The English language has almost reached the one-million-word mark, according to an expert running a website that tracks the language's development. Paul Payack of the Global Language Monitor says that the English language's expansion was greatly aided by the addition of email and Internet lingo. These technology-based means of communication, according to Payack, have resulted in the rise of now-common phrases at a significant speed.

A dentist in London has come up with a novel idea of helping save his patients the time and extra effort in coming to his clinic by giving them online check-ups over the internet. His new method, says Jerry Watson, involves examining his patients' teeth via webcam, advising them whether they have to see him personally or not.

Idaho power officials have blamed a cat for a blackout on Monday afternoon that affected more than 12,000 homes and businesses in Nampa City. The blackout lasted more than two hours, and officials say it was started when feeder lines blew up after a cat touched a live circuit inside a power substation. The cat was electrocuted to death.

Former and current Franklin County medical officers are facing a lawsuit filed by parents of a North Carolina man mistakenly declared dead. Larry Green was hit by a car on January 2005, his body was placed inside a bag and sent to the morgue, until he was found to be alive, over two hours later. Green's parents accused the medical officers of not properly checking his vital signs, which led to Green sustaining injuries that might be beyond recovery.

Consumer electronics giant Sony unveiled a prototype hand-powered digital camera called the "Twirl N' Take. " In the same vein as previous hand-powered radios and flashlights, 15 seconds of movement generates enough power to snap a photo. According to reports, the "Twirl N' Take" is shaped like a pizza cutter and includes 3-megapixel mobile phone digital camera technology. Sony doesn't plan to market the device.