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TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2009
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Mathematician Hawking 'Very Ill'

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(AP) – Cambridge University says famed mathematician Stephen Hawking was rushed to the hospital today and is "very ill." The university said Hawking had been fighting a chest infection for several weeks. Hawking, 67, gained fame for his work on black holes, and has remained active despite being stricken with motor neurone disease as a young man. For some years, Hawking has been almost entirely paralyzed, and he communicates through an electronic device activated by his fingers.

Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking is seen in a 2007 photo.
Astrophysicist Stephen Hawking is seen in a 2007 photo.   (AP Photo)
British mathematician Stephen Hawking is reportedly
British mathematician Stephen Hawking is reportedly "very ill."   (AP Photo)
British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking is seen in a 2008 photo.
British theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking is seen in a 2008 photo.   (AP Photo)
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Mad
Apr 20, 09 11:12 AM CDT
His FINGERS? No, Hawking uses a device that is activated by cheek! Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjBIsp8mS-c to see this, and also to hear Hawking answer some cosmic questions. (He thinks we are alone in the galaxy) Reply
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Reader65937555
Apr 20, 09 12:23 PM CDT
You know, this is the second blatant error I've discovered in two days, after reading only a handful of articles here. The other said UNleaded gas (both in the title and in the story) was responsible for putting lead into the atmosphere, which in turn may have slowed global warming a bit. Making a mistake like omitting or adding a zero to a string of numbers is acceptable, or spelling someone's name wrong; those are easy to miss, and most people probably don't notice, but come on! Steven Hawking hasn't had control of his fingers for years now, despite the fact that it shows them moving on that one episode of "The Simpsons." (FYI: The Simpsons are a cartoon; things don't ACTUALLY happen that way in real life.) Besides, the picture you have posted of Dr. Hawking's FACE shows the device he uses to control his computer, right there on his cheek. Have too many special brownies at lunch today? How about a little research, people? I mean, it's not like Wikipedia doesn't have any information on Steven Hawking. I just started reading Newser the other day, and I must say, I'm not very impressed. I'll give it one more chance, tomorrow. Reply
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Jojo
Apr 20, 09 12:40 PM CDT
2 comments regarding Reader659-whatever's comment. 1. I have Newser on RSS feed, and only saw that story yesterday show up as LEADED gas - I didn't click on it to read the story, but at least on the RSS feed it was correct. Secondly, maybe since you are new, you don't quit understand how this place works. It gathers the articles posted here from all around the web - if you look around, you will see what was posted here was taken DIRECTLY from an Associated Press story. As far as I know, Newser writes/adds nothing to what is posted here, except to condense a full story down to 2 paragraphs. If you bother to go to the Associated Press's website, you would see this exact quote, FROM THEM: "For some years, Hawking has been almost entirely paralyzed, and he communicates through an electronic voice synthesizer activated by his fingers." Here is the link - http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/E/EU_BRITAIN_HAWKING?SITE=ALOPE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT Reply
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Reader65937555
Apr 20, 09 5:17 PM CDT
So, the AP is wrong, too? OK, I guess that's an excuse...but yesterday when I read the gasoline article, it said "unleaded," both in the title and in the article. After I commented on that fact, it was changed. You can see that by the comments below said article. They didn't post a correction (like crossing out the old text) they just changed it to read "leaded." I think that's sloppy. When you print something for the world to read, maybe you should parse your words first. Or, if not, if someone corrects you on an error, at least say, "Sorry, you were right. Here's the correction"...instead of just changing it and confusing subsequent readers. It's called "journalistic integrity." Perhaps Newser just isn't the site for me. I guess I'll go now.
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Jojo
Apr 20, 09 12:45 PM CDT
UPDATE Actually that link goes to one of the many places that copied the full story from AP. But if you go to Associated Press' website, http://www.ap.org/ and type in Stephen Hawking, you will get the exact same thing. Reply
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