Businessweekreports that Boeing's largest ever 747, the 747-8, took its very first test flight today.
"People are really excited about this," Brian Johnson, deputy test program manager for the 747-8, said before the jet's flight today. "It's been a long haul to get these two planes up in the air."
The 747-8 jumbo jet has Boeing's longest commercial wing, supporting a stretched fuselage that will have 16 percent more room in the freighter model, which is the variant that flew today and will be the first delivered. The passenger version can accommodate 51 extra seats and 26 percent more cargo volume.
The AP says the jumbojet measures 250 feet long, which is 18 feet longer than current jumbo 747s. Take a look:
You can learn more about the new airplane here on Boeing's newairplane.com website.
Actress Scarlett Johansson has designed a handbag to help raise funds for Oxfam's response to the Haiti earthquake. The print on the handbag represents the ancient cartography of Haiti. It contains the message "supporting the people of Haiti" and is signed by Scarlett.
Scarlett Johansson's Haiti handbag will be sold in all Mango stores worldwide. The selling price will be $29.90. Scarlett Johansson is also the face of Mango. You can see her recent Mango campaigns here and here.
Scarlett Johansson says, "I'm thrilled to be collaborating with Mango to promote conscious consumerism and to benefit Oxfam's Haiti Earthquake Response Fund. By purchasing this bag, which I specially designed, you are helping to provide life saving assistance like clean water to the people of Haiti."
The Wall Street Journalreports that American Eagle may close its Martin + Osa stores. The WSJ says the decision on whether or not to close down the stores will come next month when American Eagle reports its fourth quarter earnings. Martin + Osa's sales could be drag on American Eagle's fourth quarter earnings.
Martin + Osa is depressing American Eagle's bottom line as the concept stores, meant to appeal to 28- to 40-year-olds, lost its president late last year and American Eagle Chief Executive Jim O'Donnell was a bit non-committal about the stores' future at a recent industry gathering.
The stores are making progress, with design and production processes having improved, Mr. O'Donnell told attendees at an industry conference on Jan. 13. "It is also important that we continue to differentiate the Martin + Osa brand within the competitive landscape as well as create an emotional connection with the customers."
But Mr. O'Donnell implied the money-losing unit may not yet have achieved its goal, saying, "We are still evaluating our plans and we'll provide additional information...during our fourth quarter earnings call."
A report in DDi magazine first suggested American Eagle may close its 28 Martin + Osa stores. There is also a report here in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Martin + Osa President Laura Dubin-Wander recently left the company, which has fueled speculation that the stores could soon close.
Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and son Maddox had a fun time at the Super Bowl game on Sunday. Brad and Angie even exchanged a kiss in full view of the paparazzi at the game. Brad Pitt, who has been working on a housing project in the ninth ward, was no doubt thrilled that New Orleans won. Maddox was wearing a New Orleans Saints jersey at the game. Take a look:
Reuters reports that Barnes & Noble is finally going to start selling its Nook ebook reading device. The device was delayed in December after Barnes & Noble failed to get enough of the devices in its stores. The Nook will go on sale in Barnes & Noble stores on February 10th. This date allows Barnes & Noble to give the Nook a Valentine's Day push.
Barnes & Nobles, based in New York, said it was shipping Nook e-readers to the majority of its stores beginning this week, with devices on sale in stores as of February 10.
The Nook's in store debut, originally expected in December, was delayed after Barnes & Noble sold out of the device before the holidays and was unable to get production sufficiently ramped up.
The Nook costs $259, which is the same prices as Amazon.com's Kindle. Amazon.com is also promoting its Kindle as a Valentine's Day gift. Both Barnes & Noble and Amazon.com are currently running free shipping offers with ebook reader orders.
Megan Fox took a bubble bath in an outdoor bathtub for a Motorola commercial that ran during the Super Bowl. In the commerical, Megan sends out a photograph of herself sitting in the bathtub using her Motorola phone containing Motorblur software. Widespread chaos ensues as men receive the photograph on their cellphones. Take a look:
The Daily Mailsays a hand model was used during the commercial.
The BBC reports that the observation deck on the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building has been closed for repairs. The building opened to fireworks just a month ago. The BBC says the tower's builder, Emaar Properties, gives an "unexpectedly high number of visitors" and power supply problems for closing down the tower's observation deck.
The tower's website explains what the observation deck experience is like.
Begin your vertical ascent to the observation deck in a high-speed elevator, travelling at 10 metres per second. As the doors open, floor-to-ceiling glass walls provide a breath-taking unobstructed 360-degree view of the city, desert and ocean. By night, sparkling lights and stars compete for your attention.
Special telescopes provide virtual time-travel visions of the scenes beyond and below. You'll see close-up real-time views as well as the past and the future, by day and by night. You can also walk the entire perimeter for the most comprehensive views. If you wish, adventure outside onto the open-air terrace to enjoy another perspective of the sweeping views below.
Tickets cost $30 if purchased in advance or $100 if purchased at the tower.
A date for the reopening of the observation deck has not been given.
Reuters reports that a study of 60,000 people in Singapore found that people who drink two or more sweetened soft drinks a week have a significantly higher risk of pancreatic cancer.
People who drank mostly fruit juice instead of sodas did not have the same risk, the study of 60,000 people in Singapore found.
Sugar may be to blame but people who drink sweetened sodas regularly often have other poor health habits, said Mark Pereira of the University of Minnesota, who led the study.
"The high levels of sugar in soft drinks may be increasing the level of insulin in the body, which we think contributes to pancreatic cancer cell growth," Pereira said in a statement.
CTV News reports that the study found an 87% higher risk of developing cancer for those who drank two or more soft drinks per week. No higher risk was found for those drinking fruit juice. Pancreatic cancer kills about 34,290 in the U.S. each year on average.
The T3 Series Electric Stand-up Vehicle was featured in last night's Super Bowl XLIV broadcast. Four of T3's vehicles were featured in a 60-second commercial by Audi entitled "Green Police." The commercial main focus was to promote Audis' diesel wagon, the A3 TDI. Cheap Trick also rewrote the lyrics to their hit song, "Dream Police," for the soundtrack to the commercial which aired in the fourth quarter of the Super Bowl. Take a look:
Denny's is offering another free Original Grand Slam breakfast again this year. During last year's giveaway, Denny's fed two million people at restaurants nationwide. The Grand Slam contains pancakes, eggs, bacon strips and sausage links. The free offer runs Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 from 6 a.m. through 2 p.m. Denny's ran some ridiculous chicken ads during yesterday's Super Bowl to promote the free offer. You can find more about the offer on Denny's website.
The Wall Street Journal 
