Quick Links: Nordstrom Opens NYC Location Under Alias; 58,000 People Sign Up For Free Stanford Class

Tuesday, 16 August 2011 | by Pat's Picks

Flying with a Famous Name. Sean Cassidy, a PR executive, says he can tell the age of a woman by whether they had a crush on David (45 or older) or Shaun (35 to 45) Cassidy. New York Times.

Nordstrom Opens NYC Location Under Alias. Shoppers at SoHo’s soon-to-open Treasure&Bond, get ready for a surprise. The store is actually Manhattan’s first Nordstrom—just tinier and with a different name. New York Times.

Rescue Crews Search Niagara Falls For Japanese Exchange Student. They were looking for the body of a 19-year-old girl, who slipped and fell yesterday, but instead discovered the remains of a man. Buffalo News.

California Mulls a Ski Helmet Law. Gov. Jerry Brown has 12 days to sign a bill that makes it mandatory for kids under 18 to wear a helmet while skiing or snowboarding. San Francisco Chronicle.

Louisiana Man Charged with Decapitating Wheelchair-Bound Son. The man left his seven-year-old son’s head on a street post, which a driver saw and called the cops. LaFourche Parish Daily Comet.

Art World’s Biggest Enemy Strikes Again. After another painting is vandalized at the National Gallery, museum officials try to balance security with an “intimate viewing experience.” Washington Post.

Hey Golfers, It’s Party Time! Ever since Tiger Woods’ fall from grace, pro golfers have felt less pressure to be perfect. So they’ve been smoking pot, staying up all night and drinking excessively. Wall Street Journal.

Man Finds Present on Subway Platform, Bow Attached. Kevin Dooley didn’t know what to get his wife for their ten-year anniversary—until he saw the violinist who played at their wedding on the subway. New York Post.

58,000 People Sign Up For Free AI Class. Two experts in artificial intelligence are teaching a free, virtual class this fall at Stanford. The class enrollment is already four times the size of Stanford’s entire student body. New York Times.

Is Facebook Making Kids Nicer? A recent study claims time spent online makes kids more empathetic and helps them make friends in the real world. Wall Street Journal.

TLC Subtracts “Kate Plus 8” From Line-up. Now that her show’s cancelled, what will Kate Gosselin do? Columnist Richard Huff suggests a new show: “Desperate Former Housewife.” New York Daily News.

Opinion: Renewing Gas Tax a Must. There are rumblings that Republicans in Congress may let the federal gas tax lapse on Sept. 30. Bad idea, considering the $72 billion worth of repairs that the nation’s bridges need. New York Times.

Warning: Avoid Raccoon Poop. In case it wasn’t already on your agenda, scientists say to avoid “communal raccoon latrines” because of a type of intestinal worm that is deadly to humans. Washington Post.