US – Tuesday, February 9
National
Plant blast under investigation
Federal investigators headed to Connecticut yesterday to determine the cause of an explosion at an unfinished power plant that killed at least five workers and hospitalized dozens of others.
 
International
Pressure grows for sanctions
International pressure for new sanctions against Iran grew yesterday after Tehran announced plans to make higher-enriched uranium and add 10 nuclear sites in a year, raising Western fears it wants to develop atom bombs.
 
The Word
Stern: I’d do ‘Idol’ for $100M
Howard Stern took to his radio show yesterday to address the rumors that he’s a possible replacement for Simon Cowell for the next season of “American Idol.” To sum it up? He’s not going for it.
 
New York Arts
Dancing while the skinny lady sings
You’ve heard of the jukebox musical? David Parsons and singers AnnMarie Milazzo and Tyley Ross of the East Village Opera Co. offer a jukebox opera, playing nightly at the Joyce. Eleven Parsons dancers share the stage with Milazzo and Ross, who clutch microphones cranked to 11 and stroll through the action. On the recorded soundtrack, three drummers create a wall of sound so loud you — well, I — want to hide under the seat. Digital video of abstract patterns, natural landscapes and stunning architecture change for each song.
 
Business
‘Free’ ad leads to fraud suit
NEW YORK. A Wisconsin college student is suing credit firm Experian — the brains behind the ubiquitous FreeCreditReport.com jingles — for fraudulent advertising after she inadvertently signed up for a monthly $14.95 monitoring service.
 
My Wellbeing
Let me count the ways ...
‘Tis the season for writing love letters. But that can be a daunting endeavor, especially when you’re not sure where to start. Should you put it in verse, use flowery language, get erotic? As with almost anything in life, the simpler you keep it, the easier (and often better) it will be. It doesn’t sound that romantic, but think of your love letter as a laundry list of the reasons why you adore your sweetheart. It’s kinda like Elizabeth Barrett Browning’s Sonnet 43: “How do you love your partner? Count the ways!” Here’s how to do it without rhyming or pulling out a thesaurus:
 
Updated 01:13, February the 9th, 2009
Send
 

Tech universe prepares to honor top Twitterers

 The aptly named Shorty Awards are honoring the bards of Twitter blasts.

The micro-blogging social network device that connects people through 140-character posts — or Tweets, as they’re called — has become all the rage for technophiles, including basketball superstar Shaq­uille O’Neal, who wanted to attend the awards ceremony on Feb. 11 at Brooklyn’s Galapagos Art Space, but has a game. Instead, he will be appear via video, said event organizer Greg Galant, who likened Shaq’s (THE_REAL_SHAQ) Tweets to Yogi Berra-isms.

(A recent Shaq posting: “Never celebrate until the task is complete, almost aint good enuff.”)

Other influential Twitterers, including MC Hammer, will be there to celebrate the short form. It has a noble history, Galant pointed out: “Headlines in newspapers have been, for the most part, under 140 characters.”

Category: More than 30,000 Twitterers nominated their favorite “writers” and 20,000 cast votes for the finalists. Here’s a sampling from the 26 winners, who were selected not so much for any one particular Tweet, but for their “beat” of general posts:
Humor charlestrippy: “listening to Buddy Holly ... i’m going to be upset if you guys reply and say you don’t know who that is ... and no it’s not the Weezer song”
Weird
 martinsargent: “Think I’ll go to yoga. I kick ass at yoga. Nobody in that class can touch me. They’re all terrible. Physically and spiritually, I win.”
Ad
 PeggyOlson: “Is the super bowl a Tupperware product? I think Ma bought one of those when Anita had a party. She uses it for jello salad.”
Food
 foodimentary: “Crisco, introduced in 1911, was the first solid hydrogenated vegetable shortening. During WWI became popular due to lard shortages.”
Brand
 MarthaVan: “My worst baby story is when I saved wine in a recycled juice bottle. My mom didn’t know n gave some to my son. Still feel guilty!”
Health
 HDHDParent: “Tell OLD-fashioned pharmacist in Houston you want oil of peppermint 4 heartburn. Mix w cold buttermilk. Was ONLY thing worked.”