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May 31, 2007

Spam King Headed for the Can-Robert Alan Soloway Indicted for Internet Fraud

In what might be called sweet revenge, Federal prosecutors in Seattle charged Newport Internet Marking Corporation owner, Robert Soloway, with multiple fraud counts, money laundering and many other charges. Soloway and NIM allegedly generated SPAM on a grand scale while using false names, co-opting legitimate domain names, and forging email accounts to avoid detection.

Posted by hinsdalereference at 3:45 PM

May 21, 2007

A Find Clive Cussler’s Dirk Pitt Would Envy

Odyssey Marine Exploration leaked information on what might be the richest salvage operation of a colonial-era shipwreck: an estimated $500 million treasure of uncirculated gold and silver coins. The 400- year-old wreck discovered in an historical shipping lane southwest of England, goes by the code name, “Black Swan”, until the formal announcement (expected in the near future).

Posted by hinsdalereference at 11:09 AM

May 10, 2007

Super-massive Star’s Fast Living Results in Brilliant Burnout

SN 2006gy was a distant star in another galaxy. Its self destruction was observed by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Telescope. The former star was 150 times larger, and the explosion was 100,000 million times brighter than our sun. Despite its relative youth, SN 2006gy’s massive size and instability contributed to its demise; its own gravitational forces triggered a thermonuclear explosion and the spectacularly intense light show.

Posted by hinsdalereference at 2:46 PM

May 4, 2007

The Kentucky Derby

Thanks in part to the much-publicized injury and death of last year’s Kentucky Derby winner, Barbaro, and Queen Elizabeth II’s expected attendance at this year’s race, the 133rd-annual Run for the Roses taking place this Saturday has garnered more attention than usual. Wondering what all the fuss is about? Check out Two Minutes to Glory by Pamela Brodowsky, a history of the race officially sanctioned by Churchill Downs. Additional Derby-related info is available at the Kentucky Derby Museum. While you peruse the site, listen to a rendition of the race’s traditional song, “My Old Kentucky Home,” featured on the CD American Dreamer: Songs of Stephen Foster. And don’t forget to make yourself a glass of the Derby’s beverage of choice, the mint julep.

For some equestrian-themed novels to get you geared up for Derby Day, visit our Books, Music and Film blog.

Posted by hinsdalereference at 5:59 PM