Homebuilder sentiment unexpectedly flat in September

(Reuters) - Homebuilder sentiment unexpectedly held steady in September, according to a survey on Monday that pointed to a still-weak housing market.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index was unchanged at 13, matching last month's level, which was the lowest since March 2009. Economists polled by Reuters expected a rise to 14.

A reading above 50 indicates that more builders view sales conditions as good than poor. The index has not been above 50 since April 2006.

The NAHB survey showed the current sales conditions gauge for single-family home sales remained unchanged at 13 after August was revised down a point, which was the lowest level since April 2009. The sales expectations measure for the next six months remained unchanged at 18.

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New TV thriller "Event" a test of viewer patience

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - With the conclusion last season of "Lost," "24" and "Heroes," it would seem television is ripe for a new action serial. That could bode well for NBC's "The Event," which premieres Monday, particularly because its pilot asks a lot of viewers but gives back comparatively little in return.

Successful shows of this stripe walk a careful line, building suspense and mystery even as they reward viewers with answers and insight. "Event" teases viewers with an intricately plotted tale of conspiracy and terrorism, but it weaves the story from so many directions, perspectives and timelines that the episode becomes a sort of video Rubik's Cube.

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IBM to buy analytics firm Netezza for $1.7 billion

NEW YORK (Reuters) - IBM Corp said on Monday that it would buy data analytics company Netezza Corp for $1.7 billion to expand its business of helping clients analyze market information.


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Facebook denies phone building, but not plans.

(CNN) -- Facebook denied a story published this weekend that says the company is "building a mobile phone," but CNET has confirmed that the social-networking giant has reached out to hardware manufacturers and carriers seeking input on a potential Facebook-branded phone.

[Technology blog] TechCrunch published a story saying "Facebook is building a mobile phone ...or rather, they're building the software for the phone and working with a third party to actually build the hardware."

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Everything You Wanted To Know About Lady Gaga's VMA Meat Dress!

Jaws dropped when Lady Gaga took the stage at the 2010 Video Music Awards last night wearingmeat from head to toe. And, surprise — her VMA meat dress was made with REAL MEAT! Franc Fernandez, the Los Angeles-based designer/artist behind the dress, confirmed that it was real meat when we caught up with him this morning. But now that we know it's REAL, we're left with so many more burning questions for Franc Fernandez! Did it smell? Was it bloody? Was it heavy? Was Lady Gaga comfortable? So, we chatted with designer Franc Fernandez tonight to find out all the juicydetails. Find out everything you ever wanted to know about Lady Gaga's meat dress below!

What was your inspiration?

Franc Fernandez: "I was contacted by her stylist, Nicola Formichetti, and they had already shot the picture with Terry Richardson in the meat bikini for Vogue Hommes Japan. They told me that they wanted to make a main dress [out of meat], so I did it."

What kind of meat was it?

"I don't know what it's called in English, but in Argentina, it's called matambre. I went to my butcher to get it, in Los Angeles in the valley. He's the butcher that my family goes to. I'm trying to get him a signed picture of it."

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Rihanna & Eminem: VMAs Performance Video

Rihanna joins Eminem onstage to perform their hit single “Love the Way You Lie” during the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards at Nokia Theatre L.A. Live on Sunday (September 12) in Los Angeles.

“SURPRISE!!!” Rihanna tweeted after her performance “….just had to do it guys!”

Rihanna’s new single “Only Girl (In The World),” from her upcoming albumLoud,” will be available on iTunes TOMORROW (September 13).

FYI: Ri wore a long diamond chain & chain cross and a yellow & white diamond flower cocktail ring — both fromNeil Lane. She also wore a Jennifer Behr Triple Baguette Crystal headwrap.

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Chris Hansen Has Not Been Arrested for Child Molestation

Chris Hansen, Best Known For His Work on Dateline and As the Host of To Catch a Predator Has Not Been Arrested For Child Molestation

In what appears to be a Google bomb, Chris Hansen, who is known for his work on shows about catching child molesters and sexual predators, is rumored to have been arrested for child molestation, but those reports are false.

There is a story about James William Hansen being arrested for having inappropriate sexual contact with underage males at a park in Blairstown, but there is no connection with the two stories.

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Chris Hansen Arrested For Child Molestation

Chris Hansen Arrested For Child Molestation, Chris Hansen, the host of To Catch a Predator is reported to have been arrested for child abuse, but it is completely false. The man involved in the case of child abuse is William James Hansen, who is being arrested for having inappropriate S-EX-ual contact with underage boys in a park in Blairstown.

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