Happy Friday, everyone. Once again, our news roundup for this week is a mixed bag of good, bad, and varying degrees of amusing. And if you remember my story from last week about those skin-bound books at Harvard, I’ve got a relieving update. Let’s get to it, yes?
So, it turns out that the books Harvard originally thought were bound in human skin are actually made of sheepskin. Still, historians point out, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other books bound in that way.
Other “book arts,” so to speak, that I found interesting: A scrap of Egyptian papyrus known as the “Gospel of Jesus’s Wife” shows no evidence of being a modern forgery, but its meaning is still up for debate.
In more serious news: A 16-year-old student near Pittsburgh faces a life sentence after stabbing 21 students and one adult at his high school on Wednesday. A psychological exam is pending.
The New York Times is reporting that Russia withheld information about one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects, Tamerlan Tsarnaev. Color me surprised.
Evenflo has recalled over 1 million car seats after discovering that the buckles can become stuck.
Actor Mickey Rooney died this week at age 93. His career spanned eight decades on both stage and screen, and he was the recipient of two Oscars and one Emmy, among multiple other award nominations. [May have auto-playing ad.]
There’s a new and more malicious computer bug out there: “Heartbleed.” Here are 5 things you can do to protect yourself from it.
And speaking of security flaws, a 5-year-old discovered a mistake with the XBox One login safeguards and ended up receiving a reward from Microsoft.
This made me giggle, although I realize it’s not so funny if it happens to you: “San Francisco police investigating apparent car-tipping” of Smart cars.
Also in San Francisco: BatKid is back! And he’s thrown the first pitch at the SF Giants’ Opening Day game.
Finally, have you heard the news? Stephen Colbert will be the new host of The Late Show when David Letterman retires next year. That’s pretty awesome.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Colbert said, “I have to go grind a gap in my front teeth.”
Until next time, friends.
4 replies on “Friday News Bites: Pittsburgh Stabbings, BatKid Returns, The Heartbleed Bug + More”
That BLEEPING bug and that FUCKING NSA (“Oh hi we knew but it was kinda convenient”). Urgh, where’s the proof of good, smart people with morals working in intelligence and technology?
While disappointing re: the NSA, I guess I can’t be too surprised!
I’m a little bummed about Colbert, to be honest. I think he’s great, and talented, but he’s just so good at the satirical character he does that I almost don’t want to see him be himself. Also, another white dude on late night, woo.
I think some of it was he was starting to feel mildly stifled by that character, but I don’t watch enough “regular” TV (that is to say, not Netflix/Amazon/random clips online) to really have a good perspective on the Colbert Report’s loss.
And who knows, he may have some sort of similar bit on the Late Show.
I’m just glad it wasn’t someone boring.