PHILLY WI-FI NO-GO: Earthlink Cries ‘Uncle,’ Says Internet Just Too Damn Hard
With municipal Wi-Fi networks fizzling across the nation, EarthLink will stop making major investments in such systems and is considering “strategic alternatives” for its municipal wireless business. That suggests that the company is open to selling the municipal unit, which is responsible for the pacesetting Wi-Fi deployment in Philadelphia and systems in other cities.
At the same time, Philadelphia City Councilman Frank Rizzo is reported to have called for a hearing to discuss difficulties with the Wi-Fi rollout. The Philadelphia Wi-Fi deployment is EarthLink’s largest and, like many municipal Wi-Fi networks, has been plagued with startup problems. While Wi-Fi has been widely hailed and successful for use by individuals and small groups, attempts to deploy it over wide areas have often been met with widespread problems, including interference and poor and uneven reception. San Francisco, another hoped-for showcase Wi-Fi deployment, also created problems for EarthLink, which abandoned the project last summer. Philadelphia has had some success with the deployment, although the number of customers signing up for the service have not met goals. [via INFORMATIONWEEK]
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THOU SHALL KEEP IT IN YOUR PANTS: Preacher Paternity Suit Rocks Mega-Church
The 80-year-old leader of a suburban Atlanta megachurch is at the center of a sex scandal of biblical dimensions: He slept with his brother’s wife and fathered a child by her. Members of Archbishop Earl Paulk’s family stood at the pulpit of the Cathedral of the Holy Spirit at Chapel Hill Harvester Church a few Sundays ago and revealed the secret exposed by a recent court-ordered paternity test. In truth, this is not the first or even the second sex scandal to engulf Paulk and the independent, charismatic church. But this time, he could be in trouble with the law for lying under oath about the affair.
The living proof of that lie is 34-year-old D.E. Paulk, who for years was known publicly as Earl Paulk’s nephew. “I am so very sorry for the collateral damage it’s caused our family and the families hurt by the removing of the veil that hid our humanity and our sinfulness,” said D.E. Paulk, who received the mantle of head pastor a year and a half ago. D.E. Paulk said he did not learn the secret of his parentage until the paternity test. “I was disappointed, and I was surprised,” he said. [via ASSOCIATED PRESS]
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FOUNTAINS OF YOUTH: Botox In A Jar? Or Pearl Necklace In The Can?
The Athena 7 Minute Lift claims to be the first cosmetic offering an injection-free and painless alternative to Botox. It costs £50 for a 15ml tub — compared to £350 for a typical Botox procedure — and promises to take just seven minutes to kick in. It is said to work by temporarily ‘freezing’ the skin and filling in fine lines and wrinkles. Although the cream lasts only 24 hours, daily use is claimed to permanently reduce signs of aging. Independent tests by the American Medical Association suggested that the cream reduced the appearance of facial creases by 84 percent. It is already very popular in the U.S., aided by celebrity fans including Friends stars Jennifer Aniston and Courtney Cox, helping to push Internet orders to a staggering 200,000. [via DAILY MAIL]