicle models included in the recall are the 2006 Lexus RX 400H SUV and the 2004-2005 ES330 and RX330.

The company said that the problem occurs when the outer and the inner rings of the pulley are not aligned. This condition could make steering the vehicle harder than normal. Aside from the U.S., the recall was also carried out in Canada and Japan, Toyota said according to Reuters.

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Toyota Recalls 550,000 Vehicles Over Steering Problem

Emily Tanen, a 30-year-old volunteer at the Manhattan branch of Animal Care and Control of New York City, got the sack at work for taking and publishing cute photos of dogs about to get euthanized, hoping that someone would give them the home and love they deserve.

Emily has worked tirelessly for thousands of animals. Yes, photography wasn’t part of her job description, but it was her last-minute approach to save the unwanted dogs (mostly pit bulls) from being put down.

“I knew they hated me,” she said. “But I thought that even if I was a pain, they’d suck it up. Because I was doing a really good job.”

According to ACCNY, which euthanizes about 25 percent of animals it rescues, Emily was fired because she had violated the policy that prohibits taking snaps of dogs interacting with humans.

Are these people completely insane?

From Gizmodo:

If you see a dog cheerfully interacting with humans, you would be more inclined to adopt, as Mark Ross points out. Mark, a 66-year-old architect and volunteer at ACCNY, did the same as Emily but published his photos in his own Facebook page. He was fired after he refused to take the pictures down. Now he’s publishing a book with the dog portraits.

Emily takes beautiful pictures. (Click here to see more photos). In fact, she captures the natural beauty and personality of the dog, thus increasing its chances of being adopted. Rescue groups often told her that those images encouraged them to adopt animals they otherwise might not have.

Officials of the city-funded shelter would not comment on Emily’s firing, saying it was an internal personnel matter.

Click here to read the full story on The New York Times.

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Shelter worker gets fired for taking cute pics of dogs slated to be euthanized

“60 Minutes” commentator Andy Rooney died Friday night (November 4) in a New York City hospital due to complications following minor surgery. He was 92 years old.

“It’s a sad day at ’60 Minutes’ and for everybody here at CBS News,” said CBS News chairman and 60 Minutes executive producer Jeff Fager. “It’s hard to imagine not having Andy around. He loved his life and he lived it on his own terms. We will miss him very much.”

The veteran TV newsman is survived by his four children, five grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Our deepest condolences go out to Mr. Rooney’s friends and family.

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TV icon Andy Rooney dead at 92

CNN Money is reporting that Dippin’ Dots, manufacturer of the self-proclaimed Ice Cream of the Future, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

The Kentucky-based company, which mostly sells its ice cream in malls, stadiums, theme parks and movie theaters, owes about $10 million to Regions Financial. The bank sued Dippin’ Dots in February, saying the ice cream maker had defaulted on its debt.

But if you’re a fan of those futuristic treats, there’s no need to panic yet. According to Dippin’ Dots spokesperson Steve Heisner, they’re still going to be available. The bankruptcy affects only the manufacturing and national sales arm of the company. The franchise end of the firm will not be affected by the proceedings, Heisner said.

Do you like Dippin’ Dots? I haven’t had Dippin’ Dots in a really long time, and I cannot recall what those colorful ice cream beads taste like.

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Dippin’ Dots files for bankruptcy

More than 70 protesters were arrested Saturday as the Occupy Wall Street movement filled New York City’s Times Square, authorities said. It was one of the largest demonstrations yet from the movement, which began on September 17th.

Hong Kong, Los Angeles, Sydney, Rome and other cities also saw protests. While most rallies were relatively small, the Rome event drew tens of thousands of demonstrators. Hooded, masked protesters rampaged through the Italian capital, hurling bottles, torching cars and breaking windows as the global “day of rage” erupted into violence.

Smoke rose over many parts of the city and many people were injured, a day after prime minister Silvio Berlusconi again survived a no-confidence vote in parliament. Television footage showed one young woman with blood covering her face, while the ANSA news agency said a man had lost two fingers when a firecracker exploded.

VIDEO: Occupy Wall Street (Times Square)

VIDEO: Riots in Rome

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Over 70 arrested at Times Square rally against greed

A memorial service for a friend landed three senior citizens in a hospital after they unknowingly ate marijuana-laced brownies, the Huntington Beach police said.

According to the OC Register, the three seniors—an 82-year-old man and two 71-year-old women—were brought to the Hoag Hospital on Saturday when they suffered from “nausea, dizziness, and inability to stand unassisted” after eating the hash brownies. Police said the tray of brownies was passed around during the service without anybody knowing that it contained medical marijuana. “No one was told the brownies contained the marijuana before they were consumed,” the Huntington Police said in a report posted on their Facebook page.

Huntington Police’s Lt. Russell Reinhart said the pot brownies may have been intended as a tribute to the deceased. “Our understanding is the person who passed away consumed brownies with medical marijuana in them, and apparently somebody put out a tray maybe in honor or tribute to that person, but didn’t tell everybody what was in them,” he said.

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Hash Brownies Down 3 Senior Citizens

The true value of Steve Jobs to the world has become clearer hours after his passing, as tributes from world leaders to movers and shakers in the technology world flooded the Internet and other media on Wednesday.

From world leaders such as U.S. President Barack Obama to colleagues and to former competitors, the message was clear; the world has lost a visionary who may never be equaled. “By building one of the planet’s most successful companies from his garage, he exemplified the spirit of American ingenuity.  By making computers personal and putting the internet in our pockets, he made the information revolution not only accessible, but intuitive and fun,” President Barack Obama said in a message posted on the White House Blog. “Steve was fond of saying that he lived every day like it was his last.  Because he did, he transformed our lives, redefined entire industries, and achieved one of the rarest feats in human history: he changed the way each of us sees the world.”

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg called Jobs a “genius who will be remembered with Edison and Einstein, and whose ideas will shape the world for generations to come,” while Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates said that the “the world rarely sees someone who has had the profound impact Steve has had, the effects of which will be felt for many generations to come.”

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World Mourns Steve Jobs’ Death

“Change is not merely necessary to life – it is life.” — Alvin Toffler

Randall Lee Church was 18 when he was put into prison for murder. That was 1983: stir-up pants were popular, “Return of the Jedi” was just released, kids played outdoors more, and Michael Jackson ruled. So when he was officially discharged in April after more than two decades of incarceration, he felt so alienated.

“Everything had gone fast-forward without me,” Church, 46, told the Houston Chronicle. “I didn’t know how to use computers or cellphones or the Internet.”

Fed up on July 10, three months after his release, Church set an abandoned house on fire to earn his way back inside. He told police that he missed his job as a janitor at his former prison unit, begging to be taken back to the familiar life he led for 26 years.

“The weirdest thing was walking into a store like Walmart and have parents hide their children from me, like I was supposed to jump at them,” he added.

Church’s original crime in 1983 was stabbing a guy named James Alfred Michael in a drunken dispute over $97 that turned into a brawl.

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Convict sets house on fire to go back to prison