The inflatable Teflon roof of the Metrodome has collapsed under the weight of snow after a heavy storm passed through Saturday, according to local media reports.

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Dave Moorhouse was elated when he was informed that a microchip provider had information on the whereabouts of his stolen dog. This joy soon faded when the company informed him that it could not divulge the Jack Russell terrier’s location because it would breach the Data Protection Act. Last week a court agreed with the chip company and refused Mr Moorhouse’s request for a court order compelling them to reveal the name and address of the new owners. (more…)

eDarwin writes “Researchers have discovered two previously unknown species of bottom-dwelling fish in the Gulf of Mexico, living right in the area affected by the BP oil spill. Researchers identified new species of pancake batfishes, a flat fish rarely seen because of the dark depths they favor. They are named for the clumsy way they ‘walk’ along the sea bottom, like a bat crawling.”

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

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Evocations of Judgment Day were an undercurrent in speeches and materials on opening day in Copenhagen.

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Bad enough that they used their 6-year-old son in a national hoax (they’re pleading guilty). Now, Richard and Mayumi Heene may face federal charges stemming from an ongoing civil investigation by the Federal Aviation Administration because the family’s stunt caused some planes at the Denver airport to switch runways while the balloon was in flight.

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Rafael Benitez is determined to remain as Liverpool boss and believes his side will beat Lyon in Wednesday’s crucial Champions League game.

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oranghutan writes “The Obama administration is looking to the southern hemisphere for tips on how to improve the broadband situation in the US. The key telco adviser to the president, Sarah Crawford, has met with Australian telco analysts recently to find out how the Aussies are rolling out their $40 billion+ national broadband network. It is also rumored that the Obama administration is looking to the Dutch and New Zealand situations for inspiration (more…)

Earlier this year the Swedish Parliament passed the IPRED law, making it easier for copyright holders to obtain file-sharers’ details from ISPs. In the months that passed, no music and movie sharers were sued. Instead, the first IPRED case dealt with pirated ebooks, but this case has now been thrown out by the Appeal Court.

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