Blog.WBRU

Scientists are unveiling a form of ‘wireless electricity’ that could be used to power iPods, “Crackberries,” and laptops today at the International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The technology means that you could charge your phone, computer or MP3 player without having to plug it in, as electricity would be sent using lasers.

There could even be ‘electricity hotspots’, similar to WiFi internet hotspots, where you could charge your gadgets in a café or bar wirelessly.

The co-founder of PowerBeam, the company behind the technology, has said: “We’re going to delete the word ‘recharge’ from the English dictionary. If your cellphone is recharging on your desk all day, you won’t be thinking about it.”

Recession, schmeschmession. Here are the top 10 priciest, bank-busting concert tickets of 2008, according to average re-sale ticket price from Ticketmaster Entertainment:

1. Madonna : $378
2. Elton John : $306
3. The Eagles : $279
4. AC/DC : $263
5. Tina Turner : $263
6. Celine Dion : $240
7. Bruce Springsteen : $235
8. Coldplay : $217
9. Neil Diamond : $217
10. The Police : $216

Jessica Alba is heading back to TV for an upcoming role in “The Office.” The 27-year-old actress is guest starring in an hour-long episode of the NBC show after the Super Bowl on February 1st. Alba and guest co-star Jack Black will play themselves as the employees at Dunder Mifflin secretly watch a bootleg Hollywood movie starring the both of them. Unfortunately this bootleg Jessica Alba video is not quite the kind of bootleg you were looking for.

-Fat Scotty

An official release date has been set for U2’s long-awaited new album. “No Line On The Horizon” will hit stores on March 3rd of next year, marking the 12th studio album for the Irish group. Their last release, 2004’s “How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb,” sold around nine-million copies. The group recorded their new tracks in exotic locations all around the world. They began their trek in Fez, Morocco and hit studios in Dublin, New York and France before completing the disc in London.

My mouth is watering.

-Fat Scotty

Coldplay’s Chris Martin BBC today that the band’s single ‘Shiver’ was essentially a Jeff Buckley rip-off.

The exact quote was “It’s a blatant Jeff Buckley attempt, not quite as good, that’s what I think.” The frontman also revealed that he thinks the band’s recent London gigs should have been better.

Also in Coldplay news, Martin has told England’s “The Daily Mirror” that the group broke up “six or seven” times during the recording of “Viva La Vida Or Death and All His Friends” alone.” The vocalist went on to say each time they split, they get back together 20 minutes later. Martin says the last time they split, even their publicist didn’t know. Sounds like my parents’ marriage.

-Fat Scotty

Do you watch a lot of romantic comedies? Well, a bunch of scientists want you to stop it. A new study in the UK found that romantic comedies promote unrealistic expectations about love. Who’da thunk? All that talk of destiny and fated love, I thought that was cinema verite. And leave it to England to take all the fun out of “You’ve Got Mail”…um, er, wait, I didn’t like “You’ve Got Mail.” I totally didn’t see it twice in the theaters. -EJ

A new poll in the UK of children under the age of 10 found that Simon Cowell is more popular than God. The poll asked who is the most famous person in the world, and the Queen ranked number three, with God in second place and the American Idol judge in first. I was thinking about it, and the two are actually pretty similar. They dole out judgment on the people, and I think Simon Cowell actually sneezes fire and brimstone. -EJ

If you spent any time on The Internets this year, you probably saw will.i.am’s music videos for Barack Obama, “Yes We Can” and “It’s a New Day.” Now the Black Eyed Peas frontman will be performing “It’s a New Day” on, of course, New Years’ in New York City. But what makes this weird is that he’ll be performing on Dick Clark’s show. I can’t think of anyone less in touch with political hip-hop music, with the possible exception of Mitt Romney. Positively wacky. -EJ