Experts: Malicious program targets Macs

Mac computer

(CNN) — Mac computers are known for their near-immunity to malicious computer programs that plague PCs.

But that may be changing somewhat, according to computer security researchers. It seems that as sleek Mac computers become more popular, they’re also more sought-after targets for the authors of harmful programs.

“The bad guys generally go toward the biggest target, what will get them the biggest bang for their buck,” said Kevin Haley, a director of security response at Symantec.

Until recently, the big target always was Microsoft Windows, and Apple computers were protected by “relative obscurity,” he said.

Neb. deputies say man stuffed cat inside ‘bong’

AP

OMAHA, Neb. – A man who tried to cool out his hyper cat by stuffing her into a boxlike homemade bong faces cruelty charges — and catcalls from animal lovers. Lancaster County sheriff’s deputies responding to a domestic disturbance call Sunday alleged they saw 20-year-old Acea Schomaker smoking marijuana through a piece of garden hose attached to a duct-taped, plastic glass box in which the cat had been stuffed.

“This cat was just dazed,” Sgt. Andy Stebbing said. “She was on the front seat of the cop car, wrapped in a blanket, and never moved all the way to the humane society.”

S African couple drives 170km with spitting cobra in car

APF

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – A couple drove 170 kilometres (100 miles) from South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park with a highly venomous spitting cobra in their car, the Beeld newspaper reported on Wednesday.

Gordon Parratt, 69, felt the 85-centimetre (33-inch) long snake wind itself around his leg while he was driving.

At first he thought an insect had brushed his leg and swiped it away, but when he looked down he saw the snake next to his left foot, the report said.

Facebook used to find defendants in Australian court case

SYDNEY (AFP) – An Australian lawyer has served legal documents on a couple via Facebook in what is thought to be a world first, his firm said on Tuesday.

Mark McCormack used the Internet to track down the pair after they defaulted on a large loan and was given permission by the Australian courts to use the social networking site to file papers against them.

“We believe it’s certainly the first time in Australia… and we haven’t heard of it being done anywhere internationally,” said Archie Tsirimokos, of McCormack’s firm Meyer Vandenberg Lawyers, confirming the documents were sent Tuesday.

Boy, 4, breaks into Texas store, plays with toys

BEAUMONT, Texas – Police called to a variety store by a burglar alarm overnight found a toddler inside, playing with the toys. Police said store surveillance video showed the unidentified boy trying to open one of the front doors to a Family Dollar store about 3 a.m. Monday, only to find it locked. But the second door was unlocked and the child went inside.

That triggered the silent alarm.

Detective Randy Stevens said the child apparently unlocked a door at his nearby home, got out, then crossed a multilane street to reach the store.

Lustful Madonna offends God, says clergyman

Reuters – Madonna performs on stage during her 'Sticky and Sweet' tour

SANTIAGO (Reuters) – Pop star Madonna’s antics are lustful, a stain on humanity and offensive to God, a retired Roman Catholic cardinal said Wednesday during a mass for the late Chilean military dictator Gen. Augusto Pinochet.

Madonna performed in Santiago on the Latin American leg of her Sticky and Sweet Tour to promote her album “Hard Candy.”

“The atmosphere in our city is pretty agitated because this woman is visiting and with incredibly shameful behavior provokes a wild and lustful enthusiasm,” Cardinal Jorge Medina told the congregation.

Miss Congeniality, make way for Miss Constitution

Reuters – Participants of the 'Miss Russia' beauty contest are seen covered with artificial snow at the end of

MOSCOW (Reuters) – The winner of a new Russian beauty contest must be attractive, talented and witty.

But never mind wanting to help children. She should also symbolize Russia’s constitution.

Russia’s main pro-government youth group, Nashi, is to stage the “Miss Constitution 2008″ contest as the Kremlin is pushing for changes to the constitution that critics say aims to let Prime Minister Vladimir Putin become president again.

“This constitution is a state brand and today we want to choose a girl worthy of its image,” a Nashi spokeswoman.

Venice hotels offer flood package with free boots

Reuters – A pedestrian uses a raised walkway to pass over the flooded Saint Mark's square during a period of high

VENICE (Reuters) – Hoteliers in Venice, trying to lure tourists to the canal city despite floods caused by the highest sea levels in over two decades, are offering special “High Water” packages complete with free rubber boots.

The Venice Hoteliers Association website www.veneziasi.it is offering “Venice and the High Water” promotions at 190 euros for one night’s stay plus “free use of rubber boots” and a map with “alternative pedestrian routes during the high water.”

There is also a reassuring message from hoteliers and Mayor Massimo Cacciari saying: “Don’t worry, there is no danger; high water is a phenomenon that quickly disappears.”

Upset over pet, man stabs bureaucrat, wife

Reuters – A 46-year-old man is transferred to the Metropolitan Police Department in Tokyo November 23, 2008.

TOKYO (Reuters) – A Japanese man upset by the death of his pet turned himself in after fatally stabbing a bureaucrat and his wife, Japanese police and media said on Sunday.

Police were searching the house of a 46-year-old man who said he murdered a former vice minister for health and welfare, a spokesman for the Metropolitan Police Department said.

Kyodo news said the man also admitted to the fatal stabbing of the 66-year-old bureaucrat’s wife, although the police spokesman was unable to confirm that.

Takehiko Yamaguchi and his 61-year-old wife, Michiko, were found dead at their home with stab wounds to the chest on Tuesday, Kyodo News said.

Top 10 stupid gifts from chickens to toilet golf

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Short of gift ideas for that person who really does have everything? Then how about an underwear repair kit or maybe a Barack Obama “Yes, We Can” can opener?

Web site Stupid.com, which claims finding a truly stupid gift is an art form, on Tuesday unveiled its second annual list of the top 10 “stupidest” holiday gifts for 2008.

“2008 might have been a bad year for the economy, but it was a great year for stupidity,” said Stupid.com’s founder Gary Apple. “Weird products seemed to come out of the woodwork this year. There was almost too much stupidity to choose from!”